by Pete Johnson
Even Karl took the hint. ‘I’ll be outside if you need me,’ he said.
‘Why on earth should we need you?’ I replied.
‘Well,’ said Karl to Tallulah, ‘he’s certainly perked up since you came in.’ That guy couldn’t be more embarrassing if he tried.
After he’d finally left I said, ‘I apologize for him. He keeps his brain in a jar. But we have to humour him as he’s my eighth cousin twice removed or something. But why are we talking about him anyway? It’s me you came to see, and who can blame you?’
‘Shy and modest as ever,’ Tallulah said. And we both sort of laughed and I sensed she was nearly as nervous as me. But the astonishing, and the truly incredible thing, was how pleased I was to see her.
‘How long did the M.I.S. meeting go on for after I left?’ I asked.
‘Not long,’ said Tallulah. ‘No one could concentrate after …’
‘I’m really sorry for messing up your meeting,’ I said.
‘No, it’s all right,’ she said. ‘We’ve set up another one for tomorrow now. You’ll miss that, but we’ll probably have one during the week too so you should come to that.’
‘Hey, you’re being nice to me. Now I know I must be ill.’
‘Well, I shan’t be nice to you ever again. So enjoy this moment,’ said Tallulah.
‘By the way, thanks for—’
‘I don’t do thanks,’ she snapped, ‘because I just go bright red and it’s horrible.’ She was reddening a bit as she said this.
I had a horrible feeling my face had burst into Technicolor too.
‘I’ll just say it was lucky you were close by,’ I said.
‘Yes, OK,’ she said. Then she started circling round my room. Watching her made me feel slightly dizzy. But I was still awed that she was here visiting me. And shockingly happy about it as well.
‘Just before you passed out,’ she said, ‘you mentioned something about being attacked.’ She looked questioningly at me.
‘I must have dreamed that,’ I said, not feeling at all easy about lying to Tallulah. After all, she had rescued me. But there was no way I could tell her the truth. I was talking rubbish, as usual. I said quickly, ‘In fact, I just tripped over in the mist.’ Then I added, ‘You didn’t tell Joel or anyone else that you’d found me.’
‘No,’ she said, stopping her pacing suddenly. ‘I thought you’d rather I kept that to myself.’
‘I would actually,’ I said, grinning at her. ‘Not my finest hour, was it, getting lost in the woods and falling over and having to be rescued by my ickle mummy and daddy.’
‘But you weren’t yourself, Marcus,’ she said. She was just so different from the grim, permanently scowling Tallulah I knew from school.
She came closer, leaned right over me in fact, her eyes shining with a strange light. And then something truly astonishing occurred. She kissed me.
Just a light kiss on my left cheek. But still, a girl had voluntarily kissed me – and looked as if she’d enjoyed herself too. I tell you, this was nearly as incredible as discovering I’m from a family of half-vampires.
‘Wow,’ I said, ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘Neither was I,’ she replied, another great wave of colour rushing into her normally pale face.
We were really having a little moment there when bellowing across the room came: ‘Tallulah, would you like a hot drink at all – tea or coffee or hot chocolate?’
Yes, Karl was back, only now he’d turned into a waiter.
‘Er, no thanks,’ said Tallulah.
He persisted. ‘What about a cold drink? We’ve got—’
‘No, I’ve got to go actually.’ She seemed flustered and awkward now. Trust Karl to break the spell.
‘Here’s a great idea,’ I said to Karl. ‘Why don’t you go away and have a hot drink and a cold drink?’ But it was too late. Tallulah was already at the door.
‘Look after yourself,’ she said suddenly, not able to look at me directly. That kiss had obviously taken her by surprise and now she was clearly embarrassed by it.
‘Well, call again, any time,’ I cried. ‘We never close.’
After she’d gone I was lying there glowing – that’s the only word for it – until you-know-who had to strut in and spoil it all.
‘Very odd,’ he announced.
‘What is?’
‘That girl coming to see you. Felt wrong.’
I stared at him. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘This is not what you want to hear, and sorry to be the bearer of such tidings – but you’re not her type.’
