Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 115: Julian's Motives~

Leora grunted softly in discomfort, slowly coming to. She was in her bed, and the sky had grown dark. Right, she remembered she'd fallen asleep when Julian had given her that sedative. With a slight groan, she sat up, trying to make out what time it was.
"You finally woke up."
Leora jumped; not particularly expecting anyone to be in her room with her. Sat at the foot of her bed, in the chair Jiu usually sat in when he'd visit her, was the figure of a young man.
"A-Ah, Jiu, you scared me," Leora smiled, weakly," What are you doing sitting in the dark, and why does your voice sound-?"
The figure sat forward, the moonlight reflecting on their features. It was not Jiu. She was met with the cold features of a vulgar man, who she wished it truly was not. Julian Frost.
"...different," Leora concluded, at a loss for words.
Julian smirked," I was watching you sleep."
Leora felt a horrifying chill run down her spine at those words; they were so unnatural and vile.
"I...can see that..." She mumbled, uncomfortably," For another dosage?"
She wanted to assume he was sitting there to monitor her condition for her health. She pleaded that was the case. Julian scowled at the thought of this, and plainly shook his head. Leora felt sick.

"I'd like it if you left," Leora stated, her voice rising slightly, as she gripped her sheets.
"Sick patients always like a lot of things that aren't necessarily the best for them," Julian hummed, nastily," Certain medications, foods, drinks, lifestyles; or..."
His gaze lingered intently on Leora.
"... fascinatingly, flowers."
Leora scowled," How do you know about that?"
"Petals fall off rather easily, no?"
The girl felt herself instinctively shuffling further away as Julian rose from his seat.
"Do anything and I'll scream; I mean it," Leora stated," They'll hear, the living room isn't that far, and there's all those guests. Not to mention Scotland Yard."
Julian laughed," Don't be so jumpy, my dear. Besides, what makes you think they're still all there?"
Leora furrowed her eyebrows.
"But Henry-?"
"You've been asleep for hours, little patient. All of them have simply gone home, or gone to bed..." Julian whispered, horribly," It's just you and me down here... the rest of the house is on the third to fifth floor, and they're sleeping. Your screams will hardly make them stir."
Leora let out a small cry as Julian leaned over the bed, bringing his face closer to hers.
"Henry told me all about your little fall out with Lord Bramston, you know..." Julian muttered, his finger finding its way to her mouth, tracing her lip like he had once before," He only wants what's best for you; to have a wealthy, English suitor. Why don't I fit that role? Henry loves me, I'm very wealthy, very English, very handsome, and I love that disease on you."

"I love Jiu," Leora declared, unafraid by his threats; slapping his hand away with courage she did not know she had," I don't care what my brother wants. I want Jiu."
Julian's expression darkened. He swiftly gathered her face, and forced a kiss on her lips. Leora's eyes widened in horror, as she desperately tried to tug free. Julian furrowed his eyebrows in anger, trying to hold her still, but Leora slapped his face hard, making him stumble back.
"I hope you catch it," Leora hissed," I hope you catch it and die!"
Julian raised his hand to his mouth, which Leora had managed to hit. He plucked out a bloodied petal, and stared at it, with a malicious glare. In his hand, he crumpled the petal watching Leora's expression twist slightly in discomfort.
"You think that scares me?" Julian laughed, taking a step forward," You think I'll cower and hide, and not continue? What can you do to stop me?"
Leora suddenly slammed her hand on the servant bell, and screamed incredibly loudly. Julian's face fell. A scream alone would not have woken any member of the house, but the bell would alert a servant that Leora needed them urgently, and the faint scream of their mistress would only highten that urgency. The doctors gaze flickered upward, hearing the faint creaking of floorboards and shouts.

"You horrible woman, Leora!" Julian yelled, before running out of the patio to make his escape from the manor.
Leora watched as he ran, her chest heaving with anger. The door slammed open, and Edward rushed in, followed by a few maids to assist the butler. All assumed there was some kind of medical emergency, after all.
"Leora, what happened?!" Edward crouched beside her, gathering her face in his hands, searching her eyes desperately for some sort of confirmation.
"Julian tried to..." Leora mumbled,"...force himself."
Edward's expression darkened; he turned to a maid.
"Inform Henry," Edward stated," Tell him what the doctor's done. Don't let Julian return until we know what Henry deems acceptable."
The maid nodded and hurried off.
Edward glanced back at the girl," He didn't-?"
"No, no," Leora adamantly shook her head," Just a kiss."
Edward's shoulders sagged with relief, but concern was still written on his features, nonetheless.
"Is there anything we can do to reassure you?" He asked.
"I'd like to go back to my room on the third floor, I feel like he could access the patio here," Leora mumbled," Also, wake Jiu?"
Edward nodded, helping her up," Of course."