~9~
His fingers idly play with the ends of Elizabeth's hair at her back while his eyes focus keenly on the match in front of them. That day has been nothing but slips. From him nearly losing himself in her with that first touch that morning to him having to have a hand on her in some way, even now just touching her silken tresses as he watches Diane and Howzer. Meliodas knows it's because he's missed the contract, having that wonderfully strange sensation storm his belly. He knows it's because he wants more. With the two together and resolved to save the Kingdom, he's starting to realize it'll be nearly impossible for them to be apart. That won't happen until the Kingdom is saved. But still he refuses to abandon all his efforts. With two Holy Knights there at the festival it's obvious to him the dangers that pursue him and that he needs to protect Elizabeth from. However from what he's seen of Howzer so far, that Holy Knight might just be different than the rest.
When the Howzer creates a tornado that engulfs the center of the ring blocking out their view of the battle inside, Elizabeth throws her hands around his back and hides her face in his neck against the forceful winds. His arm wraps securely around her waist instinctively just as Ban's voice appears behind them candid as he observes, "If her feet leave the ground, it's over."
He only catches it because her mouth is a skin prickling, scant inch from his neck, but Elizabeth's tone is certain when she declares, "She'll win. I know it."
The fight is over not a moment later in Diane's favor.
She uncovers her head displaying a jubilant grin upon seeing the scantily clad, but well off Diane in the center of the arena. "I knew Howzer wouldn't defeat her." The joy of her words rush forth almost relieved which make the fingers at her hip twitch drawing her attention.
"Elizabeth, I don't think Howzer is like the other Holy Knights," he captures her jaw between his thumb and forefinger when he spots the defiance swelling in the deep frown of her lips. He turns her to face where Diane and Howzer are, minutely flushing at his daring. "Do you see that smile of his? The Holy Knights I've seen so far have been deranged, murderous, or overly violent. This guy laughed off his suspicion of Ban and I when we were in a room together not long ago." He chuckles low in the back of his throat and carefully extracts his hands from her soft frame.
She looks at him and he can tells she's wavering as she sighs a long winded sound. "All right... It would be good to have one old friend that were might be able to depend on." Her voice is weighed with hesitance but the way she her mouth curves as she looks at him tells him she's more than willing to believe him just on his words.
His stomach fills with weird flutters and heat that causes his fingers to twitch and his head to drop down just when Diane hops to the ground in front of them.
"That was amazing Diane! You did great!," King splurges compliments on her the instants she's in sight invoking titters from the giantess.
"Yeah, yeah, she kicked ass, what's new?" Ban abrasively inserts leaning towards Diane with a sharp grin.
Her cheeks puff out as she glares darkly, "Who asked you anyway!?" She pauses, then in an a much lighter tone, "Captain it's your turn!"
Meliodas jumps up still stewing in his nerves, "Uh, right!" He only manages one step forward before a pair of dainty hands grasps his holding him in place. He glances down in time to watch with a quickly drying throat as Elizabeth places her lips feathery soft across his bruising knuckles. His skin's scorched with her touch yet riddled with pleasant sparks that renders him speechless. "For good luck," she explains wonderfully saccharine with a last kiss.
He nods with an admittedly choked look, his hand slipping from hers as he stumbles away. He pointedly ignores Ban's guffaws and Diane tentatively asking if King will treat her that way one day, otherwise he'll go into the ring with an even darker blush than he already adorns.
Slowly he crosses the cracked ring towards the center where his opponent is doing the same and minutely the features of Cain becomes recognizable. He's the same height as Meliodas with thick gray hair and a mustache that grows just past his chin. "Who would've thought I'd fight the old man who gave me directions in a fight festival...? It's such a coincidence." Meliodas grins easily even though his green eyes gain a calculating edge. Something about Cain's presence gradually brings up his guard.
Cain gives a hearty chuckle. "It's not so mysterious. The world runs on fortuity and necessity." He hiccups and Meliodas notices the blush on his face showing his intoxication. "It may seem like a coincidence that we both came to this festival today, but me entering was not an accident at all."
Meliodas' muscles tense as he eyes the man, searching for his intentions.
"But you sure resemble him... I thought it might be possible when I first saw your face, but when I heard the name Meliodaz ... I knew for sure then," Cain continues ominously.
