A/N: so I've changed this part up slightly for the purpose of the holiday between Leraj and Estra. Like my non fanfiction novel, Magic's Revenge, I'm going to have chapters from the two of them that are a lot longer and continue with the storyline instead of adding to the side of the present time (if that makes sense – I'm tired but my fingers are typing faster than my brain can keep up). This will only occur up until Part 3 before it reverts back to normal.

Deeper and deeper I dug this hole of deceit and lies – soon I was going to get buried alive.

The only part of our argument that rang with any truth was the despair and pain I felt in almost losing her. Everything else I had to weave together carefully, remember my lines, play the part of doting and concerned boyfriend.

Heido's efforts to keep the henchmen at bay weren't working as well as I hoped and because Heido reeked of my magic signature, I had to send him away before the other demons reported back to Hendrickson that I was destroying his little birds.

There was one now, sitting on the fence, eyeing us off through the window with crescent moon eyes. Against the dark landscape, it was barely more than a blob.

"Hey, you listening to me?"

"Huh? Yes? What?" I brought my attention back to see Estra holding up to outfits against her body.

"The dress or the jumpsuit?" The dress was black and white pinstripes and probably only reached mid thigh with the skirt; the jumpsuit was emerald green, a singlet shaped top with thick straps and flowing pant legs with splits up the side to the knee. "I quite like the dress but don't want to get it dirty. Can't remember the last time I went to a festival that wasn't in armour."

I stifled a groan in my throat. The real Estra would have seen that dress and ripped it to shreds. I knew for a fact that she did not like dresses after the 'uniform' Meliodas had made her wear. I had to physically restrain myself from casting the spell right here and now to revert her back to normal.

I could have done it but no, her mind was still under the demon blood's effects and if I hauled her to the surface too quickly, there was a chance she'd lose memories. Important ones she'd need in the coming confrontations.

"Jumpsuit suits you better, especially the green. Brings out the fire in your hair."

She grinned, canines and all, then darted into the adjoining bathroom. I got off my reclined position on the bed and opened the window, the cold breeze cooling my cheeks and ruffling my hair. The demon had moved closer and had entered the halo of light from the bedroom. It wasn't a bird this time but a fox.

I looked to either side and called out to Heido mentally. Any others?

His reply was a view of the garden, empty of any others. Seemed they'd all left except a sentry, who'd most likely assumed to follow us to the festival.

I held my fist to it and channelled a kernel of my power into a condensed seed before knuckles. "Verna". There was a pop and only a splatter of ichor remained of the demon before that evaporated.

I shook my head. Thinking it was safe because it was in the shape of a fox was stupid, even for a demon as low as that. I heard the bathroom door click open and snapped my fingers. The clothes that had been laid out for me on the bed switch position with my dirty clothes and I bundled those up into a disarrayed ball to add to the effect.

"Ready?" she asked, readjusting her hair into a high ponytail. The green really did bring out the fire in her hair. It also hugged her body nicely and I let my eyes trail her. When they reached her face, I noticed she was tapping her foot with hands on hips. "Enough gawking. I want to be there before the fireworks start."

I gestured for the door. "After you, mi'lady."

~

Our horses snorted and tossed their heads as we neared the little village, the revelry boisterous. I sent a side glance at Estra and she had a broad grin on her face. In the soft light of the moon, she was the same woman I'd met that day in the field.

We entered the ring of fire from a monolithic bonfire. This would put a dragon's breath to shame. People danced in an array of clothing, some tame, others exotic and otherworldly, probably to match the theme of the festival itself. The houses behind the bonfire were awake, windows and doors thrown open and people streaming in and out of them. For such a small village, there sure were a lot of people, perhaps more than 200 flitting about.

"What did you say the festival was about again?" Estra asked as she dismounted. I followed suit and we found a rail near a water trough to fasten their reins alongside another pair of dapple grey horses.

"Apparently, it's a ceremony towards the Goddesses in their fight against the Demons, and how the other races were called upon to assist in beating back the demons. Seems everyone wishes to celebrate tonight."

