A MAZE OF GREED

The rest of the day passed in peace. Ruth kept herself engaged with Ida and the newly wedded couple. She avoided confrontation with Mrs Payne and, kept her distance from Edwin.

He knew something was terribly wrong with her. But if she wanted some space, then he was ready to give it to her, no matter how it troubled him.

The joy was over and, now came the phase of emotional farewell. Mrs Green's eyes had not stopped tearing up and, Mr Green was putting up a tough face even though he was afraid that now he could not see his angel's smiling face every morning and the night after he returned home from the work.

Now his home would not be ringed with his nightingale's chirping. Now he would not need to find a middle ground between his wife and daughter's bickering. Now he would not have to deal with her stubbornness.

And that was breaking his heart piece by piece.

"Ida?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you stop gawking at that man? You just have danced for what is like two hours straight with him. Is not that enough?" Ruth said irritatingly.

Ida was taken aback by her reaction. Instinctively her eyes went to find Edwin's to see he was already looking in their direction. With the distance he was at, Ida was sure that he must have heard Ruth.

~"She is upset. Do not mind her. She does not mean to be harsh on you."~ She heard his voice in her head.

Ruth was not only her friend but was also her Luna. How could she be upset with her?

~"Yes, Master! I understand!"~

Ida smiled. She was seeing Edwin in a different light since Ruth came into his life. Ida got to know about Ruth only just before she was appointed as Elsie's head maid.

Ida was not sure at first about the capabilities of a human Luna. But as a loyal servant of Edwin, she knew to trust him.

She had noticed how Ruth has brought out a different side of him- gradually and unknowingly.

Ida was touched that Edwin cared to explain his mate's intention, to not let her feel bad about it. And that was something!

"I am sorry Ruth! What were you asking before?"

Ruth sighed. Hearing Ida's polite voice made her realise how harsh her words must have sounded. But to not dwell in awkwardness, she asked her previous question.

"Are not we suppose to accompany Thea to her new home? I mean we are friends and they are shifting in the servants quarters soon anyway."

Ida knew what Ruth was referring to. Mr and Mrs Welby had told everyone that they needed to do some family ritual. It was a private affair and, only family members were allowed to attend it.

Ida felt bad that Ruth was left out of the most important part of her best friends' life. Even she was also attending the blood bond ceremony.

She knew that Edwin was listening to their conversation.

~"She is suspicious. Trade safely."~ Ida heard him say.

"Yes, but I think as their close friends we should respect their family's wish. I am sure if it was possible then Mr and Mrs Welby would not have stopped us from attending the ceremony. Every family has their way, right?!"

Ruth nodded, still not completely convinced. But then she was also glad that she had a free night. The note she had hidden in her dress was crumpled, but the message in it was bugging her mind.

As the darkness took over, all the werewolves walked towards the woods and, all the humans found their way to their beds. In that silence of the night, Ruth changed her dress. Mrs Payne decided to spend her night at the Green's house as she thought Mrs Green would need some emotional support.

There was no one to question Ruth when she draped a shawl around her and sneaked from 'the great manor'. She kept looking behind. Her heart thudded in her chest as she made her way towards the local library.

It was a long way and, her tired legs did not help her speed. She would have ignored that note before. But after the recent events in her life, she did not know what life would throw at her face.

*

*

*

Thea's nerves were nervous as she rode a carriage along with Rees. Two other carriages carried, Rees's family members along with his parents.

Thea felt bad that her parents were not even aware of this big part of her life. She was not sure of what to expect. She asked Rees about what this ritual would be like and, he had answered that she should see it for herself. He wanted her to enjoy it.

Ruth was also not there to calm her nerves. Thank god, at least Ida would be there with her. Or she did not know what she would have done in all those unfamiliar faces.

Thea watched outside through the window, and her nervousness only rose as they entered the woods.

"Thea, are you okay?" She heard Rees' voice not too far from her ear.

"Hmm," She nodded absentmindedly.

She had been in the woods before the series of murders began. She did not remember any structure or place large enough that could accommodate hundreds of people.

But in this world of supernaturals, anything was possible and she reminded herself to not get shocked even if she saw a prehistoric gigantic animal as her husband's pet in the backyard.

