A MAZE OF GREED

Minutes passed while sitting in the woods, and Edwin saw Ruth's cries melting down, till they left her hiccuping now and then.

She was right beside him. His mate. The woman who had brought him to his knees unintentionally. This was the first civil conversation they shared. He wanted to make this day more distinct and memorable, not only because of the sad things but also because of something good that he could carry in his heart for the rest of his life.

Encouraged by her cooperation and silence, he daringly lifted his hand to rest it gently on her shoulder. She felt her body stiffened under his touch, but she did not push him away.

That was enough for his foolish heart.

"This is the last time you are suffering in your pain, Miss Moore. When you will walk out of these woods, you are going to be the person Mr Payne wanted you to become..

You do not only have yourself to take care of. You now need to be the support of Mrs Payne. That lady needs you as much as she needed her husband.

The mourning is over for you. Accept the reality and get the peace. Your life is awaiting you. Do not worry, just remember when a character leaves, another one enters your life!"

Ruth opened her eyes, feeling something changed drastically inside her.

She stared straight into his eyes that spoke hundreds of stories that his lips could never tell.

"I think we should continue our conversation some other time." He spoke softly, a hint of disappointment in his voice she did not miss.

"Why?"

Edwin could not help when a loose strand of her hair fell on her face. Giving in to his desires, he moved his hand from her shoulder to her face.

Ruth was so engrossed in searching his secrets in his eyes that she did not mind when his long fingers tucked that strand of hair behind her ear. He was careful to not let their skins come in contact, but he failed when the tip of his finger brushed lightly against her earlobe.

Ruth visibly shivered, but it was not uncomfortable. In fact, she liked it in ways she should not.

"They are searching for you!" He whispered, not breaking his gaze.

"Ruth?"

She startled, looked in the direction of Rees's voice, and when she again turned back, her philosopher and guide was not there. Only his faint scent lingered in the air beside her.

He was right there, sharing her pain as a silent companion. Then where did he go within a second?

"Ruth? Ruth! Come on, everyone is looking for you." Rees appeared from behind the trees, and upon reaching near her, he stretched his hand for her to take.

Confused and speechless, she looked at his outstretched hand then at the empty spot beside her. A moment before she had her mind at a place only to bombard it with a new set of questions.

"come on!"

She slid her hand in Rees's, and he pulled her up from the ground to stand on her feet effortlessly. Ruth glanced around one more time in hope of getting a glimpse of the man she could not see in front of her eyes until now.

But she was greeted by disappointment. He was long gone, far away from her. He came like a shower after a sandstorm in spring, hitting and soaking the ground of her heart and setting down the dust of confusion and pain to clear her path.

As she and Rees walked back to the way of the graveyard, something about Rees told her that he knew who was there with her. That was why he did not ask her what she was doing there.

He just came and asked her to come with him.

'Did Rees told him to talk with me? If yes then why him? Or was he himself came to talk with me? If yes then why?'

She wondered.

*

*

*

The funeral came to an end, followed by another night. No one amongst the O'Dell family found the food palatable to their taste. Their minds kept revolving around the sixth killing and how they were going to face the Council.

A maid came and served the fourth round of rice on Edwin's plate. The people around the table chewed their food slowly while watching him eat like he had been starving for days.

In a way, he did!

Having enough of Edwin's act, Augustus threw his fork in his plate that made a clinking sound, and everyone stopped, except Edwin.

"Eloise, pass me the bowl of salad."

Eloise's eyes moved between her carefree cousin and her raging father. Augustus shot a glare in her way when she tried to pick the salad bowl. Her hand froze in midway.

Without looking up from his plate, Edwin said, "Eloise, I am waiting for the salad."

Lester sensed the palpable tension in the room and was about to interfere, but one glare from Augustus made him sit back in his chair.

He only prayed to the Moon Goddess to save the situation.

His prayers went into vain the very next moment when in a fit of rage Augustus picked up the bowl and emptied the whole content on Edwin's plate.

"Is that enough for you, my leader or do you want me to order the cooks to prepare more?" Augustus thundered,

Everyone around the table was shocked. Elsie had a hard time controlling her trembling hands. She saw from the corner of her eye Lester watching her. She immediately hid her shaking hands under the table away from his eyes.

She had never seen her father lamenting like this in front of not only her family, but also the servants.

Theodora signalled, and all maids and servants scurried inside the kitchen, out of the earshot.

Edwin clenched his jaw and slowly put his spoon down. He did not say anything and kept staring at his overflowing plate.

"Theodora tell this despicable boy to open his mouth or the Moon Goddess help me, I will-"

"What do you want me to say?" Edwin asked calmly.

Augustus looked at him as if he had gone insane. Perhaps he had.

"You are asking me that question Edwin? After what happened today? Look at his audacity Theodora!" Augustus shook his head disappointedly.

"But father... it was not brother Edwin's fault." Elsie mumbled slowly.

"WHAT?"

Elsie jumped in her seat, literally, at Augustus's high pitched voice. Lester clenched his jaw, but he had no choice but watch silently.

~"Shhhh... Elsie. Do not scare, love. I am here!"~ He reached her through the mind link.

His words calmed her accelerated heartbeats. But that did not lessen her fear.

"You think it was not his fault? Oh then it must be mine because it was me who took the sole responsibility of all these killings in front of the Council, right?"

"Honey, please calm down!" Theodora tried.

But Augustus shook her hand. "No! That was where I made the mistake. I kept calm and believed this irresponsible boy. And look where he has brought us all!

Tell me, my leader, what are we going to do know? Are we going to take responsibility for everything in front of the royals? Are we planning on tarnishing the name O'Dell? If only it has not tarnished already."

Augustus's face turned red due to anger. The way Theodora did not try to calm her husband as she would have done the other times, made it clear that she also shared the same thought as him.

A couple of moments passed, and finally, Edwin turned to face his uncle.

"I take the responsibility for this murder and the previous ones. As a leader of the werewolves, I had to make sure that no harm come in my people's way.

I will handle the Council and look into this matter more carefully. You or anyone else do not need to worry."

Edwin pushed his chair back and stood up to his full height. His body had recovered fast after he had gradually decreased the dose of wolfsbane potion to the previous levels.

"Edwin! Stop right there! I am not finished yet!" Augustus yelled in irritation.

Edwin paused but did not turn back.

"I have more pressing matters in the hands, Lord Augustus. And remember that a leader does not only have responsibilities but also authority and demands respect.

Next time decide if you want to speak with your nephew or your leader and act accordingly."

Edwin left everyone shocked and speechless.

He had enough of these allegations and blame game. Mr Payne's death had opened his eyes wide. He had many things on his mind.

It was time to take the reigns in his hands. He could not keep acting indifferent anymore. The leader had to take the responsibilities on his shoulder.

He had everything thought thoroughly and planned. Now he only needed to execute everything.

"Garfields! Your time is up now! I will show you how the battles are fought not only in the battlefield but also from behind the curtains."

~"Rees, meet me in the next thirty minutes."~