The Moon Garden

Night settled on Ash Forest Academy, and you found yourself out in a courtyard, moonlight glowing down upon the party happening. Big vats of colorful potions bubbled and frothed everywhere you looked, it seemed, and fourth year students were scooping out ladlefuls and distributing the potions.

They seemed to have a varying array of effects, some beneficial to the drinker and some negative. You watched one skinny first year boy down a violet potion and become a total flirt, and a good one, too. He had a cute brunette from House Pegasus fawning all over him, after all.

You also watched one guy drink a crimson potion and transform into a bat which promptly flapped away panickedly, so who knew where the fuck he’d wake up this morning.

You decided to avoid the potions and tried to spot one of your friends in the throng of students who were partying in this courtyard.

It was impossible to find any, and you kept having people bump into you while walking. Several pretty girls grabbed your hand as you walked, pulling you into a dance of some kind, but the crowd kept pulling you away from those pretty girls, unfortunately.

One such pretty girl sported a rack that put anyone you’d ever seen to shame. She had pale blond hair, and a smile that would make men kill for her. You’d only had a few seconds with her before someone pushed in and stolen her away.

Four years’ worth of students in the same not particularly large courtyard really was a madhouse.

Finally, you bumped into someone you knew, Keira, and she threw her arms around your neck to keep you close, and you put your hands on her hips, which did a teasing little wriggle when you did.

“This party is crazy this year! There’s never this many people, they’ll have to find a new place for it next year!” Keira shouted over the loud music.

“Yeah, this is insane.” you agreed, and one guy bumped into Keira from behind, probably copping a feel from the look she shot over her shoulder, but it ended up pushing her right up against you.

“Have you seen Alissa?” you wondered, glancing around.

“Nope.” Keira shook her head, “I’ve lost my own boyfriend in this craziness.”

You laughed, but the reminder of Liam’s existence made you step back from Keira a bit.

Cheers suddenly erupted from somewhere behind you, and you turned to try and see what was going on, only to discover the skinny first year who’d drank the violet potion was kissing Harmony Ashcroft right in front of everyone.

“Wow. Harmony Ashcroft with a skinny first year? She’ll probably hang herself after tonight.” Keira said in amazement.

“Is that Michael Eldric?” you wondered, recalling the name from earlier.

“Nope.” Keira replied.

“Not even a High Four member? Maybe you’re right.” you chuckled. You couldn’t deny a bit of jealousy, but you’d spent today fucking Professor Rebecca Dove. Who Harmony did and didn’t kiss wasn’t really high on your radar.

Now, Alissa? Maybe being inside her head created some kind of tight psionic bond with her, because you couldn’t get her out of your head, ironically.

“Probably her first kiss, too.” Keira said with a laugh.

“Not a fan of Harmony’s?” you grinned.

“She’s far too uptight for me. Now, you? I bet she loves you, Mr. Maximum Score.” Keira winked, no malice in her words.

“She seemed friendly enough. Not exactly warm, but not heartless.” you shrugged.

Liam pushed through the crowd finally, and Keira smiled when she saw him.

“Bout time! I thought you’d been trampled. See ya, Luke.” Liam said apologetically, pulling Keira away. You laughed, and watched the couple quickly vanish into the crowd.

You were surprised when another girl took Keira’s spot near instantly, and a girl you didn’t recognize at that.

She was a gorgeous Phoenix girl, with long silky straight black hair, brown eyes, and flawless tanned skin.

The two of you danced for a minute before Alec Kyrie of all people showed up and tugged her away. She went with a laugh.

A hand touched your back, and you spun to find Harmony Ashcroft there, looking a bit ill.

“You OK?” you asked her, slipping your arms around her waist, “Had a fun time kissing?”

“You… stop teasing.” Harmony huffed adorably, “He’s on some kind of alluring potion.”

You laughed, and wrapped your arms a little tighter around Harmony, and to your amazement, she cuddled up to your chest.

“I didn’t like kissing him.” Harmony said distastefully, “Little thug groped me.”

“You do have an incredible body.” you shrugged, and Harmony glanced up at you with her pretty sage eyes. You wondered briefly if she’d get upset at you but she just laid her head back against your chest.

“I don’t know why I even come to this party. I never have a good time.” Harmony muttered.

“Well, you’ve only been twice now.” you reminded her. She snorted.

“I feel like I’ve been here a million times.” Harmony sighed.

“Do you want to leave?” you asked. She looked up at you again.

“If you come with me.” Harmony said, then looked surprised at herself for saying it. You smiled and took her by the hand, your fingers lacing tightly together.

The two of you elbowed through the crowd, and broke out into the hallway connected to the courtyard, which had some people mulling about, but was mostly deserted. Harmony put her back to a wall and slid down it, blowing out a breath. You sat beside her, and she looked at you.

“Thanks. I hate being in situations like that, all the people around me.” Harmony scowled, folding her arms under her generous rack. You decided there that you didn’t blame that first year one bit.

“So. An allure potion? How is that even legal?” you wondered.

“The fact that it only lasts fifteen minutes. Any weaker magicians get wrapped up in it if the afflicted wishes them to. I only managed to break free because I’m from one of the High Four. It was a sticky little aura.” Harmony muttered.

“I’m glad you broke free, then.” you said genuinely, and Harmony opened her mouth before a scream of terror rose up from back in the courtyard. The other students in the hall jerked in attention like you and Harmony did, and people began flowing from the courtyard at high speed. You and Harmony both had to jump to your feet and press yourselves flat back against the wall to avoid being trampled.

“What the hell is happening in there?” you shouted over the screams, and Harmony looked totally bewildered. Most of the students had fled by now, and only a handful of third and fourth year students remained.

You and Harmony both pushed forwards to see a body lying in the courtyard, one that had been ripped into by sharp weapons or claws, leaving bloody gashes.

The person’s mouth was leaking blood, his eyes seemed terribly unfocused, and his face was hideously disfigured by a slash across his face.

“What the fuck did that to him?” you asked, stunned and terrified, your hand instinctively finding Harmony’s.

Harmony’s hand squeezed yours tighter.