A MAZE OF GREED

The time passed, but it didn't bring the same fortune to everyone in the Vincardine. Thea had joined her work again, and her friendship with Ruth had regained its previous glory. Ruth had thanked her co-worker, who had helped her to understand Thea's importance in her life.

And now, watching the two young women chattering non-stop for hours and hours had brought a smile to everyone's faces.

Rees's visits at Thea's home had become prevalent than before. They also had dinners and lunches with their parents, and the elders were happy to see their children's joy. They had told their families that they were now ready to get married and soon would decide the date, which was a great relief to Mr and Mrs Green.

Mr Payne's health was better than before after regular medication and the care that Mrs Payne and Ruth had taken of him. But to do so, Ruth had to exhaust all her savings along with a large part of her salary that left her with nothing in her hands.

But she didn't mind. She was glad that Mr Payne was recovering from his sickness, slowly. He was yet to be allowed to resume his work at the lumber factory by the physician. So, Ruth had taken their responsibility as their daughter.

After a long period, the dark clouds started to disband from Ruth's life to let the light penetrate. The hard time had passed, that was what she told herself.

But it was not all merry for everyone. Here in 'the great manor', Edwin had become a headache for everyone. His aggression had touched the mark of insanity. He had turned into a ticking bomb.

Any trivial matter was enough to set him off. He was punishing the servants for minor mistakes like talking too loud or delaying obeying his orders by mere minutes.

His apoplectic behaviour was not something to be missed by his family. Theodora had suggested Augustus to talk with Edwin, but Elsie convinced her father that Edwin must be under the stress of work and the investigation, and they should not bother him more.

But Edwin's incessant ridiculous behaviour had buried fear amongst the people. No one dared to cross his perimeter. Maids and guards shunned working for him in fear of getting punished. Edwin's already besmirched image had turned worsened with his uncontrolled actions.

Rees was the only person who didn't distance himself from his master. He had taken all the responsibilities of him from the sunrise to the sunset. If anyone had any work with Edwin, they told Rees about it instead of approaching the monster directly.

People cursed Edwin, bad-mouthed about him. They thought that he was a maniac, but no one cared to know why he was acting that way.

Rees was the only person who knew the suffering of his master. He was witnessing Edwin's pain, his wolf's cry for his mate. And even though he could fight a war against the whole world for his master, his hands were tied this time.

The thought of dragging Ruth to his master seemed easy and convenient, but it was wrong on many levels. Edwin had many enemies. Some of them were obvious, while some disguised themselves better. He didn't know whom to trust. And revealing the fact that he had found his mate meant pulling Ruth into his perilous mess.

Besides, there were other reasons enough to keep him firm on his resolve of not going near her. His situation resembled the insect that gets attracted to the light of the flame, but when it tried to go near it, the flame burns it into ashes.

"Brother Edwin…" Elsie's soft voice came from the half-opened door of Edwin's chamber.

During these past days, he rarely left his chamber. He was spending as much of his time drowning in his mate's memories and that brown piece of cloth.

It took a lot of courage for Elsie to get near him. She was scared, to say the least, but more than that she was worried for her elder cousin. She couldn't see him in that way more and hence decided to talk to him before her father or anyone else.

"Brother…" She called again, louder this time to gain his attention.

Edwin was staring at a book in his hand, but his mind was absent. After Elsie's two calls, his mind didn't reply.

Elsie was hesitant to approach him and thought about leaving for now and try talking with him some other time. He was not in a mood and was lost in his world of thoughts. But then she was not sure if she would feel this brave again.

Gulping down her saliva, she stepped inside the chamber and walked towards her cousin.

"Brother Edwin!" She placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him a little.

Edwin's mind snapped back to reality, and he turned to look at Elsie with alert eyes. His stance was suddenly defensive. Elsie frown deepened, looking at his face.

It gave away the lack of sleep and eating that he was practising these days. The charm of her brother had dulled. His eyes were red and dim.

