Drunk
3 nights before Alayah was found by Meliodas.
"Please" Alayah pleaded softly, as they sat at table, on a wooden bench in an old inn establishment. Estarossa on one side of the table, Alayah on the other.
Estarossa appreciated the sight before him, the new black dress fit Alayah perfectly. He selected it as if she were his demon queen. He imagined his whole life being Meliodas, and the vision before him fit perfectly. Ruffles finishing at the top of the high necked collar, with small ruffles down embroidered down the chest. It was a long sleeve, Victorian-style dress, the cinched in her waist perfectly. Defining her breasts in the right fitting attire. She didn't need to show skin for him to know what was underneath, but the dress fitting closely was a nice reminder.
However, he wanted her legs bare, so the dress that completely covered her arms and neck, cut short just barely covering he cute behind. After all, she was his to dress how he liked. He liked the idea of accessibility, but knowing anyone she came into contact was also lusting after her, was indeed a cheap thrill, but he was comforted by the thought that no one could challenge him, or take her from him.
The dress was perfect to cover her bruises and fading waist. Not that anyone could stop him from owning her as he pleased, he liked this little game of house. Visiting town to town, pretending to be regular people before he consumed the entire village. After all, this was his duty. But there was no harm in multi-tasking.
"Alright then" Estarossa started "You may eat".
He let his energy spar towards the serving boy, and instantly locked eyes, he immediately stopped pouring drinks. The boy nervously walked over, Estarossa withdrew his darkness to settle the quivering fool, and it was enough for him to take the order at least, though his fingers trembled holding the ink.
Alayah sat with her hands clutched to her chest, trying to show her obedience, Estarossa listened in to her heart beat. Focusing further, he mused with the best of the drum, cocking a smile to the small singular beating heart that belonged only to him.
"Smile for me" Estarossa told Alayah. And she looked up and smiled, her cheeks plump and red to her nervous performance. He leaned slightly over the counter, reaching out to brush her hair from behind her ear in front of her shoulders. Fixing it to be smooth and straight for him. "Very good" he praised. "You listen very well, you know why I'm punishing you, don't you?".
Alayah immediately pricked up and stared defiantly. After all that work, a single probe into the most important question, immediately drew life back into the stubbornness he worked so hard over the weeks to oppress.
"I have nothing to say" she muttered softly, her voice rasping smoothly. Just like Elizabeth…
Estarossa savoured every word, her voice soft like a harp in his ears. But if she were to speak, he wanted to only hear sweet words of compliance. But deep down he did love a challenge.
"I'm certain you aren't human, why don't you open up to me? I won't wait any longer". Estarossa responded, though it wasn't a threat, he did feel his patience being tested. "Stand up for me, my dear Alayah" Estarossa ordered, but she refused. Shaking her head, Estarossa returned with a smile.
"Y—your… Your order" stuttered the boy, placing the bowl on the table. "And it's—" he paused, staring at Estarossa with frightful eyes, before swallowing to continue "it's on the house" he responded. "Do you need anything—" the boy began.
Then suddenly Estarossa slammed his hand on the table, the boy jumping off his feet and squealing like a fool. Estarossa's hand clawed firmly over Alayah's bowl.
"No!" Alayah screamed "please" she began attempting to lift his fingers off the bowl, prying them underneath and pushing her whole body to try to lift off his hand to get to her bowl she desperately hungered for. Her body was weak, though she was well rested, Estarossa would not allow her to eat unless she worked for it. He was punishing her for defying him. Punishing her for toying with him. Maybe she was human after all? Maybe she was a Druid hiding in plain sight. She displayed an interesting power many weeks ago, but yet, she had absolutely no power residing inside her. More power could be consumed from a mere new born human. She had none.
Estarossa grew a wide smile across his face, appreciating her tiny hands and fingers slipping and struggling. She couldn't move a finger of his even if she had a whole army helping her.
"Be a good girl and stand for me" Estarossa requested, a second time.
"Hey what's the big idea!" The cowardly boy— actually a fully grown man, Estarossa noticed after actually acknowledging the boy. Estarossa's ears and body pricked with excitement. He dare challenge him and his prize?
Alayah immediately snapped back "please! Just leave! Please Estarossa, don't harm him, he didn't mean to say that, I'll stand for you now just please let him go" Alayah pleaded, but before she could stand, the boys throat was slit. Alayah screamed as blood splattered violently over the table. The man clawing at his neck, as if that will help the fool. Other customers ran out screaming, the hosts hiding behind the bar.
The human man crashed to the ground, gurgling as he gasped for air, blood spitting and engulfing the floor. What a disgusting mess. And before he could grab his green haired beauty to leave, she was on the floor, holding the humans head with her knees and arms, crying over him.
Estarossa watched, completely nonchalant towards the whole event. What a waste of her tears, she'd be better saving them for himself. Alayah's distress grew further and further, now completely soaked in blood.
