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Chapter 5 - Memories Of The Past Part 4

As I flew through the air, constant bursts of air pressure exploded out far and wide. I broke several wind barriers as the resounding miniature explosions scared the demonic wildlife. All the while, I sported an extremely dark look as I began to sense the souls of demons. When I was a thousand meters away from the village, I narrowed my eyes. That's when I saw them being burned alive by the holy light of the angels and their Arks. I watched on as I saw their faces of agony. Demons of all ages were being killed; the men, the women, and the children.

My eyes began to glow an eerie red as I watched on as the innocents of our kingdom were slaughtered. My facade began to fade as pitch-black chains snaked their way off of me, each one emitting a blazing heat. I used my transformation magic to transform my form to that of pitch-black armor; draconic in appearance. Two twisted horns sprouted from both sides, a reptilian tail sprouted from my tailbone, and cuffs made of darkness coated my arms and ankles. I took on a persona using my inherent ability so that no one would even think I would be telling a lie.

Two black draconic wings flapped in the blackened night, as the eye holes on the helm only showed a blazing red as flames seeped out. Using a combination of fire magic, darkness, and transformation magic, I created a persona for massacring angels; one I had used before.

I was never the most creative in naming personas due to the simple fact they were meant to be disposed of when necessary. This form was known as Black Heart, a demon behind the massacre of thousands of angels. A demon none would ever connect to the weak prince.

Just as the demon king and prince agreed upon, if demons defected or were tortured for information, then they would find out about me, the secret weapon. Of course, only the ten commandments and my teacher know some of my true capabilities. I have never shown my true power to anyone but my father. At his request, he forbade me from ever using my full power unless necessary. 

My chains began to wrap around the angels, setting them ablaze. Their cries of pain falling upon deaf ears; their cries for mercy or forgiveness died in the screams. I had felt no sense of remorse or regret for the angels. They called us monsters, fiends and saw us as nothing more than something that needed to be cleansed to gain salvation. I felt no remorse; they deserved every ounce of pain they will receive until their last moments.

Then I made the black flaming chains flare up, getting the very last screams of agony out of the angels before reducing them to nothing but ash.

The citizens cried out in joy as they saw their savior appear. 

I quickly flew off to the next village, and once I finished, I moved on to the next. I only had to use my chains against such weaklings. It was always the same, slaughtering the angels and protecting the villages on the outskirts. And as usual, I got it done at an unbelievable rate; casually massacring each group of Angels was just like crushing insects beneath your boot. To put it simply, it was quick and easy.

And then I finally arrived at my father's throne room, landing straight before him, my wings slowly disappearing, and so did everything else I did to become Black heart. My fire magic flickered out as the chains of darkness disappeared, finally, my transformation magic faded away. I looked upon my father with my crimson eyes.

I reported to him about everything that occurred. All went according to his plan. Everything was done efficiently as well as quickly.

"I have dealt with the Angels, and I have not revealed anything to the enemy nor our people."

The demon king looked at me for a second, staring at my unwavering gaze. He then nodded.

"You have met all my expectations as usual Vessalius, as I have said, you may spend the rest of the day with Derieri, and, Vessalius, if you keep proving your loyalty, You may just be rewarded. You're dismissed, Vessalius. Enjoy your time with Derieri, for it seems the Ten Commandments may be busy within the next few years."

I nodded in understanding, knowing what he meant immediately. It seems like the tensions are rising, and war may begin soon.

And then I was dismissed to go with Derieri. Finally, I could spend more time with her.

I began to walk out, and there I saw Derieri waiting. She smiled, seeing me back already.

"Are you ready to go to the lake?"

"Of course I am, Derieri. I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long." 

I spoke out as my eyes slowly turned back to blue, my smile returning as I saw the one I liked. The one who brightened my once dull life, the one who made my life not mundane. Derieri has done so much more than this, and that is why I do what I do. All so I can spend time with her. Ever since the day we met, we just connected. It was so surreal, and that was why I asked her if there was anyone she liked; I truly hope it was me.

We continued our walk outside the castle until we both created wings of darkness to get there at a decent time.

We then began to talk again as we always do.

"So how strong are you anyways, if the demon king has kept the fact that you are strong a secret from nearly everyone for so long?"

