Flashback...
1 year ago...
Normal POV
Nightfall came. The forest was much spookier at night where the demons of the dark come out to play. Elizabeth feels as though there were millions of eyes watching her everywhere. It was now or never, they were going to rescue Meliodas tonight so Elizabeth inhaled and exhaled to get a grip.
"We'll be fine...I just know it..." Elaine said to herself . Elizabeth smiled at her bravery even though she knows Elaine is shaking in fear.
"Elaine, why did you come after us?"
"I don't like being left out. We were the first to discover this kidnapping. I will not sit on the sidelines and watch as you guys hog all of the adventure." Elaine crossed her arms. "Besides, this will be the best practice mission I've ever encountered. I could add this experience in my resume when I apply for the job." Elaine gave a thumbs up. Elizabeth forgot that Elaine is the Valedictorian of the Criminology department. Obviously she would know how to deal with situations like this.
"We're here girls." Zaratras stopped. Everyone hid behind thick bushes. From a far, they can properly see the mansion. It seems that the living room windows are glowing. " Dooris is in there alright. The candle lit says it all." Zaratras turned to the girls. "You know the plan right? Find him as fast as you can." Zaratras reminded them.
"Right." The two nodded in response. Zaratras went out in the open.
"I hope this works." Says Elaine.
Zaratras stood wide and open in front of the Mansion's front porch. This was it. "Dreyfus!...come out right this instant!" Zaratras screamed at the top of his lungs. The girls readied themselves for the next step. They waited for about 2 minutes until they heard the front door open. Elizabeth's heartbeat picked up as she watch the person come out of the door. Dooris wasn't wearing his oversized fur jacket anymore. With the lit candle stick he was holding, everyone could properly see his appearance. He was currently wearing a plain white polo shirt. It was okay until there were blood stains everywhere. His face was covered in tiny droplets of blood. His hands were covered with blood. Dreyfus was definitely a sadistic person. Elizabeth tried not to vomit at the sight.
"Hello...brother..." The way Dreyfus said it, sounded gentle and loving. Even with a twisted mind, Dreyfus has some heart in him.
"Dreyfus..." Zaratras took step towards him. Dreyfus instantly backed away. His whole expression changed in a second
"What are you doing here? Did you bring the cops?...huh?...did you?!" Dreyfus was acting crazy like everything around him was a threat.
"Dreyfus..easy now, calm down. I'm here to take you back..." Zaratras slowly advances towards him with baby steps. Dreyfus took another step backward.
"I know what you're doing...you want me spend my time with..with those...doctors huh?...huh?!" Dreyfus backed away from Zaratras. "It's not my fault! It's that whore of a mother...she's at fault here!" Dreyfus started crying. Elaine wondered if he was bipolar.
"Calm down brother. I know it's not your fault. I know you're telling the truth...I've been with you all our life. We grew up together..I know it's all Mother's fault..." Zaratras tried to reach out to him so he could touch his hand. Dreyfus saw this and flinched. He took out a sharp pocket knife and slashed Zaratras' arm. Zaratras clutched his stinging arm. Blood spilled at the large cut. Instantly, Dreyfus' expression turned into worry.
"B...b..brother...I'm sorry...I didn't mean it..." Now Dreyfus was the one advancing closer to Zaratras.
"You need more help than I thought...I'm getting the police." Zaratras started running to the other direction.
"Zaratras!" Dreyfus started running after him.
Elizabeth and Elaine waited for a moment for the two to run out of sight. Once they were gone, the two sprang into action. "Ikuso Elaine!" The girls ran in the house at full speed.
This was What Zaratras planned from the start. By taking advantage of Dreyfus' fears and emotions, Zaratras was able to manipulate Dreyfus' vulnerable side. He knew Dreyfus was scared of being caught and taken against his will. His pride of not confessing that it's his fault for killing is what triggered him to run after Zaratras. Think of it as making a friend angry just so you can lure a person to his surprise birthday party. Only in this situation, Zaratras is luring Dreyfus away from the house. That gives enough time for Elizabeth and Elaine to find Meliodas. Zaratras quickly ran to the isolated areas of the forest surrounding the Dooris house. He kept clutching his arm as he ran. The stinging feeling was evident. Blood kept on dripping down. Zaratras kept on running. He knew Dreyfus was afraid of being Caught by the police.
"Elizabeth...Elaine...I hope you find Meliodas quick..." He said as he ran. Zaratras only had a limited time to keep Dreyfus away. Getting slashed wasn't part f the plan but he had to endure the pain.
