A few hours later, Vlad woke with his heart banging in his ribcage. No one had bothered him all night and now it was dawn again.

He was almost shaking with excitement as he pulled on his school uniform and the pair of old trainers, and threw his velvet bedspread over the top instead of his cape.

Just in case someone sees me coming out of my room, he told himself.

Flit was still fast asleep, hanging upside down from the rafters.

Vlad crept down the dark corridor and up to the front door. He paused to check that no one had seen him, then let himself out into the sunlight.

He ran all the way down the hill, holding his bedspread out like wings. He felt free! Knowing that he wouldn’t be burned to a frazzle made Vlad so happy, he realized he was enjoying the feel of the air on his skin. A light breeze caught the fabric and for a moment Vlad wondered if it might actually be fun to fly for real.

I’m not going to think about that today, he told himself. I’m not going to worry about any of the vampire things that I can’t do. I’m going to have fun with Minxie instead.

At least it was easier to run downhill without having to carry his skateboard. He got to the bottom of the hill and hid the bedspread in a bush before running through the streets to the school. Vlad smiled to himself. His parents really did not know what they were missing, living in the dark all the time.

As Vlad got closer to the school, however, his happiness faded. The town was rather quiet… He began to feel worried.

Maybe today isn’t a school day, he thought.

But Minxie had said, “See you tomorrow,” he remembered, so he kept running until he reached the school gates. He got there just in time to see the last children filing into their lessons.

I’m late! he thought.

He reached the classroom as the children were settling at their desks.

When Vlad came in, Minxie broke into a wide smile.

“Come and sit next to me again, Vlad!” she called out.

“Minxie’s got a new boyfriend,” Boz sang.

“Oh shut up, Boz,” said Minxie, turning on him. “Or I’ll tie you up with a skipping rope and push you into the sandpit.”

Vlad grinned. Minxie was like the girls who stood up to Jack in Jollywood Academy.

I wonder if Minxie knows that book? Vlad thought. I shall have to ask her.

He didn’t have time just then, however, as Miss Lemondrop had appeared at the front of the class and was clapping her hands.

“Class!” she said. “One … two … three!” Everyone quietened down. “That’s better.” She took the register and smiled when she came to Vlad.

“Don’t you look smart in your uniform!” she said.

Vlad grinned, even though he could hear Boz blowing a raspberry behind him.

“Malika told me about your trip to the dentist – I hope it was all right?” she added.

Vlad nodded.

“Good. I came to find you at break yesterday to make sure someone was coming to fetch you, but there was a fuss in the playground, which I had to help sort out,” she said. “Anyway, I’m sure I’ll meet one of your parents later today, won’t I?” she said.

Vlad swallowed hard and nodded again.

“Right, let’s get on with our work,” said Miss Lemondrop, turning her attention back to the rest of the class. “Today we are going to work on our history projects,” she said. “I hope you have all done some research on your family trees?”

Family trees? Vlad thought, groaning inwardly. Not here as well!

“Now remember to make the family trees colourful and decorative, as they will be displayed in the hall for Parents’ Evening,” the teacher went on. “Take your places at the art tables, please.”

As everyone settled down and got out their pencil cases, Miss Lemondrop came over to Vlad and Minxie’s table.

“Malika, will you show Vlad what we’ve been doing?” she asked.

“Yes, Miss!” Minxie replied. “Here,” she said to Vlad, “you can use my pencils.”

Vlad picked up a red pencil and stared at it. It was a bit like the quill he was used to, he thought – it had a pointed end at least. He couldn’t see an inkwell anywhere on the desk, so he decided to watch what Minxie did and copy her.

Everyone settled down to work.

All Vlad could hear was the scratching of pencils on paper. The pencils turned out to be much faster to use than quills. And they worked on their own – without any ink!

He bent over his work, writing down everything he could remember from his lessons with Mortemia.

Miss Lemondrop began walking round the room.

“My goodness! How extraordinary!” she said when she came to Vlad. She picked up Vlad’s paper and showed it to the class. “Vlad knows his family tree as far back as seven generations! This is incredible,” she said, returning the piece of paper to Vlad. “And what beautiful handwriting you have. It is almost like the Gothic script you find in ancient manuscripts. How wonderful! Your mother has obviously been teaching you very well.”

