Xandre was busy staring at the dark roof of his bedroom, watching was the blades of the ceiling fan spun around in an almost lazy twirl. He could hear the small purple tea cup poodle snoring away in the dog bed on the floor and could see in his minds eyes the dog curled up with the white teddy bear that was placed with him. The thought made him laugh. Though really, it shouldn’t, he was used to this kind of behavior. The dog was in all reality some demon who Satan got mad at and cursed to spend eternity in the body of a tea cup poodle and to top it all off, he was purple. Naturally. So the thought of the demon sleeping with a teddy bear shouldn’t be funny but it was just that. A demon. With a teddy bear. Hilarity. At least in his mind.

Though Xandre shouldn’t talk. He was a 300 plus year old French vampire who had his own collection of stuffed animals floating around his head. But that wasn’t nearly as funny. Not even close.

His mind wandered back to the ceiling fan blades as they spun. He half felt like he should get up and turn up the speed, just to give himself something to try and watch when he laid there at night. He should be out, but since he spent his days awake and out amongst the world, he tried to sleep at night. He had done the whole night life bit for a while, but after a while, he couldn’t take doing the same thing every night. Get up, get dressed, go to a club, dance, find a donor, dance, go home, sleep, repeat. It got to boring and he had all of existence to be bored, he wasn’t going to keep doing the same thing every night. So he switched to going out during the day. There were more things to do during the day anyways. Sure, he normally wore shades and clothes that covered from neck to toe, but he liked it. The heat didn’t bother him.

His got up and walked to the middle of the room that didn’t have much in it. A bed, a dresser, a TV, stuffed animals, a dog bed. Not much at all. Left plenty of room to walk around in.

He reached up and grabbed the shorter of the two cords and the fan moved a bit faster. He stood there and closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the wind move down the length of his body.

“I’ve got it!” he said loudly and the dog yelped as he was startled from his slumber.

“You’ve got what? And god! Put some clothes on!” The dog, despite the small size, had a rather deep voice and it commanded a respect that Xandre just felt he didn’t
have to give.

The vampire looked down at the pooch and grinned. “I know what I need!”

“I know what you need too! A pair of pants!” Cabal, the poodle, had his front paws covering his eyes, annoyance plaguing his voice.

“I don’t need pants, I have plenty of them. You normally complain about how much clothing I do have, not saying I need a pair.”

Cabal groaned. “No, you moron, put on a pair of pants! I do not need to see your man jewels hanging.”

Xandre looked down and chuckled. “Oh, right.” He crossed the room and pulled
open a drawer, grabbing a pair of black pants from the depths. He slipped one leg
then the other into the material. “All right, done.” He zipped up his pants.

Cabal lifted his head, looking with one eye first, just to make sure the pants really were on. Once he was satisfied, he opened the other eye. “What is it you need?” Cabal stood and stretched.

“Glow in the dark stars.” He nodded.

Cabal lifted his head, doing what was the equivalent of raising an eyebrow. “What?”

“You know, those plastic stars and planets that you stick on your walls and roof and when you turn the lights off, they glow?”

“I know what they are!” Cabal fell back into his bed. “Need I remind you that it’s almost ten at night? No place that would carry them would be open right now.”

“The Toys R Us down the street has them and they close at 10:30.” Xandre turned from the dresser and opened the closet, grabbing a tight black shirt. There was no need to grab any of the coats that hung in there, it was night time. No sun to bother his sensitive skin. He pulled the shirt on over his head then ran his hands through his hair to try and get something other than bed head hair. “How do I look?”

“You’re just going to Toys R Us.” Cabal sounded uninterested and Xandre could
hear the eye rolling in his voice.

“You’re coming too.”

“What? No! I’m allergic to kids!”

“It’s almost ten pm, all sane parents have their kids in bed right now. It’s just going to be parents who are buying last minute presents. That’s all.”

“I’m allergic to them too.” Cabal squirmed as the vampire picked him up. “I will not go with you, Alexandre! I will not!” But he was forced into the pocket that was sewn on the back of Xandre’s right shoulder and was made to sit there and go with
the tall man. He groaned and dropped his head.

“That’s a good puppy.”

“I am not a puppy.”

“Fine, that’s a good dog. Better?”

“I am a demon, Xandre.”

“No, you’re a dog.”

“Shut up.”

Xandre snickered and sat on the couch, pulling his boots on and doing up the buckles that made their way up the front of his shins to his knees. He stood, Cabal still obediently sitting on his shoulder. He reached up and pat the dog’s head.
“Good boy.”

Cabal was pretty quiet as Xandre left the house.

“To the toy store!” He headed off to find the shop that was just around the corner.

All right, so ‘just around the corner’ was a twenty-five minute walk at his faster than normal pace. Maybe he should have taken the bus, it might have been faster.

