How Not To Be A Vampire Slayer by Katy Birchall

Author:Katy Birchall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Before I left her yesterday, Sharptooth and I had formulated a plan. I would meet her with my friends outside the woods on the path next to the “keep out” sign closest to the trees. That way, she was stepping out of the woods and into the open, but was close enough that Bat-Ears could keep watch and signal if something was amiss. It also meant that Ari and Miles wouldn’t have to go into the woods again, something I knew neither of them would agree to.

“Can’t I come into Goreway?” she asked me eagerly at first when I made the suggestion. “I want to see the town!”

“Not yet,” I said. “Small steps first.”

She reluctantly agreed.

When school finishes, Ari and Miles come home with me, and after tea, we ask Mum and Dad if it’s all right for us to go for a walk.

“It’s getting dark,” Mum observes, glancing out the window.

“We won’t go far,” I say, trying to sound casual. “We just want to try out a new trick on my bike.”

They agree that we can go, but we have to be back inside within the hour.

“Not a problem,” Miles squeaks, stopping at the door. “We’ll be back as soon as possible, Mr and Mrs Helsby. In fact, do we really want to go out at all?”

“Come on, Miles,” Ari sighs, ushering him out.

I take my bike and helmet to keep up the pretence, walking it along next to me as Ari and Miles trail behind. When I really think about it, I’m lucky that I managed to persuade them to get this far. I feel strangely nervous as I approach the sign where we’re meeting.

Am I doing the right thing introducing Sharptooth to Miles and Ari? I think as we come to a stop. What if they spill the secret accidentally? Or what if they don’t get on?

“What if the vampire eats us?” Miles says aloud.

“Then we’ll be dead,” Ari answers simply.

Miles gulps. I turn to reassure him for the hundredth time that Sharptooth won’t hurt us, while Ari shoves her hands in her pockets, likely wondering why she’s bothering to entertain this whole foolish notion. I swivel back to face the woods, resting my bike against the sign. I quickly text my mum to let her know that we’re having a fun time on the path “just out of view of the house”. It is dark and I don’t want them worrying. If I keep messaging my parents, they’ll be less likely to come out and call us in. I put my phone away.

Then, we wait.

I suddenly see two red dots appear in the darkness and smile. Looking very nervous, Sharptooth shuffles out, Bat-Ears swooping through the evening air ahead of her. The sun has set now, but that doesn’t stop her from anxiously looking up at the sky beyond the safety of the trees.

She lifts her foot and with her toe pointed she takes a slow, dramatic step out from the woods. Nothing happens. Looking delighted, she takes another step.

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