“Th-thank you, Miss,” Vlad said.

Minxie looked over at him and frowned. “Don’t be too much of a goody-two-shoes,” she warned him. “Or I might not want to be your New Best Friend after all.”

Vlad gulped and went back to his work.

Then something hit him. He felt with his hand and found a sticky ball of paper stuck to his back. He turned round to see Boz smirking at him. “The dentist didn’t sort out your freaky teeth, then,” Boz said. “Still pointy and weird.”

“I have to go back for another appointment,” Vlad said. He faced the front and did his best to ignore Boz.

“You didn’t really go to the dentist, did you?” Minxie whispered.

Vlad’s throat went dry. “I-I did,” he said.

“The dentist is near the station,” Minxie said, “but you went the other way. Where did you go? And why didn’t you come back after lunch?”

Vlad couldn’t speak. He bent his head over his work and pretended to concentrate on his family tree.

“You’re going to have to tell me if you want to be my best friend,” Minxie persisted. “Can I come round to play at your house after school today?”

Vlad gulped. “Maybe,” he whispered. “I-I’ll have to ask my mother.”

“Great,” she said.

Vlad closed his eyes and tried to breathe normally.

Oh, Flit, he thought. What am I going to do?

At break time, Vlad rushed outside ahead of all the others. He wanted to find a quiet corner where he could sit and think but Minxie caught up with him too quickly.

“Here – you forgot your snack,” she said, handing him half an orange. “When you’ve eaten it, let’s get out your funny skateboard!” she said.

“OK,” said Vlad. Perhaps that would stop her asking him any more awkward questions.

As soon as they had finished their juicy oranges, Minxie grabbed his hand and dragged him to the shed. She pulled out the board from behind a pile of bikes and scooters.

“Thanks for letting me use it yesterday, by the way,” she said. “I tried to do some tricks but I don’t really know how. I’ve never seen a board like this before. Will you show me how it works?”

He dropped the board and hopped on to it, then did his best to impress her with a routine of jumps and flicks and turns that he had taught himself in his bedroom back at Misery Manor.

“Wow!” said Minxie. “How do you do that?”

“I’m not really sure,” Vlad said. “I just kind of think about what I want to do and then do it.”

Minxie laughed. “I think flying must be like that!” she said.

Vlad stared at her. How was it that she said things that were so close to what was really going on in Vlad’s life?

“I guess you’ll have to teach me some tricks when I come to play at yours,” Minxie said, breaking into his thoughts. “Where do you live? You still haven’t told me. Cos I know you said you had moved here. Obviously you can’t be coming from Transylvania every day!” Minxie giggled. “I mean, I don’t know exactly where Transylvania is, cos we haven’t done it yet in geography – although I bet we will now you’re Miss Lemondrop’s new pet—”

“I am not a pet!” Vlad blurted out. “I’m a va—” He gasped and stopped himself. “I mean, I’m a boy, not a pet!” he said. He put his hands on his hips and made himself sound extra-indignant to cover up his nerves.

Minxie roared with laughter. “You are funny!” she said. “Sorry if that sounded mean,” she said. “I guess you have a lot to learn. Don’t worry, I’ll help you out… As long as you tell me where you live, of course,” she added.

Vlad opened and closed his mouth a few times, then said, “I live out of town, actually. That’s why I was late. It … it takes ages to get here.”

“Yeah?” said Minxie. “WHERE outside town? You don’t live in that big old manor house on Spooky Hill, do you?” She held up her hands and made “Whooooo” noises.

Vlad’s pale face went whiter than ever.

Minxie exploded with laughter again. “I know you don’t live there, silly! That house is HUGE. You’d have to be mega-rich to live there.” Vlad nodded. “And mega-spooky!” Minxie continued. “It looks like the kind of place vampires would live. And you’re not a vampire, are you?” she asked, her eyes glinting in the sunlight.

And before poor Vlad could think of what to say to that, the bell rang.