A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin asked for all the details of the kidnapping in the Bluemoon pack. Rees provided him with the detailed report he had received from the Bluemoon pack.

While Ruth ran errands for Edwin, he read all the papers carefully. He did not want to miss any detail and regret it later. His last conversation with Ruth regarding her dreams unsettled him. He rather his wolf could feel that something was peculiar about her dreams.

He was trying to connect the dots to find the missing pieces. So far, he had concluded that the place from where the girl was kidnapped matched Ruth's description of the place she saw in her dreams. Yet, he could not be cent per cent sure.

There were many places with forest lines guarding the territory. Besides almost all the supernatural breeds living in the human world chose such places for themselves, as they not only provided privacy from the humans but also served as the natural borders and acted as a defence line.

Edwin groaned in annoyance before standing up and walking into the balcony of his chamber. He had seen how disturbed Ruth was because of the cries she heard in her dreams. If those were indeed the kidnapped girl's cries, then Edwin could not help but feel helpless and angry at himself.

The only good thing other than his and Ruth's budding love was, he was healing faster than before. He was thankful to Mrs Payne for that.

That night Ruth told Edwin that she wanted to go home. While taking care of Edwin and relishing his love, she could not pay attention to Mrs Payne. And that made her feel bad.

Edwin was reluctant to let her go away from him, but he understood her point of view well. Besides, Ida and Thea had informed him that Ruth's closeness with him and the longer time she was spending alone with him had caused mouths to move in 'the great manor'.

Edwin was sure that his aunt had run to her husband and complained to him about what happened the other day.

Edwin just hoped that things would not turn worse for Ruth. That was the very reason he was hiding his feelings for her all this time. Suffering was an inseparable part of her life, and Edwin hated that.

Elsie also suggested Edwin for maintaining some decent distance from Ruth for some days. The atmosphere in general in Vincardine was not favourable for his and Ruth's relationship. They could not let out the truth about their mate bond before he told her the truth about himself. And that needed time.

At last, Edwin agreed and even sweet-talked Ruth in making her understand the reality of their surroundings. In the end, they both agreed that although it would be upsetting for both of them, they needed to go back to their normal lives.

That night, after dinner, Ruth and Mrs Payne decided to go for a walk in the garden. In that late hour of the night, hardly anyone was out there. Ruth could see the happiness on the old lady's face after meeting Ruth.

It felt like the old times.

"So, Mrs Payne, what discussion happened between you and Edwin?"

Mrs Payne knew that Ruth's curiosity would lead her to this question.

"I have already told you that we did not talk anything in particular. He was just asking me if it was alright with me that you two spent so much time together."

"And what did you say?" Ruth asked curiously.

Mrs Payne raised her chin as she walked to Ruth's side. "I said that he is lucky that he is a O'Dell or I would have mind a lot!"

They both laughed at her answer.

"Thank you Mrs Payne! For understanding me... us!" Ruth said gratefully.

"I just want you to always be happy and achieve everything that you deserve, my child! But..."

"But?"

"Does this mean you have already given up on the most important goal of your life?"

The smile vanished within a second from Ruth's face. She had asked that question to herself multiple times. And every time she searched for the answer, Edwin's face occupied her mind and soul.

"I will get everything that Theodora has after marrying Edwin. Is there any need to do anything more for that?"

A deep scowl settled on Mrs Payne's forehead. This is what she was afraid of since the beginning.

"What happened, Mrs Payne? Have I said something wrong?" Ruth asked in a low voice, but from inside she knew that she had disappointed the old woman.

Mrs Payne did not say anything for some time. They both walked at a slow pace, side by side, under the night sky. The silence between them was thought-provoking.

"It is your decision if you want to find that answer, Ruth. Whatever you will choose, just know that I am always with you!"

Ruth smiled in relief. After ten more minutes of random topics, Ruth brought up the topic that she wanted to address for days but could not in all that happened with Edwin.

"Mrs Payne, I want to tell you something." She began.

"What is it Ruth? Is it about Florence again?"

Ruth shook her head. "No. I think she has learned her lesson the last time. It is about my dreams."

"What dreams? Your mind must be revisiting the past that the white feather showed you." Mrs Payne said.

"No. It is not about Theodora or Gerald."

Although Ruth sympathised with her Gerald, she found it difficult to say the word father. She had never used that word before, and after twenty-three years of life, she was not sure she could get used to it all of a sudden.

"Then?"

Ruth told Mrs Payne about the dream she was getting recently. She also told her about the conversation she had with Edwin in that regard. Mrs Payne's brows furrowed together in thoughtfulness.

"Do you know why I see pale face, red lips and fangs in my dream?" Ruth asked expectantly.

She did not miss how gravely serious Mrs Payne became after hearing her question.

"We see dreams of the things that are somehow related to our experiences, past memories or our suroundings."

Ruth frowned in confusion. "But I have not seen anyone with such a look. How can I dream about something that I have no idea about?"

Mrs Payne was silent at first. She then began, "you might have read about it somehwere."

Ruth thought, trying to recall if she had read such a description ever.

"Erm... I do not recall anything now." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Is there anything else?"

Ruth hesitated at first but then nodded slowly. "I am also thinking about something else. I have seen Rees, Lady Elsie and Lord Lester's eyes turning darker at times. As I am spending more time with Edwin, I have seen his eyes turning dark in the same way as he abruptly gets lost in his thoughts.

I asked them about it at different times, but they all shrugged it off, saying it must be my misunderstanding. Do you... do you know what it probably means?"

Finally, Ruth was addressing the issues she was ignoring for a long.

"Ruth have you heard a tale of a monster that has fangs and he used to drink blood out of people to tame his hunger?"

Mrs Payne's sudden question puzzled Ruth. She did not expect that.

"I... yes. I have. My mother used to tell me such folklores in my childhood. But that is all nonsense, right? She also told me about Vampires and werewolves. I even had the same conversation with Mr Payne once.

They all are just myths. I do not believe in any of it. We all are humans, and this world is only of humans!" Ruth said confidently.

She waited for Mrs Payne's response. After a brief silence, all she received from her was, "There is always more than what our eyes see, our ears hear and our skin touches."

Ruth stopped walking. All the suppressed questions hurled in her hazel eyes as she passed a suspicious look at Mrs Payne.

"Does that mean... you believe in their existence? And if yes then is it related to my dream and..." She sounded alarmed immediately.

Mrs Payne had a calm face as she looked at Ruth in a meaningful way.

"My belief does not matter Ruth. I am here only to guide you. It is you who has to search your right way, make decisions and execute them."

"Stop talking in puzzles Mrs Payne! I have this feeling that... that everyone is hiding something from me. All of you! Tell me what is it?" Frustration was clearly evident in Ruth's impatience.

Mrs Payne touched her shoulder tenderly. "It is not my place to fill in the blanks Ruth. You... only you need to do that for yourself."

That night Ruth kept tossing from one side to another as she replayed Mrs Payne's words in her mind. As the dawn approached, she found a way to get her mind its food.

She hit the library in 'the great manor' the first thing in the morning.. Recking through the shelves, she finally found something that could help her to get her explanations.