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Elizabeth closed her eyes, the wind had turned her hair to whips and her face stung. The tears that clung to her lashes were not from sadness. They were going fast, nearing Camelot, as everything passed below them in a blur. Meliodas’ hand gripping her waist tightened, in anticipation or threat Elizabeth didn’t know, and she felt the Elder Demon’s gaze on her from behind. That was definitely a threat.
A distant castle stood out in the night, surrounded by the kingdom it sat upon. It was once noble and grand but has since fallen and has become nothing more than a checkpoint and victory for the Demons. The trio arrived quicker than she had expected, and Elizabeth hadn’t even begun to gather her thoughts. Orange glared at the cool night. Elizabeth would have to be level headed and calm for whatever was next.
Her feet hit the rough jagged stone as Meliodas landed as he set her down. He leaned close to her, his body heat warmed her in the cold night.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” He whispered, his voice void of the usual emotions. He turned and stalked towards the throne room of the Camelot Castle. Elizabeth scowled, this wasn’t her Meliodas.
Dark magic swirled around her as the trio strode into the room, the atmosphere was dark and heavy. Zeldris glared at them, or more specifically
her
, from King Arthur’s throne as if it was
his
throne. It made her hair rise along her arms and, if she still had her wings on her back, it would’ve ruffled her feathers. The Demon’s hateful gaze shifted to his brother.
“What’re you doing here, traitor?” Zeldris sneered, his voice promising violence. Meliodas stayed silent for a moment. Elizabeth knew their relationship had deteriorated since Meliodas joined Stigma, but for it to be this bad? Elizabeth felt horrible for a brief moment. This was her fault.
Snapping her from her thoughts, Meliodas' voice boomed around the stone walls, the silence suffocating after only a mere couple seconds. “To claim the throne of the Demon King, of course.” The way he spoke to his brother, it reminded her of when they had first met, when he was not yet kind or thoughtful, but instead heartless and cruel. But, even in those days, Meliodas was never cruel to Zeldris. Again the feeling in her gut hit her. This was strange, this was not her Meliodas. This has never been her Meliodas. Zeldris scoffed and smirked at her from his stolen throne, his eyes lingered in a hateful way before he spoke up.
“You’re doing this for that woman aren’t you?” Zeldris was not speaking unkindly, instead with the distinct impassiveness Meliodas was known for. His eyes were instead digging holes into her with red hot rage. Elizabeth glared back. She already knew the answer, as did everyone around them. Zeldris was playing a dangerous game, taunting an already feral beast.
Meliodas’ eyes narrowed, “And what of it?” He replied in kind. Elizabeth knew that her formerly gentle lover was doing this for her. She never wanted those horrible possibilities that lingered in the shadows to step into the light. She knew and she wished she hadn’t made Meliodas promise this to her all those years ago. She wished and wished for a very long moment and tears stung her eyes, but she quickly pushed that away. Elizabeth had other things to worry about, beyond the battlefield that was this conversation. The doors to the throne room opened, or more like thrown open, the slam echoing in the cavernous room.
The last of the Demon Prince brothers had just arrived.
Estarossa
. The man smirked, self assured, like everything he’ll ever want will be handed to him and it probably was.
Zeldris did not glance over at the middle brother, ignoring him, but instead kept his eyes on Meliodas. It was purposeful. Zeldris gripped the throne, the stone crumpled under his hand. “Why would you be the next Demon King, you traitorous piece of shit?” He sneered at the blond. Meliodas opened his mouth to respond, his brows furrowed.
Estarossa glanced between the two and spread his arms. “And what am I to you, dear brothers? Should I not be in this conversation of Father’s throne?” Everyone turned to him and had the same thought.
No.
Their eyes met, Estarossa almost seaking her out. She glared and he still had an infuriating smug look. A regretfully familiar smug face, somehow. His face brought up memories in her mind of lost childhood days, but Elizabeth was sure she had never seen him before. Meliodas described his brothers, but she had never actually met them.
So why does he look so familiar?
Elizabeth thought, growing more perplexed by the minute.
Zeldris glowered and growled, “I will not let either of you get in my way.” He stood summoning his magic to intimidate his older brothers. Estarossa’s brow raised and Meliodas did not shift. Both were unperturbed, yet Zeldris did not stand down.
