The morning after...

It was early in the morning when Midas woke up. Strangely though, he didn't feel tired or exhausted. No fatigue or stress was hovering over him. He tries getting up, but something was holding him down. Looking over his shoulder on his left he snickers lightly as he finds Jones with his arms wrapped around him, fast asleep.

"I...sort of forgot he was still here..." He mutters quietly.

In order to stabilise the Zero Point and save reality itself Jones had to use his rift device, his only mode of getting home, to give the Foundation the extra power he needed to seal himself away with that immense power.

This also left Jones stranded on the island with no way to get back home. But knowing how much his ex-coworkers and monster of a boss would hate him and would kill him on sight, he agreed that he was much happier on the island.

Midas smiles a little, scratching an inch on his chin. However, he catches a glance of the blood staining his hands. On both his hands. He could even still taste dried up blood on his mouth.

"Shit! I can't let Jones see this!"

He quickly gets up out of bed, being careful as to not wake up Jonesy and dashes into the bathroom, locking the door.

He looks down at his bloodstained golden hands, shaking ever so slightly. Closing his eyes Midas tries to recall the atrocities he committed last night;

The muffled screams...

The taste of blood in his mouth...

His insatiable hunger...

It was all flooding back to him.

Midas covers his mouth, tears forming in his eyes and leans against the wall with other hand supporting him. It was clear as day to him now;

He murdered multiple people just so he could stop himself from starving to death. Sacrificing a few dozens to save himself from starvation. He was slowly but surely turning into a monster.

"I feel awful... what have I done?" He asks himself, leaning against the sink. "I should be appalled by my actions. These were innocent people I killed."

But you know you enjoyed it at the same time.

"I... I suppose I did enjoy it..."

It felt good, all that blood you drank. It was divine.

Midas hums deeply, wiping away the drool near his mouth. Shaking his head, he washes his hands, and mouth, making sure no evidence of blood was there. He now knew he HAD to keep this decent into vampirism secret from the others for as long as he could.

If Jules found out about the atrocities he caused, and WILL continue to cause, she wouldn't look at him the same way again.

And he couldn't even begin to imagine how Jones would react. The two of them had just started liking each other, maybe even date in the future, and Midas couldn't bare to loose him.

Leaving the bathroom he lies down back in bed next to Jones. He slides back into his arms, putting his left one back on his chest where it was before. He may not be tired, but being in the comfort and safety of Jones' embrace made him feel that way.

----------

Later that morning...

Midas eventually comes downstairs long after Jules and Jones woke up. The curtains hadn't been opened yet, so for now sunlight wasn't a concern.

"Oh hey! There you are!" Jones greets him with a smile. "Someone's a heavy sleeper. It's midday!"

He can't help but crack a small smile at the blond. Jules looks over the couch, TV remote in hand.

"Hey Midas. You hear the news this morning?"

"Hm? Can't say that I have. What's going on?"

"Yeah, what's up?" Jones adds.

"A lot of dead people were found outside Boney Burbs this morning."

"I...I see." Midas hums, knowing damn well it's his fault. "What attacked them?"

"We don't know yet. The only thing that was mentioned in their deaths were bite marks on their necks."

A cold sweat drips down Midas' face, and Jones looked very uneasy about what he was hearing.

"Whatever it was, it seems like a nighttime person."

A pit of guilt begins to form in Midas' stomach. However, Jones briefly breaks the tension with his continuaslly silly mentality.

"Oh god. Maybe when me and Midas came back from Blade's reality I left the portal open!"

Jules and Midas snicker in unison, the mastermind patting his back.

"Jones dear I'm sure you didn't leave it open, so don't worry. I'm sure people will decipher who the true culprit is eventually."

Although he said that with confidence in his eyes and voice, he was afraid the people of the island WOULD figure out it was him. He'd probably be killed for his actions.

"If they even lay a finger on you or anyone else I care about, I'll turn them to gold so fast they won't be able to process it."

"Woah, protective much are we?" Jules chuckles lightly.

Midas blushes a little.

"I suppose. I just don't want to lose you both to that... monster..."

His own words struck a nerve within Midas, knowing that HE was that monster."

"We'll be fine!" Jones smiles happily. "You're Midas! The richest and most powerful man alive! We couldn't be in better safety."

The mastermind felt honoured that Jones thought that highly of him, but deep inside he knew someday he'd be regretting those words.

"If only I could tell you Jonesy..."

----------

7 days had gone by ever since Midas had been bitten and starting succumbing to vampirism. That gut feeling he had in his stomach that night had been gone for a while, giving him a sense of relief. He wanted to believe he had woken up from his dream and returned to the real world, but he knew it was so far from the truth.

It was only a matter of time before he'd have to go through that dreaded cycle again...

Currently he, Jones and Jules were sat at the dinner table nearing the end of their meal. Midas pushes his plate aside, insisting he was full.

"Thank you for that Jules. It was lovely."

"Thanks!"

"Gotta agree with Midas, that was some good food."

Jules grins at the compliments. She didn't cook very often, but for her first try it wasn't that bad... even if it was spaghetti and meatballs.

"Now if you'll excuse me I'd like to get some air in the back garden." Midas hums, getting up.

"Ooh! Can I join you?" Jones asks, getting up too.

Midas looks unsure at first, but Jones' puppy eyes and big grin inevitably wins him over.

"Very well. But not for too long. With that killer lurking around, I don't want you outside too much."

"I understand."

The two boys head outside while Jules takes their plates and begins washing up.

...

"The stars look extra pretty tonight, don't you think M?" Jones sighs happily.

