Summary: When the three demon princes go on a dragon hunt, they run into some unexpected trouble.
A/N: Thanks for reading! This is a one-shot... for now... but I always say that and then end up writing another 46732 chapters! :D So let me know what you think and if I should continue? We'll see.
I must give a shout out to Cerulean Grace, because without her this fic would not have happened. We discuss these boys way more than is probably healthy for anyone, and will need an intervention soon.
Also I'd like to thank my dear friend Vetur02 for allowing me to use one of her sketches as the artwork for this fic! If you've never taken a look at her stuff stop what you are doing right now (reading this fic) and check her out at vetur02 dot tumblr dot com. You will be as awed as I am!
There is still dew on the grass as Zeldris walks steadily through the forest. His boots make a wet sound as they crush the green blades, the only thing to be heard for miles around. The birds and animals have abandoned this part of the forest; only an occasional cricket chirps or wayward bee flies by.
With the sunrise, the mist that had covered the forest is lifting steadily. Despite the slight chill in the air, the demon does not notice. His sole focus is on the silent area he now searches. Zeldris stops for a moment to scan the trees around him, his powers sliding outward to catch a scent or a sound of anyone, or anything, that might be nearby, finding nothing.
He takes up his path again, weaving through a series of tall, skinny trees that might have been laid out in a deliberate pattern. Zeldris glances up to see the green tops many yards above him. Patches of cloudy blue sky peek through, covering the ground in moving shadows.
After a while, his senses pick up the presence of another. He pauses, his hand immediately going to the sword strapped to his left side. There is a rushing in his ears as he summons his powers, ready to defend or strike as needed, probing the energy that is approaching for more information. However, the intruder is enshrouded in darkness, making it impossible for him to see who or what it is. It's a defensive technique that could only be summoned by a being more powerful than he; as the son of the demon king, there are few in the world who can claim such a trait.
Narrowing his eyes, he slowly pulls his sword from its sheath, careful not to make any noise. Zeldris looks over his shoulder towards the source, his power reaching like a beacon to pinpoint the newcomer's location. Once the target is close enough he can be completely sure of its position, he smiles. The demon mark across his forehead blazes as he calls out a command, "Hellblaze Ruin."
Dark blue flames shoot from his sword, ghosting along the forest floor and leaving a scorch mark in their wake. They flash out of sight, and moments later an explosion sounds from several hundred yards away. Zeldris smirks to himself, knowing that whoever is daring to follow him would be thinking twice before doing it again.
"Was that meant for me?" says a voice behind him, and Zeldris whirls, his sword flashing. Metal clashes against metal, and a loud clang interrupts the silence as his sword is stopped by a metal arm brace.
Zeldris growls and jumps backwards, landing several feet away. He skids to a stop, his sword raised high. "I should have known," he answers thickly.
Estarossa huffs with amusement. "You completely missed. You'll need to do much better than that if you want to impress him."
"Impress him?" Zeldris scoffs as he sheathes his sword. "What do I need to impress him for? We're on a hunt. This isn't a training exercise."
Estarossa gives him a smirk as he begins walking. The younger demon watches him closely as he laughs, "Haven't you figured it out, Zeldris? Everything is a training exercise."
Zeldris grumbles under his breath and follows. They head more or less in the direction that his attack had flown, and Estarossa laughs when he sees the side of a small hill collapsed in on itself. "Excellent aim," he teases, and Zeldris grits his teeth as his fingers dance along the hilt of his sword.
"You were the one stalking me," he mutters, but his brother only laughs again.
"Did you really expect me not to?" asks Estarossa. "You were making such a racket, I had to see for myself what you were."
He has picked up his pace a bit, and Zeldris walks faster to keep up. "Who cares about what noise I was making?" he retorts. "There's nothing in this forest."
Estarossa whirls around and steps in front of him, blocking his path. "You are an idiot," he says, leaning over a bit. The taller demon uses his height to force his brother to take a step backwards. "There is always someone watching, and you must assume that they are stronger and faster and better than you. The first step to defeating an enemy is to evade them altogether."
Zeldris gives him a disgusted look. "Spoken like a coward. Tell me, do all the Commandments turn and run at danger, or is just Love?"
