Pacifica felt a thrill of triumph as the Order members scattered to the exits of the party room, blocking them so Mabel couldn't escape. Mabel looked too stunned to move, and Gideon put himself between her and Pacifica. Foolish boy. Didn't he know that Mabel was just conning him? That his amulet would be futile against this many people?

Four of her lackeys moved to grab hold of Mabel and Gideon, and they snatched Gideon's amulet off his neck without Pacifica even having to instruct them to do so. Gideon struggled against his captors and tried to reach for the amulet, but they were too strong. Mabel, on the other hand, went limp in the grip of her two. Good. She knew she was beaten.

Gideon's parents started to protest the handling of their son, but Order members subdued them, too. Pacifica had no quarrels with them, or with Gideon. They just had to be kept out of the way while she dealt with Mabel.

Pacifica watched Gideon struggle as she started towards her prey. He might prove problematic, since he was under Mabel's spell. He thought he cared for her, but it was a delusion. Why was Pacifica the only one who could see that?

Well, Mabel would be dead by the time Gideon tried to rescue her. He'd be sad at first, but only until Mabel's brainwashing wore off him. Then he'd see sense and realize this was all for the best.

The prospect of finally ridding herself of Mabel's haunting put a spring in Pacifica's step as she approached the demon masquerading as a girl. "Well," she said, trying not to let her excitement ruin her imposing voice, "I never expected to come across such good fortune. Did you invite her here, Gideon? Are you finally seeing sense?"

Gideon gave a strong surge against his captors, but it didn't work. "I invited her to help me with the ghosts, but she was supposed to be gone hours ago. I was a fool for bringing her here on the day of the gala, even if it was meant to be over far earlier."

"I agree that you're a fool," Pacifica said, "although not for that reason. And you." She turned to Mabel. "You may have had great success in the past, but you couldn't avoid me forever."

She moved in closer so that she and Mabel were almost touching. "Your death will be sweet indeed."

"Pacifica," Gideon said, his voice placating, "she's not evil. Far from it. I spent hours trapped in a room with her today, and I've seen her when she's vulnerable, and there has been no proof whatsoever of your claim."

"Well," Pacifica replied, "she's vulnerable now, and I'll prove it to you. There's plenty of proof, you just haven't been able to find it."

"P-please," Mabel said, her voice trembling. With rage, probably. "I-I know we've been at odds before, but I'm not secretly evil, or whatever you think. I don't know why you couldn't read me or Dipper, and we were just trying to defend ourselves from you."

Pacifica gave her an endearing smile. "You don't have to keep up your façade here, Mabel. Everyone here knows who you really are. Although I suppose you're trying to keep Gideon under your spell. Persistent to the last, aren't you?"

"No!" Mabel said. "Do you really think I'd be able to keep up pretenses with everyone all the time?"

"Just in public," Pacifica said, malice coming into her voice. "I don't even want to think about what you do to Dipper in private."

"I don't do anything!"

"You'd say that. Well, maybe once we get back to Order headquarters, you'll drop the act."

Pacifica left Mabel and went over to where Gaston and Geneva were struggling against the Order members that held them. "My apologies for the interruption," she said, "but I'm afraid we must end the party early this year. Mabel cannot be trusted in your home anyway. I'm doing you a favor."

"I don't see why we have to be a part of this," Gaston said tightly.

"I'm afraid your son has been deeply deceived. He would try to rescue Mabel if he had the chance. Can we give you his amulet and trust you not to return it to him until we have left? That would be wonderful."

Gaston considered this for a moment. "Fine."

"Wonderful." Pacifica turned to address the entire room. "I'm sorry to spoil your fun, but we must go. We must get Mabel back to headquarters and secure her there."

None of the Order members complained. She could get used to having so many people under her command.

She went back to Mabel and Gideon. "Thank you, Gideon, for bringing her here at the perfect time. I hope you realize that this is for the best."

Gideon glared at her.

Pacifica clicked her tongue at him in pity. "Well, let's go, then."

The Order gathered around Mabel, with no less than four members ready to restrain her. The group headed for the front door.

Pacifica reveled in the triumph this evening had brought. And as she left the Northwest mansion, even the sight of Mabel's torturous spirit lingering in the corner couldn't bring her down.

I'll be rid of you soon, she silently promised.

~~~~~

The Order members holding Gideon were the last to leave. They handed Gaston the amulet and then walked off without a word.

Gideon wanted to curl up on the ground and just lay there forever. He couldn't believe he had let this happen. He had been the one to invite Mabel here! Shouldn't he have protected her?

He scowled with a grim determination. He may have failed in protecting her, but he would rescue her.

Gaston held up the amulet. "Well," he said, "I think I'll keep this until you've paid for your misdeeds."

Gideon's heart sped up. He'd forgotten about his punishment. But he had to go rescue Mabel. Who knew how much time he'd have before Pacifica would kill her?

His heart filled with conflicting emotion. Fear of his father. Fear of Pacifica's newfound power.

Love for Mabel.

He had a choice. He could either submit to his father and leave Mabel to be tortured, or he could take back his amulet and go after his friend.

His mind went over both options in an instant, and he knew what he had to do.

"I'm sorry," he said to Gaston. And he reached up and snatched the amulet out of his father's grip.

Gaston gasped in furious shock. Gideon tried to ignore it, ignore what he would face as penance, and ran for the door.

"Gideon! Stop right there!" Gaston ordered. "Where's my — Gideon!"

Gideon braced himself for the whistle, hoping that his newfound love for Mabel would somehow counteract the effect of its shrill shriek.

He was out the door and halfway down the front steps by the time the whistle sounded. Gideon paused as memories of the pain ripped through his body, but he managed to stay on his feet. No. . . he had to keep going. . .

He closed his eyes and imagined Mabel's face.

The memory of her gave him strength. He imagined her fear, her look of hope that he might come to her rescue. Who was he if he abandoned her because of a dumb whistle?

He felt as if he was fighting against a physical resistance, but he managed to get his feet moving again. He tore down the steps.

The whistle wailed in his ears, but it got fainter and fainter the farther away he got. I can do this, was his mantra. For Mabel. I can do this. For Mabel.

The whistle stopped in order for Gaston to bellow at him at the top of his lungs. "Gideon Northwest! Get back here immediately, or you will regret it!"

Gideon used his amulet to jump over the gate. Maybe he would, but not nearly as much as he'd regret abandoning Mabel.

He couldn't see the Order. He would make his way to headquarters eventually, but right now he just had to get away from whatever servants his father would send after him.

So he turned towards the only other place he could think of and started for the Mystery Museum.

He could get Dipper, maybe even Ford. Ford. . . Mabel had the Journal he'd given to her. She'd stored it in her backpack, and he doubted Pacifica would let her keep it. He had to hope Mabel would keep it safe.

But despite his usual pessimism, he found he believed in her.

He ran for the Museum, not trusting his amulet to give him more speed. He'd get the reinforcements he needed and then go after Mabel as soon as he possibly could.

He gritted his teeth as he remembered his dream from last night, remembered the knife coming down and the blood splattering across the room. He couldn't let that happen to Mabel. He wouldn't.

Hang in there, Mabel, he thought. I'm coming to save you.

I promise.

END OF EPISODE FOUR