Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 118: The Final Day~

When the sky turned dark, Jiu helped the girl up to the third floor and to her bedroom down the corridor. Leora smiled, weakly as Jiu helped her into bed, tucking her in, gently. He chuckled softly as Victor leapt up, curling at Leora's side.
"There," Jiu hummed, softly," Comfy?"
"Yeah," Leora smiled, weakly.
Jiu went over to the balcony, to close the door that was ajar; to keep the cold out so Leora could rest.
"Wait!" Leora sat up, making the cat jump up with a startled mewl," Leave that...I... I'd prefer it open."
Jiu glanced back at the balcony, before shrugging his shoulders with a sigh and making his way back to her. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling weakly.
"If you insist. But you need rest, alright?"
Leora puffed her cheeks," You should too."
"I will if you do... promise?" Jiu hummed.
"Promise," Leora beamed, nodding.
He chuckled and pecked her cheek, straightening up; before he left the door, he glanced back at the girl, lying in her bed.
"See you tomorrow for Christmas Eve, Leora."
Leora hummed, softly," See you for Christmas Eve, Jiu."
And with that the general left the room, gently shutting the door behind him.

Leora smiled softly, running her fingers absentmindedly through the cat's fur, about to settle down to sleep, till the wind rumbled angrily; making the curtains flutter, and the glass whine. Leora gripped the sheets, nervous, before her expression darkened with something. Something close to determination, perhaps. The girl slipped out of bed, Victor leapt down confused, watching as she stalked angrily over to the balcony. With bare feet, she slipped out onto the cold stones; peering outside at the only world she'd ever known. She stared out at the frozen over river, her courage in place.
"You don't scare me, Duncan."
The wind rumbled slightly at her declaration.
"I told you!" She gripped the balcony, furiously; feeling the cold of the stone beneath her warm flesh," You don't scare me! You're just a silly little boy, alright!? A silly boy, who...who...who's upset! A boy who once was nice, but turned to a bully-!"
The wind howled, furiously, but Leora pushed on; unafraid.
"SCREAM ALL YOU WANT AT ME!" She cried," I'LL JUST SCREAM RIGHT BACK AT YOU! You've been tormenting me this year and...I don't know why. Duncan...poor, sweet, Duncan...what did I do to you!?"
With a sudden rush of adrenaline, Leora gripped the balcony wall and pulled herself up. She stood on the ledge, wobbling slightly as she gained her balance, daring herself not to look down or else she may fall.

"DO YOU HEAR ME!?" Leora screamed," I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU! I'M NOT AFRAID ANYMORE!!"
Leora glared at the river, clutching down her nightie, as the winter winds furiously thrashed against her.
"I've found someone to love...and I won't let them go!" Leora cried," Torment me all you want, but it won't change that! You won't kill me, Duncan. I refuse to let it happen. I'm living my life, and I chose to live it with Jiu!"
From the riverside, a young boy watched; his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Leora met his gaze, staring furiously at him, as if his mere appearance had offended her very being. The boy noticed this and slunk back into the shadows of the trees, but he did not let his gaze leave the girl's determined anger.

The manor was uneasy that night. Jiu lay awake in his room, sat at a window, staring out blankly at the front of the manor. His hand made its way to his chest, instinctively, feeling for his heart that had once pumped. He frowned. Something didn't feel right. Something about the manor that night felt terribly wrong, like some sort of unknown evil was brewing mercilessly and would swoop down and chew them whole. On the fourth floor, Mistress Mohan and her husband slept in bed; yet the old woman could not. She turned over, her eyebrows furrowing as she saw the photo of her late grandson, framed. Even the maid, Helga, glanced up from where she'd been assorting the crockery in the kitchen to that small window at the top of the room. A storm was brewing that night. Edward was sat with Soren, but pushed the tutor away when he leaned in for a kiss. The butler furrowed his eyebrows, glancing away in concern; feeling the very unease of the house ebb away at his being like some vile curse. Soren chuckled, and kissed his fear away. Even Hetty the maid sat up in the servant quarters, her hand running over the dress she'd always forgotten to give back to the young girl. Soon, it wouldn't matter that she'd kept it. Not truly. And, in his dark room; Henry slouched in an armchair staring at the little light his fireplace gave off; a bottle of whiskey in hand. His expression darkened, tears creeping in his eyes, but he forced them down and took a large swig of the thing as the wind made the house shudder, before he threw the bottle at the flames, watching them swallow it whole like some monstrous beast.

The rooms of the house groaned uneasily, the very manor sensing the horrors that would take place very soon. The Christmas tree in the foyer, with Leora and Jiu's matching decorations sat, obliviously. The graveyard, and the stones pushed at the back carved with the words 'Vincent' and 'Emmeline' seemed restlessly aware of the travesties that would soon fall upon the family. Leora stayed on the balcony wall, gripping her nightie furiously as the wind thrashed mercilessly against her. It was as if she could have heard the boy's voice saying 'We'll see'...but she knew that couldn't be the case. Something wet hit her cheek. The girl blinked in shock, feeling the angry winds die down, as she stretched her hand up, and groped at the night sky. A snowflake drifted into her hand, before melting at the little warmth she shed upon it. Leora's eyes welled with tears, her breath hitching, as she glanced back down at the river; looking desperately for the boy she remembered from her past. The kind boy. But he was not there.

Christmas Eve was fast approaching.