Assistant to the Villain, #3
Accomplice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 43
Overview
At Lord Fowler’s costume party, Trystan arrives begrudgingly dressed as a demon, while Sage appears as a siren, intensifying their attraction and banter. Sage reveals she prompted the horned prank. When Trystan quips about torturing a man, he reopens Sage’s trauma, prompting her to flee and forcing him to pursue and repair the damage.
Summary
In Lord Fowler’s entry hall, Trystan chafes at a flimsy demon costume, trading teasing remarks with his sister Clare and their ally Tatianna. Kingsley the frog perches on Trystan’s shoulder in a tiny jester hat, adding to Trystan’s irritation as guests gather beyond.
Sage descends dressed as a siren, stunning Trystan and heightening his conflicted attraction. Their flirtatious sparring turns to revelation when Sage admits she reminded Fowler to include Trystan’s horns, paying him back for earlier teasing.
As they prepare to enter the party to secure Fowler’s wand, Kingsley insists on hiding in a pocket and Fowler greets them extravagantly. The stakes of mingling with Fowler’s dubious circle make Trystan wary of exposing Sage, Tatianna, and Clare to danger.
Attempting a dry joke, Trystan references torturing a recent intruder. Sage, reminded of her attacker and past hurt, goes pale and pushes into the crowd. Trystan instantly recognizes his misstep—he has trivialized her trauma—and rushes after her, determined to repair the harm.
Who Appears
- TrystanThe Villain; forced into a demon costume, banters with Sage, then triggers her trauma with a thoughtless torture joke and chases her.
- SageArrives as a siren; orchestrates Trystan’s horned prank; shaken by his torture quip and flees into the party.
- ClareTrystan’s sister; dressed as a forest nymph, flusters over Tatianna, accompanies the group into Fowler’s party.
- TatiannaGraceful ally; encourages moving into the party to secure Fowler’s wand, notes Trystan and Sage’s spat.
- Lord FowlerHost of the party; greets them grandly, eager to proceed with the dinner and their bargain for the wand.
- KingsleyCrown-wearing frog; sports a jester hat, demands pocket lodging, silently needling Trystan during the entrance.