Novels by Anthoniette Aghogho

“Ma’am, we’ve arrived.”The voice of the taxi driver snapped me back to my senses. I blinked in surprise when I realized that I had been staring at the scenery outside the car without even looking properly at it for the last several minutes.I turned my head to look out the window.For just a second, I stood there.Reaching into my purse, I took my phone from it to verify the address again. I went from the screen of the device to the building ahead.It was the correct place. But something didn’t seem quite right about it.Swallowing thickly, I opened my wallet, taking some money from it to give the driver. “Thank you,” I murmured softly.He gave a nod and accepted the payment. In mere seconds, the taxi was gone, dropping me off on the pavement.Completely on my own now, I turned to look at the entrance.This is how it should be called, an entrance.And elegant in the most deliberate of ways. Behind that entrance… was a palace.Not even a house.As I grabbed the handle of my suitcase,

It was morning.The doorbell rang; its echo reverberated throughout the entire apartment. At first, I just froze, unable to register what was happening.But then it clicked.Aunt Celeste.With a quick jerk, I straightened and went to the door, brushing my palms on my pyjamas, as if trying to wash away the nervousness that I’d been feeling ever since this morning. As I opened the door, there she was – exactly the way I remembered her.“Good morning, Auntie,” I greeted her warmly, without bothering to hide my smile.“Aubrey!” she cried out, moving closer and enveloping me in a warm hug.For a brief moment, everything else vanished.Oh, Aubrey! How beautiful you look! She stepped back after a while and looked at me with those familiar eyes as if wanting to take a good look at me. Her hands rested on my shoulders as she studied me intently.I smiled. How are you, Auntie?I'm fine ine. I've missed you girls, her eyes moved to the space beyond me, already seeking someone. “Lyra? Where's Lyr

“We aren’t going to have this discussion.”I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. The words seemed to come out of nowhere, and for a moment, even I was taken by surprise. Lyra stopped in her tracks, a mixture of pain or perhaps just quietness on her face rather than the defiance she had shown before.“Lyra,” I added, doing my best to make my voice less harsh while trying to hold back all the emotion behind those two words. “Get your shoes. They are in the lower closet.”I motioned to the closet, not sure what to say to further complicate the situation.There was no response from her other than turning away from me and walking right past me as if trying to make me feel her disappointment.A deep sigh escaped my mouth. I hadn’t even realized that I had been holding my breath.It had been six years since everything had fallen to pieces.Six years since Dad died and Julia my supposedly loving mother left us because we weren’t good enough for her anymore.Up to the present day, whenever

creeeeak.The door made a faint protest to me as I opened it, the noise reverberating in the small apartment.There she sat.Sitting at the dining table and gorging herself like she had no plans on stopping anytime soon.“Lyra,” I called out, throwing my bag near the entrance. “Ease up. You shouldn’t rush while eating.”Not a response.She just kept swallowing her food like there was no tomorrow. With another sigh, I stepped inside. “Lyra.”Nothing still.“Lyra,” This time, she did lift her head, just enough to swallow her last bite and look at me.“I’m starving,” she stated, as if trying to explain away her behavior.She reached for the glass of water beside her, gulping it down while nodding her head as if that justified everything.I crossed my arms and watched her carefully.I knew that face. She had something to say.And she always stretched it out just like this.Welcome, Aubrey, she said abruptly, and the tone she used dripped with sarcasm. I glared at her, but then stepped cl

Part one: A New BeginningChapter 1You’re late. If you wish to take up the offer, you better be on time next time.The tone in which she spoke left little room for interpretation. Straight backed in her seat at the large desk before me, her eyes were focused on me, piercing right through me with an intensity that made me involuntarily sit up straighter.“It… It was an accident,” I managed. Guilt pressed upon me like a weight in my chest, dragging down any sense of confidence I may have once felt as I entered her office.“Sit down,” she instructed.She pointed towards the other side of her desk without tearing her gaze away from mine. Hastily, I obliged, sinking into the chair and smoothing my dress down over my thighs. They were exposed too much for my comfort, and I shifted uncomfortably in the seat while my hands did the same.She said nothing as she took a file off of her desk and started flipping through it.You attended the GlimmerWeave Institute of design?“Yes,”Her eyebrows r