A MAZE OF GREED

Darius was living in the Crinudel for three days now and, yet he had not met with their leader. Every time he asked for it, he was responded that the leader was out of Crinudel and would meet him once returned.

Darius suspected that it was only a lie. The leader was in the Crinudel as he for sure knew that the Centaurs preferred to keep things to themselves. They hardly left their kingdom except for times of emergencies.

Today he decided to meet their leader no matter what. He could not waste his time here when he had many great things to do. Besides, he was sure that his parents must have been looking for him everywhere by now.

He only hoped that Hilton had done the task he had given him successfully and his parents would not bother Lisa to ask about his absence.

After finishing his morning routine, Darius walked out of the room he was staying in.

"Hey, wait!" He saw the maid who was assigned to take care of his needs.

She stopped for him after hearing his voice. "Where is your leader?" Darius did not waste time beating around the bush.

"She is out of-"

"Don't you dare feed me that bullshit!" Darius's mood was bad... very bad, and the thirst made him go crazy in need of blood.

The Centaurs- peace-loving creatures- were strict vegetarians. They included only fruits, vegetables and such natural items in their diet. And they offered the same to their guests no matter who they were.

The killing was frowned upon in the magical Kingdom of Crinudel except for an attempt of self-defence.

So hunting any wild animal was not an option for Darius. This was the longest he had gone without blood, and that was waking up his monster.

The woman gave him a long look before saying. "You need to meet our commander. He will tell you."

"And where is your commander?" Darius recalled his last interaction with that male Centaur. He was arrogant and over smart in Darius's opinion.

"Please come with me." She said before leading Darius to their commander.

The insides of the palace were as beautiful as its outsides. The creepers and flowers dominated the whole place, giving it fresh vibes. This place could turn one's sombre mood into a cheerful one instantly.

Leaving behind the palace, the maid took Darius towards the houses near the palace. Darius was amazed by their technique of building such sturdy and strong hanging bridges that were comfortable to use for the creatures like Centaurs.

Of course, the houses on the trees were mostly used by the vultures. Yet some Centaurs also liked to live on the heights, and their commander was one of them.

Crossing a small curvy bridge over a stream, she took him to one of the trees. Darius followed her on the upwardly slanting long bridge. That was a wholesome experience that he would have liked to have every day at his home.

Ten minutes later, they stood outside a home that was at the height of more than thirty feet.

"Please wait here." The maid said before disappearing inside the house.

Darius was scowling at anyone who looked in his way. He stood tapping his left foot impatiently on the wooden platform.

Two minutes later, the maid came with a message. "The commander is ready to meet you. Please come in!"

Darius rolled his eyes annoyingly at her over sweet voice. Getting inside the house, he saw a large room that had a sitting arrangement in 'L' shape around the room.

A man with curly ginger coloured hair, that reached below his ears and a long beard, sat on the couch. Darius found it funny how the Centaurs looked, sitting like that.

As soon as he saw Darius, he stood up to his full height. His upper human body was well chiselled with all the lines and grooves at the right places. He had a white coloured woollen scarf around his neck.

He wore a broad brown coloured leather belt around his waist that had their royal symbol of the rising sun engraved in the metal plate at the centre. His body below that belt was in a shape of a horse with four limbs and a hairy long tail.

The colour of his lower body was a pretty mix of black and brown. Both his human half and the horse-shaped other half were appealing.

"Lord Darius, I welcome you in the kingdom of Crinudel." His voice matched his rough appearance.

"After three days?" Darius asked sarcastically.

"I apologise for not meeting you before. But as you can see we are very busy in our duties unlike others who just finds time to waste sitting idly."

That is why Darius did not like this man at all. He was over smart and never shied away from showing it.

"Where is your leader?" Darius came straight to the point, ignoring the jab the male centaur just took at him.

"And think twice before lying to me because I can hear her heartbeats coming from the next room." Darius glanced at the closed door to the other side of the room.

A few seconds passed before the door was opened and came out a female Centaur who could easily take anyone's breath away.

She had a sharp jaw with dark hair knitted in multiple braids around her angular shoulders. She was wearing a red sleeveless blouse that left her perfectly shaped abs on display. She had a body of a warrior and confidence that oozed supremacy.

