A Vamp and His Dog

The unbearable darkness enveloped me in its beautiful embrace. A part of me didn't want to leave the sleep I wanted to stay in, but hunger had a different idea. The other part wanted to resist it as much as possible. Unfortunately, I knew that'd never work. My will to resist the hunger inside me was challenging on the best of days.
 
I stretched and my knuckles hit the lid of the stone coffin that had, for the past forty years, become my bed. It was a chilly place. Not in temperature, but in the whole surroundings. The gray of the mausoleum walls reminded me of my mental health, and the coffin wasn't terrifying to sleep in at first.
 
Over time, I grew used to it, but I had to add my personality to it. I added pictures of the sunrise on the walls and memory foam cushions in the coffin and a blanket for comfort. The comforts of my mortal life kept me going even though I was a vampire. I didn't need the bedding, but mentally, it kept me from going mad.
 
The hunger for blood was enough, but the dreary life was proof I needed more. For a mausoleum, it was beautiful and long since abandoned by the family that owned it. The few still around didn't know of its existence, which made it perfect as my new home. It wasn't the grandest of places to live, but it was home. At least for now.
 
I slid the lid off and hung over the edge. The last vestiges of the sunset hung outside my door. A crack in the bottom of the steel door let the sunlight in and its warmth washed over. Sighing, I got out and stepped onto the floor. Its icy surface jolted me awake and strode over to the door to feel the comfort of the sliver of light that bled through the crack.
 
I knew better than to let the light touch my skin, but getting close was never an issue. Kneeling, my arm hovered barely a centimeter from the light. It was rare that I got up so early, let alone risk exposing myself to sunlight. I missed the heat. Even though hot and cold never affected me like a living person, I appreciated its warmth and ability to give life‌.
 
My stomach growled. I leaned back and sighed. "I can't stay hungry forever. You weren't cut out for immortal life, Connor."
 
I've taken to talking to myself. My life was lonely as fuck and hearing my voice gave a reassurance that I lived, even if I wasn't truly alive. But what is life, anyway? That was a thought I didn't need to philosophize about. Wiser and smarter people than me could do that.
 
Another insistent growl and I stood, heading to the shelf that held my clothes. Even as a vampire, I sleep in my underwear. Sleeping in my clothes as a vamp still got them wrinkled the next day. Contrary to popular belief, I tossed and turned like everyone else. I didn't day in one position with my hands overlapping on my chest like the movies. I even dreamed. It was mostly sunlight as I missed it so much, but life has a way of throwing curve balls.
 
I needed to go feed and got dressed. Unlike the shows or Hollywood films, I didn't live in extravagance. I got my clothes from the local discount retailer, but I kept with the basics of every gothic vampire around. Black shirt, jeans, boots, and a jacket. It kept things normal and affordable. It's not like I had a job, nor could I change into a bat. Even my reflection was real. The stories didn't get everything right, but ‌they got some of them. To be honest, I'd rather feel the sunlight than walk into a church. It is what it is, though.
 
I glanced at myself and smiled. A little slim, but I hadn't changed in the past few decades, so I couldn't complain. I looked like a normal guy. All the black may get me a few stares, but it fits my current lifestyle. My fangs popped out as I grinned. They disappeared as fast as they came out. At least I knew I could smile without freaking everyone out.
 
"Time to go hunting," I said, giving myself one last look.
 
I slipped on a black baseball cap and strode toward the door. My menu was the same as yesterday and the day before. And the day before that. Plus, I highly doubted DoorDash would drop me off a bag of blood from the hospital soon. It would be cool if they did, though. It meant I wouldn't have to risk hurting anyone or anything. Killing was far from my thing, but I needed to eat.
 
The cemetery was relatively dark. The lights from the town shone from outside the gates as I strolled down the path. It was funny how this place became my home. It's not like I was born here, but traveling through on the way to Vegas.
 
Never in my life did I expect to find my death and life in this city. If I had to bet on anyplace, it would've been Vegas. It seems like the kinda place I would get into trouble in. Now, I'm stuck in a small city of around one hundred fifty thousand people.
 
As far as my current life situation is, I'm a permanent resident. I no longer have a car or any other mode of transportation. Now that I think about it, I may be the worst vampire in the world. After forty years, I should have a nice house, a remote job, and a vehicle.
 
I glanced back at the mausoleum. Connor, it's time to make some better life choices. A growl snapped me back to reality. Food was currently my priority. A dog barked in the distance, which made me hungrier. I will not lie. I've survived on animals before. They weren't as satisfying, but until I could control my hunger better, I stuck with them before humans became my primary source of sustenance. I only take enough to survive.
 
The dog barked again, this time a bit more insistent or perhaps out of fear. As much as I love dogs, I couldn't be too sure my life wouldn't get in the way. Taking care of myself was a bitch, but having a dog would make it harder.
 
