“Please?I can help.”
She purses her lips but finally accepts.
“Thank you.”
I spring into action.“Mother, will you show Dahlia where my makeup case is?I need my hair products, curling iron and straighteners too.”
Mother gathers herself up and mouthsthank youat me as she gestures for Dahlia to follow her.
While we wait, I find Morrigan a dressing gown and help her into it so she’s semi decent.Then I gather up some moisturiser I find in the cupboard along with makeup pads and a hairbrush I dig up.I sweep Morrigan into the chair in front of the dressing table and mirrors.
“What are we thinking?Chic, moody, sultry or sexy?”
Morrigan pinches her mouth together and closes her eyes.“Classically beautiful, I think.My dress is wild enough.”
I dab some moisturiser on a makeup pad and wipe away the varying shades of eye shadow on her skin.The more I clear away, the smoother her face becomes, the blotches and redness fading along with her stress.
“Thank you,” she whispers.“For… well, both things.”
I rub her shoulder but continue my work.The problem with not using magic is it all takes so much longer and there’s not a lot of time left before the ceremony.
Once her face is a blank canvas, I untwine the clusterfuck of hair styles she’s created, brushing it out until her long black locks are smooth and pin straight.
Dahlia and Mother return with my supplies just as I tug out the last knot in Morrigan’s hair.Mother cracks open a bottle of fizzy Sangui Cupa, a new twist on the drink apparently.I take a sip, and it tingles the entire way down my throat.Morrigan necks her glass and then sags in her chair, a rather happier, albeit glazed look on her face.
“Thanks, I needed that,” she says and burp-hiccups.I have to suppress a laugh.
Dahlia practically squeaks in the corner.
“I thought you only drank blood,” Mother says.
Dahlia guffaws.“Then I guess there’s a lot you don’t know about vampires.”
Mother hands her a glass and makes to say something but stops herself.
“Is there something you’d like to ask?”Dahlia says.
“Actually, yes…” Mother and Dahlia slip into quiet conversation, exchanging information about magicians and vampires alike.
I layer a base coat of foundation over Morrigan’s skin and then get to work.Smoky eyes, a sweeping flick of eyeliner and delicious lashes.I had some spares in my case, so I lengthened hers at the corners.I add a thick gloss to her lips; Morrigan’s eyes are extravagant enough, and I’m sure Stirling won’t want her mouth smeared in rouge.Next is her hair.An elegant up-do ruched at the back with some curls I have to force into shape with my tongs—her hair does not like curling, and it takes practically half a can of spray, but I win eventually.They spill around the sides of her head and frame her face to perfection.
I’m done.
She looks incredible, if I do say so myself.I step to the side and both Mother and Dahlia stop what they’re doing, their mouths dropping open.
“Wow,” Mother says.Dahlia just blinks.
“W-wow good?”Morrigan asks.
“You did well, Penelope,” Mother says, beaming at the pair of us.
Morrigan stands up, but I hold a hand over her face.
“Wait.Close your eyes,” I say and then spin her around to face the mirror and wait.
“Open,” I breathe.
Her expression goes stony and my stomach plummets.Oh gods, she’s upset.I ruined it.She hates it.
