When Elizabeth awoke, the interior of the wagon was still dark. Though the window was open, there wasn't any light streaming through, indicating she awoke before sunrise, as intended. She sat upright, yawning, and immediately set about rolling her bedspread and placing it into the second large trunk. The doors to the wagon were parted, and she caught the reddish hair of the Sin of Lust as he walked towards the hillside.

She shortly opened the wagon doors and stepped down in time to see him pull his tunic over his head, as he had been topless, apparently. She briefly paused in surprise, but didn't think too much of it. Closing the doors, she moved to check on the horses as he went to awaken the Sin of Greed.

Bringing them to the wagon, she heard a loud yawn before words were exchanged between the Sins. She then spoke softly to the horses, assuring them and thanking them, letting them know they would hopefully get another break in the next few hours. She then reattached them to the wagon before coming around to the side, towards the driver's seat.

Ban was already climbing atop the wagon again, eyes deeply slanted and not quite awake, giving him a foxlike appearance. Gowther was climbing up on the other side to the driver's seat beside her as she also climbed up.

"Good morning," she greeted them, taking up the reins. "Ready to finally reach Bellford?"

A noncommittal mumble came from the Fox Sin, whereas the redhead nodded. "Yes. It has been a most interesting trip, thus far," he said, "and good morning to you, too."

She smiled at him, then looked forward and gently lashed the reins. Before long, they were off at a good pace, with the looming ruins of Edinburgh slowly receding in the distance behind them.

Surprisingly, similar to Dalmary Town and Byron Town, Bellford had guarded gates about its northern, southern, eastern, and western sides, making those the only common ways to enter the district. Upon arrival from the western side, unlike Byron and Dalmary, they were heavily inspected, with their wagon and belongings looked into and Ban and Elizabeth having to remove their cloaks. Something about precautions...

As he didn't wear a cloak, Gowther had changed his hairstyle and skin tone long before they arrived, so he now sported short black hair with pale skin. He had observed the inspection without expression, and Ban also seemed impassive, whereas Elizabeth was concerned over their identities being exposed. Yet again, it didn't seem as if anyone recognized them so readily...at least for now.

Bellford was a...unique place. Unlike Ravens, which was lawless and run-down, Bellford was extravagant, exotic and yet just as dangerous in its mysterious way, with alleyways and districts within that were either more or less threatening depending on several factors of personal being. There was activity about that gave one a glimpse as to what happened when Bellford came alive at night in the next few hours.

All around them were sights, sounds and people both Gowther and Elizabeth had never seen before. After passing inspection at the gate, they slowly moved through the main street on their search for a place to get information. Ban led the way on foot, somehow knowing his way around, and the only of the three who wasn't awed by the flashes of colors and so-called exotic sights.

There were dancers Elizabeth hadn't seen before over there...! They were dressed so scantily! And over there were swords so long and thin! Oh, no, those were slaves, weren't they? How could someone do such a thing? Where are the guards? Look at that! Those people were being deeply intimate in public! How bold! Ooh, there's a fortune-teller!

The sounds of his comrades' excitement faded into the background as scarlet eyes carefully scanned the crowds. Ban spotted several armed men in all corners of the streets, and even upon rooftops, eyeing them and whispering. They were being eyed at from all directions, in honesty, and he wasn't too sure if it was out of curiosity or scheming plots. It was easy to spot pickpockets going through the crowds, going about their business with natural ease. Easy for him to notice, anyway.

By the looks of it, Bellford was like an extravagant, more dangerous Ravens. More dangerous, because it could be easy to get lost and comfortable, unlike in Ravens where the air of danger was everywhere and in plain sight.

It was the perfect place for someone to sell the corpse of a Sin.

He glanced back up at Gowther, who shortly met his gaze as if waiting for it. They exchanged knowing, meaningful glances before looking their respective ways. He led them along until they neared what looked like a tavern or inn, complete with a rather decent-sized stable next door. As they approached, a man with posters near the entrance spotted them and came forward.

"'Ello, there, young travelers!" he greeted, waving a poster in his hand. "Will ye be needin' a place ta stay fer the day? We got lots o' rooms jus' waitin' ta be taken, perfect fer a party such as yers!"

"Ach, nae," Ban responded, a bit of a growl in his voice. The man was taken aback by a bit, but didn't get the chance to properly react before Ban suddenly stepped closer, sporting a sly, fanged grin from ear to ear. "Howeeeverrrrr...~"

Elizabeth watched as her companion began to have a hushed conversation with the man, and she led the horses towards the stables. However, a hand stayed hers.

