A MAZE OF GREED

This morning was the most happening one after these bleak times. Mr Payne's laugh resonated in the small house after many days, relieving Mrs Payne's heart.

The two young women-Ruth and Thea shared gossips that they heard in Mr Cooper's tailoring shop. Rees described his experience of working for the O'Dell family.

During the conversation, his eyes curiously examined Ruth's face. Every time he mentioned Edwin's name, her brows furrowed, and lips turned down as if hearing his name disturbed her repose.

'And how is she going to accept Master as her mate?' He sighed mentally.

"I am glad that you came, Rees. We only had heard about you and your handsome face from both Ruth and Thea. But finally we get the pleasure to meet you." Mrs Payne- now more comfortable- said with a teasing yet warm smile.

"Pleasure is all mine, Mrs Payne. I did not know Thea was this close to you. I think I was the only one left out after all." There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I am more adorable and likable than you think, Rees." Thea stuck her tongue out at him teasingly.

But Ruth knew how he felt. She had felt that on many occasions.

"But now you are not! You don not need to feel that way anymore. Because now you have us... me." Ruth whispered the last word only for him to hear.

Rees smiled at her.

'I hope some day my Master will hear these same words from you.' He hoped.

Thea and Ruth prepared a simple yet delicious lunch while Rees engaged the old couple with his tales of heroism that the two young ladies discredited. But they did not point it out right away and let the old couple get impressed by him.

They decided to use that against Rees when the time comes with evil smirks. Little did they know that all of those tales were accurate. The only difference was the party on the opposite side of Rees was a supernatural creature most of the time.

Rees loved this experience. After the recent events, his mind was disturbed, and he could not think of a single moment where he had peace and rest. But conversing with Mr and Mrs Payne along the pleasant and joyous company of both Thea and Ruth made him drop every problem aside temporarily.

He was glad that he listened to Thea's suggestion when she asked him to spend the day with everyone. Then he remembered the real reason for his acceptance of that idea.

Rees heard Thea and Ruth chattering amongst themselves while giggling and kidding each other. Their heartbeats were steady. Considering it a right opportunity, Rees tried to dig more about Ruth with the old couple.

Thea had told him as much as she knew, and that was nothing much. If Lester's suspicion was right, then Ruth must have a purpose. Why would the Moon Goddess choose her as Edwin's mate if she did not have one?

"I am happy that Ruth has both of you as a family." Rees traded safely at first.

"No, young man. It is other way around. We are lucky that we have her with us and for us." Mr Payne said proudly.

"She is an angel. My sweet daughter!" Mrs Payne agreed.

Rees smiled at their words. "I wish her parents were present here to see what a beautiful and kind woman she has grown into."

Thea told him that Ruth's mother died years ago when she was thirteen. And she did not know who her father was, neither she searched for the answer.

Mrs Payne's face softened hearing that. "I wish that too, Rees. Though she does not show it, I know how much she misses her mother. She is relying on us but tell me, how many days we are left with in hands?"

"I have suggested her about marriage. But that girl is so stubborn and that idea does not pass through her head." Mr Payne sighed.

Now that made Rees interested in listening. He let the couple talk.

"Look how happy Thea and you are. I want my Ruth to find a man to take care of her, to love her and to make her happy. But where we can find such a gentleman in this Eastern part? Rees, you are her friend so I can tell this to you." There was a hidden question mark in Mrs Payne's last words.

Rees nodded his head. "Of course, Mrs Payne. Have not you accepted me as your family only some time ago?"

True to his capability, Rees played with his words skillfully.

The old woman glanced towards the kitchen, making sure that Ruth and Thea were not listening to their conversation. Turning back to Rees, she leaned closer and said in a low voice.

"A beautiful woman as Ruth with a curse of poverty is an easy target for the evils in our society. I am always worried about her. Who will look after her, take care of her after we pass away?"

"Mrs Payne, please do not say such thing. You have a long life to live." This time, Rees meant what he said.

"She is right, Rees. This is life and we have lived ours in a best way we could. The days we have now are like bonus. But we do not know when the time will decide to write our fate. We want Ruth to settle down with a responsible man before we close our eyes forever." Mr Payne said with concern in his eyes.

