Fire Burning

Beauty

"Addie, you know what would be a good idea?" Hades bounced onto the couch, excitement pouring out of him like shaken soda. "For Em’s first night here, we gotta do something fun. Like, a big start-off."

Addie perked up instantly, her eyes wide and gleaming like she’d just been handed a blank check. She squealed, clapping her hands together so fast it was like applause.

"Yesss! That’s perfect! Beach party! That bonfire thing in South Pines is tonight, remember? I totally forgot. This is fate."

Before I could ask what she meant, Addie was standing in front of me like a whirlwind in human form. Her grin stretched ear to ear.

"EMSSSSS," she drawled, grabbing my hands. "Please, please. I can dress you up, do your makeup—oh my God, the hair. Just say yes. I won't disappoint you. Promise."

She already had her hair tied back and was prancing around the house like a hyper pixie, collecting things from drawers, closets, and God knows where else. A curling iron here, a makeup bag there, a stack of shoes from under the coffee table.

"I didn’t even say yes yet," I said, laughing as she dragged me toward the stairs by the wrist.

"Your eyes said yes," she replied without missing a beat.

Addie shoved a black, skin-tight lace halter dress into my arms and shoved me toward the bathroom that connected to her wildly pink bedroom. The walls were bubblegum with framed makeup prints and a mirror surrounded by LED lights.

"Put this on! Trust me!"

I studied the dress in my hands. The fabric was soft and luxurious. When I slid it over my head, it clung to my body and fell just above my knees. A slit on the left rose high, but not high enough to feel indecent. I turned to the mirror. My breath caught slightly. I barely recognized myself.

Was I really... this beautiful?

"Well, the dress won’t walk itself out here," Addie called playfully. I could hear her tapping her manicured nails against her vanity top.

With a shaky exhale, I stepped out.

Addie stared. Her jaw fell slightly before she smiled like she just won the lottery.

"I know, it doesn't look that good on me—"

"Shut. Up." Addie grabbed my hands. "You look like a gothic goddess. Like, if Morticia Addams and a Victoria's Secret model had a baby."

I laughed, but then caught movement behind her. The boys.

Aristotle was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, gaze locked on mine like he was trying to solve me.

Hades was beside him, his eyes doing a full once-over before landing on my face with a soft grin.

"You look hot, Ems," Hades said, giving his brother a playful punch to the arm.

Addie turned slowly, glaring at both of them like she was seconds away from setting them on fire.

"Stop objectifying her, idiots. This is a moment."

Then she turned back to me with a softened gaze. "You look absolutely gorgeous. Please tell me you’re going to wear it. Say yes. For me."

I nodded.

Addie squealed again, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me over to her massive black vanity. The mirror was oval-shaped with curling pink details, lined with bright LED lights that gave my face a strange, beautiful glow.

She pulled out a white chair and gestured dramatically. "Your throne, my queen."

I sat.

"Okay, real talk," I said. "Can I just do my usual mascara and sparkly white eyeshadow in the corners? I don’t do well with a lot of makeup. I feel... trapped."

Addie nodded, already pulling out the exact products. "You got it. Minimalist glam. It’ll make your eyes pop without making you feel like you need a chisel to take it off later."

I applied the makeup myself while she worked on my hair. She was surprisingly gentle, brushing through tangles, sectioning strands with precise clips.

"You have amazing hair, by the way," she murmured, looping braids. "It's like... mysterious but soft. Like you stole it from a fairytale thief."

"You say the weirdest compliments," I muttered, smiling.

She added tiny pearl circle clips into my braids and twisted the top half into a perfect bun. When she finished, I barely recognized myself again.

"You look magical," she whispered.

I stared at my reflection, the subtle shimmer at my eyes, the soft waves in my hair. I actually... liked this version of me.

"My my, Ems will be breaking hearts tonight."

Aristotle’s voice. I looked through the mirror.

He stood behind me, grinning.

It wasn’t a smirk. It was softer. Honest. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Hades appeared beside him, smacking Ari's shoulder playfully.

"Ignore him. He’s just jealous you pull it off better than he ever could."

"Are you guys ready or what?" Aristotle asked, glancing at his phone.

I turned to see Addie now dressed in a pale blue halter dress that made her look like a living summer daydream.

"Yeah. I think we are," she said.

"Thanks for inviting me," I said. "I know it's not easy having someone new around."

"Nah, we’ve done it before," Hades said. "But honestly, Mom wanted us to help you feel at home. And what better way to start the summer than with a beach party?"

As the boys left the room, I paused one last moment to glance at myself. This time, I didn’t look away.

---

Downstairs, Sarah was reading a book under a standing lamp. She looked up as we descended the stairs like a scene from a coming-of-age movie.

"Going to the beach party, I assume?"

We all nodded.

"Please keep an eye on your sister, and on Em. I don’t want her first night ending in a disaster. Who’s driving?"

"Don’t worry, Mom," Aristotle replied, tapping away on his phone. "I ordered an Uber. Safe driver. I’m ten steps ahead."

Sarah raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Watch over Em. She’s new. She needs to feel safe."

"We got her," Hades said, gently touching my arm. "We really do."

Aristotle glanced up. "Uber's here. Let’s go."

I nodded, swallowing my nerves.

Because tonight was the first step.

And even if it scared me... I was going to take it.