Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 91: Lock Him In~

Jiu's dream that night was not a dream at all. It was another memory. Though this time, it was clearly Duncan who had manifested it. After all, Jiu was not a part of the memory, merely watching it in a floating sort of state.

Duncan, Leora and Henry were playing together in this dream. Well, more Duncan and Henry were playing, and Leora was chasing after them. They were playing a light hearted game of tig, it seemed. Duncan was the fastest player, laughing loudly as Henry tried to grab him. Henry had no hope, but he was still laughing, none the less. Henry pushed forward, pressing his hand on Duncan's back; causing the ten year old to yelp and stumble onto his butt.
"Tig!" Henry laughed.
Duncan whined," Harry, you pushed me!"
Henry blinked slowly, before smiling, awkwardly," Sorry Duncan."
The boy held out his hand, helping Duncan onto his feet. Leora had finally managed to toddle her way over, digging her hands in both boys sides.
"TIIG!" She squealed, not quite understanding the game.
"You weren't even It, Leora," Duncan laughed.
From the doorway of the nursery, Mistress Mohan walked in, scowling. Even when Duncan was still alive, she was miserable.
"Duncan, stop fooling around, your tutor is waiting for you," Mistress Mohan huffed.
Duncan frowned sadly," But...mother only died a week ago. I...I can't study...not like this."
"Honour her memory and stop playing this foolish game, quickly now!" Mistress Mohan grumbled.
Duncan nodded, miserably and trudged out of the room.

Henry smiled, happily," Grandmother, can we go too!?"
Mistress Mohan looked down at Henry, her eyes wide with disgust. It was the first time Jiu had ever seen her dislike Henry.
"You'll both just hold Duncan back!" Mistress Mohan snapped," Just rot away for all I care!"
Henry watched with wide eyes as she left, slamming the nursery door closed behind them. Leora clung onto Henry's shirt, glancing back at forth from Henry to the door.
"Duncan go?"
Henry glanced at her, his gaze softening fondly," Yeah, Duncan's gone. We can play together while we wait, okay?"
Leora nodded, smiling.
"Hide and seek, Henny?"
"Hide and seek?" Henry chuckled," Alright, you hide first then. I'll count."
Leora toddled off. The girl went down the corridor, and clambered up into the fourth floor. She made her way to her grandparent's study, which was conveniently empty. She was planning to hide in the wardrobe, but then she noticed a sheet of paper on the desk. She took it and glanced down at it.
Regarding Vincent and Emmeline's children; we shall have Leora as Duncan's bride and bear his heirs, that shall be her only purpose. Henry, on the other hand, is a useless child. He offers no purpose to the family. Unless we find a use of him, we shall kill him on November 5th 1871.

Leora was young, so she could only understand so little of it. What she did understand was that they wanted to kill her brother. Her father had taught her what kill meant; he'd taught her that when her aunt passed. The little girl's eyes widened in horror at the thought of her own brother dying. That date...what day was it? Leora swiftly shoved the letter back on the desk when she heard the door open; trying her best to not seem distressed.
"Found you!" Henry grinned, rushing over," Did you even try to hide, Leora?"
"Leora did..." Leora mumbled, glancing at the floor as she tried to figure it out.
His smile. She didn't want it to die.
"Henny, what day is it?"
Henry tilted his head, confused," Day? Well...I suppose it's November 5th. What difference does that make to you?"
Behind her hair, the girl's eyes widened in horror. Henry was going to be a lamb for the slaughter today? She refused to let it happen.
The toddler beamed, playing it off," Henny, I'll count, you go hide!"
"Alright," Henry nodded.
Henry left the room, as Leora had anticipated, he ran further down the hall; rather than down the stairs. She had time. The toddler pretended to count, leaning on the wall, covering her head with her arms and looking down. Her eyes wide as tears fell, her little shoulders trembling with effort. He couldn't die. She heard footsteps on the staircase, a good way away, but approaching slowly. Leora ran out of the room, trying to figure out which room Henry had decided to hide in. In the end room, she heard him snickering.

With effort, Leora heaved the door shut, locking it swiftly. Henry heard the lock click.
"Leora!?" Henry cried out, rushing to the door," Leora!"
He banged his fists on the door. Leora pressed her head against the door, tears dripping down her face; she clasped her hands over her mouth in an effort to not cry for him to hear.
"Henny...so sorry..." Leora whimpered," So..."
She heard the creaking on the landing. Leora turned away from the door, and ran towards it. She couldn't let them find him. Henry banged on the door a couple of times, until he realised she wasn't going to open it. The boy cried, not sure what to do. There was nobody. Nobody cared about him. Not even Leora. She'd left him in the room to die. He cried into his hands, sinking onto his knees as he remembered how much his grandmother had hated him that day. How much everyone seemed to hate him. He heard a noise, outside the house. Henry stumbled towards the window, tears in his eyes; peering outside. His grandmother was outside, with Duncan...and worst of all, with Leora. Did his grandmother only hate him? How furious he was that Leora would betray him like this. How dare she lock him in! If only she knew what it felt like to be caged up! Leora pretended to be happy as she walked with Duncan, but felt an oppressive guilt inside. She had to lock him in: they would have killed him if she hadn't. She glanced behind to look at the room of the house she'd locked him in.

Her eyes widened in fear. Henry was staring back at her, with the same coloured eyes. They were wide filled with: despair, pain, fear and worst of all...loathing. Leora glanced away, hiding her expression with her hair. She couldn't hide it anymore, from her wide eyes; tears fell.