Ruthless

A New Friend

Meliodas leaned against the window ledge and stared out the window. He watched the black mass inch towards the fortress. They were slow, but that was alright. The army would take at least another half hour to arrive, and then the fight would begin.

He glanced behind him. Elizabeth was busy grabbing clothes and things. She was stuffing them into a large case. Gelda was sitting on the bed, arms cradled around her belly. Zeldris was pacing, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

"But, how? How did they find out? I mean, I haven't left the fortress in months!" Gelda exclaimed shakily. Her fingers tightened on the smooth silk of her night gown. "I, I just don't understand..."

Zeldris added angrily, "Neither do I, but I do know that whoever's responsible will not have a head for very long."

Gelda bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. "I don't get it... What do they want our baby for? They aren't even born, for god's sake!" She wiped her eyes and stood up. She walked over to Zeldris and grabbed his hand. She continued quietly, "What could our baby possibly do?"

Zeldris shook his head, "I don't know."

Meliodas gripped the ledge so tightly his knuckles turned white. "But I do know one thing," He stated.

"And what is that?" Zeldris asked coldly.

Meliodas straightened and spun round to face them all. His bangs covered his eyes and he clenched his fists. "What I know is this: No one will fuck up this family any more, not if I can help it."

"Thank you," Gelda replied gratefully.

But Zeldris narrowed his eyes. "Spill," he demanded sharply, "what's happened?"

Meliodas blew out a breath. "Lia, she got ambushed by the army scouts earlier today."

Gelda gasped and Zeldris took a sharp intake of breath. She sat down on the bed, fearing the worst.

Zeldris gripped his hilt even tighter. "Is she-"

"In the infirmary, completely overwhelmed. They almost killed her, they-" Meliodas cut himself off. He glanced out the window and cursed.

"What did they do?" Zeldris demanded again, his heart heavy.

"They cut out five of her hearts, Zeldris," Elizabeth informed him gently.

Zeldris seemed to run out of breath. He collapsed into the bed. Gelda squeezed his arm reassuringly, and he put his head in his hands.

"Fuck, fuck, shit, fuck, fuck," He whispered.

Elizabeth said quickly, "She's alright for now, but Estarossa is pissed off."

"Yeah, no shit," Zeldris snapped dryly. He stood up. "Alright, who's coming to beat the living hell out of some demons with me?"

"Me," Meliodas agreed.

"I will," Elizabeth added.

Gelda picked up her case with her things inside. "Where am I going again, Elizabeth?" Gelda asked her.

Elizabeth paused the pulling on of a dress with space for her wings. "Sapphira will accompany you to this cottage on the northwest coast, the furthest away possible from enemy territory," she replied quickly and continued dressing.

"Someone called my name?"

Sapphira appeared in through the window, nearly kicking Meliodas in the face in the process. She was dressed in leggings and a blue vest top that matched her bright blue hair. It wasn't very good for protection, but then again, dragons have built in armour.