He was so tired. Meliodas sighed as he walked back through the hallways, heading towards the sanctuary of his room. The Commandments he carried buzzed like flies in his pocket, an incessant hum as they thrummed with magic. At one time in his life he would have given anything, everything, to feel so much power in his hands. But now his enthusiasm was tempered with fear: if his plan failed Elizabeth would be in significant danger.
How long would it take him to absorb the Commandments? He tried to remember his lessons from Chandler all those years ago, about the importance of taking on new power slowly. The risks were well documented; madness and death were the perils of impatience. But if he left himself vulnerable for too long, the prospect of discovery was all too real. He tried to complete the calculations in his head, seeing how much of the ideal waiting time could be shaved off without risking his health and sanity.
So lost in thought was he that it took him a while to register that his room was not unoccupied, a small, shadowy figure skulking next to the heavy red, velvet curtains. "Sire," the portly figure murmured as it bent into a bow, "I know what you are planning, and I have come to offer you my assistance."
"You have, Chandler?" Meliodas asked, his eyes widening as he stepped forwards. "But why…"
"We both have." Meliodas jumped slightly at the sound of the second voice, lighter and more melodic than the gravelly tones of his tutor. "After much consideration we have agreed that you must be the next king. I do not say that I like it," Cusack continued, his lips pursing to a thin line as his hands clenched tight. "You are not as worthy of the crown as my pupil. But I have been persuaded that your ascension to the throne will be in Prince Zeldris's best interests. I want your solemn promise though that you will treat him with respect, and welcome him back to his ancestral home."
Meliodas just about managed to stifle a chuckle. Cusack always did talk like an ass where his brother was concerned. "Of course," he said suavely, noting the way Cusack's shoulders fell, his long moustache swaying slightly as his features relaxed. "I don't want Zeldris to be banished. I want him back, too. He and Princess Gelda can live here. I have no problems with her."
"The vampire is as may be," Cusack said crossly, "but I dare say the prince will not return without her."
"This is all moot, Napping," Chandler growled impatiently. "What matters is how we take it from here."
"I quite agree." Meliodas shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, his hands closing round the fluttering bundles of energy. "I have the Commandments. I will take them as my own and challenge my father when I have absorbed their power. I need you to make sure that I'm not disturbed while this happens."
"It is not as simple as that, Sire," Chandler cautioned as he lent on his staff, his beady eyes closing momentarily as he marshalled his thoughts. "His Majesty will surely sense what you are doing if you undertake the process here. You must go to Britannia, as far away as possible so that your actions are not detected. Even then, your father will likely suspect something, unless Napping and I keep him occupied."
"We will stay here with His Majesty while you absorb the decrees," Cusack continued at Chandler's signal. "We will give you as much time as possible but once you feel it is safe to end the process you must do so. We will not be able to keep him occupied for long."
"We will help you with the fight, when you return," Chandler added as Cusack inclined his head in a nod. Both tutors stood stock still, one with his back ramrod straight, the other hunched and wizened, both with looked of pure determination on their faces. Meliodas remembered all the hell he had put them though, and it had been just him, Zeldris being a teacher's pet, and regret flooded his soul as he looked at them, the two faithful servants who were prepared to risk their lives for him and his brother.
He knew he ought to say thank you, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead he did what he had never done before and bowed low before the pair, his fringe falling over his face to obscure his vision. He did not see the look of astonishment that passed between the tutors, or the knowing smile that they shared before he righted himself.
Without another word, Meliodas strode across the room to the window, flinging it open with a flourish. The world was dark outside, the landscape swallowed in black, but that did not matter, he knew his way around. Without turning to look at the masters, Meliodas summoned his darkness to form wings on his back, before swooping out into the night, his hearts leaping into his mouth as he fell through the air.
Elizabeth stood outside of the door, her hand outstretched as her legs trembled slightly beneath her. She suddenly felt very cold, as if ice were flowing through her veins. It was not often that she stood here, in this hall of polished white marble columns and the sparkling mosaic floor with dozens of goddesses depicted tiny stone as they bowed in obedience to their shining queen, and never without an invitation.
The urge to reach out to Mael was sudden and overwhelming, but Elizabeth forced herself to keep her hands at her sides. "This is madness," she whispered as she felt the blood drain from her face. "She'll kill us both, you know she will. Let's go. We don't have to do this. We…"
"We do, Lady Elizabeth," Mael said softly, his gentle voice echoing through the vast space. "Her Highness will have sensed our presence and she will have divined our intention. If we don't try it now we never will."
Elizabeth blurted out, "But what if the plan fails? What if…"
"Then it will be my pleasure to die by your side."
Mael looked at her kindly, a reassuring smile on his face. "You are a powerful goddess, Elizabeth, not only in strength but in your kindness and generosity. You are the one who should lead our clan. This is your destiny. And we have a plan. Let's go execute it, before more time passes."
