"I found him," Gideon whispered to Ford. "I don't think you'll like what he had to say."

Ford pursed his lips. "Turn invisible again, sit on the bed next to me, and then tell me."

So Gideon did as Ford asked, sitting beside him on the bed so they'd be able to whisper without being heard by the servants outside the door. Then they got back to talking about Lincoln. "He doesn't want us to rescue him," Gideon said. "Bill really is in his body all the time, and he doesn't think we should risk it. He wants to try possessing someone else so that he can join the Cipher Wheel."

"Will that work? How will he possess anyone?"

"Pacifica can talk to him while he's a ghost, and she's at the Museum, so he's going there to talk to her. Once I rescue Mabel, she and I will come back to the Museum, and I'll do what I can to help Lee possess someone willing, if he can't do it himself."

Ford paused. "Are you the only one going to Mabel?"

"I'm probably the only one who can." It's not that Gideon would mind having Dipper's or Ford's help, but he doubted they'd be able to do anything without magic of their own.

"I don't like it," Ford whispered. At first, Gideon thought he meant he didn't like the idea of Gideon going alone to save Mabel, but then he added, "There's no way to know if the Cipher Wheel will accept him in someone else's body."

"No, but it's the option that's most likely to work. Bill isn't planning on giving his body back anytime soon, and I don't want to even think about trying to kidnap a demon from his servants." Gideon sighed. "Marcus said they hadn't hurt you yet. That's good. But you don't want to find out what happens if they do hurt you."

Ford was quiet. "I don't like it," he said again. "But. . . you're right. His plan seems like the best place to start." He rubbed at his eyes. "You said Pacifica was at the Museum? Where's the dagger?"

"We have it. It's hidden. If we get Mabel back and try the Cipher Wheel, and it doesn't work because Lincoln is in someone else's body, then we have time to figure out another solution. The barrier works — the servants can't even shoot their guns through it."

A small smile came onto Ford's face. "Well, that's a relief. Andrew was worried about making the barrier impermeable to objects." The smile slipped. "Xítway's barrier wasn't."

"What?"

"Xítway. The minotaur in charge of guarding Lee last week. She put up her own barrier spell around the hut, but it was a lot simpler than the one around the Museum. The Northwest servants shot and killed her through the door."

Gideon was quiet. He hadn't known that someone had already died in Bill's attempt at freedom. "That's terrible."

"Yes." Ford took a deep, silent breath. "Okay. We need to get me out of here. What resources do we have?"

Gideon and Ford spent the next hour planning. Gideon told Ford that Lincoln was scouting around the Museum, and he listed their resources: Dipper, maybe Geneva, two stun guns, a few knockout patches, the grappling hook, and the two perytons. Ford's eyes lit up when Gideon mentioned the perytons. He seemed excited to fly with them.

As for what the servants had, Gideon didn't want to go into too much detail about their resources. It was too painful to talk about. It was sufficient to say, he thought, that the servants had guns, knives, and hand-to-hand combat skills, and that they should be knocked out immediately or else avoided.

According to Ford, the servants also had Ford's stun gun and a few knockout patches. That was disturbing news: Gideon didn't think the servants would use real guns to subdue the Symbols (too much risk of killing them early), but they wouldn't hesitate to use the stun gun. Ford didn't know where the stun gun was now, but they had to assume the servants would use it.

It was hard to hold a conversation in such quiet whispers, but they didn't dare talk any louder. Gideon could almost imagine a servant outside with an ear pressed to the door, trying to make out words or decide if someone was in the room with Ford. It helped that Gideon was invisible; that way, any servant who came to check on Ford wouldn't see anyone else; but he still worried. He didn't think the servants knew about the amulet's invisibility trick, nor would they suspect that Gideon was here. But they certainly weren't idiots, and he didn't want to give them any chances to figure out what was happening.

"Are the windows in this building reinforced at all?" asked Ford at one point. "We could shoot the grappling hook to break a window, then jump out onto the waiting perytons."

"That could work," said Gideon. "The dining room is near here, and it has floor-to-ceiling windows. But I don't know if we should jump through broken glass."

"Yes, it's very irresponsible. Melody would have my head." Ford gave a mischievous grin. "But it's an option."