‘How do you know?’ I shouted.
‘Got an eye for these things. So this was the girl who found you in the woods, was it?’
‘Yes,’ I snapped.
‘Hmm, so what was she doing there?’
‘Well, anyone can wander about in the woods. And I don’t think she’s very happy at home, so she wades about thinking up stories. But what’s this got to do with anything anyway?’
‘There’s something suspicious about that girl,’ said Karl. ‘Mark my words.’
I glared at him. ‘Did you go on a course to be so totally annoying – or does it just come naturally?’
‘I know I’m telling you something you’d rather not hear,’ said Karl in a slow, patronizing voice. ‘So I will accept any insults you hurl at me.’
‘Look,’ I cried, getting really angry now. ‘Apart from wanting to see how I am, what other possible reason could Tallulah have for visiting me?’
‘I don’t know yet,’ said Karl. ‘But I’m just saying, be very careful. That girl is up to something.’
4.55 p.m.
Some people are lower than a snake’s bottom. And Karl is one of those. He couldn’t let me think that a girl might like me a bit, so he plants all that garbage about Tallulah being up to something.
5.10 p.m.
Karl is a smarmy, oily, big-headed weasel, who I couldn’t stand before, and now I positively hate.
5.20 p.m.
We are agreed that Tallulah came to see me for no other reason than she wanted to find out how I was.
Good, and thanks, blog, for clearing that up once and for all.
I don’t know what I’d do without you.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sunday 21 October
6.15 a.m.
Woke up gasping for water. My throat had never felt so dry. I tried to call out, but in the end I used the bell Karl had placed right by my bed. He’d been sleeping on a little chair outside my bedroom. He charged in with a jug of water, but tripped and managed to pour half of it all over me. I was so thirsty I just tried to lick up any water that had landed near my lips.
6.50 a.m.
Gulping water down now. Just can’t drink enough. Mum and Dad, hovering anxiously, say this is a good sign. It means I’m getting back to normal.
8.50 a.m.
Hey, my reflection is on its way back. Still a bit misty, but at least it’s there. Funny how lost I felt without it.
9.15 a.m.
The doctor called. ‘Yes, we’ve stopped the vampire infection this time,’ he said proudly.
‘What about if the vampire catches me again?’ I croak.
‘Oh, come come,’ said the doctor. ‘Put away such gloomy thoughts.’
‘But it’s close by, isn’t it, waiting to strike once more?’
‘The moment you change over into a half-vampire it will scuttle away into the darkness where it belongs. So come along now, Ved, just relax your mind and let your natural vampire side come through.’
9.50 a.m.
And I wanted to do this, I really did. I was sick of being in this kind of limbo. But I’d just started relaxing my mind when Karl stalked in. ‘I’ve made a list of things you must do.’ And straight away he made my hackles rise.
‘I’ll make my own list, thanks,’ I said.
Karl bristled. ‘I do know what I’m talking about. I did change over into a half-vampire in forty-eight ho
urs which, I still believe, is a record.’
‘So what’s it like being so colossally brilliant?’ I asked.
‘Sarcasm,’ he muttered, ‘is not helpful. Now, number one on my list is, you need to do some reading. That’s dead easy, even for you.’ He threw a pile of books and magazines on my bed. ‘But the important thing is to get the half-vampire vibe.’ Then he let out a loud howl.
‘Hey, what did you do that for?’ I asked.
‘You’ve got to look after your howl, so practice is very important. I do forty howls a day.’
‘I bet you’re popular with the neighbours,’ I quipped.
‘Extremely popular, actually,’ he said a bit huffily. ‘Now, shall I move on to number two on my list?’
‘No,’ I said firmly.
‘Bad attitude equals failure, good attitude means success. I’m going to leave that thought with you.’
‘It’s all right, you can take it with you.’ Karl made as if to leave and then came back. ‘You didn’t like what I said about that girl, Tallulah, did you?’
‘I never gave it a second thought,’ I said. Yeah, OK – a great big whopping lie. But I didn’t want Karl to know he’d got to me.