Estarossa's eyes narrow, regarding him for a moment, before he throws his head back and laughs. "You almost had me there, brother," he chuckles.
He turns and continues walking, and a seething Zeldris continues to follow. "Since you asked," Estarossa throws over his shoulder, "it takes more than strength to become an elite warrior. Knowing when not to fight is just as important as picking a strategy to defeat an enemy."
Zeldris makes a scowl at his back. "You wouldn't need to step back from a fight if your strength outmatches the enemy's." The ground slopes upwards, and they climb the embankment together. "Again, I say it's a coward's idea."
When they reach the top of hill, Zeldris looks around in a huff. Below them stretches more of the forest, the trees thinning out a bit towards the west as the ground becomes more uneven. "Do you even know where we are going? We're looking for a cave, and we won't find one at the top of anything."
"There," Estarossa says simply. His power flares as he jumps straight into the air, and then Zeldris is up and after him. Black wings erupt out behind each of the demons as they take off in flight. They glide easily through the trees of the silent forest, Zeldris staying fast and close on his brother's trail, until he dives back towards the earth. The demon follows suit, excited for a bit of actual action, and they touch down inside of a clump of tall trees.
Zeldris swallows, not wanting Estarossa to see him catch his breath. "Where are we now?"
"If you could be quiet for a minute, you'd know," his brother answers.
He gives the elder demon a black look, but stills himself. They listen closely, and then Zeldris hears the sound of water. It is not rushing like a river, but trickling like a brook. He turns his head and takes in a deep breath. The smell of the fresh water is unmistakable, but it is tinged with something unusual. There are still no animals to be heard in the distance, but there is now a vibration that is coming up from the ground beneath them. He looks down and kicks a rock a few feet away; when it lands, it bounces, and Zeldris can see it trembling instead of laying still on the ground.
The demon smiles to himself, and then looks at his brother. He also has a half-smile on his face, the corner of his mouth twisted up a bit. "Do you smell that?" Estarossa asks quietly. "That metallic scent is the runoff from the beast's waste. I think we found our dragon." Then his eyes dart to the side and says, "I think we've been found as well."
Immediately Zeldris senses it too, and this time he does not hesitate. His sword is drawn and the Hellblaze command is out of his mouth before his brother can say another word. In a flash his power surges outward as he sends the attack towards the malicious energy that is rapidly approaching. But then, there is a searing pain as he is flung backwards, crashing a second later into the base of a large tree. The impact breaks the thick trunk in half, but it is enough to slow down his trajectory. Zeldris collides into the ground, forming a small crater with his body, the boughs and leaves of the tree raining down over him.
All of this happens in a matter of a second, leaving Zeldris to blink up at the sky in fury. Then, to his chagrin, Estarossa appears in his line of vision, his brother stepping over him to look down in his face. "What did I tell you?" asks the demon, raising his eyebrows. "Know when not to fight."
"Get off of me," he snaps back, quickly climbing to his feet. His skin is on fire and his muscles are aching from the impact, but his face remains stoic as they both turn towards the source of the attack.
Just as they had suspected, Meliodas is perched on the top of a boulder, grinning at them both. His sword is slung lazily on his shoulder, and the only armor he wears are arm and shin guards. He tilts his head to the side as he smirks. "Run into some trouble there, Zeldris?"
The dark-haired demon grits his teeth and steps forward, raising the hand still clutching his sword out to the side. Meliodas, however, looks unfazed by his threatening approach, and hops down to the ground with an air of ease. "Took the two of you long enough. I thought the war would be over by the time you both showed up."
Estarossa gives a snort, but Zeldris is still fuming. "You could have evaded my Hellblaze," he bites out angrily. "You could have even performed Vanish. Did you have to use Full Counter on your own brother?"
Meliodas folds his arms in mock astonishment. "How was I to know it was you? Enemies lurk around every corner. You could have been a Holy Knight, or a fairy, or even a goddess bent on destroying me."
Zeldris growls, but replaces his sword. Meliodas gives him a satisfied smirk before nodding to the side. "It's this way. About ten miles due northeast."
