Easy Prey

Drew had walked down these alleyways many times in the recent past. He hadn't found anything special about them during that time other than the fact that this was where most people in Darkstreet did private deals.

'I'm on the right path,' Drew whispered to himself as he followed Sebastian into the darkness that awaited him.

He followed the man with his eyes intently but controlled his body to move in an erratic way. He stumbled every moment or so and rubbed his hands together as if cold.

'I'm not a good actor... but hopefully, this is enough!' Drew thought while mentally crossing his fingers.

After reaching the end of the Alleyway they reached a simple stone wall that climbed up into the ceiling of the cavern Dark Street was carved into.

The man faced this stone wall before silently turning around and giving a cursory glance behind Drew, scanning for anyone listening in before nodding in affirmation to his own mental query.

He waited for Drew to get closer before giving him a closer look.

His face was friendly, his body posture friendly, but his eyes... they were that of a predator.

'A wolf in sheep's clothing...' Drew thought as he saw Sebastian's appearance. A shiver ran down his body as an instinctual fright filled him.

"Don't be afraid, good sir,"

"Before we begin our honest trade I only need to have you answer a few simple questions,"

"Alright?" He said with a gentle smile and a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Y-yes. I understand, S-sir," Drew stuttered.

"Alright..."

"The first question I'm gonna ask is pretty simple. I just want to know what your name is so that I can address a man of your caliber correctly,"

"My N-name?!" Drew sputtered.

"It's... Drew... Drew Galewald," He lied slowly.

"Galewald?" The man asked in confusion before regaining his composure.

"I see... your new to the city, I remember now,"

"Well Mister Galewald, my name is much lesser in value compared to your own, for now, you may call me Sebby," He said with a smile that held more tension than before.

"Now... how did you hear about my wares, Sir Galewald?"

"I reward those who preach my services... I would like to know who did me a favor,"

Drew frowned inwardly at the man's words but scrambled for words that would satisfy Sabastian.

"A Guard on Stone Side... He didn't tell me his name,"

"We were in a pub..." Drew said hesitantly, trying to make it seem like he was relapsing some painful memories.

"I see, I see..." The man mumbled to calm him down.

"I think you qualify to buy my wares... so let's get down to business Mister Galewald,"

'Sebby' motioned for Drew to come forward while gently opening his cloak to reveal 10 small vials of dull grey-looking liquid.

Drew stumbled closer and fixated his eyes on the vials that were before him intently.

'This is what you need... Act like it,' Drew mentally reminded himself as he approached.

'System, is this the right substance?'

[Scanning...]

-

[Dolored: Rare Alchemical Potion:]

Key Ingredients: Diluted Ogre Brain Fluids

Manufacturing Price: 1 silver per vial

Description: This grey bitter potion inhibits the user's pain sensors to render them useless for a short period of time. This lasts for 1 hour on average. This potion also gives the drinker a warm and happy feeling that suppresses mental pain and bad memories. This substance is highly addictive!

-

'Look's like this is the guy,'

"Now... You are a man of fine tastes from what I can tell," Sebby said with a smile and a flattering gaze that wandered across Drew's body.

"This tincture doesn't come cheap... It is made out of incredibly rare herbs and created by Master Level Alchemists,"

"The cheapest I can go for a vial is gonna be..." He trailed off while giving Drew an appraising look.

"5 gold,"

Drew felt his heart jump at the listed price and almost gasped out in anger but controlled himself as he nodded dumbly in response.

"I don't have much on me... Could I buy two vials?" Drew asked hesitantly.

"How much do you have?" Sebby asked cunningly.

"I have... 12 gold and 20 silver,"

"Hmm..."

"I can throw one more vial in if you pass all the coin you have on me my way,"

Drew released a joy-filled smile at Sebbie's 'kind' words and nodded happily.

"Thank you very much!" Drew said in excitement before moving forward and fumbling inside his jacket for his coin pouch.

