Summary: Unlike the other Ten Commandments, Estarossa does not care about power levels or destroying Britannia. He has only one concern: revenge.

A/N: Hey everybody! I guess between the stressful couple of weeks I've had and the complete lack of progress on my other piece, I took it out on this one lol... This is probably just going to be a one-shot. I don't know, maybe I'll continue it one day once the Ten Commandment arc is over. Please be warned there's some dark stuff ahead. Estarossa is kind of a dark guy, in my opinion.

.o0o.

The others thought he was sleeping, but Estarossa was actually searching. Researching, he liked to call it. He pushed his senses outward, allowing his mind to slide over Britannia, taking in the landscape and the creatures that lived there. He breathed slowly, enjoying the clean air. Being sealed away had been so… claustrophobic.

For hours he lay on the rubble of Edinburgh castle, pressing his mind outward, until he reached Liones. He found Meliodas easily, cleaning a bar that appeared to live on the top of a giant pig. Estarossa chuckled inwardly. Meliodas never failed to disappoint.

He watched for a while as Meliodas wiped the glassware and stacked bottles on the shelf. Estarossa's mind continued to crawl all over Britannia, but this—this demon who was a part of him, and vice versa—this is what he truly wanted to see.

Three thousand years was a long time, even by demon standards. It was a long time for him to think about his brother and his betrayal. In truth, Estarossa didn't give a damn about the rest of the demon clan. If he never saw Zeldris or the others again, he wouldn't give them a single thought. He had no room in his mind for trivialities. Estarossa only had time to think about revenge.

The corners of his mouth tipped up as he watched Meliodas argue with a small pig inside the bar. He tried to touch the little piggy with his mind, and found a curiosity there. Estarossa briefly considered delving a bit more when the door opened and someone walked into the bar.

Now this… was interesting.

A beautiful young girl stood there, and he pushed his mind towards her. She was filled with a dreadful sort of light, and the wisps of his power recoiled when they initially touched her. Goddess, he thought with disgust at first, but that was impossible. Probably an Apostle, he decided. He clenched his jaw involuntarily at the thought of the Druids still in existence in Britannia. It was their magic, and their blood, that had allowed the clans to seal them away in the first place.

His fury kept him from hearing their conversation, and before he could refocus his thoughts, she was gone in a flurry of tears. Estarossa's brow twitched.

He watched his brother continue his argument with the pig, but he had changed somehow. His power level had actually… spiked? The pig stomped off, and Meliodas returned to his duties. But now Estarossa marked the tight scowl on his lips, the slump of his shoulders, the way his hands trembled slightly. There was certainly much, much more to this girl than a random customer.

Leaving Meliodas, he turned his mind back into the city, zeroing in on the soft energy coming from the Apostle. He ignored the humans and Holy Knights that scurried around the city streets like insects. They were almost as significant as insects too.

When he found her, she was talking to a giant. Estarossa twitched again. What a development this was. After all these long years, it seemed like there were still members of the old clans after all. Fraudrin had made it sound as if humans were the only ones left.

He listened to the conversation this time, pleased with how much information the two gave. The giant referred to Meliodas as "captain", so he assumed she was one of the Seven Deadly Sins he kept hearing about. The captain had also had some kind of episode the day before, which Estarossa could only surmise was a reaction to their arrival. So he was aware of their presence in Britannia. Not that that would matter in the end.

But then… oh, the most delicious bit of information was revealed.

This little girl was in love with Meliodas. And apparently, he loved her too.

Estarossa's mouth curled into a smile. What was Meliodas thinking, falling in love again? The last time he loved someone, it ended badly. This time would prove no exception.

He waited for the right moment to explore this girl further. If he could pinpoint exactly how she was vulnerable, he could use it to his advantage. Estarossa's mind wandered, no longer interested in the conversation between the girls. He imagined she would be so easy to break, perhaps too easy. This would take a bit of finesse. Estarossa was glad the others were occupied with exploring Edinburgh and not paying him any attention. The last thing he needed was one of them stampeding on his plans.

There were shouts coming from Liones, and his focus returned to the Druid girl. There was now a huge spike in the power levels in the area, and he realized the giantess was fighting… What was that?

The girl went suddenly unconscious, and Estarossa realized this was a perfect chance to learn more about her. Ignoring the fight, he pressed his energy forward, surging outward until his mind touched hers.

He was only slightly surprised at the lack of resistance. Someone with the kind of powers she possessed should have some kind of barrier for protection. Curious, he slid into her psyche, trying to remain undetectable.

She was dreaming, and Estarossa watched with great interest. She was dressed in strange clothing, wandering through a field of tall grass. Her feet were bare, and as she looked around, he noted the bead with the royal crest dangling from her earlobe. This girl was a princess, too? This kept getting better and better! "Where am I?" she said aloud. "What am I doing here again?"

