Cordelia stood outside Zoe's door. She went to knock but then hesitated and bowed her head. She concentrated and pictured Zoe's face in her mind's eye. As she focused her powers, she could see more of Zoe's surroundings. The picture was hazy and incomplete, but she could make out Queenie, Kyle and some of the students standing with her. They were downstairs, dealing with the problem of the leaking roof.
She didn't think Zoe would mind if she used her bathroom, considering everything they had been though together. Cordelia let herself into Zoe's room and closed the door quietly behind her. She crossed the room quickly. She couldn't wait to strip off her dirty clothes. They were still wet, but the mud had started to harden and dry, sticking them to her skin. For the first time that night she realised just how uncomfortable they really were. She couldn't bear the thought of wearing them for another second.
Cordelia closed the door of Zoe's ensuite and peeled the layers of clothing off, letting them fall to the floor with a slap of wet material. She thought of Misty, alone now for the first time. Would she be all right? Not long ago she had been a fearful and helpless little dove. The sudden appearance of the garden in the bathroom seemed to have awoken Misty to her former self. The experience had been a shock, but Cordelia was glad for it now.
She stepped into the bath. The warmth came as a welcome bliss to her cold and tired limbs. She lay back and closed her eyes, letting the water soothe her sore body. But her mind was still racing. It was impossible to completely relax. The Academy was a safe place, mostly, and Misty was capable of defending herself, but she still ached to know Misty was all right. Not having her in the room was hard. She reached out for her with her mind and magic. She didn't picture her, the way she had with Zoe, she didn't need to. Misty was a familiar feeling.
She felt her essence straight away, moving around the house, like a candle flame moving in the darkness. She felt her like a warmth growing in her chest, a longing for breath in her lungs, a growing ache in all of her limbs. This was the way Misty always made her feel now. Maybe it was the way she had always felt. Before the Seven Wonders her mind and heart had been infected by the curling, twisting shadow of Fiona that lived inside her. Now she was letting herself feel without fear for the first time. And her feelings came like a rushing tide, as overwhelming and powerful as her magic had become.
Cordelia relaxed in the bath, her mind's eye on the flickering candle that was Misty. She let it bring her comfort. She slowly washed the dirt away and then stepped out of the bath and dried herself off. She got dressed in her white nightgown and resolved to check on Misty.
She left Zoe's bathroom as neat as she had found it and walked out into the hall. Misty's energy was emanating from downstairs. She was in the green house. Of course. Cordelia smiled and headed down. She reached out with her magic and forced a student who was about to walk up the staircase to about face and walk back the way she had come. She didn't feel like talking to anyone but Misty.
Cordelia made her way to the green house and opened the door. Misty was inside, sitting cross legged on a blanket. Her hair was beginning to dry and spring back into curls again. She was sucking jam off one of her fingers. In her other hand she held a half eaten bagel, coated in jam. There were several more bagels on plate on a table nearby. Misty grinned when she saw Cordelia. Cordelia walked into the greenhouse and shut the door behind her.
"Hi!" Misty said. "Do you want one? They're really good."
Cordelia smiled and grabbed a bagel from the plate. She sat down on the blanket facing Misty and began to eat it. She realised she was starving.
"These are good!" she said.
Misty laughed. She finished her bagel and dusted her hands off. Then she sat forward and put her chin in her hands, her elbows resting on her crossed legs.
"This house has good vibes now Miss Cordelia," she said. "Real good. You're the new Supreme aren't you? "
Cordelia finished her mouthful and nodded. Misty reached forward and gently touched Cordelia's cheek with her fingertips. She traced the outline of Cordelia's brow.
"Is that how..." she trailed off.
"Yes," Cordelia said, "when I became the Supreme my eyes were healed."
She turned away from Misty, who let her hand fall away.
"I should have never subjected you to the trials", she said. "None of you should have gone through that torment."
She took a deep breath, her eyes were glassy with tears. She looked at Misty.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry for what happened to you."
Misty's brow furrowed and she shook her head.
"No, no, no!" Misty said.
She scooted forwards and sat right in front of Cordelia.
"You saved me Miss Cordelia!" she said. "Not once, but twice. No one's ever cared about me the way you do. Not my family, not anybody. You have such a kind soul, such a good heart. Don't ever feel bad for what happened to me. Don't you dare. "
Cordelia laughed and hitched a little sob at the same time. Tears spilled over onto her cheeks. Misty brushed her tears away. She tucked a loose strand of wet hair behind Cordelia's ear. Her hand lingered there. Cordelia took it in her own and kissed Misty softly on the palm. She tasted the salt of tears and the sweetness of strawberry jam.
"You have no idea how much it means to me to have you back," Cordelia said, in a husky voice.
"I love you Misty Day."
Misty's eyes went wide.
"You do?" Misty said.
Cordelia laughed and nodded. Misty gave her a dazzling smile.
"In that case..." Misty said.
She leaned forward and kissed Cordelia softly on the lips. Cordelia closed her eyes and kissed her back. The room disappeared as she lost herself in Misty's kiss. Misty was her world and her world was perfect.