Feyre/Rhys/Tam Fanficfion ACoTaR

Chapter 14

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My head hurt as I slowly rose to consciousness the next morning. It was the throbbing in the temples that accompanied a night of crying.

I winced slightly as I rose from the marble, and wrapped my arms around myself. I don't know how I thought sleeping on a marble floor was a good idea; my hip and shoulder hurt because I slept on my side, and my neck had a painful crick. Also, someone had decided to turn down the heat. It was positively freezing in here. I suppose 'ache' was a pretty accurate description of me in this moment.

Shivering, I brushed off the dust that had collected from the canvas I had been clutching. At some point I had let it go and rolled onto it.

Comfortable.

Outside through the windows, I could see that it was still gloomy. The wind was singing, and it's song was melancholy as it threaded it's cold fingertips through the glass. I wasn't sure what time it was, but had a feeling it was still early in the morning. It would be better to return to my room before they realized I was missing, and wondered where I had spent the night.

Turning away from the windows, I surveyed the damage of the room again. The dim light made little improvement to the decrepit studio, versus the shadows I had seen last night. The sagging easels were still broken and scattered throughout, the ruined canvases spread out along the floor.

Carefully, I returned each of the canvases to their haphazard pile. It was a sad array of the hours I had spent, but it was how they had been arranged when I'd first walked in.

Taking a few steps back, I looked long and hard at my once-beloved room, and forced myself to comprehend how it had become this way.

Tamlin.

With a deep breath I steeled myself, and turn resolutely to leave.

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I returned to my room with perfect timing. I had just settled myself into the pillows, when someone knocked hard on my door.

I sat up slowly in my bed, as if having just woken up.

"Come in," I called, stretching my arms above my head.

The servant who entered wasn't Alis, and I frowned. The Fae was obviously female, with eyes yellow like an owls. Feathers replaced hair and a few stood up on her crown, distinguishing her as a bird Fae.

"Where's Alis?" I demanded immediately.

The servant didn't answer, and continued to walk forwards.

Unease slid through me and I pulled my covers up slightly. The dagger that I had slept with was still in my palm, and I knew in an instant I could have it out and through her heart.

"Where's Alis?" I asked again, my voice sharpening. Finally, the Fae looked up and met my eyes.

"She will not serve you any more. I have specific orders from our Lord that I am to help you." The Fae's voice was cold and emotionless. As she spoke she approached the side of my bed and pulled the covers off. Hastily, I shoved my dagger into the back of my breeches.