Chapter 7: A Friendly Assassination Attempt

Jarek Thorn had barely closed his eyes when someone tried to murder him in his sleep.

He woke to the feeling of cold steel against his throat.

Instinct kicked in. He rolled just in time as a dagger slashed across his pillow, missing his neck by inches. His attacker didn't hesitate—they lunged again, fast and precise.

Jarek barely managed to twist away, but the assassin was too fast. A second blade was already coming for his gut—

And then, the Heart of Ruin reacted.

A pulse of dark energy surged through his body, and Jarek moved faster than thought. He wasn't controlling it—the artifact was.

He caught the assassin's wrist mid-strike.

The assassin froze, eyes widening slightly.

Jarek blinked. "Huh. That actually worked."

And then Lena kicked down the door.

Before the assassin could react, Lena whipped a throwing knife across the room. The assassin twisted away, dodging the blade by a hair.

Jarek let go of their wrist just in time to avoid getting stabbed again, rolling off the bed. He scrambled to his feet as Lena lunged, her sword flashing in the moonlight.

The assassin parried Lena's strike with ease.

Jarek finally got a good look at them.

They wore a dark hood and mask, their features hidden in the dim light. But their movements were practiced, graceful, efficient. Whoever they were, they were a professional.

And they were here to kill him.

"Charming guest you brought," Jarek muttered, sidestepping as the assassin kicked a chair at his face.

Lena didn't answer. She pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of rapid strikes.

The assassin matched her blow for blow.

Jarek barely had time to be impressed before he remembered—oh, right. He was still incredibly unarmed and incredibly killable.

The assassin must've realized this too, because the moment they found an opening, they pivoted and lunged straight for him.

Jarek's instincts screamed.

The world slowed.

The Heart of Ruin pulsed.

Jarek ducked under the assassin's blade, moving with unnatural speed. His body twisted on pure instinct, and before he even knew what he was doing, his fist slammed into the assassin's ribs.

There was a burst of dark energy, and the assassin flew backward, crashing through a table.

Jarek blinked at his own hand. "Oh."

Lena didn't waste the opening. She was on the assassin in a heartbeat, blade pressed to their throat.

"Move," she warned, "and I make sure you leave in pieces."

The assassin, to their credit, didn't flinch. Instead, they laughed.

A soft, amused chuckle.

Jarek frowned. "Uh. Usually people don't laugh when they lose."

The assassin tilted their head, eyes glinting behind their mask. "I didn't lose."

Then they vanished.

Jarek blinked. One second, the assassin was pinned beneath Lena's blade. The next, they were gone, slipping away into the shadows like a ghost.

Lena cursed, spinning on her heel, searching. "Damn it—"

A faint rustle came from the open window.

Jarek rushed forward in time to see the assassin perched on the windowsill, silhouetted against the moonlight.

They met his gaze.

And spoke.

"You are not ready."

Then they dropped into the night and disappeared.

Jarek and Lena stood in silence.

Finally, Jarek exhaled. "That… wasn't terrifying at all."

Lena sheathed her sword. "You recognize them?"

"Do I look like I hang out with assassins?"

Lena gave him a long, flat stare.

Jarek sighed. "Okay, maybe I've pissed off a few people in the past, but I don't think I've ever annoyed someone that much."

Lena crossed her arms. "They weren't here to kill you."

Jarek raised an eyebrow. "Uh. Pretty sure the knives said otherwise."

"No." Lena shook her head. "If they wanted you dead, you'd be dead. That was a test."

Jarek frowned. "A test for what?"

Lena's expression darkened. "To see if you're worthy of the Heart of Ruin."

Jarek felt a chill crawl down his spine. "And?"

Lena didn't answer.

Which probably meant nothing good.

Jarek groaned and flopped onto his ruined bed. "I hate my life."

Lena smirked. "Get used to it."