It would also have some perks. Guardian by day, best friend at night. Walks in the cemetery, and maybe hunt together. I realized I was grinning and stopped. Damn, loneliness had me thinking I could handle a dog. Once I get my life going, I may reconsider. Not now. It would be too much for me to handle.
 
A yelp followed by another worried me. It was the same dog. I haven't seen it yet, but I knew it was. My hearing was fantastic, and I understood that every person's and animal's voice was different. Like a vocal fingerprint.
 
The night was new, and I had time to grab a bite to eat, but first, I wanted to see if the puppy I heard needed help or not. I hoped it was ok, but I prepared myself for the worst. I knew where all the hospitals were, but not the veterinarians. If the dog needed medical help, it would take me a while to find a place. I left the cemetery and headed toward the sound.
 

***

 
As I strolled through the downtown area, people filled the street, which surprised me considering the time of the night. Most minded their own business and moved out of my way with the occasional individual asking for some spare cash or if I needed a good time.

While I would love a good time, getting caught up in lust wasn't the best idea. I had a habit of vamping out and my control was horrible during those times. Getting it up wasn't an issue, but tearing into a lover's throat to satiate my hunger while we banged was a different story. It was best I left that alone and kept walking after a few no thank yous.

I hated to admit it, but any of these people could've been the perfect victim. Society looks down on the poor and prostitute with many not caring if another turned up missing. My parents raised me to see everyone as human and I would miss them. Unless I accidentally turned them into a vampire. I didn't like the idea of doing that, as I wasn't given a choice. Every year I lived proved I was pro-choice all the way. No one should have that taken away.

If my master gave me one, would I have refused? Honestly, I don't know. Part of me wanted to say yes, but realistically I knew I it would've been a hard no. My life at that point was at a low and anything to bring out of that was welcome. Most did drugs or alcohol. Me, I turned to vampirism, if somewhat against my will.

The change happened fast and before I could learn about who or what I had become, my master stepped out into the sun and turned into ash. At least he left me the mausoleum and coffin to sleep in. The fear and hunger almost drove me mad. I did things I never wanted to repeat, but unfortunately, life has ways of flipping me off and saying otherwise.

"Well, Connor, old boy, it seems you gotta deal with the lemons life gave you."
The lights from liquor shops and other retail stores, along with traffic lights, lit my way as I followed the barking sound. It was loud to me, but a living person didn't have the hearing range I did. I highly doubted they'd even given a barking dog a second thought.

They were all caught up in their thoughts and lives as they walked up and down the sidewalk. Each one carrying on as if they were invincible to the danger I posed or the meth head on the street. Once upon a time, I was exactly like them, but now, the wrench that got thrown into my life changed my thinking.

I died that night without knowing it would ever happen. One of these people will not know what awaits them either, as my hunger exerted itself again. I would only take enough to survive, but I'd still leave them with a scar. Not a physical one, as I figured out early how to fix the bite marks I left, but a mental one.

They'd repress the memory, which made it easier, but at night, when they were alone, a distant memory of what I did to them would bubble to the surface. It wouldn't fully surface, but there'd be enough for an irrational fear filling them with dread and leave them feeling anxious and scare for no reason they could identify.

That was my gift to them. Wiping their memory wasn't possible, but I could enrapture their thoughts as I fed and help them bury the experience as if nothing happened. Make it seem like a nightmare that was all too real. One that haunted them for the rest of their lives.

I wondered if ending their lives would be best, but I could no longer take a life and I was from being the vigilante I could've been. Reading minds wasn't my gift, but self-preservation was. I hated taking human blood, but I needed it to survive. At some point, I'd need to choose someone. Maybe after the dog.

Why does the dog matter, Connor? If I only knew. The animal drew me to it. Like some ethereal rope bound us together and slowly, but surely, pulled me toward the puppy. Whatever it was, I needed to find out, as I couldn't get it out of my mind. I'm coming, girl. How do I know it was a girl? New power unlocked. Sweet.

The closer I got to the barking, the fewer people on the streets I saw. It was later in the evening and I must've walked longer than I thought or lost track of time. My stomach growled, but I ignored it as a yelp echoed into the night. The poor girl was in trouble and I had money. If I actually had any, they had something to do with the dog. Not that I'm a saint, but I doubt they were feeding her milk bones and treats.

I went from a walk into a jog. It's not like I needed to breathe, so being out of shape was never an issue for me. Neither was cholesterol nor anything else a living person could get. At least I didn't think so. The world was a strange place, and I doubted I'd be the strangest.

Either way, I ran towards the dog. I sensed she was in danger and stressed, and I couldn't ignore it. It drew me to her. It made no sense, but nothing did anymore. I turned down an alley on the edge of town, where the city met suburbia.

