I do not own American Horror Story: Coven.

I do not own zombie boys. *relief*

On Dry Land

Chapter 14: Most Final of Finals

I can never compare the Academy to anything in my previous life.

But during the days leading up to the Seven Wonders, it so much like finals week I thought I might be stuck in a dream.

The witches were practicing their skills, becoming as strong and as fast and as smart in them as they could.

And they had no room for anything else.

I was really glad I was able to take care of myself again.

Or I might have died.

Again.

The coven guard dog, or whatever I was now that Misty Day announced they didn't need me to protect them, didn't need to understand the Seven Wonders.

But I did know that Zoe needed her space.

So when she piled her bed with books and levitated it off the floor, I didn't say anything. I left her alone. I put on the black headphones she bought me (after Mad Madison sullenly took hers back) and practiced my reading on the laptop.

I was up to Dr. Suess.

I might have thought he was weird, (I mean some of the animals in that zoo were creepy) but I lived in a house full of teenage witches.

So he was actually really boring.

But I was learning to read again.

And do math.

And write.

I wasn't completely dumb in these skills, just a little rusty.

And I wanted to get better.

I thought if Zoe didn't die in the Seven Wonders and I kept practicing and got good enough, I would write her little notes and jokes and leave them under her pillow or in her underwear drawer so she would find them and smile.

I had a lot of time to practice.

The house was so quiet I got nervous and jumpy and had to stop from whispering to myself when I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for my suppers at night.

But I didn't interrupt her.

I didn't ask for kisses or hugs, though I wanted them.

I didn't complain when I fell asleep alone or woke up by myself.

Because Zoe needed her time to get strong.

And survive.

I didn't care if she was the Supreme or not.

I just wanted her to live.

On Sunday, I dressed in my best somebody-else's suit to show my seriousness and support.

For Zoe.

Because I wanted her to succeed.

And not die.

I lit the candles, one a time, starting with Mad Madison's.

And ending with my Zoe's.

I didn't look at any of them.

Not until I got to her.

I kept my face blank, my eyes quiet.

You can do this, Zoe. I believe in you.

Then I stepped away and watched.

Misty was uncertain; she didn't know if she could do it.

Mad Madison, of course, never passed up an opportunity to be hateful.

"You can go back to your swamp."

I actually kind of hoped that she would. I thought she would be so much happier there, with her Stevie and her peaceful existence.

But I didn't speak.

It wasn't my place.

Misty's candle did come to her after some concentration, as did the others'.

I'm proud to say Zoe's was the fastest.

Concillium. Mind control.

Or something.

I wasn't really paying attention.

I was holding the wine tray, still as a statue.

Well, mostly.

Except there was a hair up my nose and I just could not get it out.

No one noticed, thankfully.

The girls were all having too much trouble.

Smacking each other around with their Jedi mind control powers and stuff.

It was kind of funny, actually.

Until Mad Madison and Zoe faced off.

I got a little scared then, wondering if they would claw each other's eyes out.

But I guess Mad Madison thought that would be too boring.

So she played with my wine tray.

I tried to control it, I really did.

But she won and I dropped it. The crystal goblets broke and wine spilled everywhere.

Then Mad Madison made Zoe slap herself.

And made me kiss her in front of everyone.

In front of Zoe.

I tried not to, I really did.

Standing there, forcing me to press my lips to hers, she still couldn't wipe the disgust off my face.

So she made me lick her boots instead.

Well, almost.

And I just knew then that one day I would kill her with my own two hands.

When Zoe bounced me to my feet like a dangly puppet and made me walk over and kiss her, I almost hated her too.

Almost.

But my hate was redirected at its well deserved target when Mad Madison made me wrap my hands around my sweet Zoe's delicate neck and choke her.

I saw the fear in her eyes.

I knew I would never be able to break free.

And when it was over and my Zoe was dead, I would kill everyone in that room for letting it happen.

Starting with Madison Montgomery.

The next test was something about going to hell and back.

They lay on the floor like big black flower petals, chanting in unison.

I saw Zoe hold Misty's hand for a moment before letting go.

They were competitors, adversaries in this series of tests.

And still they showed compassion for each other.

I almost smiled.

Almost.

Then they closed their eyes and slept.

I watched them, wondering where they were and what they were doing.

Queen woke up first, terrified by fried chicken.

Didn't I used to like fried chicken? Well, I guess I won't say anything to her about that now.

Then Mad Madison . . .

Oh, you're back. Bummer.

. . . ranting about musicals.

And then my sweet Zoe.

Oh thank God.

Who looked up at me with terror in her eyes.

And confessed that her version of hell was me.

Breaking up with her over and over, telling her I didn't love her anymore.

For a split second, I held my own terror of Mad Madison controlling me again and making me say it was true, that I didn't love her.

And making me kiss her again or screw her right in front of everyone, in front of Zoe.

But to my relief, none of that happened.

I was able to move and speak my own words.

And I did. I went to her, knelt in my dark suit. Kissed her hair and held her beautiful, sweet head gently for the few moments she fought to pull herself together.

It broke my heart to see her so upset and torn apart.

But another little secret part of me felt happy. Glad.

That she cared about me so much that it would do this to her.

Even when she moved, I stayed near her, wanting to prove that I would always be there for her.

Always.

Misty Day, the hippie swamp witch who tried to heal me with alligator dung and Stevie Nicks, never woke up.

I don't exactly know where she is or what she's doing.

I wonder if Stevie's songs are in there with her there.

I wish for her they are.

But I guess they're probably not.

It's sad to me; she always loved Stevie.

And she helped me when I couldn't help myself.

We waited all night for her.

I made drinks upon request and handed them out.

Tried to read books in my head when I got bored.

Look what we found in the park, in the dark. We will take him home. We will name him Clark.

Watched Zoe worry and wait.

And wondered if the night would ever end.

It was so long.

Everybody kept watch over her lifeless form.

Even Mad Madison shut up for a while.

Though I still don't think she cared.

Ms. Cordelia did. Her with her scar eyes. She cared plenty. She rocked Misty Day's still body and talked to her and tried to bring her back.

And she cried when the body crumbled to ashes.

I felt sad that Misty was gone away.

And I was just glad it wasn't Zoe.

Catch the Dr. Suess quote? Apparently it's quite disturbing, what with the big blue thing in the jar and all. Funny I never realized that as a kid. Ha.

Thanks to Nellychick123, brigid1318, Jurana Keri, MaverickPaxAPunch, littlexkiller, and Shuddering Guest for your great reviews!

Okay, Shuddering Guest, I know I said I didn't have any thoughts for the one shot. That lasted all of ten minutes and now I'm halfway through it. I'll let you know the title sometime in this story's author's notes. Yay for inspiration! And thanks :D