Disclaimer: I give up. Referred to the last 26 chaps for it.

Author's Note: Wow this is short. I'm sorry everyone, I'm not much for long chaps right now. On a lighter note, to everyone who reviewed: THANK YOU! throws cookies at all You're the best!

Sisters till the End

This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Cry Me a World

Rika reappeared in Dilandau's room, glancing around and searching for the silver haired general. The room itself had not changed at all but the atmosphere around it had; it was like walking into a bear's den. She could feel the hate and spite towards unnamed people, the raw pain that radiated from the room's masters, the fear at the shadows in the night, the dregs of nightmares long lived, and the pure power. None of it held any notion of love or even the smallest indication of liking for the other. It was truly a changed room.

She found Dilandau sitting in a chair in the corner, a glass of wine in his hand, gently swirling it, staring at the fire, watching as the flames swayed in tempo with his swirling glass within the hearth, his thoughts obviously elsewhere. Rika knew when to seize an opportunity and, creating a shift, froze time, allowing her to walk over and lock the door, slowing Time outside the door so that she would not be disturbed. Returning to her spot and allowing the flow of Time to resume, she drew her sword and faced Dilandau. "I thought you had gone for good," Dilandau snarled, not taking his eyes away from the fire. "Just like them." Only Rika heard the hidden tone in his voice. So, Kalirice was not able to fully put him under her spell, she thought. Then that means there's still hope.

"You can never hold me back, Dilandau," she said coolly. "That's one power you don't have."

Dilandau growled and threw his wine into the fire, making it jump with life. "I have power!" He howled, sounding like a wounded animal. Rika started towards him, taking her time, sword at the ready. "I am powerful… even more without her."

"Without your wife, the only one who saw you for you and not a monster." There was no question in her voice. Dilandau snorted and put his head in his hand, chuckling. "Oh, but I am a monster," he cooed softly. "I am, such an evil monster, so bad… so bad. No one can control me-oh no-no one can. They can't put limits on me. I am powerful. So powerful, so bad… I am uncontrollably, powerfully, bad."

He's thoughts are erratic, Rika thought. I'll be lucky if I don't end up killing him. How long has Kalirice had her claws in him? Dilandau continued his rant. "She never saw that side. She said I wasn't. But I am. She lied… such a bad liar. Bitch. I'll kill her! I swear! I'll rip out her throat and I'll open her chest and rip out her heart, and show it to her! That's what love does! Bad liar!" Rika was close enough now that she could practically small the wine radiating off him. Drunk and under a spell, she thought, disgusted.

"Bad liar!" Dilandau roared, standing suddenly and rushing Rika. Reacting fast and caught a bit off-guard, she charged her blade and plunged it into his chest. Dilandau screamed as if his soul was being ripped out of his chest and his body burned. The room became dark and the only light was that of her energy rippling over Dilandau's body, hurting him-cleansing him. "This is the only way," she whispered. Turning her head, she closed her eyes, and with a look of pain, she did what she had to do.

She thought the room had blown up. Dilandau's screams became unearthly and increasingly loud and the whole room shook with his emotions. Rika kept her head turned; she could not look at the face of a man who was realizing his fate. Her heart ached with sadness for Kat and him, ached for the delicate love that had been blown apart by a ruthless woman, and by the raw nerves that were now exposed to the air. Pain would be strong for the both of them for such a long time… Images flashed through Rika's head of the immediate future and she shuddered. It won't be true, she told herself. It won't. With that, she forced the sword farther into Dilandau's chest.

Everything became quite and the sword stopped glowing. Rika opened her eyes and removed it from Dilandau's chest, watching as white strands of steam came off his body. He remained standing for a second before he fell over, lifeless. There was a pang in Rika' heart and she looked away, knowing that it had been done. Silence rocked the room for a long time before a moan broke it.

Looking down at the man, his body broken and worn, Rika smiled on the inside as Dilandau opened his eyes. He was free from Kalirice's spell. "Kat?" He chocked, looking at Rika. She didn't answer, only turned and started from the room. "You know what you must do, Lord Dilandau," she said.

Dilandau lay on the floor for a couple more minutes, the images of what had happened flashing through his head. He felt like he was been asleep for ages and his head was full of cobwebs. "Oh, God," he whispered, eyes widening as he remember what had happened. What the hell had he done? Images of Kat looking at him, her blue eyes shinning like stars, fresh with pain and wounds unseen, and the same repeating image of her turning and walking out of the room, the door closing with a dull thud as she left for good. What the hell had he done?

