Chapter Eleven
Zebedee's Dilemma
Zeebad was getting worse. His skin looked bluer than usual and he was coughing a lot. He'd woken up from his coma but wasn't healing. Elora was freaked by this. "How come he's not getting better?" she asked Zebedee. There was worry in her eyes. "I don't know." He said sadly. He watched as Elora held Zeebad's hand. He felt weaker than before. A few sparks of magic emitted from his moustache. Zebedee felt like an intruder as he watched Elora with Zeebad. He had many powers in the world but he couldn't use them to try healing him. He then vanished so he could think. In his head memories raced through his mind. Suddenly he saw someone appear. It was Zeebad. "Why didn't you save me? You've got the power to do it but you won't! You'd rather watch me die in your niece's arms!" he snarled as he faded. It was just a vision. He then felt Zeebad in his heart. It was nearly too late to do anything to save him. He then reappeared in the hospital. Zeebad was talking to Elora. He knew that this would happen but at least Zebedee would try to save him. "I want to try to heal you!" she said to him as she touched his blue face. "No Elora there's nothing you can do. All I bring is pain and sadness to everyone and if I go, then I can save you from making the same mistake I made.
Never shall I bring
No more harm to anyone or thing.
I will face it unafraid
And lie in the icy bed I've made.
Nobody can help me
As I bow
Into the darkness
But I'll be with you somehow." He said as his eyes closed forever. Zebedee watched as Elora cried in anguish and in grief for the one she'd loved, he'd let himself go to save her. "I'm sorry Elora. I was too late." He whispered as he vanished from sight. Elora held Zeebad in her arms. "I wish I could've saved you. I'll never forget you even if the others have." She said as she disappeared with him. She went into the Roundabout and into Zeebad's prison. This would be her home now. She fell asleep crying as she kept remembering this morning when he'd left. Sam could hear her from his post. He felt sorry for her and was sad as well. Zeebad had been a good companion to him but now he felt anger stir in his heart. He waited until everyone was asleep and went into the Roundabout and into Zeebad's prison. He found Elora asleep. Her arms were wrapped around Zeebad's body. Sam then sat near her. He could hear her crying. "I'm sorry he left. I knew how nuch you loved him and he still probably loves you. I miss him too. We were his only friends because everyone in the Village hated him. Maybe he's watching over you." He said softly. Zebedee was watching this. He felt sorry that he couldn't save Zeebad. That would haunt him forever. He then couldn't fall asleep. Elora then saw Sam beside her. He was asleep. There were tears running down his face. "You found out about Zeebad huh?" she whispered to him.
"Yeah I found out. I feel sorry for you. Did he scream when it happened? You don't have to tell me if you don't want me to." He said to her. He saw the sadness in her eyes. "He didn't scream. When he went, he recited poetry to me. I feel so alone. He was the only one who didn't see me as a freak because of my powers. Now I have nobody to be with like me." She said through tears. Sam squeezed her hand gently. "It'll be alright, you see." He saId to her as she fell asleep in his arms. The next day Zebedee got up and went to the Roundabout and into Zeebad's prison. He was looking for Sam. Without him, the Roundabout wouldn't go. He saw Elora in his arms with her arms wrapped around Zeebad's body. This pained him more than words could ever say. "Sam we need you to go back to your post. The Roundabout needs to work and you're the only one who can do it." He said to him. Sam then laid Elora gently on the ground. Zebedee was about to reach out and take Zeebad's body but Sam stopped him. "I think it's better if you leave him with Elora. She's very hurt and confused at the minute and he makes her feel better. She told me… that he was the only one who understood her because of her powers. I'm going to try and reach out to her at this delicate time." He said to him. Zebedee understood and shook his head sadly as Sam followed him. He then looked down at Zebedee from his post. There was a look of sadness in his eyes and the others didn't know what was wrong because Zebedee had hidden this from them. Sam then saw someone come from the sky. It was Zeebad's ghost. He could feel the pain in both Sam and Elora's hearts and wanted to heal it. He could see Elora living in his prison and sad all the time and it hurt him. Elora had never came outside since he'd left. He saw her singing to herself while holding his body.
"Elora it's me Zeebad. I've been watching you and it hurts seeing you like this. I love you. I know it hurts being the only kid with magical powers but it'll get better, trust me.
I know the people in the Village
I wonder if they'll laugh or cry
When Zeb tells them
That I've died." He said to her as he put something around her neck. It was a necklace. "This'll let you see me whenever you want." He said as he faded.
Zebedee had seen this. He wondered if Elora was starting to heal from her pain of the heart. He then decided that everyone in the Village should know of Zeebad's death.