To celebrate the release of Flame of the Dragon, the 13th book in the Scream Street series, author Tommy Donbavand has written an exclusive short story that is being released over 13 days on 13 blogs. I'm delighted to be taking part in the tour and am hosting part 9 of the story for you today. Before I post the extract here are links to the other blogs taking part so you can make sure you read the story in order:20th October - Wondrous Reads - Chapter 2
21st October - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Chapter 3
22nd October - Barry Hutchison - Chapter 4
23rd October - Floor To Ceiling Books - Chapter 5
24th October - My Favourite Books - Chapter 6
25th October - Spine Chills - Chapter 7
26th October - Tall Tales and Short Stories - Chapter 8
27th October - Feeling Fictional - Chapter 9
28th October - Notes from the Slushpile - Chapter 10
29th October - The Book Zone (For Boys) - Chapter 11
30th October - Trapped by Monsters - Chapter 12
31st October - Scream Street - Chapter 13
So now you've had a chance to catch up on the previous installments of Shiver of the Phantom by Tommy Donbavand here is the next one:
Chapter Nine
The Team
Mr Aspin’s eyes were practically bulging out of his head. “How dare you presume to tell me what will and will not happen in my own organization?” he screeched.
“Because I think you’re a bully,” said Luke, unfazed by the ghostly president’s anger. “I used to have a teacher like you at my old school, and the only way to deal with people like that is to stand up to them.”
“A BULLY?” the ghost roared. “I’ll show you a bully!”
“Then Luke’s right,” said Cleo. “You are a bully. You’ve certainly been bullying poor Henry here. I’m sure he’s brilliant at haunting, but he’s just been put off his work by having to deal with someone like you every day.”
Henry ducked nervously behind Resus, although that didn’t achieve much as he could still clearly be seen through the vampire’s transparent body.
“I’ll haunt you every night for the rest of your lives for this!” Aspin roared.
“No, you won’t,” said Luke calmly. “From what I can tell, you’re a stickler for rules – and I’m willing to bet that there’s a rule against haunting the same family on a regular basis.”
Aspin ground his teeth together and tightened his grip on his clipboard – but he didn’t say anything.
“I thought so,” said Luke. “So, please don’t threaten us, or say anything to scare Henry. It isn’t a very kind thing to do. Now, what time does his exam begin?”
Aspin checked the time on his shimmering pocket watch. “Fifteen minutes ago!”
“Then we’d better get started, hadn’t we?” said Luke with a smile. “Now, what are we doing first?”
“Oh no,” sneered Aspin. “There’s no ‘we’ in this. You three can buzz off! You’ve already forced me into letting Harper take this exam. I’m not having you hovering around while it happens.”
“You can’t send us away,” said Cleo. “We’re Henry’s support team.”
“His what?”
“His support team,” the mummy repeated. “Luke’s his manager for all things creepy, I’m his confidence coach and Resus is his nutritionist.”
“He doesn’t need a nutritionist!” yelled Aspin. “He’s a phantom. He doesn’t eat!”
“Just because he doesn’t need a nutritionist doesn’t mean he can’t have one.” Resus grinned. “I don’t need fake fangs, but I’ve got them.”
“GET OUT OF HERE!”
“No, we won’t,” said Luke. “Show me where it says in the rules that a phantom can’t have a support team when taking the spirit level exam...”
Aspin flipped through the transparent pages of text on his clipboard. “There isn’t a rule that says that,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I thought not,” said Luke. He turned to Henry, still shivering in fear behind Resus. “You ready to go up to spirit level two then, champ?”
Henry glanced nervously from Luke to the furious Mr Aspin and back again. “I, er... I suppose so,” he squeaked.
Luke grinned. “Then let’s do it!”
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