"Fine have it your way, you won't tell me then you die!" The malicious grin that spread across his face terrified Andrea. He would really do it and more then that, he would enjoy it.

"No, you...can't...please don't. PLEASE." Andrea screamed out, slamming her eyes closed trying to tell herself that she was dreaming, that none of this had ever happened and she would wake up in her bedroom at any second.

"You pathetic, all women are!" He sneered down at her trembling form becoming more disgusted with her with each passing moment. Keeping a firm grip on her he reached down with his other hand, placing it on the hilt of his sword.

"No..." She whimpered as her mind started to slow, each moment seeming to take an eternity to pass. Her body went numb, preparing for her death.

"I hope you're ready to die. Tell the devil that Dilandau sends his respects!" Maniacal laughter echoed through the room.

Hope watched frantically from under the bed as Dilandau unsheathed his sword and prepared to plunge his blade into Andrea's chest, taking his time as he enjoyed the sense of fear that hung in the air. She needed to think fast if she was going to do something to save her. Dilandau would slice her up like a thanksgiving turkey if she wasn't fast enough. She had already been caught by him once; there was no denying his speed. She was no match for him, he would surely kill her but it couldn't be helped, Andrea would not be sacrificed for her sake.

She darted out from under the bed as fast as she could, leaping directly and Dilandau's weak point, his face. She felt her claws scratch though the tender skin, a fatal move for sure, but the best she could come up with. She had to run it was her only remaining option now. Maybe she could run to a window of some sort and jump out, at least that way Dilandau would think she was as good as dead. Without hesitating she leaped out into the hallway and ran, a single thought running through her mind, "Andrea, forgive me."

She could see it, there's a window only a few more strides away, but Dilandau's anguished screams has ended and he's closing in, sword swinging out in front of him. "Come on feet faster. Just a little further..." she though and had the greatest feeling of joy when she leapt from it out into the clouds. "...I made it..."

Andrea had collected herself quickly and followed behind Dilandau with surprising speed, screaming for him to just leave Hope alone. She was there to see Hope disappear into the clouds, free from Dilandau's grasp forever, and felt her heart stop. She had just lost her only friend because she wasn't strong enough to protect herself... Her mind came to a screeching halt oblivious to Dilandau's curses. It wasn't until she no longer heard his agitated yelling that her mind came back into focus only to realize he was speaking to her.

"It must have really cared for you to give up it's pathetic life saving you." He grinned as tears started to stream down her cheeks and decided to push just a little more. "To bad you couldn't take care of yourself and prevent your only friend's death." He shrugged in his uncaring was at least getting some enjoyment from her pain.

"You bastard.." She murmured softly, almost inaudibly.

"Your so pathetic." He scoffed. He reached up to his face, touching the scratches with his glove. He pulled his hand away and gazed down at the blood that now covered it. His anger peeked again and with a scream of pure anguish he sliced out at Andrea's face giving her a long scratch from above her right eye, across her nose and down below her left eye.

Andrea never made a sound; her body was numb from her loss, as she fell to the ground. She didn't understand. Hope was smart. Why would she have jumped out the window? Why? Slowly her thoughts started to go black as the loss of blood from her arm and face started to take it's toll with the addition of her mental shock.

The last thing that she noticed before blacking out was the Dilandau was speaking to her again though she couldn't hear his words. "What does it matter anymore," she thought, "When Hope jumped she brought all my hope with her. How ironic..."

Dilandau stopped talking and stared at her. He didn't understand how two small flesh wounds would make a person black out. After a moment he decided she must be having an emotional break down. Only the weak would let themselves be like this over the death of a pet or friend, all things die. "Weak, they're all weak." He murmured softly.

Tears flowed down the cheeks of the girl before him, not that he cared. With a growl he bent down and picked her up, taking her to the infirmary. He stayed there while the medic cleaned up his face placing gauze over the wound, being sure to slap him every time the antiseptic stung, then left quickly to locate Folken and inform him that the treat had been eliminated, never giving a second look to the heartbroken girl that lay on the cot where he'd placed her.

Well that's it for this chapter. I'll get the next one out as soon as I can. I hope you liked it. Please review.