A wind picks up tousling his blond locks in front of his face for a moment as he awaits Cain's reveal with baited breath.
"You... are Meliodas' son, are you not?"
He nearly tips over as his muscles spasm in recoil. A son that looks exactly like him!? His mind backpedals as he recalls his younger brother. Well it's not so far an impossibility. "Actually, I'm Meliodas." He confirms after a beat.
Cain's eyes bulge as of watching the dead rise. "WHAT!? If he were alive, he'd be in his thirties by now!"
This sparks something in the back of his mind before he leans towards Cain with a raised eyebrow. "I don't know who you are, but so what if I'm the Meliodas you know?" He can't seem to place it. The possible age, someone appearing to recognize him from past his and is now determined in seeking him out... What old ghost are coming back to haunt him?
"Uh sorry for interrupting, but... Let the fighting begin!" Lovehelm's shrill voice attempts to urge them on.
But Meliodas is too on edge to worry about entertaining an audience.
"I find it hard to believe you since you can't remember me. But if you really are the Meliodas that I know—"
Meliodas' reflexes prove efficient as swifter than his inhabited body should move, he has to block Cain's kicks towards his face with deft motions of his hands. The man flips away leaving his hands thrumming from the force. His eyes lock on Cain's movements and that's when he sees him toss off the cloak he'd been concealed in. Meliodas' chest quivers feeling strangled under a forgotten weight as his eyes gain a horrified glaze.
"The Kingdom that you swore to protect... the people... the person most important to you... I will never forgive someone like you, who betrayed everything he once stood for!" Cain's brows draw down with a furious pain as he stands his ground, voice quavering with aggression.
The will to defend himself against this man easily bleeds out as he stares at the crest on Cain's tunic, the crest of the destroyed Kingdom of Danafor. Flames spawn from Cain's fingers and it all steadily snowballs into detestation as it all becomes so clear to Meliodas.
"If you have the audacity to call yourself Meliodas before me then you must be prepared to face the consequences," Cain glares harshly, voice utterly grave. At once Meliodas is swallowed in the searing, choking heat as it eats away his flesh and exposes his sins to the world. "Why did you destroy the Kingdom?"
Another ball slams into him tearing past his walls to make sure he burns. An image of a hole stretching almost endless into the earth and dozens of leagues ahead flashes across his mind. "Why did you kill the people!"
He buckles and convulses taking balls of flames one after the other. He deserves to be torched, charred, and condemned, his skin reddened and blistered as he takes his punishment. But even as he bites his lips at the anguish swelling inside, full of deep repentance that reaches into his chest and slowly agonizingly crushes each of his hearts, he knows this won't be enough. Nothing could ever be enough. "Why did you kill your comrades!? Why did you kill Liz, the person most important to you!?" Cain's voice is now barbed as tears come to his eyes.
Meliodas stares with glassy eyes ahead feeling ice encircle his insides, coiling tighter and tighter sapping the life from his core. Like grainy images being cleansed of their fog the accusations that resonates so harrowingly within gain true substance in what becomes so haunting and bone chillingly clear. Rivulets of blood dripping down a blade mixing with water that pelts from the sky. Blue eyes once lovely and brimming with life drain of their color, dimming to a soulless stare.
"I'll a-always love you, no m-matter what. Never forget t-that."
That voice always so kind echoes in his ears and there's no denying the horrible things that happened in Danafor that day. 'It's true. Liz, I…' A wet breath is sucked messily into his lungs and tears curve down the shape of his cheeks. The glow of fire flares into his eyes as he watches Cain produce a swirl of flames large enough to destroy more than just Meliodas and the spectators."I tried to protect everything. But I c-couldn't. I couldn't stopit. That is my sin." He admits in a voice barely above a wretched whisper.
For only an instance, he sees her fighting with all her might, tears soaking her beautifully flushed cheeks, and their eyes meet. The plea is there, the desperation to reach him and whisk him away to safety pouring from her eyes and he rips his gaze away. The burn is something he's used to by now as the attack draws closer and is something he would've welcomed... had he not seen her.
"You stop hurting him this instant!"
