Preserved and Forgotten
A week has passed since the beautiful dream Amatis and Stephen had. For the two shadowhunters it was hard to wake up to reality, for them it meant to be apart. Stephen was back into routine, go on missions with Valentine, excusing himself from overnight missions to stay with Céline and late at night he would curl up next to Amatis. Amatis on the other hand had a more difficult time, between her works in the apothecary with Jeremy, they had to switch shifts so Valentine can use her expertise more in the Circle. Valentine has her brewing antidotes after antidotes for various types of venom from vampires, werewolves and even demons. For Amatis it made her question her whole belief in the Circle, she didn't want to this anymore. She wanted to yell and tell them that Downworlders are not the problem here but it was their ideals. Shadowhunters keep fighting for the wrong things and ideals which led them to their deaths.
In the dead of night, a group of gifted and skilled shadowhunters with a radical belief gathered at their Circle Manor and watched Valentine unravel their next attack.
"My dear brothers and sisters, for 2000 years our fellow shadowhunters has died in vain from the offspring of demons-" at that note Valentine's eyes shifted slightly to Amatis. Amatis knew that Valentine meant Luke at that statement. For a time Amatis believed that Luke being bitten by a wolf was an accident. She also believed that it was because of her refusal to help her own brother that was why he took his own life. But that wasn't the case anymore. Luke died in vain and it could have been avoided. Amatis knew that she would still have her brother by her side if only Luke and Valentine did not venture out in Brocelind Plain. At a bigger picture it all seemed planned out. Luke was betrayed and deceived. It was the same with the Circle now, Valentine has his fingers ruthlessly wrapped around their fingers and slowly he would betray and deceive them. All Amatis kept praying was that the God above would forgive them for killin innocent beings. All because of one ideal and it was Valentine's ideal of purity.
"And now the Clave wants to just make peace with them?! Signing an Accord or a treaty will not purify our world. It will not save us from them, it would only bring us closer to the brink of extinction!" Valentine shouts to his members and for some they clapped, cheered and agreed with Valentine, brainwashed by his ideals. Amatis stood at the corner and looked at them blankly. She felt a pair of blue eyes in peripheral, Stephen. Amatis wanted so bad to look at him and hold him in the fear of their Circle's wrong ideals but she stood firm. She did cast a single glance at him for she knew that somehow, Valentine might be watching or one of his loyal followers were.
"And now my fellow nephilim with help of our wonderful Iron Sister, Sister Magdalena has forged weapons for us, arming us for the great battle ahead." Says Valentine says as Sister Magdalen a appeared from the dark. Everyone applauded for her but she did not smile nor casted them a look. Sister Magdalena looked down on her feet as if guilt was consuming her of the unbecoming of shadowhunters.
"To Hodge and Amatis who has created antidotes to save us of their impurities!" Valentine rejoiced, his eyes ever so slightly glancing at Amatis' direction, watching her every move. Like a pageant queen, Amatis smiled a genuine smile as they clapped to her and Hodge. Hodge honestly did all the research while Amatis was the one who actually brewed the antidotes and executed it.
After the meeting has ended and shadow hunters grabbing their weapons, Mayrse Light wood slowly made her way towards Amatis who was leaning beside the window with arms crossed and a furrowed brow as she watched other shadowhunters grab their weapons as if they were a child receiving a toy for the first time.
Mayrse stood next to Amatis and followed her gaze and said: "What has Valentine done to us?"
Amatis looked at the shadowhunter beside her. "Has has reuined us." Says Amatis codly.
"What are we going to do about it?" Maryse asked, her brown eyes searching Amatis', desperate for an answer.
"I don't know Mayrse." Amatis shifted her position and placed a hand on Mayrse's shoulder. Looking at her brown orbs intently. "But if I were you, I'd leave this all behind. Tell Robert and if he doesn't agree with you then you go on your own. Do it for the sake of your consciousness. If not for yours then do it for the sake of your son, Alexander. You wouldn't want him to grow up in sins of his parents when all of this fails."
Mayrse squeezed Amatis' hand on her shoulder and closed her eyes. As if she was summing up courage from Amatis. "By the Angel Amatis, I hope I have courage to tell Robert tonight."
Amatis smiled at Mayrse. "The both of you will make it through. Just trust your heart Mayrse."
Amatis shut the door or her house as she shivered. It was truly cold outside for snow started falling over Idris. Amatis hanged her coat and made her way to the kitchen. Once she was in the kitchen she felt herself being lifted off the ground with strong arms.
"Stephen!" She squeals. As Stephen spun her around in his arms. Giving him chaste kisses on her neck.
Stephen settled her down and kissed her. As their lips touched, every worry and threat melted away. In each other's arms they were safe, in each other's arms they were home.
"Did I mention that I've missed you?" Stephen says as his kisses drifted down to Amatis' neck.
Amatis' eyes closed in pleasure as she felt his lips on her neck. "You don't need to. Just show me." her voice sounding like a whisper and seductively.
Stephen's eyes looked at Amatis' hungrily and grinned at her. "As you wish." He says, his voice almost in a growl.
Amatis squirmed in Stephen's arms as he brought her up to their bedroom. Making love to her as if it was his last.
"I'm parched." Stephen mumbled as it took every ounce of strength to detach himself from Amatis. He wanted to stay in bed and wrap his body around hers. Stephen kissed Amatis' forehead before asking; "Do you want anything?"
Amatis' eyes fluttered open. "Tea please." A small smile played on Amatis' swollen lips. Before standing up, Stephen prompted himself on his arms and leaned down to kiss Amatis' lips lightly.
"Earl or Green?" Stephen asks as he got off the bed, looking for his boxers.
"I want Earl." Says Amatis amusingly. "The duck."
