Page 45 of House of Ruin
“Now, while we’re here, why don’t we talk about your appearance?”
In one fluid movement, Madame Raquel rose to her feet, waving her hand for Alecto to follow. They didn’t go far—only to the back of the madame’s study, where an old white vanity stood against the wall.
Its legs were curved, roses carved into the wood going all the way to the vanity top. The oval mirror that took over half the wall also had matching curves and carvings, a dozen illustrations of dancing and performing women sticked to its edges.
When Alecto came closer, she recognized it was Madame Raquel in all those illustrations, captured by artists in her various performances. Hands landed on Alecto’s shoulders then, Madame Raquel coming to stand behind her.
“It was my dear Rollings who captured me in all those different characters,” Madame explained, knowing where Alecto was looking. Her voice was filled with nostalgia, soft and gentle. She sighed, her breath ruffling Alecto’s hair. “Dozens of performances, all around Inathis. And she didn’t miss one.”
There was an itching inside Alecto that pushed her to ask how come such an epic love story ended with one of the lovers turned into a cat. But she forced herself to swallow the questions. Somehow, it didn’t seem appropriate to pry.
“Sit down, Ladybug.” Madame Raquel patted her shoulders, and Alecto sunk into the plush bench resting in front of the vanity.
The madame murmured something under her breath, and three tiny light orbs swirled in the air, hovering right over the mirror and lighting the station. Alecto’s eyes were bright and almost silver in such light.
“I see you haven’t gotten to put on some weight yet,” the madame observed, catching Alecto’s eye in the mirror.
Alecto refrained from flinching, keeping her face and gaze steady. When she didn’t reply, the madame lowered her gaze to her hair, letting her hand brush Alecto’s long locks.
“It’s incredible,” the madame said, caressing Alecto’s hair. Her eyes were distant, glazed with the dreaminess one would get when remembering the past. “You look just like your mother at this age. From the lips, to the nose, to those bright eyes. Oh, you even got her painful thinness!”
Alecto was too stunned to answer. She hadn’t known her mother knew Madame Raquel. There was nothing in Alecto’s childhood home to indicate it. No pictures, no memory orbs. Alatar had never mentioned her mother being at Venefica.
But then again, Alatar didn’t mention many things about Demitria. Like her mother dating Galliermo at their age.
“You knew my mother?”
“Oh, of course, Ladybug. Demitria was a dear friend of mine. We both studied acting here at Venefica.” The madame chuckled, blind to Alecto’s shock. She sighed. “Ah, yes, Demetria was an excellent actress. Didn’t you know that, Ladybug? Oh, I assume you wouldn’t. You were so little when she passed.”
Alecto tried very hard to blink away the tears threatening to suffocate her.
“There are no mortals in Venefica. How—? What was she doing here?”
“Well, of course, not many mortals dare to live amongst the witches in Inathis, let alone attend a school as prestigious and dangerous as Venefica.” Madame nodded. “But your mother was an exceptionally brave woman. I think it was Alatar who found her and brought her to the House of Snakes one day, announcing that they would be the first House to ever have a mortal member.”
Thatcouldn’t be true. There were no records of Alecto’s mom ever being a member of the House of Snakes.
“Those years were so joyful for us. Demitria and Galliermo used to tell everyone about their big dream of moving to Holly Hills after college. Demitria was going to become the star actress, known everywhere around Inathis and beyond, while Galliermo was going to be the real estate mogul of the West Coast,” the madame mused, still caressing Alecto’s hair. “Lovely times they were, indeed. It was such a surprise to everyone when Demitria had a change of heart and—”
Madame Raquel fell silent for a moment. It was as if someone were sitting on Alecto’s chest; she couldn’t take a full breath in.
“Well, the rest is well-known history, Ladybug,” the madame continued. She placed both palms over Alecto’s head, murmured something she didn’t catch, and then Madame Raquel’s hands slid down Alecto’s long hair, the snow-white locks turning a deep crimson. “What I’m pleased to see is that you indeed got her talent. We only need to work on your looks.”
Once Alecto’s hair had fully changed color, the madame stopped, inspecting her work. When she seemed happy with the results, she leaned over Alecto, covering Alecto’s eyes with her palms.
“Inceptego,” Madame Raquel murmured close to Alecto’s ear. There was a slight tingle over her eyes, and when the madame’s palms were gone, two pairs of coffee-colored eyes stared back at Alecto in the mirror.
It was a deeply unsettling thing, seeing herself transforming into someone else entirely. Now Alecto looked nothing like her mother.
“You know, Demitria would be proud of you for getting this role,” the madame said. The tips of her fingers gently brushed under Alecto’s dark under eye bags, and with another tingle, they were gone. Only smooth, creamy skin was left in its wake. “She played Carmen herself. Snatched the role from right under my nose.”
Alecto stayed silent, trying to process the information as Madame Raquel’s fingers traced the line of Alecto’s high cheekbones, tracing the hollows of her cheeks. When she removed her hands from Alecto’s face, they were suddenly fuller, glowing and radiating health. A breath hitched in Alecto’s throat at the sight of herself in the mirror.
It was Carmen staring back at her, the beautiful woman from the cover of the book Norse had brought the last time they’d practiced.
Their eyes locked in the mirror, and it felt as if the madame could read Alecto’s soul. Could read her mind. For a long moment, they stayed like that, both silent. And then the madame smiled, brushed Alecto’s hair over her shoulder, and said, “You’re ready for rehearsal. Come, come, Ladybug.”
With a thin smile, Alecto rose to her feet, her whole body stiff and cold. The madame strolled towards the door that led to the auditorium, leaving Alecto alone in front of the mirror.