Elizabeth's shrill scream flows above the anxious silence of the crowd drawing even Cain's eye. Her chest heaves with each breath, her eyes positively enraged yet trembling in terror for Meliodas. Meliodas feels his chest constrict finding himself enraptured same as ever by those eyes only now they match the ones in his memory. And the closer he observed the more his memory defines. Elizabeth's rosebud lips become ones smeared in bright moist crimson. Her porcelain skin ashen and ghostly pale. The soft jawline, button like nose, and round cheeks all begin to match and it's all Meliodas can do not to empty his stomach right then and there. 'What have I done?'
He vaguely hears Cain's breath catch and the power gathered threateningly all but falters. "Liz... Is that really you?"
Elizabeth's eyes set on the old man as a wall of defense makes her glare harsh with contempt. "I don't know who you've mistaken me for. But I would never become friends with someone-"
"Elizabeth," he cuts her off pulling her eyes to his once more forcing him to suck in a stinging breath. "I deserve this. I was unable to stop the destruction of Danafor, the Kingdom I swore to protect, or the murder of Liz." He presses his lips tightly together to will away a sob at the twist in his chest and the ominous feeling urging him away from Elizabeth. "It was all my fault."
Diane, King, and Ban all stand completely silent and unmoving at Elizabeth's side at his words, their faces devoid of color.
Cain adopts a somber air after studying Elizabeth and hearing his words, finally nodding to himself. Cain Barzard, or Barzard the Flame, a man he hadn't recognized from his past strides more calmly to stand in front of him and states, I will concede only of you meant what you said before. You didn't betray Danafor or the people?"
He'd expected a question of this type. He'd just hoped he wouldn't have to say the word that'll remind him of how his sin will never disappear. "Yeah."
~.~.~
Destruction hits in waves so that once you think you have a moment to catch your breath another onslaught is ready and waiting.
Elizabeth had been handed from Diane to Ban while Meliodas and the giantess fought an admittedly one sided fight, his mind still plagued with images of blue eyes and a blade shoved as far as it could go... How is he to go on now with this following him around? How is it that he forgot in the first place? He knew of his knighthood in that Kingdom, knew of its destruction, but anything involving Liz wasn't there, like gaps unnoticed in a shirt. Even now things are pretty vague. But he knows he loved her.
Diane catches him off guard when a throb momentarily pangs at the back of his head. His love for her... That's the crux isn't it?
His thoughts cease as he and the Sins feel them coming like a hellish storm and Meliodas is forced to adopt a menacing persona. Threatening the crowd, claiming the village as theirs, they are words spouted from what people expect of a monster. If any of the Sins feel surprise when Elizabeth strides up to stand almost proudly at his side their personas don't waver. Though inside he's a brittle mess. She probably doesn't even know what their doing and still she's utterly resolved in believing in him. He loves her more with each breath... and that is starting to become his greatest fear.
Even with the threat of The Seven Deadly Sins standing before them, the townspeople don't leave and he's forced to disperse one of the multitude of flaming bombs of Holy Knight Guila's while the others detonate around the town. Instead of running however, most cheer for the Holy Knights that set ruin to their town. Meliodas bares his teeth just a bit at this, spying three Holy Knights descending from the sky more powerful than their last encounter and equipped with equipment on par with Sacred Treasures. "We need to split up for now!" He shouts the order, quickly wrapping an arm around Elizabeth's waist when the Sins comply.
He hooks his other arm under her leg and leaps down the steep drop from the top of the arena. He feels her fingers press into his shoulders, her scent wafting in his nose as the wind rushes up against them. His power bursts from under his skin briefly when he hits the ground creating a buffer and a force to propel him forward in a split second.
"What's your plan?" Her voice comes curious pulling at his attention fixed on Guila's movement trailing them.
His fingers curl tighter around her as his words come out gravely, "We need to get to my sword... and keep you from their grasp at all costs."
~.~.~
Bits of stone dig into her shoulders as she crouches as low as she can within the tight spot, hiding as Meliodas urged her to. Smoke fills her nose every so often like a dry scratch down her throat. Sweat rolls down her temples as her fingers curl against the edge of the opening. Guila had closed the distance before they could reach the Avallo and Meliodas was forced to toss her down in shrubbery near this formation of stone with a desperate command for her to hide. Now though her breathing escalates as her heart beats so fast it's become a painful hum.
