A MAZE OF GREED

"It is a pleasure meeting you Reznor!"

Darius smirked at the man's way, his dark eyes holding a promise of a tussle.

Reznor calmly turned around to face Darius. "Darius Garfield! Although I did not expect you to be here, I welcome you to the Warthford Island."

Lisa could tell that the man now she knew was Reznor did not mean it at all. He was not interested in welcoming Darius, obviously knowing who he was.

"Little Lisa here wanted to see the land of dark witches and wizards- Malvadogar. So I thought why not also meet you and kill two birds with a single stone?!!" Darius's smirk widened as he could see how tensed Reznor was.

Lisa glared at Darius, but then, she knew better than cut in their conversation.

Reznor scoffed. "What can one expect from a Vampire other than killing?!"

"What can I say? That is our field of expertise!"

Both Reznor and Lisa shook their head in displease. These blood-sucking creatures had no morals at all.

"Whatever! I am afraid that I am not very excited about this meeting. Anyways, pass your parents my best regards." While engaging Darius in the conversation, Reznor had his wand ready just in case.

As soon as his words ended, he ran to the portal, but Darius was wiser than he thought. Using his vampire speed, Darius blocked his way before he succeeded.

"Ooohhh Reznor! This is our first meeting and I was planning it since months. And now that we are finally standing face to face, you seem in hurry of avoiding me. That's not fair!" Darius made a sad face, putting out his lower lip.

Lisa was scared. By now, she knew that the time Darius talked and acted sweet was the time of danger. That man knew no bounds when it came to something he wanted. And that was terrifying.

A movement caught her eyes, and she looked down to see Reznor signalling her to step away with his fingers behind his back.

Before she could step away, she was pushed by some invisible force sending her rolling down the shallow slope.

When she pulled herself up, she saw Reznor holding his wand in Darius's direction with a frown and Darius in a stance of attack with that same sinister smirk on his face.

Reznor's lips which were hidden behind his long facial hair, moved as he chanted a spell. He moved his wand in the air, and when an orange light directed at Darius, Lisa gasped in utter shock.

Before that light struck Darius, he used his vampire speed and moved out of the light's target. Before Reznor could get a chance to locate Darius, he was already behind Reznor and punched him in his back.

"NOOO!"

Lisa screamed. Reznor looked like a man in his late sixties. But now that Lisa knew that he was a wizard, she figured he could be even six hundred years old.

Reznor stagged forward but balanced himself before he fell on the ground. Now angry, he again moved his wand, chanting a spell.

Lisa looked around in fright as the loud noise of heavy wind sounded like a large boulder rolling down the hillslope. And the very next moment, the wind began blowing combatively.

It became hard to see as the dust particles not only hampered the vision but also attacked the eyes. Lisa struggled to stand steadily. She saw Darius struggling too, but Reznor stood firmly rooted to the ground.

She screamed when she lost her balance and was pushed behind by the strong winds. She could have rolled down the hill and might meet her death if she had not held onto a nearby tree.

Lisa wrapped her hands around its trunk as her life depended on it, and perhaps it indeed was. She dared to open her eyes in slits while the dust particles, dry leaves and much more bombarded her.

Darius was now angry. A large stone that came just above his waist became his anchor.

"Reznor this is my last warning to you. Stop it and do as I say or I promise to make it harder for you!" Darius tried his father's way.

'Threats do work!' Ambrose always said.

"I do not need to listen to you Darius. Go back home and never bother me again!" Reznor retorted.

Lisa waited in anticipation as she could already tell that either Reznor would die here or Darius would have him under his control. In either case, it was Reznor who was going to be at a loss.

With a loud grunt, Darius pushed himself forward, but Reznor's was not any simple wizard. He once led the clan of dark witches and wizards. He once was so powerful that even the Ministry of Magic was afraid to take action against him.

But a lot had changed in past decades. And that was the reason for Darius's confidence.

Darius spun around slowly at first due to the oppressing wind. Lisa's brows furrowed in confusion as she did not understand what he was doing. She noticed that he increased his speed gradually, and now he spun like a tornado.

She saw the air around him parting, making a way for him as he approached Reznor at a fast pace. And when she opened her eyes after blinking them, Reznor was already thrown in the air by Darius.

That broke Reznor's magic, and the wind abruptly died down. Lisa fell on her knees, gasping and coughing. But then she realised Darius was overpowering Reznor. She did not know why Darius wanted to meet Reznor. But, her instincts told her that whatever it was, Reznor would not be benefitted from it.

Darius was already on Reznor, punching him in the face. Reznor used his wand to throw Darius away. He then cast another spell that made Darius cry in pain.

Lisa could not decide on which side she should be on. She was furious and hurt by Darius's actions, but she also could not bear to hear his screams filled with agony.

"Stop! I said stop!!" Lisa yelled as she ran to them.

Reznor's angry greenish eyes snapped up at her. "Why do you want me to stop?" I can kill him right here!" Reznor said darkly.

"No you can't because... because if you hurt him, his father will set the Mal.. Malva.... Mal..."

"Malvadogar" Reznor corrected.

"Yes, the whole Malvadogar on fire. Do you want that for your people and family?" Lisa had no idea what she was saying, but she knew that she had to save Darius.

Because only she had the right to kill him.

Reznor laughed. Yes, he laughed as if Lisa had just broken the funniest joke of the decade.

She looked at him incredulously, waiting for his laugh to die.

"You have no idea what are you talking, right muggle?"

"M-Muggle? No, I am a human!" Lisa corrected.

Reznor shook his head in amusement. "In the world of magic we call humans as muggles because they do not have any powers." He explained.

But Lisa was offended by his comment.

"Oh but we do have a brain... wiser and cleaner than you!" She retorted, narrowing her eyes at him.

Reznor gave her a long look.

"I do not know how you became associated with the Vampire prince but I have a suggestion for you. Run!" Reznor's eyes hardened, his demeanour changing considerably.

"And what if I don't?" She said in the challenge.

"Then you will die along with him!"

"FATHER!!"

Reznor got distracted by Darius's loud call, as his eyes began searching for Ambrose Garfield.

Little did the old wizard know that it was just a trap.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Darius used every ounce of power in him and launched at Reznor, tackling him down. The moment Reznor's magic broke, Darius took his wand from him and pinned down Reznor to the ground by his throat.

"Now who can kill whom?" Darius spat.

Lisa was again reminded that the man she had in bed was the polar opposite of the monster hiding behind that man's skin.

"Darius, please-"

Darius's head snapped at Lisa, his eyes burning red in a warning. She wanted to beg for Reznor's life, but no words came out of her mouth.

"What do you want Darius?" Reznor asked through greeted teeth.

"Oh, I want many things from you Reznor. Do not worry I am not planning to kill you... at least not yet. But to know what I really want, you need to tell me one thing." Darius had that sinister smile on his face, while his eyes glowed red.

"What?" Reznor asked.

"Where is Painite?"

Reznor's eyes popped out of their sockets at his question. "P-Painite?"

"Yes. Painite!"

"I... I do not know where it is. You know how rare that is!" Reznor breathed out.

"Hmm... it is indeed rare that a human had it in his system, right Reznor?"

Now Reznor looked alarmed. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

Darius leaned down, his monstrous eyes glaring deep in Reznor's.

"Why a human from Vincardine had Painite in his system? Oscar Payne! Ringed any bells?"