Her voice was soft and gentle, and sent an enticing shiver through him. His nerves were sent on edge as he imagined that voice begging him for mercy, pleading with him for death. Estarossa leaned forward with his mind, wanting to hear more. "I can't remember… but it was something… something important…"

She looked around with a confused expression. Estarossa breathed out, and a gust of wind went by, lifting her silver hair behind her. The girl paused, looking down to see the grass brush against her legs, when a paper danced by on the wind. He blew again, and it floated upwards. It drifted back down towards her, and she put out her hand, gently snatching it from the air.

"That's right," she said. "I was searching for Meliodas."

Estarossa peered over her shoulder to look at the paper in her hand, and was beyond pleased to see his own face staring back at him. He had completely invaded her consciousness. Now it was time to make his move. His power stroked her mind, and he materialized behind her. Drawing from her easily accessible memories, he wore the same armor that Meliodas had worn nearly two decades before as a Holy Knight of Liones. He doubted the girl—Elizabeth, he corrected himself, as he continued to explore her memories—even remembered herself seeing his brother and his comrades when she was a child. But this little detail would gain her trust nonetheless, and it was her trust that he wanted.

He stalked towards her casually, not making a sound. Elizabeth slowly turned as she felt his presence, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. Estarossa smiled down at her, and after a moment, she gave him a small smile in return. Her eyes widened in recognition.

"You…?" she breathed. "You're Meliodas…?"

My, she looked like a fruit waiting to be plucked from the vine. His smile widened at the sweetness in her voice, the happy surprise in her eyes. This would be so easy. He would have to temper himself so he did not tear her apart too quickly and spoil the fun.

But before he could utter a word, he was knocked from the dream. As his powers retreated from her mind, he heard a familiar voice calling her name even as the vision faded. He was jolted awake himself, suddenly very, very angry. Meliodas, he thought. His frustration from being torn away from his target bubbled to the surface.

"This is no doubt Meliodas' doing." Estarossa registered Zeldris' voice. "What do you think, Estarossa?"

The demon's eyes remained closed for a moment. As quickly as it came, his anger retreated back inside himself. He took another deep breath of the sweet Britannia air and then slowly opened his eyes. He didn't know what Zeldris was talking about, nor did he care. He had a purpose again, a goal. The concern Estarossa heard in Meliodas' voice as he called out for Elizabeth had sealed both of their fates.

.o0o.

The other members of the Ten Commandments were proving even more boring than he had feared. They were concerning themselves with the humans inhabiting Britannia, and it made his stomach churn. Who even cared? Their arguments were petty and tiresome.

The one bright moment came when Meliodas unexpectedly appeared. Estarossa was beyond entertained watching the others deal with him. Galan especially—his whining had become almost intolerable, and Estarossa took a great deal of satisfaction as he watched Meliodas literally cut him down.

He didn't move even after he disappeared, and listened as the others discussed Meliodas' new powers. Secretly he was pleased with the new Meliodas. Estarossa always enjoyed a challenge, as fleeting as they were. But it also meant that if he was going to go through with his plans before an actual battle occurred, then he had better get started, and soon.

"You're not leaving, brother?"

Estarossa glanced over his shoulder at Zeldris, who had a stoic look on his face. "It's the first time we've been outside in three thousand years," he answered mildly. "Let me enjoy the fresh air around here for a bit."

"Perfect," Zeldris answered. "I have something I need to do near here as well."

His brother ran off, and Estarossa leaned forward, resting an arm over his knee. He suspected this sudden errand had something to do with the vampires that were now gone from Edinburgh, leaving a giant crater instead. The others suspected Meliodas, and Estarossa had little doubt. He snorted to himself as he watched Zeldris search through Edinburgh in his mind's eye. Another fool who allowed himself to develop feelings for another. Such things only brought weakness.

A bird flew down and perched on him, and the demon looked at it with a small smile. Beautiful things had always been attracted to him, and as he stroked the bird's feathers, he stopped thinking about Meliodas for a moment to simply enjoy the sweet chirping.

His eyelid twitched, imperceptible to anyone else. The bird began to grow, its body contorting and stretching into a grotesque version of its pretty little self until it stood taller than even Estarossa. He looked up and admired the bird. Perhaps he could use it to find—

The bird suddenly gave a strangled squawk, a mixture of pain and fear. The sound jolted through his head like a knife. "Shut up," he muttered, narrowing his eyes. The bird exploded in the air, and he sighed. That was a disappointment.

.o0o.

Estarossa moved quickly through Britannia, skimming through the air as he got closer to Meliodas. He knew he couldn't get too close or else his brother would pick up on him, but in order to take this princess, he needed to have a more exact location than he currently had. For a brief moment he wondered how angry Zeldris would be when he realized he had left without him, but then brushed that away.

