The Secret Sin

T h i r t e e n

Turns out, I should not have run off.
Somebody decided that giant plant things would be a great tool to use and started ripping the city to bits. That someone is fighting King, I think. The magical power I can sense is like King's, but it doesn't look like him.
King gets tossed around by the plant things, eventually he gets flung in my direction.

"King!"
I yell and jump for him. Thankfully I catch the little guy, and manage not to harm him further.

"Addie?"
King coughs out. I nod once in reply.

"What's going on? Why are you fighting those plant things?"
I ask, setting him on the ground. King tries to walk back towards the plants but I hold him back.

"Hang on, you're hurt. Just rest for a little bit, please?"
I ask him, knowing the response already.

"You have to let me go, I need to protect them!"
King begs me with a teary look. My face softens and I nod.

"I'll let you go, but please be careful. I expect to see you when this is over."
I smile at him and run off. King calls his thanks after me before running back where he came.
It was good to see him, even for such a brief time. I've really missed his mature playfulness.
Something familiar is nearby. It's not good familiar, it's bad familiar. I follow the feeling and come to a stairwell leading down. I follow the steps down and come face to face with a giant horn. The Horn of Cernunnos, holding the spirit of a once powerful Goddess. My, how the mighty have fallen. Sort of like me, but I regained my humanity and kept my physical form.

"I see you're still walking this world, daughter of darkness."
The stuck up voice of the Goddess sounds. I shrug my shoulders at the horn.

"Well, I've been careful. At least I still have a physical form, unlike you, you stuck up Saint."
I sass back at her. The musical sound of her laughter echoes around the stone room.

"I may be body less, but I am from the light. That is much more precious to me than a physical form."
She replies, with an infuriatingly calm voice. I growl at her calmness, I'm supposedly her worst enemy and she's teasing me.

"What brings you to me, daughter of darkness?"
The Goddess asks, disrupting my growling. I blink in confusion at her.

"What do you mean? I felt your presence and wanted to see you. I know Meliodas wants to destroy you, but I could present your remains to him after."
I answer slowly. The Goddess let's out another short musical laugh.

"He won't survive long enough to see my remains. As we speak, Ban the Undead seeks him out to end him. Your precious guard will be no more."
The Goddess laughs. I thought they were meant to be nice, but evidentially not.

"I don't believe you, Ban would never hurt-."
I deny but the rude Goddess interupts.

"A promise to bring a loved one back makes people do strange things."
The Goddess laughs, thinking she's a genius.

"You're a vindictive bitch, not even you or I could accomplish that. I hope you enjoy your remaining time in this world because you're going to be nothing but rubble after this little battle."
I threaten before sprinting from the underground room. I have to find Ban before he does something stupid. 
I run in a random direction, hoping that I come across either of them. I notice a commotion to my right and follow it. Thankfully I come across them both, and it looks like they're not fighting. Yet, they're not fighting yet.
Hawk and Arthur stand to the side in utter confusion. I'm too busy worrying about their impending fight, that I don't notice the ledge I'm heading straight to. Seconds later, I'm free falling towards the group.

"Meliodas! Ban! Arthur! Hawk!"
I yell at the group. All eyes turn to my quickly approaching form. Arthur's eyes widen as I head straight for him.

"Catch me!"
I scream as I careen into the red head. Arthur braces himself and wraps his arms around me to stop me. But my momentum knocks us both over.
After a few seconds, I sit up and cough slightly. That was a pretty big fall, thankfully no one was hurt. I try to stand, but my leg gives out and I fall right back down onto Arthur.
Speaking of Arthur... He's fine, but his face is a red as his hair from embarrassment.

"Hiya!"
I greet brightly. Before Arthur can reply, Ban interrupts.

"Addie? Why did you fall off the roof?"
He questions. Right, that's why I'm here.
I roll off Arthur and wait for him to stand.

"Bit of help, please?"
I ask, holding my hand up to him. With an eye roll, he pulls me up. With Arthur supporting me, I answer Ban.

"To stop you. She lied, it won't-"
I try to explain but Ban and Meliodas interrupt.

"You talked to a Goddess? Princess, that's dangerous."
Meliodas chastises at the same same time that Ban yells.

"You're wrong, she told me. If I kill him, Elaine will come back."
The way he looks as he says it, and the way he says it, makes my heart break. He sounds so broken and desperate. Ban isn't meant to be like that. He's meant to be arrogant and confident and drunk and happy, but not broken and desperate.
Kinda like Arthur should never frown, and Meliodas should never be serious.
Before I can answer, Meliodas speaks up.

"Okay, if it brings her back, you can kill me."
Meliodas offers, standing casually and undefended. I choke back a sob at the thought of his demise. Arthur holds me tighter, preventing me from throwing myself between the two.
They can't be serious. Ban wouldn't betray us for one little fairy, Meliodas wouldn't just die without a fight, and Arthur wouldn't possibly stop me from defending my comrades. It's not right.

A/N- sorry for the wait and the shortness of the chapter, but I've been busy with work and rowing. This is kinda like a filler chapter.