(100% of the credit and ownership goes to the creators of Nanatsu no Taizai. I do NOT own any of it!)
Chapter 4: To Love the Unlovable
She buried
her ears
into the calm
of his heartbeat,
and in a matter of seconds;
fell terribly in love
with the way
her loneliness fell
softly and suddenly,
asleep,
in his chest.
-Christopher Poindexter
Elizabeth couldn't stop thinking about Meliodas. The feared and hated Demon Prince had unknowingly taken hold of her heart upon their tragic encounter and held it so close she could barely breathe. Despite ruthlessly killing hundreds of members of the Goddess clan within the last few months and members of the Giant clan, Fairy clan and Human armies, she still could not find it within herself to hate him. She would continue to hold out hope and be there for him during his darkest hour even if the whole world was against him.
The Supreme Deity's daughter would continue to show Meliodas forgiveness, kindness and acceptance even if he did not deserve it or understand what such gestures meant. She desperately wanted to understand his motivation that lead him into such meaningless misery, living the life of a cold-blooded killer. Elizabeth shivered upon the very thought itself.
Tears began falling down her eyes upon the declaration and the cold as ice look in his eyes when he slaughtered and took countless lives. "Kill them Zeldris, all of the goddesses must die. No prisoners nor mercy will be shown," Meliodas declared with resolution. His face showed no remorse or regret, only ambition. Her heart ached for him. Was she that foolish for falling in love with a man who was the polar opposite of her? Love… a goddess loving a demon, had such a thing ever happened before?
Elizabeth found herself blushing a soft shade of rouge pink thinking such a scandalous thought. She covered her face in pure embarrassment at her girlish notions. She barely even knew Sir Meliodas enough to say it was love. But wasn't love the definition of deep affection that unites two beings. A feeling rooted on warmth and natural allure. The goddess had never felt for another what she felt for Meliodas, not even to her betrothed and kind Mael.
Mael… what had he done for her to feel what she did for the eldest demon prince? She looked to her side where Mael and her were currently laying side by side on a soft yellow blanket out in the sunflower field near a serene meadow of the Goddess clan. He was passed out and covering most of the right side of the blanket. Elizabeth giggled as she watched the mighty Archangel snore in his sleep without a care. The goddess tucked a few strands of his long locks back and he signed in sleepy contentment with a small smile.
She knew only she was lucky enough to see Mael laid back, allowing himself to show his true gentle and humorous nature without fear of looking weak amongst his clansmen or her mother. Elizabeth relaxed back and positioned herself so she was staring directly across from Mael's sleeping form where he was turned towards her laying on his side. She extended her hand and cupped his cheek, similar to what she had done to Meliodas what seemed like eons ago. Meliodas dipped his head further into her hand and his head tilted ever so slightly into her hold on him. Elizabeth's fingertips brushed into his hair and she saw his gaze lighten, the bottomless pit of darkness within his eyes lessened ever so slightly. She traced attentive patterns onto Mael's delicate skin while closing her eyes and pondering upon her last encounter with Meliodas, the demon she would give anything to see again.
When she was done tracing patterns onto Mael's skin, she began lightly combing his hair back, watching as his strong and rigid stance relaxed upon her touch. She observed as the sunlight made Mael's long flowing silver hair look almost golden. Mael when standing up was so tall that Elizabeth barely even met the top of his chest. He was a great deal taller than she. Unlike Meliodas whose stature stopped just in the middle of Elizabeth's breasts. Elizabeth's blush deepened upon the recent thought. Sir Meliodas…
What are you doing right now? Are you happy wherever you are? Do you think back upon meeting me… Sir Meliodas? Elizabeth needed to see him again, she needed to see Sir Meliodas. She would be getting married to Mael in only two months and along with giving him her innocence, she would also be giving him her soul for all eternity after their consummation was complete. Before her fate was decided, Elizabeth needed to see what these feelings were for Meliodas, she needed answers from the only one who could possibly explain it.
Elizabeth gazed at Mael and faintly smiled. She lowered her head and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Forgive me, my sweet Mael. I'll return to you soon," she whispered fondly. She ran her hands through his hair once more and quietly rose from her spot, when her wings took flight and she set off on finding the eldest demon prince. Even if she had to travel for miles upon miles with no results, she would find him, no matter what. Sir Meliodas, where are you?
