Accomplice to the Villain

24-year-old Evangelina (Evie) Sage wakes up at Massacre Manor one month into working with The Villain, Trystan Maverine. She prepares for the day, greeting the Malevolent Guard Marv before reporting to a mandatory meeting. She runs into Trystan, who is confused when she mentions the raven he sent about their meeting. He wonders if it happened while his death magic was out of control. Evie can’t “see his magic” (4) but feels its darkness swirling around them.

Evie joins her coworkers and companions in the meeting room. She greets Alexander Kingsley, Trystan’s best friend and the former prince, who was turned into a frog by dark magic. As they’re talking, the ceiling breaks in, almost hitting Evie.

Kingsley has spent more than 10 years as a frog but still finds his condition exhausting. His only way of communicating is to write one-word signs to his companions. He feels stressed out by everything happening around him, too. Two weeks ago, the manor was attacked; their pregnant guvre, or magical creature, was kidnapped; and Nura Sage, Evie’s mother, returned after masquerading as a star while everyone thought she was dead.