Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Seven Deadly Sins: Zeldris x OC)

Chapter 8

    With a thud, Andrea's back collided with the ground, cushioned by hundreds of small clover leaves. She lay there, deeply breathing in the smell of sunshine and clovers, before opening her eyes.

    "It has been a while, Lady Andrea," Noir bleated, standing over Andrea's face with a teacup balanced on her head. "Would you care for refreshments?"

    "I'm sorry, Noir, but I don't have the time," Andrea apologized, sitting up. "Meliodas needs me to hurry up and master my power... and a little birdie told me that you and Blanco could be the keys to that."

    Noir remained silent, the teacup on her head fading away as she looked up into Andrea's eyes. "If my mistress so orders it, Blanco and myself will gladly assist in your endeavors. However, we cannot do it without something from you."

    "What do you need?" Andrea asked as Blanco popped into existence and trotted over to her, nudging her hand with his head with needy bleats.

    "All we need is for you to answer a few questions," Noir said as Andrea patted Blanco's head. She nodded, gesturing for Noir to go on. "If I may, Lady Andrea... Are you prepared to properly face your past?"

    Andrea's hand stilled as her face darkened. "...What do you mean by that?" she asked stiffly.

    "Three thousand years ago, you were spirited out of the demon realm right before it was sealed away within the Coffin of Eternal Darkness. For your one hundred and fifty years of life before that, you lived in relative peace with your adoptive father. You wanted for naught and was satisfied with your life, and with that, you never had a magical rampage. However, when you were cornered by those villagers, their faces twisted with fear and disgust, you suddenly blacked out. What do you suppose happened?"

    "...My magic rampaged," Andrea answered, her hands curling into fists.

    Noir nodded. "As you lived within that forest, you would black out every time you remembered those painful memories, despite your efforts to forget. What happened then?"

    "My magic rampaged," Andrea answered, standing up as Blanco scampered over to Noir's side.

    "When you traveled with Meliodas and learned the love of a family, your blackouts became more frequent. Each time that woman died-" Noir said before Andrea interrupted.

    "What's your point, Noir?!" she demanded, her teeth gritted together as her expression turned thunderous.

    "Each time she died, you would rampage without fail. Meliodas, who was already suffering from the pain of losing his loved one once again, had to go through the physical pain of holding you back until you came back to your senses. Why didn't you leave his side if you knew what was the cause of your rampages?" Noir continued, unfazed by Andrea's outburst.

    "I... I didn't want to leave him alone-" Andrea started before it was Noir's turn to interrupt her.

    "No, you were the one who didn't want to be alone. Your selfishness prevented you from doing what was best for both of you," she scolded, shaking her head.

    Andrea bit her bottom lip, knowing that Noir's words rang true. She relied on Meliodas too much, and that caused him to suffer even more. Despite that... "That's exactly why I want to get stronger. I want to help Meliodas this time and finally break the curse on him and Ellie. Then... we can finally live in peace as a family. If I'm selfish for wanting that, then I'll accept that sin," she said resolutely, staring Noir down. The black sheep stared, unblinking, back, then nodded.

    "In order to control your powers, you must first control your emotions. Chaos is a power that thrives on human emotions, and strong ones cause it to become violent. If you want to be able to use that devastating power instead of it using you, then prove your own power and self control. Rid yourself of all emotions if you so need to," she said, pawing at the ground.