Wesley is trying to translate the scrolls of Obersain, found by Angel when he raided Wolfram and Hart. At the same time, David Nabitt visits, but has little to say. Meanwhile at Wolfram and Hart, a dark demon is summoned to deal with Angel's contact to the Powers That Be. The translation according to Wesley means "to die", meaning that Angel is prophesised to die, news Angel takes very well, perhaps as he is cut off from the people around him. Cordelia then has a vision of a demon, one which Angel goes out to handle. Angel meets Kate however, and they make it clear now that they may be enemies. Kate resents what Angel represents too much.

Vocah, the dark demon, goes to the Oracles, Angel's link to the Powers, and kills them. His power must be great as dark forces are normally prohibited from the temples of the Oracles. Vocah then goes after Cordelia, and inflicts a constant stream of visions upon her, sending her into a coma in hospital. To make things worse, Vocah then goes to Angel Investigations, takes the scrolls, and blows the place up with Wesley inside.

With both friends in hospital now, Angel asks Gunn to look over them whilst he goes to Wolfram and Hart. Angel fights Vocah, and defeats him, but this is not enough to stop the ceremony, as Lindsey carries on the chant and completes the raising. Afterwards, Lindsey tries to burn the scrolls, Angel's only way of healing Cordelia (something he learned from asking the Oracles just before their spirits left forever). Angel throws a weapon at Lindsey, taking out his arm, but protecting the scrolls.

Wesley reads the appropriate passages to Cordelia, healing her, and later translates the scrolls of Obersain correctly - they mean that Angel will live. After the coming battles, once Angel has fulfilled his purpose, his reward will be that he becomes human. The final shots of the episode are much darker however, showing Wolfram and Hart's new friend. Darla has risen again.