Oh well, too late now.

He walked in through the automatic gliding doors. Cabal moved a bit as they were attacked by the rush of A/C by the door.

“Attention all customers, the store will be closing in five minutes, please bring all of your items to the front to pay. Thank you.”

Xandre looked up at the voice spoke. It was a pleasant voice, something he wouldn’t mind hearing again.

“Can I help you sir?”

He lowered his gaze and looked at the woman. Not the same voice, but nice enough. He smiled. “Where are your glow in the dark stars?”

“Aisle twenty-four, but you’ll never make it there and back before we close, sir.”

Xandre moved past her with a kind thank you.

“Xandre, didn’t you hear her say that you’d never make it? You should just go home.”

“God you’re such a sour puss.” He chuckled.

“Sir! Sir wait!”

Xandre turned his head.

The woman was following them.

“Yes?” he kept walking.

“You’ll never make it!” She was panting slightly, have to jog to keep up with him.

“I’ll make it, don’t worry.” He looked up at the signs. Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four. “Here we are.” He turned on the three inch heel of the heels of his platform boots and strolled down the aisle. “Left or right side?”

“Right side, sir.” She had slowed her pace and was falling quite a ways behind him.

“Near the end. Woah, I think I’m just going to take a little break.” She stopped and sat on an empty edge of one of the shelves.

“I don’t see them, miss.” He looked on both sides then headed back towards her slowly.

“No?” She huffed then got up and headed towards him, looking around. She
stopped in front of an empty peg. “Well, it looks like we’re out, sir. I am so sorry.”

“Attention customers, two minutes till closing, thank you.”

“She has a nice voice.”

The woman snickered and he looked over at her.

“What?”

“That’s not a she. That’s Raphael, my boss.”

Cabal laughed while Xandre blinked at her. “Think I can meet him?”

She laughed. “You’re a funny man.” She walked over and placed a hand on his arm as she walked past him. “Come on, I get off in two minutes and I think I know a place not too far from here that should have them. At least they did a few months ago when my mom worked there for the summer. She’s a teacher.”

“Why do we care what your mom does for a living?” Cabal scoffed and shook his head.

Xandre swatted at him. “How do we get there?”

“We?” She turned and looked at him.

He pointed at the purple dog. “Me and Cuddles.”

“That is not my name!”

“That dog is real?”

Cabal barked. He hated when people didn’t believe he was real just because –

“He’s purple.” She walked back towards him, which wasn’t but a few steps. “How is he real?”

“He’s like a blue Burmese, just…purple poodle.” Xandre shrugged.

“Oh. Well, let’s go.”

Xandre followed her and waited by the front door while she went to get her purse and keys from the back room. He nodded at the few people who went past him to leave the store. One of the men that worked there was letting the people out.

“All right, I’m ready.”

Xandre jumped and looked down at her. “Oh, ok.”

“You sound so smart. Are you going to feed on her or something? Is that why you’re keeping her around?” He was answered with the cold shoulder.

“So why do you carry your dog like that?”

“Cuddles needs to be coddled.” It was a short and sweet answer, didn’t need any explanation.

“Damn right I do.” Cabal muttered, setting his head on the vampire’s shoulder.

“Oh, ok. Well this is my car. Oh, and I’m Georgia, by the way.” She pushed a button on the remote and the light flashed. She opened the driver’s side door and got in.
Xandre got in on the other side. “Alexandre, but you can call me Xandre.”

She smiled, “Nice to meet you, Xandre.” She started the car and took off.

The first few minutes were quiet. Then Cabal broke the silence.

“She’s not very pretty you know.”

Xandre turned his head to look at the dog with a raised eyebrow.

“I think she likes you.”

Xandre sighed softly and looked away.

“Something wrong?” Georgia looked over at him.

He shook his head. “No. Just not used to cars.” He shrugged.

“You want to fuck her don’t you?!” The dog laughed loudly.

“He’s quite a talkative dog isn’t he?”

“I guess he is. Wish he would be quite sometimes though.”

Cabal snickered. “Do you really think you’re going to find stars at this place she’s taking you? You don’t even know where she’s taking you! She could be thinking she’s going to kill you! Oh…that would be fun…”

The fact that he didn’t know where he was going was a bit of a bother. “Umm…where are we going?” He wanted to know how long it would take to get home from wherever it was.

“A small drug store called Open Table. It’s a family owned place.”

He nodded, trying to find the place in his mind’s eye. He couldn’t place it. Damn. But the scenery looked familiar. “And they have glow in the dark stars?”

“They should.”

Silence passed.

A few minutes later she turned into a parking lot and parked the car. He got out and looked at Cabal to make sure he was still there.

“What? Did you think I was going to hide out in the ladies car? She doesn’t even think I’m real! Ha!”

Xandre turned as the other door opened.

