A MAZE OF GREED

WARNING: This chapter contains some violent stuff, including torture and pain. Reader's discretion is recommended. If you are not a fan of violence, then kindly skip this part.

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Ruth was tensed more than stunned after Mrs Linlithgow left Mr Cooper's shop. The old man had warned Ruth to complete the work within four days or else he would not spare her third mistake.

Thea asked Mr Cooper if she could help Ruth. Making a dress and that too with hundreds of suggestions in just four days was not an easy task, if not impossible.

Thea was already burdened under the load of work, and if she helped Ruth, it meant late in those works which would further lead to displeased customers. As a cunning businessman, Mr Cooper declined Thea's request without a second thought.

"It is fine, Thea! I will manage!" Ruth had said..

But only God knew how she was going to manage that. Although the work was tiresome, Ruth was excited too. She had never worked on such type of garment before. Mrs Linlithgow had a good taste and sense of fashion, Ruth must give that to the lady.

There went her bright days and peaceful nights disturbed!

Ruth smiled at Zoe, who had curled up herself beside Mrs Payne, sharing her blanket. At least someone had a good sleep in their fate!

Ruth began working on the golden dress with a dejected sigh.

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Edwin and Lester were bored after watching the four people in front of them being tortured brutally. Those old ways did not entertain them anymore.

The men had even once had a conversation about inventing new torture techniques which would be more useful and entertaining than the traditional ones. Maybe they could do something about including them in the curriculum at Academy.

Rees had already given them brief information about those men.

And that information had nothing but added to their worries. Especially the involvement of the Centaurs.

The beating stopped abruptly when Edwin raised his hand in the air. The guard, who had a thick wooden bat in his hand, was drenched in sweat and blood drops.

Edwin raised from his chair and slowly walked to the four spies. He stopped, then crossed his hands behind his back.

"I think this is enough. Now, let's come to the business." His voice was cold, biting.

"What a pity! Rooting human spies in the lands of the supernaturals so that we can not trace you! What kind of wicked ways some beings are using these days, right Lester?!"

Edwin did not leave the eyes of those shaking figures. He looked straight into them, unwavering and determined.

"It is not really that wrong, my friend! I mean none of these were forced. They chose to do this for what? Money, drugs, alcohol or-"

"Hatred for you sleek bastards!" the second spy of Cantonova spat in disgust.

"Well... fair enough!" Lester just shrugged.

Rees sighed while shaking his head in disappointment. The man should have kept his mouth shut to not draw the predator's attention.

Edwin's cerulean blue eyes slowly moved to the second spy. He took in his appearance from head to toe. The man was chained to the wall along with the three others.

His forehead and lips were bleeding. His limbs had black and blue bruises from beating by the wooden bat. His body cowered under Edwin's merciless gaze, but he tried putting up a strong exterior.

"You seem an interesting person." Edwin smiled- viciously and coldly to freeze the bones.

"Now, we all will play a game."

Edwin's announcement put the four spies in a state of confusion. What kind of insane man was this?

"The rules are simple. I will ask a question, and you will answer it truthfully. One mistake, one punishment. No fouls, no escape! Is that clear?"

Lester directed Rees to bring him the remaining glass bottle of alcohol that he and Edwin were enjoying till now, now that the game was about to start. He was excited!

He had missed all the fun last time, but tonight he was going to enjoy it not one but four times!

"Wh-what do you want? What kind of game is this?" The first spy appointed by the Goblins stuttered.

A handsome smile broke on Edwin's face. "It is very simple, pal. I promise you will love it!"

The men shook their heads, not trusting a word Edwin said. That man was a maniac!

"Before we begin, any advise to our players?" Edwin turned his head to his left with a raised brow. But the answer came from his right.

"Oh, I have one. As long as you spill the truth the probability of you winning the game is more! Trust me, it works!" Lester winked at them.

And now the four men wondered if the blue-eyed psychopath was insane or the green-eyed one was?

"Now... shall we begin?" Edwin smirked.

The four people saw nothing but danger grinning at them in Edwin's eyes.

"Question number one- why?"

Edwin's question was followed by silence filled with heavy breaths and loudly beating heartbeats.

Edwin's eyes watched all four of them like a hawk. Sensing and savouring the fear in their eyes. It made him feel powerful! The men stole a secret look with each other, but their lips remained sealed.

"Oh, I have another advise for them. Do I have a permission my leader?" Lester asked, raising a finger.

Edwin only nodded once.

"So my advice for you is... DO NOT try his patience, EVER!"

The four chained men gulped down their spit that was mixed with blood nervously.

"W-we do not know what you are saying." The spy of Centaurs stuttered.

His restless eyes stilled for a moment when they locked with Edwin's.

"Ooops! Wrong answer, pal!", Came Lester's not so apologetic voice.

His stilled eyes widened, bulging out of his skull when a punch landed on his chest, breaking the bones of his ribcage. Blood sprang from his mouth, but his voice remained stuck inside him.

The moment Edwin's punch landed on the man; it did not only affect the receiver, but also the other three.

"P-please! Please! Show some mercy, My Lord! We- we do not know anything." The first spy who was sent by the Goblins pleaded helplessly.

"You say you do not know anything! Hmm... then let me ask second question. I hope you will answer it truthfully." Edwin said calmly.

The calm that had set the four minds in turmoil.

"Y-yes. We will... yes!" The spy agreed hurriedly.

"Second question- Do you know each other?"

Large beads of sweat rolled on their bodies. They hesitantly looked at each other. When their eyes met, they had already given the answer to Edwin's question.

Edwin already knew the truth. However, he asked that question anyway, just for his fun!

"Stop with your sick game, you monster! We know who you are! We know what kind of a demon you are!" The spy from Cantonova screamed at Edwin's face.

His body shaking violently, the veins in his body popping out, about to burst.

Edwin took a threatening step closer to him. The tips of their noses almost touched each other. Edwin easily hovered above the man's form with his towering height and muscular physic. It resembled a giant looking down at a small child.

They stared at each other for a minute that was filled with thick tension. The man struggled to keep up with Edwin's hard stare. The poison of hatred in his mind worked as his driving force.

"So you know who we are, huh?" Edwin almost hissed.

"Y-yes! I know you are not human. None of you are! You are those malicious creatures- the werewolves!" Tears of frustration streamed down the man's face.

But he was not ready to back down. Edwin was impressed by his courage. Not everyone had a heart of steel to stand him.

"And who told you that?"

The man did not want to answer. But something in Edwin's darkened eyes compelled him to answer.

"M-my Lord."

His answer made the other three shift uneasily on their feet.

"Do not fool me, human! Your Lord is not smart enough to know that. Now tell me... who. the. fuck. told. you. that?"

The man tried clamping his mouth shut... he tried hard. But he had no control left over his body.

Edwin's eyes darkened into a darker shade of blue as he did not leave the man's eyes.

"I... I do not know. So-someone told my Lord. Th-they... they are friends! They will save us. All of the humans."

"From whom?"

Lester removed the glass bottle of alcohol that he had in his mouth away. He leaned forward to listen carefully, just like Rees and the two other guards.

"You!"

"aahahhhh...." The man's cry dispersed into densely tensed air like water vapours.

Edwin had made sure to not let him feel more pain. That spy was not a criminal but a victim. He was misguided and falsely informed.

The people like him were not his enemies. Instead, he had to enlighten them and show them the right path.

The man had a lot of work to do!