Once he was sure where the giant pig-bar was located, he perched on the bough of a great tree. His keen eyes allowed him sight for miles, and he was finally able to see Elizabeth in the flesh. She was standing on the balcony jutting from the side of the roof, talking excitedly to some Holy Knight. Estarossa read his strength for a moment and dismissed him immediately.

Elizabeth was wearing a short black dress and—was that armor? Very different attire than when he had watched her in the capital. She laughed suddenly and he remembered the sweet lilt of her voice. He would have to remember to make her laugh so he could hear it for himself.

The knight turned and went back inside, and the girl leaned against the railing. She closed her eyes and smiled, taking a deep breath of the late afternoon air, much like Estarossa had done earlier before the Commandments had split up. He slid his powers forward and let his energy creep closer, on high alert in case Meliodas or any of the others picked up on him. When there was no immediate alarm, he reached out and stroked her cheek. Elizabeth sighed and unconsciously leaned into the touch.

It would be so easy to just snatch her up right now! He could reach out his hand and pluck her like a flower. Estarossa considered it for a moment as his energy slid through the bangs that hung across her face. The girl gave another sigh.

He pressed into her mind and was surrounded by warmth. He read her thoughts easily, learning about their quest to find their missing friends and increase their power levels before coming in contact again with the Commandments. Estarossa also saw their plan to split them up around Britannia, and he shook his head. Zeldris had certainly fallen right into that trap, hadn't he?

"Elizabeth?" a familiar voice called. Estarossa quickly pulled back, noting the wrinkle in the girl's brow as he did so. Then his brother appeared, climbing through the little window. "There you are! What are you doing out here?"

"Nothing," she said with a small blush that he found completely adorable. "I was just daydreaming, I suppose."

"Come on, I need your help to get dinner ready." Meliodas reached out a hand and helped her back inside. He turned and scanned his eyes over the area briefly before climbing in after her.

.o0o.

For the next few days, Estarossa stalked them across Britannia. He watched the princess as she went about her daily routine and interacted with the very bizarre group with whom she traveled. One of the group, who Estarossa was intrigued to discover was the actual Fairy King himself, left in anger, and Elizabeth later had cried for a bit. What a beautiful sight that was, her tears welling in her wide eyes before slowly rolling across her creamy skin. He had hoped to enter her dream again that night and perhaps give her a bit of a scare, but to his disappointment, she did not dream.

Estarossa watched and waited for the right moment to strike. He was still undecided what he would do with the girl once he had her in his possession. His first thought was to send her back to Meliodas piece by piece. But that would take too long. Meliodas was certain to tear Britannia apart in the search for her.

His next idea was to leave her for him to find. He could even offer clues, make it a bit of a game for the both of them. But he abandoned this idea as well because he couldn't decide whether to leave her alive or dead. Leaving her dead would be the most practical, of course. But alive would allow Meliodas to hope. Estarossa certainly wanted to be entertained, but his practical nature argued against this fate for the girl. And if he was going to go through all the trouble of torturing her, and leaving her forever scarred, did he really want to miss the opportunity to watch the light fade from her eyes? If Meliodas found her quickly enough, she might even survive!

To be honest, stealing the girl was even beginning to lose its appeal. During the hours he watched them, he could see how delightful she was, and understood why his brother would be so taken with her. Estarossa wanted more time with her than stealing and killing her would allow.

If it were up to him, he would make her come to him. He would entice her, bend her to his will, and when she was writhing and panting reveal his true form to her. Estarossa's mind clouded as the idea swirled in front of him. He imagined her skin would be softer than flower petals as her fingers stroked his cheek. He could hear her gentle voice say his name, and it would wrap around him like velvet. Her body would be delicate in his hands, light as a feather. It didn't matter at that point if Meliodas knew he had her or not, because he would break her then.

He first pictured breaking every bone in her body, starting from the bottom and working his way up. Elizabeth would cry and scream and beg him to stop, and he would shush her as he worked. He wondered how long it would take for her to faint, and how long she would scream until she accepted the pain? His hands twitched as he visualized slipping them around her throat.

He thought about her long, silvery hair, and wondered what it smelled like. It probably felt like spun silk. He fantasized about wrapping his hands in it, turning it in his fingers, and pulling her up in the air by it. He had the sudden urge to yank it out, strand by strand, and use it to wipe away the blood and tears that streamed down her cheeks.

Estarossa huffed to himself. As fun as all that would be, it was beneath him. What he ultimately wanted to break was her mind. The sun was long gone, and the night was dark in the new moon. He pressed his energy out towards her.

Everyone in the bar slept. They were heading to a tournament the next day and had all turned in early. That kind of ridiculous frivolity could only be the work of Gloxinia and Dolor, he was sure of it.

