She could feel his arms around her, his lips buried in her hair kissing her neck. She felt scared and not at all excited as she thought she would from such attention. "Sir Meliodas, we sh-shouldn't be..." She tensed with a gasp as he started to lay hotter and wetter kisses down her neck, while pulling her body closer to his. One of his hands started slowly caressing her stomach, inching his way towards her hip and thigh. Reaching down she lay her hand over his to stop his descent, "P-p-please Sir Meliodas we can't- I think you should st-stop." She could feel his body tense, his arms tighten and for a few seconds she thought he would ignore her plea and continue anyway, but then he loosened his grasp. But before he let her go completely he brought his mouth to her ear and said, "I'm not Meliodas."
Elizabeth violently jolted awake, falling to the ground from the bed she was in. Frantically she looked around but didn't see anyone in the room. Letting out her breath she was thankful it was a dream, but she didn't recognize the room she was in. As she tried to stand up she was assaulted with a huge wave of dizziness that darkened her vision. She took a deep breath to bring it under control and tried to rise slower once again. Her legs felt weak as she sat on the edge of the bed. She began to look around and tried to remember what had happened. Her memory was very murky, almost blank.
"Where am I?" She cried softly. Laying her head in her hands she tried and tried to remember how she got here, but the more she tried the more tears streamed down her face in fear. Oh please, please help me Sir Meliodas! She thought sobbing, not hearing the door behind her opening. Elizabeth almost choked when she felt a hand on her head trying to soothe her. She looked up excitedly thinking it was Meliodas, but she came face to face with a man she had hoped to never see again.
"Shhh. It's ok, I'm here. There's nothing to cry about now that we're together." Estarossa said softly, kneeling in front of her and placing his hands on her cheeks to wipe away her tears. "You're going to be safe with me I promise. I took you away from those people and now nothing will tear us apart again." As he stared into her eyes he only saw the love he imagined she felt for him, and not the absolute terror that was actually there.
Oh, dear Gods! What am I going to do? Elizabeth thought. She tried to push him away from her but he wouldn't move. "P-p-please let me g-go p-please I-" she stopped when Estarossa's hands briefly tightened on her face, cutting off her plead. His eyes narrowed for a moment before clearing and resuming his loving embrace. Elizabeth went still, fearing any movement would make him hurt her.
"My dear love, what they've done to you! Making you think I wanted to kill you, making you think you loved someone else. But everything will be better now because we're going to be together forever. I love you so much, I always have. Even throughout all the years we were apart I never thought of anyone but you." Estarossa said almost desperately. "They took your memories but we can get them back! And I will make them all pay for tearing us apart."
With that he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her to him tightly. Elizabeth was too frightened to fight him, especially after what he said about her memories and them being together forever. When he let her go and placed a hand on her cheek to lean down to kiss her, she jerked back instinctually. Estarossa grew still, sliding his hand from her cheek into her hair he grabbed it roughly tilting her head back.
Rising to his feet he stared down at her with a kind of fury in his eyes. Harshly he said, "I will forgive you your little lapses knowing that they turned you against me but remember that you are mine. Always have been, always will be, and I will not be denied your love for much longer." Letting her go he started to walk away when he turned back to her. "My friend will be here in two days to get you your memories back. I think you should prepare yourself, it's not a pleasant experience I'm told." Turning back to the door he opened it and walked through before turning once more to say, "And never call me Meliodas again." With that he shut and locked the door.
Tears flowed from her eyes like a river of sorrow and horror. "It wasn't a dream." She whispered, pulling her legs up to wrap her arms around them, rocking herself as she sobbed into her knees. Someone please! She thought, someone please help me! I can't do this! Sobbing harder she shouted in her mind for Meliodas to save her. Just once more please Sir Meliodas! Just once more and I swear you'll never have to save me again! HELP ME PLEASE SIR MELIODAS! HELP ME!
About 20 miles outside of Liones...