"Zaratras!" Dreyfus was gaining on him.
Present Day...
Zaratras relieved parts of the memory running through his mind as he was walking. He was led inside the Hospital by Doni. The two did not speak after the whole betraying the Sins . When they finally arrived at the incinerator's base, Zaratras' attention focused on The naked Elizabeth chained against the wall. Her feet were cooked. She was comforting a hurt Meliodas as he clutched his burnt arm.
"What the fuck Griamore?! You promised not to you hurt them!" Zaratras was gonna pound Griamore's face but Doni stepped in front of Him. He kicked Zaratras by the gut and went around to grab him by the arm and tie him up. "Ugh...get off me..."
"Ahhh..Uncle...it's so nice to meet you for the first time..." Griamore turned around since his attention was at the fire place. He eyed the sack dropped by Zaratras on the floor. "I see you've brought the goods..." Griamore was excited.
"Zaratras...how could you...why did you betray us?!" Meliodas asked as he rose up, still clutching his burnt arm. He couldn't move properly since Grismore practically chained him to the wall like Elizabeth.
"I take it Griamore told you what happened?"
"Only the part where you betrayed us..." Meliodas spat. He couldn't believe that the person he looked up to was in cahoots with this psycho.
"I'm sorry Meliodas, but I had to do it. I thought Griamore kept his word..." He then turned to Griamroe with a glare. "...which he obviously didn't..." Zaratras clenched his fists.
"Can someone please tell me...what the fuck is going on around here?!" Meliodas demanded as he used his strength to try and break away from the chains but that only resulted to bruising his neck. Meliodas coughed out.
"Meliodas..." Elizabeth tried to calm him.
"It's a cliche situation but I'll go with the flow anyways..." Doni kicked Zaratras' knees from the back making him kneel in front of Griamore. He stalked his way towards Zaratras and grabbed him by the chin.
"You know what to do with it..." Griamore gestured at the took the sack and went out of the room. Meliodas wondered what was in that sack and what's Doni doing with it.
"All of this...was for you, Uncle Zaratras..." Griamore chuckled.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Meliodas screamed.
"You see, Elizabeth was never my real target. I just needed her as bait." Zaratras tried to piece the puzzle but was having a hard time understanding all of this.
"My real target was you...Uncle."
"Then why the hell did you have to kidnap Elizabeth?! You could have killed me in my sleep but why go after her?!" Zaratras ranted.
"Now that wouldn't be fun." Griamore punched Zaratras square on the jaw. He was pushed bearing the pain of it. He couldn't massage it due to his hands being tied up. "I knew that killing you directly wasn't gonna cut it. So I thought of playing around with you. I knew kidnapping Meliodas and Elizabeth was a difficult task especially with Meliodas' current position. Captain of the feared 7 Deadly Sins huh?" He turned to Meliodas with a smirk. "You don't seem to be scary as the rumors had said..." He mocked.
"So I thought of kidnapping Elizabeth instead...I KNOW Meliodas would do anything...to get her back...including charging into battle without a plan..and look where it's gotten him...tied to a wall. Disappointing...Tsk...tsk.." He laughed off. "I hope you loved my package. Liz was so kind enough to keep me company till I found the real Elizabeth..." Griamore had a sadistic look on him.
"Bastard..." Meliodas cussed.
"Having them held captive, I knew you wouldn't let your precious FRIENDS die in the hands of your Nephew..."
"You promised me...you.." Zaratras tried to stand up. "You promised me...that you wouldn't hurt them...I did your side of the deal...why didn't you did yours?!" Zaratras screamed in anger.
"Deal? What deal?" Meliodas questioned. Griamore smirked
"Doni!" He called out. Doni came back pushing a movable bed with a large sheet of blanket covered over what seems to be a human outline.
"I had Doni hunt you down...do you remember the thief?" Griamore hinted.
"The one who stole my phone was you?!" Meliodas turned to Doni.
"It was a difficult task. Hacking your phone took only minutes but getting away form you was a challenge...it's a good thing I made it on time..." Doni shrugged.
"What does that have to do with the deal?" Meliodas glared.
"By implanting a microchip in your phone, I would automatically know who you are calling with. Including my Uncle. If you were to call him and he picked up, I could have easily ended Elizabeth's life with jus that phone call." Griamore explained.