"It has to be huge in order to drive away the animals in such a large arc," Estarossa says, his smile widening.
Meliodas gives a harsh laugh, slinging his sword over his back. It slides into the sheath he wears, compressing into a size small enough to easily fit against him. "Let's go find out."
Together, the three brothers move. They travel together silently, each concentrating on the forest around them and the creature that lays ahead. The sight of three such beings would have been sure to douse any observer with sudden fear, their focus on their target, their intention nothing short of killing. The air grows thicker as they walk, the grass giving way to a wide dirt trail that snakes through the trees. It is easy to see the rut in the ground that the dragon caused as it dragged its body towards the cave in which it now resides.
They come upon the brook, the dirt along its banks black as ink. The smell is stronger now, and grows stronger still as they follow it upstream. None of them make a sound or speak, moving around one another instinctually. Meliodas is the clear leader in this mission, however; with a side glance or the movement of his chin gives commands to the other two, who obey without question.
In addition to the metallic odor, the temperature of the air begins to rise as they walk. The trees grow scarcer, and those that remain are burned black or left halfway destroyed in piles of gray ash. Meliodas strides forward confidently, squeezing his fists in anticipation. On his right, Zeldris moves quickly to keep pace, unable to help the smile of excitement; to the left, Estarossa moves effortlessly, his face blank with concentration. When the cave finally comes into sight, Meliodas draws his sword from his back, the blade expanding to its grotesque full length as it is released from its sheath. The other two follow instantly, Zeldris pulling his short sword from its place on his hip, as Estarossa summons his own curved weapon from the air.
As one, they stop. The entrance to the cave is little more than a large hole in the side of a rise. The ground ahead slopes upwards, forming a hill, its face smooth and steep and covered in blackened moss. There is little grass beneath their feet, only dead leaves and patches of burnt thicket here and there. Thick, gnarled roots of trees long since destroyed twist in and out of the dirt. The cave gapes at them, the darkness inside thick and not giving away any indication that anything lurks within. Utter silence covers them.
"Zeldris," Meliodas finally says. His voice sounds like a shot in the quiet.
The demon jumps at the sound. His head jerks to the side to look at his brother, but the blonde has not moved. "Stay back and watch," he finally says.
Zeldris bristles at the command. "How dare you," he growls, but he is cut off when he hears Meliodas begin to chant.
The words are ancient, in their native tongue, and carry a power that seems to rock the ground with each uttered syllable. Zeldris' eyes go wide as he tries to make out their meaning, the lessons from tutors many years ago slipping through his mind like a sieve. Unable to grasp what the demon is saying, he keeps his eyes trained on the dark entrance to the cave, his shoulders tight, the grip on his sword even tighter.
Meliodas changes his stance slightly, and then there is a great wind that begins to blow outward from the cave. There is a rushing noise, as if a bolt of energy is flying straight towards them. But Meliodas does not flinch, and as the air hits him, he remains unmoving on the ground. His hair and clothing blow wildly about, but he only narrows his eyes, his chin tilting down as if he is listening.
"Estarossa!" he shouts suddenly, but the taller demon is already moving. He sprints into the air, twisting to the side, the onyx blade in his hand flashing. His sword is engulfed in a blast of light, and then Estarossa is holding a long black chain, swinging it easily around him. Then both brothers put a hand out, calling a command.
A barrier only a trained eye can see appears between them and the cave, and not a moment too soon; a split second later a blast of fire comes roaring from the opening. However, it slams against the barrier and shoots upwards, flaring out into the sky, and none of the demons are harmed.
Estarossa lands with ease at the left side of the cave. "It's coming," he warns over his shoulder, and in a flash Meliodas moves right. Zeldris can barely keep up their movements as they flank the opening, but then his attention is drawn by the beast that finally appears. The demon nods to himself, understanding now that the words Meliodas had used compelled it to appear, some kind of demon magic created for such an occasion.