Kalirice… He remembered her, remembered what she had done to him, and anger arose in him. That bitch had taken him away… no, she hadn't done anything except suggest things to him. It was he who had made Kat leave. But Kalirice was the reason for his pushing his wife away. She was the reason… He stood, anger and hate towards the woman rushing through his veins like acid. He knew what he had to do.

Leaving the room behind he started towards the Training Room-as late, as it was he had a feeling that Kalirice would be there. He stormed along the corridors his mind reeling with had happened over the past months. Kat was gone. Kalirice had taken her place and he happily let the woman do so. Part of him wasn't sure if he should be angry with himself or with Kalirice. I just hope that Kat is still willing-he stopped, his body taken by fear. The warrant. God, he had allowed Kalirice to put a warrant out on Kat. Kat could be dead somewhere; wasn't that what Kalirice had mentioned to him? Skin crawling he suddenly felt dirty and sick, as if his skin had become diseased and he was trying to desperately inch out of it. What had he done? Everything was so screwed up and he didn't even know where to start to make it go back to normal.

She trusted you, he yelled at himself, sprinting towards the Training Room with vigor. She trusted you and what did you do! It took you a long time to win her heart and trust back after last time and now I screwed it up with Kalirice. You put her in danger! You could've killed her… Images of Kat flashed through his head and he muffled a cry; her eyes made his heart shatter. That look would haunt him forever.

Reaching the Training Room he flung open the door immediately spotting the woman in the middle of the gym, awaiting him. "Ah, lover, there you are," she purred as he entered. Dilandau drew his sword, his eyes blazing, and shaking slightly. "I came back for you-I thought you'd like to see what has become of the mighty Protectors; or what will become of them." Her mahogany red eyes glittered in the low light with excitement. Dilandau growled and advanced on her, sword ready to draw blood. "Really?" He sneered, his voice shaking with uncontrollable anger. "What if I don't want to come and see?"

Kalirice laughed. Her laugh sent Dilandau's head spinning with hate and he resisted every bone in his body that said to take her head off. No, I'm going to make her pay, he thought. "But you're the one who told me that you wished to be there and witness the Protectors' destruction."

"I changed my mind."

Faltering confusion fell over her face as Dilandau stepped into the light but it was quickly replaced by anger. "No!" She cried, drawing a small dagger and charging him. Dilandau flipped her over his shoulder, watching as she hit the ground, the weapon flying from her hand. "No… You're mine!"

"Wrong, Kalirice," Dilandau yelled. "You made me hurt the only one in my life that I ever cared about and now you're mine."

"She wasn't for you."

Her sneer sent Dilandau's anger rising. "And neither are you."

"No, I am the one for you. I embraced the monster that you are and I didn't try to change you. You want power Dilandau and together we can get it. We can rule Gaea! Together we'll be unstoppable and the monster will be content."

"You're the monster."

Glaring, Kalirice was on her feet and charging him again. Dilandau swung at her but she leapt to the side, crouching and delivering a sharp kick to his knee, making him hit the floor. "We could've been perfect, Dilandau," Kalirice snarled, dagger back in her hand. Dilandau, bent down on one knee, glanced at her, leaning on his sword. He would not be defeated. "We could've ruled the world together."

Just as she brought the dagger down, Dilandau rolled away. Thrown off balance Kalirice fell to the ground and Dilandau sprung forth, sword ready to pierce her heart. Following his example, Kalirice rolled away and was on her feet, another weapon in hand, and charging him. They were a good match for swordsmanship and the battle was fierce, they met each other step for step and swing for block, constantly moving and dodging each other's blows. But she would not defeat Dilandau and he would kill her, watching as he withdrew his sword from her chest and her blood trickled off of it. He swung again and Kalirice blocked, grunting under the pressure he put on the blade. "You still have a chance to come back to me, lover," she told him, her voice strained. Dilandau's eyes widened and he removed the blade, swinging with lightning fast reflexes. Kalirice screamed as her forearms suddenly disappeared from her arms. "Don't call me lover," Dilandau hissed, expressing each word carefully.

Kalirice fell to her knees, staring at the bloody stumps of arms with wide, horror-filled eyes. She looked up at Dilandau, standing over her, sword at his side. "We could've ruled together," she whispered, tears in her eyes. Dilandau shook his head. "No, Kalirice, we never could. I would've come out of your spell one way or another. Some things have to be like this."

"But it could've been our world-it still can be. Please, don't kill me… we can make it work."

"In this world, your tears don't have any effect." He swung the sword and cut her head off in one fluid motion. He watched as the look of fear and surprise was forever frozen upon her face as it slid away from her body. Stepped away from the bloody body he started towards the door, not even looking back. He had to find Kat.