Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 99: You're a Bully~

Henry rubbed his temples looking quite exhausted and frustrated," I'm trying, I really am...but why is it whenever I leave this house finds itself in complete, utter shambles?"
Jiu glanced away, darkly; Edward looked quite ashamed and Leora sat up in bed, pale and tearstained. By the time Henry had arrived back in the manor with Julian, Leora had woken up again, and Henry did not hesitate on marching straight to her room and demanding the entire house for answers.
Edward frowned," My Lord, I cannot apologize enough, I feel ashamed that-"
"You are not at fault here, Edward," Henry folded his arms," I do not need your apology. What I need is for this excuse of a sister to tell me what the fuck happened."
Henry glared at Leora, his mood was perhaps worse than anger at the moment; it was scarier. Leora glanced away from her brother, her bottom lip trembling as she tried to find her words.
"She didn't do it," Jiu spoke up, confidently, when Leora wouldn't speak," She didn't kill him."
Henry raised an eyebrow," You have no say in the matter."
"I-"
"Were you there when it happened?"
"N...No, not qui-"
"And would you say Leora is well?"
"Not exactly, but I-"
"Then you cannot know what happened!" Henry snapped," And you're the biggest moron in this house for assuming without sound evidence!"

"Don't call him that, Henry," Leora glared at her brother," He's right - I didn't kill him."
"Oh?" Henry scoffed," Learned to talk, have we?"
"Shut it, Henry."
Henry blinked, startled for a moment and her unfriendly tone.
"You do not tell me to shut it!" Henry roared, grabbing her furiously by the ear to make her cry," You do not DARE talk to me like that! I have been nothing but generous to you, don't you see that? I've given you this house. Given you a future husband. Given you a life! How am I repaid? I'm treated like a villain, and my generosity is wasted away by your greedy selfishness."
"Greedy... selfish..." Leora echoed the words, grasping his hand as he tugged hard enough at her ear for it to turn red," Aren't you too? Your own friends know it well, Henry. You're a bully. A big, awful bully!"
Henry slapped her hard across her face, his eyes wide and manic for a moment. The slap was so loud the room seemed to grow deadly silent. Jiu wanted to march right over and punch him, but something about what just happened made him instinctively freeze in horror. Henry glared down at his sister, his shoulders heaving with anger as she cupped her reddening cheek. That didn't stop her though. Perhaps Jiu's conversation about him before and struck a nerve in the girl, as if she was seeing the true face of her older brother for the first time. It was such a vulgar face too.

"You hit me because you know it's true," Leora continued, glaring up at him," You lost your heart long ago. You lost all meaning of what was right and wrong; so you torment everyone for the sake of feeling a power you never had. I'm sick of pretending to be your puppet, Henry. Wake up. You were never in control, and you never will be!"
Henry clenched his teeth," I'll kill you."
"Do it," Leora dared him," Do it you coward! Your 'generosity', as you call it, has already sucked the soul out of my very being...I have nothing to lose if you kill me. So do it. Kill me, Henry. Kill. Me."
Henry's hand dropped to his side, his eyes wide, his eyebrows furrowed as he seemed unsure what to do now. Leora's gaze did not leave him. She wasn't scared, and that frustrated him beyond words.
"You're mental!" Henry laughed, coldly," And a murderer!"
Something seemed to take over Leora in a second, like she wasn't in control; like she'd become a puppet to someone besides Henry.
"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, HARRY!" She screamed," I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, FOR TAKING MY LIFE AWAY!"
Henry's eyes widened in horror, but he pushed it down with a furious roar, and went to hit her again. This time, Jiu did not freeze. Before Henry could land a hit on Leora the general grabbed him by the throat and slammed him onto the floor. Henry choked out, but Jiu held him into place; pressing his legs across his chest, his hand firmly in place of his neck.

"Don't even think about hitting her again!" Jiu hissed out, digging his heel into Henry.
Edward tugged the general off Henry, and Jiu didn't resist. He staggered off the man, watching as he heaved and coughed, rubbing his reddened neck. Leora, too, seemed to watch from the bed with a darkness to her expression.
"That...is it..." Henry huffed out, glaring at the girl," You torture me, you disgrace. I'll be personally asking Julian for you to have electroconvulsive therapy as new medication."
Leora's eyes widened in horror," But that's not-"
"Believe me; you need it," Henry hissed.
He stumbled up onto his feet, and glared at Jiu, as if challenging him to hit him again. Jiu felt the urge to, but felt Edward firmly squeeze his shoulder; so miserable chose not to. Henry scoffed, satisfied by his lack of reaction and turned to leave. He paused, glancing at Edward.
"Do make sure Archie's family receives our condolences, and ensure word doesn't get out about it," Henry muttered," If it does, Leora may be accused for murder, and we all know how that one ends."
Edward nodded, grimly; watching as Henry stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Leora traced the outline of the red mark across her cheek; feeling the warm sensation radiating from it. Warm sensations; she was going to start to become familiar with such a horrible thing soon.