Meliodas shivered as this feeling of utter terror and anguish spilled over him. It caused him to stumble as he entered the barroom followed by Zeldris. He held a hand over his heart feeling it beat so fast it felt like it was going to vault right out of his chest. He could feel himself grow pale and cold as the feelings of despair grew within him. "Gods, no. Please let her be ok." Meliodas prayed, feeling sicker by the second.
Swaying with the motion of Mama Hawks movement, he straightened up although he felt like he could drop at any moment. As he approached the Sins who had fallen silent at the appearance of him and his brother he looked at them and said, "I know what you're all thinking and yes it has all occurred to me as well. But we need him." He had to pause to catch his breath.
"Captain are you, all right?" Diane asked hesitantly.
Meliodas raised his face and looked at the shrunken giant. "No Diane I am not alright. I am as far from alright as I can ever be. And if we don't find her soon I may never be alright again!" He shouted. Breath heaving after his outburst, he turned from his friends trying to calm himself. Focusing on Diane again he said quietly, "I'm sorry." He paused and whispered, "I can feel her. She far from me but I can feel her." Meliodas could see the shock on his friends faces as he rubbed his chest. "She is so scared right now and it's tearing my soul apart. I can't- I can't breathe right, my heart is breaking and I just want to hold her-" he chokes on a sob.
Bowing his head, Meliodas tries to gather himself but is finding it impossible. Hearing a chair scrape, he sees two red boots approach him. Ban lays his hand on Meliodas's shoulder, "Captain." He says with a sigh. "I know-." He stops speaking and squeezes his arm. Knowing that someone knows how he feels helps Meliodas gain some control. Nodding his head, he turns to Ban saying his thanks. Wiping his face of his tears he looks up and tells his friends his very simple plan.
"Zeldris will lead us to Estarossa." Expecting an explosion of denials and disapprovals he is surprised when everyone is silent. "That's it? Nobody has anything to say?'
"If you were expecting us to argue with you, sorry to disappoint." Merlin said. "I told them about Zeldris while you were up there. They agreed that he's our best hope of finding Elizabeth. They also agreed that if he betrays you that nothing and no one in the history of the world will suffer as much as he will, especially if she is hurt." Merlin looked at Meliodas who was standing there incredulous. "Why are you looking at us like that?" she asked. "We love her too Captain." Merlin says softly.
Meliodas tried not to cry again, and it was close, but he managed to keep himself together. "Thank you. From the bottom of my hearts." He said gratefully. Clearing his throat, he turned to Zeldris and asked, "What do you need?"
"I need the statue." Zeldris said.
"Ban, did you get it?" Meliodas asked.
"Of course I did. I may not be a full-time thief any more but I still got it." He said with a slight chuckle. Ban retrieved the statue from behind the bar and handed it to Meliodas.
Turning Meliodas handed the statue to Zeldris. Looking at the figure Zeldris let out a slight quiver at first touch. "There's something here, I can feel it even without my powers." Turning to Merlin he asked, "Do you have any purified water or oil?" The mage went to her laboratory to fetch the oil she kept there. Now turning to Ban he said, "I need anise, clove and salt." Nodding, Ban went to the kitchen to grab them.
"I thought you didn't have any powers? How can you summon the demon without them?" King asked Zeldris.
Zeldris looked at the fairy king and said, "Summoning isn't a power, it's a skill. Anyone with the right tools can summon demons. The salt will keep him contained and the anise and clove will protect us from any magics he would throw at us. If I had my powers none of that would be necessary. I would be able to keep him in check without any help."
When the two Sins returned Zeldris took the items and placed them on a table with the statue. Grabbing the clove, he handed it out to everyone and told them to hold onto it for protection. "I'm going to attempt to bring the demon out to question it. Do not interfere and do not drop the clove. It is the only thing that will protect you from possession." Going back to the table he took the salt and poured a circle of it around the statue. Mixing the anise with the oil he dipped his hands in the mixture, raised them to the statue and began to summon Carreau.
Murmuring the necessary demonic words Zeldris could feel the power of the demon approaching. "Everyone be quiet and don't look at it. He will be able to read you so don't make eye contact." A faint glow started to appear around the statue, and it grew brighter and brighter the more Zeldris spoke the words. It expanded into an intensely volatile, pulsating mass trying to escape the salt line.
