A MAZE OF GREED

"We are not getting any clue through the investigation. And the council has its eyes and ears everywhere. This is getting more complex each day."

Augustus banged his fist in frustration on the table that made the objects placed on it shook like a lone leaf in midst of a storm.

"Lord Augustus, please! Anger is not going to help our situation here. We should approach this problem with a cool mind." Mr Wright tried to talk some sense into the hot-headed man.

"What do you suggest Edwin?" Lester glanced at him cautiously gauging his reaction.

Since the start of this meeting some half an hour ago, he hadn't spoken a single word. All he did was stare at the table in front of him with furrowed brows and a passive face.

"Don't ask him anything Lester. I know what he is going to say. His answer must be let's kill them all. That is only what he is capable of. If it was not for his stupidity then we wouldn't have been in this problem."

Augustus's outburst was frightening as he glowered at his nephew with fury burning in his grey eyes.

"Lord Augustus, please, calm down. It was not his fault!" Lester was irritated with the old man's tantrums from the beginning.

Now Augustus's fury directed at Lester and he scoffed. "It was not his fault, you say? Did you hear your son Mr Wright? Of course, it was his fault, Lester. It was all because of him!

If only he had controlled his beast then nothing of this would have happened!" His voice boomed in the room.

Mr Wright wanted to defend his son and Edwin as he understood the reasoning behind Edwin's actions that day but he didn't want to infuriate Augustus more than he already was. Hence, he chose to keep quiet.

"You know why he did that!" The usually calm and polite Lester had had enough of these accusations on his friend.

"And do you know why I do what I do? Have you ever given it a thought? Only I know what it took me to negotiate that peace treaty with them after... after my brother and his wife's death."

Augustus's voice became thick with emotions when he mentioned his brother and sister-in-law's deaths.

"I buried my pain and anger deep in my heart for all these years. Why? Because I wanted to protect my family, my land, my people and... him!" He pointed at Edwin.

"It is not only him who is suffering because of that loss. He was my brother for heaven's sake! Do you think it was easy for me, Lester? No! It was not! But I had to endure it all alone. I had no choice! And now this imbecile man is set on destroying everything that I have built and protected over the years!"

Augustus's chest heaved up and down with every ragged breath he took. He was a cold and cunning man and thus it was rare to see him all riled up. But the severity of this problem and thinking about the aftermath if they failed to solve it was making him go insane.

He took a deep breath and now his voice came calmer than before. "Do you have the slightest idea what will happen if the council or the people of Vincardine gets to know that they are living under the shadows of werewolves? Supernatural creatures? What do you think they will do if our secret will be revealed?"

The mere thought made Mr Wright shudder. Lester gulped down nervously as he understood the gravity of the situation.

Their existence was hidden for many decades for a reason. They had vowed to not reveal themselves in front of the humans and live in harmony with them. The werewolf race was known for keeping their word unlike the other party, their arch-nemesis.

Augustus slumped down into his chair after exhaling a shaky breath. He grabbed his head in both of his hands and hung it low.

Edwin's heart became restless watching their worried faces, especially his uncle's. They might not have shared a healthy bond but he was his family after all.

After a minute of excruciating silence, Lester spoke. "Father, I think you should take Lord Augustus to his chamber. He needs some rest. We will discuss this again tomorrow."

"Hmm... I think it is beneficial if we use this time to cool off and come up with a solution. Lord Augustus, we shall go to your chamber and have a drink." Mr Wright stood up and with a sympathetic glance to Edwin, he left with brooding Augustus.

Lester also got up to retire to his chamber but halted when he heard Edwin say, "You are mad at me!"

Lester sighed but answered anyway. "I am not mad at you, Edwin. I told you that I am with you through every thick and thin. I am just worried and frustrated with everything that is happening. I need some rest. I will see you later."

With that said, Lester also left the room leaving behind hurt and angry Edwin alone.

Only Edwin knew what he was feeling right at that moment. His beast was on the verge of losing itself into the hands of blind rage but with every ounce of a refrain, he restrained it.

Sighing loudly he got up to leave the room. He was greeted by a servant as soon as he stepped outside the room.

"Young Master, you have a guest waiting for your time in the guest room."

"Tell that person that I don't have time." Edwin kept walking dismissing the servant.

"But the lady is saying that it is an urgent matter. She is waiting from last twenty minutes for you and is refusing to leave without meeting you." The servant tried again.

"Lady?" That puzzled Edwin. "What is her name?"

"Forgive me, milord but she didn't tell me. But she said that she is a very important person for you." The servant said the last part hesitantly.

'Important person? Lady?'

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Edwin thought, 'if it is one of those clingy women then god help me to not colour my hands in red.'

"Where is the lady waiting?"

"She is waiting in the guest chamber of this building, milord."

The servant replied pointing in the direction of the mentioned chamber.

Edwin wanted some peace for his mind but it looked like it was not going to happen anytime soon.

He was on his way to see the lady that was waiting for him when Fannie came to stand in front of him.

"Master!" Her word came with a panting voice.

Since Florence told her that she wanted to meet Edwin she became restless. She was waiting for the meeting to be finished and to meet Edwin when he was alone.

But her duties kept her busy but her eyes were glued to the door of the meeting room. When she spotted Agustus and Mr Wright coming out of the room followed by Lester, she hurriedly completed the task in her hand and ran to reach Edwin.

Edwin halted in his pace when the maid blocked his way. Not opening his mouth to talk he just gave her a questioning glare.

"I-I want to talk to you."

"Not now."

"Master, please. It is important." Fannie pleaded.

She didn't have anything important to discuss with Edwin. She just wanted to prevent him from meeting Florence. Edwin was avoiding her as if she didn't exist at all and that hurt her.

And now that Florence was there she wanted to clearly tell Edwin about her feelings before it was too late.

"Later..." He trailed off when he didn't recollect her name from his memory.

Through clenched jaw, she replied, "Fannie! My name is Fannie!"

The fact that Edwin didn't even remember her name had hurt her self esteem. Gulping down her saliva while keeping the hot tears of anger at bay, she looked up at his indifferent face.

Yes, whatever your name is. I have a guest waiting for me." Edwin was already in the worst state of mind and everything that was happening only worsened his state.

"Master, please! Will you not spare me five minutes at least for the sake of the night that we spent on the night of celebrations?" Her voice came broke and begging. She was too desperate that she didn't mind his cold behaviour towards her.

But her words snapped the thin string of patience in Edwin. In a blink of an eye, his hand reached to her throat that made her eyes widen in fright.

"M-master..."

"Listen and listen carefully, you worthless human. I have tolerated you more than you deserve. Let me put you in your place for once and all. If you ever try to claim any right over me, my time or anything that is related to me only because of that night, then you are sadly mistaken.

If you ever again try to cross my path then I will burn you alive to listen to your pleads of help. And one more thing, you were no better than those hundreds of women I had slept with."

He pushed shocked and terrified Fannie and with another sigh, Edwin's legs started marching in the direction of the waiting room oblivious to what was bound to happen.