Vibrations explode through the air one after another, with waves of heat and turbulent winds. It would be all she could hear had Meliodas agonized yells not overshadowed them. Guila tosses his body around through the air like her play thing with her explosive flames, and all Elizabeth can do is watch. Her mind becomes consumed with the images of him taking similar attacks from Cain, not fighting back as he'd been practically burned alive and she chokes, a wet sob lurching in the back of her throat that she hastily covers with a trembling hand.
Why is this happening? Why is he being tortured in front of her eyes again and again and she's unable to stop it!? Guila cries out another attack with twisted delight trilling through her tone and something weakens then breaks all together within Elizabeth as she brings her fists down to the ground."I swore I would protect the people from you monsters, even if it costs me my life."
She emerges from her hiding spot body coiled tight with a silent rage that builds erratically every time she hears his voice break. All she can think of is charging the Holy Knight, taking her by surprise, wrestling that wretched weapon away so Meliodas can have time to run, attack, anything than slip closer towards a bloody oblivion. But instead a stray tendril of calm blankets her enough to draw in a ragged breath and see a decent sized stone on the ground triggering a memory from her encounter with the Holy Knight that first time. A fragile, hopeful grin stretches across her face as she bends down to heft it up with both hands. From the weight of it, It should be just enough to work, not enough to kill her—Elizabeth would never dream of that—but enough to leave her unconscious with a throbbing headache afterwards. Her muscles tense as she aims. Guila lifts her own weapon towards Meliodas again and Elizabeth doesn't wait another second.
She thinks Guila's reflexes will tip her off, the Holy Knight will turn and swat away the flying stone with cynical laugh. There's a solid thud as Guila's body jolts. She tips over and crumples to the earth with raven locks spilling messily across her face. Elizabeth stands there breath loud and rattled with her hands still extended where she released the stone. "It... I-it worked," she dares to breathe as her eyes stare wide and disbelieving. Then another punishing thump comes from the ground as Meliodas' body finally lands motionless and steaming. Distress tears away the fine threads of her nerves as she gives a little cry while running to his side. She's shocked by how violently her hand shakes when reaching for him, afraid to find the signs that this time he really won't pull through when the pads of her fingers press for a pulse. She fights back the sting in the back of her throat observing the singed tips to his normally straightened haired, the numerous stains of blood on his exposed skin, and the varying burns littered across him. When she does finally touch him, he's almost too hot to bear but she feels his pulse thud as if reaching out to console her. She makes a tight restrained sound of relief at this leaning down to press her lips gingerly to forehead.
There's nothing stopping her this time when she hauls him up beneath his arms and quickly begins to pull him away. The Avallo is still much too far away, but there's a building with a stone fence she deems worthy of concealing them. It takes only a few minutes to settle against the side of the wall with Meliodas propped against her chest and her head on top of his.
Smoke billows across the sky, dark and thick from the town carrying the screams and cries of the people. Her heart pangs as she holds tighter to Meliodas full of deep regret and a sorrow she can't escape. Slowly, carefully she removes the pendant from around her neck and places it over his knowing that he needs it far more. Hands flat atop his chest she lays a kiss to the crown of his hair, smelling the rich woods melt inside her. "Please... Keep Meliodas safe."
Scraping metal raises the hair on the back of her neck. "So that's where you were princess." The faint sickeningly sweet voice alerts her to Guila's approach and Elizabeth's stomach knots at the thought of how relentless the Holy Knights truly are.
Another cool, feminine voice joins Guila's and Elizabeth bites back a whimper. "Did you finish yours off yet and collect what we need?"
"Not just yet. But I will in a moment, Jericho."
They're right on top of her like an ocean forcing her down and down until her panicked breathing inevitably ceases. Her limbs lock around his frame as she shakes her head defiantly. "I won't let them hurt you anymore. I won't." The seconds bleed from her heart rendering her an ashen hue as the shifting of armor becomes all she can think of.
Then, "Captain! Ban!" A battle escalates between the surprised appearance of King and the two Holy Knights causing her to practically sag with a breathy relieved laugh. Feminine cries of frustration and pain has never been more welcome.
"Elizabeth?" She jerks at the address looking up into King's amber gaze when things grow to a silent conclusion.
She swallows hesitantly, gradually running her fingers through the coarse texture of blond locks. "Did you... defeat them?"
