There was shouting coming from everywhere, but Meliodas surged forward, his hand gripping the familiar dragon hilt with every ounce of his power. He still felt sluggish, half-asleep even, but without even opening his eyes he knew that Elizabeth was in danger, and that someone was trying to take his weapon.

So he did the only thing he could think of in that moment: open the carefully constructed walls that held his demon power in check. As soon as he allowed himself into that part of his mind, of his power, the electricity inside him was instantaneous. Meliodas felt the familiar burn of the mark on his forehead, the singeing of the darkness that now rippled down his arms. He used the last bit of his consciousness that was in tact to rein it in and keep himself from doing any more damage than was necessary.

With the demon power unlocked, his senses were immediately heightened. He first felt for Elizabeth's location, his power registering that she was there, and unharmed, standing with Hawk. Then he saw the doctor, shouting in the corner of the room—and the Holy Knight who now stood over them, trying to pull the dragon sword from his grasp.

"I won't let go of this sword, even if I die," Meliodas said. "It's the only way I can atone for my sins."

The shouting was everywhere again: the doctor exclaiming his act impossible; Hawk ordering to know what the mark was on his head; and Elizabeth, calling his name, her voice neither accusing or demanding, but only concerned. And it was that voice that kept the demon inside him in check, even as the Holy Knight laughed and said he was taking the sword, and the princess. Even as every single cell in his body screamed for him to destroy this threat, her voice held him back, and Meliodas simply looked up at him with malice in his eyes.

.o0o.

Meliodas stepped into the tent where the rest of the officers had gathered. Instructions from the demon king had finally arrived, and in the early morning light, they quieted their talk when the general entered.

He held out his hand for the scroll with their destination, his eyes lingering for a moment on the regent who, surprisingly, was still with them. It irritated Meliodas greatly to have him there, feeling as though he was looking over his shoulder, trying to find something to report back. Meliodas had enough secrets to hide now that he wanted that regent gone as soon as possible.

He broke the seal on the scroll and began to read. "We are heading towards a known camp of Holy Knights," he said coldly. "There is a suspicion they are harboring at least one Apostle." Meliodas swallowed thickly. As he looked over the information, he could feel the hair rising on the back of his neck. Trying to remain stoic, he frowned before holding the paper out to one of the commanders. "Show me where these coordinates are."

A giant map of Britannia covered the table, and the soldier quickly scurried around to trace his finger along the crisscrossing lines. "Right here, General," he answered.

"We may need to consider splitting into four or five units," another spoke as they all stood over the map. "There is a river here on one side, that can provide a multitude of escape routes into the forest."

"It may be best to approach from the west," offered another. "They wouldn't expect us from the mountain range. We can flush them out that way and have the rest of the force waiting on the other side."

"His Majesty expects a report in seven days," said the commander as he reread the scroll. "But it will take us at least four or five to travel this far with our entire force and get into position. This is going to complicate things if we want a surprise attack."

"Then I suggest you get started immediately," the regent ground out. They all looked at him as he turned to Meliodas. "Don't you agree, general?"

Meliodas, however did not answer. His eyes were trained on the map, frozen in place. He knew those coordinates were familiar. He had been there just days before. Their next target was Elizabeth's camp.

"General?" the regent said again, and Meliodas snapped back to the present. He looked around the room at the soldiers awaiting his orders, his eyes once more landing on the regent, who was regarding him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Meliodas cleared his throat. "We leave in an hour. Have the scouts ready."

Before anyone could answer, he swept out of the tent and practically ran back to his own. His skin felt like fire, and as he crashed inside, he practically fell against the table, gripping it to keep himself steady. They were heading to Elizabeth's camp. Their orders were to destroy every last creature they found. He pictured her suddenly, her eyes soft and pleading as she told him to run. She stood between him and death, and now he was leading an army in order to kill her.

I can't let this happen. His arms shook as he broke out into a sweat, and Meliodas breathed deeply, trying to get a hold on the swirling emotion that was causing his heart to pound and his stomach to roll. I can't let this happen. He needed to get to her, warn her, get her away from that place before the slaughter began. He had seen that camp, knew its weaknesses, knew the number of Holy Knights and soldiers and the levels of power they possessed. It would be a difficult and bloody battle, but he had no doubts that the demons would come out victorious.

Quickly he flew to a large chest in the corner, pulling it open and grabbing metal arm bands, a cloak, and a dagger. He slipped the armor on before securing the cloak around his shoulders, replacing his sword across his back overtop. But as he belted the dagger around his waist, Meliodas paused. How was he going to do this? The army was leaving in an hour, on his command. Once the demons realized he was gone, they would have a new target.

It doesn't matter. Meliodas finished securing the dagger, his mind decided. He had to get to Elizabeth. She needed to be put somewhere safe. He did not understand, could never understand this drive of his to protect her, his absolute need to know that she would be out of danger. But it was real, the first genuine reflex he had felt since this entire cursed war had begun; he felt it within every inch of him, and it would not be denied.

