TW: CHILD ABUSE

Cordelia wasn't sure what she was expecting to see – she had heard from Queenie what had happened to Misty – but she wasn't expecting this. "Oh my god, Misty," she breathed, crossing the room and gently cupping Misty's face in her hands. "What the hell happened?"

"I'm sure you've heard," Misty said drily. "I beat Madison up, she may have gotten a few hits in, and then Robichaux lost her shit. Just at me, of course, cos' poor little helpless Maddie surely ain't responsible."

Misty's face was a patchwork of bruises and cuts, and she moved slowly, as if the slightest movement was agony – and maybe it was. Cordelia wanted to punch Miss Robichaux in the face for what she had done – and Madison, for that matter. "What have they done to you?"

"The usual, with a bit of extra spice," Misty said, and gave a very forced laugh, before wincing. "Ow. Shit. Can't laugh, I forgot."

"Misty," said Cordelia. "Misty, let me see."

Misty shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

Usually Cordelia admired Misty's stubborn ways – but now was not the time. Not when she was in pain. "Don't bullshit me, Misty, I know you're not fine," Cordelia snapped.

"You don't need to get mad, geez."

"I'm not mad at you," Cordelia said, softening. She touched Misty's hand as gently as possible, and when Misty didn't wince in pain, she lifted Misty's hand to her mouth and kissed her fingers. "I'm mad at that bitch Robichaux."

"And Venable," Misty added.

A fresh pang of anger shot through Cordelia's body, and she clenched her fists so that her fingernails cut sharply into her palms. "Oh, of course it was Venable!" she snarled.

Misty grinned at her. "You're hot when you're mad, but I still ain't showin' you."

Cordelia rolled her eyes at Misty's flirtation. "I can help."

"How?"

"I know plants, and I've also had my fair share of bruises," Cordelia said, thinking of the many times her mother had hit her. "So shut up and let me help you."

Misty sighed, relenting. She turned around, pulling her skirt down to show Cordelia the damage. Her backside, and entire lower back, was covered in ugly red welts, purple bruises, and dried blood. Cordelia couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her. "Jesus, Misty."

"Jesus sure as hell wasn't there when this went down."

Cordelia let out a short laugh, before taking a small glass jar out of her pocket. "Alright, this is going to be cold," she said. She had gone for a walk in the forest the week before and had come across a patch of arnica flowers. She had picked them, thinking of how liberal the staff here were with the punishments, and had made arnica oil with some stolen olive oil from the kitchen. The flowers hadn't had quite enough time to strain as she wanted, but they would have to do. Besides, it was better than nothing. She smeared the stuff as gently as she could over Misty's injuries.

Misty breathed in sharply. "Shit."

"Sorry," said Cordelia apologetically. She couldn't stand to see Misty in pain, but she had to do this – she knew from experience that the oil worked wonders on bruises. "It'll help, I promise."

"What is it?" Misty asked through gritted teeth.

Cordelia hated seeing her in pain – she wanted to hurt Miss Robichaux and Ms Venable for what they had done. No, not hurt – she wanted to kill them. It was no less than they deserved. "Arnica oil," she replied. "I found the flowers in the forest a week ago. They're really good with bruises."

"Well, I trust you."

"Good," Cordelia said, and applied the oil as gently as she could, not wanting to give Misty any additional pain.

"You know, this isn't how I imagined the first time showin' you my butt," Misty said.

Cordelia couldn't contain her snort of laughter. "Honestly, this isn't how I imagined I would first touch your butt, so I guess we're even."

They laughed for a bit, and Cordelia finished applying the oil. "Done."

"Thanks," said Misty gratefully, pulling her clothes back on. "It actually feels better already."

"Yeah, it's good stuff," Cordelia said, and handed her the jar. "Here. Put it on morning and night, it should help prevent inflammation and should make the bruises less painful."

"You're a genius."

