Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Prologue
Overview
Trystan Maverine, The Villain, reflects on Evie Sage’s first week as his assistant and realizes her relentless warmth has affected both his office and himself. A late-night exchange reveals painful pieces of Evie’s past, including her mother’s disappearance and her early departure from school, while Trystan struggles with an unfamiliar urge to care. By the end, Trystan secretly sends his most lethal guards to protect Evie on her way home, showing that his attachment to her is already growing despite his denial.
Summary
During Evie Sage’s first week working for The Villain, Trystan Maverine finds himself increasingly unsettled by her cheerfulness. He expected Evie to quit after being hired while he was injured in Hickory Forest, but even dangerous assignments and a corpse on her desk have not shaken her. Instead, Evie’s optimism seems to be improving morale throughout his office, which irritates Trystan and makes him feel strangely drawn to her.
Late at night, Trystan tries to focus on paperwork and an unwanted dinner invitation from Lord Fowler while Evie hums near the open window. When Trystan turns to chastise her, he is momentarily caught by the sight of her in the moonlight. He orders her back to work, hoping late-night paperwork might finally break her resolve, but Evie responds brightly and explains she was making a wish on the stars.
Evie tells Trystan that her mother’s family taught her about stars, and that she once spent summers stargazing with her cousin Helena and Uncle Vale. The conversation leads Evie to reveal that she left school at thirteen after her mother disappeared because her father had his business and someone needed to care for her little sister. Trystan nearly apologizes, surprising himself, while Kingsley the frog silently scolds him with a sign.
Evie worries she has spoken too much, but Trystan sees that she is becoming comfortable with him. When Evie sincerely says this is the best job she has ever had, Trystan realizes the unfamiliar emotion her resilience has stirred in him is relief. He dismisses Evie for the night, and before she leaves, Trystan asks what she wished for; Evie says she will tell him when it comes true.
After Evie exits, Trystan dismisses the idea of wishes but uses a caller’s ruby to contact the lethal Ruby Sector of his guard. Trystan orders someone to follow Evie through the dangerous Hickory Forest and ensure she gets home safely. Trystan justifies the protection as preserving his investment in an assistant, though his thoughts reveal a more personal concern for Evie’s safety.
Who Appears
- Trystan Maverine / The VillainVillainous employer unsettled by Evie’s warmth and secretly protective of her safety.
- Evie SageNew assistant whose cheerfulness, painful past, and sincere gratitude affect Trystan deeply.
- KingsleyCrowned frog and Trystan’s companion, silently commenting on Trystan’s reactions with signs.