Novels by Mariyam Khan

Makeup is not a mask. Makeup is art. Makeup is Passion. Makeup is an expression. I found the quote to be true when my eyes fell on the mirror, and I gawked at the girl staring back. Her hair was swept up in a messy ballerina bun with curls falling around her round face, and her makeup was immaculately perfect. Smokey eyeshadow under freshly waxed eyebrows, made the baby blue in her eyes pop like a blue lagoon in a dark cave, and light pink lipstick adorned her lips in complement to the blush on her cheeks. My finger grazed along one of my flawless contoured cheekbones in awe. I felt like a pretty princess, fresh out of a disney castle. "Do you like it?" Caroline questioned, from beside me. She was the head of the makeup team Dimitri hired for me, the ultimate make-up queen. "I look so beautiful!" I gushed. &nbs

Tip-tap, tip-tap, like the steps of little babies, the seniors rushed out of the house on the front porch. Curiosity laced in their eyes, and excitement was expressed in the way their hands jerked. Standing before them, I cleared my throat. "Actually, I have brought someone to meet y'all today," I announced, not being able to hide the smile tearing through my lips continuously. "Who?" Lauren perked. "Who is it?" Ben asked, craning his head from side to side to look behind me as if I hid someone there. "Is it another new member?" Dorothy joined in the questioning spree. Chuckling at them, I glanced at the Rolls Royce awaiting in the driveway and gestured with my head. "Come out." Everyone's wandering gazes turned to that direction as the car door opened ajar and stayed like that for a few moments. The anticipation was

My eyes widened to their limits, before a body collided into mine, flying us into the hard floor. More screams resonated throughout the hall and more gunshots could be heard, but all that occupied my mind were those terrifying words. "Are you okay, Hazel?" Sylvester asked from above me, his eyes frantically scanning over my body. "He killed my mother," I muttered. "I'm sorry about that," he replied with pity lacing his voice. "He killed my mother," I repeated, letting the news sink in my head. Suddenly the world began to blur before my eyes, and time slowed down. All these years, I had been associating with my mother's killer. I had been believing his lies, thinking she died from a heart attack while... "He murdered her..." "Hazel?" "Montero killed her..." I gasped, but no air reached my l

I tip-toed inside, closing the door behind me and making sure a certain someone suspected. But before he came, I glanced around, messed through the drawers and shelves, finally spotting the file I had given Montero on the day of my doom. My smirk broadened as I fished out the lighter, I snatched from one of the guards at the front gate and lit it. That's when the door shot open and before me stood Montero's most loyal guard dog, Ryan. His eyes widened as I brought the papers in contact with the fire and they shrunk back, turning ashen little by little. "You bitch!" he screamed, pulling the file out of my hand and hauling it at the floor. His foot stepped over the papers repeatedly until the fire came to a cease. Then his crazed eyes turned to me, and he launched towards me, gripping my neck, hurling me against the wall behind. My heart curtailed in fear in one corner of my chest, but I faced him head on, sending him the best

The majestic, silvery hue of the night stretched over the calm water of the Michigan lake, yet it could not penetrate the depth where she held her darkest arcanum. Just like the crisp breeze that blew past me, yet failed to pacify the turmoil inside. I felt like I was in a vessel, lost and deserted far in the sea, with no direction to where I headed. Did he know something all this time? Or did he not? Those questions kept swirling in my head like an ingenious dolphin spinning over the surface of the sea. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Dimitri might have known about my secret for God knew how long, yet he kept quiet. But... "Why?" A deep, low masculine voice sounded from behind, and I whipped around, a small frown appearing in between my brows. Dimitri stood there, a few feet away, just as still as the lake, but in those frazzled eyes, danced so many emotions.&n

Time seemed to slow down as we stared at each other. His eyes were blazing while mine probably showed hurt. I couldn't take the fact that he might have gotten back with Catherine. He perhaps replaced me already. But my thoughts came to a stop when the glass in his hand suddenly popped, and red liquid slowly dripped down his hand. What was concerning was that the drink he was having, was ember in color, not red. "Dimitri," I gasped. His eyes lifted to glare at me one more time, before he turned and strode away. "Wait, Dimitri." I was about to run behind him when a hand wrapped around my arm, stopping me. "Nah ah, now where do you think you're going?" Catherine spoke in her thin, high-pitched voice, her nails digging in my flesh. "He is hurt. He needs his hand treated," I gritted out.

