A MAZE OF GREED

Ruth did not know how and when she was brought back to her home. Thea was constantly by her side. She sat resting her back on the wall with her legs folded in knees. Her hands rested in her lap, not knowing what to do.

She saw Mrs Payne crying hysterically and mumbling incoherently. Mrs Green and Mrs Welby were by her side along with her neighbours. They were trying their best to console the old lady, but her pain was too acute to get consoled by mere words.

People were talking, crying and moving around Ruth, but her mind was too numb to care about any of that. Her tears had dried like a river shrinks during the draught. Her throat felt itchy and swollen after her ear-piercing scream in the woods. She did not know how many people she scared.

But her fear and anxiety before knowing the truth were changed by the numbness.. Her mind had stopped working, refusing to pay heed to her surroundings.

Thea had managed to stop her tears, but every time she looked at Ruth's passive face and immovable form, her heart cried more for her.

Thank god, her mother and Rees's mother were there to be with Mrs Payne, or she would have been stressed handling her and Ruth.

Thea could not believe how their worlds changed overnight. They were all happy and planning their lunch at 'the Barker's Delight' till yesterday, and today Mr Payne was no more with them.

His sweet words, his bright smile, his teachings, his warm hugs... it all left only as a piece of memory in their hearts. Thea knew who killed Mr Payne.

She was aware of the danger, but now that she had experienced it first hand, she was terrified. Lester was right. To save thousands of lives, Edwin needed to be in his own element. He needed to stay strong, and the only obstacle in his path was the distance between him and Ruth.

Thea had made her choice. She would take the blame for betrayal, but she would never put her friend or anyone else's life at stake. She had to do as Lester planned.

Thea was surprised to see Florence at the door. The woman avoided looking her way and went straight to Mrs Payne.

She had sadness on her face, but Thea doubted if it was genuine.

"Mrs Payne."

Hearing the familiar voice, Mrs Payne searched for Florence's face, and when she saw her, she could not contain the fresh flood of tears.

Florence sat down and hugged her. "I am so sorry Mrs Payne. It is very unfortunate and unexpected. I ... I do not know what to say."

Mrs Payne cried her heart out. Her words were unclear, but everyone knew what she might be saying over and over again.

Claire stole glances towards Ruth. Florence sat with all the ladies and could not help but look in Ruth's way. Ruth sat like a lifeless body. And Florence wondered what might be going on in her mind.

A guard came and whispered something in Thea's ear. She nodded her head in understanding. She signalled her mother and Mrs Welby that it was time.

Facing her best friend, she said softly. "Ruth, we need to get ready. They... they are done with the arrangements."

Ruth did not reply, nor she blinked. She sat there unbothered. Thea sighed then pulled her arm to stand her up. Ruth let Thea change her clothes and get ready for the funeral of Mr Payne.

*

*

*

Darius sat on a branch of a tree away from where he was the last night. The aloneness relaxed him. He closed his eyes and recalled the last night.

The old man was a good soul. But he was a fool too. One should not be too kind to not be careful with strangers. Darius could have got done with the old man in a minute. But he did not.

He let his prey try escaping from his clutches. He enjoyed the chase. The old man's frantically beating heart excited him. His adrenaline rush and blood rushing in his whole body enticed his monster.

He had not enjoyed the chase so much in a long time. For an unknown reason, his mind wandered to a young girl named Lisa.

Darius had killed her best friend in front of her eyes. He could have easily drunk her blood too. But something stopped him.

Why kill her when he could enjoy the taste of her sweet blood whenever he felt so?!

Darius smiled. The images of Lisa locked up in the dungeons of his castle flashed in front of his eyes. Lisa reminded him of someone. A person whom he could not forget till eternity even if he decided to.

Grace!

The name was made only for her. The deeply stuffed memories threatened to unfold the layers to show him what he did not want to see. He shook his head to get rid of those memories.

But the face, how long he could run from her face and her hopeful eyes?

Darius snapped open his eyes. The anger in him bubbled, making him hungry. He needed to find something to distract his mind and satisfy his hunger.

He spotted a rabbit at some distance. Its rapid heartbeats seemed tempting. But Darius was in no mood of drinking from a rabbit.

He needed human blood. He decided to search for one. Now that his responsibility was over, he could return to Kinsville and then he would enjoy sweet Lisa's warm blood and her delicate young body.

*

*

*

Ruth reached the graveyard of Vincardne with everyone. She had not talked with Mrs Payne yet. Rees had suggested to not show Mrs Payne the dead body. It was disheartening to look at it, and he did not want the old lady to have an attack of panic.

After performing the rituals on the dead body and making it look better than before, Rees and the guards had arranged for Mr Payne's funeral.

The sun blazed in the sky. Every acquaintance of Mr Payne was present for the funeral, and the number of people showed how many relations Mr Payne had treasured all over his life.

The manager of the lumber factory came to meet Mrs Payne and Ruth. His face was covered in guilt.

"Mrs Payne, Miss Ruth... I am truely sorry for your loss. None of us had expected something like this would happen." he said apologetically.

If only he had refused Mr Payne to go in the woods.

Rees had already enquired of why Mr Payne was in the woods. He had recovered the money from his pant pockets, that were given by the manager to him.

The wooden casket was open with Mr Payne's dead body inside it. As soon as Mrs Payne saw her husband lay motionlessly in the casket, she screamed and ran towards him to hug him for the last time.

The scene was so heartbreaking that every person present had tears in their eyes. Florence though not teary eyes, saw everything silently. She kept gazing at Ruth, who had lost the sense of her surroundings.

Edwin watched Ruth from far. As an heir of the O'Dells, he was supposed to make a public appearance. But he was worried that it would attract unnecessary attention towards Ruth. He was not ready to take any risk when it came to his mate.

"Ruth, please pay your last greetings to him."Thea said to her.

She walked her to the casket. Thea's eyes watered immediately at the sight of Mr Payne's dead body. Every moment she had spent with him ran in front of her eyes.

Mrs Payne touched Ruth's hand. It was the first time that she had came near Ruth since she got the unfortunate news.

"Ruth... my daughter... Ruth! Look what happened. How can God be so merciless?" Saying that Mrs Payne broke into tears.

Ruth's eyes slowly moved down to look at Mr Payne's face. Her chin quivered, and soon she fell broken and shattered beside his casket.

Edwin clenched his fists tightly. He could not bear to see Ruth's cries. Her tears burnt his insides. The hopeless and dim eyes of hers haunted him.

He wished to run towards her and scoop her in his arms. He wanted to be there for her when she was at her lowest point. He wanted to share her pain, her responsibilities. He wanted to show her hope again, the light she had shown him unknowingly.

Ruth cried, she did not utter a single word from her mouth, nor she tried to console Mrs Payne. At that moment, her agony was too pure that she felt the only way to get rid of her was to let it flow through her eyes.

Thea was there, consoling the ladies. But she also knew it was not something they could just move on.

Watching Ruth's state, Rees knew what needed to be done. They had to execute Lester's plan as soon as possible. That was the only way to save the different breeds, Vincardine and Ruth.

His master needed to be close with his mate. And he vowed to do anything for that to happen!