King tilts his head as apathy engulfs his features. "Nah. Besides I need to ask them a few questions." He curls two fingers and she glances around the building at the sight of Ban's bloody prone body being laid within the barrier of the fence. "Watch out for these two and stay hidden, okay?"
She nods as her eyebrows crease. "Be careful, King!"
He smiles weakly and waves sheepishly, disappearing a moment later.
A breath whooshes from her lungs as she feels a tension grasp her heart at the continuous lack of motion from the demon in her arms. "I'm so sorry I'm unable to do anything for you." Her fingers smear in his blood on his skin and the steady thumps are felt as a reassurance. "I promise I'll take care of you when this is all over," she laughs lightly though it sounds halting and damp as she closes her eyes, nuzzling her nose into his tresses. "Remember when you said something similar? You became so nervous and flushed. You were so adorable." She sighs shakily bringing her head down to the side of his so that her lips can rest against his battered cheek. "You always are." A burning like coals rises under her flesh as two tears slip down her cheeks and slide along his skin. Elizabeth peppers his flesh wherever she can reach in lingering kisses, dewy eyed and heart weak with worry. "Please be okay so that I can nurse you back to health... I want to be the one to take care of you this time." She croaks with a too tight throat.
"Ellie, is that you?"
A wind chills across her as she finds her gaze locked with Veronica's brown astonished eyes and Griamore's hulking figure behind her. She was supposed to be paying attention to any stray people headed their way, but she'd become distracted. And now...
Elizabeth loosens her hold on Meliodas, laying him flat so that she can stand in front of him like an unassuming sentinel. "Veronica, what are you doing here?" Her eyes go wide, curious, an airy disguise to hide the trembles that wrack her insides. She'd known the purple haired girl was in Veizel once she'd spotted Griamore, she'd simply hoped her suspicions had been wrong.
Veronica places a hand upon her hip and throws a vicious glare past Elizabeth, to the one she guards. "Why do you even ask, after running away from me like that? What else could it be? To take you back from that criminal!" Veronica asserts with a hard edge jabbing a finger at Meliodas.
Elizabeth is prepared to lower into a pathetic excuse of a defensive stance until she notices the surprised glint that arises in Veronica's brown eyes.
"That's the pendant I gave you!" Her jaw drops.
Elizabeth narrows her blue eyes already thinking where Veronica's mind is most likely headed. "Don't misunderstand. I put that on him in my own. He didn't steal it from me."
An oily sensation slicks down her spine at the smile that comes over Veronica's face. "I see..." With a snap her hand latches onto Elizabeth's wrist as she begins to tug her away. "Anyway we should go back to the Capital before the fighting between the Holy Knights and The Seven Deadly Sins intensifies."
Elizabeth is doused with icy alarm as she begins to try and pull away. There was a time when she'd do almost anything either of her ladies in waiting would advise. Even now she knows Veronica truly believes she has good intentions, but the influence of the Holy Knights has corrupted her. It utterly breaks her heart to know that for now, Veronica can't be trusted. "No! What are you doing!? Let me go!"
A force much stronger than hers breaks her away and sends Veronica into Griamore's hands. Elizabeth's heart pulses wildly throughout her creating a watery grin that nearly splits her face as she's flooded with elation. Meliodas stands before her arms stretched out to ward off anyone's approach. "Meliodas...?" He's awake, thrumming with power and strength that instantly blankets her in a sense of safety she'd thought she'd lost.
His muscles steel and his tone becomes forceful resonating through every inch of her being as her heart begins to hammer in her throat. "I'll protect Elizabeth with my life!"
She doesn't catch the sneer mar Veronica's face. All she can see is his defense for her, hear his words as they encircle her heart, and feels her skin quickly warming as tears prick her eyes. She presses closer to him, holding onto his shoulders as a honeyed call of his name brushes past her lips. Even now as she hears him calmly refute Veronica's accusations swearing Elizabeth's protection once again, she can see the effect of her simple call of his name in the burn atop of his ears. It makes her smile a bit dreamy as she hugs herself closer. With Meliodas there and well it feels as if nothing can stop them.
"Looks like Hendrickson was right... You really did brainwash Ellie..." The bitter whisper twisted with a devious edge isn't warning enough. "Roscobasra... Melcito."