Seven years later~Warmth glided over my skin, drawing me out of sleepland. I squinted my eyes to block the sun from directly hitting my irises. Grunting, I turned over only to discover the other half of the bed to be empty. I frowned and sat up, my eyes landed on the digital clock on the bedside table.11:17 am.Huh? I overslept. Why didn't he wake m- A sudden, intense urge to vomit rose up my throat. Slapping a hand over my mouth, I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet. Clearing my stomach of the remaining of last night's dinner, I straightened up, and a mild dizziness rocked the world around me. My hand pressed on the cold tiled wall beside me until the feeling passed.Walking to the basin, I splashed water over my face and looked at myself in the mirror. My hand unconsciously drove down to my flat stomach, and a smile took over my lip

A warm, buttery aroma with a splash of citrus wafted through my nose as we smeared icing and wrapped edible sheets around the four-story cake, topping it up with esculent red laces, rose petals, and finally a cute pair of tiny bride and groom. Proud we stepped back and observed the masterpiece we two expert ladies made. "It's perfect," I gushed, glancing at my mom and bursting out in laughter as traces of shortening decorated her rosy cheeks giving her a look of a curious kid. "You got some..." I pointed at her face cackling more. "You should see your face, darling," she smugged. Widening my eyes I turned back observing myself in the glass door that separated the kitchen from the shop and gasped as bits of the white coating laced my nose as well. As I looked back both our frames shook from mirth and fueling it appeared dad showered in cake mix.

"Ready, love?" the ethereal voice of my husband reached my ears, and I looked up, my expression brighter than the morning sun.Finally the day arrived when I could leave these bleak walls of white and blue and go back to my sweet heaven. It'd been three weeks, and my mind was already going bananas."Yes. Please, take me home already."The corners of his lips slightly raised in his rare smile as he extended his hands. Taking them I carefully alighted my legs as my feet touched the cold floor and propped on them. A faint ache still gnawed at the spot, but the feeling of elation dominated all."Are you sure you can walk?"Flashing my overprotective hubby with a hearty smile I got on my tippi-toes and planted a peck on his warm lips. "I can. Now let's go."Immediately he leaned down pressing his lips back on mine in a lingering kiss as a warm fe

Everything seemed to slow down as I watched the spark alighting off the tiny muzzle hole, smoke arising after it, and like a wave of energy it hit me throwing me off my feet as I flew some inches behind, my body colliding into a hard yet warm one. Two protective arms wrapped around me lowering my body to the ground."Ember..." his deep alarmed voice reached my ears, and I glanced at his pained gaze growing anxious. Did the bullet hit him? I was sure it didn't hit me for I felt no piercing pain like a tiny metal tearing through the flesh but numb. All I felt was numb down in the torso.My eyes traveled forward where the pretty redhead officer had Vienna pinned as she struggled. And then my gaze fell on my tummy, the white top painted into a new color. Red, and it was spreading. A burning sensation began to rise in the spot though I wasn't sure if it was from my imagination or from...

"Ember, darling. Now what shall we do with you? I can't simply allow my brother to have any means of happiness in his life." He glanced up brooding, a finger tapping his lip. "Oh wait, I know." He strode closer to Hunter and leaned down. "How about I give you a demo of how I dispatched our mother, huh little brother? Hmm... That'll be fun.""Wh-What do you mean?" Gulping I glanced at Hunter who looked like he was lost in his own world and wasn't coming back anytime sooner."Come on, boys. Bring her here.""Nonono. Hunter! Ah, noo! Hunter!" I screamed and thrashed against their hold but in vain as they dragged me towards the steep hill. I dug my toes in the soil in an attempt to obstruct them yet luck didn't support me, and the guards pushed me right on Christian's arms.The pure disdain that ran through my veins against him, scorched the skin

Darkness began to lighten, and once again my eyes fluttered open, sharp malign pain continued to bug my head. I scanned around, and this time I was tied in the back of a van.What the heck were those two specimens of demon doing?Startling me the doors of the van jerked open, and unintentionally I cowered back a bit as two men stood before me with Christian behind them.With a motion of his finger the men approached me and I began squirming. "Don't touch me! No! Mmngng..." A hand wrapped around my mouth and the others began untying my hands and legs. I yelped as one of them yanked me by the hair and set me on the ground outside the infernal van.I scanned the surrounding only to witness endless rows of trees until my eyes landed on the traitorous baboon, and I advanced towards him, clutching his collars in my fists. "You! How could you have d

Eight years later~ "Elizah?" I stared at the empty room, my brows furrowing. He was supposed to be in his table studying. "Elizah," I called again in a low voice afraid the twins might wake back up.I and Nola spent three hours trying to get them to sleep, and then I dozed off, completely forgetting that I had promised my elder son to help with his homework. Walking down the hall, I checked in the other rooms, even the twins' just in case he decided to visit them like he did sometimes, yet no sign of him. My stomach knotted with unease. Normally, he'd come running to me on my first call, occasionally the second no matter where he was in the house. He was such a sweet kid. But today as I ran around looking for him, I knew something wasn't right. Not working myself up as the doc suggested because of the heart problems I developed over the years as heirloom, I decided to check his hiding spots. There were several throughout the house, the most used one being behind his bookshelves in

