A/N: Ok another update! (This time a little earlier than usual cause I just finished one of my longest-running stories). Also this story is steadily getting longer, I actually don't know how many chapters this thing could contain o.O
Silver - Well another thanks and no problem from me! Ok now to actually move onto responding. Wannabe Mom/Gerheade will definitely reappear. I actually have plans for Gloxinia and Drole for later on, but I won't spoil cause it'll ruin the flow. Then King with his daily past 'adventures'...your guesses are actually quite close. And Elaine is semi-dead! The Demons had to revive her as they knew she'd be a useful asset to get either King or Ban, but yeah that's why she can hear Melascula's voice.
Till next time,
D.L.D
Note: I kinda injured/fractured my little finger playing sports and now have it strapped to my ring finger. The story of how is actually really funny and kinda stupid (I was catching a ball and my finger ended up getting bent with the force XD). So now it's immobile for a few weeks...Clumsiness sucks TvT
Elizabeth's (normal P.O.V)
"After that I was found by King and rescued by the Sins," Elaine sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. She then sent me a smile. "I started here and settled in, eventually finding Lady Gerheade again, and everything's been ok ever since."
I sit there, eyes slightly widened and lip between my teeth.
Elaine's whole story had seemed like it weighed a lot, the past seeming to be something that influenced her even now. But that would make sense since her soul is no longer her own. It belonged to Melascula, one of the students who were known to avidly collect souls and bring back the dead. It was a hobby of the Demons, that had marked her as powerful among the race and therefore became a trademark. A dangerous trademark. Now it seemed that most owed their soul to Melascula and only a few were lucky enough to get them back.
However I shake my head of those thoughts and instead focus on what I had gathered from Elaine's story. Of what could help me. From what I could comprehend, the fairy had trusted Ban with the fountain as she knew that he'd be the only person there who could look after it if she couldn't. In fact Elaine had insisted that he took it instead of her. Willing to die there and then just to make sure the fountain was safe.
But why?
"How did you know that you could trust Ban with the fountain?" I find myself asking before thinking, the words tumbling out. I blush at my forwardness, just about stopping my hands from covering my mouth out of shock.
Elaine laughed at this, a spark of amusement in her eyes.
"Because I know that he would do it right for me," She shot me a smile, warm and welcoming. A small blush formed across her features as she seemed to recall something distant, most likely those seven days when she first met Ban. "Ban's always been by my side, even when I thought he wasn't, and so he's never broken a promise. Even now he's working to get my soul back from Melascula and it's been a few years since I first came here."
I nod at this, beginning to understand how her trust for the Fox Sin had been forged through him always remaining by her side. Through their undying loyalty for each other. But how could I know that I had that same loyalty with Meliodas? Or even know if it was right to base trust off something like loyalty? They were two completely different virtues after all; not to mention someone could be loyal but not trustworthy. There was no way of knowing if you could trust someone over something like that.
"You're overthinking it Liz," Elaine gave a mock tut, before she laughed. The sound was warm and musical, calming after the stormy evening I've had. A nice way to end it really.
Elaine then grinned at me, the warm blush on her cheeks dying as she shook her head at me. From that look alone I could tell that she knew I was overthinking it all and was overlooking what was right in front of me. The thing that would help me to decide more than anything else. A thing that was so simple and yet invisible to me, and me alone.
"Trust me Liz, if you love someone it's worth taking the leap of faith," She looked at me, her gaze clear and sincere as she placed a hand on my shoulder. She then winked, nudging me. "Sometimes they'll surprise you."
With that the fairy left my side, deciding to clear up the long discarded cake plates. Once she had stacked them, Elaine disappeared into the dorm kitchen, leaving me alone in the living room.
I sighed at this, my bottom lip finding its way between my teeth once again. Worrying my lip, I take in Elaine's words, seeming to know but still not comprehend how it could help me with my dilemma. So many of the things she said depended on the situation. On how it could be applied to the person and their struggle. Plus love was a strong word to put into use. I wasn't entirely sure of what it could mean. Of how I could apply that to someone.