A few blocks away, pretty cookie cutter houses stood as a welcome presence from the busy city. A small refuge from the hectic life of skyscrapers and insane traffic jams. Here, it was still the main part of town. Even on the edge of city life, garbage littered the alley. Cans, trash, and a couple of used needles littered the ground.

A dead man lay curled up behind a dumpster. I paused and stared. Though I've seen my share of death, this would always sadden me. No heartbeat or breath escaped him. He'd be as cold as I was. I only hoped he found peace in the next life to escape from the torment he had here.

I strolled on, as I couldn't help him. Shaking my head, I followed the voices of the men teasing the dog. Her yelps were as clear as a bell. She barked, but only in fear. It spread through my body like a virus and made my heart race. A cold sweat broke out on my face and palms. She wanted to be rescued. I glanced at the cloudy sky that reflected the city's lights. Don't we all girl, don't we all?

Even without feeding my heart beat. It surprised me as I always thought vampires didn't have beating hearts. I also bled when I cut myself. Healing came fast, but it was slow enough for me to lose blood. It turned out that other's blood didn't replace mine; it was just food. Like a steak would be for the living. I still haven't walked into a church, though. There were things that even I wouldn't tempt. At least not yet.

Turning the corner, I saw her. A beautiful Doberman with chocolate brown fur. Her ears lay back and eyes were wide in fear. The men had her chained to a post and were teasing her to get a reaction. I don't think it was the one they wanted as she cowered back in terror between barking.
The man swung a stick at her, trying to get her to lunge at him. The other stood slightly back and watched, his arms folded over his chest, smiling.

"She'll make a good fighter. Look at those teeth. I bet she could tear up another real quick."

The one with the stick stopped and shifted his stance. "We could make some money off of her, providing she'll attack and not cower like a waste of flesh."

The crossed-arms guy only laughed. Both of them infuriated me. I understood owning a dog for protection, but this was something entirely else. Mistreating an animal so they'll attack another was barbaric, even for me. I did not lose the irony of that, as I was a vampire.

The pot calling the kettle black, Connor? Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Either way, I wasn't letting them hurt this dog any more. I had choices here and I'll be damned if I'd make the wrong one. Not that it mattered. I was eternally fucked anyway.

***

My anger rose as the men continued to taunt the poor dog. She was scared and had nowhere to run to. I had choices to make. I could easily walk away and mind my business. But could you, though? The other was to attack the men and free the dog. The latter offered more choices. I could cloud their minds and free the dog or take my anger out on them.

The latter was definitely more appealing. It was also easier, though I never used my powers in a fight. Hell, I never had to fight anyone on this side of eternity. While I may be stronger than the living, I never used my strength to do anything more than satiate my hunger. Even then, I probably did more damage than I needed to.

My stomach growled again. This time, it felt more insistent. Like I needed another reminder that I was hungry. I'd love a bacon cheeseburger, for that wasn't what the body wanted. It gnawed at me relentlessly and wouldn't stop unless I gave in. It wasn't as bad as it was decades ago, but it still ruled my life.

I could only hope that as I aged, the hunger would desist. My hope came with a dose of reality that it may never happen, but it remained. Like hunger. A yelp snatched me back to reality. The Doberman cowered against the wall as if it had got hit.

Scaring them off was an option, but as lean as I was, I hardly cut an impressive figure. I looked more like an emo Dracula than the muscled-up vamps found in today's films. There was some tone, but I was far from intimidating anyone at first sight. Compared to them, I was downright scrawny and in need of the bacon cheeseburger my heart wanted.

Life is what it is‌. I could always try working out in the future, but a gym membership seemed unnecessary and possibly a waste of money that I didn't have. I've been a vampire for four decades and still broke as I was when alive. Eternal life is a fucking scam.

With limited choices, it was time to do what I did. I was no angel, but I wasn't a demon either. What's a vamp like me supposed to do? It was time to fuck shit up or do what I could, considering my limited fighting experience, which I'm sure these two men had a lot of. 

With supernatural speed, I grabbed the one closest to me by the back of his neck. "Now that's not how you treat man's best friend."

His face registered shock, which quickly changed to anger. It didn't matter as I tossed him through the air to the adjacent wall of the alley. He fell with a thud and a groan. He'd get back up soon, but hopefully not too soon. A loud thwack rang in the air and pain ran through my chest.

Looking down, I saw the man who taunted the dog had hit me with a metal baseball bat. Where the fuck did he get that? It hurt like a bitch, but not enough to incapacitate me. I stepped back and shoved him backward, his arms flailing until he hit a chain-link fence.

"I think you both owe the dog an apology."

The one I hit early ran up and I flashed my fangs at him. The act rewarded me with him shrinking back in terror and confusion.

"What the fuck are you, some kind of junkie freak?"

