***
“Hey B-man,” said David while nudging Brenden in his side. “So, you’ve decided to return to us? Missed our mummy Namenkhetamun, you dirty dog.”
Brenden slouched a little further in his chair, picked slowly at the corner of the blank notebook he had before him and gave no reply to David’s words beyond a small unintended murmur.
“Come on now kid, I’m just messing with you. No need to be a sad sack.”
“Leave him be,” said Lilith in as firm a tone as she could manage with her hoarse voice.
“Alright, Miss Zombie, whatever you command.”
“He’s been through a lot.”
“David!” With the exception of Brenden, all the students in the class instantly focused their attention on the entrance to the classroom to see the terrible fury painted across Adam’s face, an anger that was made all the more frightening by the man’s grotesque pale yellow face.
“David,” Adam repeated in a softer tone that was still none-the-less terrifying for most of the students who had never seen their teacher truly enraged. “Please, leave my classroom.”
Despite the fact that David prided himself on being one of the lucky few men who could take the heat from any boss, client or other fool in his old life, without a word of protest he quickly departed and disappeared into the corridor.
Though Adam and Lilith had only good intentions in their defence of Brenden against David, through making something out of the man’s words, and by reinforcing the idea that the Brenden could not look after himself, they only made the boy feel even more useless and pathetic than he had before. Slowly, while thinking about how he had been unable to even run away, Brenden sank down further in his chair as Adam started proceedings for the day.
“Later on, a class will be given by Ms Stapleton on effective ways to find employment on the internet - something I must admit a rather great ignorance of - to support one’s life when out in the world of the living. Apparently, some suggest that this new system may enable many more of us to refrain from joining the community in the Tunnels as we will be able to support ourselves by working at home. Indeed, a number of my former students have adopted this path. I have my doubts about this system - as I do not see why working at home prevents one from having to engage with the living in the area one inhabits - but if you are considering going back into the old world, it is probably a lesson worth taking. So, is anyone here interested in the lesson? I just need to put your name down so that she can prepare the necessary materials.”
It came as no surprise to Adam that Lilith, the other zombie Robert and Namenkhetamun indicated no interest in the course, though he felt quite differently about the lack of response from Brenden.
“Brenden, sorry, just to make sure. Did you hear what I said? If you want to go back out into the world of the living, this course could be well worth taking.”
With his eyes fixed firmly on the frayed and picked corner of his notebook, Brenden slowly shook his head.
“Though I’m sure you know quite a bit about this already, might there not be something you can learn about finding work, as I should add that Ms Stapleton will also try to help you look for a job, if you wish. Indeed, I think I ought to say that this is not just a one-off lesson, it’ll be on twice a week and she will guide you through the whole process of applications, building a cv and so on. You don’t have to go today; you can start next time. However, I just need to put your name down now so that she can get an idea of how many people will be joining the class.”
Once again, Brenden shook his head.
“Well, if you change your mind, I can always just add your name in the future. But, let’s leave it there for today. Right, to other things.”
***
The house of Caroline Osborne did not match Amanda’s expectations at all. After pulling up in her car at the address, Amanda even checked twice that she had the right place. Though she still considered it all a little odd, her satnav, the address she had on the file for the vampire, the result on Google Earth on her phone and the number she could see on the house all matched up. The reason for all this doubt was that the house was not hidden away like most of the vampire dwellings she knew of, but a well-maintained terrace without even curtains on the windows. Indeed, the contrast between the dark of the twilight outside and the warm light of the front room before her even enabled her to see that inside there was a good looking, blonde, middle-aged woman, presumably Caroline, sitting quite contently and reading a book.
A little bemused, Amanda made her way to the front door and attempted to think of some excuse to tell, whoever this woman was, why she had rung her bell. However, before she even pressed the white button of the antique brass bell, the door opened and Amanda was greeted by the welcoming smile of the woman she had just seen through the window.
“How may I help you, dear?”
“Oh, I’m sorry to bother you this late. It’s just, I was wondering, you wouldn’t happen to be Caroline Osbourne, would you? You see, I’ve just been sent…”
“Ah, from the school!” replied the woman, while simultaneously opening the door a little wider.