Sebastian waited patiently with a satisfied grin on his face as Drew searched for all the coins he had.

But something that 'Sebby' wasn't prepared for was the Scythe that Drew slashed out within one fluid movement.

Sebastian's eyes bulged at the weapon and Drew's killing intent before he tried to dodge.

However, as the man tried to leap to the side, he found that his legs were pinned by a mysterious force and before he could even know what was going on, his left arm was chopped off in an instant.

Sebastian let out a short scream before suddenly being stopped by a menacing shadow hand that appeared out of thin air.

Sebastian began releasing muffled grunts to try and get someone's attention, his face staying relatively calm despite the fact that a small fountain of blood had appeared on the right side of his body.

Drew frowned at Sebastian's determination and snapped his fingers lightly, taking some habits from Kull, and created another black shadow hand that plugged his nose, causing him to stop trying to get other people's attention or else suffer suffocation.

"Settle down..." Drew whispered as he crouched next to the bleeding man.

"Show me your true form... If you do that I'll make the pain go away," He said with a stiff smile.

"Hmph!" Sebastian released a grunt before his body began to quiver and become putty-like.

His body began to shift and turn but didn't seem to have the ability to escape Drew's Shadow hands. His body changed its shape before revealing a strange view.

The ordinary man was no more, instead of a human, there was a strange human-like rat person who seemed to be nearing death.

His nose was plugged by shadow hands and his mouth was covered tightly in the same manner. His remaining arm and legs were pinned down as well and he looked hopeless as his body stopped resisting his fate.

"Alright... I'm a man of my word," Drew said gently before reaching toward Sebastian's jacket and taking out all 10 vials of Dolored with no hesitation.

Sebastian's body began to shake fearsomely at Drew's actions but the dark hands held firm.

"From your reaction I can tell that you haven't tried your own supply," Drew said simply.

"One vial is enough to cause instant addiction... I wonder what ten would do?" He said in a deadpan tone.

"Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

The rat began kicking and even managed to lose the grip of the shadow hands on its left leg before 4 more were added to its binds.

"I said I'd make the pain go away if you showed your true form... What kind of person would I be if I didn't fulfill my promises?"

"Hmph!" The rat struggled despite its declining oxygen supply. Tears were streaming down its face as Drew let out a soft sigh while shaking his head.

"Fine,"

"I'll make you another deal then,"

"Hmph!" The rat tried nodding quickly.

"I don't like hurting people, but I do what I have to do," Drew said ominously.

"You are a bad person Sebastian Greennose,"

"You have ruined so many lives..."

"But killing you doesn't seem like a great thing to do right now," He said while looking at the stone wall in thought.

"So... I tie you up with some rope I have, and you play dead while I take you up top," Drew said while pointing up at the stone ceiling.

"If you accept... I will stop the bleeding and the pain... for now,"

"And if you make a single slip up, I swear that not only will you suffer for the rest of your short life, but you will also suffer for all eternity in the afterlife," He said in a menacing tone as unknown energy seeped out of his mouth and eyes, creating an almost black smoke that resembled an inky abyss.

'Interesting... Does remembrance do this as well?' Drew thought as he could feel the strange energy agreeing with his words.

The rat went silent and nodded silently in response to Drew's obvious threat.

"Good little mouse," Drew said with a slight nod and a fake warm smile.

"Advanced Temporal Stay," Drew mumbled as he placed his hand on the bleeding stump that remained on Sebastian's side.

A large amount of mana was sucked out of Drew in a few seconds but the flow of blood became stagnant as some unknown force stopped it.

The rat looked relieved but fear never left its eyes as Drew tied it up with his Shadow Hands emotionlessly.

He motioned for the hands to pick up the rat and they listened wordlessly as the rat rose to the ceiling, becoming unseen by those below him.

And just like that... Drew walked out of Black Street after capturing a vile villain with no repercussions.