-Knock! Knock!-

Gerard sat on the couch, petrified. He knew who was on the other side, but the mere thought of that person gave him shivers.

After a few more minutes of silence, Gerard finally managed to squeak out a reply: "...P-Please come in,"

Forcing himself to stare at that dreadful bastard, he couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air when their eyes met:

'Al Makira! Leader of the Kharan and shadow of prosperity!' Gerard trembled as he thought of the rumours regarding the Sultan of Prosperity: able to cure any disease with a touch and summon gold with a clap. They say he was blessed by the God of Fortune! But only those in the know, know of the man in front of him.

Tall and thin, sallow and pale, Al Makira was the complete antithesis of prosperity, able to destroy the lives of thousands with a whisper and bring ruin upon cities with a wave. Blessed he was, but by the God of Ruin!

Suddenly, Al Makira spoke, startling Gerard: "Under the command of my esteemed master; you: Gerard Cattleye will Assassinate Constantine Callaway. As proof of completion, you are to retrieve his belongings. Do you understand me?"

"Y-Yes..."

"Good. I await your success in anticipation!"

----------------------------------------

'Poison?!' Connor was shocked. However, knowing he could die from even a single misstep, it didn't last long.

'Are they enemies? What about Mariya? Who is she?!' His brain immediately whirred into action as he thought of the countless possibilities.

"What's wrong, Connor dear? Are you alright?" Breaking from his thoughts, he turned to look at Josephine, her face scrunched up in worry.

After a few moments of thought, he answered: "I-I'm truly sorry but... I'm afraid I can't eat,"

"What? Why not?"

"Well, I've been walking for a few hours and..." Josephine instantly knew what he insinuated and nodded.

"You should've told me sooner! Go on and rest! Mariya, can you be a dear and share your room with him?" She cast a questioning glance at Mariya.

"...I'm fine with that," Mariya smiled, "But madam, I'm also feeling a bit under the weather; may I show him to his room?"

"Oh, thank you dear! Goodnight then!"

"Goodnight!"

As they walked up the stairs, an odd silence enveloped the two, leaving Connor feeling stiff and awkward. It didn't last long, as they were soon inside a room, allowing them some modicum of privacy.

The room was relatively small... and relatively empty: one table, one chair, one bed; that was it. On the table was a knapsack and a canteen of water, likely hers.

"So, care to elaborate?" He slid the chair out and sat down, but his eyes never left her profile, vigilante of being caught unawares.

"Long story short: That guy's an assassin, he's been assigned to kill one Constantine Callaway; ring any bells?"

"Why me?" He frowned, "And who are you? How do you know all of this?"

She sat down, facing him, "Honestly; no idea," Her face was nonchalant, "And I was once a colleague of his,"

"Once? You were fired?" When she heard him, she let out a little chuckle.

"Assassins don't get fired; they get killed..."

"Oh shit," He couldn't help but blurt out. She didn't comment, merely nodding and continuing her story.

"Either that or they escape," For once, he saw some emotion on her porcelain face, "I was one of those people. Been escaping my organization ever since,"

"Is that's why you're all the way here?"

"Mn," She sighed, "Seems like I was fortunate Gerard was busy with a few assignments when I was, as you say, 'fired'," He pouted, to which she smirked.

"But I don't matter; what about you? Why do they want to kill you? As far as I know, only aristocrats and men with power hire us; you must've royally screwed up somehow,"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"I am, quite unfortunately, put in the unique position where I hold something everyone wants but is unable to get until I'm killed," He leaned into his chair, "But what's even more unfortunate is that in the middle of trying to kill me, they got my parents instead,"

"I see," Although she was expressionless, he noticed the slight flicker in her gaze, "Please continue,"

"Well, there's not much left to say. I'm now I'm out here, trying to ta—"

"Hahaha!!" Laughter resounded throughout the room, cutting him off, "I know why yer here: revenge, right boy? Keep dreaming; the person yer after is way stronger than you'll ever be!"

""!!!"" Both of them looked around the room, searching for the source of that voice.

"Gerard?!" He got up from his chair, looking around the room warily, "Where are you?!"

As he was looking around, he was unconsciously stepping backwards, towards the centre of the room. Coincidentally, so was Mariya, and eventually, they had their backs to each other.

"Hehehe... It hasn't even been a day yet, and you're already so in sync!" Gerard snickered, "Too bad you won't be able to flesh out your relationship!"

-Crack!-

Suddenly, Connor heard something that made his stomach drop, "What was that?" He turned his head to Mariya, hoping it was just him hearing things.

"You aren't crazy," She gulped as the sounds became even more frequent, "Grab onto something; quick!"

