Perhaps, under more normal circumstances, Victor would have acted in a more panicked fashion than he actually did. It is true that at first he appeared very much affected by trepidation, yet when he heard Victoria's bitter sobbing as she crumpled to the floor in her despondency, he found that it would be a sin to appear terrified whilst she looked on. Such behavior might worsen her already grief-stricken state; if he was indeed to die, he would like to face death knowing that she was in somewhat good spirits.

"Oh; take me!" Victoria gasped, trying with little success to stem her tears with her handkerchief. "I'm far nicer than he is! I know I'd make a better sacrifice!"

Barkis's mirth was evident. "I think Detrikzin wishes to save you up for something else, my dear. Ah, who knows what joys he has in store for you? And I'd rather hoped things would go this way. After all, what could be sweeter than to watch..."

Emily's awful look of fury caused him to fall silent.

Victor seated himself beside Victoria, hoping that he appeared calm. She shook with the violence of her sobs and he gingerly held one of her hands, murmuring,

"Victoria...it...it's alright, really. Please don't cry; I—I'm sorry things have turned out so badly..."

Victoria raised her head from where it had lain buried in her arms. "It isn't your fault," she whispered. One tear spilled onto his hand and she attempted to smile, but her lips trembled uncontrollably and she began to turn her head away.

Victor found this very hard to stand. No longer did he care whether or not the onlookers scorned him for his actions; he put his arm about her and she drew close to him, her sobs becoming somewhat weaker as she did so.

"Victor? Why, you're shaking!"

Well, at least she was able to speak without her voice quavering as badly as it previously had. That was some comfort; Victor closed his eyes as he felt her hands press gently against his chest. How kind she was—and what a compassionate girl, to pity such a cowardly individual!

Victoria held his chin with two little fingers. "You're not falling asleep, are you?" she said teasingly. She had ceased weeping, though her long eyelashes were still moist, and now gazed at him quite placidly.

"Why—no!" Victor said, a little startled.

She was about to start again; the tears were already forming in her eyes, threatening to spill once more. Afraid that he had offended her unintentionally, Victor said with great haste,

"Oh, forgive me! I didn't mean to...to speak so...foolishly, Victoria. Wretch that I am, I did not know..."

She laid one finger over his lips. "You haven't angered me in any way," she said. "If you were to make me stop crying, dear Victor, you would have to cease being yourself, I'm afraid."

"Oh, Victoria," he said softly, "I—I love you."

Victoria gazed up at him with a pretty yet sad smile. She made no reply to his timid confession, contrary to every expectation; instead, she embraced him a little more tightly and simply sighed.

One of the numerous tall, cloaked figures entered the room. In his claws he bore a thin cord; turning towards Barkis, it rasped,

"The rope you requested, Lord Barkis."

Barkis pointed towards Victor. "You know what to do," he said. "Detrikzin has selected him for the sacrifice."

Victoria would not release her hold on Victor even as the cloaked creature neared her. Victor tried to force her gently away, fearing what the cloaked one might do, but it was to no avail. No matter how he begged her, she would not leave him just as he had not left her when she had demanded it. Perhaps such a turn of events was fair, in a strange sort of way.

Mercifully, the cloaked one was gentle with her. It had little trouble in pulling her away, for it possessed inhuman strength, and Barkis kept her with him after it had done so; she strove to come near Victor once more, yet she simply lacked the strength needed to. For his sake alone did she refuse to react to this restraint as badly as she might have.

The cloaked creature caught hold of Victor's hair and pulled him viciously to his feet. Crying out in pain, Victor tried to free himself of its grip, and it in turn began to shake him about until he slipped to his knees. It was clear to everyone that the beast was playing with him just as a cat toys with its prey before slaying it at last.

One of its feet shot out, striking him. Victor found himself lying helplessly before it; he tried to raise himself and thus have a better chance at defense but it leaped upon him, sharp claws piercing his already torn clothing and wounding him.

Victor's terror gave way to overwhelming hatred as an agonized scream was torn from him; the creature was far too heavy for him to bear and he was having much difficulty in breathing. The monster raised its claws, drawing back its hood; Victor's heart froze as he gazed upon the reptilian horror which perched upon him.

Again he tried to rise but the creature's iron claws held him prisoner; hissing with anticipation, it lowered its head. Its jaws opened halfway, revealing thousands of knife-like teeth, and the breath that issued from its mouth was unbearably foul.

Victor threw his head back, desperate to escape the awful stench, and it closed its jaws lightly about his throat. For a moment Victor was certain that this was how his life would finally end; yet even as he prepared himself for whatever pain might await him before he finally expired, the creature rose and dragged him up with it.

He could barely stand, so exhausted was he, and there was no point in resistance as it wound its cord about his thin wrists at last. He defied it nonetheless, trying the creature's patience severely; had not Victoria broken free of her captor and rushed to his side, Victor may indeed have perished then and there. But she, fearing for his safety and hoping that perhaps they could escape later on, aided the creature by urging him to remain still.

Victor was nearly mad with pain and anger, and over and over he demanded to know why the creature had behaved so cruelly. Barkis, talkative fellow that he was, attempted to explain to him that it had only desired to wear him out before binding him, which would make such a duty very easy.

Victor comprehended little of what Barkis told him, for he was barely even conscious by the time the reptilian beast had finished. Even as he was being led from the room, Victoria walking close beside him, he murmured,

"I need to...lie...down..."

Having said this, he fainted. Victoria caught him as he fell and seemed able to support him, much to everyone's astonishment, but no one made any attempt to revive him. There was something in the manner of the two monsters who accompanied them that seemed unwilling to allow that sort of assistance.