Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 64
Overview
Trystan’s judgment tempts him with his deepest fear and desire: Benedict threatening Sage, then a destiny-made imitation offering him love in exchange for destruction. Trystan proves his devotion by rejecting the false Sage and refusing destiny’s bargain. The real Evie breaks into the dream, confirming their bond and giving Trystan a reason to fight the judgment from within.
Summary
Inside the Trench’s judgment, Trystan faces an apparent vision of Benedict holding Sage at knifepoint. Benedict embodies the claim that Trystan was made for evil and threatens to kill Sage because her ability to see Trystan’s magic makes him weak.
Trystan, overwhelmed by fear for Sage, offers Benedict anything in exchange for releasing her. Benedict lets Sage go, and she runs into Trystan’s arms, but Trystan immediately senses something wrong despite the figure’s familiar appearance and physical closeness.
The false Sage tries to manipulate Trystan by promising herself to him if he destroys the Fortis family and frees destiny from its cage. Trystan is tempted by desire and longing, but the wrongness of the illusion breaks through. Trystan rejects the imitation, recognizing that it cannot compare to the real Sage.
The fake Sage reveals that destiny created the illusion and claims the real Sage will eventually turn away from Trystan. Trystan refuses the offer, declaring that he would rather accept whatever little the real Sage gives him than commit to a counterfeit version of her.
Before the false Sage can continue, an object strikes the illusion from behind. The real Evie appears in the dream, filthy, furious, and unmistakably herself. Trystan recognizes Evie as real, allows himself to name his feeling as love, and resolves to fight for that love no matter the cost.
Who Appears
- TrystanEndures destiny’s judgment, rejects a false Sage, and accepts his love for Evie.
- Evie SageAppears at the end as the real Sage, entering Trystan’s dream to help him.
- Fake SageDestiny-created imitation who tempts Trystan with intimacy and a destructive bargain.
- BenedictAppears in Trystan’s judgment as the tormentor threatening Sage and reinforcing Trystan’s fears.