Experimental Magic ✔

Powers of Persuasion: Part II

Eager to please her sister, Millie grinned as she pulled the potion bottle from her purse. Millie took two strong steps towards the boy before Misty stuck her arm out and stopped her from going any further.

"Not you," she said and plucked the potion bottle right out of Millie's hands. "It's Meadow's turn."

Millie crossed her arms and watched in contempt as Misty dropped the potion bottle in Meadow's hands. Misty stepped behind Meadow and put both of her hands on her back. She leaned in close behind her and whispered in her ear, "get him alone and make him ours" before giving her a forceful shove towards the boy. Millie and Misty both laughed as Meadow stumbled forward.

After regaining her footing, Meadow closed her fingers around the bottle and gripped it firmly as she sucked in her breath. She focused in on the boy and nodded her head slowly. She could do this. Her nerves were high as she walked up to the boy but she didn't let it get the best of her. She knew her sisters were watching. Any mistake she made would just be one more reason for them to look down on her.

"Excuse me," she said somewhat shakily as she tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned to Meadow with a wide smile and warm, chocolate brown eyes. Oh great, Meadow thought, he's nice.

"Yes?" He asked with a smile.

"Sorry to bother you," Meadow said. "But I think I dropped an earring. Have you seen it?"

"I haven't," he said. "But maybe I could help you look?"

"I'd like that," she said and gave him her best attempt at a flirty smile. "I think I dropped it somewhere over there..."

Meadow led him away from his group of friends and towards an unoccupied corner of the party. It grew darker as they strayed farther from the light of the fire. Meadow pretended to look around for a little bit before conjuring up a gold earring that was just noticeable enough under a small pile of leaves.

"Oh," she said. "I think I see it."

"Oh yeah," he said.

He bent down to pick it up. In the process, he placed his cup on a stump behind him. Meadow grabbed his drink and quickly put a drop of the potion in. The potion bubbled on contact with his drink. It turned a putrid brownish-green before settling in and returning the drink to normal. She swirled his cup around a little for good measure before putting it back on the stump.

"There you go," he said as he stood back up. He dropped the earring in Meadow's palm while she thanked him.

"No problem," he said and began to walk away. Meadow's eyes darted to the drink he had left behind.

"Wait," she said almost in a panic. He turned back around and gave her a quizzical look. "Sorry. You just, uh, forgot your drink."

"Oh right thanks," he said. He walked back and grabbed his drink. "Cheers."

Meadow watched closely as he brought the cup to his lips. Right as the laced drink slid down his throat, his eyes glazed over and his face fell flat. Any ounce of personality or warmth he had vanished. Meadow took that as a sign that it had worked. Still she wanted to test the water before she took him back to her sisters.

"Raise your right hand," she said. Staring blankly at her, his right hand slowly lifted into the air.

"Put it back down," she said now. His hand fell back down to his side. "Okay," Meadow said to him. "Follow me."

Meadow walked back to her sisters with the boy trailing behind her like a puppy. Her sisters smiled in surprised delight that she had actually done it. Their smiles made it seem as if they were almost proud of her. At least that's what Meadow thought until she reached her sisters and they carelessly brushed her aside to get to the boy. It was then that she realized they weren't smiling because they were proud of her. They were smiling in excitement over having their very own mortal slave.

"What's your name?" Millie asked the boy.

"Will," the boy answered flatly.

"Hmm," Millie said. "I don't like it. Too plain. Your new name is Elliott."

"My name is Elliott," the boy repeated back. Millie squealed and clapped in delight.

"Oh this is going to be fun," Misty said. "Elliott we're thirsty. Get two glasses of Pinot Grigio for me and Millie and a coke for Meadow."

The boy nodded solemnly and then walked off towards the drink cart. Misty sighed in satisfaction as she watched him pour her drinks. Millie stood next to her, practically jumping up and down in excitement. They laughed as he struggled to balance the three drinks in his hands as he walked back to them.

"Aww look at him trying so hard not to spill our drinks," Millie cooed. "I want one."

Misty, of course, had bigger ideas.

"Why stop at just one?" She asked, her eyes locked on the punch bowl. Following her train of thought, Millie smiled.

"Meadow give me the bottle," Misty demanded.

Meadow handed it over. Misty marched confidently over to the punch bowl and poured the entire bottle in. She waved her hand over the bowl, causing the pinkish-orange drink mix to swirl and slosh around the sides of the bowl. Then she walked back to her sisters with a huge grin on her face.

"You're a genius," Millie said.

"I know," Misty said as she proudly flipped her hair over her shoulder.

Misty and Millie watched the punch bowl in anticipation while they waited for the boy to return with their drinks. When he finally did return, it was safe to say Millie and Misty were not happy with the wait.

"Took you long enough," Millie said.

Then both her and Misty snatched the drinks from his hands, almost causing him to drop Meadow's coke that was tucked in the crook of his elbow.

"Elliott," Misty scorned. "You must be more careful. You almost dropped Meadow's drink."

The boy gave a short, emotionless nod. Meadow knew apologizing would be fruitless, but she did it anyway.

"Misty," Millie said with disappointment in her voice. "No one's drinking the punch."

Misty turned her attention to the punch bowl. It was true. The punch bowl was going untouched. Not easily deterred, Misty turned to the boy.

"Get your friends to drink the punch," she commanded.

Once again, the boy nodded slowly and went off to a group of people standing around the campfire. It wasn't long until people were lining up at the punch bowl. Misty and Millie chatted, exchanging ideas, plots, and plans for their new group of slaves. Knowing full well her sisters had no intention of asking her opinion of what they should do, Meadow kept to herself. She watched as the party goers turned into mindless zombies one by one. Every time someone took a sip of the punch, they immediately turned to stare blankly at the her and her sisters, waiting for a command. As she stood there, she heard the gentle thud of footsteps behind her. Figuring it was the boy returning back, she turned to face him.

"Uh guys," Meadow said, with her eyes wide as she nudged her sisters with her elbows.