Novels by Babyesther

EliThe past few days had been boring but I had been keeping myself on my toes.In class, I even sat by the window and watched the clouds instead of taking notes. And every time the door opened, my chest tightened.When class ended, I walked with Maya to the law library. She wanted to read and I was just there to tag along. I found a spot at the back and opened my notebook. I didn't write, instead, I traced the edge of the paper and inhaled the woodlike scent of the library, allowing my thoughts to wander about.A vibration in my pocket startled me. My phone. It was a message from my sister, Lizzy.How are you holding up?I stared at the screen for a long moment before typing back.I’m okay.It wasn’t true, but it wasn’t a lie either. I existed in the space between.After, the library, I felt like I was walking without direction, except, I was just following Maya’s lead.When we got to Maya’s apartment, I went towards the fridge to get myself something to eat.A few hours later, we we

Carter“What I'm saying is, this complaint doesn't reflect well on the university either” his fingers tapped his polished desk.We had been circling each other for nearly twenty minutes now with polite words, careful pauses, and vague sentences.Holloway sighed, leaning back in his chair. “You know that the university doesn’t like noise, Vale. And right now, this situation is noise.”“So you’re assuring me,” I said evenly, “that this didn’t come from the university or youHolloway hesitated just a fraction of a second.“It didn’t originate officially from the institution,” he said at last. “Which, frankly, is why this is frustrating. Whoever filed it knew exactly how to frame it.”And yet,” I said, “the first response was to seize my system and restrict my duties.”Holloway spread his hands. “Optics. You know how it works.”“Yes,” I replied coolly. “I do.”Silence settled between us, it was heavy and deliberate.Holloway cleared his throat. “Look, Vale, I don’t want this to escalate.

Eli.I hadn't slept much during the night. I lay on my side, staring at the wall listening to the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. My small apartment made it easy to hear the faint sounds.Maya’s plan replayed in my head over and over again.It sounded simple, but I don't think it was.When morning came, my chest was tight. But it had nothing to do with panic, but rather, exhaustion. I showered longer than usual, letting the water run hot against my shoulders, grounding myself in the sensation.In front of the mirror, I placed my palm over my scars and let out a deep breath.You're still here, I told myself.School was normal, not like I was expecting anything unusual. I know school wouldn't change for everyone just because I had my own problems.I walked passed the coffee stand that Liam had spilled coffee on me and instantly hated the new set of faces I saw there. I decided to take a different route.Maya had texted me too “You good”“I’m here” I replied.The first class

CARTER.I was halfway through rereading the same paragraph for the third time when a knock came at my door.I groaned inwardly.“Come in” I said, setting the file aside.The door opened slowly, and Eli stepped in. His friend followed closely behind him, her gaze immediately scanning the room.They stood still before me.“Sit” I said “both of you”Eli perched on the edge of the chair like he might bolt at any second. Maya, on the other hand, crossed one leg over the other, calm in a way and I was very grateful for that.For a moment, no one spoke.Then Eli broke. “I heard they seized your system.”I nodded once. “Yes.”“And they might call me in,” Eli continued. “The ethics board. Or the investigators. Or…” He stopped, breathing unevenly. “I don’t know who.”“There’s a high chance they will” I said calmly“So what do we say?”I leaned back in my seat and folded my arms, “We tell the truth” I said “But only the truth that matters”I noticed the girl’s eyebrow lift slightly.I continued,

ELII hated anticipating stuff, especially when Maya makes me. Because what the hell did she mean by, “You have to see this for yourself”When I got to school, everything seemed to be in place, people were walking around and gossiping, as usual. Nothing was on fire, no crowd, no unusual gatherings. Not even police tape.For a moment, I wondered if I had misunderstood Maya.Then I spotted her standing outside the law building, clutching a few books to her chest.“You missed it” she said, the second she saw me.“Missed what?”She glanced around before answering, like it was sacred information, “Two people came here, I don't know where they are from, but it seemed like they were from a top committee or the board of directors or something. They walked with Professor Vale and Dean Holloway, all the way from the administrative building to Professor Vale’s office.”“What?” My stomach dropped.“They didn't make a scene though” Maya continued, “But I think that just made everything worse, bec

