The Hydra Sin (SDS)

Chapter 15- A Kidnapping

Jonas hosted a party for us when we returned to the Necropolis; basically, it was just music and chatting. That little pain in the butt set up illusions of food, just to torment us, he had gone so far as to waft the scent of food throughout the room. Poor Hawk was dying in the corner, wanting the delicious food. I pulled my brother aside to smack him upside the head, but I couldn't help but laugh slightly, he had done this kind of the thing all the time growing up.

Towards the end of the night, Jonas' advisor pulled me aside to talk, "Miss Janis, I couldn't help but notice that you have been able to keep yourself and your companion in the realm of the dead for many hours. No one had been able to stay this long, how are you able to do it?"

I looked at him in confusion, "What do you mean? You said something like that before, I don't understand what is so special about being here."

"Well, when someone who is living enters this world, especially the actual city of the Necropolis, they use their own power. Most only have enough energy to keep themselves here an hour or so, but you have yourself and six others here for almost twelve hours. How do you have this much magical energy?"

All I could do was stare at him blankly, "Um... I guess I have always had more magic than others, but I have no clue; I'm just me." He nodded and walked await without any other questions, leaving me standing there totally confused.

***

My brother wanted us to stay the night, but we decided not to because Hawk kept moaning that he was going to die if he didn't get food. I didn't want to leave my family, but it was time, I was starving as well, and I was finally feeling the effects of being here for so long.

Saying goodbye to my brother was one of the hardest things I have had to do, despite the fact that I could come back, I missed having my little brother around. Everyone was ready to go when I realized something, I walked over to Jonas and said quietly, "So, I got us in her almost by chance, how exactly do I leave?"

He laughed at that and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Coming here with no idea of how to go home? I thought you were smarter than that." I glared at him and he chuckled, "Well, you have two options; one is to stay here until you run out of magical energy, which could be a while, judging from the strength of your soul."

"Yeah, that doesn't work for us, what's the second option?" I asked.

"Well, that would be to close your eyes, find the energy drain inside of you and then shut it off, it's pretty easy."

"And you couldn't have said that first?" I said in exasperation before closing my eyes and searching inside of me as he said. It took a minute, but I could sense my power dipping slowly and I followed the drain to its source. I imagined a plug entering the hole and I felt my body slowly start to leave this realm; before I could go completely, I opened my eyes and threw my arms around Jonas, "I'll be back, don't do anything too dumb while I'm gone." We smiled at each other than I faded completely from the world of the dead.

I followed the others back into the Hog's head and sat in a corner, grinning at the others, "Hey Janis? Did you really not know how to get us home?" Ban yelled at us as he pulled his apron on to make us all food. I ducked my head sheepishly and nodded.

"It's not like I've ever done that before, I am just as new to a lot of this as you all are." 

Elizabeth walked over to me, "Well, I think you did great Janis, we did after all get to talk to Queen Hel, which was pretty amazing." The others called their agreement.

"Well, we will be nearly unstoppable now that all of us have out Sacred Treasured! How do you think she got her hands on them?" Ban yelled from the kitchen.

"She's an insanely powerful immortal, I'm not sure what race she is, but I'm sure that she has many resources." King said lightly and I nodded, the energy that Hel gave off was extreme.

The talking continued, but it stopped suddenly when Hawk started complaining about an ominous sign of the future. We laughed it off, thinking that it was nothing, but then a woman appeared and grabbed Elizabeth. We were all out of our seats in a moment, but it wasn't quick enough. With a cruel laugh, the woman disappeared taking Elizabeth and Hawk with her. 

The reaction was immediate, Meliodas jumped up yelling, "NO!" But missed her by a millisecond, he then ran outside and yelled for Diane to throw him.

"Meliodas, are you sure about this?" King asked worriedly.

"Of course I am, King, we have to save Elizabeth, and we have to do it now!"

"I'll go with you, Captain." Ban strolled over to Meliodas, "I would like to see what's going on there."

"I will come as well, observing these two working together will be interesting." Gowther walked up to Diane as well.

"Are you guys sure?" Diane asked, "You know that I won't be able to get you exactly there, it'll be a very broad scope." I smiled slightly and walked over to them before they were thrown.

"I will beat you there, Captain so I'll start looking as soon as I get there." He looked at me in disbelief, "Oh please, you know that my mist body can only be beaten in speed by teleportation. When you get to the capital, send up a magical flair so I can sense your magic, and I'll rendezvous with you." I summoned Durendal and went into my mist body, flying towards Liones as fast as I could.

I got there only a minute later and cloaked my soul, looking for Hendrickson, I didn't want to confront him, but if I had to, I would. I searched around the city and found Gilthunder; I enveloped him in my mist, he seemed confused, but when I established a mental link he straightened in recognition.

"Gilthunder, I can't stay and talk, it would be too dangerous for me to do that until my comrades get here but I need you to become a bit of an undercover agent for me." I zoomed away so that whoever was monitoring Gilthunder wouldn't get suspicious.

"Janis? I'm sorry, but what can I do? I can feel her eyes on me all the time, and I know it is the same with Margret."

"It's okay, Gil, I know that you can't do much, but getting some information would be nice. Just continue doing your duties, but tell me what's going on; this could help us take down everyone we need to."

"I guess I can do that, but Jan, why are you here?"

"They got Princess Elizabeth, someone teleported in and took her. I am the frontrunner, everyone else is coming soon. Gil, you could be made to do some nasty things in the battle that I know is coming, you need to prepare yourself."

I felt his acknowledgment and severed the link for now, but then I felt Meliodas' power surge and I flew out to greet them, if there was to be a battle, I would fight with them.  People were approaching but Gowther simply pulled out his Sacred Treasure and shot, yelling out, "Rewrite Light!"

The once aggressive soldiers were now running at us cheering, "Um, Gowther, what did you just do?" I asked hesitantly.

"I caused their perception of us to be changed, they now see us as old friends that they haven't seen in a long time."

I nodded while Ban and Meliodas yelled together, "Don't you ever use that on us, you hear?" I laughed a bit at Gowther.

"Noted." He said impassively, "We need to hurry though, it is only a matter of time before the holes created in their memories by the change will be noted by their subconscious and the real memories and perceptions will return." I had to struggle my way out of a bear hug given to me by a Knight and I made a break for the gate.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go and save a Princess from this dragon!"

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A/N Sorry for the short chapter and the long wait, I've been severely blocked with this story, but I swear to keep going with it, once we get through this arc, it should be easier since I'll be creating my own plotline!

-klypos01