That was until they erupted. Estarossa’s statement had, apparently, been controversial, and combined with Zeldris’ declaration… they were arguing now. It was pointless nagging and bargaining, the title of heir had not been changed even after Meliodas had left. They all knew he was to be Demon King, even his Father acknowledged it. Elizabeth knew she should be scared of that future, but she wasn’t. Not anymore. In fact, she had a feeling that this decision was meant to be.
Estarossa’s eyes locked onto hers, yet again, like he was trying to dig into her soul. She shifted behind Meliodas’ protection a bit more. He seemed uninterested in everything else once he saw her.
The arguing got louder, more aggressive, and finally Meliodas’ magic came up to protect her in a flash. Estarossa’s hand was outreached towards her, while Zeldris had his hand on his sword, his entire body moving for a strike. Meliodas outstretched his hand and the two were thrown to the ground. In a flash Meliodas protected her. He strained as his brothers struggled, the stone broken from the force digging into their skin. Elizabeth bristled.
They had tried to kill her
.
Elizabeth was no push over, she knew how to stand her ground, but… she was also never a warrior, she had experienced violence but not enough to be completely unperturbed by it. She had always opted to heal and talk things through rather than use her magic to overpower. Or at least, she did towards the years of the First Holy War. The days of her youth were filled with major scuffles and she had earned herself a name, borne from taverns and gossip.
Bloody Ellie
.
How quickly Meliodas’ family and kin forgot those days. She was referred to as scrappy and quick, a small girl tearing down armies. She was the other side to Meliodas’ coin, the calm to his storm, and later the anger to his stillness. They had changed each other, for better or worse she did not know. Yet they had forgotten.
It was not surprising that they had tried to kill her, she had expected that from the moment she felt Chandler’s glare in her back. She wouldn’t forget this though, like they had forgotten her, it will come back and bite them in the ass. They still saw her as a helpless little princess that she wasn’t. That she never was.
Elizabeth shifted on her feet, the current situation stressful. Meliodas’ magic was oppressive, its presence pressing down on their very souls. It stole her breath, her heart fluttering slightly. He was ethereal in the way a foggy night was, devoid of light and life. The fear makes it gorgeous to look at, yet you can’t help but feel uneasy. She was drawn to him like a black hole, pulling her in and tearing her apart.
Clawed feet stalked towards the mass of dark purple magic holding Zeldris and Estarossa down to the ground. He crouched down, intimidating. He spoke like he knew his place on the top of the food chain, devouring those beneath him. He crouched and glared down at his brothers.
“If we’re talking, let’s calm down, no?” His voice was low, threatening and self assured. His eyes were indifferent.
Zeldris glared, baring his teeth, but no one protested further.
Meliodas let them up.
The Demons scrambled, not gracefully, to their feet. Cusack and Peronia both rushed to each of their sides with Chandler gloating and murmuring off to the side.
It was definitely a peculiar sight and the air was still. Tension had stiffened everyone’s shoulders. Zeldris’ hand drifted to his sword yet again, defaulting to his instincts of self protection.
If Gelda was here, he’d protect her like Meliodas protects me
.. Not that Elizabeth knew much about Zeldris and Gelda’s relationship, everything she knew was third-hand, but Elizabeth had no doubt he’d be protective. He’s quite like his brother, even if he despises the thought like Meliodas despises being like his Father.
Sometimes Elizabeth wondered what had caused the rift between the two. She knew they were inseparable throughout childhood, and they cared deeply for each other. The two were similar down to dreams, aims, and goals, shouldn’t that be enough for their kind? Yet they ended up on opposite sides of a front line. Well, they
were
on opposite sides, it was messy now that Meliodas’ allegiance to Liones was put into question.
Meliodas’ eyes darted to his brother’s hand, tensing. She had no doubt that if it came to it, Meliodas would strike him down. He really wasn’t her Meliodas, her Meliodas would never even think of hurting Zeldris.
Unfortunately, this hellish reality she seemed to have stepped into had her Meliodas preparing to hurt him. Elizabeth wondered if this was a nightmare, and she wished it was.
At that moment, Zeldris attacked, but without his sword. In a flash of dark magic, he brought his arm up against Meliodas’ neck and pinned him to the wall beside her. Elizabeth’s hair ruffled in the wind that the attack brought.