She wore multiple leather bands on her arms and around her both wrists. On her slender waist, she wore a black leather belt that had golden coloured small sun shaped metallic designs.

Her lower horse-shaped body was of white colour with a hairy long tail that appeared like a waterfall of honey.

Her brown eyes were sharp and, had the ability to hold a person where she intended.

"It was a cheap trick if you ask me, Alita." Darius fumed.

She was in the Crinudel all this time, yet she did not care to meet him for three days.

"Is anyone asking you that Darius?" She cocked a brow at him.

"Why did you do that? You know how valuable my time is!" Darius took an intimidating step towards her, but she stood unfazed and taller by two feet in front of him.

She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "It was fun though." She said.

"Unbelievable!" He muttered under his breath.

"Tielo, has our guest treated well?" Alita asked her commander and the most trusted man.

"Yes, Queen Alita!" He replied in a respectful tone.

"Sit down Darius." Alita gestured with her human hand before she herself sat on the special sitting arrangement they had for the comfort of their body.

They put their front limbs in front of the bench and the hindlimbs to the back and rested their middle portion on the bench.

"I am sure if you have been patient for three days then it must be something important," Alita said.

"Yes. I am here to discuss something important and urgent... with YOU!" He said meaningfully.

Alita got his clue well. "Well, Tielo is staying. If you want to say it then say now or my guards will take you out of the Crinudel." Alita said with finality.

Darius tried controlling his temper. If not for Painite, he would have latched onto that Tielo's neck by this time and would have sucked him to the last drop of his blood.

"Fine! I am here to ask for more Painite." Darius did not care about the background story and directly jumped to the conclusion.

Alita frowned at him. "What? More Painite? What did you do with the sample I had given you the last time?"

Tielo's face was decorated with worry instantly. He was against the idea of giving Darius Painite since the beginning, but Alita had something on her mind.

"Do not overreact Alita. You only told me to use it wisely and prove my capability. And I am doing just that." Darius explained his great experiment to her.

Alita and Tielo kept sharing quick glances as Darius explained the details of his plan. It sounded risky... way too risky, with no guarantee of success.

"And to get my experiment to the next level, I want more Painite. I have used the sample you gave me and now I have no Painite with me." Darius explained the reason for his visit to Crinudel.

"I can not give you more Painite Darius." Alita said a minute later.

Darius felt like someone slapped him in the face. He came with so much hope rather than confidence that Alita would give him more Painitite, especially after knowing his plan.

"What are you saying, Alita? You said you would help me if I used the Painite appropriately. I have fulfilled my promise now it is your turn." Darius reminded her of their last conversation in that regard.

Alita nodded. She passed a sideways glance to Tielo, before replying, "I never forget my promises, Darius. No need to remind me of that. I always use words wisely. I said I will help you if you prove your capability.

But I never said that I will give more Painite. That is not possible."

"But why?" Darius was agitated now.

"That sample of Painite was found by my maternal uncle Darius. You know how rare it is to be found. You know how many people of different breeds have lost their lives in its search. I gave you all that I had. I can not help you with that." Alita explained.

"Then ask your uncle to get more of it. Or if he can't then send more people to the location given by him. I do not care!" Darius had enough of her nonsense.

"Lord Darius, your controlled tone and pitch while speaking with our queen is much appreciated." Tielo warned.

"I can't do that Darius because my uncle died years ago. And the secret location of Painite also went extinct with him." Alita was still calm and composed.

"Bullshit! Do you think I am a fool to believe your lie?" Darius stood up in rage.

Tielo was instantly by Alita's side for defence, as he glared down at Darius.

Alita slowly stood up. Matching Darius's eyes, she replied. "Believe what you want Darius. But let me tell you, even if I knew the location, I wouldn't have sent my people to die for your plan.

It is your plan, your mission. Do it on your own if you can. Honestly, I never expected such a smart plan from you, I am impressed. But that does not mean I will risk the life of my people for Painite.

Now if you have nothing else to say, my guards will show you way out."

Darius was fuming in anger. He was about to act impulsively, but his father's voice rang in his head.

-"Patience is the key, my son!"-

Darius nodded his head only once and left Crinudel but not before determining to teach these unfaithful creatures a lesson that history would remember.

His ancestors had used them well for their benefits, and now it was his time to do the same.