‘I’m completely right about her,’ Karl said. ‘You’ll see.’
5.25 p.m.
I got up and was pottering around my bedroom when I saw Tallulah hovering right outside my house. I quickly brushed my hair, expecting her to ring on the doorbell any second. Only she never did. Instead, she just disappeared.
So why come all the way to my house and then scarper. What was the point of that?
5.35 p.m.
I’ve worked it out. She’s obviously really really missing me – and who can blame her? – but is too shy to call in so soon after her last visit.
5.38 p.m.
Just call me the love god.
5.42 p.m.
I’ve sent Tallulah a cheeky little text saying: ‘Good luck with the meeting tonight, wish I could come along, but I’m off school until Wednesday.’ I ended by saying it was great to see her yesterday. I didn’t put love or anything. But I wanted to say something more than regards. So I wrote ‘very best wishes’ with a tiny x beside it.
9.05 p.m.
She hasn’t replied – I wasn’t expecting her to, actually. But anyway, she hasn’t.
9.25 p.m.
Spent the day swotting up on vampires. Read tons. And this evening I let out a vampire howl which wasn’t completely terrible. Mum and Dad were getting quite excited. Mum said, ‘Tomorrow morning we want to see you sporting a yellow fang.’ That’d mean I’d crossed over, of course. And I wanted to see it too. That’s why I’ve been chanting ‘I’m a half-vampire’ all day.
I’m even trying to get used to my half- vampire name. I suppose there are worse names than Ved. I just haven’t thought of any yet.
11.15 p.m.
Dad’s crept in again, just to check the vampire hasn’t somehow slipped into the house and attacked me.
Now, I don’t ever want to meet that vampire again. But I’d so love to know who it is. Especially as it’s someone I actually knew. He or she could be any age too. So it might even be a person in my class. No, it’s Mr ‘I shall be watching you closely’ Townley. He’s got to be the number one suspect. It’s a good job I’m not going to school for a few days, then. He won’t be able to get at me.
11.35 p.m.
Now Mum’s been sneaking a look at me. Wouldn’t it be great if this is the last night we’ll have to worry about a vampire visitor?
And tomorrow I might wake up sprouting one yellow fang.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Monday 22 October
6.45 a.m.
No fang!
7.05 a.m.
Mum and Dad rush in, all hopeful. They can’t believe I’m still fangless. They don’t say anything but Mum draws back my curtains with smouldering disappointment.
7.08 a.m.
I feel bad for them, blog.
I feel bad for me.
It’s no fun hovering like this between two identities. I really don’t know what I am at the moment. And I could stay like this for days, if not months, even years.
9.15 a.m.
Karl brings in still more vampire books for me to read. Feel as if I’m revising for an exam I’ll never pass.
10.45 a.m.
Karl hardly speaks to me today. This is great news – only I sense even he has given up on me now.
2.00 p.m.
I come downstairs, after which I’m out of breath. My energy is returning very slowly. Dad is home all day today. He won’t say why. But his face is riddled with anxiety.
2.50 p.m.
My parents are talking together in hushed whispers. I crawl out towards the kitchen to try and catch what they’re saying because it’s bound to be about me. But they hear me and quickly change the subject. Later they start whispering again, this time with Karl. Something is definitely going on.
4.25 p.m.
Joel has just called round.
‘Now, first of all,’ he announced, ‘I want you to breathe all over me and cough right in my face too. I’m just in the mood for a nice, fat virus as I really fancy a week off school, lolling at home. In fact, I can’t think of anything better.’
‘You wouldn’t like this virus,’ I said.
‘Yes, I would. So come on, don’t be stingy, share it around.’
‘Actually it’s not a very infectious virus,’ I said.
He exclaimed indignantly: ‘What, you’re a total let-down! And is it true you caught it from that pizza at the meeting?’
‘No, it isn’t,’ I said at once.
‘Oh, I thought your slice of pizza was just crawling with bugs and germs. And I was wondering how you managed to get so lucky.’ Joel lowered his voice. ‘So where is he then? This mad cousin Tallulah was telling me about.’