Frozen in her spot, Elizabeth didn’t know what to do. Should she pull Zeldris off of him, or let the brothers figure it out on her own. The room was still. Soon enough though, Estatossa’s heavy steps came up behind her. His head peered over her shoulder, his hands dangerously close.
“Let’s get out of here while those two are distracted, yeah?” He murmured, obviously not wanting his brothers, whose eyes are locked in a charged glare, to hear him. His hands moved closer and Elizabeth balled her fist. In one smooth motion, she whipped around, fist raised, and swung.
Her punch landed square on his face, his nose crunching beneath the force. He staggered back in shock, hand raised to his face to quell the bleeding. She could tell that beneath the rivers of red dripping down his chin, he was grinning.
Behind her, Zeldris had been momentarily distracted enough for Meliodas to twist that arm that was on his neck behind Zeldris’ back. Zeldris stumbled, taken off guard, when Meliodas pulled him back and whispered something in his ear. Elizabeth couldn’t hear what it was but it was something big, judging by how wide his eyes got.
She caught Meliodas’ question after though. He asked Zeldris if he agreed, and he nodded hastily. Meliodas released his arm. Then, Meliodas grabbed her arm leading her away from the room, leaving a bewildered Zeldris and grinning Estarossa behind.
Meliodas soon took her to a destroyed part of Arthur’s castle. Everything that had transpired swirled like a wind between them, the Commandments, whatever he whispered to Zeldris and the begrudging agreement. She glanced at his profile, illuminated by the night, his thoughts, as always, unspoken. He looked regal, for once, instead of his raggedly self. It was strange to see him so composed whilst he was surrounded by the ruins of the once great castle. It was barely holding up against the harsh elements and fighting. Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel the same.
Elizabeth gazed at the walls, dismayed and standing still. She hadn’t moved since Meliodas brought her. It was beautiful here once. She’d been here a long time ago as a child, the country itself remnants of what it was before the war. It was like the loss of a person, something or someone that was now a shell, ruins of what once bustled with life. The remains.
The crumbling brick and frayed fabrics that were once rich cloth did little to keep the harsh winds away. Worse yet, the wind nipped at her uncovered skin. Elizabeth shivered.
Meliodas had defended this kingdom once. King Arthur idolised him. The world felt empty and twisted, reality crumbling like this stone. She was cold, she was upset and her crisis went beyond existential.
She was going to die in three days.
Her footsteps echoed as she walked, settling down with Meliodas on a surprisingly sturdy bench. He had his head in his hands. Demons ran hot and she needed all types of warmth.
She wanted to yell at him. To hit him. To get a reaction or a smile.
Anything
. But she did not. Elizabeth loved him so she did not.
Now settled on the bench, anger and anguish under her skin and intertwined with her bones, Elizabeth’s mind wandered. The silence was strong, it was a testament to everything else about their relationship. Only minutes ago, Meliodas declared his intent to become Demon King.
For her
. Now the blond Demon sat in the depressing room deep in thought, his brow was furrowed and he had his once perceptual scowl back. She hated him for it.
Meliodas’ mental departure from her brought some comfort to her. Elizabeth barely had time to breathe, let alone think things through. Her racing brain has been going the whole time but not a coherent and productive thought has come of it. Everything was far too eventful for the late hour.
To most, this type of calm was foreboding, the eye of the storm. And while Elizabeth was aware of the rising stakes, including her impending demise, it was serene. Elizabeth’s eyes fluttered, the time of night catching up to her. Elizabeth undoubtedly loved Meliodas, she knew. She gazed out the window, admiring the scarce scenery, the window frame devoid of the glass littering the floor. It was calm in a way of softness, like the gentle hand of someone skinning an animal. Like the buzz of insects on a cool night as your shovel hits the dirt, preparing a grave. Like the chirp and song of a bird just beyond the edge of the battlefield.
It was his hand holding her while he flew to his demise, to his end, gentle and demanding. He would soon cease to be her Meliodas. He wasn’t even acting like her Meliodas. Elizabeth did not like that, she felt trapped,
caged
.
