Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 24
Overview
Gideon’s defection deepens tensions at Massacre Manor, especially with Trystan, but Evie remains determined to use his help despite his betrayal. The chapter shifts from jealousy and embarrassment over Evie’s journal to a sharper emotional wound when Damien mentions Griffin Sage, forcing Evie’s grief into the open. Trystan’s protective comfort strengthens his bond with Evie, while the failing manor barrier and stardust plan keep the larger crisis moving forward.
Summary
After Gideon helps free Trystan, the return to Massacre Manor is tense. Trystan objects to Gideon coming with them because Gideon helped capture him and suppressed his powers in captivity, but Evie argues that Gideon helped save Trystan and that she chose to trust Gideon for Trystan’s sake. Gideon insists he had planned to leave the Valiant Guard for years and would never hurt Evie, though Trystan points out that Gideon already has.
At the manor, Evie leaves Gideon in a guarded room to change out of his Valiant Guard armor, with Keeley and Nesma stationed nearby. In the office, Evie finds the staff in chaos because the manor’s magical barrier has become faulty: one door is now visible. Becky says she has sent ravens to find an enchantress, while Lyssa admits she has failed to find Evie’s missing journal.
Trystan suddenly emerges from his office holding Evie’s gold-foiled journal open to a drawing of Evie kissing someone. Evie panics and tries to redirect him toward the stardust vial and the plan to find her mother, but Becky and Lyssa abandon her. Trystan demands to know who the man in the drawing is, and Evie refuses to answer; Gideon appears and mischievously invents “Terrence McChalice,” making Trystan visibly jealous.
The moment is interrupted when Damien, a cruel new Malevolent Guard recruit, grabs Gideon and orders him back to his room, insulting him as a former guard and mentioning Gideon’s father in the dungeons. The reference to Griffin Sage overwhelms Evie, who has been avoiding the pain of her father’s imprisonment, and she breaks down in front of the office. Trystan shields Evie from the watching workers, gives her a handkerchief, and orders everyone out.
Trystan tries to make Evie laugh by claiming he emptied the room to avoid sharing Edwin’s cookies. Moved because Trystan is trying to comfort her, Evie kisses Trystan on the cheek and thanks him; Trystan does not reprimand her and lets her keep the handkerchief. Keeley removes Gideon, and Evie calmly threatens to carve out Damien’s heart if Damien threatens Gideon again, showing that despite Gideon’s betrayal, Evie still loves and protects her brother. When Trystan offers to stop, Evie insists she wants to work, and Trystan tells her to follow him because he has an idea.
Who Appears
- Evie SageDefends Gideon, panics over her journal, grieves her father, and insists on continuing the mission.
- TrystanDistrusts Gideon, grows jealous over Evie’s drawing, then protects and comforts Evie.
- Gideon SageDefected former Valiant Guard member; unsettles the manor and mischievously provokes Trystan’s jealousy.
- Becky ErringManages the office crisis over the failing barrier and abandons Evie during the journal incident.
- Lyssa SageSearches for Evie’s journal and remains unaware that Gideon has returned alive.
- DamienCruel new Malevolent Guard recruit who threatens Gideon and wounds Evie by mentioning Griffin.
- KeeleyGuard captain who restrains hostility toward Gideon and later drags him back to his room.
- NesmaGuard who helps watch Gideon and promises to keep Keeley from killing him.
- TatiannaPresent during the tense return flight and dryly comments on Evie and Trystan’s arguing.