Meliodas had not seen Elizabeth in a few months now. He continued killing over and over again, wanting to silence whatever Elizabeth had sparked inside himself. He was so confused why his seven hearts would accelerate without warning upon thinking of her deliciously slender yet curvaceous figure, long arctic silver hair, soft pale skin complexion, and large Prussian blue eyes. Goddess Elizabeth. He violently shook his head at the thought. Yet, how long could he continue to deny whatever had occurred within his very depths?
Battle after battle, life upon life ruthlessly taken, nothing changed. He would continue to be the ruthless monster he always was, bringing destruction to everyone and everything within his path. He was his father's son after all, what did he care what one goddess thought of him? One goddess, the supreme deity's daughter… Elizabeth. Even her name turned his entire body into a pacified affectionate worshiper. Luckily, his father, younger brother and Ten Commandments had yet to notice the minor but deadly change that had taken hold.
Meliodas felt himself turning softer each day, more merciful to the other races when he was alone and in battle. Elizabeth's beautiful and alluring face kept repeatedly entering his mind. The more he tried to fight his growing feelings, the stronger they amplified. Although it made him disgusted with himself over feeling such sentimental emotions, he wanted to see her again, would give anything to see her once more. But how? He had no way of finding her and he couldn't let his father, younger brother or clansmen know how he felt. If they discovered her or his new feelings for the goddess, they would quickly eliminate her, viewing her as a disposable pawn or a dangerous existence.
Until he saw her or discovered how to find her, he would continue fighting his father's endless battles. As such, it led him into the most recent battle today against the human army in a small village located in Britannia. Originally Zeldris was supposed to lead the hundreds of lower level demons into battle, but this battle location was near Heaven's Theater, deserted Goddess territory. It was a slim chance, but he knew Elizabeth had been there before, after discovering the land he had smelt her scent. She must have gone to Heaven's Theater multiple times, her faint scent lingering strongly in the air.
Meliodas watched from above the sky as his demons slashed the throats of the human army, how their loud screams went dead in their mouth when their souls were sucked out. How pitiful and amusing. He watched as their souls were devoured by the lower level demons and then their corpses were ripped into nothingness. Hundreds of demons kept relentlessly attacking the humans. The humans were far too weak and pathetic to do anything to stop them.
It was then he sensed a familiar strong aurora enter the air. Could it be? The demon prince watched as the aurora's strong innocence, purity and confusion tinted the sky a shade lighter. A goddess, one goddess had just entered the battlefield. Elizabeth what are you doing here? Shortly after sensing her, he felt four demons spike their bloodlust higher, evil intentions spilling out. Meliodas felt his rage skewer the field, killing all demons and humans below him as he took flight. He had to get to her but she was miles away. Elizabeth...
Elizabeth had no idea how she ended up here, but she knew Heaven's Theater was near this village. She had blessed this village years ago upon its first creation, this had been a peaceful village filled with happy families, livestock and life. However, when she was flying overhead and saw the battle waging below between the demons and humans, she couldn't help but land. The village she had once blessed all those years ago was now in ruins, bodies of dead men, women and children lay scattered. Both of her hands went to her mouth in shock and sadness. Maybe she could heal some of the wounded and lessen death's head count.
Elizabeth's tears started flowing from her eyes at the terrible sight before her, the hundreds of dead demon and human bodies aligned, demons sucking the souls out of the humans until they were dried up corpses was far too devastating. Her shock and disappointment dropped her to her knees. She didn't even sense four demons approaching her until she was suddenly picked up by one of them, their hands strangling her throat holding her up in the air. She couldn't breathe as she tried to release herself from their iron grip.
"Please, please let me go. I don't mean you any harm," Elizabeth requested fearful. She was helpless, the demon had pierced her left arm and blood began trickling down her arm, making her unable to move or defend herself. She couldn't do a thing. She tried to lift her wings to make a futile escape, but they wouldn't move, none of her body would no matter how hard she tried. What was happening? Sir Meliodas... Mael... please, save me.