They were not worried about their old age or their nearing death. All they cared about was Ruth.

Rees wanted to tell them that they did not need to worry about that. But then he himself had some other reasons for worrying.

'What if Ruth rejects Edwin as her mate?' That only thought was keeping him on the verge of a breakdown.

If Edwin's current state was only because he could not stay away from her, then Rees did not want to imagine what would happen if he got rejected by her. He did not want his leader's fate to turn the same way as his friend's- Layla fate did a few years ago.

"Do not worry, Mr Payne, Mrs Payne. I, Thea and our families are here to take care of Ruth. I am sure she is destined to be with a fine man. We just have to wait until she finds him."

'Or until their fate finds a middle ground for them.' He kept that thought to himself.

Before Rees could ask more, Thea arrived with a pot full of steaming soup followed by Ruth with dishes of food in her hands.

"If you three are done with all the talking then let's eat the food." Thea put the pot in the middle of the circle made by the other four people in a small room.

"Look who is talking! Says the girl whose tongue run faster than the time." Rees scoffed, teasing his fiancée, just to see that cute glare she passed in his way.

Thea narrowed her eyes at him.

~"If you can read my mind right now then know that my tongue is not as fast as yours in special cases, my dear bad wolf!"~

As per her expectations, Rees read her mind. And her thought made him choke on his spit. He coughed with his eyes opened wide.

Ruth was fast to get by his side. She passed him a glass of water while she ran her hand up and down on his back.

"Rees are you okay? Take it slow. There. There." She said.

But she failed to notice that mischievous smirk on her best friend's face while Rees promised mentally to prove his fiancee's words right.

The rest of the time they spent enjoying the food and laughing and chattering.

Claire, Ruth's other neighbour, passed by Mr and Mrs Payne's room. The loud sounds of laughs made her curious.

She placed her ear on the closed door in the hope to listen to something, but that was not much of a use. She only heard two different voices, out of which one belonged to a male and another was female's. The other three voices she recognised belonging to Mr and Mrs Payne and Ruth.

She had not heard Ruth's free laugh in days. She did not hear it ever to say the truth. Ruth was a timid person. The most she had heard from her was occasional giggles.

Then who were these two people, and why they were all gleeful when Mr Payne was still not completely recovered from his illness?

She was curious and needed answers. And to get some extra help, she ran downstairs to knock on the familiar door.

*

*

*

Fannie was cleaning a chamber that was at the end of the corridor. No one was allowed to enter it except three people, and one of them was Fannie.

Her hands worked skillfully, but her mind wandered to only one face-Edwin O'Dell. She did not know what exactly happened more than a week ago. No person from the servants or guards knew.

Only the family members and some trusted guards of Lord Augustus and Edwin were aware of the real reasons. Everyone in the family walked with lines of worry on their forehead.

Fannie had not seen Edwin during this time. She was worried for him. She had tried to ask Theodora about it, but her mistress dismissed her, saying she was only a petty servant and should not intermingle in the family matters.

Asking anyone else was out of the question. What bothered Fannie was the fact that even that arrogant man-Rees also knew the truth.

Fannie had spent years working for Theodora. She had been cleaning up her mess and covering up her secret since then. And yet, she did not trust Fannie with what happened with Edwin.

Fannie was angry, but what she could do other than fuming inside and cursing her mistress to her heart's content?!

She did not hear the footsteps behind her. It did not matter anyway as it was not any person but a cunning and predatory werewolf.

She shrieked when someone grabbed her from behind. His one hand held her captive against his chest while the other one grabbed her left breast in a tight grip.

The pain sprang in those bundle of muscles till her face contorted in discomfort.

"Hmmm.... You still feel the same, Fannie!"

She recognised that thick voice. How could she forget the voice that had her on its command? It had her on her knees for doing the unspeakable things. It was not like she had not enjoyed doing them.

She was just caught off guard because she had not expected him to be there at that time.

"What do you want?"

Fannie was in no mood to deal with him. Her mind was occupied by only Edwin. She wanted to see him. She wanted to be there for him and take care of him if he needed- in every way possible, in every way he pleased.

"Well... well. It seems that you are not happy to see me after a long time, dear Fannie?!"