Svero explains the terrible conditions on the planet Vona (read: Venus) with the vampiric Vathek keeping regular citizens in blood farms to feed on them at will. Svero takes Dejah to meet the underground resistance and she agrees to help them, especially once she learns that the Vathek plan on invading Barsoom. She and Svero sneak into Verkur Castle to disable a weapon that threatens to destroy the atmosphere on Barsoom but Svero betrays Dejah into the hands of Lord Andlaust.