He Who Fights with Monsters, #1
He Who Fights with Monsters
by Shirtaloon
Contents
105. You Aren’t in Control of What Happens Next
Overview
Sophie awakens manacled in Jory’s clinic, where Jason calmly asserts control of her fate. He reveals Ventress set her thefts to deliver her to Lucian Lamprey, with outside Island forces using Dorgan to provoke Lamprey. Jason plans to turn Sophie in, then use Adventure Society right-of-refusal to claim her indenture and block Lamprey.
Summary
Sophie wakes in an unfamiliar, tiled room, manacled and wearing a power-suppression collar. Jason Asano, reading nearby, confirms she is in Jory’s clinic and offers water and blunt honesty: she is not in control. He explains Belinda is safe upstairs and will be released, but Sophie will be turned in under the contract.
Jason outlines what he and his allies deduced: Sophie and Belinda aimed for the city’s spirit coin vault to buy freedom from Clarissa Ventress. He reveals Ventress engineered Sophie’s thefts to get her caught so Lucian Lamprey could then claim her through influence. Meanwhile, unseen Island interests used Dorgan’s people to keep Sophie uncaught, deliberately stoking Lamprey’s obsession.
As Sophie tests Jason’s motives, he adds that courts will likely sentence her to indenture. Jason intends to intervene using an Adventure Society clause granting the contract’s completer right of refusal over any resulting indenture, allowing him to claim Sophie and deny Lamprey. He leaves to fetch Belinda, reiterating that Sophie should not attempt escape.
Who Appears
- SophieThief who wakes chained and collared in Jory’s clinic; learns Ventress and Lamprey’s roles; faces planned indenture.
- Jason AsanoCaptures Sophie; explains Island manipulations; will turn her in, then claim her indenture to block Lamprey.
- BelindaSophie’s partner, held safely upstairs; slated to be released while Sophie is turned in.
- JoryClinic host and healer; his clinic serves as safe ground while decisions are made.
- CliveJason’s ally who tracked and helped capture Belinda; part of the plan regarding Sophie.