Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 120: Living Corpse Army~

Jiu ran down to the foyer steps, his heart in his throat. He physically had to grip the banisters to stop himself falling down the stairs; stood at the small stairway balcony the foyer had, staring down at the intruders. It was a sight he would have never expected to have seen. Corpses. Walking corpses. They were dressed in the red uniform of those civil war skeletons Jiu had seen before, but these had flesh. These looked as though they'd been preserved by the river. Duncan had clearly summoned them for vengeance, and Jiu had enough of it. Leora ran down the steps, clutching the dress so she wouldn't trip. Her eyes widened in horror and the groaning creatures that had shattered windows to enter. What made her feel even sicker was what the creatures groaned: 'Leora'.
"I told you to stay!" Jiu cried, knowing now that Leora had just put herself in so much danger.
Leora glared at him," And you told me it was Hetty shattering a window!"
"I thought it was, but as you can see, it quite clearly isn't!"
Henry staggered down the steps, his eyes wide in horror," What the fu-"
"What's going on!?" Edward cried, following behind with Soren.
The ruckus of all these people watching and crying in horror caused the army men to groan, and suddenly became aware of the living stench that belonged to these humans. With watery battle cries, they limped slowly to the staircase, their howls about Leora becoming all the more sickening.

"Oh, screw it!" Jiu cried.
He found a sword that they kept on display on a table, yanked it off its hinges, and charged down the steps. He knew his strength from the Underworld was nothing in his physical form, but he at least remembered how to use a sword the same level as a martial god would. Jiu sliced into the corpses; watching as blood spewed and they came crashing to the ground as soon as their heads were severed. They were slow and weak; clearly they were just puppets. Jiu had seen this thing all the time in the underworld. He charged forward, his steps light as he rammed the blade into their weak flesh; watching them cry and wither miserably. Leora staggered backwards from the sight, terrified, going behind her brother. What she had not realised, was a lone corpse had made his way onto the second floor, and was coming down the stairs. The corpse's gaze was set forward, groaning horribly. It bit down into the girl's shoulder, making her cry in pain. Jiu immediately whipped around, hearing this, and seeing the creature suckling horrifically at her flesh.
"Leora!"
Edward immediately grabbed the corpse by its throat, smashing its face into the stairs with a demonic glint in his eyes. Right, Jiu had forgotten Edward was literally a demon, he was that good at hiding it. The general leapt back into the fray, slewing all the corpses; till no more stood.

Once they were certain the corpses would not return for a while; they rushed down the steps to meet Jiu, avoiding the crumpled bodies of red coats.
"The curse, it's real?" Soren gasped, horrified.
"No," Jiu uttered, clutching the sword, furiously," It's not real. Duncan is, however."
Edward tilted his head," Duncan? But he's-"
"I know, dead," Jiu sighed; becoming desperate," I need you all to trust me, even if it's hard. Believe me...the dead, I know them the best, it's part of my job, I suppose. One thing is certain, until we deal with Duncan, this manor is not safe. It is not your home anymore, it is a sitting death trap."
They all, aside from Leora, stared at him incredulously, but seeing the determination written on his face, and the literal walking corpses earlier, no one had the heart to doubt him.
"Follow my orders and you'll survive; okay?" Jiu glanced at them, hoping they'd listen.
They all gave a weak nod of their heads.
"We can't stay in this manor, not till I deal with Duncan. Edward, Soren; you are closest with the servants," Jiu commanded, recalling his general tone he used in the Underworld frequently," Get every servant and the Master and Mistress; then, you get them out of here. Out of the manor. Out of the grounds. Just get them out at all costs; understand?"

Edward and Soren nodded; running off to start now. Jiu turned to Henry, desperate.
"Henry, it's clear this place isn't safe for Leora anymore," Jiu muttered," Duncan's after her. I don't know why, but he is. Leora's too weak to escape herself, and I'm the only one who can deal with him. I need you to take Leora out of the manor too, but don't rest there. Find somewhere Duncan can't go; okay? Know anywhere like that?"
Henry frowned, nervously chewing at his lip.
"The old church in town!" Henry exclaimed, with sudden urgency," It's been blessed, I doubt an evil spirit could enter."
"Good," Jiu nodded," Take Leora there. Do not let her leave, not till we know it's safe. Understand?"
Henry nodded; moving to scoop his sister up into his arms. Leora clutched Henry tight, suddenly staring at Jiu with some unknown sense of desperation.
"Jiu! Listen to me, I've realised!" Leora cried out," Duncan can't be trying to hurt me! He never would do that to me, I think he's-!"
Jiu covered her mouth, staring seriously into her eyes," Leora, calm down, breathe. I'll deal with him. You're hysterical from that bite; living corpse bites can plague mortal minds."
Jiu pressed a kiss to her lips, before glancing up at Henry.
"Take her, quickly."
Henry nodded, running out; clutching Leora tightly. Jiu's shoulders sagged, as he watched them leave. He knew what he had to do. It had finally come to this. He was going to face Duncan; once and for all. With a sudden surge of vengeance for all the boy had put them through, Jiu gripped the sword tighter.