A MAZE OF GREED

Lester was thinking about Ruth's dream that she told him that day. He was more concerned as it involved Edwin. If their theory was correct, then Ruth might see the future and that meant...

Lester shook his head. He was pacing around in his chamber. Elsie was busy finding more about Painite and Ruth's dreams. She was taking help from her mentor from the Academy.

He had many things on his mind, but he could not discuss all of them with Edwin yet. He already had enough served on his plate, and Lester did not want to add more to it.

Lester punched the window frame in frustration while staring in distance. If only he could solve at least one mystery. The memories of that little girl haunted him, trapped him in guilt.

He had promised her mother that he would find her, but how?

~"My Lord..."~

Lester recognised the voice that was trying to reach him.

~"Yes, I am here."~

~"My Lord, unfortunately we still have no clue of Mrs Payne. Nothing seems useful. She has disappeared as if she never existed. And we do not have any clue about her relatives too."~

It had been more than a week now, and yet Lester had not a single thing on her.

He was not in the mood of extending this conversation, so he closed his mind link.

Lester released an angry sigh before he left his chamber and headed straight to Edwin's office.

"May I know why you did not bother to knock on my office door?" Edwin looked up from the book he was reading.

"Edwin! I am not in a mood of acknowledging your dry humour!"

"Nor am I!"

Lester made a weird grunting noise that he always did when he was too frustrated with things.

"What set your pants on fire?" Edwin put down the book in his hand before asking it.

"Edwin! I told you that something is strange about Mrs Payne but you never listened to me."

Edwin sighed. "Lester, enough. I do not want you to keep tabs on her."

"You cannot deny that you also want to know more about her. I am doing all this for the sake of our security Edwin." Lester did not understand why a man who did not trust even his shadow was very faithful in this woman?

Edwin pursed his lips as he understood Lester's reasoning. But then what they could do more?

"Have you find her whereabout?" He asked.

Lester shook his head with a disappointed face. "No! And that's the problem. I am telling you Edwin she can not be blindly trusted. If she indeed went to meet her relatives then she should have been back by now. Even Ruth can not guarantee where she went and-"

"And I have already returned, safe and sound!"

The voice coming from near the door pulled their attention instantly.

"Mrs Payne?" Lester whispered with a dumbstruck face.

Edwin too, jumped from his chair, shocked to see Mrs Payne. She was still carrying her bag, and it seemed she came straight to them instead of going first to her home.

She put her bag on the coffee table after walking in. "May I take a sit? I am tired after the long journey."

Edwin was too stunned that he did not say anything, only nodded his head in approval. Mrs Payne sat on the couch, heaving sighs. She picked the glass of water, which was kept on the table and drank from it to her heart's content.

Edwin just watched her dumbfoundedly, but Lester was furious. And her nonchalant behaviour irked him even more.

"How is your relative feeling now?" Lester asked, crossing his hands on his chest.

Mrs Payne's composure did not falter. She was as cool as a cucumber.

"He is good, I hope." She said, but that sounded different to Edwins' ears.

It sounded genuine as if she was indeed speaking about someone she cared.

"Took you long to come back." Lester persisted.

She nodded her head. "Yes, it did take me longer than I thought. I had to take care of many thhings."

Lester narrowed his eyes at her.

"Mrs Payne, stop with these cryptic answers. And tell us why do you come here first than going back home?" Edwin finally opened his mouth.

He was not interested in that game of twenty questions.

She was silently observing the two men in front of her. They could see wheels turning in her head, yet they could not decipher the equations.

"I have an important news for you." She then said.

Lester and Edwin shared a look. They sat on the chairs in front of her after she gestured them to do so.

"What news?"

Lester was sceptical and not really serious about what she had to say, but Edwin... he knew from the previous experiences that this woman did not speak nonsense... ever!

"You- werewolves are in a great trouble. The danger is nearing faster than you think."

Both werewolves stiffened. "Wh-what do you mean?" Lester, now more curious and serious asked.

"Have you heard about Malvadogar?"

Her question to them was surprising. "Malvadogar?"

"A village of dark witches and wizards." Edwin added.

They were taught about it in their curriculum at the Academy though nobody really talked about it. And whatever they spoke were wrong prejudices and misinformation most of the time.

Mrs Payne nodded before looking straight into their eyes.

"Malvadogar's chief wizard- Reznor is missing."

"What? But how does it have anything to do with us? And how the hell do YOU know about it?"

Mrs Payne ignored Lester's impatient questions.

"Darius Garfield."

That name changed the air in the room considerably.

"He took Reznor with him to Kinsville."

A deadly silence filled up the air so thick that a light-hearted person would not have been able to survive in it.

"Don't think about confirmation. There is no way to confirm this news. and I hardly believe that Ambrose Garfield has any idea about it."

Mrs Payne spoke, but the two men were still trying to wrap their heads around the shock they had received.

"But why?" Edwin finally asked while Lester still sat speechlessly.

"That... I..."

She held Edwin's eyes, and a silent message passed between them.

"You have much work to do gentlemen. And now I would like to take your leave." She was about to stand up to leave, but Lester's loud voice stopped her.

"STOP!"

Mrs Payne knew that the young Wright would definitely have a bunch of questions for her.

"How do you know this? Do you even have any idea of what you are saying? and why should we trust you?"

"Lester-"

"No Edwin. She has to answer. RIGHT NOW!" Lester was adamant and was not ready to budge from his stance.

"Lord Lester, I always say what I am sure about. You will not find a single time when I have spoken nonsense. more than how I know it, you should be concerned about what you are going to do now.

And about trust..."

She matched Edwin's gaze.

"I do not need to prove my loyalty to you or anyone. Pardon me for my language, but that is the truth. You can choose to ignore me, and I would care less.

I do not have any selfish motives for helping you. But I am willing to do all that I can, only for Ruth. She is the next Luna of the werewolves. As her family, it is my duty to get her favourable conditions.

Other than this... you have a free will to decide!"

This time Mrs Payne did not wait for Lester's next response. She stood up then picked up her bag. She headed towards the door, and the men did not stop her this time.

They stared at her when she abruptly halted. Turning behind, she looked at Lester. Her gaze had an edge that made him sit straight.

"Next time you think about sending spies behind me, and I might not be so lenient. Now nobody wants to hear how an old lady fooled the next alpha of the Bluemoon pack.

I respect others' privacy and expect the same from others. I hope you get it well."

With that, she left without a second glance at them.

"I told you not to follow her." Edwin reminded.

Lester shook his head as if he was carrying some load on it.

"What are we going to do now? We do not even know why Darius needs a dark wizard."

For once, Lester was more concerned about the problem than focusing on Mrs Payne.

Edwin rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Lester, this is all so confusing. First those kidnappings, then those rogues, Painite and now this!

Do you know how dangerous it is to get involved with a dark wizard?!! Malvadogar is the hell for the supernatural creatures like us."

A minute of silence later, Lester said, "I think we should meet Elsie's mentor. Perhaps she would help us with it?!"

Edwin was not yet sure, so he only nodded his head. But something told him that he would need to meet Mrs Payne again.... alone.