He checked that Meliodas was asleep before he entered Elizabeth's mind. She was just beginning a dream, and to his surprise, she was back in the field of grass where he had first encountered her. She crouched a bit to brush her fingers through the tops of the tall grass. He assumed the form he had before and walked towards her.

She didn't sense Estarossa until he was practically on top of her. Elizabeth whirled around and looked up at him, shielding her eyes for a moment from the sunlight. He smiled down at her without a word. "Mel—Meliodas?" she whispered. "Are you Meliodas?"

Estarossa nodded. "I've been looking for you," Elizabeth said. "I was… but I think I forgot…" She frowned in confusion before returning her gaze up to his. "Is it really you?"

He nodded again and reached out for her. Elizabeth's eyes grew wide, but she did not fight his touch. Estarossa slid his hands in her hair, pleased to see that it was just as thick and soft as he had imagined. He felt a jolt as he came in contact with her but did not let that stop him. It seemed as if her power wanted to fight him off, even though Elizabeth herself was unaware of the danger she was in.

"Meliodas?" she said again. Estarossa dipped his head down and pulled on her hair gently, tilting her head back and to the side. He ran his lips a hair's breadth away from her skin, letting his breath travel down her neck and eliciting a shiver from the girl. "Meliodas, I—"

"Shhh," he shushed her, pressing his mouth against her ear. Elizabeth gasped, her hands lifting to his armor-covered chest and landing there lightly. He released one of his hands and pressed against her waist as she swayed slightly. The other curled, wrapping the locks in his fist, and he yanked backwards.

Elizabeth gave a little yelp, and he pulled her down to the ground. She landed in a heap at his feet and looked up at him in alarm. He knelt next to her and gave her a warm grin, reaching behind to unsnap his armor from his torso. The surprise in her expression melted into one of anticipation, and a light flush rose in her cheeks.

Estarossa could not stop himself from licking his lips. He reached out and grabbed the fabric covering her arms and snatched them both off in one movement. "Meliodas… what…"

He shushed her again and pressed a palm over her mouth. Her eyes widened again and he pressed her backwards until she lay on the grass. Keeping his hand firmly over her mouth, he leaned over her, pushing one leg to the side as he knelt between her thighs.

The girl's breath hitched and Estarossa noted the heavy rise and fall of her chest. Elizabeth's eyes betrayed her desire even as her body grew hot with her fear and confusion. She gave a little squeak against his palm as he lifted one of her legs and wrapped it around his waist.

Her hands flew to his wrist and she wrenched his hand away. "What—what are you doing—Meliodas?"

He could hear her heart thudding in her chest, and his own pulse began to speed up. He gave her another convincing smile as his hand traced up her calf and along the side of her thigh. Estarossa leaned over her again, planting his other hand in the grass next to her shoulder, as his hand moved higher. He squeezed her fleshy hip before moving over her stomach and around her small waist.

"Meliodas," she breathed. Hesitantly, she lifted her hands and placed them on his shoulders. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment.

Estarossa dipped his face towards her, turning so he could feel her breath on his cheek. She moved under him, arching a bit to close the inches between them. He brushed his lips on her cheekbone and smiled as a small sound escaped her throat.

"Elizabeth, you are truly divine," he murmured against her skin.

He chuckled as she shrunk back suddenly, her eyes flying open to search his face. Her hands on his chest started to shake. "You're—you're not—Meliodas," she whimpered.

"The most divine thing I've seen in a long, long time," he growled. For a moment, Elizabeth was frozen beneath him in fear. Then she jolted and tried to push him away, but at that moment, he crushed the fist that was wrapped above her hip.

Elizabeth screamed, her body arching away from his grip, but his massive body kept her from moving anywhere. Her hands made fists that beat against his chest. His hand slid up to her ribcage and he squeezed again. Another delicious scream erupted from her, and he wished he could somehow drink them as they escaped her mouth.

Estarossa took another long look at the writhing woman beneath him before he pulled away, escaping her mind and the bedroom and back to the safety of his perch miles away. With a smile he watched Meliodas shake Elizabeth awake, and she pushed him away in her frenzied state, nearly falling right out of the bed.

Others soon arrived in the room, and it was a bit before they managed to calm the girl down. She wept into her hands, and he knew she could feel the phantom pains from where he crushed her in her dream. A hot drink was fetched, and then the others eventually left. Elizabeth finally returned to the bed and curled against Meliodas. Estarossa rubbed his fingers against his palm, remembering the feel of her hair as he watched his brother stroke her hair while she drifted back to sleep.

Meliodas' eyes darted out the window, and Estarossa slunk back into the shadows as his gaze swept towards him. Let him have his suspicions, it did not matter. The game had begun.