I shrugged. Not gonna lie, I've been called worse in my life. I nodded and kept smiling, hoping it would be enough intimidation for them to leave. "I want you both to leave the dog alone. Don't make me ask you both again."

"Fuck you, man. We're going to take care of you, then do what we want with the dog. Dix, crush his head with the bat."

I turned to the man who had hit me earlier with the bat. "Your name is Dix?" I couldn't help but grin. When your name matches your personality, what can you do?

"Yeah, I'm gonna fuck you up, freak."

He came at me with the bat, again. Swinging, I easily dodged it, which left him spinning around in shock. Another swing and he missed again as my speed was superior to his. After a minute of this, I tired of toying with him and caught him from behind and twisted an arm to keep him still.

I got a handful of hair and pulled his head to the side, exposing his neck. "Since you won't leave the dog alone, I'll have to make you."

His skin gave way as I sunk my teeth into the softness of his neck. It smelled like a mix of motor oil, sweat, and as the blood flowed to my lips, copper. He let out a cry of pain as I satiated my hunger with his blood. His cries were like music to my ears.

For the first time in decades, I took more than I needed and didn't charm him to gain it freely. I took it all like the predator I was, with no remorse or mercy. His body shuddered in shock because of the fast loss of blood and his heartbeat echoed in my head.

It slowed, which let me know he'd soon be dead. I let the man fall and wiped the blood from my mouth and chin. Drinking blood straight from the victim was far from clean. Vampires were messy eaters, and I wasn't rich enough to drink his blood from a fucking champaign glass.

A loud thud echoed in the alley. "You got one chance to run away and live to see the sunrise."
The man picked up the stick that was used to torment the dog and attacked me with it. The dog growled ferociously, which I assumed they wanted her to do all along. She didn't growl at me but at the man with the stick. Was she trying to defend me? Now that gives me an idea.

***

 
Tossing the man to the side, I ran over toward the dog. I ripped the chain from the ground and watched with a bit of pride as the dog attacked the remaining man. She bit into his leg and he squealed in pain. He swung at her, hoping she'd let go, but all she did was toss her head back and forth as he fell.

The coppery scent of blood reached my nose, and ecstasy filled my mind. It was a glorious smell, and I wanted more of it. I strolled over with a wide smile on my face. Never mess with an innocent animal like that. Nature is a fickle thing and can turn against you at any moment. I'm proof of that, but then, am I even a natural part of this world?

He reached for the stick and I snatched, gripped his wrist. Fear swam through his eyes as I stared at him hungrily. "Today's' not your lucky day. You could've run, but you didn't."

He shook his head and sputtered. "Please, don't kill me."

I put a finger to my lips and smiled more, my fangs reflecting in his eyes. "Quiet now, it'll be over soon."

"No, no, don't!" He screamed, his voice rising in pitch.

I bit into his wrist as the dog tore at his leg. Blood, rich and plentiful, rushed into my mouth. I drank steadily while keeping eye contact with the man. His body softened, and life left his body. As the light in his eyes faded, I stopped feeding and let him fall.

The dog let go and sat, staring at me, blood dripping from her mouth. Good dog! Can you come here? The dog came over and sat next to me. She licked my face, and I stroked her fur. After a few moments, I check her neck for any damaged from the chain before taking a step away.

She followed and stopped when I did, leaning against me for more attention. Can a vampire have a dog? Can you truly understand me? She barked and wagged her tail. It seems the dog had adopted me at its human, or vampire.

I'm not sure how I could take care of a dog. Guess this means I need to get a night job and start paying for stuff. Nothing like being a vampire and still having to be a productive member of society. Leave it to the modern world to suck even the most hardened predator of the night into its capitalistic structure.

"I’m gonna call you Cerberus. You like that?”

She stood and spun excitedly. I guess she did. After seeing her tear that man’s legs to pieces, the name precious didn’t quite fit. I knelt and tore some of the fabric from the dead man’s shirt and wiped my face off. Cerberus groomed herself as I cleaned up. Checking my clothes, I realized I had got lucky and no spot of blood on them. Go me.

“Let’s go, Cerberus. I gotta find you a bed, food, a water bowl, toys, and whatever else I can spoil you with. That’s if you want to come home with me?”
Cerberus barked and followed me as I walked out of the alley onto the streets. “I guess this means I have to eventually move out of the mausoleum. That’s probably for the best. If I gotta be a vamp of the modern world, I should at least live like one.”

I strolled down the streets with Cerberus by my side. People moved out of our way, with a few smiling at my new best friend. This gave me an additional worry. What if having a dog makes me more approachable? I shuddered at the thought of having to actual interact with people outside of my nightly dinners. That’s a problem I’ll work on when I come to it. Until now, I have to make space for Cerberus.
~ The End

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