Only a villain can save the day. During his thousand year banishment in the Nethers, Balthazar thought of nothing but taking over the Crossroads from Death. On the day he puts his plans into action, Balthazar finds the Crossroads on lockdown. Death has been stabbed by Brianne''s Bitterness, a blade that slowly leaches him of his powers. In order to challenge Death for his seat and prevent utter chaos, Balthazar is forced into a mission to find the Redeemer, the only being capable of pulling out the blade from Death''s chest. The only person who can identify the Redeemer is a human girl in the Crossroads whose soul is still attached to her body. Meeting Arianne Wilson pushes Balthazar''s patience to the limit. In a deal he makes with Death, he must protect Arianne during their journey through the Underverse using all the resources available to him. He soon realizes the one he needs to protect is himself. For as much harm as it inflicts on Balthazar''s body, trekking through the Underverse with Arianne is proving more dangerous for his heart and soul. Can the villain remain a villain when love gets in the way?