The carriage followed a path that took them deeper in the woods. Thea had not imagined the place would look so serene yet dangerous in the nighttime. The air around changed and, goosebumps formed on her skin.

She passed a sideways glance at Rees to see him sitting relaxed. He kept playing with her fingers as her hand rested in his lap.

"Have you been here before?" She asked.

Rees shrugged his shoulders. "No. This is also my first time coming here."

"Then how are you so calm about it?"

He looked at her with furrowed brows. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Thea wanted to smack him hard for his dumbness. How could he be so clueless of her nerves? She mentally rolled her eyes at him.

"When was the last time this ceremony took place?"

She asked, looking outside again.

Rees paused, then answered. "I do not know. But it is been a long ago."

She nodded, not caring if he saw it.

"Does every couple like us- a werewolf and a human- from any pack have to come here for the ceremony?"

"Yes," Rees replied.

"God! Why any resident of Vincardine does not know it?" Thea asked cocking her brow.

Rees smiled sheepishly as he answered.

"Well, if you exclude the pack members, then it is only half population who does not know about it. And I told you that it does not happen often."

Thea pursed her lips tight.

She then preferred silence and observed the route. Soon she realised that something was not right. Did not they just pass by the same tree ten minutes ago? She recalled it because of the distinct shape of its one branch.

She saw the same tree again. Were they moving in circles?

She was about to ask Rees but stopped when she realised one more thing. Her mind was focused on the tree, which she did not realise before that they had taken a different route than before.

She stressed her mind to figure out that the route changed when they passed through the dense cloud of fog.

Now more aware of her surroundings, Thea observed keenly with narrowed eyes.

"Honey, stop stressing over the route. There is no way you can remember it."

"What?" She turned to give a challenging look to her dear husband.

"The route to the cave is made and kept safe by the clan of witches who helped The great Lord George O'Dell Sr build Vincardine centuries ago."

Thea's eyes widened in shock. "You mean... there are more of such secret places in Vincardine?"

"Maybe." He raised his shoulders with another sheepish smile.

"God help us!" Thea mumbled under her breath.

The carriage slowed down, and Thea could not wait for more. Ignoring Rees's requests, she looked ahead by her head outside the window and her mouth left hanging in awe.

A large monolith stood in front of them, blocking their way. Where the hell did it come from?

Vincardine, although surrounded by mountains from one side and by sea from the other, was a town settled on the plain ground. Thea had not seen any such enormous monolith anywhere near it.

The carriage stopped, and everyone stepped out on the ground. Rees helped Thea with her wedding dress. The entourage stood in front of the grand monolith.

"Sweetheart, please close your mouth! There are mosquitoes and bugs around."

Thea realised all this time she was gaping at the monolith like a mad person. She immediately closed her mouth.

Mr Welby walked ahead, and nearing the monolith, he crouched down at a particular spot. Thea watched in confusion as he moved some plants aside. She could not see much in the dark. All the people being werewolves did not need light to see in the dark. But they forgot that there was a human with them.

Huh! Selfish animals!!

Mr Welby drew something on the foot of the monolith with his finger.

"No baby, he has not gone mad!"

That was it!

"Would you please allow me some privacy and stop reading my mind?!" Thea hissed dangerously, and Rees held his hands up in surrender.

When Thea again looked at what sorcery her father-in-law was doing, her jaw again hit the ground. A blue coloured fire burns in a symbol- a roaring lion. It was the official symbol of the O'Dells.

"Rees, why it is a lion and not a wolf?" She stopped her mind losing all her senses before she get this answer.

"It is a sign of gratitude. It is a story for some other time."

As the figure of the lion burned in blue flame, Mr Welby straightened up and stepped back. A loud rumble shook the ground beneath their feet, and Thea gasped, thinking it was an earthquake.

She saw a flock of birds flying above their head in the opposite direction- frightened. She moved her head in front again to see that the whole monolith moved upwards.

Thea instinctively took a step back, but Rees put his hand on her lower back.

"It is fine! Come now!"

Thea gulped down her dry throat, her eyes had not come to their normal size, just like her heartbeats. She kept chanting prayers that the rock would not fall and crush them all into thin sheets as they entered a whole new world!