On the day Maris and Walker meet, Luc has just threatened to kill her, so Walker and Nicholas take her away to Vienna, where Maris and Walker commence a relationship. Walker, who knows nothing about his parents or family background, discovers that he can perform magical acts and has dreams of inhabiting another identity, that of an Austrian named Moritz Benedikt who fought in the First World War and was subsequently murdered. After Maris' brother Ingram loses his lover in an earthquake, Walker is able to foretell, or induce, Ingram's meeting with a certain Michael Billa, who will be a significant person in Ingram's life.
On the day Maris and Walker encounter, Luc has just threatened to kill her, so Walker and Nicholas take her away to Vienna, where Maris and Walker initiate a romantic relationship. Walker, unaware of his parents or family history, discovers he can perform magical feats and dreams of assuming an alternate identity, that of an Austrian named Moritz Benedikt who fought in the First World War and was subsequently murdered. After Maris' brother Ingram loses his lover in an earthquake, Walker is able to predict, or induce, Ingram's encounter with a certain Michael Billa, who will be a pivotal figure in Ingram's life.