"No, I'm not," Cordelia said, thinking of all the time she'd spent with her dad, learning this stuff from him. "It's just experience."

"How'd you learn all this stuff about plants?"

Cordelia sighed. "My dad. Botany was his favourite thing in the world. He taught me how to identify plants and how to use them."

"Why do you sound so sad about that?" Misty asked, frowning.

"He died."

"Oh, shit," Misty whispered. She hugged Cordelia tightly, despite the pain it must have caused her. "I'm sorry, Delia."

Cordelia shook her head, and smiled sadly at Misty, "It's not your fault, you don't need to apologise."

"Whose fault is it?"

"My mother's." Cordelia couldn't explain how she knew that Fiona did it – she just knew. She could feel it. Fiona was so evil she was barely human – of course she killed Cordelia's father. She wanted his money, his house, his daughter, all to herself.

"Oh, shit, really?"

"Well, officially, it was a suicide," Cordelia said, and rolled her eyes because she knew that it absolutely wasn't a suicide. "But he wouldn't have done that. He was happy, I know he was, and he never would have left me alone with… with that woman."

"I'm so sorry, Delia," Misty said softly, and took Cordelia's hand. "My parents are shitty as well, but at least they ain't dead. Or murderers."

"How are they shitty?"

"Well, they got rich a couple of years back, but my siblings are still wearing clothes that are too small for them. My parents spend their time too drunk and too high to care about their hungry kids. And then they sent me here, so I can't even help my siblings out."

"That's awful," Cordelia breathed. At least she didn't have to worry about looking after her siblings as well – her mother might have been an evil murderer, but at least Cordelia could look after herself. She couldn't imagine how hard it must be for Misty, to have to worry about her siblings without actually being able to help them. "Can I – I don't know what I can do, but can I help?"

Misty shook her head. "Nah, it's alright. My siblings don't want me there, anyway – it's probably better that I'm here, away from them all."

"Don't say that!" Cordelia protested. "How could they not want you?"

"No, it's true," Misty assured her. "They've made my siblings think I'm the devil's spawn, just because I'm gay. I swear, it's much better for all of us that I'm here."

Cordelia shook her head. How was it possible for her to be angry at people she'd never even met? "That's horrible, Misty, I'm so sorry."

"It ain't your fault!" Misty said vehemently. She shrugged. "Besides, my sister Lizzy's okay. She's thirteen, and she's way too smart to believe any of their bullshit. And now I've got you, so I know it'll be okay."

Cordelia kissed her softly. An idea was beginning to stir in her mind – she wasn't sure if it was the worst idea she'd ever had, or the best. "We should run away."

Misty raised her eyebrows. "What?"

"Let's run away from here. Just us." The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. What did they have to lose? Cordelia couldn't think of anything. She and Misty both hated their families. They both despised the school. Cordelia knew if she stayed, she would never get out from under her mother's finger – Fiona would marry her off to some rich old guy and Cordelia would live her life as some trophy wife. She would die if that happened – she was determined not to let that be her future.

"When?" Misty asked, her cheeks still flushed from the kiss. Cordelia noted happily that though Misty hadn't agreed, she also hadn't shot down the idea. "How would we get out? Where would we go?"

"I don't know yet," Cordelia admitted. They would need time to sort out all the details, collect supplies, buy bus tickets, etc. "But I do know that we can't stay here. We're only going to keep getting hurt, by this school and by our parents."

Misty's answer surprised her. "Okay."

"Okay?" Cordelia said, hardly daring to believe it.

Misty grinned, and she put her hands on Cordelia's waist, bringing her in closer. "Okay, let's do it, let's get the hell out of this place."

"Okay!" Cordelia said, and laughed.

Misty laughed too. "I'm so glad I met you, Delia."

"Not as glad as me," Cordelia whispered, and leaned in to kiss her again.

Chapter titles comes from 'Rooms on Fire' by Stevie Nicks.