"Wait," said Gowther, his eyes fixed on his fellow Sin. "We should not have to stay the night, if we are fortunate." He then motioned to a place to park the wagon for the time being.

After parking, Elizabeth stepped down from the driver's seat and stretched while looking around. Despite the grim circumstances that brought them there, she couldn't prevent the small smile adorning her face. Focusing on the more positive aspects of the trip, such as seeing new sights and traveling to new locations, was what kept her positive. They hadn't eaten yet, but she was of the mind that they would be keeping to their rations for the time being. With this in mind, she walked to the back of the wagon to fish out some food.

Gowther remained in the driver's seat, half of his attention to Ban and the man he was (obviously) intimidating and the rest of his attention to the crowds about them. He hadn't said anything, but he had recognized some of the decorated carts parked near the gate they entered from. They were the same as the ones he saw carrying the Sin of Wrath so many years ago...

How suspicious. How suspiciously convenient. That was the very reason why he said nothing, keeping this observation to himself. If nothing else, it meant they may have come to the right place...and that the rumors Ban picked up in Dalmary were resourceful after all. If nothing at all, it could mean they were following the trail of the one who at least once their captain's body.

Elizabeth sat back in the driver's seat, some trail rations in her hand. "Would you like some?" she asked him, offering some.

"No, thank you," he declined, waving a hand. His attention briefly went to her as she began to eat. Observing her look around, his thoughts returned to her and her current predicament. "Elizabeth..."

She looked at him, chewing on a dried piece of meat. "Hm?"

"You have demonstrated the heightened ability to sense danger and magical energy. I believe you still have your innate Druid abilities, as well as your powers as the Goddess' apostle," he conversed, head tilting as he spoke. "I should even believe you still have abilities you developed during the War."

"Well...yes, I suppose," she agreed. Her hands lowered, and her gaze followed. "I have higher agility and speed, but that's about it, I'm afraid."

"And your heightened senses." His gaze returned to the Sin of Greed approaching them. "You are not powerless," he reminded her.

She smiled at him before her attention focused on Ban as he came to the front of the wagon to address them. Near the entrance to the tavern, the man he had conversed with was pale as a sheet, staring after him.

"Good news...and bad," he said to them, rubbing his neck. He seemed disappointed. "Quite a bit of the bad, actually."

The two in the driver's seat looked down at him expectantly.

He looked at them in a moment of silence before looking around. "There's some Black Market event taking place here in a few days. Biggest 'article' is a Sin's corpse. Only way to take part is to pleasantly acquaint ourselves with the one in charge of it," he explained, his focus steadily returning to them.

"Ergo, we have to stay here or in the area for a few days." Gowther frowned a bit. His own gaze began to wonder around as well. That wasn't the best idea...

Elizabeth's expression was surprisingly unreadable. "What's the good news?" she asked.

The scarlet orbs returned to them, brows scrunching. "That is the good news~"

-:ThFLTh:-

Night was quick to overtake Bellford, bringing a new wave of sights and sounds to the districts. Unlike most places, which calmed at night, Bellford unfolded with life unique to it the moment the sun went down. Lanterns and candles were lit, stalls remained open, and some switched their products for different types altogether. Seedier activity began all around, though one would have to be a native to notice it immediately. Likewise, more salacious activity began in the deeper districts, specifically the infamous Black Pleasure District.

Given no other choice, the trio decided it best to pile their money together to get the most affordable yet safe-ish room in Bellford. Located several districts within, they rented a small room with two beds from a modest tavern. Their wagon was parked with several others near the stables, where their horses were kept.

Elizabeth wisely stayed to the room for the evening, taking up the de facto mantle of overseer of their belongings for the time being. While there was little she could do about their situation, she didn't have to like it. And she didn't. The list of reasons why would never end if she so much as began. So, she didn't. Even. Bother.

Her male companions, on the other hand...

Downstairs, a hooded red-clad form sat hunched over a table, a stein of ale in one hand and the other practically dragging on the floor. Loud, drunken conversations clamored around him, the occupants of the tavern mighty lively despite the lack of sunlight outside. He liked it. It was friendly, for the most part. Sure, there were the usual grumpy bodies who grumbled about too much or stayed silent, glaring menacingly at everyone who so much as glanced in their direction, but it was better than what could be going on.