Estra was nodding her head but her attention was draw. I followed her gaze where several party-goers tottered around on stilts in horrifying masks, screaming and laughing children running around with fake wings plastered on their backs.

"Come on, best we join in before all the hot food goes," I whispered in her ear and she grinned, taking hold of my hand and dragging me along.

There was a delicacy of food spread out in each house, from hot, sizzly meat dripping with fat and sauce to pieces of art made from tortilla and vegetables; thick, creamy soups bursting with flavour and desserts that made the mouth water. We tried it all and my money pouch cried.

"Mmmm, this is amazing," Estra moaned, devouring a large sundae with dripping chocolate source, a sprinkle of multi-coloured flakes dusting the top.

My heart gave a tug staring at her blissful face – I didn't want this night to ever end. I'd do anything just to see this face on her every single day, the softness to the corner's of her mouth and the delight in her eyes.

If only.

"Here, try some," she said, proffering a spoon with a heap of ice-cream. With a smirk, I ate it then tried for a second helping. She screeched and ran off, holding the sundae above her head like it was a beacon of light.

"I bought it," I said in her ear when I caught her around the waist and lifted her into the air despite her protests. "You got to at least share."

She pulled a face at me then melted back into my arms, taking bites of her sundae. "I wish Liones had festivals like this."

"You haven't been to a festival in Liones yet," I pointed out. "We normally skip them."

"Still. I feel like they wouldn't be as much fun as this." She gestured at a group of people who suddenly burst into dance and began to twirling fire much to the children's delight. "Oh, what's that?"

She pointed across the space to a little booth with a long pole beside it. The pole had a dial at the top with a cylindrical case with a number at the top – 0659. A wall of large toys that you could mistaken for oversized pillows hovered behind it.

"Huh, no idea. Let's check it out."

"Come one, come all! Try your luck at Denni's Test of Strength!"

The forgotten sundae was thrust into my hands as Estra broke free from me and rushed over. A large, brawny man had stepped up to the cross on the ground and hefted a mallet onto his shoulder. His friend stood close by, arms crossed over his chest as he watched on stoically.

"Reckon you can't get more than 3000, cous'," said the one watching.

"Try me," growled the other as he raised the mallet overhead and swung it down with mighty force onto a red circular cushion at the bottom. A peg popped free of its seal at the base and zipped up the pole, banging into the dial at the top. The numbers spun, reverting themselves to make a new sequence – 3021.

The two high-fived and hollered as they celebrated. A young man off to the side threw his hat to the ground and stomped on it, much to the dismay of his girlfriend.

"Will anyone else challenge the new champion and take the prize home in this round? Any contenders?" the announcer called out. The crowd of people milled away from him, uninterested now that the men had claimed top numbers.

"My turn," Estra said, holding a hand out to the man for the mallet. Her face had morphed to serious and focused.

I could see the man was having a hard time passing that mallet off to Estra. She was much smaller in muscle size in comparison so it wasn't hard to see why he sniggered as he gave her the handle.

The taunt didn't fly past her though and she gritted her teeth, pivoting on her heel so her ponytail whacked him in the chest. I snorted, trying hard not to laugh, as Estra made her way to the cross and stood on it, peering at cushion and peg.

"I think all you do is hit it as hard as you can," I mused, coming to her side. The owner of the stall – Denni presumably – waddled over and held out a fat, grubby hand. I handed over a few coins to placate him. "And I'm guessing if you do, you win a toy."

"Piece of cake," she replied and flicked the mallet around, much the same she would if it was a training sword.

"Just don't use any magic. I don't think they'd appreciate it if a few Holy Knights pulled the fun and games out from under their feet," I muttered to her.

She raised her eyebrows at me. "When have I ever needed magic to best a beefed up doofus?" I left her there then, stepping to the sidelines to watch disaster unfold.

I probably should have cautioned against this. Holy Knights were strong without magic, much stronger than most believed. And Estra wasn't really a Holy Knight but a Sin, which meant she had more strength coiled up in those muscles of hers than she realised.