Elizabeth nodded and stepped forwards until her hand rested on the golden doors. Usually they would open for her, but that was when the queen was expecting visitors. Indeed she was now, Elizabeth realised, as she felt the telltale hum of power resonating through the metal. Her mother was well aware of her presence and as Mael had said she must also know their purpose. Stealing herself, taking a gulp of the soft, warm air, Elizabeth pushed open the doors of the supreme deity's throne room.
Elizabeth's head swam with the strong aroma of incense, so overpowering it crowded out every other sensation. She could practically taste it, the smell clinging to her tongue like cloying powder, and she suppressed the urge to wrinkle her nose in disgust. Her feet slipped slightly on the polished stone, gleaming marble as pale as alabaster, as she walked carefully towards the dais. She held her head high, her jaw set with determination, refusing to acknowledge the fear that gnawed at her insides. She was not generally afraid of fighting, not overly concerned with her physical safely, but her mother had always made her feel frightened and small. Her memories of her parent were fleeting, brief snatches of an almost impossibly beautiful woman, a statue with a hard, cruel smile who showed her no affection.
"To what to I owe this pleasure, daughter mine?" The voice was musical, like the strum of a harp, like water trickling gently from a fountain, and yet it made Elizabeth's blood run cold. She raised her eyes to her mother's face, squinting against the harsh, bright glare.
"Oh no need to tell me," the supreme deity snapped, the lyrical tone at once replaced with thunder. "I can see directly into your heart. You would dare to challenge me for the throne, you and that pathetic shadow who dogs your footsteps. Mael, you are a great disappointment to me. If you had not been so weak, you could have been my dear son. Yet here you are supporting this usurper." The supreme deity's eyes flashed, a crackle of power shooting through the room making every hair on Elizabeth's arms stand to attention. "Are you so blind with love you cannot see your own folly?"
Elizabeth expected Mael to respond, but he stayed silent at her side, his power flowing from him to surround her, protecting her from the gathering chill. Elizabeth swallowed, taking comfort from his support, knowing that he was giving her space to take the lead. "We have come here to discuss your treatment of the vampires," the goddess said with steady authority. "The slaughter of an entire clan is..."
"I am your queen!" The supreme deity rose from her seat, her long, flowing robes rustling around her. "What happens in this war is for me to determine."
"No." Elizabeth stood before her mother, her power tingling in her fingertips, her whole body ready for the attack. "They were our allies. Killing them all was wrong and it is not who our clan want to be."
"Do you dare to lecture me about my clan?" The light around the queen shone more brightly, the rays blinding as they bounced off the many large mirrors which hung on the walls. "You? A slut of a girl who threw yourself at a demon? Yes I know about your sordid affair," the supreme deity barked as Elizabeth's mouth fell open. "I have known all along. And if you think I will step aside for a disgusting little whore like you then you are entirely mistaken." Elizabeth swallowed hard, around the painful lump that had appeared in her throat as doubt crept under her skin, paralysing her.
Mael called, "You will not speak to Princess Elizabeth in that way!"
"Silence!" The queen rounded on the archangel, who Elizabeth was amazed to see stood his ground, his face set hard. Then all of a sudden the atmosphere relaxed, Elizabeth gaping as the queen gracefully shrugged her shoulders before returning to her throne, taking a seat with an indifferent air. "But come now children, let us end this unpleasantness. Even now I am prepared to forgive you both, to welcome you back into the fold. You are not to blame, my dear daughter, for that demon's advances. If you repent of your actions we can set this sordid business to one side."
Elizabeth breathed in the heavily perfumed air, the hypnotic tone of her mother's voice dulling her senses. Liquid warmth flooded her chest as she looked into the queen's smiling face, her white arms stretched out towards her, inviting her approach in a way she had so rarely seen. Elizabeth floated towards her as if in a dream, wanting to feel her mother's embrace, needing the promised forgiveness and love. The queen's smile broadened as she approached, her face relaxing as Elizabeth continued to move. "Do not worry, I will make that demon pay for his arrogance," the supreme deity said smugly as her daughter stepped closer. "He will regret the day he dared to touch you. I will make it so he wishes he had never been born."
The spell was broken. Elizabeth gasped, pushing the cosy comfort away. "No!" she shouted as she ground to a halt, almost tripping over her feet. "I won't let you hurt him."
"Now!" Mael yelled, and before Elizabeth could blink he had hurled himself at the supreme deity, flying towards her at impossible speed. The princess watched as two disks of light, their edges sharp and jagged, materialised in Mael's hands. The archangel hurled the missiles at her mother's head before drawing his winged sword, slashing it directly into the supreme deity's face. Quickly, Elizabeth sent her own power to follow the attack, a ball of Arc rushing behind them.
