Celaena regains consciousness after the demon has knocked her head into the wall. Chaol is already fighting the pale creature and bleeding from its claws, while Dorian helps Celaena up. When the demon attacks Chaol again, Dorian uses invisible force to hurl it into the wall, revealing that his power is not ordinary magic but raw magic, a rare and dangerous form of undiluted power.

Celaena realizes the portal must be closed before more creatures come through, but she does not know how without the book Archer holds. As the demon keeps Chaol occupied, Archer panics and runs down the tunnel with the book, taking away their immediate chance to shut the portal. Dorian urges Celaena to flee upstairs for other books, while Chaol orders them to go and continues holding the demon back.

Chaol understands that he probably cannot defeat the demon, but he tries to buy time for Celaena and Dorian to escape. Then Celaena sees that Fleetfoot has been left behind with an injured leg. The demon notices the dog too, seizes Fleetfoot, and drags her through the portal; Chaol abandons the stairs and follows them through to save her.

Celaena is overcome by terror when Chaol disappears after Fleetfoot. To free herself from Dorian’s grip, she slams Dorian’s head into the stone wall, leaving him unconscious or stunned on the stairs. Celaena then runs through the portal, determined to bring both Fleetfoot and Chaol back before it closes.

On the other side, Chaol shields Fleetfoot with his bare hands after the demon breaks his sword. Celaena arrives with ancient sword in hand, and crossing the portal transforms her: her features sharpen, her ears become pointed, and she unleashes blue flame that blasts the demon away. Chaol realizes that Celaena is not human but Fae.