Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 79: Dead to Me~

Leora held the ghosts hand as she mindlessly led him down the corridors. She went upstairs, onto the third floor, and gave him her own little tour. It was adorable. She led him into the bathroom, where she pointed out each item and explained them like they were her closest friends. Jiu glanced out the window, it was raining so bad it had fogged over. He rubbed the condensation to glance outside, the toddler rushed to his side, pouting because she couldn't see. He wiped the condensation off at her height too, so see could look out. Both peering out of holes into the equally foggy garden. They got bored and left to explore more of the house. She showed him each room, making an effort to fling herself onto beds and tug unknown drawers. She even convinced Jiu to bounce on the bed with her, which lasted a few moments, until a servant entered and they awkwardly scurried out. The servants didn't particularly question the toddler's insistent babblings to herself (which was actually to Jiu), as they were quite used to the girl playing by herself. She was well adored by many servants in the manor for being sweet to them, and wanting to be a part of servant life. So there were quite a few times where their playful tour would be cut short by maids stopping to coo at the little girl, like some puppy in need of constant affection.

Leora held his hand tightly as they went down the corridor to where Jiu slept, the Wonderland room, where the maid had stoked the fire that morning. It was firmly shut. Leora stared at it with wide eyes.
"What's wrong?" Jiu mumbled.
Leora frowned, clutching his hand tighter, as if afraid," I'm not allowed there."
"In that room?"
The toddler miserably nodded.
"Why not?"
"Auntie died there..." Leora mumbled, staring at the door," I'll catch it."
Right, her aunt had died of tuberculosis before Duncan had passed. His expression darkened, remembering Leora's current state, his hand involuntarily gripping hers tighter.
"Do you miss your auntie?"
The toddler shook her head," No. Duncan did."
"Yes, it was rather sad for him, wasn't it; missing his mummy," Jiu muttered.
"I hope I never leave my mummy," Leora whimpered, innocently.
Jiu's heart clenched at her pitiful tone and timid posture, as she seemed to nuzzle closer to his legs. His hand found her hair, and he gently stroked it, to soothe the girl.
"Let's keep playing."
The girl nodded.

She grasped his hand tight, leading him down the corridor, and up to the fourth floor. Jiu had never been on the fourth floor, mainly because it was restricted in the time he was in. It wasn't too dissimilar from the lower floors, a little odd with lighting. Despite it being higher up, it felt somewhat, darker. They moved across the carpet to a room, which Leora opened the door for them both, immediately. It was a room that clearly used to belong to a child. A boy, at that. The reason he thought it used to, was most objects had been covered by sheets, to prevent dust gathering upon them and destroying it. So, it had to have been Duncan's room. Leora let go of Jiu's hand and rushed over to where his bedroom window was, she pushed herself up onto her tip toes and took something off the ledge. A plushie of a rabbit. The little girl hugged it close to her chest, sadly making her way back to Jiu.
"Who's this?" He hummed, softly, crouching beside her.
Leora's eyes filled with tears," Duncan."
Jiu had never seen a toddler grieve, let alone a toddler version of the girl he loved. The sight of it was...shattering. To know she could not fully comprehend the meaning of death, but was aware she'd never see Duncan again. His breath caught in his throat, as he wondered whether to ask her if she had let Duncan drown, like Henry accused. Or would that be too cruel in that moment of time?

Jiu opened his mouth to speak.
"What are you doing in here!?"
That harsh, cold voice; he recognised it in an instant. They both spun around to see the old woman storm over, though she looked much healthier in this age. Mistress Mohan.
"Grandmother..." Leora whimpered.
"Do not grandmother me," Mistress Mohan scowled," The amount of disrespect you have to come up here. To come to this room. After all you've done."
The toddler gripped Jiu's hand tighter, scared; tears dripping down her face.
"I didn't...I didn't do anything wrong..."
"Don't lie to me," Mistress Mohan hissed between her teeth," You filthy brat. I could have you handed over to the Scotland Yard in an instant, you know?"
Leora trembled, tears dripping down her face. Jiu felt absolutely defeated. He couldn't do anything to protect her, he was practically nonexistent in that timeline. All he could do was hold her hand and comfort her. It was heartbreaking to see the girl who usually fought back against her grandmother, tremble miserably as a little girl. What had changed her? He wasn't quite sure.
"You are your mother's daughter, you know?" Her grandmother hissed," Vile beast."
"Mother."

