The prepared predator (4)

Themen looked in shock at the young man in front of him as he felt the poison coarse through his veins. As a grand knight he seldom encountered a situation where his body refused to listen to his orders.

"Why?" There were many things Themen wanted to curse and ask Erick, but he managed the one he really wanted to know.

"Why? Well, why not? If not you, then me?" Erick asked in reply. He was still smiling as he walked towards Themen.

Nuvia was still conscious of everything around her. The poison didn't really cause too much pain, but it did render her powerless to even lift a finger. She was able to hear the two men converse with each other but she was unable to understand the meaning.

She watched as Erick passed her. He didn't even glance at her. She only met him today but he had impressed her the day she had watched him from the top of the wall. The way he engaged with the warbeast without the slightest notion of giving him had impressed her beyond her imagination.

Everyone she had met so far had been either focused on surviving or fulfilling their basic necessities. For the first time she believed to have seen someone who, like her, would go all out against the beasts.

She had been too happy to see him in her group but she wasn't sure how to approach him. Only when she was tasked with forming a team and seeing him stand there, did she come up with a plan. And it all went better than she could have hoped for. Now she knew she had been mistaken.

Erick was unaware of everything the young girl had imagined or hoped for. But he didn't care enough to know and he wouldn't have cared even if he knew. Erick didn't group people into family, friends, enemies or lovers. He grouped them only in two categories. People were either useful or useless, nothing more or less.

"But…why?" Themen also had no clue what Erick's reply meant. The whole plan had been put together at the last minute, so how could someone not only find out about it but also take precaution.

"Not so bright, are we?" Erick said mockingly.

"If I didn't do this, wouldn't I end up in some warbeast's stomach? After all, I am certain I lack the appeal someone like Tenor is searching for in a mate," Erick explained further.

Themen's eyes widened, hearing Erick's explanation. Rarely had he felt this shocked. But he couldn't help it. The things Erick was mentioning were only known to the upper echelon of the castle. And Themen was sure that Erick didn't belong to that particular group.

"How?" Themen stammered. He found it very hard to talk, somehow the poison was affecting his tongue the most.

"How do I know all this? I have my servants and slaves everywhere. But you will understand that too, after all, you are joining them!" Erick smiled, but instead of his usual straight teeth, Themen noticed wolf-like teeth inside Erick's mouth.

"What are you!" Themen screamed, but he was helpless. Erick had already dug his teeth inside his flesh. Themen's body convulsed as he felt some thick fluid enter him and take hold of his entire being.

[New Beta gained!]

A pop-up message appeared in front of Erick, confirming the success of his enslavement skill. Although Themen and Erick differed in strength, Erick succeeded in one go thanks to Themen being incapicitated.

It took a few moments before Themen regained control of his body. He could already move his limbs and tried to sit up. He resented Erick to his core, but his intuition was telling him that any attempt to attack would be for naught. He felt truly submissive towards the young man in front of him.

"Now tell me all the spots the beasts were initially waiting to ambush us? After all, we were not supposed to be gathered at one spot, right?" Erick asked, while he spread a simple map in front of Themen.

Once again Themen was shocked by the amount of information Erick seemed to possess. Only now he realized how dangerous the simple looking boy really was. But alas, it was too late.

Themen started to point and describe each location in detail. He included the level of the beasts surrounding the area. There was even one where a warbeast was stationed. Erick decided against using that one for. He was more interested in the area right beside that one.

"A high level grand demonic beast? Are you sure?" Erick confirmed with Themen before making his decision. Erick sorted through the information he had received and quickly made his mind up. He would attack that one.

He needed the exp and it would test his new skill too.

"Seeing that you poisoned everyone here, I am sure you have your methods to contact the warbeast. Let him come here to gather and feast on these people. We will go the other way. After you are done, leave for the castle. Don't say anything about me. Just act like the job is done!" Erick instructed Themen sternly.

Themen nodded. But before doing anything he still was unsure about one thing. As he was not forbidden to ask anything, he decided to see whether he could understand anything else.

"How did you manage to poison me?" Themen asked. He was sure he would not receive any information he really wanted, so he switched his approach.

"Like you poisoned the rest. I made it enter through your mouth. But don't worry, I already inserted the antidote through my teeth. You will be fine. After all, I still have use for you, my dear servant!" Erick said.

"But I never even touched the wine. And I have not put anything else in my mouth!" Themen exclaimed. He was sure of it. As someone who was planning to poison people, he had been even more meticulous regarding the things he was touching, eating or drinking.

"Oh, really? Nothing at all? Not even before coming here?" Erick asked with a smirk on his face. "You don't remember putting something long and big inside it?"

Jolted by the description, a vivid image appeared in Themen's head. Just before he was supposed to leave towards the gate, he had an unexpected visitor. He had been confused at first, but it had been some time since he had met Victor.

It was in that passionate moment he had decided to adjust the plan, so he could return quickly to the castle to continue where he had left off.

"Y-you mean Victor?" Themen asked tremblingly. Seeing Erick nod, Themen felt broken. He truly loved the man.

"But how…you poisoned his thing!" Themen shouted in disbelief.

"Hey don't blame me. Didn't your parents teach you to not put just everything inside you?" Erick laughed insidiously.

Themen paled. Till now he had believed that his plans had been compromised. Only now did he realize he was wrong. It had never been his plan. It had all been Erick's plan.

With horror he watched the smiling boy go towards Nuvia. The girl was still holding on. Erick kneeled beside her.

Nuvia had heard everything. Although she was still in the dark about many things, one thing seemed clear to her. The charming boy in front of her was the real beast here!