"You're covered in filth" and Estarossa plucked the humans soul and swallowed it whole, and finally the gurgling stopped.
"You're a monster" Alayah accused.
"Get up" Estarossa demanded, and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to stand, but she slumped. "Someone make her a bath" Estarossa sighed, completely bored over the entire affair. Her dress now soiled with filth, he pulled her through the Inn, her head locked to keep focused on the now corpse. He tugged her, and she followed. She wouldn't want another brutal death on her hands.
———-
Estarossa sat in his room, slumped on a straw padded sofa, his legs kicked up on a chair to fully relax his body while deep in thought. Tapping his finger on the glass, the image of Alayah weeping on the floor, in shock and despair, still on Estarossa's mind. With every gulp of the delicious wine, he swirled his glass, hoping with every sip the image would fade.
But instead he only felt his heart sink deeper, the image of her on the tavern floor, more prominent with each moment. Her blue sparkling eyes wide with fear and pain, tears streaming down her plump red cheeks, and all for some random human. Would she cry like that for him? This was like a plague on his mind.
Though Estarossa was already extremely drunk, he looked over on the floor for more, observing the dozens of wine bottles and barrels empty from his thirst. Disappointment swept over him briefly, realising he had drunk everything from the taverns cellar, he decided to check on his twin Elizabeth.
Estarossa didn't pay for the two rooms, of course. But he was kind enough to allow the owner's to continue serving customers, and sparing their souls. He was after all, the commandment of love. Alayah's door was locked, but he effortlessly unlocked it with his dark energy, finding the girl circled up under the sheets. Only her vibrant green hair facing him, and the bareness of her shoulders cradled by the straps of her nightgown.
He quietly walked over to the bed, standing beside it. He watched Alayah for a moment, she twitched in her sleep, eventually twisting slightly over from her side, now showing her face. She was wearing a slip gown undergarment to bed, the straps holding her shoulders, shadowing slightly over her collar bones. Her snow-white skin seemed to shimmer under the candle light. Estarossa dumped his body beside her on the bed, breathing in the slight dizziness from his indulgence, the taste of Vanya Ale still soaked on his tongue.
To his surprise, she did not wake. Estarossa stared closely at her for a time, feeling himself sink into her. Repeatedly springing himself up from the hypnosis he fell under whilst watching her. He imagined her with silver hair, his mind jumping from seeing her as the goddess he knew, to the green haired mysterious girl before him.
Estarossa leaned his body over her, one hand supporting him on the other side of her body, the other, reaching out to brush her soft, silky hair, behind her ear. His finger tingled against the smoothness of her, and she was as soft as a flower petal. His heart sank further, a feeling he did not know overcame him, and he leaned in and kissed her on her forehead. Taking a moment to slowly and silently breathe her in, like his life depended on it.
Suddenly he felt an urge to force her awake, and beat her bloody. But his body betrayed him, and stumbled slightly, now hovering closely over her. His other hand helping to support him and the weight of his body that now overpowered him. How bothersome, Estarossa thought, whilst trying to collect himself and stable his spinning vision.
That was when he opened his eyes to look down and see blue eyes staring back at him. He noted the darkness under her eyes, the faded colour in her lips. He hadn't really payed attention to that before. She was sickly, faded, and a shadow of her former glowing self. Her eyes stared at him accusingly, like an animal with its leg caught in a trap, after finally accepting its inevitable fate.
It was not hate. And Alayah clearly hated him, it was part of his commandment to feel hatred. But Estarossa had already discovered she was not affected by his commandment of love. If anyone held hatred in their heart towards him, they would be rendered powerless. But she remained free from his curse.
Before Estarossa could divulge further into that thought, a question he had contemplated for quite some time, his mind wondered again under the trance of her beauty.
Estarossa took another moment to see his work before him. Perhaps it was time to give her what she originally wanted. Perhaps he should grab her neck and choke the life out of her right now. She would be scared, after all, over the past weeks she had proven to herself and Estarossa her obvious will to live. But deep down, the same darkness was there. He could choke the life out of her knowing that he did her a favour. And then consume her soul, adding to his many trophies. Binding her to him forever.
Suddenly Estarossa grabbed her neck, and the girl flinched, but she did not cry or jolt away. She closed her eyes and exposed her neck. Just had he had expected. He began to squeeze, and she let out a weep. Her lips beginning to throb, her cheeks reddening.
Then, the image of Alayah falling from the cliff clouded his mind. The flashing images of her green hair sparkling in the sunlight. No darkness around her eyes, her shoulders soft and round, not sharp and hollow. That desperate urge to catch her, even when he had absolutely no reason to. The remembering of her blue eyes sparkling under the sun light after she first opened them. The feeling of fate when holding her in his arms.
Suddenly he felt himself waken, like a reconnect from an outer body experience. The girls hands clawing at his arms, her body writhing under him.
She wanted to live.
Estrossa let go, walked out of her room, locking her door behind him.