I know that it would mean you would do anything for that one person. That you would feel terrible leaving then behind or seeing them hurt, but you would go through that pain if it was better for them. That you'd most likely die in their place and mourn if they they were gone. But love was so contradictory, always disagreeing with its own meaning or having a double meaning. It can never just be simple and easy to comprehend. In fact it seemed that love always came attached with pain and issues.
After all, even the happiest of couples have their rainy days.
But what did love mean to me? To my situation. Why would Elaine bring up love of all things? She must've had a reason to.
I frown continuing to go over that one thought until Elaine comes back in. She wears a smile and doesn't seem to notice or mention that I was now questioning love. In fact she brings up a completely different topic and asks about what happened to my wings as well as if I'd always had wings. That question then triggers a whole different storm of thoughts and I find myself crying for the rest of the night, the events of the day finally catching up and tiring me out.
"I'll join you."
All of the members seem shocked as I slam my hand onto the desk, announcing that I was joining their club. A club that I was so certain I'd stay clear of from my first day. But now I was right in the middle of it, openly walking in to accept their formal invitation. To become one of the people I left years ago.
"Are you sure about this Elizabeth?" Ludociel raised a brow, seeming skeptical as he studied me. Sharp, narrow eyes scanned over my form, a grimace on his face as he looked at me.
I will admit that I was looking a bit shaken this morning, my eyes having dark rings and wings being in a cast. I had fallen asleep after crying and woke up to find myself in Elaine's dorm, causing me to rush to get ready for school. As a result I looked disheveled and perhaps tired, but I knew what I was thinking. I knew what I was agreeing to.
And I was welcoming it head on.
"How do we know you're not joining to spy?" Jelamet narrowed her gaze at me, examining my uniform and messily tied hair.
I frown at this, appalled that she would even believe I'd do such a thing. Something as low and shady as spying. After all I'm not the kind of person to be dishonest or even remotely misleading. I made that clear to everyone who met me and people often trusted me for that reason. Plus why would I put myself in the middle of danger, against the Ten Commandments of all people, just to spy on the Deity Society? That was the equivalent of making a death wish in this school. Something that I wasn't in the mood to do right now with so many targets on my back.
However I was known to associate with the Sins and their side on this wasn't entirely clear. No-one really knows what they belong to, or if they're really involved, and so Ludociel is right to be suspicious. I could be working for them, and they could be working for the Demons. I could be the tool to them being brought down. But he should know that I wouldn't do that, I had supported Ludociel all the way until he had crossed the line. A line that cannot be stepped over once more. However I'm offended either way he words it.
"I won't," I answer honestly. I place my hand over my heart for emphasis. "I'm just tired of fighting between sides. I think it's best if I just...remain with what I know best."
As much as it hurt to admit those words, I knew that it was true. That I had felt that way for a while now. Of just giving up and going back to being Celestial Prep Elizabeth. Of just giving up and going to live within the sheltered walls of my mother's school and perhaps even trying to forget about all that has happened these past five years. To just forget about meeting Meliodas, the Sins and everyone else who have helped me to see a better side of life. To just reset and become innocent and naive Elizabeth, the daughter of the Supreme Deity and protester of peace between the Demon and Goddess schools.
I'd only drag everyone else down with me after all. Plus I'd be protecting them this way.
"Well, I guess we can arrange for you to be a member," Ludociel cleared his throat, before nodding to Nerobasta. The female then sighed, rolling her eyes as she reluctantly began to fill out some paperwork. Paperwork to most likely have me down as an official member in the school system. Most likely to shove it in the faces of the Demons - or maybe even the Druids. Jenna and Zaneri did say that they didn't choose a side and had expressed for me not to.
But now I've chosen.
"Glad to have you back Elizabeth," Sariel shot me a smile, breaking my thoughts.
"Yes, we were missing your input," Tarmiel agreed, though I knew they were only being polite.
Those two were just the yes-men of whatever side seemed to be winning, or had what the best advantage for them. I remember that they were on my side once, saying that perhaps it would be right to join with the Demons, but now they were back with Ludociel. Back to being his loyal lapdogs. The only real Archangel I had gotten along with in the past was Mael, but he had gone missing and never turned up again. In fact no-one knows where he had gone and many had theorised that he was kicked out. But I don't believe that as Ludociel would have left with his brother.
