Author's notes: Hey guys, so sorry for the late update! Just wanted to make three points today.
First point: In the previous chapter, I mentioned that I have a long list of ideas I want to work on after completing this story and I made things harder for myself by coming up with two more new ideas 😩 I decided that I will be writing a Haikyuu Reader Oneshots book and an Oikawa x Reader story set in a Zombie Apocalypse! But like I said before, I will first have to finish the stories I am currently writing.
Second point: Next weekend, I will be away on a camping trip with my friends so I don't think I will be able to upload next Sunday. I will try to but if not, then the next chapter will most definitely be up the Thursday after when I come back from the trip.
Third point: Thank you so much you guys for over 100 votes! Makes me so happy to know that people out there are enjoying this story!
Enjoy this new chapter! ❤
"ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴄᴀʀʏ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ."
ꜱᴇᴇᴋᴇʀ
The Sin of Greed hasn't said a single word to me since we left our little spot underneath the tree. He's carrying me on his back right now, his large hands tightly secure around the back of my knees while my arms are wrapped around his neck, the bunch of white lilies still in my hands. My head is resting on Ban's back, my cheek pressed against his new outfit.
"Ban?" I call out softly since I can't take the silence anymore.
"Yeah?" comes the gruff response.
"Are you—" Upset? Disappointed? Angry? "Are you alright?"
"Me? I'm fine, shorty. Should be asking you that question."
"I feel...alright. I guess." My face buries itself deeper into his back.
After a few minutes, Ban says quietly, "(Y/n/n)?"
"Hmm?"
"You know Ave, don't you?"
"What?" I blurt out, hearts starting to beat very fast. "What d'you mean? I just met her—"
"No, you didn't," Ban cuts me off. "You've met her before, or you've seen her somewhere before. All I'm saying is that today was not the first time you've seen Ave."
"I—" I bite my lip shut. Lying to Ban would wreck me but at the same time, I don't want to keep him in the dark. Not anymore.
"You don't have to tell me now," he says gently. "Tell me later when you're ready. But you'll eventually have to spill the tea."
I chuckle softly. "Spill the tea, huh?" Honestly, Humans have such odd phrases and sayings.
"Yup," Ban says and then out of nowhere, he tips forward so I come falling to the ground. But before I reach it, he grabs me and then throws me high into the air and shocked screams immediately escape my lips.
"Ban!" I exclaim when I come back down into his snug arms.
"Aww, your scared face is just too cute," he comments slyly and before I can say anything to that, he throws me back up towards the blue skies again.
"You bastard, stop!" I shriek as I squeeze my legs together and place my hands on my butt so that no one can see my undergarments. That is the last thing I want. When I come back down, I try to punch the immortal but he dodges and then throws me into the air again but higher this time.
"I want your smiles," I hear Ban say. "I want your laughs, your tears, your insecurities, your love." This time when I find myself in his arms again, I stare at him with a dumbfounded expression from behind my white lilies. "I want everything, (Y/n). I want you."
And with that being said, something beautiful erupts within me as the Sin of Greed crashes his lips against mine and devours me whole.
***
All the mockeries, all the ridicules, and all the pain and suffering I have been through my entire life were worth it because I met the love of my life in the end. Keeping out people is what I've always been good at, but those walls I used to protect myself with started to crack when I found my eldest brother, and then they were reduced to pieces when I first spoke to the Sin of Greed. Everything about me has changed because of Ban, and I'm truly grateful for it.
"Get some sleep," Ban grumbles, his eyelids still shut, arm still protectively slung over my waist.
"Trying to," I grumble back as I slightly shift around on the bed. Ban grunts at this and seconds later, he's snoring again and those snores slowly lull me to sleep, just like they have been for the past few days.
My eyes snap open again but I'm greeted with a blank landscape instead of our room in my brother's tavern. Mist surrounds me completely and I can see nothing five feet ahead of me in any direction I face. Damn, I really hate these types of dreams. Anything could happen.
"Daughter," a dark voice fills my head.
No. No. No.
"Father," I choke as my eyes widen in panic.
"Well, look at you," he says with a hint of fondness. "You have become quite the warrior. Powerful, agile, vicious." Suddenly, everything around me darkens. "But you fight for the wrong side, my daughter."
"No, I don't," I say firmly as I slowly turn around in a circle, searching for my old man. "I will stand by Meliodas as signs of the next Holy War slowly reappear. No longer will I affiliate with those who disapprove of love."
"You speak his name," he states and I cannot tell whether he is surprised, or disappointed. "Nevertheless, I do not expect you to understand the decision I made more than 3,000 years ago."