He had seen dragons before, certainly. Zeldris had done his own hunting during his training with the army, but then he had moved with a squad of no less than twenty demons to take down a dragon. But even before that, he was more than familiar with the creatures; his brothers were skilled dragon hunters. However, the ones he had seen were already subdued, brought back to the demon realm for breeding or food or training. This one is a very alive, and very untamed dragon. Its neck is long, the scales a mixture of brown and blue, the wings beginning just above the shoulder joints of its front legs. Only the top half of the body emerges, but it is enough to allow a guess on the immense size that remains hidden.
The other two are not fazed by the size or fearsomeness of the creature. The front claws, thick with scales and each containing four huge, sharp talons, swipe outwards; but Estarossa is ready, swinging the chain. It wraps around the beast's forearm, and he heaves it to the side, causing the dragon to crash to the ground.
The dragon roars in pain, and the sound echoes through the forest. The ground itself shakes, and Zeldris braces himself; but the older two demons are already moving. Meliodas swings his giant sword, and the dragon dodges, its neck snaking to the side and easily avoiding the blade. However, as it moves, Estarossa also moves. He tosses the chain, which wraps around its neck; the demon jumps into the air, pulling upwards, snapping the dragon's neck back and up.
Another roar rocks the forest. As the dragon is distracted by its pain, the two switch positions. They move with an incredible speed, their agility as they weave around each other and the beast an incredible sight. The dragon is smart enough to keep its vulnerable underbelly inside the cave, so the two demons work together to take out any other spot they can reach. Estarossa continues to wrap the dragon in his chain, the links growing longer on their own as more and more is needed; meanwhile, Meliodas takes out its eyes, hacks off three of its talons, and stabs between cracks in its scales. They are no longer calling instructions to one another, their victory all but assured as the dragon slowly becomes incapacitated. Now when one speaks, it is with a quip or a shout of praise for the other. Zeldris watches and takes it all in, knowing that in just a few minutes more, his brothers will be victorious.
His palm itches, wanting to get in on the action, but he knows better than to disobey an order from Meliodas. So Zeldris watches, trying to memorize their movements, knowing that there will be some kind of test on this later. His eyes dart back and forth, tracking them.
Suddenly a warning pierces the back of his neck, and he turns. There is a new presence rapidly approaching, and the turns as he draws his sword. His senses pick up something, a weapon, flying straight towards him, but Zeldris is moving, his blade slicing upwards. He huffs in satisfaction as he feels the impact; when he looks down to see what it was, he finds two halves of a spear lying in the dirt.
His eyes go wide with recognition, and he whirls and shouts, "Meliodas!" Two more spears go flying past him, too fast for him to deflect. Estarossa turns towards him at the sound of his shout; he gives his own and jerks backwards as a second spear whizzes past his head. It misses him by inches and slams into the side of the hill, implanting into the rock with a dull thud. He gives a cry of surprise, heaving the chains in his hands as he turns his attention from the dragon back to the forest surrounding them.
Meliodas, however, does not turn. He simply reaches out his free hand, his arm shooting to the side faster than an ordinary person could see, and he catches the spear aimed for him.
Zeldris's eyes dart from the forest back to his brothers. Estarossa is scanning the trees, but Meliodas does not bother to look. Instead, he walks towards the moaning and writhing dragon that lays on the ground, easily evading the half-hearted swipe of its claw as he approaches. When he is only a few feet away, he raises his sword to deal a fatal blow. But then a voice rings out, "Stop right there!"
To his brothers' surprise, Meliodas actually pauses. Both Zeldris and Estarossa turn their attention to the direction from which the voice came. It was an unmistakably female voice, so out of place in this scorched place with the dying beast in front of them. Estarossa growls in anger. He steps over to where the weapon sent for him is embedded in the rock, reaching out to touch it; but then he shouts and jerks backwards, his hand smoking with a burn. "Goddesses," he says, his tone murderous, his expression black as he looks back at his brothers.
Meliodas, who still has not turned, continues holding his spear. The other two can see now the smoke that rises from his palm, but the demon prince does not even flinch. His head is dipped down as he stares at the dragon, but his back is straight, his shoulders rising and falling with each slow breath. The demons wait for him to move or give a command, watching.
Finally he turns, just slightly, and throws the spear away. His mouth turns up in a cruel smile, and at the same time, he raises his sword again.
