Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 109: A Dark Foreshadowing~

It was the day before the Yule party, and the garden was blanketed in snow. Victor was curled up on the bed, purring contently, snuggled into the blankets. That morning, after her electroconvulsive therapy session; Jiu sat with Leora and spent the morning with her, helping her wrap gifts for each servant. It was a tradition, for the family and its guests to exchange small present on the day. Afterall, they could afford to do so both on the Yule party and on Christmas itself.
"I'm surprised you got a present for everyone," Jiu hummed.
Leora smiled, weakly," I do every year. One for Henry too. And one, just for you."
Jiu smiled, he too, had gotten her a present after hearing from a servant it was yet another tradition.
"Though," Leora frowned," I feel bad; I think yours, Edward's, Soren's and Henry's are better than everyone else's. Oh well, it's the thought that counts, isn't it?"
Jiu nodded. He watched as she picked up the next one, putting the label 'Julian' on it. He frowned.
"He doesn't deserve one," Jiu muttered.
"No, he doesn't," Leora sighed," But I do feel bad about calling him away from home, and making him work to 'fix' me. So I think a fancy bottle of gin, should do the trick."
Jiu hummed, but still couldn't quite stand the idea of that. Leora stood up, smiling, holding a bag of all the neatly wrapped presents.
"You stay here, I'm just going to put these under the tree in the ballroom, alright?"
Jiu smiled and nodded," Alright."

Victor mewed, confused, and got up to follow the girl. Jiu watched as the girl and the cat left, and as soon as he knew she was gone, he felt his shoulders sag and his smile faded. That dream rang through his mind. He couldn't help but glance curiously at the portrait hanging above the bookshelf. Had it just been a dream. He'd have time to check, after all, it would take Leora a while in the ballroom. The general carefully made his way up the bookshelf, reaching the top where he faced the portrait like he had in that dream. He gently pressed his hands against the canvas, and found the same sensation. Part of the painting gave way, to a passage. However, unlike the dream, he could see everything. It was a small, cramped passage; leading down to the portrait that entered into the billard room on the other side. However, what surprised him, was to the left, there was a doorway. Letting curtain go back into place behind him, Jiu cautiously made his way to the open door. It was a small, room, that was practically empty. It was filled with canvases; he suspected some to be Leora's old works before he met her. His fingers traced over a painting filled with greens, blues, yellows and purples; before slowly fading into reds and whites. Wild flowers near the river and the large willow tree. He took his hands off, noticing many discarded bottles on the floor. They were all empty. Odd. The occasional flower petal seemed to wither beside them, misplaced. Jiu made his way to the end of the small room, where a window stood, looking out to the back garden; covered in red curtains. He recognised the window from the outside to be a room he did not know existed, and now, he'd found it.

And suddenly, he felt his blood run cold. If he discovered this in a dream, and it was true...how much of the dreams actually were the truth of present or future events?