Assistant to the Villain, #3
Accomplice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 8
Overview
Evie defies Trystan and confronts King Benedict, detonating a pumpkin near him to force a retreat. The Villain’s death magic becomes visible around Evie, tipping Benedict off. Nura appears, horrified, and Evie’s distress triggers a blast of light from Nura aimed toward the stained glass—and Lyssa—raising immediate peril.
Summary
On the manor wall, Evie refuses Trystan’s order to withdraw and keeps Lyssa inside with Keeley. She confronts King Benedict, recalling Otto’s death and brandishing an armed pumpkin. Evie throws it, blasting the ground near Benedict and forcing him and his men to scramble back.
The display exposes currents of The Villain’s death magic coiling around Evie, which Benedict notices. Evie insists her mother is dead, but Benedict points to Nura appearing in the open doorway, proving otherwise and hinting he knows about their “ghost” problem.
Evie descends with Trystan’s assistance and approaches Nura. Nura, terrified by the visible magic, pleads for her daughter, while Evie, hurt and angry over past abandonment, asserts she survived without help. Trystan urgently calls for Gideon as Nura’s fear crescendos.
Evie’s distress draws The Villain’s power tighter, and Nura begins to glow. A searing beam erupts from Nura’s chest toward the stained glass window—directly where Lyssa watches—while Trystan tackles Evie to the floor and shields her as the blast fires.
Who Appears
- Evie SageDefies Trystan, threatens Benedict, detonates a pumpkin, reveals The Villain’s visible magic, confronts her mother, and triggers Nura’s blast.
- King BenedictTaunts Evie, witnesses visible death magic, reveals Nura’s presence, and retreats after Evie’s near-miss explosion.
- Trystan (The Villain)Stands with Evie, lets her choose, his death magic becomes visible, orders Gideon fetched, and shields Evie from Nura’s blast.
- Nura SageAppears alive, horrified by visible magic around Evie, and emits a devastating beam toward the manor and Lyssa.
- LyssaEvie’s sister; ushered inside but secretly watches from the stained glass window, becoming the target of Nura’s beam.
- Captain KeeleyUshers Lyssa inside and hands Evie an undetonated pumpkin during the standoff.