This story is loosely based on the 'Dingbat and the Creeps' segments from Ruby-Spear's 'Heathcliff and Dingbat' show, though I hope you don't have to have seen that show to understand this story (episodes are on YouTube if you're interested). This story takes place in a different universe to the cartoon, and thus utilises the characters in a different way. Also, there are scenes of bloodshed and death. Enjoy!
The thick clouds were like a legion of spectres, brought together by their desire to banish the moon and the stars from the night. It was the type of night vampires loved, one that gave them a reminder that darkness will conquer all. Despite that reminder, the vampire crawling in the shadows wanted to enter what little light there was, in a tiny hope that it may bring some comfort, which he desperately needed. Perhaps it was because of this need that he had begun to walk on all fours, as he had done in the old days.
As he neared his destination, the vampire felt the urge to stand on his hind legs again as he took a good look at where he was supposed to strike. A motel, complete with the obligatory blinking sign. All of a sudden, the light this night had to offer didn't seem so inviting. It was an invitation of sorts; this sort of place apparently held some underhanded, malicious humans, and it was up to him to bestow great power upon one of them, improving his in the process. Either due to the thought of this task, or just noticing standing on his hind legs, he took a look at his hands. Or were they paws? They resembled paws to an extent, except the toes were elongated into the shape of thin sausages, and there was the addition of an extra, fatter 'toe'. Even after he saw they could prove useful, he still couldn't see how he could get used to them.
After taking a look at his arms, he raised them, and tried to use a power of his once again. Performing it should have been simple, yet it had taken him a while to change into a bat, as it was something he had not had a lot of practice with. When, after much mental forcing, he did take on the bat form, he ended up flapping around in random paths in confusion before making a jagged line to the hotel. The unfamiliar aroma the area held distracted him, which made him fall to the ground of the parking lot, and regain his previous canine form. Brushing dust off his fur, he looked towards the place where he was supposed to accomplish his task, the noises from within making his stomach drop. Then he thought that the sounds unnerving him was a good thing, as he was told the best victims were the evil ones, and hence he should delight in evil. Evil would make him happy, he was told.
Would it though? This philosophy made the vampire think back to the times he could call 'happy' and whether they were 'evil' or not. Suckling at his mother while indulging in the security of her warmth and that of his siblings. Darting around in the sunshine-bathed park, catching the wet ball in his waiting mouth. The soft fingers of Dot running through his fur, and him licking her face as a note of gratitude. Could any of them be considered evil? None of them certainly felt evil, but there was still much about the world he didn't know, so perhaps there was some evil factor he overlooked. Who knows, maybe there would be a factor of good to this little escapade.
After taking a deep breath, he took on the form of a bat once again, and fluttered around the building, looking for an open window. It took a few roundabouts, but he found one, and stumbled through it, onto the wet carpet. Trying to be as quiet as possible, he changed back to his preferred form and looked for his victim. Looking at the haphazardly-made bed, he saw who he had 'chosen': a woman, fallen asleep with a cigarette in her hand. Good. Beautiful women, he was told, was among the best prey for his kind. If they were bestowed his abilities, she would be most effective, using her beauty to lure more potential victims. Nearing the women, he looked her over, and decided the others would think she was beautiful enough.
Bending down towards the neck, he tried to accomplish the act as quickly as possible, and yet, as he gazed upon her sleeping form, he paused and took another deep breath. Telling himself he had to do this, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine a bone. A nice, juicy bone.
He didn't dig his teeth into a slumbering human being. He was just playing with his favourite bone.
This bone was different though. Biting it made it feel like a refreshing ocean was flowing through his gullet, rejuvenating and revitalising his body, bringing with it new life. After guzzling all he could, and wiping the excess liquid from his chops, he turned into a bat once more and flew away, this time more fluidly. He flew away from the motel and its disgusting odours, and towards a rather dense forest, noticing how comforting the darkness seemed at that moment. The darkness made him fly faster and faster, into the safety of the blackness that would conceal all, except for a pair of familiar glowing eyes. It was towards those eyes he was directed.
"Bravo! You did a great job, Dingbat!" said the creature in the shadows, who had watched using a vampire power Dingbat hadn't quite acquired yet.
"Thank you," said Dingbat, wringing his paws.
"I'll be back for you tomorrow night, k?"
"Vell..." Dingbat scratched the back of his furry neck, then smiled, revealing his two elongated fangs. "Vell, okay then. Vatever you say, blah."
"Uh, yeah. See yas. Good job again," said the figure before turning into a bat himself and flying away. Dingbat stood and watched, with a smile on his face. Good job. Good job, Dingbat. What he did was right because he got praise for it. It can't be bad if you get praised for it. He didn't get praised for piddling on the floor, so that had to be bad. Standing on his hind legs and waving his front paws in the air had to be good, because not only did he gain praise for that, but a sliver of meat as well.
Good boy! Good Dingbat!
Those words popping into his head at that moment made him cringe slightly, but, deciding he shouldn't dwell on the past, smiled again, this time so wide his cheeks began to hurt. Turning into a bat again, he looked around the forest to find his other friend, who had set up camp. After a bout of searching, he found Nobody, fast asleep. Nobody had made a blanket of sorts out of crumpled leaves. Watching Nobody peacefully slumber (he actually preferred Nobody this way) he wanted to join him in his languid dreaming, so he lay by a tree. As much as he wanted to slip away, his body wouldn't let him fall asleep and he found himself twitching and squirming. Due to being active, he decided to forgo rest and use whatever powers he had to guard his friend.
It would be a good thing to do. And he was a good dog.