The Inheritance Games, #4
The Brothers Hawthorne
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
CHAPTER 85: JAMESON
Overview
Zella survives Jameson’s rescue but immediately hands the hard-won key to Katharine, shifting control of the game away from the visible players. Katharine uses Bowen’s coded leverage over Branford to claim the silver chest, extract a silver ballerina, and leave Jameson apparently defeated.
Jameson’s loss becomes a turning point rather than an ending: recalling his grandfather’s lessons and Rohan’s instructions, he recognizes the possibility of misdirection and another answer hidden in the game’s design.
Summary
After Jameson saves Zella, both make it safely back to the stone staircase. Zella tells Jameson that she owes him and intends to be in a powerful enough position to repay her debts. Then, instead of keeping the key she risked her life to obtain, Zella throws it over the edge of the staircase to Katharine below.
Jameson turns to Branford and asks for the silver chest, but Branford is furious. Before Branford can act freely, Katharine climbs toward them and speaks three coded words: Ontario, Versace, Selenium. Branford recognizes the code as a debt called in by his brother Bowen, for whom Katharine works, and realizes he has no choice but to comply.
Because Katharine now has the key and Branford is bound by Bowen’s leverage, Branford gives Katharine the chest. Katharine tells Jameson that a person does not have to be a player to win the game; controlling the players is enough. She unlocks the chest and finds a small silver ballerina inside, turning silently.
Katharine searches the chest, finds nothing else, tears the ballerina from it, and leaves with the prize. Jameson refuses to accept that the game is over. He rips out the velvet lining and searches the empty chest while Zella and Branford tell him to stop.
Jameson hears old doubts and old lessons in his mind, especially his grandfather’s teachings about seeing beyond the obvious. Remembering misdirection, double meanings, a past game involving another ballerina, and Rohan’s original instructions, Jameson realizes there may still be another layer to the puzzle. The chapter ends with Jameson smiling, suggesting he has seen a new path forward.
Who Appears
- Jameson HawthorneSaves Zella, loses the chest’s prize, then recognizes possible misdirection in the game.
- KatharineUses Zella’s key and Bowen’s code to seize the chest and remove the ballerina.
- ZellaSurvives Jameson’s rescue, promises him a debt, and throws the key to Katharine.
- BranfordAngry with Jameson but forced by Bowen’s coded debt to surrender the chest.
- BowenAbsent uncle whose leverage over Branford lets Katharine claim the chest.