"I said stop!" the voice calls again, and again Meliodas pauses. "Do not kill that dragon! If you lay down your weapons now, we will allow you to leave with your lives. You are surrounded."
The forest returns to silence as the female voice dies out. Meliodas turns then, the cave now at his back, finally facing outwards towards the source of the attack. For the third time, he raises his sword, but this time, when the command comes for him to stop, he does not hesitate. The blades slices straight through the scales along the dragon's neck, leaving a huge gash in its flesh. Blood pours from the wound like a river, and the dragon begins to thrash, its cries stilted as it convulses.
Another spear comes flying out from the trees, aimed straight for Meliodas. It is too quick for Zeldris to stop it, and Estarossa gives a shout of warning. But the blonde demon is fast enough. He jumps to the side to evade the weapon, which lands in the shoulder of the dying dragon. The beast gives a whine as it collapses completely, its movements growing still as the life drains rapidly away.
Estarossa is now lit with fury. He pulls on the chain, which slithers back into his hand. In another instant, it has returned to the form of the curved, black sword, and Estarossa launches himself forward. "Filthy goddesses!" he roars.
"Careful, brother!" Meliodas calls. "No need for such anger."
"They tried to kill you," he responds bitterly. There is a sudden movement in the trees, and all three turn to see several figures take off into the sky. Their white wings are visible for an instant before they are gone, and then Estarossa takes off in a run, his own black wings appearing behind him as he takes flight.
Zeldris watches all this in shock, whirling around to Meliodas once Estarossa is gone. His older brother walks towards him leisurely, and Zeldris cries out, "What do we do?"
"We're going," answers Meliodas. His tone is easy, conversational, but tinged with an obvious threat.
"What about the dragon?" Zeldris asks.
Meliodas steps up next to him and gives him a cruel grin. "Leave it for now. We have something new to hunt."
.o0o.
The goddesses had taken off in several directions, but Estarossa easily trails the one he is sure is the leader. She flies faster that he had expected, darting around trees and weaving in and out of the forest to try to escape him. But Estarossa is an expert tracker, and nothing she does will keep him from reaching her and putting his hands around her neck.
Whether it is fatigue or the realization she cannot outrun him, Estarossa can't be sure of, when finally the goddess dives at the ground. She is gone by the time he also reaches the floor of the forest, but it is easy enough for him to pick up her trail. He runs through the brush, chasing her, and in only a few minutes he sees the unmistakable shimmer of silver hair disappearing behind a tree.
Estarossa shoots to the side, and his calculation pays off. She emerges in front of him, her attention where he used to be, not seeing him directly in her path until it is too late. The demon throws a punch, which the goddess is at least skilled enough to mostly block. Instead of knocking her to the ground, it only causes her stumble a bit, but she easily rights herself, falling into a fighting stance a moment later.
The demon smiles when he sees her determined expression. Blue eyes look coldly at him, her beautiful face drawn into a scowl of contempt. Her silver hair is long, probably down to her waist, he guesses, but is pulled back and tied away from her face. The simple white uniform displays a body that is both enticing and strong. She holds a spear in one hand, and he notes the dagger strapped to her thigh and the quiver and bow slung over her back. Her wings are drawn in and pressed flat against her shoulder blades.
Estarossa chuckles. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy killing you," he says.
"You won't be killing me or anything else today, demon," she answers with a voice dripping with contempt.
He darts forward, going on the offensive instantly to try to throw her off balance; but to his delight, the goddess proves to be a more than skilled combatant. She easily blocks his blows with her spear, and their weapons strike again and again as they move around one another. Each thrust is aimed to kill, but she counters his with her own, until they are both breathing heavily and their skin is beaded with perspiration.
"You are quite skilled, goddess," Estarossa says as she ducks to avoid the swing of his blade.
"Shut up," she mutters, her own spear aimed for his thigh, which he evades with a kick.
Despite the danger of the situation, Estarossa enjoys the way she moves, the way they fight. Most of her parries are purely defensive, rendering his Full Counter useless; but even when she does try her own offensive strike, he simply uses his strength to stop her. The fight is too entertaining to simply end it so quickly.
