The Vampire's Photograph Read Online Free PDF

say to most people.
    Behind them, there was a flat smack as Theo landed on another student, and the others on the wall cackled. Oliver couldn’t resist glancing back. One of his class’s smallest students, Berthold Welch, was squirming his way free of Theo’s grip, righting his glasses.
    Oliver turned back to Seth. “Looking forward to Longest Night?” he asked, trying again to make conversation. Longest Night was the vampire celebration of the winter solstice.
    â€œI guess,” said Seth, raising his eyebrows. “Mom and Dad say I need to get my grades up if I want a bunny.” He licked his teeth as he said it, and glanced over at Oliver. “Hey, you don’t look so good.”
    â€œOh—I’m just tired. I um…” Oliver scrambled to think of some acceptable excuse for why he looked so exhausted and landed on the familiar one before he could stop himself. “I started having the dreams, I think.”
    Seth looked impressed. “No way, really? Wow, I think you’re the first. I haven’t heard anyone else say that.” He glanced around class. “You should tell Mr. VanWick, he’ll probably give you less homework, and have you tell your dreams to the class. Man, Oliver, you’re lucky.”
    Yeah right , Oliver thought, cursing himself. Why had he started the lie again? “I…I’m not ready to tell anyone, yet,” he said quickly. “Actually, they’ve been making me a little sick…”
    Seth’s eyes widened even further. “Wow, ’cause they’re so intense? Maybe you’re going to get your demon soon!”
    It was official: Everything Oliver said just made things worse. “Oh, I don’t know about that. My dad said it could still be a while. It might just be acclimation sickness or something.” Acclimation sickness was almost like an allergy—when a child felt ill and out of sorts as their energies first joined with their demon. It was common and almost always passed before the demon actually arrived.
    â€œOh, yeah, could be,” Seth said, but he was still impressed. “Man, if you get your demon first…” He gave a mischievous glance toward Theo and his gang on the back wall.
    â€œMmm.” Oliver nodded. “Right now I just want to feel better. I’ve got my checkup on Friday though, so that should help.”
    Seth had started flipping over his cards again. “Your what?”
    â€œYou know,” Oliver said. “Doctor’s visit. Just the same old yearly checkup stuff.”
    Seth gave him a strange look. “You go to the doctor every year?”
    â€œYeah,” Oliver replied. “Don’t you?”
    â€œI can’t even remember the last time I went to a doctor,” Seth said. “What would you need to go every year for?”
    â€œYou know, I mean, make sure you’re healthy…” Oliver trailed off. His thoughts raced. Because there’s something wrong with me, obviously , he thought.
    â€œHealthy?” Seth said the word like it was from another language. “Your mom must be—ow!” There was a smacking sound and Seth grabbed the back of his head. “What the—”
    Oliver heard a whoosh of air, and he and Seth turned to find Theo landing right behind their seats, flanked on either side by Brent and their friend Maggots. Maggots’s real name was Rollie, but the nickname came from a case of the worms that he’d had since kindergarten and never fully gotten over, which often left him scratching at his head and feet.
    â€œWhat, Seth ?” Theo asked, smiling.
    Seth reached to the floor and picked up the object that had hit him: a rolled-up ball of paper. He threw it back at Theo. “Knock it off!”
    Theo was quick. He grabbed the paper in mid-flight, then smacked Seth across the head with it. “Careful!”
    â€œLeave us alone, Theo,” Oliver muttered.
    â€œThe