Read Online Unwelcome by Michael Griffo - Free Book Online

“There’s a new teacher at your school, hardly earth-shattering, and hardly a reason to leave that beautiful boyfriend of yours alone in your bed.” If Ronan could read his mother’s mind he would have heard her final remark, that beds were meant to be shared, but since Ronan was having a hard enough time maintaining a verbal conversation with Edwige, it really was better that her private thoughts remained unshared.
    â€œNot just a teacher,” Ronan corrected. “The new headmaster.”
    Pressing her fingers to her temples, Edwige felt the onset of a headache. She dug underneath her close-cropped bangs, careful not to scratch herself with her newly manicured fingernails, and massaged her skin. The pressure felt good. It didn’t alleviate the pain, not at all, but did add a layer of pleasure. And lately that’s all she had been craving, pleasure, enjoyment, escape, but her craving went unfulfilled and instead she was presented with a child who, although the reasons were still foreign to her, had a problem. “Well, someone had to replace that other one who left.”
    â€œHawksbry didn’t leave, Mum, he was killed and you know it!” Ronan charged. “You’ve always known it!”
    â€œWill you stop yelling?!” Edwige demanded more than requested, clutching her forehead. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, but unmistakably filled with disgust and impatience. “Turned into one of Them or killed by Their hand, what does it matter? Either way it’s eternal damnation.” Finally she turned to her son, hoping her action coupled with her words would be perceived as a dismissal. “Now, if that’s all the news you have to dispatch, I think it’s time you left. It is, as you children say, a school night.”
    Sometimes you really do have to talk to her like she’s the child, Ronan thought. “Brania’s father is the new headmaster,” he announced.
    Imperceptibly, Edwige’s expression changed. “Why didn’t you say so?” Turning her back on Ronan, she walked across the room to the small glass and steel minibar. She lifted a stout pitcher, clear except for delicate etchings of fish that randomly adorned the circumference, and poured herself a glass of water. It was the one liquid her kind could drink, and even though she wasn’t thirsty, she did need time to think. The water tasted clean, fresh, not nearly as intoxicating as blood of course, but it served its purpose, it gave her a moment to make her son think his news hadn’t startled her. “You must learn to present the most important piece of information first instead of, pardon the pun, vamping.”
    Ignoring his mother’s jeer, Ronan pressed on. “So you agree that this is important, we’re in danger?”
    â€œI would hardly say we’re in danger,” Edwige replied, the glass making a louder clank than expected when she placed it back onto the surface of the bar. “It means just as you said, Brania’s father is your new headmaster.”
    Why does every conversation with her have to be so frustrating? “And why in the world would he take on that role if he didn’t want to hurt us, if he weren’t trying to make some sort of statement?” Ronan asked.
    Why does every conversation with him have to be a challenge? “David has always acted like a little boy,” Edwige said, sitting on the acrylic Ghost chair next to the bar, her fingers absentmindedly stroking the smooth, clear armrest. “So it’s quite fitting that he would want to be the leader of an allboys school.”
    Ronan started to pace the room. How could he make her understand that this situation wasn’t funny; it was potentially lethal. “He’s already a leader,” Ronan cried. “Of our enemy!”
    Edwige pointed a finger at her son, the red lacquered nail aiming at him like a blood-tinged arrow. “They