A blinding glow emits in a blink searing at her eyes as a distinct surge of magic sparking in the air makes her wince. She raises her arms to shield her eyes for all of a second. Then the light fades as well as the charge of magic. Relaxing her posture she glances to see what could've caused such an occurrence. Immediately she notices Meliodas' absence.
Only her papa's pendent lies innocently on the ground.
A sick coiling beings to tighten her stomach until she feels lightheaded. Where... is he? Where's... "Meliodas?" She calls tiny and brittle as her vision starts to blur.
Veronica snatches up the pendant with a triumphant laugh that ices Elizabeth numb. "Unbelievable! This 'Goddess Amber' only works on demonic beings and seals them away!" Her brown eyes alight in the flames of her success, driving a wedge through Elizabeth's ribs, "Ellie, have you snapped out of it yet!?" She demands holding her evidence out to further prove her words.
Elizabeth responds in a fury of bared teeth and eyes more dangerous than a blizzard. She roughly takes the Goddess Amber back all as her veins pulse with the sting of betrayal. She'd trusted Veronica and now Meliodas—! "Bring Meliodas back to the way he was before! Now!" Her voice pierces like icicles in no way affected by the hot pain dripping down her cheeks.
It can't be done—at least Veronica doesn't know how. She's more concerned with the fact that her little trick proves Meliodas is a monster. That word again. It makes Elizabeth's heart wrench in her chest as she thinks of everything she's been through with him, and she simply bursts. The anguish, the striking fear, and the ripping of her heart becoming too much for her to hold in. "You don't know a thing about Meliodas! No matter what you label him as by jumping to conclusion, Meliodas isn't evil in anyway!" Never before has Elizabeth felt so lost inside, clutching the pendant desperately to her bosom as her eyes glare hatefully in Veronica's direction.
Again and again her lady in waiting has trampled on her trust, doing what she thinks is best for Elizabeth out of worry and care. But Elizabeth feels pangs of betrayal as she's placed against her will in Griamore's Perfect Shell, treated like someone who can't make decisions for herself. Her papa entrusted the rescue of the Kingdom to her and she's done everything in her power to assure that happens. But every step of the way there's one Holy Knight after another, one friend after the next, attempting to deter her. Right now as Guila and Jericho demand she hand over the Goddess Amber she feels she can rely on no one but herself.
"I won't let you have him! Hendrickson and his plans be damned, you'll have to pry this from my cold, lifeless hands," she enunciates with a hostile hiss, meeting Guila's darkening visage head on.
"Ellie, what is wrong with you? Just hand that thing over and we'll take you back to the Kingdom safely," Veronica pulls on her shoulder which she brusquely shakes off.
The tip of Guila's sword is pointed at her and ever so slowly oranges and yellows coil and dance at the tip heating Elizabeth's flesh even from the distance between them. "My, my... It seems I have to teach you a lesson in manners again. Or better yet after your stunt from earlier, I think it'd be very educational to bring you in for a Baptism. I'm sure Hendrickson won't mind," Guila suggests with a callous smile.
Veronica makes a noise of appall, "So your true colors have shown."
"If you ever believed the Holy Knights had any concern for the Royal Family Veronica, then you have a childish way of thinking," Elizabeth verbally jabs, never taking her eyes away from Guila as her palm forces the Goddess Amber to dig a bit into her flesh.
Veronica scoffs and pushes to stand in front of her. "I have no idea what you and Hendrickson are up to, but you are to be tried in front of a court-martial."
It happens so fast. There's a flaring of lights, panicked screams, and then a surge of singing heat.
Instinct is what tells her to jump forward and push Veronica out of the way, but even then that's not enough. Guila's flames detonate, swallowing most of Veronica's body in a brief terrifying explosion. And what's left after Elizabeth tackles one of her oldest friends to the ground is charred bloody skin that reaches her nostrils and makes her stomach churn violently. Griamore gives the loudest wail of suffering behind her while all Elizabeth can do is sit there with Veronica's body across her lap in silent shock. Tears rain down her cheeks as she chokes out Veronica's name. "I'm... I'm so sorry. I... I don't hate you. You're my friend... Like a sister. Please, don't die," she snivels in quiet halting breaths.
Veronica's brown eyes are hazy with pain and lidded as she gazes up at Elizabeth. In the end she does manage a tender smile across blood drenched lips. "I love you, Ellie."
