The Magicians

The Macabre Ball

(Perri inspiration above)

It was All Hallows' Eve night. The night all magic users gather from academies from around the world for the sake of Halloween. Colors and music swirled around the party as laughter bubbled through the air. With Peri on his arm, it was all Ash imagined the Macabre Ball to be.

Ash was in his best tux with a glowing Pandora Fern tucked in his breast pocket. On his right, Peri had her brown hair piled in a messy bun with an ornamental spider clinging to the side of her face acting like a bird cage veil. She wore a long gown with a sweetheart bodice the shifting color of the night sky with little specks of jewels that resembled stars embroidered onto it. She was breathtaking.

She was his; and Ash planned on keeping it that way after tonight with a Binding Oath.

The seventeen year old couple had known each other since they were toddlers in the little town of Sanorra where they had grown up playing together and casting magic for the mischief of it. Now, here they were in a silver ballroom where the elite mages from all seven schools danced their worries away.

"Care to dance, Ms. Tyler?" Peri looked up at Ash and smiled brightly, "Sure would, Mr. Samhain." Ash led her down the red velvet carpeted stairs and onto the black marble dance floor as the orchestra played around them. They easily fell into the rhythm of dancers and swirled around like a scene from a movie.

When the song finally stopped, everyone clapped. "I'm pooped, Ash. I might need to sit the next one out if they keep that up." Ash laughed, "I feel you. I think I see an empty table." Ash and Peri pushed their way through the crowd of dresses and tuxes before finding an empty table with a group of melting candles perched in the center.

As Peri sat, Ash's best friend Blake arrived with a girl on his arm. "Ash, Peri, this is Hera. Hera, this is Ash and Peri." The blond girl named Hera nodded her head in greeting. Just as her name represented, she looked the part of Goddess Hera. Her blond hair was piled high and her white dress was nearly toga style.

"Hi, pleased to meet you. I'm here on holiday from the Transylvania Academy." Peri and Ash nodded, but something felt off about her. Ash couldn't place a finger on it, but it was as if she was trying too hard. Her smile was nearly forced, and she fiddled with her hands as she watched Peri.

"Well, I'll go get some drinks. I'll leave you guys alone to talk for a bit, yeah?" Hera walked away towards the concession table with an almost relieved look. "How did you manage to snag her, Blake?" Peri laughed. Blake shrugged as he brushed his long black hair from his face. "Our parents are friends, so it was a common courtesy I guess. I think they're actually leaving back to Transylvania after the ball."

The trio sat in silence watching the students from around the world dance and swirl as the orchestra floating over their heads played music that was composed by faeries and merfolk. It made you want to dance until your feet bled, so it was wise to know when to stop.

The ball was held in the Archangel's Academy ball room, where the three currently are enrolled. The silver walls made the room glisten as floating candles set in an illusion of the night sky illuminated over the black obsidian floors.

Soon enough, Hera returned with a tray of dragon claw goblets. The base was actual dragon claws cast in silver holding glass vials filled with gold ambrosia. Watered down of course, or else the whole school body would go mad with need of the drug.

Hera handed out the goblets individually before setting the tray down with her own. "Cheers! May Halloween be horrifying and the moon be full!" Everyone raised their glasses and downed the dulled down ambrosia.

"So, Hera? I hear you're from Transylvania Academy? What's that like?" Peri smiled at the blond girl with admiration as Hera shifted under her glance nervously.

"Well, our schools are somewhat alike in the fact that they're both castles. Our school is in Vladimir's Palace, but ours isn't bigger on the inside like yours. I really love the brightness of Archangel's. You're really privileged."

Peri smiled kindly, but it diminished as she massaged her forehead with a frown. "You okay, Peri?" She plastered on a smile, "Yeah, yeah. Just a headache; probably from the loud music."

Ash placed a hand on her shoulder, "Then let me take you to the balcony for some fresh air." Peri agreed and the two left the odd couple by themselves. Ash opened a glass door at the back of the ballroom and led Peri to the balcony lit by the full moon overhead.

Ash kneeled before Peri with a nervous smile as he took her black gloved hands in his catching her by surprise. Her green eyes sparkled in the moonlight as her porcelain cheeks blushed. "What are you doing?"

"Peri Gemini Tyler? We've been together already forever now and I want to show you my love by placing a temporary bond between us as a promise to our future. Please, I vow to you my soul and my entire being to you as long as we both live. What do you say?" Ash pulled out a moonstone ring presenting it to a grinning Peri.

As Ash waited for his answer, he saw her emerald  eyes glaze over. She swayed on her feet before stumbling over into Ash's arms limply. As he turned her head to face him, tears rolled down her flushed cheeks as blood dribbled from the edges of her lips.

"Ash...?" Tears brimming in his own eyes, he found it hard to speak, "P-Peri?! What's w-wrong?!" In a panic, he looked around, "Please! Someone! Help her! Please!" Her gloved hand cupped his stubbled cheek as a small smile gleamed up at him. "Shhh...it can't..r-rain all...the time..."

That was a line from her favorite comic book, and her last words. Peri always admired The Crow comic and all of the movies that came with it, and even in her last breath she quoted the damn thing. But it hit home in Ash's soul. It's almost as if she knew, and was telling him there was no help for her.

Her face fell to the side as her lifeless eyes stared towards the party. "P-please! Someone! Help me!"