She lined herself up, tongue out in concentration. It was funny to watch her wiggle her hips and roll her shoulders in preparation. The two hulking men snickered to each other and I just overheard their conversation.

"Bet you she can't even get the peg higher than 2 metres," said the shorter of the two, brandishing a hand of coins.

"Nah, mate. I bet she topples over when she lifts it up overhead," said the other one, his own set of coins on his palm.

Idiots. I strode over to them quickly, pulling out a coin bag. "My bet is she breaks it," I said with a smirk. I flicked two gold coins into my fingers and teased their greed with it.

They both raised eyebrows, looked at each other then laughed so loud that Estra spun and hissed at us to shut it.

"You're on, little man. And you'll definitely lose," they said in unison.

"And so will she," added the current winner.

A set of piercing eyes narrowed on him. "Oh, you think you've won this just because you have muscles? After I hit this, you're going to wish you spent more time pumping iron instead of glibbing behind people's backs," Estra goaded with a mischievous smile before turning back to the pole.

"You heard the lady!" I hollered and the crowd jumped back, whispering excitedly amongst themselves. "You're about to see a new record."

Estra raised the mallet overhead then shifted it over her shoulder slightly. Then with a roar, she planted her feet wide and swung down with all her force. The peg whizzed up and embedded itself in the dial at the top with a deafening clang! The numbers at the top screamed as it spun through to her score. It trickled to a stop at 9999. Then the thing hissed steam.

The two brutes were passed out on the floor. I collected my spilt bounty with a chuckle, thanking them for the extra coin.

Estra punched me, hard. "Ow. What was that for?" I questioned, dodging her next jab.

"You betted on me? Do I look like a horse?" she scolded me while she cradled her prize – a giant fluffy fox. Ironic, wasn't it?

I scoffed and showed her the coin. "Now you can buy more desert in celebration." Somewhere in the distance, drums started playing, following by an enthusiastic flute. "Come on, let's go dance the rest of the night away before I whisk you home." She slipped her hand into mine and we walked side by side back towards the bonfire.

I kept my smile on my lips even though my insides turned and regret as all-consuming as the dark of night raged within. Could we still have done this if I hadn't brought her to Hendrickson?

Her hand slipped from mine. She's slowed to a stop. "What's wrong?" I asked.

She was staring at the toy fox in her arms, suddenly very pale. Warning bells rang in my head and I rushed back, throwing away the sundae and grabbing her arm. She was clammy, eyes glassy. I put my hand to her forehead but for once I couldn't perceive what she was thinking.

"Estra?" I cradled her face and she looked up at me, a spark of recognition in her eyes. But it wasn't my name she said.

"Elizabeth?"

My hands tingled and I quickly threw an arm over her shoulder, leading her away from the crush of people. Down a dark alley where no one could see us, no one would hear us. The sense of eyes on my back had me turn half a fraction to see a dog watching us pass by – a dog with two sets of ears and a long, snake-like tongue. Then it slunk away, no doubt to tell Hendrickson what he'd heard.

I called to Heido but he was too far away. I cursed myself for my stupidity. I'd been so intend on making her happy, making myself happy, that I hadn't kept an eye out.

"...seriously...I'm not....Meliodas, you idiot...I don't know why I listen to you," Estra muttered, legs giving way.

I caught her and propped her up against the wall, crouched in front of her. "Estra, can you hear me?" I whispered, brushing a strand of loose hair from her damp cheeks. She was crying. Even though she looked at me, it was more like she was staring through me.

I remembered reading about this, in my search to find a way to get her free. It was like a withdrawal effect as the body cleansed itself of the substance inflicting it. The demon blood and spell keeping her memories at bay were fading but they weren't going down without a fight.

Hugging her close and sitting beside her, I smoothed down her hair and talked to her to bring her back to me, if that was even possible. Whatever she was witnessing would most likely play its course before she was free.

"Leraj," she said on a breath. I leant forward and studied her face but she still stared into the distance, this time face twisted like she was in pain. "Why, you bastard, why?"