A MAZE OF GREED

The loud thunders woke up Theodora from her sleep. She covered herself with a robe as she walked to the balcony of her chamber, leaving Augustus behind peacefully asleep on the bed.

She tried distracting herself since the afternoon, yet she could not help but feel uneasy. Every time she felt like that, something ominous happened. She could not help but think of it as a sign of another storm marching her way.

She always wondered why she started getting these feelings, these signs of approaching danger since the night she gave birth to her daughter.

Although she was not in a good state at that time, she distinctively recalled some of the incidences of that night even to this day.

More than the labour pain, she panicked because of that uneasy feeling that had aroused in her gut. It told her that something bad was about to happen, but she did not know what.

That night was the same. The lightning god was so enraged that he kept assaulting the nearby trees and ground with his blades of fury.

The rain was heavily bombarding the earth with its mighty droplets, and the wind was at its full speed. That night was still described as the curse of the elements at her father's home- the Warthford Island.

That night turned her whole life upside down. She lost many things that night- her child, her lover, her dreams, her freedom, her innocence and... her best friend who betrayed her.

Theodora wrapped her hands around herself as the memory of that time always brought tears to her eyes. When she saw her daughter still like she had no life in her, she broke down completely.

She lost her consciousness as her fragile heart could not bear the news that the child who was a symbol of her and Gerald's love was dead.

She still recalled how her father broke that news to her the next morning when she regained her consciousness. She cried... she cried for days, even weeks in longing. The mother inside her was breaking and falling with every passing day.

She was cursing her fate, and if that was not enough, her destiny brought two more shocks in her life to turn her into a completely different person - Gerald and Bertha.

Thinking about them made her clench her eyes shut as tears streamed down her face. But that also helped her move on with Augustus.

When she first met Augustus and heard that her father was proposing their marriage, she was furious. She did not want to marry someone whose heart, soul and body already belonged to someone else.

But when she met the handsome man with impressive grey eyes and a sharp long nose, she was naturally attracted to him. His serious and dominating aura lured her. His silence challenged her, and she loved everything about it.

And the most exciting part was... he was an O'Dell. The next heir in the line. What else she could have asked for?

Augustus was able to give her everything, physical pleasure, money, status, respect, a lavish and comfortable life, and a chance to include her name in the history of one of the great families of the region.

And she instantly agreed to marry him and she did not regret her decision even a bit, even after knowing Augustus's truth and the fact that he was only a guardian of the O'Dell legacy because he was a son of a mistress, a mistake as his father called him.

Now that she think about Gerald, she could not believe how naive she was. She thought he could provide her world with his stealing skills and other business. Why settle for a world when she could get the whole universe at her feet?

Gerald could have never matched Augustus... never!

And the day Zerith told her about her child's truth when he was on his death bed, she was shocked... utterly shocked. The mother inside her, who had died over the years, suddenly was alive.

She longed for her daughter, to meet her, to love her, to keep her by her side. But then she asked only one question to herself.

Would the world accept her daughter that easily?

What if it did not? She would have lost everything she had gotten from Augustus. She knew that she could convince Augustus easily. She could use his power and resources to find her lost daughter. But what if she really found her?

The world would question her, condemn her, accuse her, disrespect her. She had seen how Augustus had suffered because of his mother's mistake. He was always denied everything that he deserved. He did everything to change his destiny.

He even stooped too low to get what belonged to him. With his efforts, he was able to achieve status and respect amongst the people, but he still remained only a guardian and not an owner.

Was that Theodora wanted for herself?

No! definitely not!

It took her efforts to replace Margaret's place not only in the family but also in Vincardine. Was her longing for her child stronger than her ambitions?

Definitely not!

She wished Zerith would not have told her the truth. She wished she did not keep thinking about her daughter every now and then.

Nonetheless, she had come a long way and was not ready to sacrifice even a single thing. So killed the mother in her with her own hands!

And she did not regret it even a bit!!

The sky again rumbled above her, breaking her from her chain of thoughts.

What else was served in her destiny, she wondered, looking at the befalling sky.

*

*

*

Lester and Rees's wolf ran faster and faster on the way to the waterfall where Edwin had taken Ruth. Lester had told Rees about Ruth's dream, and thus the both of them were worried for Edwin's safety.

Besides, he was not alone. Ruth was also with him. They only hoped that everything was just alright and they would see the both of them kissing each other upon reaching there.

~"Edwin... Edwin... please say something! Edwin!"~ Lester and Rees tried to reach him through the mind link but failed every time.

As soon as Rees and Lester left, Thea ran to Elsie's chamber. She was careful with the night guards. As soon as she informed Elsie about Edwin, both women ran to the woods.

Reaching in the woods, Elsie shifted into her wolf. Thea climbed up on her back, and they followed Lester and Rees's trail.

They could see the waterfall from a distance and could hear the crashing sound of its water. But as they neared the place, the strong scents of blood hit their nostrils.

The rain was still falling heavily on their head. They panicked, tried to separate Edwin's scent, but it was not there.

They saw his horse nearby. As soon as they emerged from behind the trees, they slowed down their pace. They did not expect to meet that gruesome scene when they came here.

Three rogues, mutilated and brutally killed lay on the ground. Lester and Rees's wolf shared a look. And then they saw him.

Edwin was in his human form, naked sitting on the muddy ground. He was looking down in his lap on which Ruth's head rested.

Her eyes were closed, and they both did no movements.

Rees panicked, even more, thinking Ruth was hurt. Even after sitting in the heavy rain, Edwin's body was still covered in red blood. And from the distance, it was hard to know if he or Ruth were injured.

Lester and Rees shifted into their human forms, and so did Elsie as she was a few steps behind them. Thea who had already climbed down Elsie's back, instantly covered Elsie with a cloth that she had picked before leaving Elsie's chamber. Elsie tied the knot securely after wrapping it around her chest, and the cloth reached just above her knees.

They all walked ahead towards Edwin, but as soon as they crossed the close perimeter around him, their wolves flinched and cowered. They could not handle the amount of anger and power his wolf oozed.

Yet they kept closing the distance between them. Thea was about to run to Ruth, but Elsie held her behind, shaking her head subtly.

Thea was confused. But when Elsie pointed at Edwin, Thea squinted her eyes to see his obsidian eyes burning with the blue fire.

His wolf was awake!

Edwin had not moved even an inch even though he sensed the extra presence around him.

All the three werewolves kneel in front of him, resting their fists on their chests. Thea also followed their actions as she knew what it meant- complete submission!

For a few seconds, all they could hear was the heavy pouring of rain, the rumbling of clouds and the beating of hearts.

They all braced themselves daringly when a bone-chilling and ear-splitting growl escaped Edwin's mouth. It not only frightened Thea but even Lester. But nobody dared to move.

Edwin kept screaming, venting out his anger and frustration, looking up at the sky, calling for the Moon Goddess. But the four people kneeling in front of him knew the pain and fear behind all of it!

They only hoped that Ruth would choose wisely!