If he used his true demon powers, he would be able to fly there, perhaps even get there before he was missed. Using his power would make him easy to track, but Meliodas didn't care. He would find her, take her away to somewhere safe, and when he knew she was secure he would return to his post. He could figure out an excuse somehow. I'll worry about that later, he thought.

Now that he was ready, Meliodas turned to leave, but to his fury Estarossa stepped inside the tent. "Get out of my way," Meliodas growled, but Estarossa only tilted his head a bit. "Where are you going? I just heard we were leaving in less than an hour. What are the orders for the Ten Commandments?"

Meliodas pulled up short. Leave it to Estarossa to get in the way of his plans. "Just tell them to follow," he answered in a clipped tone.

Estarossa raised an eyebrow slightly. "Where are you going?" he asked again.

"I'm going to scout for myself," he answered, not missing a beat, keeping his tone even. "I don't trust the reports we received."

"You are right as always, Meliodas," Estarossa responded. "The positions and the numbers don't match what you told us, do they?"

Meliodas gave him a dark glare. "Is there something else you wanted? I have a job to do."

"Shall I accompany you?" he asked. "It's a lot of ground to cover, and I could—"

"No," Meliodas answered, cutting him off firmly. The two regarded each other for a long, tense moment, before Estarossa nodded. "I'll see you soon, then, general," he said, and Meliodas gave him a final dangerous look as he swept past him.

He gave final orders before summoning his demon powers. Now that Estarossa had seen him leave, there was no need to try to slip away without notice. He took to the air as the dark marks shot out down both hands, and he flew over the camp before turning northward.

.o0o.

Meliodas landed on the branch of a tree, trying to remain hidden. He could sense Elizabeth nearby. Her energy called out to him, unmistakable, and he shook off the reason why he could feel her so clearly. There were others nearby as well, and he tried to cloak himself as best as he could before they noticed him. It pleased him to know that they were too weak to sense him, but also irritated that Elizabeth was with such incompetents. If anyone else had stumbled upon them, there's no telling what would have happened to her.

"Hurry up!" one of the men shouted, and they moved just a few yards away. Meliodas could easily take them out. With just one swipe of his hand, the enemy would be gone. But he remembered her scolding voice and her pleading eyes when he faced the Holy Knights before, so he remained still, waiting for his opportunity.

He watched as three men walked through, carrying a fourth on a makeshift stretcher, and Elizabeth trailed behind them, carrying a small bag and hurrying to keep up. As they came through the trees and into his line of vision, the sight of her nearly took his breath away. It had been days since he had seen her, and to have her again, so close, was more powerful than he could have ever imagined. Meliodas was dazed by her for several seconds; but then he remembered why he was here, the threat that was coming, and moved silently towards them.

He stepped down to the ground and followed, only inches from her now, and when the men continued on through the forest, he reached out and grabbed her. Elizabeth did not even have a chance to scream before his hand was on her mouth, his arm tight around her, and he jumped. They sailed into the air, moving several dozen yards away. But then Elizabeth started to panic, writhing and fighting his hold, and Meliodas brought them gently back to the ground before she could slip from his grip.

Her shouts were muffled by his hand, and when her feet touched the ground, she tried to wrench herself away from him; they both tipped forward and tumbled to the ground as she pulled them off-balance. "Elizabeth!" he hissed in her ear, and she immediately stilled, turning to look at him in shock over her shoulder.

She gasped, her eyes wide, and slowly he took his hand from her mouth. He looked at her, his eyebrows drawing down tightly when he felt her trembling in his arms. Meliodas searched her eyes, watching her carefully, and without thinking he lifted a hand and brushed her hair behind her shoulder.

"Meliodas!" she breathed, and a heat flared up his neck at hearing her voice say his name. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to find you," he whispered back. His hands gripped her arms, pulling her closer to him so he could speak as quietly as possible. "You're in danger."

But Elizabeth wasn't listening, and instead was turning her head around frantically, looking through the trees. "You have to get out of here—there are soldiers everywhere, and if they find you here—"

"Elizabeth," he hissed, giving her a little shake, and her face snapped back to his. "The demons are coming. They'll be here by the end of the week, and when they arrive they will exterminate everyone in the camp."

The silence that stretched then was deafening. Elizabeth's already pale complexion seemed to blanch whiter than snow. "No," she whispered, trembling in fear. "No, we have to—we have to get out of here—"

Meliodas nodded and pulled her up to stand. "Come with me, I'll get you somewhere safe, and then—"

"What?" Elizabeth shook her head, pulling out of his grasp. "I can't leave! We have to go and warn the others!"

"Elizabeth—" he hissed.

"No!" she insisted, stepping backwards. It was not fear that drove her away from him though. She was afraid, he could see that in the way her body shook. But the look of resolution that fell over her expression gave the demon pause.

"I can't just abandon them, Meliodas."

What was it about this woman that drove him to the brink of insanity and back? A soft growl built in his throat at seeing her undying loyalty to the Knights who had cast her as the villain. The men who would have killed her without a second thought! "Are you really going to risk your life to save the wretches who treated you like a traitor?!" he hissed again through clenched teeth.