So he enjoyed himself, drinking from his second stein that evening and pleasantly drunk. Eyeing future targets. Many people were going to leave the tavern with less money that night. And not from spending on too much food and drink.

Idly, he listened to the talk that floated about, catching bits of gossip and tall tales. Superstitions. The awed or worried responses from other visitors to Bellford when they learned of what happened and went bump during the night despite the deceptive liveliness. The killing that went ignored. The raping that went ignored. The theft that went ignored. The horrors that went ignored.

He chuckled to himself, humorless. Just like Ravens. He toasted to no one and downed his stein.

"Would you like more, sir?"

He didn't even bother looking up at the barmaid, proceeding to nod. "Aye~ Keep 'em cooomin'~" he chimed, setting his empty stein upon her serving tray.

She made a soft, amused giggle. "Yes, sir."

Slightly, he righted himself a bit in the chair, slouching back and resting one foot heavily on the chair opposite to him. A refilled stein was shortly handed back to him, bringing a small grin to his face before he took it. This time, however, he caught a glimpse of the barmaid from under his hood.

She wore a low-cut peasant top, a waist cincher and a moderately long skirt. He couldn't see her face from his view, but her long red hair was visible, curling around her bosom. The men in the tavern seemed to like her quite a bit, pulling her skirt when she passed, calling at her, teasing her, and pulling her to their lap.

But there was something...off...about her, now that he took notice of her.

As the night wore on, his dulled senses let it go.

Instead, his thoughts drifted to Elaine. Very strongly. At first, he thought nothing of it, sighing longingly to himself and downing his sixth stein. His thoughts inevitably then moved to Lancelot as well, souring his mood. Only when he waved the barmaid over and his thoughts almost violently went back to Elaine did he have less than half a mind to realize something was...amiss.

The empty stein was almost instantly replaced with another, which he was quick to consume. Setting the stein down, his eyes narrowed at his blurring vision. He was mighty drunk alright, but...

The barmaid came to his side again to replace his drink. Against his will, he found himself slowly, almost tentatively looking up to see her face for the first time.

Her chest was flatter, adolescent-like. Her hair was shorter. And blonde. Why was he shaking...?

Upon seeing her face, his body stilled in shock. Shock, and horror, for some reason; he couldn't put his finger on it. Anger, too, somewhere in his confused, inebriated mind.

"Elaine..." he whispered, but that couldn't be right.

Yet the suddenly smaller, pixie-like woman at his side looked just like her. And smiled like her, too. A flare of unholy rage swelled within him, but it was quelled against his will. This just confused him further.

He was suddenly on his feet. This wasn't right. He had to leave...

He had half a mind to pay for his drinks before quickly striding out of the tavern and into fresh air. He needed fresh air. Shaking his head as he moved away from the building, he exhaled deeply, still confused and...and...why was he shaking...?

"Ban..."

He froze, a cold chill running down his spine. That sounded just like her. Shaking his head, he moved away from the ghost behind him, stumbling. The sounds of the outside didn't even reach his ears, as if the world was silent save for that voice steadily approaching him.

His uneven footing led him into an alley, where another fellow drunk sat unmoved against one of the walls. But now he was trapped, and he realized that a second too late when he turned around only to see her.

She even wore that same white dress. He couldn't tear his eyes away even if he wanted to, confused and angry, but the anger was forcibly quelled each time it swelled within him. It was confusing him further. As if watching his own body move from within, his hand reached out for her, and she slowly approached, floating over the ground. She reached out for him, smiling gently, her golden eyes more beautiful than he remembered.

"El...Elaine," he breathed, but he had just enough control over himself to prevent himself from embracing her. Instead, he managed to shrink back, backing himself to the wall and lowering his hand. Something...wasn't...right...

"Silly boy," she sighed, coming even closer. Somehow, her movement was both something he yearned for and saw as menacing at once.

He shook his head, eyes closing briefly as he tried to sober himself up. What the fuck was going on? This couldn't be Elaine...it couldn't be...but something was staying his willpower.

She floated up until they were at eye-level, and he looked way. He couldn't bear looking at her anymore. Once again, the overwhelming rage swelled inside, and yet again, it was held at bay by some otherness. He was coming to hate that otherness...not that hate did him any good.

The soft, gentle hand caressed his face, and he froze again, shuddering in anger and confused disgust, eyes snapping shut.

"I'm here," she said. "It's me."

