After asking Sic to read Philip's aura to see if the Ebene toxins have turned him into Philip Dragmire again, Aden calls a House meeting.  At once, Sic confirms their fears.  With the help of Amorette and Krysta, Aden knocks out Philip, locking him in the cage with Cirrus.  Ariadne insists on taking guard duty, blaming herself for not stopping Philip from his hunt for Cirrus.  She takes the brunt of his insults without leaving her post.

 

Aden leaves the House abruptly without telling anyone except for Tranns.  Philip takes advantage of the situation.  Controlling Adriana with mental force, he gets her to steal Aden's sword and dissolve the lock of the cage, freeing him and Cirrus to roam the House.  He further gets her to turn Ariadne into a mouse so she is unable to stop them.  Adriana is confronted by Mia and Philip has her lock Mia in the cage, wiping her memory of the events.  Using Adriana as a puppet, Philip taunts Tranns, Jesse, and Trista.  He makes the mistake of telling them he's torturing Ariadne and they ought to hear her screams.  The group realize that Cirrus and Philip are still in the House and begin a massive search for them.

 

The search proves to be a dismal failure.  Tranns shows signs of cracking under the pressure of leadership.  Sitting around and waiting to be picked off one by one, the Phoenix Fighters listen to a story from Pfalz in the basement.  Suddenly, Cirrus and Philip make an appearance, aiming to kidnap Mia.  Amorette, Valero, and Pfalz fight off Cirrus who flees in terror.  Tranns takes on Philip, but he disarms her.  As he's about to kill her, Adriana suddenly grabs one of Tranns' daggers and stabs herself in the shoulder.  Philip reels in pain and Tranns escapes.

 

Aden returns to the House weilding a Hind's Blood dagger, purchased on a black market.  He gives Tranns a bottle of Casey's genetic solution from Philip Dragmire's last attack and she and Pfalz manage to get enough of it into Philip to restore him.  Before he returns to normal however, Aden attempts a Kobiashee Maru spell to prevent Philip Dragmire from returning to Adriana's brain.  He's unable to complete the spell.  Order is restored to the House, but the looming doubt of what's become of Philip Dragmire's spirit haunts everyone.