Despite seeing her flinch at his harsh words, Meliodas didn't regret them. The Apostle's soft brow furrowed as she thought; her blue eyes drifting from him for a moment before slowly coming back up to lock with his own gaze.

Not for the first time did he see an apology there in her eyes as she nodded.

"There's no time," Meliodas said, stepping closer, and Elizabeth took another step back.

"You're certainly right about that. In fact, you're out of time."

Elizabeth's soft features tensed as she looked up beyond him, expression deceiving her confusion and growing fear for the new presence in their midsts. She was right to be afraid...

"I expected more from you, Meliodas."

Meliodas' blood ran cold, heart nearly stopping in his chest. This had been a trap… set for him. And he had played right into his brother's hands.

He could feel the dark power behind him surging forward, covering them both, and he knew that Elizabeth could feel it to just by the expression on her face. Blue eyes darted back to lock with his, asking - no - pleading for answers. Answers he couldn't give her even if he could form them for himself. He had come to save her, and in doing so only put her in danger's path.

"I took you for overly curious. Not a traitor. But then you lied about the intel you were gathering, and I just had to see for myself what would make you act so foolishly."

Estarossa's eyes fell on Elizabeth then and his lips turned up into a sinister looking grin. "I see that was another lie."

Meliodas kept his eyes locked with Elizabeth's, willing her to keep silent and still. He cursed himself as he felt his brother begin to walk around them. "I suppose you're the one to blame. Cast some sort of spell over him? Worry not, Meliodas, I will release you from your madness." Estarossa took steps forward, eyes fixated on Elizabeth, just as Meliodas turned so that he is directly in his path.

"You're going to stand against me? Your own flesh and blood?"

"I won't let you hurt her."

Estarossa let out a low chuckle, "A different kind of enchantment then." His low chuckle erupted into something far darker as it grew in volume, "Oh, Meliodas, when did you become so soft?" he hissed in discontempt.

"I'm warning you, Estarossa. Return to the camp. Now." As he spoke, he took a step back, and felt Elizabeth instinctively step forward, pressing a hand against his back.

"Shouldn't that be my line?" He watched as Estarossa's eyes slid back to Elizabeth, his powers slipping over them again, and Meliodas felt her stiffen behind him, her hand clenching into the back of his shirt. "Is this—oh, Meliodas," he said with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "This is the Apostle the king was looking for, isn't it? When you decide to commit treason, you do go all out. Although I can see that she does have certain… assets." Estarossa's smile grew cold and he continued, "Hand over the girl, and I might consider forgetting this treachery. We can go back to where we belong, with the demon army."

Meliodas remained silent, but strong in front of Elizabeth. Unmoving.

"Have it your way. I didn't plan on letting you live, anyway."

.o0o.

Meliodas pushed his power outwards towards the Holy Knight, but before he even did anything to him, the knight turned and leapt straight out of the window. The glass shattered as he flew through the pane, and Meliodas gripped the dragon sword tightly, watching him run.

He took a long, deep breath. Slowly he felt his demon powers retreating, the crackling heat sliding slowly beneath his skin and back inside. Meliodas waited until he was sure it was gone, carefully packed away as it had been for years and years, until he risked turning to look at Elizabeth.

Behind him, he heard her soft voice ask, "Um… you're Sir Meliodas… right?"

Meliodas bowed his head down, gripping the handle tightly. He willed her to stay back, stay away from him until he was sure he had a handle on the monster inside him. He heard her take a step towards him, and then another. To his relief, in the next moment it was gone, and he could focus again.

"Yo," he said, turning around with a smile. "Elizabeth."

He looked around in confusion as she grinned and clapped her hands. "It's really you, Meliodas!" she said excitedly.

"Where are we?" Meliodas asked. This place was completely unfamiliar. The last thing he remembered was being in the Boar Hat… and then collapsing. He rubbed his shoulder reflexively as Elizabeth explained, "This is Dalmary town, near Baste Dungeon. We came here to treat your wounds."

"Hmm," he replied. It was the oddest sensation, but his shoulder felt… good. Healed, even though his demon energy had not done it. "And who was that weird guy just now?" he asked, looking at the dragon hilt in his hand.

"A Holy Knight named Golgius or something," Hawk replied. "It looks like he was after the princess and your broken sword."

"What?" Meliodas was even more confused, something he did not have a ton of experience with feeling. How did the knight know? Why would he want the sword… and Elizabeth? It was too much of a coincidence… wasn't it?

"It looks like that doctor was working with him too…" Hawk continued, and suddenly Meliodas was ripping the bandages away. He recalled his dream, flashing clear in his mind, and how the Elizabeth he dreamed about cautioned him about the Holy Knight; about how Liz had given him a drink to sleep. He knew what that could mean, and prepared for the worst as he pulled the wrappings away.

But there was nothing there. Just a small scar where his shoulder had been stabbed. No sign of the bleeding that even his power had difficulty containing. "Huh?" he said in wonder. "It's… already healed."