A MAZE OF GREED

The three men sat shocked and speechless. What Lester told about the rogues had confused them to no extent.

"Did Lord Wright find anything else after that?" Rees asked.

Lester shook his head. "No. it was like those rogues disappeared completely. Father tried chasing their trail but he did not find anything solid. That was the reason he stayed back even though I came back to Vincardine."

"Did any rougues again found to be lingering around your pack borders?" Edwin asked.

"No. Surprisingly we did not find anything after that."

"Why did not Mr Wright tell me anything about it?" Edwin asked.

Lester hesitated but told, "you know how he believed in Lord Augsutus. He shared this incident with Lord Augsutus. Had not he told you about it?"

"Lester, you fool!" Edwin groaned. "When was the last time my uncle told anything to me other than his endless lectures on good behaviour?"

Lester cursed under his breath. "I am sorry Edwin. But I thought Lord Augustus told you about it before I returned to Vincardine. And when we did not find anything about it, I also let that topic slide away."

Edwin took a long breath to calm down. What was done was done and could not be changed.

"We have to find what that rogue was doing at the border of Vincardine. It can not be a mere coincident, can it?" Edwin said.

"Master, we also have another problem at hand."

"What now Rees?" Edwin was annoyed by everything.

"Have you ever thought of coming with a good news Rees? I wonder how Thea keeps up with you!" Lester grumbled, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

Rees only pursed his lips in a thin line.

"Apologies Lord Lester! I will try to get a good news at least once in my lifetime."

Lester narrowed his eyes at Rees. Before they end up in a bickering session, Edwin intervened.

"What is it Rees?"

"Master, our team that went to the neighbouring packs, got a piece of important news. One of our neighbouring pack's alpha was on a visit to a pack in the far south for some personal reason.

That Southern pack is an undersized pack with not much military strength. There he heard about kidnapping of cubs from that pack." Rees told.

Edwin's nostrils flared in anger. He punched the table in front of him, demanding an answer. "Why the hell we had no idea about it until now?"

Rees shifted uncomfortably in his place.

"Do I look like a fool to you, huh? I am a leader for God's sake!"

"You mean Moon Goddess's sake!"

"Lester! Not now!" Edwin warned him with a glare.

"Edwin please calm down. At least hear what he has to say first." Lester tried.

He gave a nod to Rees after making sure that Edwin was ready to listen further.

"They thought that their cubs met with some accident or got lost their way. But then the news of cubs getting kidnapped came from other such small packs too. Those alphas could not leave their packs in such situation and thus the alpha of our neighbouring pack tried to reach Lord Augustus through letters."

Not only Edwin but also Lester stiffened hearing that.

"He contacted Lord Augustus?"

"Yes My Lord. But that alpha told that he never got any reply of his letters."

"Then he should have reach to Edwin. He is our leader." Lester argued.

Rees nodded in understanding. "Yes, they should have reached their leader but which leader?"

"Rees!" Lester thundered in anger.

Was that man out of his mind?

"Pardon me, My Lord, Master! But that was the alpha's reply. Young Master has not assumed his title ceremonially. And, Lord Augustus is practically ruling our world for decades.

People are confused about whom to approach when they need help. And after everything that happened in Vincardine and in 'the great manor', people are in dilemma. People are not only choosing sides between the werewolves and the Vampires but also between the two O'Dell men."

A long silence prevailed in the room. The air in it became thick with tension. Every muscle in Edwin's body was taut and, every vein under his tan skin was under great pressure.

How did this happen? When did this happen? And did Edwin have no idea about this?

"It is all my fault."

"Edwin...."

"I relied on my uncle more than necessary. I should have been more careful with things. I was waiting for the right time to come out as a leader that people needs, but I guess I wasted more time in waiting.

I thought uncle Augustus was doing his job well. He is the one who controlled everything after my... my parents' death. I failed to notice that things have changed over time. I should have been more careful and more approachable for my people."

Lester felt bad for his friend. He understood Edwin's every past action, no matter how senseless it was. He understood why he was living in disguise. He was preparing himself for that greater cause.

