Page 49 of House of Ruin
“Well, here’s is the thing,” she started before pausing to meet Alecto’s gaze. “Remember that journalist? The one I’ve been pen pals with for like ages now?”
“The one who came down for Samhain.” Alecto nodded, and they started walking again. The beauty salon was just around the corner. “I remember. What about her?”
“She wanted to meet me. In person. Without masks,” Jolene said in a rush. Alecto nodded again, sensing where this was going.Girls’ day in the city, my ass.“So, I decided what better way to meet her than while here with you? This way I’d get you to meet her as well. Two birds with one stone.”
Hel. Too many birds with one stone.
“Is she meeting us at Hel’s Kitchen then?” Alecto asked as they turned the corner. The red front of the beauty salon, with a large white sign that readEternal Beauty, emerged in front of them.
“Actually, she’s meeting us at the salon,” Jolene said, grinning.
Alecto came to an abrupt stop, whirling on her friend.
“You want to tell me that you invited yourgirlfriendto meet you and me for the very first time as I’m getting my bikini-zone hair removed?” Alecto thought Jolene was joking. She had to be. “Are you fucking serious?”
Jolene spread her arms, widening her eyes in exasperation. “I’m sorry, but I figured we’re going to have something to focus on rather than being awkward about me being a Frone and not telling her about it sooner.”
Well, when Jolene pulled that card out, there wasn’t much Alecto could say.
“Yeah,” Alecto said as they strode towards the salon. “There will be plenty to focus on while you two watch me get plucked like a chicken.”
With a laugh, Jolene bumped her shoulder into Alecto’s, and then they entered the salon.
They walked over to the reception desk where two air sprites hovered. Their white wings were made of fluffy clouds, tiny dresses weaved from white feathers covering their bodies.
“Hi there, welcome to Eternal Beauty,” one of them greeted Alecto and Jolene as they approached. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Hello. Yes,” Alecto said, throwing a glance at Jolene, who only grinned back at her. “I have an appointment with Svetlana Greed at eleven for hair removal. Alecto Black.”
The air sprite flicked through the pages in a big book laid flat over the reception desk. When she found Alecto’s name, she nodded.
“Please follow me,” the sprite chirped. “We have a whole room reserved for you here, so your friend can lounge and have some drinks while the procedure goes on.”
“Perfect. Give me all the luxury while you get plucked and suffer,” Jolene said, laughing.
Alecto rolled her eyes and followed the sprite down the narrow but long corridor behind the reception desk. When they reached the door at the very end, the sprite led them into a massive room with large windows displaying the hidden inner garden blooming with winter greenery.
“Don’t worry about privacy: the windows are tinted from the outside, so only you can see outside,” the sprite explained, whirling towards them. Her fluffy wings left a trail of white pieces that looked like cotton candy and smelled of the wind in the mountains. “But our clients find the look into the garden to be relaxing.”
Jolene immediately went over to the window, gaping at the elaborate garden with her lips parted in awe. It was an exquisite view, with tall birch trees stretching all the way to the top of the tall buildings, its leaves frosty blue from the cold.
There was a whole heap of moon lilies growing around the small pond that had crystal clear water and a small fountain of three naked women lounging together on their backs. Their bodies were made of white marble and shone due to the light orbs floating around the gardens.
Passiflora bushes that housed a whole flock of snow-white birds grew out of the cracks in the building, the midnight-blue color they got in the winter months creating a stark mosaic with the rust red of the brick wall.
“Would you like something to drink while you wait? Svetlana will be with you in a moment,” the sprite said, flying towards the door.
“I’d like a glass of root beer. Thanks,” Jolene called over her shoulder, without turning away from the garden.
“I’m fine. Thanks,” Alecto said with a tight smile.
When the sprite left, she walked over to the procedure table set in the middle of the room. She ran a hand over the silky white pillow and the thin mattress it lay on top of and then sat down, letting her legs dangle over the floor.
Jolene moved away from the window and settled on one of the white sofas in a small lounge area on the left.
“Well, I’m almost convinced I wanna get the procedure myself,” Jolene said. “I didn’t know why you’d sign up for this torture, but this shit makes italmostworth it.”
“Well, I can’t deal with shaving anymore. It fucking sucks and I get razor bumps,” Alecto complained with a roll of her eyes. “The cream I get from Gillian’s sister, Jullian, is better. But damn, it grows back so quick. This is the best option.”
