Sphinxes are different. Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek. But among them, only one likes to make magical deals. In an evil hour, when the undead almost took Tibidox by storm, it was to him that, in case of victory, the Ancient One promised the key to the Creepy Gate. True, the Sphinx promised several hundred years of respite. And so they passed... Not everything you gave once can be taken back. Gleb Beibarsov understands that by abandoning Tanya, he was in a hurry. However, now Vanka stands in his way. Because of Tantalus's mirror, Gleb cannot deal with him himself and therefore chooses an unusual duel. But this does not make the fight any less dangerous, especially if a piece of Aida Plakhovna’s old braid is attached to Beibarsov’s bamboo cane...