A MAZE OF GREED

"Darius."

Darius was discussing something with his mother when he heard his father's voice. The recent time had brought tensions between the father and the son. Aurora tried talking with her husband, but that was of no use.

She thought of trying with Darius but, that too turned out to be futile.

Darius's face turned serious, instantly after seeing his father. He ignored him and began walking away. Ambrose stood in his way using his vampire speed.

"When your father calls your name, you should respond by saying - yes father? , Darius." Ambrose said darkly.

Aurora was watching the exchange between them curiously. She had not seen them speaking with each other in a long time.

"Say it!"

She was taken aback by Ambrose's unnatural loud voice. It was very unlikely of him to speak in such raised voice. But, Darius remained unfazed.

He coolly stared back at his father, then crossed his arms over his chest. A clear answer that he did not care.

"Ambrose, please!" Aurora quickly stepped ahead to her husband's side.

Ambrose did not like his son's defiance, but right now he wanted to discuss something important. So letting his disrespecting behaviour aside, Ambrose decided to address the main topic.

"Where do you go these days?" He came straight to the point.

Darius narrowed his eyes then moved them to see a smirking face of Marcus standing at some distance.

Of course, that loyal dog would go and bark everything to his master!

"I do not know what you are talking about." Darius dismissed his question,

But Ambrose was his father, and he did not know how to give up.

"Darius", He hissed dangerously. "If you think that you can do whatever you want without my knowledge, then let me burst your bubble son. I am Ambrose Garfield- the leader of the Vampire breed.

Kinsville is my place, my kingdom. A single leaf can not move without my permission on this land. I do not know where you disappear frequently and why... yet! But, let me tell you, Darius, if you create another problem for me, then I will fucking kill you with my own hands!"

Aurora gasped at Ambrose's words. What had gotten into him? How could he say such a thing to his own son?

"Ambrose! What are you saying? He is our only son! Your pride, the next leader in line!" She gave him an unbelievable look.

"Aurora! My ancestors have sacrificed everything for the good of our breed and so have I. Nothing and I mean nothing is greater for me than the pride of my breed and my family. Not even my son! The sooner he gets it, the better! Or, there are examples where someone else have assumened the charge of a leader." Ambrose warned.

But his last sentence irked Darius.

"What do you mean father?" He asked through a clenched jaw.

Ambrose took a step ahead so that now the two of them were nose to nose with each other.

"What I mean is one can not be a leader only because of the family name. A person becomes a leader because of his capabilities. Anyone who proves his capabilities is eligible to be a leader. I hope you are smart enough to understand the rest!"

Ambrose turned on his heels and walked out of there, leaving behind shocked Aurora and enraged Darius.

Marcus still had that smirk on his face as he followed his Master.

*

*

*

Ruth held the red velvet box tightly in her hands, for only God knew how long. Her fingers now had impressions of the box graved on them.

She kept replaying what happened in Edwin's office over and over. That every word he said, his every touch and every look he gave her, made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

She ran her other hand on her stomach, where he had rested his head. She closed her eyes shut, remembering that feeling.

She had not expected any of this. That was not her plan. But, fate was serving her a chance to skip a long road to get Edwin O'Dell. He himself was offering him to her.

Ruth should be happy, should not she? Then why does she have that restless feeling in a corner of her chest?

She would have immediately grabbed the opportunity, that would fulfil her goal, her revenge. But she did not. She just walked out of his office without a word. For some reason, she felt... guilty.

-"for me... you are more than just a maid Ruth."-

The way he said that made Ruth's heart flutter in joy. She could hear him saying her name for the rest of her life, and yet she would not be tired. But why?

-"My heart tells me that you will wear these Ruth. I hope and wish that you will!"-

When he said that, he looked hopeful. He looked expectant. He seemed like he believed in her, he had faith in her, that she would not break his heart.

But was Ruth also ready to put the same faith in him?

Ruth shuddered at the thought of the number of women he had been with before. Was she ready to put those things in the past and move on?

The real question was- was Ruth ready to wear those earrings? If yes, then was it only for her revenge or something else?

She was too confused, and the guilt just kept worsening. No! She could not just lay in her bed thinking about this alone, only to stop at the dead end. She needed someone to help her sort out her thoughts. And, she knew who would do that for her.

Ruth got up from the bed. Covering herself with a shawl, she silently walked out of her home and took the path that led to the only person who could help her.

A knock disturbed Thea's sleep.

"Rees... open the door, go." She mumbled in sleep.

After another knock on the door, Thea was irritated. "Rees, you useless piece of a husband get up and open the damn door or-" She abruptly stopped with her rant when she realised the space beside her was cold and empty.

Suddenly Thea was hit by the realisation that she had not seen her husband for a few days now. He was away for the investigation of the kidnappings.

Thea sighed but then got excited. Who would be knocking on her door this late in the night? Of course, it had to be Rees.

All the sleep flew away from her eyes as she ran to the door. Opening it, her smile faltered, then turned into confusion and then into worry after seeing Ruth.

"Ruth? Is Mrs Payne alright? Let's get her to the physi-"

"Thea! Mrs Payne is alright. She is peacefully sleeping at home." Ruth stopped her overreacting friend before she woke up the entire manor.

"Thank God! But, what are you doing here this late then?" Thea asked.

Ruth bit the inside of her cheek before asking, "Can I come in? I need to discuss something very important with you."

"Of course Ruth. Please come in." Thea welcomed her inside the home and closed the door again.

"Rees?" Ruth asked.

Thea's face instantly fell upon hearing his name. "He has not returned yet."

Ruth frowned, "What kind of responsibility he has been given that takes this long?"

Thea searched for an appropriate answer, but she could not tell Ruth the truth. So she changed the topic.

"Come sit here and tell me what is so important that you decided to ruin my beauty sleep?" Thea said as she took Ruth to the couch and made her sit on it.

Ruth did not know how to begin, so she directly showed Thea the earrings that Edwin asked her to wear. She then narrated the whole incidence- of course leaving out some personal details, that she was too shy to share. Thea listened to everything silently.

"So?" She then asked at the end.

"So... erm... what should I do now?" Ruth asked.

Thea was actually surprised at Edwin's bold step. He had not mentioned it to anyone. Then what made him take such a long leap?

As far as she knew Ruth, she expected her to be panicking by this time. Yet she was there contemplating his request like a mature and sane person.

What was going on in that pretty head of hers?

"How can I tell you that Ruth? It is your decision. It is either a yes or a no." Thea said, still gauging Ruth's response.

"But Thea... I... I am confused."

"Why? You yourself have made this clear on many times that you do not like him. You once even said that if he is the last man on the earth then also you will die alone than being with him. It should be easy for you Ruth."

Thea felt bad that she was acting like a bitch here. She should help her friend instead of taunting her. But then, she cared for Edwin too. She knew what it meant if Ruth wore those earrings.

She was afraid that if Ruth wore those earrings and after knowing the true self of Edwin if she stepped back, then Edwin's wolf would not take it easy. Only Moon Goddess knew what he would do.

So before helping Ruth realise her feelings, she first needed to know what exactly was going on in her head.