Arina Zimmering’s "How to Catch a Monster:
The Second Circle," summary

This book is a dark urban fantasy set in 2025. The plot combines Irish mythology with elements of psychological thriller. Ancient pagan legends about the deity Crom Cruach take physical form. The heroes must confront their fears on the brink of reality and madness.

This novel is part of the "How to Catch a Monster" series. It is the second installment in the cycle. The story also continues in the "How to Catch a Monster: The Third Circle" duology and builds on the events of the novel "How to Catch a Monster: The First Circle."

Isolation in Glead

The events unfold in the remote Irish village of Gleada. A group of agents from the Office for the Catch of Supernatural Beings is trapped in an anomalous zone. The team consists of operatives Cal Mahelona and Gemma Rogen, spirit specialist Silas Doe, analyst Norman Ashley, and energy vampire Ciaran Blythe.

Shortly before the events described, the hunters rescued a missing colleague from a collapsed mine. This man turned out to be Theodore Cooper. The man suffers from amnesia. The rescued agent remembers nothing of what happened in the village.

Silas Doe observes his colleagues and suspects something is wrong. The specialist is certain that Gemma Rogen has become the victim of demonic possession. She experiences constant mood swings, argues with her colleagues, and displays outbursts of anger. Doe describes in detail to Norman Ashley the stages of consciousness absorption. The Goetic believes Gemma is in the early stages. She experiences strange dreams through a magical amulet. In these visions, she witnesses Theodore Cooper’s childhood. Rogen sees a fire in the Boston house and the friendship between young Theodore and Brian Sweeney.

Hunters explore underground passages. Agents discover an ancient tunnel beneath a local mine. The corridors were carved into the rock many centuries ago. Kal Mahelona interrogates a local youth, Bradan. The frightened youth reveals the existence of an ancient deity. The locals call this being the Lord of the Hill. The villagers fear the forest and avoid talking about magic.

Gemma continues to delve into other people’s memories. In one of her dreams, an otherworldly entity appears to her in the form of a small child. The creature openly declares, "Because I’m a monster." Gemma realizes the hidden danger. The real Cooper is no longer present in this mind.

Searching in the forest and frightening discoveries

Little Emer goes missing in the village. The girl is the daughter of the local mayor, Ian. The residents of Glead set out to search the forest surrounding the valley. Hunters join the rescue operation. Norman Ashley remains in the house. An analyst looks after the ailing Ciaran Blythe. The energy vampire is weakening with each passing hour. Blythe is losing his vitality due to the oppressive atmosphere.

In the forest, a group of agents discovers a wrecked car. Inside lie the mutilated bodies of two tourists. An unknown monster had only partially consumed them. Cal Mahelona searches the bloody interior. He finds a brown wallet. Inside are documents in the name of Theodore Cooper and an old family photograph. The agents realize the terrible truth: a colleague arrived in Ireland in this car. Gemma shows the photo to the rescued Cooper. He shows no emotion over the death of his parents.

The agents encounter a monster in the forest. The creature resembles a man covered in black slime. The creature attacks Silas Doe. Gemma shoots the monster with her pistol. The silver bullets sink into the black flesh without causing any visible damage. The monster disappears into the thicket. Gemma notices Cooper’s strange behavior. During the attack, he stood motionless and didn’t even try to help his partners.

Ancient Mysteries and Looped Time

Norman Ashley turns to an elderly local woman, Moira, for help. The old woman shares the dark secrets of Gleada with the analyst. The village is trapped, existing in an endless time loop. Events revolve around the ancient pagan festival of Samhain. The old woman admits to having killed herself in a previous cycle. Her soul remains bound to the valley. Moira implores the analyst to find a way to close the gate. Action is needed before Beltane.

Cal and Silas secretly enter the house of Mayor Ian. The agents search the community leader’s office. The men find old documents dating back to 1870, proving the settlement’s ancient origins. Suddenly, the house bursts into flames. The wooden floors burn with unnatural speed. The hunters barely escape the flames.

A burned-out house provokes aggression from the villagers. A crowd surrounds the hunters. People accuse the agents of setting the fire and kidnapping Emer. A bloodbath is brewing. Moira saves the situation. An elderly woman emerges with a gun and disperses the attackers. She points the gun at Ian and says, "You didn’t come for them. You came for me." The old woman hints to the agents that the end is approaching.

Rituals and revelation

Ciaran Blythe escapes into the forest. Cal Mahelona follows his trail. The operative catches up with the fugitive. Blythe confesses his fears. The young man senses a mortal threat from Cooper. It is in Theodore’s presence that Ciaran’s strength rapidly fades. Cal realizes the danger. The forest around him changes, confusing the operative. Mahelona takes Blythe’s hands and transfers some of her life energy to him. The men struggle back to the village.

Silas Doe performs an entitification ritual on Gemma Rogen. The banishment fails. The Goetic decides to use a radical method of protection. Doe carves the African Mulungu seal into Gemma’s stomach with a red-hot knife. The painful ritual is intended to help the girl maintain contact with her consciousness.

Norman Ashley studies ancient books from Moira’s library. The analyst connects historical facts. An ancient cave beneath the village serves as an altar to the Celtic deity Crom Cruach. The idol demands human sacrifices to maintain its power. The agents descend into the tunnels. They find traces of broken statues. Norman realizes that the demon deliberately lured the hunters into a trap. The creature plans to use their power to free itself.

Gemma is finally convinced of Cooper’s death. The operative’s physical body has been possessed by an ancient demon. The creature feeds on the hunters’ emotions and creates illusions. Gemma tries to warn Cal and Silas, but the men dismiss her words as the ramblings of someone possessed. Cal reminds Gemma of her psychological trauma, accusing his partner of being unable to trust people. The hunters tie Gemma up with ropes. Silas remains guarding her along with the fake Cooper.

The last frontier

The demon, in Cooper’s guise, continues to torment the captive. The fake Cooper knows for sure that others cannot see his true face.

The creature extracts the most painful memories from the girl’s mind. The demon mentions Gemma’s younger sister. The entity mercilessly presses on the operative’s guilt. Gemma realizes the monster’s cunning plan. The demon is trying to break her will. The ancient idol requires the victim’s voluntary consent to completely consume her mind.

Silas Doe is distracted by preparing another protective ritual. Gemma seizes the opportunity. She provokes the fake Cooper into making a sudden movement. The operative breaks free from the loosely tied ropes. Gemma deftly intercepts the demon’s hand. She pulls Cal’s pistol from its holster on the monster’s chest. She points the weapon straight at the creature’s head.

Silas Doe demands he put the gun down immediately. Goetic still believes in Cooper’s humanity.

The fake Cooper plays out a scene of terror. The creature begs Doe for help. The demon screams, "Find Brian. And save him." The monster uses the attachments of others to save its physical form. The idol’s golden eyes briefly appear through its human face. Gemma Rogen no longer doubts her decision. She ignores Silas Doe’s orders. She is determined to destroy the beast. The play ends as Gemma pulls the trigger.