Assistant to the Villain, #3
Accomplice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 27
Overview
A giant bat snatches Trystan, exposing that Trystan’s death magic is willful and oddly attached to Evie. Through banter and Evie’s bold bargaining, the bat releases Trystan and lands peacefully. Alexander then warns of a trap, and the party is immediately ambushed, shifting the cove mission into open danger.
Summary
At the cove, an enormous bat dives for Tatianna. Trystan throws himself between the creature and Tatianna and is seized in its talons. Evie rushes forward while Clare watches in panic as Trystan, dangling above them, tries to command the situation with formal threats.
Trystan attempts to use his death magic, and for the first time everyone sees it manifest as dark mist. Instead of striking the bat, the magic drifts to Evie, curling around her and refusing his orders. Trystan snaps at Evie to get away, startling the group as Tatianna critiques his delivery and Kingsley flashes a joking sign.
Clare and Tatianna keep up light banter about Trystan’s charm, which seems to calm the bat. When the bat squeezes tighter, Evie stands firm, offers herself in exchange, and politely demands Trystan’s release. The creature complies, dropping Trystan; he scrambles to shield Evie as the bat lands and becomes nonthreatening.
As the bat settles, movement in the trees draws attention. Alexander raises a sign: “Trap.” The warning comes too late; the group is ambushed, turning the tense rescue into immediate combat stakes.
Who Appears
- ClarePOV narrator; panics for Tatianna, distracts the bat with banter, witnesses Trystan’s unruly death magic.
- TrystanSeized by the giant bat; his death magic manifests but defies him, fixating on Evie.
- Evie (Sage)Confronts the bat, offers herself, and persuades it to release Trystan; death magic swirls around her.
- TatiannaInitial target of the bat; steadies Clare and critiques Trystan’s harsh commands during the crisis.
- KingsleyCommunicates via signs, joins the banter that helps soothe the bat’s aggression.
- AlexanderHolds up a sign warning of a trap moments before the group is ambushed.
- Giant batOverlarge creature that grabs Trystan, calms during banter, releases him after Evie’s plea.