"Demon Carreau you will go no-where until I am done with you, now settle down." Zeldris commanded. The light started to dim until the statue was once again visible and now moving. The twisted branches swaying as if in a breeze, while the child-like creature with-in was fairly bristling with anger.
"How dare you summon me! Do you know who I am? I will skin you alive for this!" Carreau exclaimed.
"Yes, I do know you. But do you know who I am?" Zeldris asked. "I'll give you a clue, our father is your boss." speaking dryly he tilted his head towards Meliodas. Carreau stared at him warily, until he looked over at Meliodas and then he understood who they were.
"What do you want from me spawn?" Carreau spat.
"I want to know who summoned you, and where they are." Zeldris stated.
Carreau shrugged, "I do not know who it was. We never came face to face." The small demon said with a smirk.
Zeldris shook his head, "Tsk tsk Carreau. That's not what I wanted to hear. And I thought you wanted to stay alive..."
Carreau backed up as best he could in the tight circle that Zeldris drew around him with the salt. "Look I just don't know OK?! When I appeared, I was in this statue and given my assignment. That's all! I swear!"
"I want to know everything you can tell us about who summoned you and exactly what your assignment was." Zeldris said standing and waiting as the small demon opened and closed his mouth like he didn't know what to say. 'NOW DAMMIT!" He shouted.
"I told you I never met them so I can't tell you who they are! And my assignment was to infect the king of Liones to the point where he drives away his daughters and angers his people to the point of rebellion. I had only been there a few nights but it was working." Carreau paused.
"That's not all is it?" Meliodas demanded. "Answer me!"
Carreau let out a small chuckle at the outburst. "No, it wasn't. After I was done in Liones I was supposed to send myself to Camelot to receive my next assignment." Carreau stared at Meliodas. "I wish to speak freely." He said not looking at Zeldris.
Zeldris nodded and Carreau took that opportunity to goad Meliodas as best he could. "You know, I could hear everything that happened in that castle. I know the princess was kidnapped. I knew it the moment it happened. I even know who took her, and I can tell you that you'll never find her. He will kill her before he ever gives her up." Carreau sneered.
Meliodas took a menacing step towards the demon saying, "So you do know who summoned you? It was Estarossa wasn't it?"
Carreau threw his head back and laughed. "That lunatic? He has no powers, whomever summoned me has the real power! They left me with him to be given to the king." Carreau chortled. "You should be aware that the benefactor working through him is much more impressive than you lot." The light started to grow brighter and pulsate again.
"It's no use Carreau. I won't let you go." Zeldris said with authority.
Carreau laughed harder, "Oh, this isn't me. Our master is summoning me again. Shame I can't stick around and chat some more but I have to go and see my new boss." Carreau couldn't stop laughing and so he didn't see the sword come down until it was too late.
Meliodas cut down the demon to prevent it from escaping and harming anybody else ever again. Turning to Zeldris he asked, "What now?"
Zeldris looked to be deep in own thoughts before he said, "I think he's in Camelot." He looked up at Meliodas. "You heard Carreau. He was given to Estarossa for his first assignment and was to go to Camelot to receive his second. I believe he would feel comfortable from spending so much of our time there since we arrived in Britannia."
Meliodas looked at Zeldris for a minute before nodding his head. Going to the door he shouted down to Mama Hawk to head towards Camelot. Looking out towards the horizon he closed his eyes and thought of Elizabeth. I'm coming, he thought. I'm coming to save you. Be strong and I will find you.
Back in Camelot...
Elizabeth was standing at the window staring out at the horizon. She had tried to get people's attention, but it was as if they couldn't see or hear her. She had been standing there for over an hour when she felt a warmth take her over. Closing her eyes, a single tear streaked down her cheek as she smiled. She could feel it. Help was on its way.
I felt like I was on a roll so I stayed up until 430 last night writing this lol. I'm going to try to continue with this pace so bear with me please.