Yet as they fight, he wonders why she does not try to end him once and for all. Estarossa also notes that she has not fallen to his Commandment, which means she has no anger in her heart. His eyes narrow as she spins, swinging the spear towards his left side, which he had foolishly left open as he was thinking. The tip of the spear slices through him, and Estarossa stumbles. There is a kick to his knee, and then his shoulder, and a moment later he is sprawled on his back, the goddess on top of him.
Her knees dig into his thighs as she braces one forearm on his chest. The dagger that had been strapped to her leg is now at his throat. "Don't move," she bites out at him. "Keep your arms out to the sides."
Estarossa smiles as he obeys, but cannot help but wonder about this unusual goddess. "Who are you?" he asks.
"You don't get to ask questions," she answers. "Where are the other demons?"
He starts to laugh, but allows it to die in his throat as she presses the blade into his skin. "You get to ask questions, but I don't?"
"Last I checked," responds the goddess haughtily, "you were the one with a knife at your throat."
An eyebrow shoots up in amusement. "My brothers will be following us. They are probably right behind you this very moment."
He is a bit impressed that she does not even flinch. "Why were you killing that dragon?" she asks.
The question catches him by surprise. "We were hungry," he answers simply.
"You are disgusting." The goddess leans forward, and Estarossa is forced to tilt his head back to avoid being sliced. "That creature deserves life just like any other. You had no right to kill it."
"Deserves life, hm?" Estarossa replies. "Last I checked, you were the one with a knife at my throat."
Her eyes narrow at the insult, but before she can retort a female voice calls, "Elizabeth! Elizabeth, where are you?"
"Elizabeth?" Estarossa asks, grinning. "Is that your name?"
"Shut up," she mutters again. They stare at each other for a moment, her scowl deepening as his smile grows wider, but then there is a movement that catches both of their attentions. Estarossa does not bother to look, but Elizabeth does, and that is her mistake.
"Elizabeth!" He watches as the goddess on top of him opens her mouth to give a command, probably to tell the one running towards them to be quiet. Yet before she can say anything he summons his power. A ball of deadly energy flashes in his palm, and he watches as the recognition registers in her eyes the very moment he sends the spell flying.
"No!" she screams, pressing the knife into his neck. But Estarossa was prepared for that, and jerks to the side. With the goddess now distracted, it is easy to flip her over onto her back. He uses the same technique she did, bracing his shins on her thighs, both of his hands now pinning her upper arms to the ground.
The goddess does not struggle, however, but simply stares to the side in horror. Estarossa glances over, pleased to see the smoldering corpse of another goddess several yards away. His own Hellblaze had struck true, as he had assumed it would.
"Elizabeth," he says, drawing her attention back to him. Her eyes shine as they meet his. "I believe you'll be answering questions now."
If looks could kill, Estarossa is sure he would be dead from the one the goddess shoots at him. "I'll die before I—"
"You're going to die today anyway," he responds pleasantly. "Now, I was such a good captive for you. Won't you do me the same courtesy?"
Her face hardens and she turns it away, refusing to look at him. Estarossa stares down at the white skin of her neck, watching her pulse thrum just beneath the surface. Her skin is smooth, and creamy, and looks absolutely delicious. Her hair is now tumbling out of place, and locks of it fan over her neck and shoulders. He can picture it stained with blood, the delicate bones that make up the enchanting features of her pretty face crushed. His eyes go lower, trailing over her lips, her shoulders, the rise and fall of her chest.
Desire for her surges suddenly and unexpectedly, and at once Estarossa wants a piece of this mesmerizing goddess. He releases one of her arms and reaches up, plucking a snow white feather from her wing.
Elizabeth lets go a scream, a mixture of pain and disgust, and her free hand goes flying. She strikes him across the jaw, all at once thrashing underneath him. She fights and claws, trying to shake loose of the grip he now has on both of her wrists, her hips bucking up against his, her thighs straining as she tries to unbalance his weight crushing on top of her.
"Let me go! Let me go!" she screams, fighting him wildly.
