Humanity 01 - Child of The Dusk by Corrine Shroud Read Free Book Online Page A

at Derrick’s
actions. “It’s not like you haven’t seen one of her kind before.”
He clapped his hands. “Get to class!” The crowd began to disperse,
but Mirage could hear their merciless comments. They buzzed around
her like vultures over a carcass.
    She stood, throwing her backpack over her
shoulder again as Mr. Kinely made his way to her.
    “ Where are you supposed to
be?”
    Mirage hesitated before looking him in the
eye. “I’m sorry, sir. I’m the new student, and—”
    “ Yes, yes,” Mr. Kinely
interrupted impatiently. “Anyone can see that you’re new. I will assume you are
trying to go to the office to speak with the principal?”
    Mirage nodded. “Yes, sir.”
    “ It’s not safe for you to
travel there by yourself,” he commented, his eyes full of pity.
“I’ll take you there.”
    “ Thank you,” she said,
relieved. It angered her to see how much that relieved her. She hadn’t
been out of her Promised Lands for more than a few months and she
was already cowed. She could only imagine her uncle’s gloating face
before she tore her thoughts away from him. She would not think about that
Child of the Dusk and the betrayal that still stung her heart.
There was nothing she could do, and lingering thoughts of his
laughter as she was banished were enough to make her sick. Instead,
she took a moment to study the teacher. His expression was kind,
lined with age. His eyes…the color struck her. They were same cruel
pale blue that haunted her dreams. She remembered them from her
hiding place, glinting with amusement as they watched her silent
father burn.
    The memory came back with a vengeance,
doubling her over until she had to clutch her stomach.
    “ Are you
alright?”
    Mirage shook her head and took a moment to
control her breathing. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “I mean yes.
Everything’s fine.”
    He gave her another searching look before
saying, “Then follow me.” He put a hand on her shoulder, steering
her down the hall. “What’s your name?”
    “ Mirage Elyn
Shadowstart.”
    “ When the Board of
Education contacted us and told us that a paramortal was being
allowed to attend a human school, I hadn’t thought it would be a
Shadowstart. Especially in Paradise, Florida, it being so sunny. I
more expected a Galesinger or a Flametamer, but not you.” He
frowned. “You know the history between your people and our own and
the role your Tribe had with the Territory Wars. I’m afraid you
won’t find people very welcoming of you.”
    Mirage was surprised, both at the concern in
his voice and the fact that he used the actual term humans had
thought up to describe what she was; Paramortal. At least he didn’t
insult her by calling her a Dark Child. He used other human terms
for the Tribes and for some reason that comforted her. “This was
the only school close to the Emissary Hospital that we could get to
let me in.”
    Mr. Kinely sighed. “I know it’s rough, but
hang in there.” He arched an eyebrow. “You know, I think I know
your father. Gauthier?”
    “ You knew my father…”
Mirage’s voice choked.
    “ Knew?” The teacher looked
at her, troubled by her tone. He hesitated and gave a low sigh. “I
think I know why you’re out of your Promised Lands.”
    “ They came for him.” Mirage couldn’t keep the anger from her voice.
“The Humanitarians.”
“Mirage…I’m sorry. I knew he hadn’t contacted me in a long time,
but I hadn’t expected them to get a hold of a Tribe Chief, let
alone the Shadowstart Tribe Chief.”
    “ How did you
know—?”
    Mr. Kinely interrupted her. “He spoke a lot
of you, Mirage, and your mother, Tranquility. It seems he didn’t
exaggerate your domineering personality. He was quite proud of
you.” He paused at the corner of the hall and she stopped with him.
“Don’t let them cow you, Mirage,” he said, staring her in the eye.
“Look them in the eye and be proud of what you are. Don’t show off
your abilities, though.