Stephen turned to look with at her with disbelief written all over his face. "You want a monster over this?" Stephen asks as his hand gestured over his half naked body.
Amatis laughed at how ridiculous it was that Herondales were overly fond of their looks but not to a certain bird species. Even Marcus, Stephen's father had to make the Morgensterns take the little ducklings out of their lake to reduce the breading of ducks.
Stephen made his way down to the stairs. As he went down he felt a cold blow of wind passed by him. It was impossible because all windows and doors were shut. He looked around carefully and saw something quite odd. The front door was slightly open. Stephen walked over slowly to the door thinking if maybe Amatis wasn't able to shut the door properly a while ago. But even so Stephen closed the door and made his way to the kitchen.
It was dusk already as Stephen finished his writing his letter. Stephen placed a small silver box on Amatis' night table and placed the folded paper underneath the box. He then made his way next to Amatis who was sleeping soundly. Stephen sat beside the bed and tucked a hair behind Amatis' ear as he studied her beautiful face. Ever since Stephen was back into Amatis' life he was able to genuinely happy even if it was for a short time. Stephen studied Amatis' face, the way the jaw was prominently curved on her face, her cheeks slightly pink from the cold weather, her swollen and succulent lips that caressed Stephen's fingers as he lightly touched it, the way her brown lashes curled up and her caramel hair sprawled on the bed. Everything about her was special to Stephen. Everything even his own life.
"You betrayed me!" Valentine screamed at her. His seralph blade slightly piercing her throat. Amatis tried to wiggle her body of the right restraints but she couldn't, her arms were stuck behind her back and her legs felt like they were glued together.
"I think I should be the one saying that Valentine." Says a voice that surprised Amatis for it came out from her mouth although it did not seem to her voice instead it was Stephen's.
"You dare accuse me of betraying you?!" Valentine shouted pressing the tip of his blade deeper on Amatis' neck. Amatis winced at the pain for it felt truly real. The warm blood dripping down her neck was truly real.
"Céline." Stephen's voice says. "What did you do to my wife and to my son!" the voice cried out this time. Amatis felt her body shudder as tears started spilling out of her eyes, making the sight of Valentine watery but an anger boiled inside of her.
"They were innocent! You used Céline as a Guinea pig, making her drink something not of this world that has infected my unborn son! My son who hasn't been born has tasted your cruelty! Haven't I done all of your orders all your requests and favors?! Yet you stab me at the back!" the voice shouted. "Valentine you promised me that no Céline would not be harmed in all of this once I left Amatis! That these two women you played and wrapped your fingers around them would be left alone if I do what you have asked of me! Yet still nothing was enough for you? So who betrayed first Valentine?"
"Stephen Herondale." Valentine breathed, leaning closer to Amatis' face. She could see his dark eyes riddled with anger and evil. "You still betrayed me. You thought you could fool me?! I know who you're sleeping with at night. The one you hold dearly at night. The one you truly love."
"Valentine-"
"No you listen to me insufferable bastard!" Valentine shouted, hurting Amatis' ears. "I have eyes and ears everywhere Stephen and with that I'll make sure that this will get to Amatis."
Valentine pushed Stephen to the ground and sank his seralph blade right on Stephen's heart. Slowly pushing it deeper and deeper. Amatis could feel her chest burning and blood oozing out.
"Amatis." Stephen whispered as his soul faded out of his lifeless body.
Amatis jolted up from her sleep, clutching the fabric of her shirt. As she clutched her shirt, she felt something warm and wet. By the nightstand Amatis grabbed her witchlight and illuminated it over her chest. A cry of pain escaped Amatis' lips as she saw the rune that Stephen placed on her chest, wounded and bleeding. Amatis cried out again knowing full well what it meant. From her insides it felt like a chord snapped, her connection to Stephen was gone, forever.
1 week later…
Amatis stood before the Herondale Mausoleum side by side with Imogen. Beside her Stephen's mother endlessly sobbed, from the start of the ceremony till the end. A lot of people came to Stephen and Marcus' memorial. A lot of shadowhunters payed their respect to the two Herondales but something surprised Amatis while the ceremony was at play with people around. All of them, every single one of them recognized her as the wife, little did they know that the real wife has passed on too along with Stephen's unborn child. At the thought of Stephen's child sent another pain stabbing into Amatis' chest. Finally tears spilled out of her eyes. Amatis' knees grew weak and she gave into the ground. Imogen joined Amatis, holding as her tightly, as if Imogen was grasping strength from Amatis.
Imogen has left and Amatis was alone, facing the mausoleum. Her thoughts recalling all the nights Stephen has spent with her from the moment they first met in the academy.
"The weather is too cold to be out Miss Graymark." Says a voice that startled Amatis from her thought.
Amatis abruptly stood and looked behind her. There in front of her Amatis saw a Silent Brother, Brother Zacharaia.
"Brother Zacharaia." Her voice croaked, obviously dry and cold.
Brother Zacharaia took something out of his robe, a paper rolled up into a gold ribbon, a scroll.
"This is Stephen Herondale's last will and testament." Says Brother Zacharaia, his voice sounding quite sorrowful.
"But I am not the wife nor the mother."
"It has been specifically addressed to you Amatis." Brother Zacharaia held out the scroll towards her. "I suggest you take it."
Amatis reluctantly took the scroll. The scroll felt alive and heavy in her hand. When she was about to ask about the scroll, Brother Zacharia has already left, leaving Amatis to her thoughts.
A/N: Omg... I cannot believe that it took me almost a week to write this chapter waaaaaah. School has been keeping me busy but at least here's the update. So I basically killed Stephen here and my heart broke like... It too me days to actually think of a way to kill him and I am so emotional that my fic is actually coming to a close.
So thank you for all those viewers and all. It really means so much to me that you guys actually take time to read this stupid fic. Tsym!