And like the prey cornered by a predator, like a caged bird, she wished to be free. Not of Meliodas, but of her Mother and her cruel punishment. Of her gentle voice and cutting hands. Her unloving love. And like always he was the key to her cage. Her curse was an unending question and the answer sat beside her, blonde hair swaying in the wind, clothed in darkness. She wanted
him
free too, though, not just herself.
She’s known it all along, it was the reason behind the promise she had him make during the first life, and he knew it too. That’s what their love was, freedom, unrestrained, free to be themselves. Or that’s what it’s supposed to be. That’s what it
was
. Now it felt like sugar coated chains, a sweet anchor pulling them beneath the waves. A siren calling out to them, lulling and tender, out to their deaths.
And…Yet… The key that would unlock her cage will lock his chains.
Selfish,
selfish
. Years ago Meliodas once described her kind as selfish, arrogant and any other nasty word he could think of.
Self centred
he had said. At the time, she had been confused. Now though,
now
she saw it. She
lived
it in her Human years. And now too, in the remains of this desolate kingdom… Elizabeth knew what he meant.
And so she vowed to the dark sky, to the stars above and the destiny beyond that, that she would not let him do it alone, that she would be selfish in the unexpected way. Gods above and below, he will
not
do this alone. Elizabeth will take the burden, she’ll lock the chains around her wrists too. She will bear his sins, for she knew the weight was heavy but lighter when split in half.
Always
.
He’ll return to his brothers in moments to announce his plan for his accession, likely involving the Commandments. Elizabeth felt numb, she felt as though she were running in circles in this cycle, in her lives. . She wouldn’t allow for their last day together like this to be the night before, when she didn’t even remember what they’ve been through. Her newly-made vow shone brightly in her heart.
Their love can make their own kind of freedom. The real freedom they never had. And they’ll succeed this time. Elizabeth reached over and squeezed Meliodas’ hand.
Together.
Always.
////
Children of the Gods did not have many choices, in anything. They all know this. They all have a destiny watched closely by the very foundations of the Universe.
It could not be changed, set in stone, set in stars. An undisputed fact, and unproven theory.
The Children of the Gods did not follow rules. They did not care for destiny, or the theories that raised them. They knew they weren’t like the others but did not care for it. Or perhaps, they cared enough to defy.
The vines of destiny that held them to the ground were borne from the seed of hate. Fate will twist happiness and elevate anger, as it always has.
They know they may not succeed, but by the Fates and Gods themselves they
will try
.
If it is set in stone, they will smash the stone over their knee. If it is written in the stars, they will follow the sun. Against the grain. A stubborn tree, growing around the obstruction. A stone in a river, diverting the flow.
Yet still, nothing will stop them from trying to change it all, not even the hands of the one that created them.
///
Diane stood still in the Boar Hat as Hawk’s Mom moved towards Camelot, her feet stuck and melted into the floor. In her best friend's worst moment she hadn’t moved and since she re-entered the tavern, she was still once again.
Powerless
. She felt like crying and the lump in her throat wouldn't fade like it should. Maybe she had already cried, but clearly she needed more release. Nothing was enough and the world was muted.
The mood was so sombre, so
empty
, void of her Captain’s voice, void of the banter, void of Elizabeth’s gentle laugh. The spot where her best friend sat is empty too, taken with the only family she’s ever really known. The stool sat overturned after the situation had died down and no one bothered to stand it up again.
The pressure behind her eyes built as the minutes passed, minutes ticking by slower than they should without the violence they expected at the moment. Adrenaline still lingered in their stances, in their blood, but there was no outlet. Only the emptiness, their rapid heartbeats pounding and echoing in their ears.
Who would they be angry at if anyway? The Captain only did what he needed to save Elizabeth, they knew that. Elizabeth had just woken her memories and was strung like a puppet controlled by a cycle. They were innocent, their only crime was love. So the anger simmered between them, morphing into self hate for not realising sooner, snaking into their hearts. Diane felt the brunt of this, bearing it like a yolk.
Obviously they had to plan their next move, but it felt so
empty
it seemed like the only appropriate thing to do would be to fall to the floor and cry.
Ban was taking it hard, Diane could see it in his eyes, and she could find some familiarity in that. They both lost their best friends right after they had regained them. For Ban, Meliodas had just come back to life and the two reunited. For herself, she had just returned from the past where she had met a past version of Elizabeth and now it was her fault that Elizabeth was dying.
