"Put me down, now!" She demanded. The feeling of dread still overpowered her senses, but the feeling just wasn't compelling enough to be dictated by it. Not after what just happened. And all the feelings still remaining inside her. "I demand that you put me now!". What did she have to loose, after all.

The man scoffed, like a silent swift chuckle.

"Fine" the man said. She focused her eyes away from his face, as to try to protect her sensibilities whilst being held by a strange man. But she could still feel his imminent gaze on her face, even as she looked away from him, over at the familiar scenery.

She tried to not to compromise herself as he lowered to her to the ground. But the gaze pierced her skin like knifes, and she felt his eyes all over her body.

The man gently released her from his arm, assisting her up. But she immediately recoiled and stepped back.

She assessed him. Tall. Very tall. Broad. Very broad. Strange armour and… a shadow that followed his body. The ominous feeling was like the monsters that attacked her village… Like the ones that…

It was irrelevant. It didn't seem like he would hurt her… But he still might.

She took one step back to walk away, but he took one step forward. "Stay back!" She shouted.

Suddenly a roaring laugher burst from him, holding his chest like it would burst from his twisted laugh, all while combing his hair with his fingers to tame the mess from his outburst. She was confused and amazed at his strange erratic behaviour. He was too beautiful to be so scary. And yet the dread remained. "What is so funny!?".

"Elizabeth you are as sweet as you have always been", he said.

What was he talking about?

"I don't know you! Stay away from me. I am leaving". She replied, once again trying to turn away. But this time stopped by a hand on her shoulder. And it felt like a mountain. The sudden power was frightening, she attempted to remove his hand off her shoulder, thinking it wouldn't move a budge but trying nonetheless… And to her surprise, his hand did actually move off her.

He scoffed again, and cocked a confident half smile "my apologies lady Elizabeth".

"My name isn't Elizabeth!" She responded.

"Ohhh so what is your name then young lady?" He leaned in closely near her face. Eye to eye. His eyes softened and seemed to become even more confident the closer he came to her.

"My name is…" she began, but none of this mattered to her. Even in the presence of a demon, who could kill her before she blinked. She couldn't care less about this interaction. "no. I need to—" she started to say, about to turn away from him—but his hand grabbed her chin.

She tried to recoil once again but this time, his mountain-like strength would not refrain a second time. Clearly he let her remove his hand off her shoulder.

She felt a slight defeat, if only to move forward from this interaction.

"Fine" she sighed, exhausted. "My name is Alayah".

Alayah's chin was held for a few moments, as the man assessed, what felt like her entire being. She felt her body and soul trickle into eyes, momentarily seized by him. All the while holding her chin firmly in his inescapable grip. Not too close to his face that it was intrusive, but certainly enough to intimidate. Alayah tried a second time to recoil her chin, and he let go.

"So Alayah. You know you look very familiar. But you're certainly not a goddess".

"Excuse me?" What was this man talking about?

——————-

"My name is Estarossa, demon of the Ten Commandments" Estarossa was curious of her reaction, perhaps he would see through her pretence. But he didn't receive any reaction.

Even if she claimed to not know him, or be Elizabeth, even as a human, this was not a normal reaction. He at least expected some fear. This was beginning to be a fruitful interaction. There he was, face to faced with Elizabeth after 3,000 years, and he knew one thing, she was not escaping him again. "You don't seem shocked by that" he smirked. Hoping to call out her bluff.

"I know who you are. You are the reason demons invaded my village. Have you come to take my soul?" Elizabeth— Alayah said.

The thought of devouring her soul. Estarossa pondered on that for a moment. He begin to walk towards her slowly, this time he felt fear from her. She lowered her eyes to the ground - perhaps she was accepting her fate. The feeling of submission from her pleased him.

Estarossa chuckled, "no I won't be feasting on your soul", he reached out and coiled her vibrant green hair around his armoured hands. But he felt truly shocked once he heard her say…

"Please, do it. Take my soul and kill me".