To Be A Prince of Hell

Chapter 5: Hagen

I do not own Taizai. Also VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END!!!! PLEASE READ!!!! There's a few somewhat gruesome scenes that are a bit...I wrote them and cringed a few times. So, you are forewarned. Also, amazing picture for this chapter. Whoever did this, I applaud them.

"Are you sure about this?" Meliodas demanded. Salem nodded. "Yes, my lord. I checked myself." Meliodas nodded. "Well done. I will pay a visit in an hour. Make sure the prisoner is ready to answer questions." "As you wish." Meliodas cut the telepathic link he had with the other demon and sighed, slumping in his chair. He sat in his private library, filling out reports for the small division of soldiers he commanded. As Heir to the Throne, it was expected of him to make a name for himself in the military before inheriting.

Despite being the eldest prince, Meliodas was determined not to allow his title to come into his military career. He started at the bottom, just like anyone else, and climbed through the ranks with determination and sheer ruthlessness. During training and on the battlefield, soldiers were under strict orders to refer to him as "Commander Meliodas". Any other time, they were to refer to him by his first title. It had taken a few mistakes (and a few beat-downs) before the soldiers got it through their thick skulls, but they all knew their places by now.

Meliodas stacked the papers together and put them in his desk, with a lock spell on it. Not that anybody would be stupid enough to steal them from the High Prince's own room, but it didn't hurt to be extra cautious. He left the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He activated his Ghostasu Form and Shadow Stepped to Salem's office at the Prison. The older demon started at the Prince's sudden arrival. "My lord," he greeted. "That was quick." Meliodas nodded. "Where's the prisoner?" Salem stood up from his desk. "I'll lead the way, if you please."

He led him into the part of the prison that held the traitors, once again. I'm spending way too much time in here, Meliodas thought sardonically. You'd think nobody would be stupid enough to betray my father after everything that has happened to those who dared to try it before. "Here we are, my lord," Salem said. Meliodas stood before the prisoner. He was strung up by his wrists with chains, which were the only things holding him up. It was one of the guards that had escaped during Galand's idiocy.

He grabbed the man by his grimy hair, which might've been brown was it not caked with blood and dirt. "What was in that scroll that Itzal gave you? Why was it going to Cadiz?!" The guard's blue eyes, too tired and in pain to hold his demon abilities, looked at him, unfocused. He looked on the verge of passing out. "Just...kill me...I've.....nothing to say." Meliodas sighed. "So, you're going to be difficult?" With no warning besides his soft tone, Meliodas plunged his hand into the demon's chest, snapping one of his ribs, and grabbing one of his hearts. The man gave a loud scream, his back arching and pulling on the chains encircling his wrists.

"I'm not going to kill you," Meliodas told him, his voice still dangerously soft. "I won't let you off that easily. You are going to tell me what was in that scroll and I," he squeezed the heart, just hard enough to cause incredible pain, but not enough to kill. The prisoner screamed again. "Will make sure you suffer before the end. Or I will hunt down your family and kill them one by one." The man's eyes flashed, showing some residual defiance. "You're as much of a monster as he is," he spat. There was no question who the "he" was. "Maybe I am," Meliodas agreed. "But I'm no traitor." He hissed that word with considerable venom.

The man smiled darkly. "Then you and I have differing priorities, Prince." Meliodas's eyes narrowed. He manifested his darkness and sent a small knife-like shard through his hand and into the man's heart. He screamed. "Take care how you address me, traitor," Meliodas warned. "I don't have any inclination to show mercy." With his right hand, he pushed the prisoner's head up. He started muttering an incantation under his breath that had the prisoner's eyes widening in terror. "No-!" "Soul Tear." The man screamed as the spell took hold.