The urge to cry was stronger now and Diane fell into it. She sank into a stool, the one her Captain made lovingly, as rested her head on the table, that her Elizabeth wiped with a smile on her face everyday, and wept. Harlequin came and sat with his arms around her.
They stayed there for a while, glad to have each other. Sometime during the minutes they sat, while the tears poured out of Diane’s eyes like waterfalls and Harlequin started to tear up, Ban settled on the stool beside them. Tears also shone in his eyes.
It was almost comforting, the way the situation left them all wrecked and more alone than ever. The seven of them had always been alone in their misery together.
///
Alone in some wing of Arthur’s castle, Elizabeth’s hand glowed as she reached towards the older Demon, her lover’s teacher. A cold wind blew around them, swirling around her legs. Surrounding them had the evidence of a brutal beat down, with broken stone and blood splattered everywhere. Only weeks ago, this same hand would glow with healing magic. Today, they glow with the magic of Arc and bloody vengeance.
He didn’t even beg for mercy as she stepped closer to him, charging her magic for a final blow. The Demon was probably confident he could use Full Counter. She wouldn’t even give him a chance to reach for his staff, or for the positioning of that staff to reflect the attack.
It was to be brutal for all he’d done to
her
Meliodas. Despite everything, Meliodas couldn’t do it. Too many painful memories invaded his thoughts, so Elizabeth took it upon herself to kill him. It was only a drop of water in the ocean of what Meliodas had done for her, but she knew he didn’t keep track of that. He didn’t know she was doing this for him yet, but once she was done she’d go and join him then they’d conquer Brittania together if that’s what it took for this curse to die.
This world was an eye for an eye and Elizabeth would make sure Chandler paid that price.
///
Some moments passed, with Diane not knowing if it was minutes or hours in her sleep. In her sleepy mind, she knew something was…about to happen? With a start, Diane’s head whipped up, sensing an incoming magical being, the aforementioned something and it was a powerful one.
Diane knew who it was. She recognized Elizabeth and the Captain’s presence anywhere. The others around her recognized them also, evident by the chairs clattering to the floor as they stood up.
The remaining Sins looked about to each other.
What could they want now?
As they headed out the door, tense and prepared, Diane reached for Harlequin’s hand. He reached back and their fingers intertwined. Diane knew she’d never lose him again, no matter what.
The cool night air sent a shiver through her, though it was nothing in comparison to the fearful shiver that ran through her spine when she saw
them
. Meliodas, outfitted in black, wings of darkness flowing behind him with Elizabeth in his arms. She was comfortable this time, leaning into his touch. Her closest friends, her second family, yet all she could see in Meliodas’ eyes was indifference. Elizabeth’s eyes were different, she had a defiant hope, burning orange. She smiled down at Diane.
”Hello Diane, and the rest of the Sins.” She started, softly, hesitating for a moment before continuing, “First, I’d like to tell you how much you meant to us. You were our second home and we love you dearly. However…” Her stare was sharp now, threatening them, “Meliodas and I have reached the end of our journey with you. We are ending this war and curse one way or another. Do not get in our way.”
”From today, hereby forth, Elizabeth and I claim loyalty to no one. Should you decide to join us, we’ll welcome you, but know, we may care for you all, but we will not hesitate.” Meliodas spoke after Elizabeth finished her speech. Diane’s heart dropped to her stomach.
Was this some sick twisted dream?
Diane pondered for a moment, but Elizabeth shifted her eyes and-
Ah.
Just then, when Elizabeth looked at Meliodas with that look, she had a strange and strong feeling it wasn’t fake. The love between them was too real, too present, palatable in the air. They all were born in the world their love had created, moulded by their hardships.
Diane made a major decision then in the dark night, and she knew the rest of the Sins had too as the bright stars twinkled at them. The crying feeling was gone now, replaced with determination. Ban spoke up first while Diane still weighed the words that were heavy on her tongue.
“We wouldn’t even dream of getting in your way,” The Sin of Greed smiled, genuinely, at the couple flying above them. Diane nodded in agreement, reaching for Harlequin’s hand while he reached back.
“We might even join you.”