"Foolish goddess, once my poison entered your bloodstream, you were rendered unable to move. Now, be a good whore and let me make claim to you, then bathe in your purified blood," the demon laughed savagely. More demons surrounded them after overhearing the conversation. All of them had slimy red skin with menacing horns coming out of their head, sharp yellow fanged teeth and their eyes were the same blackness that Meliodas and Zeldris had. Pinpoint and focused their eyes taunted her, their newfound prey.
Elizabeth was going to die here, never to see Sir Meliodas, Mael, mother or clan again. Despair and hopelessness filled her heart. Had she known this would happen, would she have done it over again? She screamed as loud as she could as one of the demons held her down and laughed maliciously in her ear, "You're going to die here goddess, die a meaningless death. You won't be a snobby pure virgin when we are done with you." It held both of her arms against the house and another demon put his razor-sharp hands through her hair, taking a clump of it and smelling it wickedly.
One of the demons started tearing apart her white blouse into shreds while another began cutting into her black leggings, leaving dark bruises along her body from their sharp nails. She tried to be brave, but she couldn't stop the flood of tears that escaped from behind her eyes, her vision turning foggy and body aching beyond comprehension. No, don't touch me. I don't want you to touch me, I don't want this. Please, leave me alone. Elizabeth began bawling. No, this is not how a Goddess or any woman should lose their innocence, not ever. The demons laughing made her scream louder.
"Please, help me, please Sir Meliodas!" the goddess begged with all her might for him to hear her. Please hear me, save me Meliodas. No matter how hard she tried breaking through, they fought back harder. Another demon began picking her feathers from her wings, the searing hot pain she felt from it was unimaginable. Who could do this to another? Her heart broke from the very thought, knowing she was not their first victim or last. Was this how all demons were? The very same demons Sir Meliodas commanded and lead into battle?
Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut and willed her mind to go to a silent place inside her head. She couldn't take this. "Meliodas!" the goddess screamed powerfully. Her wings stretched outright on command and white light burst out from her body, sending the demons flying backwards a few hundred feet. Her clothes were in slivers, eyes pink and puffy from the stream of tears that wouldn't let up. She tried to stand but fell from the beating she had taken, blood poured from her wounds. The goddess barely had the strength to move before collapsing onto her hands and knees, dejected and fearful.
She saw all the demons who had attacked her, race with all their might to tackle her back to the ground to punish her for her foolish and desperate actions. That very same moment, she sensed him arrive. The same demon she had hoped would come save her. Black dark matter encased the entire ground for at least a 50-mile distance. The ground shook dangerously and a malicious presence silenced the ground of Britannia and everyone in it. All the demons within the vicinity dropped everything they were doing and fell onto their knees at site of their beloved eldest prince's arrival. The lower level demons shook with full fear at sight of the eldest demon prince. Sir Meliodas…
His black wings suddenly dropped to the ground and left a crater where he violently collided with the Earth from his ungodly power. The ground shred beneath him as he walked forward. When Meliodas lifted his face, half was covered in dark grey shadows and a menacing stare soon became obvious on his features. His eyes granted death to every demon who dared to look straight at him, making their bodies explode into thousands of pieces. He was in demon assault mode, granting death to all who wished it or prayed to live.
Elizabeth saw him and knew she should fear for her life, but couldn't help but be relieved. His back was to her as he faced the lower level demon army. Before the goddess even had time to blink, all of the demons had been slaughtered. Their bodies lay in a heap of black and red blood, the ground smelt of ash and death. Although he surely looked like the very picture of evil and darkness itself, he had come for her. Tears of relief and happiness poured from Elizabeth's eyes at knowing he was here, nothing else mattered. Meliodas had come for her.