Ludociel himself had said that the Demons had taken him. Brainwashed him. It was something he always said was the root of his hatred for the schools and its students. That they had taken his brother away from him and wasted his life. But that hadn't been proven true either.
"You should've just stayed with the demon," Jelamet scowled as she looked at me, something perhaps equivalent to disgust on her features. "I know you're not ready to betray him."
I look down at this, deciding to let my hair cover my features instead of look at her. It was true, I hadn't thought about the possibility of when I'd ever come face to face with Meliodas and the Sins. In fact I hadn't thought that far ahead. Avoiding them had seemed like a pretty good idea in my tired morning brain, but Jelamet mentioning it had just reminded me that that wouldn't work. In fact they'd probably keep asking me why I was avoiding them until I'd spill it out. Then trouble would follow.
"I guess people never change," Jelamet snorted before exiting the classroom. "Call me if we're actually involving her in the plan."
She was no doubt annoyed that I had been accepted so easily. Trusted even. But I didn't understand why. I thought Jelamet would be happy to see me again, maybe even glad. We were great friends at a point, and were extremely close, but after I met Meliodas she just changed. She told me that I should get my head out of the clouds and wake up to reality. That Demons and Goddesses couldn't co-exist. It was either darkness or light - no in between.
Ever since then she's been like this. Cold as ice and tough as stone. Impossible to reason with.
"Excuse Jelamet," Ludociel sighed as he looked at the open door. "She's had quite a temper since coming here."
"Yes but that is most likely because - "
Ludociel had sent a look towards Tarmiel, most likely warning him against mentioning why Jelamet didn't particularly like me. But I didn't really care if he did or didn't, after all I already knew the truth. There was no point sheltering me from it. Even if it did sting.
"There's no need for Elizabeth to know about that, Tarmiel," Ludociel put on a simple tone, a form of pity for me in his voice. He then turned to Nerobasta who passed him a map and then disappeared with the paperwork. "Now we have a plan to go over."
I looked at the table, spotting the plan that had been so intricately crafted by the club. All sorts of building maps, routines and even security measures had been included. However this wasn't what caught my eye. No, it wasn't that. It was the title of the whole operation, of the whole plan that they had decided to include me in. A plan that I found myself appalled and dismayed at.
"Is that...?" I trailed off as I looked at all the others in the room, all sharing the same somber expressions to my shocked one.
Nerobasta was the one to answer me, a calm hand placed onto my shoulder. A soft smile was on her features as she most likely took my horror for misunderstanding. Or maybe she knew and was just reassuring me that it was very real. That I had to act as if I agreed with this as I was now a member of the Deity Society. A supporter of their cause. That they found it acceptable to be so cruel and terrible to Demons and even more so to the other races by using subtlety.
"It's a plan to eradicate all Demon schools," Ludociel nodded, confirming my own assumption. "The Celestial schools will be on top then. And as a member you will be involved in it Elizabeth. Or will you prefer for us to make sure you won't say a word of it to anyone?"
I gulped at this, pure fear and terror within my eyes.
I had always known that the Goddesses had a hatred towards the Demons. That they had wanted their schools gone. But I had never believed them to be capable of this, let alone roping me in and then threatening to silence me. I should've just listened to Jenna and Zaneri. To Meliodas and the Sins. Because clearly I don't know the Goddesses as well as I thought I did.
I don't know anything as well as I thought I did.
"I have to tell him about it," I breathe as I run along the hall, "I have to warn him..."
I had managed to escape the Deity Society by saying that I had to go to the nurse's office to get my wings checked and healed. Since I was an 'important asset to the school', I was one of the few students who were given the privilege of healing sessions to speed up the recovery of my wings. That being said I wouldn't have to wait the whole six, or maybe eight, weeks for my wings to heal. Instead it could be as little as a week or a few days.