“Saying hi to the guys inside.”

The vampire shrugged and walked in through the door. “Aisle….” He looked at the different signs.

“Try the kid’s toys.” Cabal offered. He just wanted to go home and curl back up in his bed. He yawned and dropped his head. Stupid dogs body getting tired.

“Why is it called ‘kid’s toys’? Do they have an ‘adult’s toy’ section as well?” He
snickered to himself as he entered the aisle. “If they do, I need to find it.”

“Pervert.” Cabal groaned.

Xandre laughed and looked carefully over every peg that he passed. Nothing on the right side. He turned around and moved down the left side. “Huh…”

“Can I help you?”

Xandre looked up. It was a guy this time. Cute, but too short. “I’m looking for glow in the dark stars.”

“Aww, I’m sorry, we don’t have any. We carried them this past summer but they didn’t sell well, so we shipped them off. Umm…I think we sent them to the liquor store on thirteenth and main street.”

“Oh I like the sound of this store. Thirteenth.” Cabal lifted his head in interest.

“Really? Damn it,” he frowned and walked past the guy. This wasn’t his night at all.
“Georgia!”

“Right here!”

Xandre jumped for the too many-ith time that night. “Don’t do that! I might have attacked or something.” He paused, then added “Stalker.”

She giggled. “So did they have any?”

He shook his head. “Nope, but the liquor store on thirteenth and main should.” He headed for the door.

“Hey, wait up, I’ll take you there! It’s quite the walk.”

He looked at her and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Oh yea, she wants you.”

The drive to the liquor store was a quiet one. Cabal kept to himself, though Xandre thought he heard slight snoring coming from the beast.

He kept his mind on the prize. He could feel himself getting closer to what it as that
he wanted. It wasn’t far away, he knew it. Maybe it would be at the liquor store. He grinned and sat up, his head brushing the top of the car. Georgia looked over at him, but didn’t say anything.

“Here we are.” She parked the car and got out.

Xandre looked out after her. She was too friendly for his tastes. And Cabal was right, she wasn’t very cute. And again, she was too short. Maybe that was why he didn’t go with women often, unless he found one of the taller ones. He liked using people’s heads as chin rests when he was with them. It just felt better and reminded him of his human life all those years ago.

He got out of the car and closed the door.

Cabal jolted awake and looked at the building. “Seedy enough for you?” he said softly.

The vampire walked into the store behind the woman. He stopped behind her at the counter as she asked the guy something. He wasn’t really paying attention to her.
He was too busy looking around trying to see where the stars would be kept.

“Xandre?”

“Huh?” He looked at her, eyebrows raised.

“He said if they have any left they’ll be on the last aisle by the glass doors. I’m going to grab a soda, do you want one?”

“No, thanks.” He turned and walked away from her, glad to be away. She was starting to grate on his nerves. Too nice. Way too nice. It was like she wanted something.

“I told you she wanted you. Why else would she be taking you everywhere? I mean, you’re not a bad looking guy.” The dog said as if he were reading Xandre’s thoughts.

Xandre stopped at the end of the aisle. “Did you just give me a compliment?” he laughed loudly.

“So what?”

“You never do that!” he walked down the aisle to the end and began searching for the stars amongst the snacks, the ice cream freezers at his back.

“So are you going to give her your number?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“But she wants you.”

“I don’t care.”

“I think you should do her. You need to get laid.”

“Will you just shut up? I don’t need to be listening to this bullshit.” He said louder than he wanted to.

“Don’t tell me to shut up!” Cabal growled. “I will not be talked to like that! I am a powerful demon!”

“You wish you were a powerful demon! You can’t even make a flower die with your piss! My farts are more powerful than you are!”

Xandre gasped as he felt teeth sink into his neck. He reached up and pulled the dog from his shoulder and held him out in front of him. “Stupid animal.” He shoved the poodle into his pocket and made one last glance. Nothing. He was let down once more. “Georgia?” he called as he walked away from the aisle, the holes in his neck already healed and no one could tell anything had happened to him.

“If yer lookin’ fer that woman who you came in with, she ditched yer ass. Said you were arguin’ with yer dog er somethin’.” That man behind the counter pointed at the door as he spoke.

Xandre groaned and thanked the man then walked out, looking for the car. Well, it seemed she had indeed left him there.

Well, at least he knew where he was. And he knew of one more place that might possibly have the stars he so longed for. He wanted to make his room more interesting, damn it! He walked down the street, ignoring the squirming dog in his pants pocket. He stopped at the bus stop and stood there, arms hanging at his sides. So now he had no ride -except the bus-, his neck was sore, and he was still starless. Why wasn’t this his night?

The bus pulled up and he reached into his dog-less pocket, pulled out a token and dropped it into the slot. He headed down the length of the bus and up the stairs into the back half. He sat down in the center of the back row, between two gangster looking guys.

