Dominic, who is the apprentice of the librarian Leuwin, is writing down notes and copying a green book. The green book is written in six different hands. The first hand is just an invocation, and the second hand is someone writing that others are coming to kill them. The third hand is written by a "sister" who has just killed the owner of the second hand; she writes that the book is very pleasurable to use. The fourth hand is another sister, who writes about how strong the magic of the book is; it is charmed, somewhat. The fifth hand is similar to the second hand — the woman who was murdered, named Cynthia. Then, the sixth hand is introduced; Leuwin's hand. Leuwin begins talking back and forth with Cynthia. It seems that he is in love with her. Her words just show up on the page, and then he writes back to her. Cynthia eventually also admits that she is in love with Leuwin, but of course, she only exists within the pages of the book. Cynthia then realizes that Dominic is copying her words down into his own text, and begins to speak directly to him. She tells him it is too late for him, as well, and that he will also fall for her spell, unable to run away. Dominic pleads with the recipient of the letter for help because Leuwin is returning, and will want his book.