A MAZE OF GREED

A man, average height and big moustache walked cautiously on the narrow road of one of the alleys in Cantonova. He had a shawl wrapped around his body and head partially covered by it.

His eyes kept darting left, then right as if anticipating someone jumping out of the shadows to scare the daylights out of him.

He startled and immediately came into a defensive stance with his one hand reaching for the dagger that was stuck in his waistband under the shawl. His heart lurched in his chest, breaths rapid and heavy, chest moving up and down with a thin layer of perspiration on his forehead.

"It is just a cat..." He exhaled warm air through his mouth and ordered his heartbeats to calm down.

Taking another deep breath and filling his chest with enough oxygen, he resumed walking. He had to hurry and reach the port before dawn..

Someone was waiting for him there in a shabby, small boat that could not travel far in the wild ocean. But it was enough to reach its destination.

The man had worked carefully in a hostile environment to get what he was supposed to get. His footsteps were light on the hard ground yet rapid.

Five more minutes then after two more alleys, he would reach the port unharmed. His destination seemed nearer... very near.

The light from the lighthouse relaxed his heart. He was indeed very near.

But wait!

He came to a halt, his leg dangling in the air contemplating if it should land on the ground. His body tensed as he felt the sudden change in the air.

The serene silence of Cantonova sent chills down his spine. There were no sounds- no dogs, no cats, no wind gushing and even the ocean seemed frozen.

Gulping down nervously, he rested his advanced foot on the road. His eyes carefully scanned the surroundings.

There was no one, nothing other than the shadows. However, the hairs on his body stood up straight in alarm.

There was something definitely wrong here! He needed to run as fast as he could.

He turned to do just that when a blow aimed for his guts. The impact was so powerful that threw him flying in the air, only to collide his back on the wall behind him.

The attack left him gasping for air. A white pain sprang up in his guts. He clenched the wounded part of his body and coughed. The attack had taken him off guard.

He somehow managed to stand back on his feet, staggering and losing his balance a couple of times. But the same wall came as support.

He again searched in the shadows for his attacker, his heart had again started racing faster in his chest.

He faced to the right to find no one, then to the left but found no one.

Should he call them out? Should he challenge them for a face to face battle?

He mentally scoffed at his thoughts. Who was he fooling? He was no match to them.

The only thing that he could do to save himself was run from there.

His plan went flying in the air as a punch landed on his face, followed by the crackling sound of breaking of bones. Blood splattered on his face and shirt, his eyes watered unable to take more pain.

Giving in to his pain, he kneeled on the ground, unable of finding the energy to stand.

He spat some blood collected in his mouth. He tensed again when he felt another presence, right in front of him.

He slowly looked at the pair of black boots and glided his gaze upwards to find a tall and muscular man standing in front of him. His face was hidden by the shadows, but his silhouette alone rang the warning bells above his head.

The man knew he was doomed, but humans are always known for trying and not giving up. Especially when it was a battle for life.

The man pulled out the dagger from his waistband and charged at the man in front of him with a war of cry. His movements were swift and fast that he could have taken any other man by surprise.

Unfortunately, the tall man in front of him was not any other man.

Before the man's dagger went anywhere near to his attacker, his hand froze midair-shaking violently. His eyeballs popped out of his skull at the sight in front of him.

His attacker was indeed not any other man because what he saw was not a human, but a demon!

With a human body, the creature had obsidian eyes with golden streaks. It had the head of a wolf with brown fur covering it up to his neck.

The creature captured the man's hand that was still shaking with the dagger in it with his hairy hand. His black and sharp claws, digging deep into his skin.

The man's face contorted in pain and a scream full of agony left him, cutting through the silence of the night.

"Let us show you the hospitality of Vincardine!" The creature said in its animalistic voice.

And the man knew that it was his end, not knowing what surprises waited ahead for him.

*

*

*

Theodora was not feeling well lately. She was always restless, a shadow of something ominous following her way.

Augustus had asked her multiple times and had made sure to make her feel better but clearly failed. This was not the first time that the feeling of- something bad is about to happen- gripped her chest in a deadly vice grip.

Whenever her heart became restless, it indicated the upcoming danger. Her worry was not baseless.

The tea she had in front of her had turned cold after minutes of stirring it with a spoon. The sugar dissolved long ago and mixed with the liquid.

Fannie observed her Lady keenly. It was clear that something was bothering her mind. She had never seen Theodora this lost and worried.

Her attention was diverted from her Lady by the echoing footsteps. She craned her neck to see who it was.

"Good morning, Lady Theodora!"

Theodora blinked dumbfoundedly, clearing her mind of the diverse thoughts.

"Here comes the devil!" Fannie said under her breath.

Little did she know that she was not audible to the human ears, but the man was anything but a human.

"D-Douglas?"

"You do not look well, My Lady." Douglas noted, ignoring Fannie's comment.

Theodora shook her head. "No... I am fine! Thank you!"

Even in such a condition, Theodora did not miss on her etiquettes as a Noble Lady.

Douglas pulled a chair and sat beside her as if he owned the place.

"Fannie, bring two cups of tea for us." He ordered without looking at the maid.

He knew she was hiding behind the curtain. He always knew, Fannie thought.

Wordlessly, she went into the kitchen, leaving the two of them to themselves.

"Theodora..." Douglas reached for her hand, and she did not mind.

She trusted his werewolf senses to know that there was zero possibility of someone catching them close to each other.

His touch that used to relax her immediately, could not do its magic this time.

"What is going in your mind? You know I am here for you!" Douglas looked at her with his emerald coloured eyes.

"There is nothing!" Came her curt reply.

Living with werewolves, Theodora had learned over time how to control her heartbeats to not let anything out to a werewolf.

"If you do not trust me enough to share your thoughts, then I will not insist on you. But I am worried for you, Theodora!

Do you remember when was the last time we had spent time together?"

Douglas was right. It had been months that they had not been together the way they both desired. Theodora was busy with her responsibilities towards her family, and Douglas was busy with his business.

And whenever they managed some time for themselves, Augustus or someone else was there to interrupt them.

"I miss you, love! I miss everything about you! Do not you miss me at all?" Douglas ran the back of his fingers sensually on her bare forearms.

She had goosebumps by his touch. He never failed to get a reaction from her with his words or touch.

Theodora stayed quiet, relishing his presence and unique scent that only belonged to him.

Douglas had a great affection for rich and fragrant scents. He spent a hefty amount buying various classic fragrances from all over the world.

Rich people have rich interests!

"It is not like that, Douglas. I am just tired these days, I guess."

Even though Theodora shared more intimacy with him than her husband, she was smart enough to know what to discuss and what not to discuss with others.

For Douglas, she was initially only a golden fish that he baited and caught. But over time, she became his addiction, his drug that he could not go long without tasting.

And for Theodora, he was her escape from her reality. He had to offer everything that she desired, and her husband could not give her.

And the important reason for being with Douglas was he reminded her of the familiarity that she cherished in her heart!

"Then let me take your tiredness away, my love!"

Douglas's words were enough for her to cave in to her desires. She needed her to escape desperately and immediately.

And he was in front of her with open arms that she could not and did not want to decline.

When Fannie returned with the two cups of tea, she saw two empty chairs.

Maybe the tea was meant to go waste after all!