Meliodas could not contain his rage after ruthlessly killing all of his demons, he wanted more to die. He left countless craters in the ground and earthquakes from each final blow delivered after the next. He wanted more blood to be shed for making his goddess bleed, for hurting her. He wanted payment for the damage that could not be erased. After quickly murdering all of the demons in the vicinity, he slowly turned around to look at Elizabeth, his hatred dissipated within seconds of seeing her, concern and relief filled his soul knowing she was alive. Elizabeth…
Meliodas quickly flew to her side until his black matter and demon crest suddenly disappeared, revealing emerald green eyes with hints of olive. The demon prince's messy blond hair that had just been standing straight up, fell down to his neck, leaving two stray hairs sticking up in the center upright. His emerald eyes glossed over and for the first time in his life, he cried and not just for anyone, for her. The goddess that he could never part from again, despite knowing it was forbidden. The very same goddess who had changed his icy and cold composure upon meeting against all sense of logic or reason.
His tears fell onto Elizabeth's cheek and he bent over to cradle her within his firm arms. He kept one arm securely around her back and used his other hand to comb his fingers through her aesthetic silver hair. After feeling her silky soft hair through his fingers, he picked her up bridal style and pressed her face into his cheek tenderly. "Forgive me Elizabeth, I'm sorry I'm late," he whispered into her ear. He breathed in her scent, the smell of lavender, innocence and sweetness greeted his senses.
Elizabeth looked up and felt his tears hit her cheeks. Her heart burst from sadness at his tears. She angled her head so she could look into his eyes and she cried harder upon seeing them. His beautiful emerald green eyes were magnificent, reflecting kindness and a newly discovered soft nature. She weakly reached one of her hands up and wrapped one of them softly around his neck, the other cupped his cheek as she smiled at him through tears. "I'm so glad you are alright. I needed to see you again Sir Meliodas," Elizabeth whispered sweetly at him.
He held her delicately and as if she was the most precious thing throughout the realms. He carefully observed her body, knowing her clothes had been tattered to pieces, dark bruises covered her lower half and his rage started to simmer once again. His black demon crest reemerged turning his eyes back to a midnight black with a magenta center. Dark matter appeared from his back turning them into black wings as he took flight into the eerie and quiet twilight night, leaving the massacre of demons and destroyed land behind them.
Meliodas knew he needed to take Elizabeth somewhere safe, away from both the Demon and Goddess clans. He would take her to the Goddess clan's abandoned remains of Heaven's Theater, a place located above the clouds in Britannia, not too far from where they were at now. He had stumbled upon the spot shortly after he had met Elizabeth, her faint smell remained in the landscape. He would visit it often, hoping she would appear. It felt right to say that is where their new meeting place should be, it felt suitable.
He resolved to keep Elizabeth safe until she recovered. He would remain by her side and they would figure this out together from here till the end. He knew he was a fool for believing he could go on living his life as he had before Elizabeth, now realizing the gravity of how deep and substantial his feelings for the goddess were. He looked down upon her, observing as her purity and white glow radiated in the darkness. His seven hearts beat rapidly knowing her innocence was still intact. Goddess what have you done to me… Elizabeth.
Elizabeth inhaled the demon prince's scent and it smelt like a mixture of a pomegranate, spicy fragrance that made her bubbly inside. Meliodas smelt like safety, warmth and secrecy. She could smell him forever and remain just as intoxicated with it like the very first time she smelt it. Despite how much she wished to stay awake, her eyes began drooping until she finally let herself give into the fatigue. Slumber and contentedness filled her soul.
The goddess relaxed into his chest, knowing fate had brought her Sir Meliodas, who she was desperately and hopelessly in love with now for as long as she would live and she wouldn't change a single thing. She would never regret loving a demon, the same demon who had stolen her heart and purpose for existing. What awaited them beyond tonight, neither could ever know but as long as she was beside him, it would continue to give her unique strength and steadfast devotion. Sir Meliodas…
The goddess could not explain it, but it was as if their souls were entangled in something far greater than either of them could have imagined the very moment they had met. Was their meeting the work of chance or providence? What awaited them, despair or hope? Elizabeth was determined to figure it out in order to be beside the demon she was undeniably drawn to, from here until the very end of time.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story! It means the world to me. Thank you SO much for the reviews/favorites/follows friends. (: If you wish for this story to continue, PLEASE review/follow/favorite. Special shout out and an extra thank you to: Pink Onigiri, Guests (2), Mossykins and KyRa-ChAn008! Thank you all for taking the extra time to review, very thankful for it. Be sure to continue to let me know your thoughts (:
