When Darkness Meets Fire

Chapter 15 - Aelin

The 'Walking Dead' was just sat on the floor in the training ring, the damn thing follows me everywhere.

"Aelin, what is it?" Dorian was next to me.

"The Walking Dead, it's here" I whispered.

"Can you use it to get us home?" He questioned.

"I'm not sure, I can try." I opened the book and began flicking through it.

"What is going on?" Rhys's voice sounded from behind me.

I ignored his question, taking one of the daggers from the rack of weapons and dragging the tip down my arm.

I walked over to one of the walls and began drawing marks, I didn't know how to control where it went so, I took a stab in the dark and drew the stag in the middle of the arch I made.

I stepped back and watched as the wall was slowly replaced by swirling darkness.

"What the hell!" I heard Cassian exclaim from behind me.

"Dorian, stay here. I'm going to get everyone and bring them to this world, then Amren can tell us who the hell she is." I didn't even look over my shoulder before walking through.

I hated the feeling of going through a portal but once I was through, I knew I was home.

"Aelin?" I turned to see Yrene sat on the edge of a bed with a woman I didn't know.

"Hi, I need to gather everyone and bring them through, I'm assuming that is Feyre."

Yrene nodded, Feyre didn't even look at me.

"We are going to wait here, if that is ok." she replied, giving a pointed look at Feyre.

"Of course, I'll be back soon." I walked out of the room and was immediately attacked by Elide who refused to let go.

"I'm so glad you are ok." she told me

"I know, I'm sorry I just vanished, I'm glad you are all here though, we need to go to Feyre's world, there is someone there who we all apparently know."

I looked around the room again, even Manon was here.

"Where is Rowan and Lysandra?" I frowned.

"Some stuff may have happened here; they are both in the dungeons with a prisoner." Elide replied.

"Ok, wait here, I will be back" they all nodded, and I walked out, heading for the dungeons.

"Rowan, are you down here?" I yelled into the darkness.

"Fireheart, you're here!" he rushed towards me and lifted me up, twirling us once before setting me back down.

"Who is the prisoner?" I frowned, not quite being able to see to the end.

I lifted a hand and set a flame burning in my palm as I walked towards the sound of Lysandra's voice.

"Lys, what is going on?" she whipped her head to me.

"I'm so glad you're ok, how are you here?" She had blood on her dress, but she was smiling at me, it wasn't hers.

"The Walking Dead showed up again, who is the dude?" I frowned down at the blood covered male.

"This is Tamlin, Feyre's ex. Very long story short Manon brought him here after he was in Dorian's place. When he saw Feyre he shifted into a massive beast and took her, Rowan went after them but lost them in the forest. Tamlin raped her, leaving her unconscious and bleeding. I'm showing him what I think of people who do that to women." She looked livid; I knew that wasn't the full story, but I would ask her about it later.

"I'm bring everyone back to Feyre's home, there is someone there who knows us, but she wouldn't tell me who she was until Rowan was with me." they both nodded, and I bound Tamlin in fire as well as his existing shackles, Rowan dragged him along.

We all went up to the room. I made the portal in the sitting room, that way Feyre wouldn't need to see Tamlin. I slit my arm open once more and redrew the wyrdmarks on the wall, drawing the night court insignia in the middle.

"I need to tell her mate Aelin." I turned to look at Lysandra and nodded.

I went through first, the others following behind me, Yrene would follow with Feyre in five minutes.

"Which one of you is Rhysand?" Lysandra questioned the group gathered.

"I am." He stepped forwards.

"We need to talk." She looked furious still, and she still had Tamlin's blood on her dress.

I took them both to the other side of the training ring, standing with her while she told him,

"Feyre told me a lot about you, I don't know how best to tell you this so I'm just going to be blunt. Tamlin raped her, something about the Rite, she isn't holding up very well, I suggest that when you see her you let her make the first move." He stared at her in shock, then Tamlin came through the portal with Rowan.

"How dare you, I am going to kill you." He yelled at him, shadows of wings appeared behind him and shadowed talons curled over his fingers.

Beron just grabbed Tamlin by the arm, shoving Rowan away before they vanished. Rhys roared at the sky.

When Manon came through Dorian rushed to her, pulling her into a hug.

"It's good to see you too princeling." She laughed.

When Feyre and Yrene appeared, Rhys walked over to them cautiously. He kept a little way away but reached out his hand for her.

She looked around slowly, taking in her surroundings, her eyes finally landed on Rhys, at the hand he kept extended.

"Rhys?" she whispered.

He nodded, his eyes filling with tears.

She took a small step forwards and took his hand, stepping forwards again to reach out and cup his face. Tears were flowing down her face and her legs gave out. He caught her before she could slam into the floor and knelt next to her.

She just buried her face into his chest and sobbed. Star flecked darkness surrounded them and I stepped back in surprise, but Lys was smiling.

"It's their thing, I would leave them to it." I nodded and we all walked over to the other side of the ring, giving them privacy.