Chapter Four

The room was quiet for a time. A time so long the sun could've set and no one would notice. Then Ban spoke.

"Cool. I vote he can stay."

Sebastian smiled. "I vote that as well."

Elizabeth turned and glared at Ban. "No, he can't stay."

Ban raised his eyebrows. "Why not?"

"Because… he-" Elizabeth coughed violently, and then again and again.

"Elizabeth?" Meliodas came forward and placed a hand on her back. "Are you okay?"

Elizabeth didn't have time to respond, she just coughed again. She bent over, gripping the edge of the bar.

"Elizabeth!" Sebastian surged forward and crouched down in front of Elizabeth. "Elle, breath. C'mon, you can do it."

Elizabeth shook her head, still coughing with tears streaming down her face. "I-" cough, cough "Seb-" cough cough.

"I know, I know." He said.

It took Elizabeth several minutes to calm down. "Elizabeth." Sebastian whispered, leaning in close. Elizabeth felt his breath against her ear, stirring her hair. "Tell the truth, do you have it?"

Elizabeth looked up. She was crying, her eyes burning with tears. She nodded stiffly. "Yeah."

"Come here." Sebastian hauled her up, carrying her princess style.

"Sebastian-" cough "put me down." Cough.

"Can't do that. You're sick."

"No-" cough. Elizabeth turned her head, burying it in Sebastian's chest. She coughed again and again.

"It's okay Elizabeth. You're sick, it's alright."

"But-" She glanced around to see everyone staring at her. They were worried. She dropped her voice to a whisper. "I could die."

Sebastian's eyes closed briefly. "I know that. God, Elizabeth-"

"I should just go back upstairs."

"But-"

"No, you're right. I'm sick. I should get some rest." She dropped down from Seb's arms and stumbled up the stairs. She was aware of everyone's eyes on her. She didn't want them to worry. But they had good reason to. She had it; the unknown sickness that had killed her mother. The one that follows no rules or laws, completely unorthodox, disguised as the common cold. She closed the door behind her, only to immediately spiral into another fit of coughing.

She put her hand to her mouth like she'd done before, this time though, it came away red. She was coughing up blood now.

(A/N) Sorry about the wait. I can't exactly say my writings at it's best in this chapter, I had quite the writers block, and I'm pretty sure it's still there, but at least I got something out. Sorry it's not very long, I couldn't think of anything else after this so I just figured, why not give you guys this, even if it's not as long as the other chapters.

-Ava