One looked down at him. “Yo, what you think you’re doing, white boy?”

Xandre ignored him.

The other man looked at him. “Silence ain’t always golden, homey.”

Xandre finally looked up. “I’m sitting here, does that bother you?”

“Actually, it does. See, you’re sitting on my homey, little John,” the first man said, face completely serious.

Xandre turned his head to look at him. “Well, I hope he likes it up my ass.” He felt his pocket move and heard the groan from the dog. Xandre wasn’t exactly the best at saying things right.

“Are you a gay little boy?” The second one pushed his hand against the vampire’s arm.

“Not for you, I’ll assure you.”

The bulge in his pocket moved. The movement caught both of their eyes and they looked down.

“Oi! He enjoyed that, Jose!” The first one shouted as he jumped back.

“Oh that is gross!” Jose got up. “Come on Miguel, I think this is our stop.” He walked away and the first one followed. They muttered as they did so.

Once they were off the bus, Alexandre reached into his pocket and pulled the purple pooch out. “Did you have fun?”

“Well if you were being stupid anyways, why not make it worse! And you shoved me in your pocket! I could have died!”

Xandre rolled his eyes and put the dog in the pocket on his shoulder. “You wouldn’t die. I wish you would, but you can’t.” He pouted.

The bus stopped and the driver said this was the end of the line.

Xandre got up and walked forward, getting off through the back doors. He looked around. Not far from his final destination. He turned and began heading towards the place.

“Do you really think you’re going to find the stars in here?” Cabal asked as Xandre stood out front of the final drug store: Walgreens. If they didn’t have it, well, he was screwed. And not in a good way.

Xandre shook his head. “No, I don’t think they’ll have them, but I have to try.” He walked up to the glass doors and right into them. He bounced back and stared. Why weren’t they opening? This place was twenty four hours! He knew it was! He walked towards the doors again only to bounce back against them. He growled.

“The sign says that they’re closed for inventory.” Cabal said in a flat tone.
Xandre’s eyes found the paper stuck to the inside of the door and frowned. Behind the glass a couple people were staring at him. He was going to flip them the bird but decided against it and turned around, beginning his trek towards home.

“Good, I can go to bed.” The dog said triumphantly.

“Sure, sure.” He said in disappointment.

Cabal was quiet then whimpered softly and nuzzled Xandre’s cheek. As much as he could hate the vampire, he didn’t like it when his ‘owner’ wasn’t happy. He was such a fun guy when he was happy. “Don’t worry, you can find some tomorrow.” He nodded and rested his head on the man’s shoulder. “Tomorrow, when everything is open and stocked for the day.”

“Yea, tomorrow.” He still sounded defeated.

There was a quip of sirens behind him and he looked over his shoulder and the dog as a cop car pulled across the lane and up beside him. He stopped walking and the car stopped.

“Can I help you officers?”

Cabal lifted his head. The two officers got out of the car.

“Sure can son. Can you tell us where you were about ten minutes ago?” The first asked.

“I was at a liquor store.”

The two men nodded at each other.

“Do you know a woman names Georgia?” The second asked this question.

“I wouldn’t say I know her, she was helping me find glow in the dark stars.” Xandre shrugged. “I failed at finding them though.” He looked at the ground like a kid who asked for a G.I. Joe action figure for Christmas and only got socks.

“She said you were talking to your dog.”

Xandre looked up at the men.

“Yea, like some crazy guy,” number two added.

The vampire laughed musically. “Oh no. I was on the phone. This is Cuddles, my dog. He doesn’t talk and really, what animal owner doesn’t talk to their pet?” He raised an eyebrow.

Cop two nodded, “that’s true. I talk to my cat.”

Officer number one looked Xandre over then nodded. “All right. Now, you said you were looking for glow in the dark stars?”

Xandre nodded, “But failed.”

Cop two grinned and leaned into the car, pulling they keys from the ignition. “Come here.” He walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk.

Xandre walked over a bit slowly, wondering if these cops were going to shove him in the trunk. What he saw though made his eyes go wide. “Glow in the dark stars!” He said in a high pitch voice of excitement.

Officer one walked over and crossed his arms over his chest as he stood next to the dog owner. “Yup. They’re for some kind of promotion that ended today and we weren’t able to get rid of these. We were thinking of just dumping them. But if you want them, they’re yours.”

“Oh god! Really?” He bounced in his spot, jumping in a circle. He felt Cabal’s nails dig into his shoulder and he stopped, reaching up to pet the dog.

“Sure, all of them if you want.” Cop one nodded. “Though you might need a ride home.”

Xandre nodded. “Sure, sounds great. I got stars!” He turned his head towards
Cabal. “See that, Cuddles? Now you don’t have to cling to me at night.”

Cabal growled. “My name is Cabal!”