Another THE GILDED BLADE THEORY
So one of the new quotes is likely Jameson because it's mentioned at the end of tbh that Zella owes him a debt and of course he’ll be wanting it repaid. It could also potentially be Savannah given the new chapters, but for this theory I’m going to go with Jameson. Also I’m locking in so even though I still don’t like the heavy involvement of javery and Jameson *sigh* it is what it is.
So the debt could be that he is going to Zella for help to find Avery. But part of me feels that maybe Zella was the one to take Avery in the first place/be the one Avery willingly went with. Whether or not that matches this quote I don’t know but I’ll write the theory anyway!
Firstly, Brady is nowhere to be found at the end of gr. Like how do you even lose someone on your own private island? It would be a big coincidence that he disappears at the same time as Avery, so it is possible she went with him. And Brady’s sponsor in the game was Zella, so that would mean that by going with Brady, Avery is going to Zella. We never see what Avery is doing in tgg or gr and we also rarely see Brady in gr, so the chance of them two having talked throughout the game is possible. Also, Avery invited Brady to the game. Even though he had competed before, Brady specifically was one of Avery’s personal picks. There has to be a reason why she wanted him again. Also Avery isn’t naive, I’m sure she knows players have sponsors and given the extensive knowledge they have of the players and who they are, she could know that Zella is Brady’s sponsor but she didn’t have to tell anyone. The possibility of Avery, Brady and Zella having a plan together is high, especially with the new quotes from Max and the hints that Avery knows what she is doing.
I don’t think Avery was kidnapped, but rather left knowingly. Avery is interested in Alice (I assume) and Zella might have some unsettled business with Calla, giving them a common target of the cult. So the whole second grandest game may have been constructed for this reason. BUT Avery seemed like she was going to leave it alone in tbh so maybe it’s actually Zella that sought Avery out first, because why would Avery have decided to go digging again? Unless she found out something about Hannah.
I have more about why I don’t think the cult specifically took Avery (based on clues from tsbaf) but I’ll expand on that separately. Back to Zella, she was also with Gigi during gr so she is in close proximity to them on the island, and could have been planning this all with her. The cult is very secretive yet Zella has knowledge on them (through Calla) making her one of the only people to know about them other than Avery and Jameson. So if Avery was planning something, Zella would be a good person to go through Or of course the other way round.
Then there’s the note Avery left. We know now from chapter 1 of tgb that Jameson thinks the infinity means “go to Prague’ but it could have so many different meanings. And I think the Devil’s Mercy, which is related directly to Zella, is one of them, and he’ll realise that later on in the book.
Avery writes the note in PURPLE INK (jameson lock innn tf) which is the same as the ink at the mercy. Not just that, but Rohan spots links to his game at the Mercy in the game Avery and Jameson created. And the very links he mentions are the ones also seen on Avery’s note. That includes the infamous purple suit lol. It’s ugly but it's also an echo. So there's already connections between Avery’s intentional hints and the Mercy, currently headed by Zella (I think. Right?😭). Then there’s the infinity sign she made. Again, Rohan mentions that the infinity in the grandest game echoes the one in the Devil’s Mercy. Jameson sees that in tbh:
So Avery could have put the infinity within the game and then on the note as a hint to the Mercy and Zella. The note might not necessarily be “go here” but rather “this is where I am” or “this is who I’m with”. I feel like the purple ink and infinity symbol SHE put there on that note can’t be ignored, and when you see the links to the game and to mercy as well as the way Brady disappeared just like Avery, and how Zella was near them during the game and is part of the mercy, it could all be a plan. Also Avery is literally saying “I’m not missing” yeah she could have been made to write it but I just don’t think so.
Another thing I want to point out:
In tgg, Avery wears a purple dress and then in gr she wears a dress covered in infinities.
We know there are clues interwoven into the game, pointed out by Rohan, and we know from the recent quotes Avery likely has a plan. She leaves the postcard with 2 details: purple ink and a lemniscate. But not just that, it seems like Avery is literally WEARING these clues. A purple dress and a lemniscate dress. If she was always planning something, it would be a very Avery move to leave multiple clues and just the fact that both of her outfits are reflected in the note she left feels important. As if she’s leaving a reminder for them. Especially the intense way Lyra takes note of the dresses, the way she observes the shade of purple and how detailed the infinities are. Why would Avery wear such dresses if not to be noticed? Why pick dresses that echo the same designs she leaves on her note?
