Powder Hair Arcane Novels & Stories

High neckline and long tight sleeves, open shoulders and a big drop-shaped opening on the back, from below my shoulder blades down to the small of my back. “I don’t know if I dare to step out of here wearing this,” I murmured, turning to one side and the other to take a better look at that daring opening. Harry collected my hair gently and held it up. “Like this, in a French braid, to let it fall right in between your shoulder blades where the gap opens.” “He’s gonna kill me bloody.” “He who.” “Your ex.” “You think Brandon will hold his peace?” “He won’t come alone and he can’t put up scene with his blondie there.”

Lightning flashed across the heavens, and thunder answered with a deafening roar that shook the very ground. Aria stood motionless amid the wreckage. Her hair, once soft and dark as midnight, had transformed into a luminous grayish white that glowed faintly, as if moonlight itself had been woven into every strand. Her eyes no longer appeared human; they burned with an intense white light. They were brilliant, ancient, beautiful, and utterly terrifying.

"I'll hand it to you when you're ready. I'm not giving it to you until the exact moment you need it." Peggy nodded. She understood. "That's fine." She worked quickly and efficiently, grinding herbs in the mortar, mixing liquids, muttering spells under her breath. The mixture she was making turned from green to dark purple to finally a thick blue. "Now," Peggy said, holding out her hand. Kael placed the strand of hair in her palm. Peggy dropped it into the mixture and began chanting—real spells this time, in that old language that made Kael's skin crawl.

Hanes pulled out a pinch of the strands, studying them closely in the pale lighting. The strands glimmered as it caught the light, taking on the flame’s color but it’s true color was clear. “Silver hair,” Hanes concluded. “Don’t tell me the client has pink eyes as well?” None of his companions replied. He looked at the strands again, then placed them all back in the pouch. “The makings of a Lundren,” he murmured. “Indeed,” Arden said. “It’s too early to be certain, but such traits …”

“What was that for?” “Royal harlot’s hair is a very useful spell component,” I replied. “I am not a harlot,” he grumbled, following me from the table. “I’m on the other side of the wall from your bedchamber,” I reminded him. “Oh, Akyran, oh, oh. Oh.” He flushed. “There is no way you can hear through the stone, Ecaeris.” “Oh, Akyran,” I replied, my voice rising hitching, breathy. “Do that thing... What thing exactly?”

A rough growling voice says. I turn to see a woman. She is thin and short. Her hair is long, and her face is covered. "That is right. I am only 17," I answer. She moves closer. "Well, don't get drunk in my place and cause me to lose my liquor license," she says, laughing. I am not sure the supernatural has a liquor license or if anyone can get here that isn't special in some way. I nod while she laughs. "I am Umbra," she says. She moves closer, and I can see her hair is white with small pieces of copper. She was once a redhead, like me.