Elizabeth gasps clutching Veronica's lax palm. "I love you too!"
Griamore removes his helmet to stand over them revealing his tear streaked face, "Veronica, please forgive me. I was never able to be someone you could count on."
Veronica's head lulls to the side as her voice grows faint. "You dolt... Well, now's your chance. Don't become... like them. Do your duty and protect Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's breath sticks in her chest as she watches Veronica's eyes slowly drift closed. She bows her head feeling her body quiver from sobs. 'No... She can't be... really...'
Griamore falls to his knees crying Veronica's name to the heavens just as another ball of flames sends him tumbling away. Her head jerks up in alarm, but two arms lock around her from behind. "Time to go!" Guila coos in delight.
"You bitch!" He rasps from his place wounded on the ground as she struggles in the iron grip of the Holy Knight feeling her ribs shuddering from the force of her heart, "Just what is it Hendrickson is after!?"
Guila lifts her body away from Veronica's as she begins to thrash hysterically. "The resurrection of the Demon Clan."
She can feel herself losing control, her nerves becoming overwhelmed as she sobs and wails. Elizabeth doesn't even realize when she begins crying out Meliodas' name. He's her safety blanket, the one who makes her feel the warmest, happiest, and most protected of them all. He's always there when she needs him. He promised. Promised he'd always be there by her side. So from the depths of her heart she screams for him.
And he heeds her call.
The goddess amber gains an ominous glow levitating from her palm before it shatters as a devastating force from within erupts. Elizabeth stills in Guila's grip as a cold sweat beads her temple watching as pure inky darkness curls and twists towards the sky in a mass that could very well consume the entire town. Then it dissipates and standing before her is a Meliodas that'll frequent her dreams for nights to come. Lightly tanned skin, toned to perfection is bare to her eyes from head to toe. Black swirls down his left side as if painted by an artist and strips of cloth cover his waist teasingly. His face is a clean slate with prominent black eyes fixed straight ahead.
Elizabeth knows she should feel at least unease trickle like drops of ice down her spine, but all that tangles up inside her is concern for him. Then she sees his head adjust its sights just the slightest.
"Meliodas! How did you break free of the Goddess Amber!?" Guila hisses in contempt.
Elizabeth blinks and the tension gripping her arm releases. Meliodas is exactly where he was but… Her eyes tremble as her breath rattles from her throat. In his hand is Guila's dripping blood from the clean cut below it as if it'd been in his position to begin with.
A terrible screech comes from her side as Guila the agony of her lost appendage catches up with her. Elizabeth can't move a muscle, watching as he tosses it away with the same blank, emotionless stare. She spies Ban near Jericho both of which are pale and shaken by the turn of events. He moves again extending his hand outward as Guila roars hoarsely, "How dare you!?"
Magic begins to bubble and pop through the air once more crackling around his palm and her heart all but stops at what begins to materialize there.
"Shit!" Ban thunders just as the massive sword in Meliodas' hand gives a light swing.
Elizabeth's hair whips around her as the attack blows past her sending Guila and Jericho tumbling with shrill screams. Her fingers curl into the dirt having fallen to her knees as she gapes at him observing them all and yet not at all. 'He could kill them if he wanted. Easily. Is that what he wants to do?' She hears Jericho's panicked rush to use a spell to save Guila just as Meliodas lifts his sword once more. Her gut lurches and a desert forms in her throat.
"Meliodas!"
He halts, turning his head towards her. Her heart gradually speeds when he lowers his sword letting it go altogether as it vanishes. Meliodas takes a step towards her and Ban cries out harshly, "Captain, don't—! Is that… really you?" In an instant Meliodas shifts and power explodes around him forcing her eyes closed as chaos ensues around her. All that can be heard is angered winds, shrill cries, and wet coughs as something happens to the people around her.
Taking deep shaky breaths she finally opens her eyes when things settle into an eerie calm. And there he stands a foot in front of her. The land several yards outwards surrounding her looks to be scooped out so that only a tiny circle of land for her to sit on still exists as a pedestal of sorts. She squeaks when he leans down right into her face and begins a rapid sniffing. Slowly he positions himself so that his nose rests right against hers and their gazes meld into one another. She thinks it's surreal how quickly her heartbeat fills her hears as heat bridges across her nose. She doesn't dare break what could be an intimate gesture, mentally declaring that he won't hurt her. She blinks at the same time he does and she can't help but giggle, a sound that seems to please him as he drags his nose along her cheek. "Meliodas… what's happened to you?" She sighs closing her eyes trustingly.
