Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 83: Edward~

Jiu woke from the vivid memories, gasping desperately for breath; clutching the sheets of the bed in the Wonderland room. The covers clung to him through the layers of sweat coating his body, as he tried to calm his racing heart. It felt as if he'd just been submerged under icy water. He glanced around the room, half expecting to see Duncan there, but was rather taken aback to see Edward there instead. The butler sat on the chair, his leg tossed over the other, his hands resting on his lap as he stared at Jiu; his gaze intense.
"You made me see that, didn't you?" Jiu gasped," What was that? The past?"
Edward shook his head," For you, the present. For Leora, yes, the past."
Jiu furrowed his eyebrows. So it had been Edward, no wonder it felt nothing like Duncan's mother's memory. In this case, Jiu had not experienced a memory, rather he had gone back to that time. Edward tilted his head slightly, watching the general gather his thoughts.
"What are you?"
Edward pursed his lips, glancing away," Well, much like you, I'm not human. Much like you... I'm tied to Leora's side."
Jiu's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Under a pact?
"You're not the manor's butler at all, are you?" Jiu muttered," You're loyal to Leora only, but to do that you-"
"Have to play the part," Edward concluded," Yes, I'm known for doing that well."

Edward stood up from his chair and made his way to the closed curtains, opening them to let the pink hue dawn shine through the glass. For a moment, Jiu saw a red gleam in his eyes.
"That's right, I'm a demon, Jiu," Edward sighed," Or, at least...part of one."
"Part?"
Edward glanced over at him," You see, in many universes I always seem to be tied to Leora's side in a parental sort of form. This is one of the few universes I wasn't supposed to be. Yet, that day, when the shooting happened her extreme loathing at the world, it...summoned me. I am part of a demon from another world, a demon who swore to protect his daughter; Leora's soulmate. A soulmate...do you know what that is?"
Jiu shook his head.
"A soulmate is another version of you in a different universe. Your soul shall always be Intertwined to that other version of yourself. If something were to happen to yourself, it could cause a disturbance for the other. It's a delicate thing, but it forms our universe and bonds. Makes a little more sense?"
Jiu bit his lip and nodded, struggling to wrap his brain around everything. Edward made his way to the bed, sitting down and searching Jiu's eyes.
"I come from a demon called Sebastian Michaelis," Edward stated," Arguably, I am him. Yet Leora's loathing that day, broke reality for a moment, and Sebastian felt it. So, with his promise to always protect her, no matter the universe; he made me, to keep Leora safe."

Jiu wasn't entirely sure how to respond to this, it wasn't like Edward stopped either.
"You know what I noticed, Jiu?" Edward frowned," She knows you and cares about you in so many universes. I've seen it over and over again, so much to the point I may tear my hair out. It's a cycle; much like my relation to her. What is it that my little Leora finds so fascinating about you, I've yet to figure it out myself. But, I trust your heart. You love her, don't you?"
This time, Jiu knew the answer. Without hesitation, he nodded; his eyebrows set, determined.
"I do, Edward," Jiu stated," In each universe, I love her."
Edward smiled, weakly.
He sighed, glancing away," How much the little girl I knew would have loved to hear that. She's waited so long."
Jiu glanced at his lap, trying to string everything together. Edward's explanation answered one thing, that being his existence as a demon in the Mohan manor, but one thing he was still uncertain about.
"Edward?" Jiu glanced up at the butler," Why was I in Leora's past?"
Edward's gaze softened ever so slightly.
"You were her reason to smile."
Jiu gasped softly, recalling the rage that girl had felt the day she saw her parents dead. A horrifying sort of anger, that made even a girl as young as her seem murderous. Yet then he recalled how she smiled knowing he may love her too, and how he would be there for her.

"You always seem to arrive just when she needs saving," Edward sighed, standing up; dusting himself off," Perhaps we're not so dissimilar, you and I."
Edward gave him a genuine sort of smile as if years of relief had finally been lifted off his shoulders. The butler glanced around, before opening his pocket watch, staring at it with furrowed brows.
"I would assume she's awake now," Edward stated, calmly," If I were you, I would check on her. Show your love, before it's much too late. Regret haunts us all, greater than any ghost."
Jiu gave a weak sort of chuckle, but knew exactly what Edward meant. Regret, yes, that was what had been festering at him ever since he perished. The manor itself...perhaps it was all simply regret. Edward inclined his head towards Jiu as a farewell, before stepping out of the room. As he left, Jiu recognised the melody the butler hummed to himself. Yes, the same one Leora's mother had made, and the same one Leora hummed to herself when she'd been drawing Jiu. Universes, despite being eons away, didn't seem all that separated any longer.