"Then help me to understand," I instantly say. Hell below, where did that come from?
Now I know for sure that the Demon King is shocked with my new self when he takes a moment to answer. "Come home, (Y/n)."
"To a place full of lies and deceit?" I snarl, clenching my hands. "I think I'll pass."
"(Y/n), I have never lied to you and I am not planning to any time soon."
"Hmm, no lies, huh? Mind explaining to me then why you decided to hide the truth about Aldro being the first Demon King?"
My father lets out a soft sigh. "Would it have changed anything?"
My hands unclench and I place them on my hips. "Initially, no. But now that certain information has come to light, then yes."
"And what might that be?"
Trying not to growl out the answer, I say, "The ancient scythe has always picked the next Demon ruler from the same family line, which means I'm related to Aldro."
The ground beneath my feet rumbles as the Demon King asks fiercely, "Who told you this?"
"I remember," I lie smoothly. Damn, I've only gotten this good because of Ban. "I remember fragments about this. Why can't my brothers and I remember any of this?"
"(Y/n)." The voice is too close now. When I turn around to be met with a familiar dark figure, I let out a small squeak but hold my ground. "My reign is coming to an end."
I bark out a laugh and give my father a thumbs up with both my hands. "That's great!"
Sudden strong winds start to surround us, whirling around our feet. "My daughter, the ancient scythe has chosen you to be the next Demon ruler."
Choking, I hiss, "Me? If that's the case, I'm going to be a...horrible Queen. But what's the problem with that? Does the thought of your daughter becoming the next Demon ruler revolt you that much? Would you have preferred it if one of your sons had gotten the throne instead?"
"Oh, (Y/n)," my father murmurs weakly. "That is not the problem—"
"Then what is?" I snap.
"The ancient scythe did not just speak this but prophesied this, so this will most certainly happen. Not only will you become the Demon Queen, but you will also—"
"Bring an end to all wars," I interrupt.
"(Y/n), I will ask you one last time: who told you this?" my father's booming voice shakes the ground, rattling my teeth.
"I remember everything about the ancient scythe," I snarl darkly. "I know everything about you messing around with my head to make sure I don't remember any of this."
"I only did this because the ancient scythe first spoke not weeks ago, but more than 3,000 years ago."
This has me jerking my head back in shock. "What?" I splutter. So the ancient scythe has spoken before? How did Ave not hear or feel it? Or did she choose to hide this from me?
"And what it said, I could not risk it happening," my father says feebly.
"What did it say?" I ask impatiently. I'm tired of being kept in the shadows, of not knowing what is happening. Everyone always seems to think they know what's best for me, but what if I—
My father starts to speak again, "It said that the moment you become the Queen—" Lightning blazes above us and fierce raindrops come crashing down "—you will die."
Unable to stop myself, my mouth drops wide open. "What? That doesn't make any sense. Then how will I bring an end to all wars?"
"None of that matters," the Demon King insists. "You cannot die. I will not let that happen."
"If that's what's going to happen, then that's what's going to happen," I say steadily. "You cannot do anything to stop it."
"I can," my father says as cool water drips from my drenched hair. "And I will."
"And how're you planning to do that?" I question incredulously.
Lightning flashes reveal my father's entire figure before it goes dark again and his white eyes shining are the only thing I can see now.
But what the Demon King says next horrifies me, "I will wipe out all of your memories about this prophecy and the ancient scythe to ensure that you never become the Demon Queen."
"I won't let you do this," I spit out. "You have no right to mess around with such a strong prophecy, to mess around with my future!"
"I am the Demon King!" my father roars and the thunder accompanies his terrifying voice. "I will do whatever pleases me whenever I want, how ever I want. And right now, I do not want simple words from a scythe to dictate my only daughter's future."
He cannot do this. He cannot. "The moment I wake up—"
"Oh my daughter, when you wake up, you will not be able to speak about this."
My memories, he's planning to wipe away my memories again.
I snarl, "You won't be able to—"
"Wipe out your memories?" My father roars in laughter when he sees my lip twitch in astonishment. "Do you seriously think that I would not have figured it out? I know the first Demon Queen has tried to help you in gaining your memories and that she has told you that your mother put a mental shield to stop me from doing anything to your mind. But your mother was always so weak, so did you really think that her magic would protect you?"
Black mist spreads throughout my body and pulls me down to the ground, slowly taking over my mind. Screaming in frustration, I try to tug myself out but cannot. Please, anything but this.
Before the mist covers my mouth, I beg, "Father—"
"My dear daughter, once you wake up," the Demon King says as he raises a clawed finger to my forehead, "you will not remember any of this."