As it stands, warning for content. (This chapter is rather tame)

Rated M

Music to listen to: Mhysa, from the GoT soundtrack. Mother, in low Valyrian.

Co-written with graceonce on tumblr.

Cordelia couldn't help but thank her lucky stars. The new girl, the newest addition to her growing coven of students, was more than she'd expected. Rather pretty compared to other budding teenagers, and quiet, so quiet. A breath of fresh air compared to Queenie's whines and Madison's bitching. She was rather pleasant to be around, she had a nice smile, she let herself be pulled by the tide.

It's horrible, but Cordelia wasn't one to like the girls who fight back.

It'd been a long time since Miss Robichaux's Academy has been this full, she mused as she rummaged through her ingredients cabinet. Four girls. That was three more than a mere two years ago, something Cordelia didn't think she'd be able to achieve. It used to be just Madison and her and Nan had followed not long after that. Queenie was rather new. But even with the new recruits, the fact remained, the coven was dying.

If she was being honest with herself, the blonde headmistress couldn't give two shits about the coven itself. It hadn't helped her after all these years, why should she help it?

For the girls, she guessed. For the girls.

They made her feel alive.

Well. One, anyway. Two, maybe, now that Zoe had joined their ranks.

She straightened as she heard the greenhouse's door open and close. She didn't have to turn to know who it was. She could smell the familiar perfume and she could hear the familiar click of heels. She sighed softly, almost giddily. "What is it, darling?"

"I need your permission for a little field trip."

Cordelia's dark eyes glanced sideways at Madison Montgomery, and she couldn't help but appreciate the champagne dress the actress was wearing. Her eyes raked up the girl's body before meeting her hazel eyes. "Isn't it a little late for a field trip?"

"No."

The headmistress bit the inside of her cheek and put down the vials she'd been holding before turning to face Madison. She leaned her hip on the counter and crossed her arms. "Where are you going?"

"I thought I'd show Zoe a little bit of New Orleans, since it's her first time here, and I'm supposed to be welcoming, or whatever word it was that you used."

"The city's big. Where are you going."

Madison scowled. "It's just this little block party that-"

"No." Cordelia turned away and reached for a beaker above her head.

"No?" The honey blonde echoed, eyes wide. "Why not?"

"We both know you drink way too much, you'll get yourself in trouble." Cordelia answered easily.

The actress scoffed. "I'll be careful, I swear."

"No, you won't be. And I'd rather not have to go get you and Zoe from a 'little block party'." She smirked. "What would the tabloids think if they found out you passed out and had to be driven home by your teacher?" A look of worry and hurt flashed on Madison's face. Her weak point. Her reputation. Or what was left of it.

She suddenly narrowed her eyes. "You're jealous."

Cordelia looked her up and down. "Jealous."

"Yeah, you don't want me to go out because you're afraid I'll meet someone." Madison snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. "You do this every time, it's getting ridiculous. I can't leave to go grocery shopping without you harping after me."

The older blonde's eyes flashed dangerously. "Watch your tongue, Madison."

The young witch's features softened as she grinned and sidled up to Cordelia's side. "You don't like sharing, I get it."

"Or," Cordelia snapped. "Maybe I don't want you proving to Zoe that joining the coven was a bad idea."

"Or maybe you don't like sharing." Madison place a small kiss on Cordelia's cheek. "Zoe'll be fine. She's boring, but I can tell that she wants to party. The girl needs it. Please, Foxxy?"

Cordelia grimaced at Madison. She hated the nickname, but she had to tolerate it. It was better than Cordy. "I think I said no."

Madison pulled the headmistress flush against her, her lips traveling up her jawline and to her ear. "Please, Cordelia? I'll make it up to you."

Cordelia grasped the girl's arm and pulled her away. "If I remember well, you promised me that you'd do whatever I asked you to do."

"It's one party."

"One too many."

"Cordelia. You're hurting me."

The headmistress let go of the witch and turned back to her potions. "Do whatever you want. But you'll regret it, one way or another."

Madison believed her, but she kissed Cordelia goodbye anyway before sauntering out of the greenhouse.

And Cordelia couldn't believe she'd chosen her. The girl was unreliable. It was a wonder she hadn't mentioned their…relationship to anyone. Though the older blonde guessed that even if she did decide to tell, no one would believe her. She was a meth head and a drunk and an attention whore. And that was the only safe bet with Cordelia keeping Madison all to herself.

She'd realized that years ago, when the fifteen year old girl had first stepped into the academy, puffy eyed from crying with knobbly knees she hadn't grown into yet. She'd been more than eager to give her love and attention to the blonde headmistress. It hadn't taken long for Cordelia to sneak into the witch's bed. Maybe it was her big hazel eyes, maybe it was the honey in her voice, and maybe, just maybe, if Cordelia admitted it to herself, it was Madison's thirst for unconditional want and need for flattery that had pulled the blonde in like a moth to a flame. She wanted to give her that, she wanted to be the sole source of those feelings, she wanted to completely own the girl.

And now that she did, she wasn't about to let go.

Though, she had to admit, Zoe was cute. And she didn't talk a lot. She filed the thought away in the back of her head, turning back to her potions as the greenhouse's door opened again.

This perfume was familiar too, but not in a good way. It reminded her of whiskey and unkempt men and of so many nights crying herself to sleep. And even though she knew who was coming up behind her, Cordelia jumped and yelped anyway, her beaker slipping through her fingers and breaking into a million pieces on the floor.

She turned to meet the Supreme's dark hazel eyes. The blood in her veins froze and her hands began to shake as she grabbed onto the counter. Five now made six, and two could keep a secret as long as a third didn't stick her witchy nose into it. But the third always did. That was her habit.

Fiona Goode was home.