Not only Edwin, but also other people like Mr Wright and Lester himself thought that Lord Augustus was maintaining the balance very well. He had achieved many great things as the eldest man of the O'Dell family.

People did not feel Edwin's absence because of him. Then what changed?

"Edwin, I think you need to talk to Lord Augustus. But before that we have two things at hands. One, finding about that rogue and two, kidnapping of the cubs."

Rees was always amazed how fast Lester's mood switched, befitting the given situation. He was playful at one moment, then was serious at the next. He was the only one who could talk sense even when Edwin was fuming in rage.

"Rees, you know what you have to do. And you are right Lester. I need to speak with uncle before it gets any more delayed." Edwin said.

Lester knew how angry Edwin was. He knew that feeling as an alpha. The guilt that crept in when any pack member got hurt was familiar to him as well.

He stood up then walked to where Edwin's coat was hung. He inserted his hand in its pocket then returned to where Edwin sat.

He held the brown piece of cloth in front of Edwin.

"What?" Edwin looked up in confusion.

"You need this. And now you know that you need her more than ever. Our people needs their Luna!" Lester took Edwin's hand and placed that brown cloth on his palms.

Patting him on the shoulder, he left, followed by Rees.

Edwin also left the meeting room and walked straight to the room on the first floor. Closing the door behind him, he pushed himself on the bed.

He inhaled sharply. Ruth's scent still lingered there. He had not let the maid change the bedsheet. He wanted Ruth's scent there as long as possible, reminding him of her presence near him.

He wished she was there with him at that moment. Edwin was torn between his family and his duties. How could his uncle be so negligent about the problems of their people?

If he was not able to help then he should have at least brought up the issue to Edwin, but he did not. Edwin was not ignorant to the subtle changes that had occurred in his uncle.

He kept turning blind eye to them because Augustus had looked after their world and the family business very well after his parents' death.

Something was wrong with his uncle, Edwin could feel it.

*** "What are you doing behind the curtain young man? Come here."

Little Edwin was scared after another fight between his grandfather and his uncle. He came to show his grandfather the picture he had drawn today. But after hearing the loud voices arguing with each other, he hides behind the curtain in fear.

Little Edwin shook his head as he clutched the curtain tightly.

The old man frowned.

"why do you not want to come out?" He asked, his hands crossed behind his back.

Even in his late ninety's, he stood as tall and robust as a rocky mountain.

"I... I am scared." Edwin's cerulean blue eyes showed his fear.

That made his grandfather's frown deepen. He was a warrior and, warriors never feared, he had taught Edwin.

"You are scared of your grandpa?" He asked.

Little Edwin ran to him and hugged his legs. "No. I am scared of uncle Augustus." He said in a small voice.

His grandfather picked him up and walked to the couch. Putting Edwin on it, he sat beside him.

"Edwin, how many times I have told you that a warrior does not know what fear is?! You are a warrior, my best man, a leader that the world will need. And you are afraid of your own uncle?"

"No, grandpa. I am not afraid of him but I am afraid FOR him."

His grandfather looked at Edwin in amusement.

"I do not understand what you are saying."

"Uncle Augustus is a good man but he needs to understand and accept his flaws. The more damaging of them is his anger. If he keeps going like this then I am afraid he might get himself in a trouble."

His grandfather was speechless. That kid was wiser than his age.

Pulling him to his chest, the old man said, "we can not do anything for that, Edwin. It is his life and if he chooses the path of destruction then there is nothing that you or I can do."

Edwin pulled away from him instantly. "No grandpa. Mother used to say that a family should always live together. If one falls, then the others should give him their hand.

If uncle Augustus ever falls, then I will help him get up. Because we are family!"

He smiled ear to ear, showing his fallen teeth in between. He held his drawing in front of his grandfather.

Two men and a woman smiled at a small boy and a baby girl. And a man and a woman were watching them from the sky.

"This is our family picture!" Little Edwin exclaimed happily.***

Edwin got emotional because of that childhood memory. He missed his grandfather!

"I promise I will help you get up uncle Augustus.. That was the promise I made to my parents years ago."