This is dedicated to my dear MIA Dom. I hope adult life stops kicking your arse soon and you'll find your way back to me.
Welcome to all new readers and welcome back to my regulars. Please review and tell me what you think. I can't improve without feedback.
Reminder; this story is rated M for a reason. That reason has started showing its head. Those of a sensitive nature may wish to skip the first section. Consider this your warning.
Please enjoy. xXx
Elizabeth let her head fall forward and tried to relax into the following swing. Nualla stood behind her admiring the crisscross marks of her handiwork.
First came the whistle of the whip through the air, then the crack of the lash as it landed. Next came a rush of heat as blood surged to the afflicted area, the slice of pain and the after burn of agony. Elizabeth gritted her teeth, trying to contain her cry of pain but she could not stop the flow of tears.
"Tell me what you know," came a seductive whisper in her ear as Nualla wiped her tears away gently. "And all this suffering comes to an end."
Elizabeth shook her head. If she spoke, the sob she was holding back would be released and she didn't want to give the other woman the pleasure of hearing it.
"As you wish. I've been wanting to try out my next technique. I'm worried about becoming rusty." Nualla looked genuinely pleased.
The princess straightened her body as much as she could and took a steadying breath. She looked at Nualla, blue eyes meeting red. "I don't know how to open the way between our realms." She whispered. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!" She added in her mind.
This was the rhythm now. Nualla would swing then stop, allowing time for the burn, and ask a question. Elizabeth would deny knowing the answer and then so would it repeat. Time had no meaning for the princess. She could have been here five hours, five days or five weeks. She thought of Meliodas and her friends and tried to bear the pain as well as she could without giving Nualla the satisfaction of seeing her break.
Nualla laughed happily. "Are you ready? I am!" and once more lifted her arm to swing. This time, instead of a single lash and stopping, Nualla kept going. Every stroke felt like it landed in the same place. Elizabeth's back was throbbing, she felt like she would break in two. She could no longer contain her cries. Then, her world went dark.
"While the captain has been out of it," Meliodas glared at Merlin, "I've not been idle. I've arranged transportation to the demon realm and we'll meet up with my contact once we're there. He hasn't any new information as of the last time we spoke but he may have when we've arrived. I thought you'd rather get going rather than sit and wait for him." Meliodas nodded sharply.
Merlin threw a bundle of cloth at each of her companions. "Here, put these on. I've enchanted them to hide your magical powers. If the demons even sniff you're not one of them we'll have to fight our way through. And that will take longer." Ban huffed. He was itching for a good fight. He felt the need to take action, waiting didn't agree with him. "I'm pretty sure you two would be okay without my enchant but I erred on the side of caution. I have a feeling that there are some who are less than happy with you." Merlin looked pointedly at Meliodas and Gowther. Meliodas narrowed his eyes at the Mage but said nothing. Gowther seemed unaware she had spoken to him.
"The demon realm isn't like here. Time runs differently. Two hours here could be two minutes there or it could be two days."
"Huh? How would that work? That doesn't even make sense!" complained Ban.
Merlin sighed. There was always one who had to question her. "Where we are is a world, a planet, yes?" King, Ban and Diane nodded. Meliodas looked impatient and Gowther was staring into the distance. "The demon realm isn't physical like this world is. That means it doesn't exist as a planet. It's phased out of our reality and exists in the between. The place surrounding realities. Follow me so far?" The three dutifully nodded.
"That was how the races were able to defeat the demons during the holy war. Their realm was sealed off in a place where they couldn't access it any more, no reinforcements, no retreat. Going back to the original point, because it isn't a physical location in the universe, it doesn't have the same rules you might say, as our world does. Also, there is no night and day. There is no sun, no moon or stars. Light just is. All the time. But it's not a strong daylight. You'll see once we're there." Merlin looked at the three in turn. "Now, are you ready or does anyone have any more time wasting questions?" the Mage asked dryly.
"If you have enchanted the cloaks to hide our magical powers, will we still be able to use them? And more, will we be able to sense each other's location if necessary?" Gowther asked pragmatically.
Merlin nodded approvingly and smiled. "Yes. The enchant just distorts your energy so you should have no problem using your powers. Once used, your opponent will know your powers are not demonic in nature so try to keep fighting to a minimum. If we do need to sense each other then you will need to look for the distortion. It shouldn't be too hard as we all know one another."
Gowther inclined his head in acknowledgment and pushed his glasses up his nose. He took up his cloak and swirled it efficiently around his shoulders and pulled up the cowl. He was now nothing more than a dark shape, the cloak covering him completely, dropping to the floor, leaving his face in shadow.
His companions followed his example and donned their cloaks. Merlin's seemingly disembodied voice floated to them. "Stand in a circle and hold hands, that way we should all arrive together."
"Should?" queried King quietly. "Ssshhh!" Diane hissed at him. The fairy's face coloured.
Merlin levitated above the group and started muttering queer, unintelligible words while moving her hands in complicated patterns.
The air surrounding the group began to shimmer, their cloaks starting to flap, gently at first and then more wildly as Merlin's chant picked up speed.
"Hold on!" The Mage called out as her companion's feet left the ground. They were levitating several feet above the earth. Ban began laughing wildly, King and Diane shared looks of apprehension, Gowther looked mildly disinterested and Meliodas, resolute. They gripped each other's hands tightly and with a deafening pop, they were gone.
Rushing lights, spinning, darkness, roaring sounds and silence. All they knew for certain was the strong grip they had on each other and the flapping of their cloaks. How long were they traveling was hard to say. It felt like forever and no time at all. With a sharp jolt, everything stopped. All sound, all light, all feeling. Everything but the hand they were holding.
Meliodas raised his head. His gaze passed over each of his companions, making sure they had all arrived safely. Everyone was collapsed in a heap. He counted quickly.
"Damnit! Where's Merlin!"