Nocturnal Academy 6 - The Da Vinci Codex

A supposedly routine visit to the Nocturnal Academy by a Department of Education public servant was actually instigated by the mysterious Church of the Stigmata, who have set up in Appleton. They are actively recruiting new followers, including the mother of Alice Dibble's friend Nick and her own father's girlfriend Janice Cooper. They appear to want to close the Academy down, but are really after something else, an extremely powerful tome of Magick hidden within the school.

When Alice returns to school for term 2, Professor Abbacus devises a plan to sneak her into the church by disguising her beneath a magically enhanced holographic projector. She sits through a bizarre sermon, but at the end a strange monk appears and she realises he can detect her. It seems he is a technomage who shares Abbacus's affinity for machines.

An old schoolmate of Alice's returns to Appleton and claims he can help. Believing he can redeem himself, this boy tries to sneak into the Church of the Stigmata but is captured by the priest Father Donelli and the monk, a formidable Jesuit half-elf known as Marco the Hunter.

When her friend fails to return, Alice tries to tell Professor Abbacus the truth. Unfortunately he loses his temper with her, and she decides to save the boy on her own. She runs into the church - and discovers the true, horrible secret behind the Church of the Stigmata.

Important Characters

 * Alice Dibble
 * Andre Sauvage

Summary
The book opens with a visit from the Department of Education. While the problems with that are quickly sorted out, Madam Nocturna calls together all of the house heads to talk about the problem. They realize the man was sent by Father Donelli, who leads the local Church of the Stigmata.

During break, Alice goes to see a movie with Nick and his friends. One of these is Andre, who Alice is not pleased to see. They argue. Andre eventually explains that he did everything because of his father. He also wants to redeem himself and get accepted back into the Australian Nocturnal Academy, as he ran away from his father and is currently homeless.

When she returns to the school, she talks to Professor Abbacus and Madam Nocturna about her role in the Church of the Stigmata. She has to continue to spy inside the church. The Professor also gives her a device that can hide her aspect while inside the church. Alice goes to the church with Andre during the weekend. There is a monk there that seems to have detected Alice's presence. She again talks to Abbacus and Nocturna. Professor Abbacus realizes that the monk must have been Marco Cazadora, who is well aware of technomancy.

The next few days of school are miserable for Alice. People keep picking on her and calling her "Unlucky Alice"; they begin to avoid her out of superstition. Professor Abbacus also tells her that his recording device picked up another supernatural presence. Alice brushes it off as being the monk, but he isn't sure about that. They also talk about the Mirror of Albiroth and Magick Earth.

Meanwhile, Alice and Harley kiss. Andre also breaks into the Church of the Stigmata and is captured. Lord Eldritch is also doing an audit of the school, leaving everybody on edge.

Alice tells Professor Abbacus that she has been in contact with Andre. He nearly injures her, and tells her to leave. Immediately. She goes to the church and finds Andre. The two of them are able to convince Marco about an Immaterial breach in the church. The Professor soon emails Alice; however, he realizes that she must have gone to Andre. He explains everything to Madam Nocturna (and, to his distaste, Lord Eldritch). The trio goes to the church. After a conflict with the priest, he is able to escape to the Astral Plane. All but Professor Abbacus follow; the Professor is waylaid by a fire. They realize that they have to go to the Astral Nocturnal Academy.