Fractured God

“Hmm?” Tibaut mumbled as he got off the floor. Seeing Elizabeth stare into his eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief before walking over.

“You're finally awake-”

Even in her deplorable state, she managed to get to her feet and tackle Tibaut to the floor.

“Guh!? What the hell Elizabet-”

She pressed her elbow against his throat.

“I'm sorry Tibaut but you're not the one I'm interested in talking to. Come on out you demon, or else I'll leave this toy yours in state even you can't salvage.”

Tibaut struggled trying to answer with her body weight pressed against her throat.

“E--Eli-Elizabeth! Calm down, what the hell is up with you!?” He desperately asked, trying to get her off him.

“Reveal yourself demon, I won't take no for an answer.”

She pressed harder against Tibaut’s throat and the boy began fading. After his eyes began closing, she rolled her eyes and eased up off of Tibaut’s throat.

“Ow, what the?” She looked down at her feet to see them wrapped in gauze.

Within the few steps she took to Tibaut her legs were searing with pain.

But there was no visible blood blotting the gauze.

Tibaut coughed as he looked towards her. Both were on the floor, with Elizabeth firmly on top of him.

She noticed the boy start blushing, noticing their current positions.

“C-could you get off me, please?” He softly asked.

She looked around and their ruckus hadn't woken up the others.

She moved her lower half closer to his stomach and away from his “greatsword”, hoping the hardness she felt rubbing against her thigh was a knife handle.

“Tch, so the demon chooses to hide itself. I suppose you'll have to do it.”

“Elizabeth, please, get off of me. Did my uh, acting really freak you out that much?”

“Are you so surprised I'd react that way considering how you left!?” She said.

She gave a glance and the others remained silent.

“What are you talking about? Aren't you the one that let me go?” He asked, unsure.

She was about to respond, but she decided not to let her anger get the better of her.

“(I knocked him unconscious for that demon to appear. Was that the trigger?) Do you remember what happened when I knocked you out?”

“(I guess there's no point trying to hide it...) Ugh, not really. I just remember waking up a few miles away. Considering how you're reacting it seemed you talked to the miserable old bitch. She told me you let me off.” He said as he shook his head remembering the bitter times they've had together since.

“(I see she isn't a very thoughtful house guest.) Now,” she cracked her knuckles and brought her face closer to Tibaut. “(To think I'd take advantage of his weakness to the opposite sex…) What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. Out. Here?”

Tibaut was almost in tears. The weight and softness of a woman on top of him mixed with the Enma currently staring into his soul would likely have awakened a dangerous fetish in him in any other context.

“I'll answer, I'll answer just please get off me!” He begged, praying to whatever Gods that existed in this world or any other that she wouldn't back up to get off him.

(“He really is easy to intimidate with sex appeal.”) She thought not understanding the complex emotions he went through within those few seconds. She started to feel bad and got off him (thankfully by sliding off the side of him).

She staggered to get to her feet, the pain building every moment she remained on her feet. After getting himself, he ended up giving her a hand and a shoulder as they walked towards a nearby fallen pillar.

“You call me careless but I don't think I'd ever have the balls to walk barefooted over those nasty-looking caltrops.”

“I can die more than once. You can't.”

He set her down on the pillar, her face radiating with relief thanks to her feet no longer pressing against the floor and Tibaut gently sat beside her.

“Explain quickly.”

“Right. Honestly, I had no idea I was coming here either, they just told me they wanted something to check out.”

“They were inquiring about something? Could they not have come themselves?” She asked.

“Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if they could. (Wait, can I even talk about them?)”

(“Hmm? Oh, sure, go ahead.”) The disinterestedly approved.

(“What do you mean? What about the time she was chasing me down? Why were you so insistent on being secretive then?”)

(“Yawn, I wonder if that friend of yours is still sleeping.”)

A moment later he could no longer hear their voice.

(“I don't think there are words that exist that can describe my hatred for you…”)

(“Really? I think you're just being lazy.”)

He tried to keep a calm demeanour but the room's sudden silence was deafening to Elizabeth.

(“He's suddenly stopped responding and looks quite irritated. Is he...?”)

She continued observing him as he stared off into space while growing perturbed in appearance.

(“It really does seem I'll have to render him unconscious if I want to talk to that thing. I'd be too dangerous even if I was healthy but at least I know the option is there if the time calls for it.”)

He noticed her gaze and quickly cleared his throat.

“Sorry about that, I'm just a bit tired is all. Ugh, what were we talking about again?”

“(I really should teach him how to keep a steady face when lying. Or maybe it's to my betterment that he doesn't.) What was the voice inquiring about exactly?”

Tibaut turned and pointed to something.

(“Well, isn't that something.”) She remarked while gazing at the structure.

It was a massive gate nearly thrice her size, with various demonic imagery over it. On top of it were three winged creatures. Two of them were moving.