He pulls back abruptly drawing her focus only to see him gazing off in the distant. His right hand raises to the sky and a soft hissing sound mixes with the wind as the darkness along his skin begins to morph into a magnificent wing. With a flap he takes to the air becoming a dot in the distance before she can even form an objection.
It becomes a horrible, gut twisting, tear wrenching waiting game from then on. And only when the sun begins to set, after the efforts of Diane and her returned warhammer, Gideon, is Meliodas rescued from his near defeat at the hands of the Holy Knight Sir Helbram. Never before has she been so happy to see the roughhousing between he and Ban, but truly her heart soars when her arms fall around him and he hugs her tight as if to let go would shatter his world.
"Meliodas!" She slides her fingers along his shoulder blades. "Meliodas..." She sighs rubbing her cheek against his. It's heaven, sweet as honey being in his arms. But then she notices an almost unnoticeable tremble in his limbs. She pulls back and gazes into his face noticing the stricken glaze dulling his green eyes.
"I'm... I'm sorry," he breathes raggedly yanking her concern to the surface forcibly.
Her hands cup his cheeks trying and failing to search the emotions in his eyes. "Sorry? About what?"
The chatter of the Sins behind them dies down when a clatter of rocks draws their attention keenly. Elizabeth reluctantly turns away and stiffens at the sight of Griamore holding Veronica like his most precious person lost to him. His Perfect Shell fizzles out of sight around the two when Elizabeth strides towards them walking a delicate balance between forcefully composed and utter mourning.
His head leans against Veronica's as his tears soak her skin. "Lady Elizabeth, I'm a failure as a Holy Knight. I didn't follow my duty to protect you. But I... But I..."
Seeing his heartbreak simply strengthens her resolve. Now's not the time to grieve when there's still so much left to face. "Pernes... The lakeshore where we used to play together all the time. Veronica loved it there and it holds many memories. Would you please bury her there?" She turns after giving her request only to pause to declare one final thing. Tears fall silently down her cheeks but she feels stronger than ever gazing into the astonished gleam in Meliodas' eyes. "No matter what, definitely, even if I die, I'll stop the Holy Knights. I'll stop them for sure." Her fists lift to clench determinedly before her.
Meliodas is the first to break eye contact, gazing downwards with a flush at her wording, but the prideful smile isn't missed. She swivels her gaze across the Sins to see them each grinning at her in their own way offering their support. She relaxes a bit at this moving to stand beside Meliodas as she wipes her face free of tears. And them sure watches sullen as Griamore departs with Veronica held carefully in his grasp.
"There's discord among the Holy Knights," Meliodas notes with a cross of his arms.
After flicking a very sensitive King invoking a yelp from the fairy, Ban drawls in an offhanded manner, "Anyway, Captain, what happened with that Helbram weirdo."
Elizabeth shifts recalling the way the Holy Knight seemed almost desperate to obtain something from Meliodas, but what had he fled with? She wracks her mind for the answer only for Meliodas to give it to her dry and severe. "He took my blood."
Shock unsteadies her as her eyes fix to the deep gash on his chest bleeding still even now. "Is that okay?" She doesn't even know if she's asking about his well being or about them taking his blood. There's far too much to even try to process from that day to even begin piecing together why such a thing would be needed.
His voice lowers and his words sound almost bleak, "It's not okay at all. The situation is dire," his mood gradually morphs as she falls downcast, "But honestly... Elizabeth, if you're all right, then it doesn't matter."
Elizabeth stares almost trapped within his gaze as the thudding of her heart begins to resonate throughout her body. 'There it is again,' she thinks feeling a sensation come over her as her insides become jittery and toasty, her face heating up like never before. Only this time it's strong, overwhelming in a good way. She smiles almost bashful in his direction feeling as if she's floating through the air and he's her only tether. Or perhaps falling would be a better word. Her heart pounds as she steps closer listening to him suggest they head back and clean up first thing, nervously taking his arm in her hands when she's close enough. He looks up at her with one of his flustered, quirky expressions and her reasoning solidifies.
Yeah, falling is definitely the right term.