Estarossa laughs; but then, he senses Meliodas' presence closing in behind him. He was nowhere near ready to kill this goddess, wanting to enjoy pulling information from her smart mouth. But with his older brother approaching, he knows his time was limited. "Now you're in trouble," he hisses at her viciously, and Elizabeth jerks in his hold as he tightens his grip on her.
.o0o.
The two demon brothers, drawn by the explosion of what could only be Estarossa's Hellblaze, land silently in the forest. Meliodas gives his brother a signal, and they separate, working in an arc to find the goddesses that are surely nearby.
It doesn't take long for him to hear the frantic breathing of a creature running towards him. Meliodas steps around a tree, waiting, drawing his power into himself; when the moment is right, he steps out, snatching up the girl with one hand. She is on her knees with arms pinned behind her in an instant, and the demon barks, "How many more?"
"Like I would tell you, you—"
Meliodas snaps her neck easily, sighing and looking around. His blood is pumping from the chase, and he feels some satisfaction from this clean kill. The dragon had not been as satisfying as he had hoped, having been interrupted in his work; but he Meliodas cannot help but feel a bit of excitement at the sight of the dead goddess on the ground. He feels around, certain that at least three more are nearby; but he isn't sure quite yet if any of them are occupied by one of his brothers.
Zeldris appears suddenly on his right, and pulls up when he sees the body at his feet. "Are there more?" he asks.
"Use your damn head," he snaps. "How many flew off at the cave?"
"Four," he answers immediately.
Meliodas begins walking again, heading towards where Estarossa had released his magic. "Estarossa must have at least killed one. I've killed one. So tell me, Zeldris, are there more?"
He does not answer, which is a sound choice. They break off together, and not a moment later he hears Zeldris shout, "I found one!"
Rolling his eyes, Meliodas leaves him to it. Even though Zeldris is still green, at least to his standards, he is strong, and there is little doubt in his mind that his youngest brother can take care of a goddess or two on his own. He is more concerned now with Estarossa having failed to emerge. Is it possible that a goddess managed to avoid his attack, even take him down?
The thought urges him on, and Meliodas races through the trees. Finally he picks up the sound of a struggle, and then a piercing scream brings a smile to his face. He slows his pace as he approaches the spot where his brother has a goddess pinned to the ground. It looks as if she is a wild animal, the way she fights him, and then Meliodas can see why, as Estarossa slips a white feather into his pocket.
Meliodas smirks to himself. Estarossa was always an unusual one. "Have you caught something, brother?" he calls.
"This is the leader," answers Estarossa. He looks up and sees the blonde watching him pin the struggling goddess with a hint of amusement.
"We've killed the others," he says. "Well, most of them anyway. Zeldris is tracking the last."
"No!" the girl screams. "No, you're lying!"
Estarossa huffs in annoyance. "This one is trouble."
Laughing, Meliodas comes closer. "Yes, I can see that." He moves to stand next to them, and then he crouches down. The goddesses flinches away from him, surely sensing the vast power and malicious intent that is now pouring from the demon, his energy stirred by his recent killing. "Now," he says slowly, "I will instruct my brother to let you up, but you must behave. Do you understand?"
"I'm not letting her go," Estarossa growls. "I went through too much trouble to catch her."
Meliodas gives him a dark look for daring to question him, but before he can chastise him properly the goddess says, "If you know what's good for you, don't let me up."
He throws his head back and laughs. "Perfect! The last goddess I killed was a disappointment. Come on, let's see what you can do." The demon stands and removes his coat, now bare chested except for the sheath still strapped against his body. "Let her go, Estarossa."
"Meliodas," his brother says in a warning tone, sitting back. He releases her arms but remains sitting on her legs, but it is enough; in an instant, the goddess lands a vicious punch across his face, sending the demon toppling. As he crashes to the ground, she scrambles up, running to grab her spear from the ground and wheeling around on them. "Stay back!" she shouts.
Meliodas smiles, his expression genuine. "Do you have a name, goddess? I'd like to remember it after I kill you."
She only glares at him, but Estarossa offers, "It's Elizabeth."