Midas hums with a small smile, gazing up at the dead flames.

"They look the same as always...but if you say so my dear."

Jones smiles, resting his head on Midas' left shoulder and taking his hand. He flinches slightly at the sudden contact, but hums with a smile.

"They're just as beautiful as you." Jones smiles.

"Is that so?"

He nods.

Midas turns him around so Jones was facing him, gazing into his eyes while he looks back.

"Well do you know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you're more gorgeous than any other star up there..."

Midas presses his lips against Jones'. He pulls away, but Jones pulls him back.

"I never gave you that kiss after we came back to the island. Do you mind?"

"Not at all dear."

Both men lock lips again, embracing the company they had together. Their small interaction was going peacefully. That is, until a familiar feeling washes over Midas.

"..mmph...a-ahh.."

Midas' sudden moans of discomfort causes them to part lips. Jones looks up at him, slightly concerned.

"Midas? Are you okay?"

He looks up at the blond, letting go of his hand. That gut feeling in his stomach had returned, and in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"No no no, c'mon! Why now?!"

"I... I'm alright dear. D-Don't worry about me."

"You sure?"

His heart pounds in his chest as his breathing begins to become more heavy. Midas was trying his hardest to hold back his bloodthirsty instincts, but he was about to crack any moment. He NEEDED to get Jones away from him.

"Jones please leave! I can't hold back forever. Just please leave!"

Is what Midas wanted to say, but it would end up revealing the truth. So instead he responds with;

"Of course. Would I ever lie to you?"

"Well...no. I've... I've been lied to enough frankly..."

"Exactly. I've just... remembered something I had to do." He lies, using his slick tongue to weave his way out of the situation. "I'll be gone for a while, but I promise I'll come back. Don't worry."

"I... can't I come with you-"

"No!!"

Jones jumps, startled by Midas suddenly raising his voice at him.

"I...I mean..."

He pauses.

"Nevermind. Just... don't follow me...I don't want this killer finding you."

Before Jones can ask anything else, Midas practically leaps over the fence and dashes away from the house, surprisingly fast as well. With a sigh he heads back inside.

"If he's not back within an hour, I'm gonna go looking for him."

----------

Stopping inside a nearby fishing hut by the sea, Midas pauses to catch his breath. He groans in discomfort, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning against the wall as the same two thoughts swim around in his mind;

He was hungry. God he was hungry.

He desperately wanted the taste of blood running down his throat.

"Well...at least I know when this'll happen again..." He mutters. "Every 7 days...mmph..."

He couldn't think straight. Gripping onto his head he flinches, still feeling guilty about lying and running away from Jones like that.

"Why did this have to happen now? I didn't want to leave him like that..!"

Then why didn't I stay? His blood probably tastes so succulent and delicious.

His eye slowly turns a crimson red while he licks the drool off his mouth. He breathes heavily as saliva drips from his fangs, a slight chuckle leaving him.

"He probably does... he's already delicious enough on the outside." Midas breathes, blinded by this uncharacteristic lust. "Perhaps I should take a bite of what's inside?"

"No. What am I thinking? I don't want to bring harm to Jones, he's been through enough."

His thoughts are blocked out as nothing but the sound of his heartbeat fills his ears and the colour of red clouding his mind. To finish his mentality change his stomach growls, telling him what had to be done.

It doesn't matter. For now, however...

Using his heightened senses Midas catches a glance of someone up ahead walking along the sandy beach. He chuckles deeply, his sharp fangs standing out as he grins.

It's been too long since I've eaten. I can't resist... I NEED it...

The person doesn't even see him coming as he wraps his arms around them, covering their mouth and digging his fangs into their neck.

"Don't worry~. It only hurts for a moment~."

-------

A few hours later...

Jones sighs sadly, lying in Midas' bed. Since he didn't have his own room yet he was sharing with Midas. But without him there, it felt empty. It was too quiet. Jules was already fast asleep, but Jones simply couldn't doze off.

He was afraid of the killer finding them, or maybe it got Midas?

"Ugh that's it. I'm not gonna lie here all night and wait for him." He groans, getting up and heading downstairs. "I'm gonna go look for him even if it kills me."

Tying up the laces on his boots and doing up his coat Jones ventures outside, going the same direction Midas went in when he disappeared to do whatever it is he remembered.

Within time he spots a fishing hut in the distance.

"Midas? You in here?" Jones calls out, peaking inside.

No one's around. Taking out his phone he turns on the flashlight. The place was a mess. Fishing rods were laid everywhere, the chair knocked over. There were clear signs of a struggle in this place.

"Hmm..."

Out the corner of his eye he spots something staining the floor. The light from his flashlight hovers over it, and manages to identify it;

"Huh? Blood..? It looks... pretty dry, so it's been there for a couple hours at most."

Pointing the light on the wall he could see more dried up blood, this time with handprints as well. The blood seemed to leak back onto the floor and trail outside. Jones follows the path and covers his mouth;

There was a lump buried in the sand with red splotches dotted around. It doesn't take long for him to realise what it is;

"...holy shit..."

He averts his eyes, afraid he may throw up if he continues looking at it.

"That killer was here!"

Luckily for him, he spots footprints buried in the sand too. While hesitant, he decides to follow them and see where they lead.

"Maybe I can figure out who the killer is. And hopefully find Midas while I'm at it...as long as its not him buried under there..."

As his feet make their way across the sand dunes Jones could see Sweaty Sands in the distance. It looked a lot gloomier in the night, devoid of people. But Jones didn't want to give up.

If he couldn't find the killer before daylight, he at least wanted to find Midas before he got hurt or worse.