He barely managed to shake his head. No, she wasn't. But he felt his control slipping again. It was as if he had to call the control back to him, but it was slipping from him like sand in his mind. Slowly, he found his head turning back to look at her.

His scarlet orbs met the honey-gold, and all at once, he felt something break inside.

The suddenness of it all passed through his body, mind and soul akin to a horrible tremor. His body ceased to shudder, his expression darkened, and his lip curled back in a fanged snarl. Before he realized what he was doing, his hand ran through the small body, and his hand out in the air behind her suddenly held a heart in its grasp.

"B...Ban..." she whispered, and he pulled his hand back, causing her to collapse at his feet.

He stared forward, in an abrupt horror like the sudden rage that had exploded just a second before. He knew, without even looking down, that the woman at his feet no longer had the appearance of his dead lover, but that did little to erase the last image that was imprinted in his mind before her true form came back.

Hands limp at his side, he released his grasp on the still-beating heart. He stayed that way, unmoved, for what felt like the longest time. When the body suddenly twitched, his expression did not change as he violently brought his foot down, crushing the demon's head. All went still again.

Slowly, he began to move, closing his eyes and swaying on his feet. The sudden power that was still running through his body was overwhelming his inebriated consciousness. For the first time in decades, he felt physically ill, and it was a wretched sensation. He paused, raising his arm to lean against the wall to his left, lips parting as soft, shaky pants escaped him and saliva dripped from his open mouth.

A horribly familiar pain twisted inside of him. Groaning, he tried to hold back the heaves, but his body had more power over him. He shortly gagged before vomiting the familiar black substance from the day before, turning the ground black with decay. But that wasn't enough, and the painful heaves shook his form as this continued several times more.

When it was finally over, he remained standing, but was holding onto the wall as if it was his anchor to the world. He spat, coughing up whatever was left in his throat to the ground as well. While no longer in pain, he knew there was still more of that filth inside of him.

"Oi..."

With more effort than he was comfortable using, he looked over to see the drunken man staring at him, bleary-eyed and probably unaware there was a demon's dead body not too far from him.

"Migh' wanna get tha'...ch-checked out." The words were slurred, a bottle of ale waved at him.

He deeply exhaled, slowly moving from against the wall. He took his time to approach, letting whatever energy that ran through him regulate itself, and by the time he stood before the man, he was moving normally again. Snatching the bottle, he greedily consumed all its remaining contents before throwing the bottle against the wall, letting it shatter.

The bleary gaze met his, and he kept the contact for a moment before turning around and stalking out of the alley.

-:ThFLTh:-

A bespectacled gaze looked into the direction of the tavern. The amber orbs then looked forward to the scene before them, a sly, knowing smile spreading on his face. The Greed of the Fox's Sin finally awoke, it seemed.

"That's a smile I'd never think to grace your features," said one of the women, licking her lips. A long, spaded red tail swayed from under her body-hugging slip, her ears were long, like a fairy's except hooked, and black, curled horns protruded from her head of red hair. When she looked upon him, her emerald eyes blinked sideways, like a reptile's, and her pupils were vertically slatted.

The other woman hummed, passing her lips over his bare chest. "It suits you, somehow..." she purred. Her appearance was similar to the other woman's, only she had black hair and purple-grey horns with a matching-colored tail.

He smiled at them as he rested against the headboard, magenta locks swaying when his head tilted playfully to the side. "Does it, really...?" he asked, running his hand through the black hair.

"Yesss~" the redhead crooned, crawling up to him and mirroring the other woman's pose atop him. "But I want to continue...our game from last night."

The other woman pouted, but it was playfully so. "It's my turn, sister. It isn't everyday our kind comes upon such a willing specimen."

His hands lowered, only to suddenly curl around their necks, and they both emitted gasping moans. His expression didn't change. "I want to...play...with both of you," he said. "There will be plenty of time for all of us to have our games."

The sounds they made were orgasmic, yearning moans, and he raised up, still holding them by their necks, and threw them back to the floor. They sprawled out, purposely spreading their long legs and curving their bodies seductively. Their spaded tails entwined with one another before swaying behind their forms.

Standing from the bed, his smile turned dark as he looked upon them. "Now, then...let's see whose will lasts longer," he hummed with a purr of his own. "Twin Succubae...or the Goat's Sin of Lust."

Identical long, slender fingers beckoned him forward at the challenge.

It was going to be some long, pleasant days.