Page 23 of Code of Heart

Smiling faintly at the memory, Aurelia could admit to herself that she had a mild girl-crush on her.

That moment stuck with her. The kind of simple, easy friendship she hadn’t dared to hope for. Maybe there were people out there who wouldn’t expect her to fight for their attention or earn their approval, people who might understand what it felt like to simply survive.

Because that’s what she wanted, a real connection and a life that felt more than just endured—

The answer beginning to take shape was interrupted by the sound of loud buzzing.

Aurelia blinked, momentarily forgetting where she was.

She shifted uncomfortably in the chair as Brandi approached her and peeked inside a couple of foils to ensure they were ready.

Taking a deep, steady breath, Aurelia walked to the washing station as instructed, reclining in the chair towards the sink so Brandi could remove the foils.

The shampoo rinsed the chemicals down the drain, and she tried to let her fears wash away with it, taking an imaginary step across the line towards regaining her identity.

Aurelia stared at the woman reflected in the mirror.

It was her…and yet it wasn’t.

She had the same large almond-shaped eyes, naturally thick eyebrows, straight nose, and full lips as Aurelia, but she looked more polished and confident.Beautiful.

Brandi begged to do her makeup once she finished blowing out Aurelia’s hair, offering to do it free of charge because “it would be a crime to walk out without finishing the look.” Aurelia eventually relented but made sure she paid for the extra service.

It was worth every penny.

And her hair…it wasamazing—no, it wassensational.

The terrifyingly vivid colors in the bowls gave way to vibrant colored strands that blended in perfectly with her naturally dark hair. Instead of being too overpowering like she had feared, they peeked through in different shades and blended into the long, soft waves that cascaded past her shoulders, as if they had always been there.

“You obviously must practice some type of dark magic to have pulled off such a magnificent illusion,” Aurelia whispered, leaning in closer to the mirror to get a better glimpse. Brandi stood tall behind her, arms crossed in satisfaction as she watched Aurelia’s reflection.

“You were a knockout when you walked in the door. All I did was highlight what was already there.” Authenticity shone brightly in Brandi's eyes as she gazed proudly at Aurelia.

“You have no idea how badly I want to ruin this moment with an awkward hug of thanks.” She couldn’t stop staring at her reflection, worried that if she dared to look away, it would stop being real. “Can you show me how you did my makeup?”

“I thought you'd never ask!” Brandi didn’t waste any time as she pulled out her magical makeup set and began her tutorial.

By the time Aurelia made it home, she was exhausted but in the best way. It was remarkable how a small physical change could drastically impact one’s self-esteem. While she knew it wouldn’t fix all her problems, it was a step in the right direction.

Her eyes caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she was changing into pajamas, and she couldn’t help but notice the lingering smile. A different and more assured version of herself emerged from the salon, one that was here to stay.

She fell asleep easily that night, excited for her consultation, and with a smile still gracing her lips.

CHAPTER 10

Levi

As much as he hated to admit it, Levi was impressed.

He walked in a silent skeptic, but that changed when Estrella Vale explained her approach to finding his match.

Estrella was in her mid-fifties, with lavender shoulder-length straight hair, and delicate features framed by a pair of smart black rimmed glasses. She was soft-spoken with a faint but enchanting accent that he couldn’t quite place.

Nothing out of the ordinary except for her eyes. They appeared otherworldly, with different shades of blue swirling in their depths. There was something about them that unsettled him, but he couldn’t pinpoint why.

The building—or rather the house—was small and nondescript, easily blending in with the other houses in the row. He might have missed it if he hadn’t been looking for this exact address. The light blue craftsman front door had opened as he was poised to ring the doorbell, Estrella in the doorway, ready to greet him.

He was ushered into a light and airy room with white wainscoting, floral wallpaper in various shades of coral, gold, and green decorating the walls above. A single tan colored couch flanked by two cream plush armchairs faced a small historic brick fireplace, only separated by a light wood coffee table.