"All of the Hurt"
"Any news from them?" Valentine asked Samuel Pangborn as the Circle meeting took place. Almost every Circle member was present except the those in missions, down to Valentine till the newest recruit, Jeremy Pontemercy. They all sat in a circular table in a circular room, almost how a mundane's senate room looked like.
"None from the last one Valentine." He replied. Samuel Pangborn sat on the left side of Valentine, meaning he was third in command. While on the right side was Stephen Herondale, Valentine's newest second in command after Luke's tragic death.
"What was their last fire message Samuel?" Stephen asked. Keeping his composure. He knew full well who was sent to the most important and dangerous mission they have ever planned. It was just unfortunate that all their female shadowhunters were taking in motherhood, even Céline who sat beside him at the table.
Samuel took a piece of paper out from his pocket and handed it to Valentine, Valentine read the message and nodded then passed on the message to Stephen. The note indicated that Amatis and Hodge arrived in the Adamant Citadel approximately two hours ago before the meeting started.
"Their mission is taking far too long." Stephen said unable to control the panic in his voice.
Valentine sat back on his chair. "Relax Stephen I'm pretty sure it would actually be a struggle to kidnap an Iron Sister since Amatis is the only one that can enter the Adamant Citadel."
"This isn't planned accordingly." Mayrse Lightwood said coming from the other side of the room. "We could have waited for the plan to be executed after a week or two so I can be with Amatis on this mission."
"I agree with Mayrse." Jia Penhallow started. "I believe in Amatis' skills, I mean we all do but this too much Valentine."
Valentine chuckled as the eyes of Mayrse and Jia glared at him. "You think so little of Amatis."
"Besides all Amatis needs to do is get Sister Magdalena out and Hodge can do the rest." Samuel defended.
Jia's frown grew wider. "It would still be difficult. Amatis might be facing hundreds of skilled Iron Sisters by now and since Hodge is a male shadowhunter he would not be able to give aid."
"And what would have you two suggest?" says Valentine as he stood from his seat. "We're running out of weapons and the Clave is starting to get suspicious if keep buying large masses of weapons. We need an Iron Sister to forge weapons for us and since every single female shadowhunter is producing the next generation of shadowhunters, I have nobody to send but Amatis." Valentine's voice echoed in the room. He had a point but Jia and Mayrse wasn't happy about it, even Stephen who sat quietly.
"Oh and if I do may add." Valentine continued. "Amatis was able to handle a pack of wolves back then when she was trying to rescue the both of you."
Mayrse opened her mouth to speak but she was cut off with a loud bang coming from beneath them. The portal down stairs was opening. The rest of the Circle members rushed down the stairs case and saw three figures, two were laying on the floor and the other was standing, a bow at the ready directed at the portal. Amatis stood over the portal as if she was waiting for something to come after them.
"Shut the portal." Stephen ordered as he rushed down the staircase along with Michael Wayland. The two shadowhunters grunted as they pushed on the heavy metal doors. Valentine and Samuel pulled over the two figures that was lying down the floor. Valentine attended to the unconscious Iron Sister while Samuel tended to Hodge's wounds. While Amatis stood at her guars, bow at the ready, waiting for something to come out. Suddenly a loud roar echoed in the room that sent Amatis flying two arrows at the portal as it came to a close.
"What was that Amatis?" Michael asked as they locked the portal.
"I actually have no idea. When I went out of the Adamant Citadel with Sister Magdalena on my back then I saw Hodge being chased by this unknown creature." Amatis explained clearly avoiding a particular pair of eyes.
Stephen looked at Amatis but she was clearly avoiding him. "Can you describe the creature?"
Amatis still refused to look at Stephen so she turned to face Valentine. "It had four legs, scales for a skin but it looked like one big lion. Could it be demon?"
"Now what would a demon have interest with Hodge?" Says Valentine as he hauled the unconscious Iron Sister in his arms. "Robert." Valentine called out. Robert stepped out behind his wife to help assist Valentine. "Put Sister Magdalena in the brig. We'll come back for her when she wakes."
"What happened to Hodge?" Jocelyn asked softly as she stood from above the stairs with a hand on her belly fully pregnant.
Amatis smiled at the sight of Jocelyn. "He tripped and fell face first as he tried to out run the creature." Amatis snorted with a grin. "I had to drag him all the way to the portkey of the portal."
"Poor Hodge." Jocelyn commented while the other members did their best to stifle their laughs. "Take him to the infirmary Jeremy."
The young shadowhunter did what he was told with the help of Michael Wayland. As Amatis was suddelny swarmed with shadowhunters, asking how she was. Amatis still felt Stephen's eyes on her but she refused to acknowledge his presence. Shortly Valentine came up and called everyone back up the room to have a debriefing for Amatis.
Amatis made everyone go up first and she went up last but little did she know that Stephen was behind her. He watched her limp on her way up. From the trail of blood Amatis was leaving Stephen concluded that she lost her stele and that she has a deep cut on left thigh.
"Sure you don't want to fix that up?" Stephen suggested from behind.
Amatis did not turn to look at Stephen. "The wound is an evidence to what the creature is. I can heal it later."
Stephen went up another step inching himself closer behind Amatis. "A memory rune can suffice with that information. We might be able to identify the creature through what you have seen."
Amatis turned and looked at Stephen with an amused look. "It's just a cut Stephen. I won't die from it."
Stephen went up another step, their eyes meeting each other. Stephen searched Amatis' face. He saw the changes in her face, there were dark moons underneath her beautiful baby blue eyes, her cheekbones was more prominent than before, indicating weight loss. Stephen had to fight every inch in his gut to pull Amatis into his arms. He did not agree to let Amatis lead the mission but what could he have done? Valentine calls the shots and even if Stephen was second in command everyone would still undergo Valentine's orders.
Amatis broke away from his gaze and mounted the steps of the stairs, wincing and biting her lip from the pain she received every time she climbed up the steps.
"It hurts doesn't? Stephen asks as he mounted the steps ahead of Amatis. "Put a healing rune on it. An iratze will do."
"Not all hurt I've felt faded away with an iratze." Says Amatis as she stepped up with all of her strength to take another step that would make her eye to eye with Stephen. Amatis swallowed as she took a look from the eyes of the person she used to love. She could never deny how his blue eyes always took her breath away. But those eyes looked at her now with no emotion, no love.
"Especially when the hurt you've felt came from those who promised that they wouldn't be the cause of it. You see Stephen I've learned how to take in pain for I've already felt the worst one." says Amatis as she watched Stephen's face contort and as a sharp stab of pain crept up his chest. For Amatis the greatest pain that she ever felt was when Stephen left her. He took one last look at Amatis and went up the stairs.
Amatis watched Stephen go as a single tear bloomed out of her eyes then down on her cheeks. Amatis hastily wiped the tears away and continued to climb up the stairs.