Free The Vampire Blog by Pete Johnson

Matron burst out of her room and bellowed, ‘Marcus, did you just make that appalling sound outside my door?’
    I swallowed hard. ‘Do you know, I think I must have gone into a little trance there for a few seconds as I have no memory of what I just did. You think I made a howling noise? Well, how odd. Could you describe it to me at all?’
    â€˜What nonsense are you babbling now?’ demanded Matron. ‘I’m sending you to the headmaster.’ But there was no need as he had already come striding out of his lair to see what was going on.
    When he saw me he groaned. ‘If ever there’s trouble, you’re not far away.’ And then I was swiftly marched into his torture chamber, only able to glance briefly at Tallulah, who was smiling at me for a second record-breaking time.
    My interview with the headmaster was short and not at all sweet. He assumed I’d let out that howl as a monster dare. I didn’t argue as I just wanted to get out of there and clean myself up. So he waggled his ferocious eyebrows about and gave me four detentions and I said, ‘Thank you very much indeed.’ After which he gave me a very funny look and I left.
    I sped to the nearest loo next, which luckily was empty, and gave my face and hands a thorough wash. Then I gargled with water to clean my mouth out.
    My craving for blood had gone – for now.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Monday 15 October
3.00 p.m.
    â€˜I was in Matron’s office,’ said Joel, ‘with her looming over me and my nosebleed still in full flow when your howl just erupted into the room. And Matron leaped right up into the air as if someone had just stuck a pin up her backside. “What wasthat?”she screeched, all her chins wobbling together, like a giant concertina. I tell you, mate, right then I felt so glad to be alive, and as for my nosebleed … it had totally stopped.’
    â€˜You’re kidding me,’ I cried.
    He started to laugh. ‘And you know what, I’d say it was your howl which curedme. You’re not a witch doctor, are you?’
    â€˜You’d be surprised,’ I said.
    3.55 p.m.
    I was just walking out of school with Joel when Tallulah rushed up to us. ‘What are you doing on Thursday night?’ she asked me.
    â€˜Well, I haven’t got the seven volumes of my social diary with me, but at a rough guess I’d say – absolutely nothing.’
    â€˜Well, you are now,’ she said.
    Joel stared at her. ‘Hey, you’re not asking him out for a date, are you?’
    She made very loud throwing-up noises and then said, ‘You really want to join Monsters in School, don’t you, Marcus? That’s why you made that improved but still hideously mediocre howl today, isn’t it?’
    Actually I had no interest in joining M.I.S. at all. Well, as I keep telling you, blog, I don’t even like horror stories very much. But I still replied, ‘Ah, you know all about me, don’t you?’
    â€˜Yes, I do,’ said Tallulah. ‘And I can’t let you come along as a member, but you can attend the next meeting on Thursday – as a visitor.I will tell you our secret meeting place nearer the time. But I’m giving you a task now: on Thursday night you must tell a story which terrifies everyone. It needn’t be very long, just make sure it’s really horrible. Do that successfully, and who knows?’
    Before I could reply she’d strode off. She always acts as if she’s in a terrible hurry. And Joel let out a loud sigh of amazement. ‘What a day this has been. But is that right? You did that howl because you wanted to be in the M.I.S.? Or maybe,’ he added with a teasing smile, ‘it’s Countess Tallulah you like.’ Then he darted off before I could punch him.
    4.20 p.m.
    At home, and Dad is back early. He and Mum look up very expectantly as I walk in. I give a little bow. ‘The craving has landed. But you