His eyes flicker to his brother, now sitting on the ground and rubbing his jaw. "Elizabeth? That's easy enough." Meliodas folds his arms, his head tilting for a moment as he regards her. She was certainly pretty enough, and his eyes roam her body appreciatively. He licks his lips as his gaze drags slowly up her body, and is delighted to see a blush forming on her face, despite the venomous expression.
He feels the familiar burn of his demon mark, the heat sliding across his face as he prepares to fight. But there is something else too, something about this goddess that is exciting him more than anything has in a very, very long time. "I'll make you a deal, Elizabeth," he says.
"Don't you dare say my name," she snaps at him.
"If you land a hit before I kill you, I'll let you go." He is pleasantly surprised when her expression remains even, and he tilts his head forward, his brows raising slightly. "Deal?"
The goddess huffs. "As if I could trust a demon to keep his word."
Meliodas shrugs. "Then you'll have to die." She sucks in a breath, and the demon makes his move. His sword is out in a flash, and he swings downward, trying to slice her in half. The goddess, however, avoids the blow. She springs backwards, her wings spreading, and she takes off, crashing through the trees.
He heaves a sigh, but is not entirely displeased. "Go find Zeldris," he says, walking over to pick up his coat. "Make sure he found the rest, and that they are taken care of. I'll meet you back at the dragon's cave."
Estarossa stands with a growl. "She was my catch first, I should be the one—"
The taller demon is cut off as the giant blade of Meliodas' sword is suddenly a hair's breadth from his throat. He looks at his brother coldly, who regards him just as menacingly. Meliodas looks at him over the shoulder of his outstretched arm, keeping the weapon steadily trained at his neck. "She's my catch now. Don't make me repeat myself."
There is a split second where the air crackles with violence, and the two brothers wait for the other to strike first. But then Estarossa steps back, turning and disappearing into the forest.
Meliodas replaces his coat and resumes his hunt. He speeds along the ground, following her with little trouble, although she is much faster than she looks. The demon is actually a bit out of breath before he finally begins to close the gap between them, and he knows she must be tired from the chase if she is slowing down, if he is actually feeling the effects. All of this is terribly exciting, so when he spots a flash of white in the corner of his vision, he throws himself towards it.
He crashes through the trees, grabbing the goddess. She screams as they fall, and he gets a face full of feathers as her wings go out instinctively; however, he turns and takes the worst of the impact when they hit the ground, grunting as the wind is knocked out of him. His hold on her loosens enough that she is able to break out of his arms, but Meliodas manages to lock his grip on her ankle, pulling her back down as she tries to run.
The goddess kicks at him viciously, and when he does not let go she rears up, bringing her forearm around to strike him. Meliodas ducks and avoids her, using her momentum to hit her in the chest with his shoulder. But he pulls back on the hit, not wanting to break anything just yet, and regrets it a moment later when Elizabeth grabs his hair and yanks hard.
"Hey!" he shouts in surprise and pain, letting go of her ankle to grab at her wrists. She is halfway underneath him now, and to his shock he hears her laughing. It feels as though his hair will come right out of their roots, and the pain is so unexpected he focuses on that instead of on the fight. He reaches up to smack her hands away, forgetting about her legs.
The goddess kicks him soundly in the stomach, pushing with all her strength; at the same time, she tightens her hold on his hair and yanks him up and back. Meliodas is actually dizzy when he flips right over her, slamming onto his back.
The goddess scrambles on top of him and backhands him across the face. He blinks in surprise as he gets his bearings and looks up. She is looking back down at him with an aggravatingly satisfied smirk, and then hops up to stand. "I told you not to let me up," she says, and then kicks the side of his head.
Meliodas gives a shout of anger, a metallic taste filling his mouth. He reaches angrily for the goddess, but snatches nothing but air. "Get back here!" he shouts, anger bubbling up at how pathetic he sounds, how ridiculous it is that a goddess managed to hurt him.
"You said one hit and you'd let me go!" Her voice surprises him again, and quickly he scrambles to his feet. But she is long gone, and now that he is alone he winces as he touches his split lip.
"Elizabeth," he laughs to himself, the anger inside him melting away. "I'll remember that." Then he turns and stalks away, heading back to the dragon cave to meet his brothers.