He looked the same Edwin O'Dell, but nothing like her beamish brother- her guardian, her role model, her inspiration, her best friend!

Edwin stared at Elsie for two long moments, then blinked as if he still had a hard time recognise her face.

Elsie's heart dropped at his behaviour. "Brother… i-it's me, Elsie. Your sister." She told as if they were strangers meeting for the first time.

Edwin shook his head a little to pull his senses together. Clearing his throat, he said, "I know Elsie. You don't have to tell me that." His words were gentle but lack of emotions.

'I have to remind you because it looks like you have forgotten about it.' She wanted to scream at him but decided against it and just nodded her head.

"Is there anything you want?"

"Am I not allowed to come to my brother if I don't want anything?" She counter-questioned him.

Edwin blinked at her, not believing the changed tone of her.

"No. I didn't mean it like that. I just thought-"

"That like everyone else I come to you only if I want some favour from you, right?" Her voice was full of heaviness that her heart was also feeling.

Edwin sighed loudly. "Elsie, you are taking it in a wrong way. I didn't mean it like that. You know that you can always come to me anytime. I am your brother!"

"And I am your sister! So now tell me what is happening with you." She looked at him expectantly, but her face fell the moment she saw two vertical lines of irritation formed on his forehead.

"I don't know what you are talking about." He dismissed her then looked away.

But Elsie had decided to speak with him, and he had to answer all her questions.

"Of course you know it brother. I… everyone knows that something is wrong with you. Something is definitely bothering your mind these days. We can feel your anger and frustration. Not only werewolves but humans also feel it."

If there was someone else than Edwin, Elsie wouldn't have dared to speak with this steadfastness. She would have asked only once, and after not getting an answer, she would have walked out of there wordlessly.

But this was her brother, who loved her dearly and was a completely different person around her. For the whole world, he was the cold-hearted leader. But for her, he was her home, her comfort, her anchor in the storm.

She knew that she could speak her mind to him, and he would never do anything to upset or hurt her.

"Elsie!" Edwin warned.

Her face softened, and a breeze of fear flew past her, touching her heart lightly.

Her tone mellowed. "You are not sleeping or eating properly. Everyone is walking on eggshells around you. No one wants to cross your path in fear that you might slice their neck for some minor reason. They all are scared of you, brother.

They are calling you names, and it hurts me. They are only blaming you for your anger, fearing you. But no one is caring to ask you about your problem. Please, brother, tell me, why are you behaving like this? I can't listen to them more. Please!"

Elsie's every word hit Edwin hard, but he couldn't tell her what she wanted to hear. He didn't care about what people said or what they thought. He never did! But hearing his sister's vulnerable voice broke him over and over.

Not hearing any response from him sank her heart. "Father was going to speak with you about this. He is worried for you." She informed quietly.

"Of course, he is!" Edwin derided.

Elsie didn't like his action. She knew that her father and cousin had never been on good terms, but this time she knew how genuine her father sounded when he voiced out his concern for Edwin.

But leaving that point unattended, she said, "Brother, has someone said something to you? Or are you stressed because of the pressure of the investigation? If there is any other reason then please tell me. May be I can help you with it?!"

Edwin stared at her innocent face and thought how she was lucky for not experiencing what he was going through. And he was glad that she didn't need to.

Standing up from his chair, he walked past her to avoid her hopeful eyes.

"You can't understand little sister." He breathed out.

Elsie's lips pursed in a thin line hearing his words.

-"You can't even stand up for yourself, Elsie. You can't even look into a person's eyes and speak your mind."-

Her elder sister, Eloise, had said that to her the day Elsie had found out that Lester was her mate.

Elsie was already not in a great mood because she was missing her mate. Her wolf was also yearning to meet Lester. Eloise's incessant taunting and every one treating her like a kid unsettled her. And now, her brother was not ready to trust her to share his problems.

'Am I that naïve?' She questioned herself.