A MAZE OF GREED

Ruth followed the drops of blood from her hand injury fell on the grass below. She didn't feel much pain, only the irritating sensation. All this time, her eyes were only searching for an entry into the old building.

She even fell while climbing to reach a window. But she had not thought about looking down.

Sometimes, rather than looking up, keeping your eyes down help!

Ruth caught sight of a small rectangular slit that was only six to seven inches in width. It had no covering except a small plant grown near it. Her drops of blood were on that plant.

All she could see through that slit was pitch black.

'There might be a cellar or something.' She thought.

She was about to turn her attention away from that slit when she heard a distant sound. It was very faint to decipher clearly yet was very familiar at the same time. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she narrowed her eyes. She bent down a little but was also ready to sprint out of there if needed.

That dull sound got mixed with the call that she felt since she had come to this place. She was bewildered and wondered about the source of that call. And now more she kept staring at that dark, the more she got convinced that whatever she was feeling, whatever drawn her to it was here… right in front of her!

She could feel that pull more potent than ever. Something inside her yearned to go in there and find out the reason for her eccentric emotions. But her logical side told her that it was all her mind and there might be no one in that dark.

But then she heard it.

The sound of breathing.

Her heart started frantically beating against her chest, as every part of her rationale warned her to run away from whatever that lay in the dark. But every cell of her body was alive, getting drawn to that enigmatic source of spirit that she couldn't overpower.

"Wh-who is there?" Ruth asked in a low voice.

And then another sound fell on her ears- clinking of metal on the floor.

Now, it was not only about curiosity. But her mind and heart agreed to know what or who was in there. Ruth leaned down more, but the dim moonlight was not enough to see inside. The place was completely dark, and she saw a thick layer of dust on the slit.

'How could someone be in there?' She questioned herself multiple times. But she knew that she had heard someone's breaths. She knew someone was in there, and that person was aware of her presence.

"Hello?" She called again.

Ruth strained her ears to listen to the other side, and this time the sound of breathing was louder and more proximate. Someone had walked near that slit. And then again, she heard metal hitting the floor.

She was confused and leaned more to get a good look. Now, the distance between her face and the slit in the wall was only a couple of inches, yet she couldn't see who was on the other side.

Her eyes widened, and her heartbeat quickened when she saw the dust blown in her direction. Whoever was on the other side was breathing hard and was very near to the slit, maybe looking at her in the way she did to them.

Ruth's hand itched to reach in there, to which her mind obliged. She lifted her hand and with heavy breaths and loud gulps, outstretched it till only a few centimetres left to get her answer.

But before that happened, she was pulled back roughly by her arm and was spun around that she felt dizzy for a moment. She couldn't understand what happened in that split second. She literally got an attack as she was not anticipating getting caught. And this time, a scream of scare betrayed her will and broke the silence of the night.

She closed her eyes tightly while panting heavily. A wind blew on her face and in her hair. She felt like she had just come after touching the death by a stroke of sheer luck. She took some moments to curb her madly beating heart and non-rhythmic breathing.

Bracing herself for the worst, she slowly opened her eyes to see the tall birch trees. If she was scared before, then now she was horrified. The old building was looking at her from far away, and she was on the cobbled path, in between the rows of birch trees.

How the hell she walked this much distance in a couple of seconds?

She stood there dumbfoundedly with her mouth agape. Her brain did the math to put the time and the distance in the right equation.

Someone cleared his throat, and her body went still.

"I prefer to speak with people while looking at their face and not their back." That rich voice was filled with anything but humour.

Gulping down in nervousness, she bit the insides of her cheek but turned to face the person anyway. And the first thing that she noticed was angry olive-green eyes staring right back at her.

That handsome face was familiar to her memory, but she couldn't put a name on it. All Ruth knew was that man was not someone to mess with.

"RUTH!"

Within a blink of an eye, Ruth was attacked by Thea. She hugged her tightly till Ruth started coughing. Ruth thanked the man for separating them, but contrary to her expectation, that man was Rees and not the man with olive-green eyes.

Rees's jaw was clenched, two vertical lines of anger were eminent on his forehead. And a look that he passed to Ruth when their eyes met for the first time, made her insides stirred. That look clearly screamed disappointment.

Ruth again bit the insides for her cheek and put her head down, unable to meet Rees and the other man's eyes. To stand by her side, Thea didn't move from her place.

The two men glared down at the two women, who were clearly at a fault. The silence was too much to bear, and Rees decided to break it.

"Milord-"

Lester made him shut his mouth by showing his hand. His eyes had not left Ruth's apologetic face. A surge of thoughts arose in his mind, and the pile of questions only multiplied.

He was shocked to see Ruth in 'the great manor' to say the least. But what shook him as she was right there where no one was supposed to be. He had smelled her blood on the dried grass. His insides shuddered at the possibility of him getting late to pull her away from that slit in the wall.

"I would like to hear everything from you two."

Lester had recognised Rees's scent on Thea and his mark on her neck. So he knew who she was. And Rees had already told about Ruth in the woods a few months ago. But what interested him was why and how they were in 'the great manor'.

Ruth and Thea glanced at each other, saying silently to answer the man.

"I am still waiting, ladies!" Lester's voice held impatience.

Rees was worried, angry and shocked at the same time. He had not expected Thea to repeat the same stupidity. And bringing Ruth along with her had blown his mind.

When He and Lester went into the old building to meet Edwin, the scent of human blood caught not only theirs but also Edwin's attention. That scent was accompanied by the beating of two hearts.

Rees recognised Thea immediately due to their mate bond and was quick to found her. Lester followed the scent of the blood and caught Ruth before the unexpected had happened.

Rees knew that Lester had used his supernatural speed to get Ruth away from the old building. Explaining it to Thea was not a problem for him because she already knew the truth but Ruth… she looked shocked out of the shell, numerous questions visible in her eyes.

Clearing her throat, Thea began. "We apologise for sneaking in like this. Please forgive us, milord!"

Her words held a sincere apology but also anger.

"I will decide that after hearing the full story, Miss Green." Lester had his hands crossed behind his back, his shoulders broad and straight in a horizontal line.

Thea was intimidated by his authoritative aura. And Ruth was too shaken to lift her head and meet the man's gaze.

Thea's eyes moved to Rees's, and she could feel his heart beating fast in worry. Reading her thoughts, Rees answered her unvoiced question.

"He is Lester Wright and my master's best friend. You have to answer his every question WITH respect."

Rees very well knew Thea. If Lester had said anything that she didn't like, then she would have retorted back without giving it another thought.

Thea's eyes held recognition. She had seen Lester on the night of the celebrations, but after months, she didn't expect him to be present in 'the great manor'.

Bowing her head once, she began, "Milord, can I ask you for a permission, please?"

Lester was taken aback by her sudden request. He observed Thea for a moment longer, and she didn't waver her gaze from his. While Rees mentally prayed to Moon Goddess for no more trouble.

Lester was surprised and curious, so he nodded his head shortly.

Not only the two men but Ruth was also surprised to hear Thea's request. She dared to look at her sideways but then again put her head down.

Smiling at Lester politely, Thea responded. "Thank you, milord!"

Then she walked straight towards Rees, and before anyone could comprehend anything, her hand rose in the air and slapped Rees across his face.