They bounced some ideas around, but it was hard to decide on a plan when they were still waiting for Lincoln's report. They also made sure to have some periods of silence to reduce the chances of being caught by the servants. Finally, Gideon thought it had been about an hour (there was no clock in here), and he went back to his spot by the door to turn visible and call on Lincoln again.

Lincoln appeared, faster than he had last time. "There are only ten servants here," he said. "They seem to be working in pairs. Two are here guarding Ford, two are guarding Bill, two are stationed outside around the Manor, two are in the kitchen doing dishes, and two are sleeping."

Gideon wondered what schedule the servants were on, if six servants were guarding different places at all times and only two were sleeping at a time. How much sleep were the servants getting these days? Would lack of sleep make them less of a threat?

He probably couldn't count on it. He didn't doubt their ability to function on little sleep. "So they're fairly spread out, then," he said. "We can work with that. Did you see anyone pass through the dining room, by any chance? Ford and I think it might be a good option to break the windows with the grappling hook and leave through there."

"I had the same thought," said Lincoln. "I don't think anyone will go in there, since it's out of the way. Unless your parents are still eating in there."

Gideon shook his head. "They're getting their food straight from the kitchen right now."

"Then the dining room is probably your best bet. I don't know how often the guards outside the Manor change positions, though, so you'll want to watch out for them."

"All right. Thank you, Lincoln. Will you go to the Museum now?"

"Yes. I wish you well." Lincoln gave Gideon a serious look. "Get my brother to safety."

"I will."

Gideon ended the séance, and Lincoln faded from view.

"Success?" Ford asked.

"Success," said Gideon. "We have a way out."

"And Lee is on the way to the Museum?"

"Yes. He'll meet us there."

"Good," Ford said.

Gideon got to his feet.

Suddenly, the door flew open. Gideon hadn't heard the lock or the knob turn, but the door swung around and hit him right in the face. He cried out softly and stumbled back.

"Gideon," said Marcus's voice. "How lovely to see you."

Gideon's eyes widened in panic, and he immediately turned invisible. His nose ached from where the door had hit it, and tears in his eyes partially obscured his vision.

How could he be so stupid! Speaking to Ford from across the room, not turning invisible right after he'd finished talking to Lee. Gideon cursed himself, but he didn't have time to dwell on his mistakes. He had to get out of here now.

Ford was on his feet, and he rushed at Marcus in an attempt to get through the open doorway. Marcus smiled and caught Ford before he could get by, twisting his arm behind him. Gideon used his magic to lift Marcus off his feet, but he couldn't force him to let go of Ford. The amulet's levitation powers worked while Gideon was invisible, thankfully, but he could only do so much.

The other servant guarding Ford's room joined in the fight, pulling Marcus back down and helping him subdue Ford, who was fighting ferociously. Gideon ran from the room, contorting himself to avoid touching any of the three men as he went. He went to the end of the hallway, turned, and levitated Ford with his magic, trying to pull the man toward him. But Marcus and the other servant didn't let go, and Ford's face looked pained as he was pulled one way by the magic and another by his captors.

"Just go," Ford called. "Get to safety."

Gideon wished he had a stun gun, but he'd only brought his amulet, and it was really only good for fighting one person at a time. He'd tried to fight the servants with his amulet before. It had never ended well.

He wanted to call back to Ford, to say something encouraging, but he didn't dare. Marcus was yelling for help from the other servants, and Gideon could hear distant running footsteps.

"Go!" Ford yelled.

So Gideon, still invisible, turned and slipped away. He carefully made his way through the halls, taking the long way around to his parents' room, avoiding the sounds of approaching footsteps.

He had no idea what would happen to Ford. Once again, he cursed himself for his stupidity. Ford would likely be tortured by the servants now, and it was all Gideon's fault. They'd make sure he couldn't escape the Manor. They could do almost anything to him. Bill only needed his Symbols alive, not functional.

Guilt and fear drummed through Gideon's chest as he made his way back to his parents' room. It took a while, since it was two floors above him, and he didn't take the most direct route there. His pounding heart accompanied him the whole way, until he finally reached the door and knocked on it.