‘Oh, I’ve hardly seen him today,’ I said.
‘Shame, because I love loonies – well, I’m friends with you, aren’t I?’ I made as if to hit him and then asked about last night’s M.I.S. meeting.
‘But it was cancelled at the last minute,’ he said.
‘Why?’ I asked.
Joel shrugged. ‘Tallulah never gave a reason, just said it was postponed until Wednesday night. So do you think you’ll be able to make that one?’
‘Yeah, I should think so,’ I said.
‘Well then, I’ve got this for you. It’s top secret, so I had strict instructions not to open it. This contains your next challenge. And although I was very tempted, I haven’t even had a peek, can you believe that?’
He handed me an envelope with FOR THE ATTENTION OF MARCUS HOWLETT written across it.
‘You’re supposed to open it after I’ve gone, but we can ignore that bit, can’t we?’
‘Definitely,’ I said, ripping open the envelope, sort of chuffed that Tallulah had thought up this new challenge – at least that proved she’d been thinking about me – and who can blame her?
Then I stared at the message, totally stunned by what it said. For it wasn’t a challenge at all. Instead, she’d written in block capitals:
MARCUS, IT IS VITAL I SEE YOU TONIGHT. MEET ME AT MONSTERS’ MEETING PLACE AT SEVEN O’CLOCK. IT IS VERY URGENT. TELL NO ONE ABOUT THIS MESSAGE. COME ALONE. TALLULAH.
‘So what does it say then?’ asked Joel.
And I really wanted to tell him. For it was such an extraordinary message. Why would Tallulah want to see me so urgently? What possible reason could she have? I badly needed to discuss this with someone, and Joel was the obvious choice.
But she’d underlined TELL NO ONE. So I said: ‘Oh, she’s just saying she wants me to prepare properly for the meeting next time or I’ll be chucked out.’
‘That’s harsh,’ said Joel at once. ‘It wasn’t your fault the friendly virus struck when it did.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I know M.I.S. is her idea, and a brilliant one. But she’s majorly bossy, isn’t she?’
I could agree th
ere: summoning me to the meeting place tonight seemed incredibly bossy. Only her message didn’t quite sound like that. No, it was more worried and scared and practically begging, rather than commanding me to turn up. But why? Why?
‘You’re looking dead worried,’ said Joel suddenly.
‘No, not me,’ I said airily.
‘Yes, you are, I can tell. But don’t let her get to you. I’ll have a think about a horror story and ring you up with it; and if the Bride of Dracula doesn’t like that, we’ll form our own alternative M.I.S. How about that?’
And then Mum, Dad and Karl piled in. Joel was introduced to Karl and then Dad said, ‘Hate to break things up, but we’d really like to have a little word with Marcus.’
‘That’s OK,’ said Joel. ‘If I’d known Marcus’s bug wasn’t infectious I wouldn’t have bothered visiting him anyway.’ Then he winked at me and added, half under his breath, ‘And don’t worry about this new challenge, I’ll be in contact.’
This deputation of my parents and Karl now faced me.
‘Just to let you know,’ said Mum a bit too brightly, ‘that your dad and I are popping up to London tonight.’
‘Why are you doing that?’ I demanded at once.
A slight pause before Dad said, ‘We want to get some advice.’
‘About me?’ I asked.
‘Yes,’ said Dad. ‘Karl has given us the address of a consultant.’
‘A half-vampire consultant?’ I said.
‘That’s right,’ said Dad. ‘The country’s leading one. So we’ve done well getting an appointment with him. And then we’re hoping he will come and see you.’
‘You make me feel a right freak.’
‘You’re not exactly a freak,’ began Karl.
‘You’re not a freak at all,’ said Mum firmly. ‘But your father and I just want to do the best for you. We shouldn’t be long, but while we’re away Karl will be in charge; all right?’
5.10 p.m.
With Mum and Dad out tonight, that leaves only Karl to sneak past when I go and meet Tallulah. Oh yeah, I’m definitely going. Well, I’ve got to know what this is all about.