Dragon of Wrath

Chapter 13: Nightmares of the Past

I do not own Taizai.

"Meliodas!" A girl screamed. I stood there, in a blood-soaked throne room, unable to move. Why am I here? I wondered, bewildered. I wasn't here when it happened. So how...how can I be dreaming about it? "Meliodas!" She screamed again. Her blonde hair was burnt and dyed red with her own blood. White wings fluttered around her, causing her beautiful face to scrunch up in pain and terror. "Meliodas! Please help me!" She begged. I tried to move, to save her, but I couldn't. I could only watch as she lay dying. Tears, so rare, flowed down my cheeks. My hearts hurt so much I had to wonder if it wasn't mine those cruel wings were stabbing. But they weren't. It was her's.

Finally, there was a bright light and she was gone. I fell to my knees, soaking my armor in her blood. I couldn't save her. I failed, again. Why could I never protect those I cared about? "Meliodas." It was her voice. But I couldn't see her. "It's your fault. You should've listened to me! You should've stayed! Now I'm DEAD and it's YOUR FAULT!!" She screamed. I bent over, my forehead on the floor, hands over my ears. But it didn't stop the accusations from coming. "You killed all of us! Through your negligence, all of us are dead! Why are you still alive!? I HATE YOU!!!"

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I woke up, screaming. Gelda jerked next to me, bolting up from the bed. "Meliodas?!" She exclaimed, but I wasn't listening. I had stopped screaming, but I couldn't stop the choked feeling in my throat, as my breathing came faster and faster. "Meliodas, calm yourself!" Gelda demanded. "What's going on?" Kil asked, popping in through the window. "I don't know," Gelda told him. "He woke up screaming and now he's hyperventilating."

Kil flew up to look me in the eyes. Meliodas! He said telepathically. Calm down. I could feel him searching my thoughts, finding out what caused this. I was too busy trying to control my breathing to stop him. HahahahahahahahahahahaHAHAHA... Kil flinched when he found my nightmare and wrapped himself around my shoulders, tail squeezing my arm, his way of hugging me. He radiated warmth and projected a sense of peace into my mind. I slowly got my breathing under control.

"Meliodas," Gelda murmured worriedly. I looked at her and cursed, feeling the others' shock. I knew it was only a matter of time before they started running up here, trying to find out what had happened. "Smack me," I huffed, out of breath from my previous panic. "What?" Gelda asked, shocked. "Do it!" I snapped breathlessly. Elizabeth and Diane were already unfrozen and coming this way. They'd be here in just a few seconds.

Thankfully, Gelda didn't argue any more. She pulled her hand back and smacked me clear across the face just as the door to my room opened.

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One minute, I was sleeping soundly in my and Diane's bedroom. The next, I was woken up by a bloodchilling scream. The scream was full of grief and anguish, like someone had just lost everything that made their life worth living. But that wasn't what froze my blood in my veins. No, it was because I recognized the voice. Sir Meliodas!

I jumped from the bed and raced over to the door, ignoring the fact I was only in my nightgown and Diane's confused "Elizabeth?! What was that?!" behind me. I flung the door open and ran out into the hall and down the stairs to Sir Meliodas's room. Everyone, besides Lady Gelda and Kilgarrah, met me there, Diane right behind me. I got to the door before anyone else and yanked it open, too worried to even think about knocking.

Right as I opened it, a loud smack rung through the air. I stood in the doorway, the others crowding around me, shocked. Lady Gelda had just slapped Sir Meliodas. I numbly took in the fact that they were in bed together, though Sir Meliodas had on his normal shirt and shorts, while Lady Gelda was wearing a nightgown. Sir Meliodas left cheek had a bright red handprint on it. Lady Gelda looked upset.