Of course, it was to no avail. The queen almost lazily swatted the attacks aside, a cruel smile that twisted her face just visible through her burning halo of light. The bright power grew, engulfing the whole room and Elizabeth shielded her face with one hand as she closed her eyes against the glare. Blinded and confused, she only just managed to jump out of the way as a wave of water washed towards her, a rush of wind ruffling her wings as she tasted salt on the air.
Mael was relentless. Even as the queen moved, he sent out his power in a continuous flurry of attacks as he soared through the air. But he was no more than a gnat against the supreme deity's great stature. Elizabeth held her breath as he dove and twirled, her stomach dropping as she followed suit, doing her best to land a blow. Her heart leapt into her mouth as Mael faltered, and the queen smacked him to the ground with an immaculate hand. Triumph rang in the bark of her laughter as Mael lay broken on the throne room floor, his wings crumpled beneath him and his hair spread out like silver threads.
Quickly Elizabeth flew to his side, pushing out her powers to heal his injuries. She watched as his limbs snapped back into place, gritting her teeth as they knit together with an audible crack. Finally, Mael opened his eyes and she breathed a sigh of relief as he grinned sheepishly up at her, before drawing himself into a sitting position.
This time the wave did hit them. Elizabeth found herself gasping for breath as she was knocked to the ground, every muscle in her body aching with the force of the impact. She could barely register the shiver and cold as the water quickly soaked through to her skin as she scrambled to try and gain the surface, her lungs screaming for oxygen as her limbs floundered. Her hand brushed against Mael's sleeve, the woven fabric scratching at her fingertips and she clung to him, doing her best to pull them both up and away, fighting against the continued onslaught as the tsunami kept rushing over them.
Somehow they made it up out of the mess, away from the rolling waves of the sea. Flying was difficult, her feathers soaked along with her clothes, weighing her down and knocking her off balance. Then suddenly she once more felt the warmth of the sun, her body seeming to glow as she basked in the heat, her wings moving more easily, small shards of salt falling to the ground as the water evaporated. Mael gently let go of her as she righted herself in the air, his heat retreating as they both prepared for another attack.
This time they had no chance to send out their power. Elizabeth found herself being thrown back through the room to land with a smack against the golden doors. Mael grunted in pain as he fell down beside her. This time the breath caught in her lungs as she look at him, his head bloodied and bruised from the impact, and once more she called her magic to the ready. His blotched, purpling bruise faded to skin as she healed him, his consciousness returning only just in time for them both to dodge a huge sheet of Arc that flashed through the space. The force shattered the mirrors that lined the walls so that splinters of glass tinkled around them. The once immaculate throne room was carnage, but amidst the wreckage her mother stood firm, her presence as graceful and unblemished as ever.
Elizabeth looked desperately out of the window, her eyes fixed on the position of the sun and her teeth clenched as she realised their mistake. She and Mael had moved too early: there was no way they could last through these attacks until noon.
As he looked at the clearing he had chosen in northern Britannia, Meliodas felt his misgivings plaguing him so sharply that he could feel his hands tremble. To take on all ten of his father's Commandments was no simple task, and he grit his teeth, wondering what the surge of power might do to his body. Still, he had little choice, even if absorbing the power left him twisted and mutilated. If he was to protect Elizabeth from his father's wrath, whatever might befall him was a risk he had to take.
Mind made up, Meliodas pulled the Commandments out into the open, the air seeming to still as the orbs floated before him. The colour seemed to be sucked from his surroundings, the verdant grass fading to grey, the bright sparkling blue of the lake turning to sludge. The cheerful hum of the insects dulled to a drone, and fragrant scent of wild garlic grew rancid in his nostrils. The power the Commandments held was malignant, darkness swirling erratically inside them like trapped flies. He swallowed hard, then muttered the words of the spell, the very light of the sun dimming as he gave voice to the words.
The orbs of might flew around him, surrounding him in a hissing circle, and a dark cocoon formed around him as they moved. Meliodas stood, arms resting by his sides, his face a mask of perfect indifference as the spell started to work, and he felt the magic begin to seep through to his soul. Electricity ran along his arms, flowing through his veins and causing he hairs on the back of his neck to stand to attention. It felt exhilarating, exciting, and his hearts beat wildly in his chest as he abandoned himself to the thrill. He could feel the potential growing within him. He would be a God. Immortal, invincible, a being to be worshiped and obeyed.
Just as the light of Britannia was shut off completely from his view, the darkness of the cocoon swallowing him whole, Meliodas suddenly twisted round, sensing the presence he had left behind in the throne room. He gasped, his eyes widening in fear as his father's aura bloomed, engulfing him, an unbearable pain clawing at his insides. "Elizabeth!" Meliodas screamed, panic gripping him tight as the deep rumble of the demon king's laugh echoed through his mind. "Elizabeth!" he yelled as the face of his father loomed before him, the dark eyes flashing with unmistakable triumph.