A MAZE OF GREED

Before Edwin snapped at Lester for bothering him to return back to 'the great manor', they both heard a female voice through the mind link.

"Brother Edwin, Lester where are you? Lord Wright and father are asking about you. Come fast, please!" Elsie's voice held urgency.

This message made Edwin frustrated. He wanted to curse loudly but held it back.

"We have to go, Edwin." Lester ushered his friend in the direction of 'the great manor'. Involuntarily, Edwin nodded his head.

With a last longing look at Ruth's way, he breathed aloud and turned to run in the opposite direction of hers to reach 'the great manor' before his uncle found out about their little escapade.

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Rees didn't waste any time and headed straight to 'the great manor' after bidding good night to Ruth. His mind was occupied with the thoughts about Ruth and his master.

He didn't want to leave Ruth in the middle of the road like that but his master was impatient. It must be a matter of urgency that Edwin couldn't wait until Rees safely took Ruth to her home.

His fastly walking steps slowed their pace when he saw an unexpected face in the front corridor of the ground floor of the manor.

'What is he doing here?' Rees was confused. The person who had now caught Rees's sight was not someone Rees wanted to talk to.

He decided to avoid the person and head straight to the staircase that led to Edwin's office. But the time was not in his favour.

"A new face?" The man walked in his direction not leaving a space for him to escape.

Rees bowed in respect after masking his thoughts behind a stoic face and blocking his mind link. "Good evening, Mr Davies." He kept his face impassive knowing well what kind of person Harold Davies was.

Harold's face twitched in annoyance at the use of 'Mr' instead of 'Lord'. "Who are you, young man?"

He scrutinised Rees from head to toe with his sharp eyes. By the emblem of a roaring lion on his uniform shirt, Herold figured that Rees was in service of the O'Dells. But then what he was doing in the manor at this hour of the night?

Only selective people were allowed to enter into 'the great manor' after the sunset.

Harold was curious to know. He always kept track of the happenings inside the four walls of 'the great manor'. His close association with Augustus made his task easier.

"My name is Rees and I am in service of the O'Dell family." Rees answered without batting his eyelashes.

"Hmm... that I figured," Harold muttered. "What are you doing here at this time?"

"I am here to meet the Young Master."

"Edwin? Interesting! Shouldn't you wait till the morning?" Harold's curiosity picked up even more after hearing Edwin's name.

Edwin was never interested in his family business or administering the port town. He was always a troubled kid for his family and Harold was well aware of that.

With Augustus's growing age it was clear that soon all the reigns would be in Edwin's hands. He would get everything served on the silver platter ready to devour.

'Has Edwin already started looking into things seriously?' The question rose in Harold's mind.

Rees didn't look at him as he kept his eyes focused ahead of him. "Master called for me. It must be an urgent matter if he wants to see me right away."

Harold's eyes narrowed hearing his response. "And what could be that?"

Now Rees knew what Harold was trying to do. Rees was only a servant and Harold Davies though not a Lord was amongst the nobles. Rees couldn't deny answering him or disrespect him in any way. Neither he could tell anything to this cunning man.

Harold's eyes were trained on the young man in front of him. Any slight moment or a flicker of emotion on his face and Harold would smell down the answers to his questions.

"I am afraid that I can not tell you much, Sir." Rees tried to dodge his question.

But his answer didn't settle with the arrogant Harold. "What did you say?" His voice rose, eyes widened in anger.

"You heard him right, Harold." A strong and dominant voice came from behind Harold that made him spun around to see the owner of that voice.

Edwin who was dressed in the simple clothes that he wore in the woods marched in their direction. His long strides cut the distance between them in a few seconds.

"It's Mr Davies for you, boy!" Harold used the word 'boy' sarcastically, his ego daunted with Edwin's disrespect.

Edwin ignored the brooding man and started walking towards the stairs after directing Rees to follow him. Rees again bowed in front of fuming Harold and followed his master to his office with his chin held high.

"Harold, keep your nose out of my business. Next time, you will not get any warning!" Edwin said loudly not even turning to look at Harold.

This was not the first time that Edwin gave him a cold shoulder but insulting him in front of a servant was not something a man like Harold was ready to accept. The O'Dell or not, Edwin had no right to misbehave with him in this way.

"You bastard! Just wait and watch!"

With that said, Harold fumed out of the gates of 'the great manor'.

After reaching the office, Edwin placed himself in his chair and Rees closed the door then came to stand in front of his master.

When Edwin didn't open his mouth for long, Rees cut through the silence. "Master!"

Edwin closed his eyes momentarily then opened them again, irritation clearly visible in those cerulean blue orbs.

"How is she?"

Rees tried to pick up any underlined emotion in Edwin's voice but got none. That was why everyone admired Edwin. He couldn't only control his mind but also his senses.

"She was scared but I left her near her apartment building safely."

"Did she see or hear anything? If she did then-"

"No!" Came Rees's quick reply.

He realised his mistake when Edwin gave him a stern look. Edwin was not used to people cut him in between his words.

"Erm... I apologise, Master! But she hasn't seen or heard anything."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, Master!"

Edwin fell into silence. His heart was worried about her. He wanted to ask about her, he wanted to know everything about her but his mind had put the barricade between his wants and his responsibilities.

"What was Harold asking you about? And what the hell is he doing in the manor this late in the night?" Edwin asked to distract his mind from Ruth.

"I don't know what he was doing in the mnaor, Master. He stopped me when I was on my way here to meet you. He asked me about my identity and what was so urgent that you asked for me to come here late in the night."

"Hmm. What are your views about him, Rees?" Edwin leaned back in his chair. His observant eyes stared right at Rees.

Rees was little taken aback by his Master's sudden question. But Edwin was known to bring that surprise element whenever he pleased.

"I think he is an egotistic, selfish, arrogant and cunning man who can go to any extent to get what he wants. And he sees the O'Dell family as a threat as well as his golden chance." Rees never felt uncomfortable speaking out his mind in front of Edwin.

Rees's answer brought a small smile to Edwin's face. His words were always laid on the line and that was the reason Edwin asked such questions to him.

It was not that Edwin needed anyone's views on any matter but it was good to know that the people he trusted shared his thoughts on those particular matters.

"Should I take a leave now, Master?" Rees asked thinking he was done here.

After watching the silent Edwin struggling to keep his wolf at bay, Rees knew why his wolf was agitated.

"Am I allowed to say something, Master?" Rees was not sure if the words he wanted to say would lead him to death or not. But he had made his mind.

Edwin sensed the gravity in Rees's question and nodded his head in permission.

"I don't know how do you know Ruth and what you think about her. I asked her if she knows you but she denied it. But she is a simple girl who belongs to the human world.

She has been through a lot and is still having a hard time in her life. She doesn't deserve more troubles in life. I apologise if I have overstepped the line but that was all I wanted to say. Good night, Master!"

Rees turned to leave when Edwin's question stopped him momentarily. "And what length you can go to protect her from troubles?"

"The lengths that I can go to protect you, Master!"

Edwin kept staring at the retreating figure of Rees, his words left a deep mark in his mind.