Meliodas instantly froze. So that's why Zaratras hasn't been picking up his calls. Meliodas also felt guilty that he was launching go signals for Elizabeth's execution. His expression softened. The thought of Zaratras betraying him left his mind and heart. He did this to protect Elizabeth.
"Also, I couldn't let you distract him from his mission...good thing you had the goods ready Uncle..." Griamore applaud him.
"Goals? Goods? What is he talking about Zaratras?" Asked Meliodas.
Zaratras' mind drifted to what had truly happened...
***
Flashback...
2:00 AM at The City of Liones...
"Hello Uncle..." Griamore said through the phone call.
"Griamore..." Zaratras whispered.
"It's so nice to finally talk to you Uncle...even on the phone..."
"Griamroe..you better tell me where Elizabeth is or I will..."
"Or you will what? Call the cops? Call Meliodas?...that's would be stupid. Remember...I have her with me...tell him Princess..." Griamore gripped Elizabeth's hair tight. Her scream resonated through the phone.
"Elizabeth..." Zaratras was worried
"Now listen Uncle...I have a proposition for you. Follow my rules and nobody gets hurt...well almost..." Griamore chuckled.
"What do you want Griamore?!" Zaratras whispered yelled.
"Firs things first is the rules..."
"Alright...lim listening..." Zaratras said in a defeated tone.
"I've had someone hack Meliodas' phone. Calls and texts sent from you and vice versa are being monitored. Meaning, if you call Meliodas, I will end Elizabeth. The same goes for him if you accept his calls. And if you try to warn the others, don't bother...as long as that device is on, it will also keep track on the gadgets close to the target. You can't call for anyone..." Griamore said in a deadly tone. "If you don't comply to my request and regulations, I pant only end Elizabeth...but Meliodas as well. I've already put out hints as to where my location is...he should be here soon...you should start as well...
"What...what do you want Griamore?"
"It's just a simple request actually...promise me ...you won't fail..." His words were threatening.
Gilthunder couldn't sleep due to the misfortune that's been happening recently. Gilthunder descended down the stairs from his room to the living room. He froze when he heard his Father's yells of anger and concern. He walked slowly towards where he was. Gilthunder only overheard the last part of the conversation.
"Alright... I'll do it but promise me..." He said to Griamore on the other Side of the line. Whatever the person replied back made Zaratras gripped the cellphone tight but let his grip loose. Gilthunder assumed that his friend on the other line hanged up.
"Dad, Is everything okay?"
Zaratras was startled. He sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. "I'm okay Gilthunder."
"Who was that you were talking to?"
Zaratras clenched his first then unclenched it. "Just some business with the books I released a weak ago. Nothing too serious, just some fake copies spread everywhere. Don't worry, the police is on the case..." Zaratras adjusted his tie. He was sweating as he did. Gil went to the kitchen and made his dad some coffee.
"Dad, are you okay? You look stressed." Gilthunder asked as he put the cup on the coffee table.
"You could say that...with everything happening, I just don't know what to do at this point..." Zaratras was in deep thought. Now he has to face life, death and his friends.
"I know Meliodas and the Sins will save Elizabeth. I believe in the,...you should too." Says Gil. Zaratras looked at his son for a moment and frowned.
"I do believe in them Gil..." Zaratras admitted. Gilthunder nodded before standing up and heading back upstairs. These two were currently house sitting Meliodas' Boar Hat bar while they were away.
"Goodnight dad. I'll see you in the morning." He ascended back to the stairs.
It took about 30 minutes for Zaratras to make a decision. He knew what he had to do at this point. Zaratras will take the risk. He stood up and took his coat and car keys. Gilthunder was fast asleep so it was an easy get away fro Zaratras. He drove back to the place where he once called home. "I do believe in them Gilthunder,...but...it's not enough, I'm taking matters to my own hands..." Zaratras said to himself as he gripped the steering wheel tight before flooring it to the next town...the Town Of Hikari.
End of flashback...
***
Now...
"Then...what was it?" Meliodas slowly asked. What was so important that Griamore had to play with them this much. Just ask Meliodas said those words, Doni took off the large bed sheet. Everyone's attention was at the ...
Tera Cotta human figure.
Half of its body on the back is made of ceramic while the front was decorate...
With the BONES of a dead man.
Elizabeth wanted to puke, the smell of that skeleton's bones were horrible but Griamore embraced it. "Love it? These are the bones in the sack that you brought..." He traced the outline with his fingers.
"...Of my FATHER, Dreyfus Dooris..." A sinister smile spread across Griamore's face..