It opened to reveal Gaston, who looked confused when he saw no one there. Then his eyes narrowed. "Gideon?"

Gideon wanted to sneak past, but there was no space to do so without bumping into Gaston. "Please let me in," Gideon whispered instead. "The servants know I'm here. Please, Father, let me hide here."

Gaston was quiet as he considered this.

Then Geneva appeared in the door. "Move aside, Gaston," she said, pushing him gently away from the door. Gaston turned to rebuke her, and Gideon took the opportunity to slip into the room. He hurried outside to the balcony, turned visible, and flew up to the roof. Whether his parents had seen him, he wasn't sure. They had most likely heard the balcony door open. But Gaston wouldn't be able to get to Gideon up here. He was, for the moment, safe.

But Ford wasn't.

The perytons were on the roof, but Gideon didn't see Dipper. Rowan told Gideon that Geneva had made a place for Dipper to sleep in her closet, and that's where Dipper was now. Gaston didn't know that Dipper was in his room.

Gideon thanked Rowan. The peryton picked up on Gideon's panicked thoughts and tried to soothe them, though Gideon could feel Rowan's own sadness at what had happened.

"It's all my fault," Gideon said. "Whatever happens to Ford now, it's my fault." He had to get back inside and talk to Dipper. He had to make a plan to save Ford.

Go, said Rowan.

Gideon was afraid of what Gaston might do if he saw him again. But he had to face his father if he was going to help Ford anytime soon. So he said goodbye to Rowan and Marigold, then flew down to the balcony.

Gaston was there, waiting, his arms folded. "What happened?" he asked.

Gideon did his best to ignore the fear that arose in his chest at the sight of his father. "I was in Stanford's room, and the servants heard us talking and saw me," he said, keeping his voice steady. "Stanford and I tried to fight them, but they caught him. They're going to hurt him, probably worse than they've hurt me in the past." Worse than you've hurt me in the past, he thought, but he didn't say it aloud. He continued, "If I don't find him and save him, I don't—" He swallowed. "I don't know if I'll be able to help him at all."

Gaston listened silently. Gideon couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Will you help me?" Gideon knew it was dangerous to ask, but he needed help. "Can you go after them and try to stop them?"

Gaston pursed his lips. "They know you're here now. If I try to do anything, they'll assume I'm helping you. And unlike you, Gideon, I can't just fly away with that amulet if they come after me."

Gideon took that as a no. "Will you help them, then?" he asked. "Will you tell them where I am?"

Gaston considered this. "No," he said. "But our room is one of the first places they'll look. You shouldn't stay here."

"Thank you, Father," Gideon said, relieved. Then, "We won't stay, but I need to come back inside for a moment. Dipper is in there."

Gaston looked surprised by this, but Gideon didn't wait for permission. He went into the room and knocked softly on the closet door before opening it. "We've been compromised," he said to Dipper, who was sitting on a pile on the blankets on the other side. "They saw me. Ford is in danger."

Alarmed, Dipper jumped to his feet. "What do we do?"

"Grab those blankets. We're going to need them. We can't stay in here."

Dipper shivered at the thought, but he picked up the blankets. Gideon grabbed both his and Dipper's packs, which were beside the blankets, and turned. Geneva was standing nearby, looking afraid for them. "If they ask, Mother," Gideon said, "you didn't see me. You had no idea I was here."

She nodded.

Gideon and Dipper went out to the balcony, and Gideon levitated Dipper and the bundle of blankets onto the roof before flying up after them.

"What happened?" Dipper hissed once they were standing beside the perytons.

Gideon told of his conversations with Lee and Ford, and the run-in with the servants. Dipper was upset that they weren't going to rescue Lee, but that didn't compare to the fear and anger he expressed when Gideon hinted at what the servants might do to Ford. "We have to go save him, then!" said Dipper. "Right now!"

Ford's failed escape and subsequent danger seemed to give Dipper a new burst of energy. But not Gideon. He could feel exhaustion wrapping around him, trying to convince him to go to sleep and figure everything out in the morning.

But Ford may not have until morning.

Gideon shoved away his sleepiness. He would sleep after Ford was safe.

Right now, Gideon and Dipper had to make a plan to rescue him.