Sunrise spilt over the horizon. It bled its colours into the sky, streaking the clouds with oranges, yellows and pinks. Morning's soft light fell on the two witches, solitary figures, surrounded by silent stone. Misty rubbed her eyes and looked around. She hadn't seen the graveyard in the daytime since the day Cordelia had saved her. This city of the dead looked different in the warm light of day. The tombs looked naked without the veil of soft moonlight upon them. Without the cover of darkness, the houses of the dead seemed overwhelming in number. Misty felt as if she were surrounded by ghosts.
She ached all over. Her back hurt a lot. She didn't want to sit here anymore, but she didn't relish the thought of moving either. Cordelia stood up and offered Misty her hand. She was wearing sunglasses and a black dress trimmed with lace at the neckline. She could easily be attending a funeral here today. Her blonde hair shone like a halo. Misty thought she looked like an angel come to earth to comfort the souls of the wandering dead.
Misty took Cordelia's hand and stood up. Her back flared with pain and she grimaced. Cordelia frowned.
"Are you okay?" Cordelia said. "I woke up and you weren't there."
"How did you know where to find me?" Misty said.
"Give me some credit," Cordelia smiled, "I am the Supreme after all."
Misty gave her a half hearted smile. Cordelia squeezed her hand.
"Let's get you home," she said.
Misty shook her head. Her curls flew. She grabbed Cordelia by the upper arms.
"I need to talk to you first," said Misty. "It's real important Delia."
Cordelia took hold of Misty's arms, lowering them gently. Then she took Misty's hands in her own. She smiled and gently kissed her forehead.
"Come on," she said.
Cordelia led Misty by the hand through the cemetery. They stopped at a weathered old tomb, carved into the shape of a coffin. Its mottled grey stone was cracked and chipped. Any engravings had been long worn away. They sat down together upon it. Cordelia took off her sunglasses and put them in her bag. She gazed attentively into Misty's eyes and waited for her to begin.
Misty stared at her boots.
"I didn't want to bother you with this," she began.
"Sweetheart we've spoken about this!" Cordelia said.
"I know, I know," said Misty, "but you were so busy. And I really thought I could handle it on my own."
She looked into Cordelia's dark eyes.
"But I can't," she said, "I need your help."
"Of course," said Cordelia, smiling, "I've got a potion that helps with restful sleep back at the green house."
"That won't help," Misty said.
She ran a hand through her wild blonde curls.
"I don't think it's a dream," she said. "It's a vision. Like the ones you have."
"Oh," said Cordelia.
Cordelia tucked her hair behind her ears. She rubbed Misty's back gently.
"If that's the case," she said. "We can figure it out together. Now, describe your vision to me."
Misty took a deep breath and began. She told Cordelia about the long dark hall, the feeling of foreboding, and the urgent need to find someone. She told her about the room. And the terrible thing inside it.
"Did you recognise anyone in the vision?" Cordelia asked.
"Only myself," Misty said, turning one of her rings round and round on her finger.
Cordelia's head cocked slightly to the side.
"Yourself?" she asked.
Misty nodded.
"I wasn't in control of my body," Misty said. "But it was definitely me walking down that hallway. I was there in that room."
Cordelia put her hand on Misty's shoulder.
"Misty, visions can be confusing," she said.
Misty shrugged her hand away.
"Look, I know what I saw," she said. "I know what my own hands look like!"
She stood up and began to pace back and forth.
"I don't remember visiting that place before. I don't remember those people. So it must be a vision of the future, right?"
She stopped and looked to Cordelia for confirmation. Cordelia was rubbing her hands together.
"It's possible," she said.
"Possible?" Misty threw her arms in the air, then let them fall to her sides with a defeated slap. She let out a frustrated breath and began pacing again.
"I have to know for sure," Misty said. "The evil in that room, it was so powerful."
Cordelia stood up and walked into Misty's path. Misty was staring so hard at her boots that she walked straight into her and fell forward. Cordelia grabbed her by the waist and steadied her. Then she kissed her.
Misty closed her eyes and kissed her back, pulling her closer. She took Cordelia's face in her hands. She ran her fingers through her hair. She let Cordelia's body bring her comfort.
Finally they stood, foreheads touching, breathing heavy.
"When will you understand?" said Cordelia. "Nothing can harm you. I won't allow it."
Misty smiled.
"Now come back to the house," Cordelia said. "I think I have a spell that can help you."