As they left the East District and stepped into the shadowed alley, Seth pulled a small, cloudy-gray bottle from his pocket, a twisted grin spreading across his face.
"Heh… finally got my hands on this little potion!" he chuckled, holding the bottle up like it was a trophy.
Mike eyed the bottle warily, his brow furrowed with doubt. "You sure this thing's legit? What if it wears off halfway through?"
"Relax, Mike," Seth replied, slapping him on the shoulder. "This was made by the 'Pharmacist' himself. Yeah, it loses potency after two minutes in the open air, but as long as our target gets a whiff before that, even an adventurer would be knocked out cold."
Andre grinned, though he grimaced slightly as he remembered the cost. "We spent two gold coins on this, after all," he added, though the words tasted a little bitter. He'd chipped in for half, nearly emptying his savings. On top of that, they'd had to buy antidotes for themselves; yet more coin out of his pocket.
Still, the thought of what they planned made Andre's grin return, a look of smug satisfaction crossing his face. This wasn't just any potion; it was a potent sleeping draught.
"One whiff, and anyone who breathes it in is out cold for eight hours straight," Seth continued, his eyes glinting with malice. "Perfect for tonight."
Their scheme was as despicable as it was malicious. They planned to slip into Arya's room, use the potion to keep her unconscious, and then… well, what happened after that hardly needed explaining. She had interfered with them too many times, stepping in whenever they tried to rough up Raymond. But beyond revenge, Arya was a stunning girl, her beauty on par with the any courtesan
in the East District's night markets.
Andre smirked, his lips curling in anticipation. "After tonight, Arya won't dare get in our way again."
Seth shot him a look, chuckling. "Don't worry, Andre. Once Mike and I are finished, it'll be your turn."
Andre muttered under his breath, "Considering I paid the most, I should go first…"
But he didn't dare say it aloud. Seth's authority was ironclad, and Andre knew his place. If he crossed them, he'd be treated no better than Raymond.
Mike frowned thoughtfully, crossing his arms. "Speaking of Raymond, that kid actually fought back today. It's unlike him."
Seth's eyes narrowed in fury, his fists clenching at the memory. "That little runt had the nerve to call me a 'yellow-head'! He's gonna pay for that," he growled, shooting a withering glare at Andre. "If you hadn't let yourself get tripped up by him, he wouldn't have had the guts to stand up to us."
Andre cringed, lowering his head. "Sorry, Seth."
Seth's expression shifted, a sinister smile creeping over his face. "Tonight, though… I'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget. In fact, I've just thought of a perfect little addition to our plan."
Mike's brows drew together in confusion. "What're you talking about?"
Seth's eyes sparkled with cruel delight. "We'll knock Raymond out too. Carry him to Arya's room and dump him right there beside her. Strip him down so it looks like he… well, you get the idea. Then, come morning, we call the town guards and have a nice little scene ready for them."
Mike's face lit up in understanding, his own smirk forming. "Pin it all on Raymond… why didn't we think of that sooner?"
"Brilliant, Seth!" Andre snickered, his excitement barely contained. "That sniveling kid won't know what hit him."
The three of them shared a dark, knowing look, each imagining the chaos they'd unleash. Raymond and Arya would both be ruined. And with Arya shamed and Raymond blamed, no one would stand in Seth's way again.
The three of them moved quickly down the dim streets, satisfied smirks plastered across their faces. Their sinister plan was playing out in their minds, each one picturing Raymond's horrified expression when he'd be blamed for everything. They even quickened their pace, eager to get back and set their scheme into motion.
Unbeknownst to them, a shadow trailed behind at a safe distance. Raymond had seen them slip out of the East District, and something about their hurried, conspiratorial movements made his stomach turn. He had a feeling their trip to the East District wasn't just some casual outing; they were up to something, and he was sure it involved him. Keeping a safe distance, he followed them back to the hotel, careful not to draw attention.
When he reached the inn, he slipped upstairs in silence. As he reached the fourth floor, he heard faint clinking sounds, like metal against metal, coming from further down the hall. He stopped at the stairwell, peering cautiously around the corner.
He caught sight of Seth, Andre, and Mike huddled around a door. His blood ran cold as he realized; it wasn't his door they were picking. It was Arya's.
Raymond's mind raced. 'Wait… they're targeting Arya?'
Horrified, he remembered tales of innocent heroines caught helpless, of despicable villains who took advantage of those they deemed weaker. He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of anger and disgust.
"No way," he whispered fiercely. "Not Arya. Not on my watch."
He took a step forward, his breath quickening. Whatever they were planning, he wasn't going to let it happen. Reason and caution went out the window as he moved into action, fueled by a sense of justice and rage.
With a sharp kick, he sent Arya's door flying open.
"AH!" Andre, who had been crouched by the door, was hit square in the face, stumbling backward, clutching his nose as his eyes went wide with shock and pain.
"Raymond? How… how are you still awake?" he stammered, barely able to believe his eyes. "You should be knocked out cold!"
They'd poured the sleeping potion through the crack under Raymond's door, enough to make him pass out for hours. It should have worked; but here he was, very much awake and very much enraged.
Raymond ignored Andre, his eyes blazing as he locked onto Seth, who was standing near Arya's bed, impatiently pulling off his coat. The sight made Raymond's stomach twist with fury.
"You—yellow-haired bastard!" Raymond roared, his voice echoing down the hall as he launched himself at Seth.
Seth barely had time to look up before Raymond tackled him, pinning him to the floor. He swung his fist, landing a solid punch across Seth's jaw, the impact reverberating through his knuckles. Seth's head snapped back, and Raymond's fury only grew, propelling him into a frenzy.
"Anyone else want to try something?" he growled, his eyes burning with resolve.