But I wasn't heading there. Not yet. I had to warn Meliodas and the Sins about what I had just discovered. About what I had just unknowingly signed up for, before it was too late and another school feud began. With people that were fully capable of pulling something like that off, I needed to act fast. So fast that they couldn't catch me. After all they were capable of silencing me. Of causing me to not to breathe a word of their terrible plot to anyone. And so I had to do it before they could act and force me to be silent.
However finding Meliodas was harder than usual today. In fact I would've bumped into him by now, or he would have found me. But today I saw no trace of him, only bumping into Holy Knights and nameless faces. People that I barely knew and yet saw each day. People that would get involved on this incoming school feud and they all seemed to match the atmosphere.
Many were huddled in groups, whispering and gossiping to one another in hushed voices. I caught many of them giving glances and stares to my bandaged wings and reddened face as I made my way through the school. Pointing out that I was different from usual today. A lot more different. However the students seemed to be talking about the same things, all of them talking about choosing sides and rumors spread about the Goddesses and Demons. Some even spoke about how I must be connected to it as I had wings that I didn't have a week ago. Wings that were suddenly injured 'by a Demon no doubt' and because it was because I was a Goddess and therefore an enemy.
These things had only succeeded in making me feel worse, the words swimming in my mind as I saw it all happening again. The days when I had helped to form Stigma to stop the feud and only succeeded in getting myself kicked out and the feud sparking up again. I could already see the students all dividing over sides. All of them readying to ruin one side, not knowing that neither the Goddesses or Demons valued their races that much.
In fact they were all seen as insects and scum among both races.
"Elizabeth!"
I stopped as I heard Arthur's voice, a person who I hadn't seen much of recently. In fact he wasn't in school often, mainly because of his duties to Camelot I believe. He was the king of that kingdom after all, since his father had passed. But Arthur never spoke of why he went missing often. In fact it was something that was just left open.
I turned to face him, curious as to why he called me out when I was clearly in a hurry. Arthur seemed to sense that as he ran up to me, a look of concern on his face.
"Have you heard the rumours?" He asked, brow raised as he subtly gestured to the students around us. "Merlin says they're getting out of hand."
That was stating the obvious. The tension between students was already tangible and it had only been a day. Plus if the whole school was abuzz with this whole Demons vs Goddess thing, it had to be getting out of hand. Even normal rumours spread at a smaller rate than this. This one was like a viral post on social media. It was like within a second, the school was aflame with this oh so exciting and interesting news.
News that was more dangerous than anyone could imagine.
"Well, they definitely are," I agree with Merlin's words, my voice low and solemn as I can already see what was happening. I then turn to Arthur, "Are you going to get involved?"
He seemed caught off guard by this, genuine shock and surprise spreading his features as he blinked at me. He then smiled sheepishly, a hand going to scratch the back of his head.
"No, I don't think I will," He chuckled slightly as he glanced at the crowd. Purple eyes scanned the crowd as he seemed to evaluate the situation. "Back in Camelot these things aren't too common, but it seems in Liones war is everywhere."
I know I should laugh or make a remark about this. Perhaps even just to lighten the already bleak mood of the day and note that this place was always having some sort of drama, but I couldn't find it within me to do that. Not when everything was so real and dangerous. So unpredictable. It wasn't another one of those high school blunders anymore. This was way more serious and way more dangerous. A lot more real.
"It's closer than you think," I say as I decide that I have to go and find Meliodas before break ends. My next lesson was one where most of the Deity Society could watch me and by then it'd probably be too late to warn Meliodas without getting caught. I had to do it now before there was a higher chance of failing. "Anyway I have to go Arthur. Make sure not to accept any prepositions from the Demons or Goddesses! It's a trap!"
I then continue my way down the corridor, leaving a confused Arthur as my mind focused on finding Meliodas before it was too late.
Meliodas' P.O.V
"Another meeting Zeldris?" I chuckle slightly as I tuck my hands into my pockets. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you're trying to see me more often."
My brother scowled at that, rolling his eyes as he remained rigid and still. Estarossa stood beside him, not quite glancing my way as he leaned against a wall. A clear sign that he didn't exactly want to be here, especially after last night's events, but like me he had been dragged here by Zeldris. And of course he was talking about coming back to the Demon Schools yet again. Something that was beginning to get old really fast.
