It was growing cold, slowly almost apprehensively. - walked down a dark alley on her way home. She could feel eyes tracking her movements, hoping that no one would stop her. They were following her again, the dark ones, the ones that haunt her dreams. Fairies. She wished she couldn't see them. Wished they would leave her alone. But these weren't ordinary fey, they were Erg Ly, part of the Dark Court. She knew she couldn't run. Fairies chase. She tried to hide her fear and walk at a constant pace. They stroked her hair, tempting her to run. She wouldn't give in, she couldn't. She watched as they drew red lines in her flesh, ignoring the pain and the urge to run. She was almost at the end of the alley when three more Ly Erg's walked towards her from that end of the alley. She swore under her breath, she was now trapped.

They mirrored her every movement,, as she tried to escape. Now they knew her secret.

"What do you want" Rayne asked, breaking all the rules she lived by.

"Us?" one of them asked innocently.

Another grabbed her, his arm locked around her waist. Rayne tried to grab his arm but she couldn't. the Ly Erg just laughed.

"This one's strong." The one holding her said. "I think we'll play with her a bit."

She kicked him, but it did nothing. She opened her mouth to scream but the one who had spoken first clamped his hand over mouth.

He tutted "We can't have any of that."

The arm around her waist suddenly loosened. Rayne tore herself free of their arms and ran. She knew they would follow, but that didn't matter, she just had to get away. She managed to stay ahead of them for half a mile, but they were ctaching her and fast. Rayne slamed into a man, who crossed her path at the wrong time.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She apologised.

"It's ok." He replied, his voice low, his words chosen carefully. "Why were you running?"

She stayed silent not knowing what to say.

"Stay out of this Irial, this doesn't concern you." One Ly Erg sneered. In reply Irial moved in front of Rayne, using his body as a barrier.

"You should know better than to chase halflings."

'What?' Rayne thought 'I'm not one of them.'

"She's a Halfling, is she?" The Ly Erg said, "No wonder she could see us."

"You know not to harm them. Now leave before this goes any further."

"What if we don't want to?"

Rayne screamed as a Ly Erg grabbed her arm pulling her into his embrace. Irial whirled round. His eyes deadly. His voice venomous.

"Let her go." The Ly Erg stroked Rayne's hair, and drew more lines in her flesh. She was forced to close one eye as a river of blood threatened to fill it.

"You heard Irial…let her go!" A deep voice growled.

"Niall, I see you finally decided to show." Irial said as a way of greeting.

"M…My king." The Ly Erg stuttered. "We didn't mean any harm, honestly we didn't."

"Get lost, I'll deal with you later." Niall growled. Obediently they left, letting Rayne fall to the floor. She felt her body being lifted into strong arms, as she drifted into unconsciousness.