(Link is for reference to map of Runeterra, to help you understand a little bit more . /intmap_tile_set_738/thumb/20140728092924! /680x382x5-20140728092924! )

Shen and Syndra discussed the matters revolving around the Blood Moon for a few hours until Akali joined them after putting Raiden to sleep. The problem with Blood Moon in Ionia meant that the gates to the underworld were fully opened, not only this, but the last standing portal to the Shadow Isles opens on Blood Moon, meaning anyone can trespass through it. This was the only portal to not be destroyed during the first Blood Wake, the dawn of the re-ocurring Blood Moon. But this means that they portal can only be destroyed in the Shadow Isles, and not in Ionia.

Ionia and the Shadow Isles have a long, long history.. Dating back to the first era of Runeterra, when life was isolated to the islands of which everyone originated, meaning those who did not live on the mainland of Runeterra were shut from the outside world because war had struck the lands. Ionia, along with Bilgewater and the Shadow Isles were not part of this war for quite sometime, until Noxus decided to invade the Shadow Isles. They wanted the thing - the item, albeit the person who controlled the Shadow Isles, that thing that kept everything.. Undead.

Zed was having the strangest of dreams, but he wasn't quite sure if it was dream, or reality, or even a memory. Consciously, he knew he had opened the box of shadows, that mysterious little box that brough him darker, down into what seemed to be the utter depths of hell. Mental torment, laughter, the physical feeling of his skin being lacerated by long, thin cuts by the shadows, he was experiencing this again, except this time, Syndra was there. She was commanding them to cut him. His arms were tied behind his back, and his head hung low as he was kneeling on the floor.

"Cut the last breath from him." She laughed manically, and the shadows followed. But the shadows resembled that of everyone Zed knew. Shen, Akali, the villagers, even Syndra herself had a shadow. They closed in on him, all laughing at his expense of being humilated as a young adult.

The bleeding just didn't stop.

Zed felt every drop, every single drop of tainted, warm blood drip down his body.

Every single echoing drip was heard, until Syndra knelt down in front of Zed and caressed his face.

"Wake up." She said softly. His eyes grew tired, and he felt weak, so weak that he collapsed onto the floor in a heap of lacerated and bloody flesh. She followed him, suddenly covered in cuts and blood herself. The two were lying next to each other, stained in their blood, and losing their breath. Syndra managed to sum up the strength to caress his face once more, limply lifting her mangled hand to him.

"Wake up, Zed."

"Wake up."

His eyes opened to Syndra's tired features. Tired, but still happy. He felt warm, so warm infact that Syndra's normally warm touch felt freezingly cold. He turned himself over so that he was now lying on his back, and proceeded to place a hand on his forehead. He was boiling hot.

"Zed are you feeling ok?" Her voice was soothing, and barely above a whisper. He decided not to look directly at her, and instead ignored her, breathing heavily, and sweating profusely.

"Answer me."

"I-I don't know." He turned on his side again, and faced away from Syndra. She nudged him, becoming concerned.

"Zed what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" He sat up and slowly swung his legs off of the side of the sofa, now facing Syndra, and noticing that Shen wasn't here.

"It's a long story.." He said whilst rubbing his eyes.

"We have a lot of time." She said as she sat on the sofa.

"So tell me, Zed. What happened?"

Some time later..

"My god.. So.. I did that to you?"

"Yes, Syndra.."

"You were squirming a lot when you were asleep, but you do that anyway, so I thought nothing of it.."

"Could you not sense that I was distressed?"

"No, because you were distressed, you were calm."

Zed fell silent, and stood up.

"I wish to sleep alone tonight. You're welcome to stay in here.

"Zed, I-"

"No, Syndra." His voice was loud and stern. She stood up in protest and followed him as he tried to leave the room.

"Zed, you can't ignore me because of something out of our control, do you not-"

He grabbed Syndra's arm and pulled her in, using his other arm to hold her at the waist. Zed silenced her with a single, hard kiss, she was so surprised by the sudden gesture, that she let out a small moan, one of pleasure. The kiss held for quite some time, until Zed gently, let go, and placed his forehead against hers.

"I'm sorry, Syndra.." He whispered.

She tried to gently push him away.

"Zed, it's fin-" He kissed her again, but this time, he started to push her back onto the wall of the corridor. Syndra broke away from the kiss and tried to push Zed away giggling.

"Zed! Not here.." He began nibbling at her neck. Placing gentle kisses and bites as she writhed against him.

Shen had opened the door to his and Akali's room at the bend of the corridor a few doors down, seeing Zed and Syndra in full bloom. He slowly closed the door, and gestured for Akali to come over to him. They both peered out of the crack between the door and wall to see the two kissing each other and giggling.

"New found love really can change a man it seems." Shen whispered. Akali giggled. He closed the door, looked down at Akali and hugged her. She hugged him back by wrapping her arms around his waist. Shen gently removed some stray hairs from Akali's face as they both looked over at their peacefully sleeping son.

"That it can, Shen. That it can.."