"Sorry, Derieri, I can't tell you yet, but I can say I can fight Mael. That's all I can say about my strength."

"Wow, you're that strong. It makes sense why the demon king has you as a secret weapon."

We began to speed up even faster. We were mere seconds away from there. As I began to speak, we were already starting to land.

'Hopefully, Derieri tells me who she likes; and that it is me. It would simply be perfect.'

"Of course, my father doesn't make decisions for no reason at all."

Derieri and I began to sit down on the shoreline next to a stack of stones we made at the end of our time here last time.

"So, what do you think about the rising tensions, Derieri?"

"It seems like the Angel's are beginning to become bolder with their attacks as if a war will be happening soon."

I nodded in agreement as Derieri told me what she thought.

"Exactly what I was thinking. It seems like something might be happening behind the scenes. If anything happens, I'll be there with you to make sure you're safe."

The last part caused her to smile in happiness.

"Of course you will, Vessalius. I'm sure the Demon king would have you help the other nine commandments and I ."

"Yeah... me too. Derieri, about what I asked earlier today about who you like, I'm quite curious about it."

Derieri had a light pink tint to her cheeks, and she looked somewhat nervous.

"Well... I do like someone, but I would like to hear who you like first."

"Me? Well, I-I..."

My nervousness seeped to the surface. I wasn't the best with emotions, I didn't notice it, but my eyes were flickering from red to blue over and over again. A slight blush was even on my cheeks. I  had an expression of surprise on my face. For the first time in nearly fifty years, I was completely caught off guard. I never thought I might have to tell her first who I liked.

Discouraging thoughts, like what if she didn't feel the same way, what if she hates me for it, what if she makes fun of me like everyone else, began to surface. I pushed them down, clearing all of these doubts. I hated being so emotional at times, but I had to push through these feelings.

'I refuse to be a bumbling fool, and I especially refuse to act like some nervous child. If she doesn't like me, I'll deal with it. If she hates me for it or holds it against me, she never cared in the first place.'

My gaze became unwavering, my face was filled with courage, the flickering stopped, and my eyes became crimson. 

"Derieri, I like you. I have liked you for years now. After spending all this time together, I saw how amazing you were and how much I like everything about you.

I like your determination to get stronger. I like how much you care for your sister. I like how sweet you are. I like how I can spend time talking with you for hours on some days. I like how the sun shines on your beautiful orange hair that seems to be like an undying flame. I like the fact that I could just get lost in your black eyes. I could keep staring into them, and I would never find the bottom of the abyss within, and most of all, I like how your smile brightens my day like how the sun brightens up the sky."

Derieri was stunned as I let out how I truly felt, like a dam breaking.

The sound of demonic birds chirped as I spoke out.

"To put it simply, I just like you for you, I like everything about you, and I would completely understand if you didn't like me. I asked you who you liked because I was curious, curious if you liked me back; I truly wanted to know if you felt the same way."

I said this all as I looked her straight in the eyes.

She stared right back at me and finally responded.

"Honestly, I'm not the best at confessing that I like someone; this is kind of my first time doing it ever. So I was pretty nervous that you didn't like me, Vessalius; I do like you."

"I like how you're always looking out for me even when you think I don't notice. I like how compassionate you are. I like how strong your conviction is to the citizens of the demon kingdom. Right down to your determination to become more knowledgeable as well as getting stronger to protect everyone."

"I like how your eyes glow and how they flicker when you're nervous. I like how your smile fills me with happiness. It would be great to be with you."

"Will you...."

Suddenly the world around me began to fade away like always every damn time. As soon as I get to the happiest part of my life, the seal always serves to take away the sealed one's happiness. I wasn't sealed with the rest of my race; no, I was sealed on the outside of it. I remember the last words of the remaining three arch-angels as they watched me get separated from Derieris embrace. They smirked at me as they told me what was happening.

The seal would replay the happiest memories of whoever's sealed away. When they became happy, the memory would be switched to the worse memories of whoever is within.

I remembered that as my memory began to change, I saw the throne room. In the throne room were seven of the Ten Commandments. Meliodas was missing, and so were the two commandments guarding him. My father before me, the Demon King telling us what happened, and other bad news...

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Edited by JoelA

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