The Realm Protectors

Chapter 21 - Enya

"How much more time do we have?" Ciana asks worriedly.

"Ci, we still have an hour and a half before we need to be up in the Atrium." I assure her. "Guests aren't allowed in until two thirty, and the ceremony doesn't start until three."

At around nine this morning, a team of stylists knocked on our door. They completely took over the lounge, transforming it into a full-blown salon. They immediately ushered each of us girls into chairs so they could begin hair and makeup. The boys get to hang out for a little while longer before they get powdered and their hair done.

Avani is squirming slightly in her chair as her stylist braids extensions into her hair and lifting them into an impressive mohawk that hangs down her back. Lyra hums to herself as her hair gets transformed into a blossoming crown of tight little coils that shines like magic. I'm almost jealous at how gorgeous their hair is. Ciana takes a breath to calm herself. She watches her reflection in the mirror in front of her while her stylist curls her hair in loose ringlets, twisting it back away from her face. Nikolina's on my other side, sitting patiently still while her freshly curled hair is pulled up into a bun at the crown of her head.

My stylist, a talkative young woman from Aria named Christie, pulls my hair into a beautiful chunky braid that falls over my shoulder. She's spent most of her time working on me talking about just how red my hair is.

"I mean, isn't it just marvelous!" She laughs like an air elemental, light and with little sound. It's almost like a raspy gasp. "I've never seen such a rich red."

"It is beautiful." Ciana's stylist agrees. The poor girl rolls her eyes every time Christie attempts conversation.

"Oh it's marvelous," Christie gushes. I can't quite tell if she's sucking up or being sincere. "Almost as marvelous as that incredible opal crown your friend has over there." She motions with her head to Lyra, since her hands are busy working in my hair.

The stylists finish up their last touches on our hair, and a team of makeup artists swoop in. Three of the hairstylists stay and start to work on the boys. They don't need much work, but they need a little help. Especially Faris' bedhead.

The makeup artists doll us up, applying foundation, powder, highlighter, bronzer, and contour expertly. They swipe on and blend out eye shadow that makes all of us look incredible. Normally I try not to wear too much eye shadow because I'm afraid of how it will look against my paler skin tone, but this looks perfect.

"You guys are incredible!" I tell them after they're all finished thirty minutes later. "Thank you!"

Jaq shows up as the hair stylists and makeup artists are packing up their stuff, and she rushes us to our rooms. All five of us girls go into my room so Jaq can personally make sure we get into our dresses without ruining anything. They're all gorgeous: Lyra's clad in a gown of every shade of purple, Nikolina's dress is the blackest of black with an incredible train that falls behind her like a shadow, Avani's skirt has a triangular cut out in the front to reveal fitted green pants to match the bodice, and Ciana's gown is studded with little tiny suns.

"Did you make those yourself?" I ask her as Jaq fastens the back of my dress.

Ciana nods. "Jaq showed me what her vision looked like. I just have to keep these light for most of the night."

"There you are, Enya." Jaq steps back. I walk over to my mirror and admire her handiwork. The bodice of my gown is a yellow so light it's nearly white, and seems to glow. It fits down my torso before flaring out at my waist, trailing far behind me and fading to a deeper yellow, orange, and finally red, making me look like a flame.

"Once again, Jaq, you amaze me." I give her a big hug. "This is exactly why I hired you to be our personal designer."

"Oh, it's nothing." She gushes.