One month later~ I sat before the huge mirror like a mannequin princess being coddled by a dozen women. A soft, warm air blew on my hair as someone blow-dried it. Two painted my nails, and another ran several brushes on my face applying make-up. This was the big day. My wedding. Yet as I looked up searching for familiar faces among the people surrounding me I missed the ones I called family. Some more than the others. Some I hated that I ever loved. They took things from me. Significant things. Parts of my heart that I can never get back. But it was a relief knowing the ominous time was over. The evil lurking in the dark waiting to pounce and feed on our happiness was gone forever. And if someone new decided to test their luck, I knew Hades would be right there, protecting his family, and his pack like the feared blood alpha he was. And with him beside me, I too could tackle any storm, swallow any pain and vanquish any enemy that dared to wedge their evil ploys between us. "The d

"No!" I screamed, my chest constricting so painfully I could be sure I was having a heart attack. But it turned out to be fruitful because Gordon's head shot my way, and Hades took that opportunity to slam his forearm on his elbow pit, making a crack echo through the trees. He didn't stop there because the next moment he headbutted the elder sending him flying across. Hades was bloody all over, but he was okay. However, there was no relief as I knelt beside Tera, my head spinning, and a strange pressure building in my belly. Shaking my head, I glanced at the huge broken branch sticking out of her torso. "Tera," I cried out. "Why did you do it?""Don't... get your knickers... in a twist, woman. I'm not... dying for you," she spoke between coughs, her eyes squeezing shut as she clutched the wood and tugged at it. But it didn't budge. She tried again, a gritting scream leaving her lips, but once again, the wood piece refused to come out. It was stuck to something inside. Falling b

The blood in my veins went still as I stared at the man before me. Silver rooted hair and grey eyes. He had the proudest smile plastered on his face as he closed the gap between him and Iris into a loud, sloppy kiss. "Mhm, I missed you, babe," Iris cooed. "I'm here now, my love," he cooed back, and they both turned to me with matching looks of pure mockery. The nerves!Those two? Together? All this time? Shock and disgust combined with each other struck me frozen for a moment. My gut feelings had always been right. Of course it had to be him. Every single of those evidences denoted so. I should've known. I should've fought harder with Hades to prove my reasonings. But then the shock got buried under the weight of the brazen revelation of his dirty game.Every ounce of blood in my veins started to downright scorch. "The fuck you just said?" I snarled. "Manners, girl," uncle Gordon spoke, but then his lips curved into a wicked smirk. "Oh wait, I forgot you didn't have a mother to

Once Garett called off the celebration, the guests started departing with confusion and disappointment washing off the earlier enjoyment from their faces. Some even looked annoyed, but of course they knew better than to complain. I, on the other hand, felt like there was a stress attack swirling deep inside me, but I couldn't freak out now. I had to think about my child. I had to keep it from any kind of harm's way. And when Nola and Iris ran my way, the panic somewhat alleviated from my core. "What happened?" Iris asked. "Are you feeling alright, darling?" Nola followed. "I'm fine," I replied, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. "I think they caught Alpha Ryan." Nola gasped while Iris sent me a baffled look. "Who's that?" "An alpha who attacked our pack a while back. He even tried to hurt Gisella," Nola explained.Iris' eyes rounded, and she looked around, her gaze alert. "Luna," Wyett and the two other bodyguards stepped closer, "We should go. Alpha asked to take you back

"Why are we here?" I asked, looking around at the fancy shopping mall Hades brought me first thing in the morning. His arms wrapped around my torso and whirled me around. I frowned, staring at the shop before me, but then the name and the long white fluffy gown on display of the shop quenched all my curiosity, and I gasped, my eyes widening. I whipped around too fast, felling a dizziness follow. But I shook it off, my heart pounding in my chest. "Are you going to buy me a wedding dress?" "You're not planning on marrying me in one of your pink sundresses, are you?" I giggled, my insides bubbling with excitement. "No, but a pink bridal gown wouldn't be bad, don't you think?" "Nothing on you looks bad. Drill that into your head, pet." I smiled, feeling a silly swooning moment pass me at the nickname. I missed hearing it from him. It might sound crazy, but I might even prefer this over love, or weird enough, my own name.Hades did as per my wish though. Because the next thing I kne