-Crash!-

The floor cracked and shuddered a final time before collapsing altogether, taking the two along with it.

'Damn you...' He cursed silently as he felt the wind on his back...

-Thud!-

"Ach...!!" He felt a sharp pain in his left thigh as he hit the floor with a harsh bang, simultaneously breaking the wooden floorboards.

"Shit... that hurts," Lapsing in and out of consciousness, he desperately tried to stay awake, "Mariya? Little help here?"

No response.

His eyes narrowed, and he struggled to look around the room for her. He did find her, but he found something that required a bit more attention...

"No wonder my legs feel don't want to budge," There was a half-meter long iron stake stabbing through his thigh. Too afraid to move, he looked around for a solution, only to find the same set of options.

'Not the best time to sleep, damn it...' He glanced at Mariya: apart from a few cuts, she was in perfect shape, a stark contrast to his situation.

"Oi..." Just that single word made him feel tired out of his mind, "Wake up... hurry,"

He repeated this for about two minutes. But by the time she actually regained any semblance of agency, it was too late...

-Clink-

The door in front of him flew open. Looking at the person in front of him, Connor could feel his face flush with anger.

Standing there was Gerard and Josephine, but what was most striking to him was the unconscious body of Mariya in Josephine's hands!

"Mariya!?" He turned to his left, where Mariya was. But she was... she was gone! "Damn it! How!?"

Sneering, Gerard exclaimed: "How? Because in this house, I AM IN CONTROL!"

Connor's eyes turned wide. Struggling to comprehend the situation in front of him.

He desperately searched around the room, looking for a solution... and eventually, his eyes landed on Josephine.

"Don't even try! She is but a mere fabrication made by my soul! She has no emotions!!" But as if he read his mind, Gerard mocked him.

Connor felt helpless, he had found the book of fate, but it was too far to get without incurring Gerard's retaliation...

"You are all but birds in a cage, and I am the master!" He puffed his chest out in pride, "Not even that bastard Makira can beat me in here! So cry! Beg! Like the animals you are!"

Connor again tried to get up, so he could at least be on a playing field. Unfortunately, he was reminded of the pain in his thigh, "Ourgh..."

"Whoo!" He whistled at his groans, "That thing really did a number on you, huh? Almost makes me feel bad for doing this. Almost," He grinned, before slowly creeping closer to Connor, a saw blade floating a few centimetres above his palm.

-Stab!-

Suddenly, Gerard felt his heart wrench, as if his soul was being pulled out of his body, making him spit blood.

Turning to look, he saw Mariya repeatedly stabbing Josephine in the heart. Soon, Josephine faded into thin air, leaving Mariya and Gerard to face each other down.

-Stab!-

The moment her gaze met his, she dashed straight at him!

"Raaagh!!" Gerard waved his hand wildly, "*Cough!* Don't even dream of it!!"

With a woosh, five nails just as big as the one Connor was injured with flew towards her, sending her flying into the wall!

"Aaaaaghh!!!" Her screams made Connor wince; if one had done this much damage to him, what about four?

"*Cough!* Little slut! I'm going to have fun torturing you to pieces!"

"Ptooey... you bastard; should've killed you then..." She spat, glaring straight at Gerard.

"Hoh? Still got some fight left in you, I see. Don't worry, I'll fuck it right out of you soon! But first..." Gerard smirked before waving his hand. And the saw blade that was idly floating by suddenly flew to...

"Connor! Look out!!"

Gerard turned, pure schadenfreude on his face as he enjoyed the scene in front of him.

Connor was on the ground, barely conscious. Right next to him was a leather book covered with blood... And two severed fingers!!

"Hehe... You think I wouldn't know you had the Book of Fate with you?" Gerard looked disdainfully at Connor's hand: both the index and middle finger were cut cleanly off...

No response.

Frowning, Gerard looked a bit closer at Connor, only satisfied when he saw no movements even under heavy scrutiny.

"I guess the boy was just a bit too green to survive! Now, where were we!" Turning back to Mariya, he began to slowly step forward. Each foot a countdown to her doom...

-Step!-

"Hehe, How does it feel? Helpless, powerless, Huh!?" Three steps away from her, he mocked her...

-Step!-

"Don't you know, that time when we were both in training. At the competition, you completely embarrassed me!" Two steps...

-Step!-

"Now... now I get to have the sweetest revenge! With my power, you will slowly die by my hands!" He laughed gleefully to himself, only one. Step. Away.

But just as he was going to take the final step, the final step he had been dreaming of his entire life...

"That's where you're wrong!!"

""!!!!!""