ings that ma

re things that m

This wasn't vanity.

if it weree a canvas, half-finished. Skin the color of burned bronze, smooth, luminous even in sleep-slick disarray. I raised a hand to my face and tilted my jaw slightl

thout sound, pooling li

to

L - Cleansing

mber. The kind of lighting designed to flatter, not reveal. I turned on the taps, adjusting until the water was a

under it, there was

: Oral

Matte obsidian handle, silver d

some ancient forest remedy-earthy, sharp, medicinal. The kind of thing a royal physician might've brewed in a silv

d thyme, spearmint, and volcanic springwater.

mouth in the mirror. Smirked.

The Thre

vonne Noire

t smelled like crushed petals, like morning dew on a rose bush after rain. I lathered slowly. Neck,

& Grey – Coconut

cap. The scent? Dripping sweetness: warm milk, golden coconut flesh,

– Amber Cream & Burnt Ca

rious. Sugar crystals that vanished as they scrubbed. My skin flushed under

like a black cloud was apologizing for every past cruelty. I p

– Anointin

, I approached the vanity

m – Savonne Noir

ops into the palm, pressed into chest, arm

m – Vellin & Gre

oconut and vanilla. Thick, whipped. I smoothed it on in slow, circular motion

m – Forme Homme

xy. Locked in everything. Gave my

ulpting t

g. The face was the l

eraph + Slate "

ed like basil and rai

: Mirenau Hydr

d in. No scent. J

Lunair Luxe Cream

Felt like feeding

Lumière – Gold Leaf &

gently, watching the light shift across my cheekbones. T

ing Tool: Vit

cheekbones, and under-eye. Tamed puffiness. Shar

erum: Archel

abbed with ring fingers. B

Balm: Eti

n looked like something

rown of

ent. Defined curls by hand, each one set deliberately. Finished with ShimmerVeil Gold-Dus

The Ghost I

r: La Maison Alc

fig. Draped a black towel over my head. Let

O

lse Oil – wrists, t

usk – behind ears,

logne – leather and pine

S

Suede Siren" – earthy. S

eré Parfum – saffron

White Fire" – ci

ne "No. 7" – ton

– smoky oud and

sin Dust" – incense a

Becoming

ustom by Ma

mere-silk blend. H

subtle gold stitching up the

less. Fitted. Half-buttone

lack with gold clasps

we

rings connected by bone-shaped jo

e cartilage. Delicate chains link to

wo. One delicat

hand, thumb band

twisted spike t

al rose in rose gold

tc

Caldré - Obsid

rs spinning like secrets, glinting with micro-etched gold filaments. The hour markers?

shed and weighted. H

y leather, grainy like sta

ecause even the back

oe

nt leather, thick-soled, matte-gold lacing eyele

y hair. Just enough to catch candlelight. To make someone d

d in th

holy. I

them whisper. Let

e gala