The souls shall be gathered are seven in number-for seven is a miraculous number. In turn of the century Portugal, Demon hunter and ship's captain, Luís da Silva is docked in his homeport, looking forward to a break from the seas, and enjoying a reunion with his wife. But an enemy from da Silva's past has other plans for him. When da Silva's friends start falling victim to strange comas, he knows it is not illness to blame, but the sinister work of wizard Francisco Batista.With the help of a witch, a werewolf, a ghost, and an antiquarian, da Silva learns that Batista is stealing souls to become the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever seen, and take his revenge on da Silva. But it is not just da Silva and his friends and family who are at risk. If Batista succeeds, his spell has the potential to rip the whole world apart.