Mistress Mohan glanced behind herself, Vincent stood there, glaring at the woman coldly.
"Vinnie..." Mistress Mohan raised her eyebrows.
"Vinnie, indeed," Vincent uttered the nickname like some cruel joke," What have you been saying to my daughter?"
Her gaze hardened," The truth."
Vincent let out a humourless laugh, it had a chilling edge to it.
"You mean baseless accusations?"
"She killed Duncan!" She yelled.
"Leora did nothing of the sort!" Vincent roared back, silencing the woman," You have just always harboured a prejudice, ever since Emmeline stepped into the picture! My sister's death was tragic, and Duncan couldn't handle it, was all. He fell in that river, whether suicide or mere accident, nobody pushed him. But I refuse to stand idle as you berate my children for their existence!"
The old woman was speechless.
"You're lucky I've let this go so many times, you're lucky Emmeline's calmed me!" Vincent jabbed a finger at the old woman," If you were not my mother, I would have killed you myself, you old witch! As soon as father passes, and I am the Head of the House, I certainly will not let my dear wife's consoling hold me back any longer. You are dead to me."

Now Jiu heard Vincent yelling at his mother, he couldn't help but hear Leora in the way he spoke. Perhaps that was where she'd learnt to stand up for herself? Perhaps in sounding like her father, Leora hoped to haunt Mistress Mohan with that memory. The old woman stared at her son, at a loss for words. Her stunned expression faded into a darker one, her eyebrows furrowed, angrily.
"Dead to you, I see how it is..." She uttered, venomously," Fine. Have me out of the manor when he's gone. That is, if he goes."
Vincent's eyebrows furrowed his confusion and hatred. He watched as Mistress Mohan stepped out of the room, passing him.
"No son of mine would ever marry that."
Vincent's face contorted into loathing, but it was too late. Mistress Mohan had already disappeared down the corridor into the darkness of the house. Vincent let out a long sigh, trying to calm his anger, glancing softly at Leora.
"Are you alright, dearest?"
Leora rubbed her eyes, forcing a nod, with a grimace. Jiu ruffled her hair, sympathetically.
"Come here," Vincent sighed, crouching down.
The toddler shuffled over, still trying to bite back tears from earlier; Jiu followed behind, his hand pressed against her back to reassure her.
"There's my girl," Vincent chuckled, gathering her face in his hands and wiping away her tears with his thumbs," No more tears, alright? She's not worth a drop of them."

"Didn't kill Duncan, daddy," Leora whimpered.
Vincent nodded," I know you didn't, love. He was very special to you, to...all of us. She's just a mean old hag, shoving the blame on you like that. She... didn't exactly have it easy, but that doesn't excuse her, alright?"
Leora nodded, weakly.
"I need you to listen very carefully to what I'm going to tell you, Leora," Vincent searched her eyes, to make sure she understood the gravity of what he was about to tell her," Can you do that for me?"
Leora smiled, nodding.
"There's my girl," Vincent chuckled," Daddy and mummy aren't always going to be here to protect you, unfortunately. We wish we could but life is cruel and unexpected. We don't want you to be upset and miserable because of it though. So, you make a promise with daddy. Can you promise daddy that you'll stand up for yourself if you know something is wrong? Even if it's hard. If you stick true to your heart, I promise you dear, everything will be all better. Will you do that for mummy and daddy?"
Leora's eyes shone. She nodded.
"Promise," Leora smiled," And Jiu will help me!"
Jiu's eyes widened, his heart clenching in his chest. Vincent let out a rich laugh, kissing his daughter on her forehead before straightening up.
"That's right, dear, Jiu will help you I'm certain of it. Just you and him, together. Daddy's going back downstairs to join mummy, okay? See you soon, dear."

The toddler waved, as her father walked away.
"Bye-bye daddy!"
Jiu watched as Vincent went down the stairs, leaving them alone in Duncan's room. Leora glanced up at him, wide eyed.
"Jiu...you will help me, won't you?"
Jiu glanced down at her, a smile gracing his lips; he nodded," Of course. You and me."
Leora beamed," Let's keep playing, okay?"
"Sounds like a plan."