"Look you can't keep playing this game, Meliodas," Zeldris sighed, seeming more bored of the words than my defiance. "Father's serious about you coming back and if you keep rejecting his offers, you do know that he'll make it hard for you to lead a successful life."
A successful life. A life often defined by the leaders of all schools as a life with a top paying job and all the money you could want. Screw being happy and actually having the life you want, getting paid and spending all that cash is way better than that. Way more fulfilling. That's what I'd been forced to believe growing up with my father. All of his sons had to. Day in day out, it was more or less a family guideline. But after meeting Elizabeth and finding out that life wasn't all about getting to the top and not feeling any happiness, I found out that I didn't want that.
I wanted a life filled with meaning more than money. Something that I try to iterate every time Zeldris brings this up. But as always he ignores it and keeps pressing.
"I've told you I'm not that bothered by that," I answer simply, shrugging. "You can tell father that too for all I care."
This brought a laugh from Estarossa and a deeper frown from Zeldris. Clearly showing that it had already been attempted and they both insisted on ditching me. But of course father was set on his oldest son being the next head. Something he believed greatly in and wouldn't just throw away. 'It's been a dream of mine' he always used to say when he was in one of his better moods.
"Trust me, we've tried," The words came icily from Zeldris. Strained. Makes sense since he seemed like he was trying to contain his frustration as he stood there in front of me. Frustration I don't really blame him for since I did cause him a lot of unhappiness.
"The old man wants you to come back," Estarossa laughed, a grin on his face. "You're meant to be the next head and he thinks that you're over that whole Goddess-loving phase."
A glare sent in his direction and Estarossa shuts up, staying out of the conversation as I look back at Zeldris. Of course Estarossa's the one to make that comment, especially after what he'd done. Something that I still had to come up for a resolve for. Not to mention keeping Elizabeth safely away from him. But that's gonna be difficult as she's been acting off lately. Way too off.
"As I was saying," Zeldris growled, directing a look at Estarossa. "This is your last chance to join us. I'm sure you'd reconsider if we place in certain factors after all."
I nearly scoff at that, but hold it back knowing that there was still a chance that they have something on me. The past few years haven't exactly been the easiest and there are some things that they could have discovered. Plus I wasn't entirely innocent. I had my fair share of dark secrets and mistakes and not all of them were covered well.
"Like what?" I try to play it off, rocking on my heels as I scan them both. "I know you don't have anything on me."
To that they share a smirk, the first in sync thing they've done all day. Funny since they seem to be in completely different moods, but clearly not good for me. They wouldn't look so smug unless they'd caught me off guard - or had the upper hand.
"We know you're behind Danafor," Zeldris answered breezily, his smile a little too easy. "And we congratulate you for that. After all we expect nothing less of our brother."
"Yes, using Elizabeth to spy was a great idea," Estarossa chimed in, his eyes seeming to meet something behind me, "Though it's a shame you began to lie to yourself about it."
"A real shame," Zeldris agreed, before smiling slightly. "But's that's all amended since you've decided to join us again, right brother?"
I look at them, brow raised in confusion. Why are they suddenly congratulating me? No wait, why are they openly singing praises to my name when they were close to telling me about forgetting the offer and declaring war? Something I knew that was building up between the students and that I would remain neutral in. No matter what happened. I was past all that and more or less over beating myself up about wanting to us Elizabeth as a spy at first. In fact I had forgotten about my original intention when I first met her.
I had forgotten about most of my mistakes and left them in the past, only taking what I'd learned from them. So why were Zeldris and Estarossa bringing that up now?
Unless...
"Meliodas?"
I look behind me and meet her eyes. Her pained blue eyes. They seem wrong on Elizabeth, contrasting with her gentle nature and innocent ways. A look that I wish I could just wipe off her face, but I know I'm the cause of it. That makes it worse.
However it's quickly replaced with betrayal, anger. A look that's rarely on her face unless someone has screwed up royally. And of course it was directed at me.
Fuck.
