Is Cordelia Dead Or Alive?

As “American Horror Story: 13” rolls into its second week, Episode 4 picks up in the basement of the Apollyon, aka “the portal hell,” with Wilhelmina Venable (Sarah Paulson’s “Apocalypse” character) guiding a very confused and very scared Elizabeth Short (Mena Suvari) to her final unrest.

Meanwhile, a restless Ben (Joey Pollari) rouses from his sleep to check on Mr. Nas, who appears to be vomiting up more of that signature black goo. Ben’s mysterious patient draws him closer, then force-feeds him that very goo from an ornate chalice, promising, “It only hurts if you fight it.” Once Ben has consumed the Slushy from hell, he suddenly sees Mr. Nas in a different form — a younger, blonder, hotter form (played by Paul Anthony Kelly).

Back to the basement, we’re reunited with Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange’s “Freak Show” persona), who delivers a jaunty performance of Peggy Lee’s 1969 hit “Is That All There Is?” What’s more, her band consists of several familiar faces from “Freak Show,” including Mat Fraser as Paul, the Illustrated Seal, on drums.

As Venable is quick to reminds her, Elsa is there for a more important purpose: to announce the 13 women being sacrificed to Mr. Nas as part of the evening’s “Jezebel Ball.” One by one, 13 women “taken before they could reach their full potential” are tossed into a fiery pit. Those women, aka “Mr. Nas’ favorite bad girls,” include: Hypodermic Sally (Paulson’s “Hotel” character), “Gestapo gal pal” Eva Braun, “dynasty-busting divorcee” Wallis Simpson, “selfish writer” Ayn Rand, “vegetarian man-eater” Brigitte Bardot, “f**ker of horses” Catherine the Great, Mamie Eisenhower (Paulson from “Death Valley”), “sneaky Romanian tyrant” Elena Ceausescu, “original sl**ty princess” Jezebel, Tuberculosis Karen (Paulson from “Red Tide”), “union-busting b***h” Margaret Thatcher, and lastly, poor Elizabeth. What’s her sin, you ask? According to Elsa, she “sucked the world dry” with her “hopeless dreaming.” Way harsh, Elsa.

But wait, that’s only 12 women! Fortunately for the dark side, Venable is “happy to serve” at any cost, offering herself up as the 13th sacrifice with a hearty “hail Satan!”