A Court of Fire and Lies

Practice Makes Perfect

　The sun is just rising when my eyes flicker open revealing a picturesque surrounding of a thin fog and  and roaming hills dotted with swaying trees, each kissed by a drop of golden sunlight. 

　Sitting up I rub my back, I'm not used to sleeping on the ground.

　 My hands curl into the wet grass as I close my eyes and  breathe in and out. I feel weak as if I could just go back to sleep, but then the dream or vision runs through my head again. And suddenly I'm wide awake, remembering every detail. Rhys. I saw him. 

He looked．．． horrible as if he hadn't slept or eaten in days. Though when sharing thoughts he seemed okay, I guess I should have known that this would tear him apart as much as it has me, though I've only been here for almost three weeks he probably feels like he's about to lose me in every way possible. 

My stomach tightens as I stand up slowly. There has to be some way that I can see him, he obviously didn't know I could see him last night, just seeing him like that almost makes me vomit. 

This was most definitely not one of my better ideas but I have to see Rhys. I can feel myself slowly weakening here day by day, my energy and appetite depleting as the walls of the mansion seem to close in on me, more sentries seem to be by my side even more than ever. Though the subject of marriage hopefully won't come up again after I told him that I need space, if only I had the power to change parts in time. Physical ablilities don't feel like enough. 

I don't feel strong enough for anything, not anymore and I don't know how long I can keep up this charade of lies. 

But I made a promise to bring him down and I will as soon as I can gain the upper hand, not just by knowing the truth behind my schemes or the fact that I plan to destroy his court from the inside. 

The heart of his territory, but first I need to get into that library.

The walk back felt too short, not nearly long enough for me, and the urge to turn back came over me twice. And when I weaved my way through the budding red roses that still make me shiver I came to the door and as I did I nearly windowed myself out of this place for good when I saw the one person I never wanted to lay eyes on ever again. A slut. A liar. And a manipulative bitch.

Ianthe. 

My body shook and trembled as I froze in fear. What the hell is she doing here? I had hoped someone assassinated her while I was in Velaris, but obviously my prayers failed.

When I had asked what had happened to Inathe last night it was more of an accusation and not more of  a       'sure I would love to see the bitch that was super crazy, sure I would love to see her again.' 

And just like that I was hit with another vision of Rhys,  but this time I could only see it through his eyes. He appeared to be sitting at a table swirling some kind of drink around in a glass, looking up now I could see he sat in the library with Amren just across the table taking a sip from a gold goblet. Twisting his head I can now see Mor flipping through a book, her eyes scanning every page. Taking a drink from his glass a carmel colored liquid filling half of it. 

Then Amren says "I think starting a war with the king of Hybern would be the wrong thing to do, not only foolish but a waste of time. Several other Courts hate us, the Summer Court, the Autumn Court, the Spring Court and so on, we don't have a strong enough army nor do we have Feyre with us." Suddenly Cassian walks in replying with, "what do you mean we don't have a strong enough army, I take great care of it." Amren smirks at him and he narrows his eyes at her. I then notice a few spots on his wings have deep scars in them some not even fully healed yet. I cringe at the sight of it. Rhys says nothing but looks to Mor. She looks to him with soft eyes and says, "I think our first step should be to see what the King of Hybern has in store for us. We should first find out what he plans to do about the wall. I think sending Azriel in to see if Tamlin is still communicating with him would be a good first move, it is odd they suddenly became so close in just a few short months. Perhaps he knows something of what he has planned? He did after all betray a many people." Closing her book she sets it down and moves  to a chair next to Amren and continues, "if that is true and Tamlin is still in with the King of Hybern we must warn Feyre and get her out of there, and this time not by the book. After that we have to find out about Jurian and what his new role is for the game that is about to be played on our word and the mortal one." when she finishes Rhys says, "I don't think I have ever heard you come up with that good of a battle plan, but I do agree with you on it. The plan is safe and secure. I know Feyre was just trying to protect us but we need her here more than anywhere else at this time." 

Then I'm back here in the manor a second later my keys flying open, seeing Ianthe leaning over me pressing a cool cloth on my forehead, I shove her hand away quickly sitting up but a pounding headache almost making me pas out stops me cold as I stand up not wanting her near me for a second more. 

"Where is Tamlin?" I ask.

"Oh, he's going to be away for a couple of weeks and we patched things up between us right after you came home, so he asked me to come and be with you." So your a babysitter I say to myself, I can't believe he didn't tell me about this. Isn't this a big deal? After all the trouble she has caused even Lucien said she got out of control and yet he didn't tell me either. Where is Lucien anyway? I haven't seen him in what feels like forever. She hasn't said anything more and then turns around suddenly as if adjusting something or hiding something she doesn't want me to see. So I take my chance and run down the hall, I try the gallery but it's locked. The kitchen is bustling and I can't be near people right now. I don't want to go into my art room even if she might not know where it is so I go down a flight of stairs and go through a door that leads to the back gardens, at least I know I'll be safe back there. Even if the roses make me feel worse, especially bringing them back at my almost wedding how the floor was dotted with them, like tiny drops of blood. I almost feel like I'm in a kaleidoscope of bad memories now that I've come back and all I want to do is shake my head of them, and let the tears poor out for all the things I let happen. I can't even imagine what Nesta feels right now, she's been against fae her entire life and now she is one. But I'm sure she'll feel different when Cassian finally wears her down , no matter how she denies it I just know they are mates. Though I'm not one to judge since I had to capture a Suriel to find out myself, so I guess Nesta is off to a good start. And of course Elain already now's hers. Lucien was awfully blunt about it. 

When the bushes grow up a few feet higher I hide behind them for safety, I hope to cauldron she won't find me here. I guess these damn roses came in handy for something at least. I pull my my knees up to my chest and close my eyes, and suddenly my mind is flooded with thoughts from Rhys. 

Where are you? Are you okay? Why did I feel terror only a moment ago? 

I'm fine, but the reason you felt terror is because, because Ianthe is back, and a second later I saw you, and last night as well. Are you okay, you don't look so good.

Ahh, so your spying on me now eh, just can't get enough of me. I ways wondered when this day would come. You can't live without me. I feel a smirk mixed with a chuckle on the other side and let out a small laugh. 

I reply with, haha very funny but what about Ianthe I'd hope she was dead, Tamlin didn't even have the guts to tell me he rekindled his friendship with her and then she was just standing, like a fox to a hen. 

A thought enters my mind, I'm not sure why she would even want to come back considering she is loathed my everyone except by Tamlin for some reason which is odd considering she is one of the reasons in which you had to leave that jail cell. 

The thought ends immediately and my eyes fly open as I hear her call out my name, and then again. My heart begins to race. Faster, my pulse quickening, the hair on my arms rising. And a second later I am shadows and wind and far away from this place because  I just windowed myself out of the Spring Court and  into the Night Court.