CarterI was completely zoned out of this meeting. It's not like they would listen to any contributions I had to say anyway. I just know I heard words like “moot court funding” and “revisions”. It was just the usual back-and-forth with people who enjoyed hearing themselves speak.Then there was a knock on the door, before it opened slightly.Dean Holloway’s secretary peeped in and he moved closer so she could whisper something to him. This wasn't unusual, but the change in his facial expression told me this was. I sat up in my seat, already anticipating what sort of situation it would be.The secretary then opened the door widely and let two strangers walk in. They were dressed alike, plain shirts, dress pants, and a long time, no suit.The room shifted slightly and conversations died mid-sentence. I looked up and was almost irritated, I wanted to know who they were and why this interruption seemed appropriate.“Professor Carter Vale” one of them asked and my blood went cold. I knew p

DANTE'S POV I pretended to be busy with my car when Orabella came to call me for breakfast. Knowing Aldo, he would still be sour from last night's altercation.“Tell the boy to meet me here once he's had a bath,” I said to Orabella's retreating figure and she nodded.After almost an hour, he was walking through the front door. His hair was wet and some of them clung to the side of his face and his forehead. He wore a t-shirt that clung to his frame and a pair of well tailored pants. I was leaning on my car like the devil offering a ride.“Mother said…”“Get in the car,” I tossed my keys up and caught them.“Why?” He asked as he went around to the passenger seat.“Come on,” I got in. “You are about to find out how to win.”He slipped into the passenger’s seat and crossed his legs at his ankles. He smelled like fruits and oud with an undertone of vanilla. I wanted to lean in and take a deep breath. He didn't say a word about what happened earlier and I wasn't going to push it.Th

JULIAN’S POV The last time I saw Mother angry, I was probably still struggling to pronounce words properly. In this dark world, she was the ray of sunshine. I loved how she loved me and tried to protect me but there's only so much she could do. My hands moved quickly as I piled the plates together. I felt him hovering above me before I saw his shadow. We reached for a plate together and our hands brushed briefly. I pulled back like I had been shocked.“Let me help you.” His breath fanned my face. I wanted to lean in and press my lips against his.“I’m fine,” I stuttered. “It’s nothing much.”He picked up the napkins and started wiping the table. His presence now that he was barely five inches away from me was suffocating. I struggled to focus on the plates but my eyes kept travelling to him. He smelled like spices and wood, intoxicatingly male and heat poured out from his pores. It was the kind of heat I wanted to be wrapped in.“Law,” He dragged out the word. “You’ve always

DANTE'S POV Julian was a pretty boy. He had always been but after fifteen years, he looked too delicate to be involved in the family business. I was glad Orabella was trying to make him take another path. His lashes fluttered as he looked up at me briefly. I could tell he was skeptical about living with me and I understood him. I would not welcome the idea of living with a step uncle who disappeared for fifteen years.Aldo cleared his throat. “You know the Montrelli.”“Very well,” I said, my eyes still fixed on Julian. He was chewing really slowly and his mouth sagged like he'd rather not be here.“They are sniffing around the port again. Two of their men were caught there last week. Are they just going to ignore that we have it locked down?”I scoffed. “They are testing you.”Julian glanced at me. He was a young man shielded from our world. Orabella had done a great job keeping him away from this evil.“You talk as if this test might not end up with bodies in bags,” Orabella sai

JULIAN’S POVThe devil I know is better than the angel I didn't. Problem is, I didn't know any angels. Born into a life like this, there were just devils and devils and they showed up when you least expected.Tonight's surprise was Dante Martinez. He arrived at dinner fifteen years late with a suit that must have cost a fortune. The moment he walked into the room, the air thickened like even oxygen was scared of him.“Dante,” My mother said in a strangled voice. Her hand trembled slightly as she lifted her wine glass to her mouth. My father who had leaned back in a posture mum had always complained about suddenly sat upright, straightening his back. His eyes followed Dante as he took a seat. It felt like God had walked into the room except that I had imagined God as anything but a six foot, fully tatted, dark-haired man.My eyes followed his every move the second he walked through those doors. His long strides, the way he loosened his tie and undid the button of his suit as he took hi