Avery is not kidnapped but rather gone by her own planning
Maybe she is with Zella because of the 2 hints to the Mercy
Avery disappearing just like Brady (whose sponsor is Zella) would be a crazy coincidence
Avery inviting Brady back for a second time has to mean something
Avery is one of the only people who knew of Alice and we know now that Zella has known too
Avery left 2 major clues: purple ink and lemniscate, and not just that but she was wearing those very clues during the games, as if leaving them for everyone to see. And these clues link to the Mercy which involves Zella
There is the issue of the room Avery is in and I’m going to do another theory on that and why I still think the cult as a group may not have taken her. This is the main reason I’m not 100% on this theory because the maze room is ominous. And if Avery is waking up there, that implies she was made unconscious. But again, she could have still gone with Brady and Zella intentionally but they still have power over her. Obviously the fact that she doesn't know where she is and seems confused is the one thing that makes me not as confident in this theory but I hope that because it was such a short chapter, there’s more to it. We now know from tsbaf that this room was something Alice used to keep Toby in so if we’re asking “how did she end up in the maze room if she’s with Zella?” It's still possible. Zella knows of Alice being alive. Zella posed as the woman in red. Zella had the clothes to do so. Zella knows of the cult when very few people do. So what’s stopping her from knowing about this maze room as well? And even if she agreed something with Avery and they’ve been planning, Zella may still have power over Avery and even as they work together, be showing her “I’m in control” hence initially placing her in that room. Idk this is just a thought dump😭
To add to that using the chapters from @/dolllfie!!
Zella is currently nowhere to be found. Oren hasn't been able to find her and he also hasn't been able to find Avery 💀💀💀💀 so they could easily be together in what is obviously a very secret location, and I’d bet Brady is there too. The other option is that Oren does in fact know exactly where Avery is but can’t say because he is part of her plan and knows what she needs to do and why.
ALSO. the choice to host the game on the island. This always felt SO weird to me, like so many people died on that island yet they hosted a game there. But maybe it was intentional on avery’s end because it was part of her plan. If she is in fact planning with Zella, they may have coordinated this location because we know Zella was on the mainland with gigi. Did Zella agree to relay information about Calla and her “watching” to Avery? Because why the island? Why a place of tragedy? Unless it was part of the plan, somewhere Avery could coordinate with Zella and leave with Brady undetected. We know Avery asked Toby specifically if she could host it there. Also Brady was so desperate to find Calla and he initially said the calla lily warning was for him, not Lyra. Also how come no one saw Avery leaving bruh. One of my guesses is this:
There was a random door covered in gears that Gigi sees in tgg and i dont think it was mentioned again? Each book cover in tgg has gears on it, so it has to be a clue. Also it's worth mentioning that the house on the island was newly built, most likely by Avery because she owns it, so this weird gear door would have been of her choice as well. Everything about the house could have been constructed for her plan. Maybe that’s some secret passage where they left from?? I honestly have no clue how she managed to leave like why is Oren not standing on business. anyway
As for Jameson calling in his “debt with the duchess”, this could obviously be him going to her and telling her to help him find Avery. But lets say Avery is with her in the first place, it could be him figuring it out and he shows up and is all “im here to call in my debt” and its just him coming to get avery back idk. Or the quote might be savannah. Like i said im not 100% on this theory, but my main reasons for it are:
The clues that Avery left paralleling the mercy as noted by rohan
Avery wearing those clues as well
The timing of Brady somehow disappearing when Avery does as well
Zella’s proximity to the island
All of them being untraceable at the same time
The fact the house was newly built, likely under Avery’s order, and contains cryptic rooms and doors
Another idea I have is that Zella has Avery and when she is finally found, she agrees to give her back but under one condition. Which is to bring her Rohan, because we know theres the whole proprietor thing going on. And Brady’s tattoo and all that. But also is the “Rohan must lose” thing simply to do with the mercy or is there another reason? I don’t think so but just an idea.
Also idk if this is relevant but apparently you can get split face cards to create “gaffs” which means magicians can have specially altered cards that feature 2 different values/suits on one side so that they can create illusions easily. And zella and avery’s cards are a common example of this, so they might be working together unbeknownst to everyone. This kind of reminds me of Enola Holmes where she believes her mother is missing and she must find her but the whole time she’s actually been safe and sound, working with another group of revolutionary ladies secretly planning.
