"Doctor Slone! I need to speak with you!"

The surviving guard that escaped Midas' attack had rushed all the way back to Corny Complex, the base I.O was using on the island. He believes what he saw happen would be of use to Slone as I.O attempt to capture or kill him.

Slone herself emerges from a room holding some files and a cup of tea. She looked tired after working all day.

"Guard. This better be important." She groans, pressing a button and closes the door behind her. "If it's not, your job has a high chance of being jeopardized."

"I believe I may have found the man responsible for eliminating our troops. It's quite surprising actually."

"Just get on with it soldier!"

The guard gulps.

"It's Midas."

Slone looks a little more interested.

"Me and two other guards found him talking to John Jones. He seemed ready to fight us, but he suddenly...changed."

"In what way?"

"I don't know how it happened, but I firmly believe that somehow Midas was turned into a vampire!"

That when Slone looks at the guard with an unamused expression.

"Mhm. Very funny. Now tell me what really happened."

"Ma'am I speak the truth! I saw Midas murder the other guards and begin sucking the blood out their necks!" The guard persists, raising his hands. "He even had fangs in his mouth. I barely managed to escape."

Slone raises an eyebrow, processing what she's heard.

"You said Jones was with him. Any reason why he was?"

"I could be wrong ma'am, but it looks to me that the two of them are...a thing."

"He fell in love with Midas?!"

"Y-Yes ma'am..."

"So quick to leave Agent Janice after her death." She admits. "If what you say is true, I'm surprised he's even still alive."

"What would you like to do with this knowledge ma'am?"

Slone thinks to herself, concocting a plan in her head. Then, it hits her.

"I think I know how we can lure Midas to us. But we can talk about it in the morning. Now, before I retire for the evening, should the day and time of night be noted down for when this happened?"

"If you insist ma'am."

-------------

A few weeks later...

Now that Jones was aware of his dilemma, life for Midas was made a little easier since he only had to hide his vampirism from one person in his home. Jones could go outside and do the things Midas physically couldn't anymore, such as shopping. And he was always there for him whenever he came home emotionally drained after having to go and 'eat'.

He still lead himself to believe he was a monster and Jones was putting himself in danger just by being close to him. But the blond reassured him he wasn't afraid, and he didn't consider Midas a monster. He was just struggling to keep himself in control of his hunger, and Jones only wanted to help him.

...

"Hmm, let's see. Bread, yep. Milk, yep."

It was 8 in the evening, and Jones had to quickly go get some things needed at home. He didn't want to stay out too long though since he had to get back to Midas before sundown and before 10.

"Okay that's everything. I ought to get this paid for and get back to M."

Jones pushes the cart full of items and approaches the checkout. While the worker scans his items he notices a familiar person leaving. It was Marigold. She had shopping of her own that needed to be done. Catching a glimpse at Jones, she gives him a smile and a wave.

He waved back, happy to see her again.

As he begins leaving with his things, a hand suddenly covers his mouth and drags him away from the cart.

"Midas?! No, it couldn't be. It's not 10 yet!"

The figure holding him captive slips from the shadows, revealing it to be Doctor Slone.

"Hello John. How lovely to see you again."

A few guards restrain him and Slone removes her hand off his mouth, letting him talk.

"Pfft, yeah like hell you're happy to see me. What do you want?"

"I'll explain on the way. You're coming with us."

"Sorry, what? No no, haha. I gotta get home."

"To whom? Midas?"

Jones blushes slightly.

"Y-Yes..?"

"If what my guard said is true, I assume you're fully aware of his 'condition'."

"Huh?"

"His vampirism." Slone tells him, seeing as he's pretending to not know what she's on about. "He's disrupting my plans by killing my guards, and I think taking you away from him is the only way to teach him a lesson."

Jones begins to panic, petrified of what Midas would do to Slone when he finds out he's missing. He didn't care about her all that much but he didn't think she deserves a brutal death.

"No! You can't do that! He needs me!!" He yells as the guards drag him away into a nearby car with I.O's logo on it. "He'll kill you!"

Just as she was about to hop into her car, Marigold notices the commotion outside the store. She panics when she sees Slone and her guards forcing Jones into their car and drive away with him.

"What are they doing with Jones?"

Seeing as they left his bags of shopping behind, Marigold dashes over and puts it in her car to take to Midas' place.

"I have to tell the siblings what's happened."

And she drives off to Pleasant Park.

-----------

Meanwhile...

Midas was starting to grow increasingly more anxious about Jones' safety. He'd been gone for a while. He said he'd only be half an hour, but he's been gone for an hour and a half. He only had half an hour left and his anxiety was getting worse.

"Calm down Midas. Maybe he just got a little sidetracked. You know what he's like."

A knock on the door comes through, and a relieved expression falls onto his face. He answers the door.

"Jones thank goodness you're-"

Instead of Jones at the door, it was Marigold.

"Midas. Jones is in trouble."

Jules, overhearing the conversation, comes over.

"What?! What happened? Is he okay?!"

"Slone and her guards took him captive and drove away. I think they're at Corny Complex."

Midas clenches his fists, anger clear in his eyes.

"That bitch. Thinks she can steal him away from me..." He mutters.

He storms upstairs, quickly reappearing with his drumgun in hand and his pickaxe on his back.

"Brother? Where are you going?"

"I'm going over there to rescue him, what's it look like?"

"Wait! We should think of a plan first." Marigold tells him, grabbing his shoulder.

"I don't need one. I know what I'm doing."

"Brother please be reasonable! We've got plenty of time-"

"Well I don't!"

"At least let us assist you in his rescue."

Midas sighs in frustration.

"Fine. Just stay out of my way."

He runs off in Corny Complex's direction, with Marigold and Jules going after him. As he increases his speed, panic begins setting in. This was the last thing he needed. With only 20 minutes to rescue Jones and escape with him, this evening had just turned into a race against time.

------------

Meanwhile, Jones was growing more worried and afraid for Midas. There was no doubt he found out he was missing and was on his way over to Corny Complex. Turning to one of the guards that were holding him captive, he strains to break free.

"Please. Let me go. Midas NEEDS me!"

"No can do Jones. Slone ordered us to keep you contained down here until he arrives."

Jones groans in frustration, his patience wearing thin.

"Why are you doing this to us?! Why can't you let us live our lives in peace?!"

"It's like I said John." Slone's voice cuts in, surprising him. "He's killed my guards. He needs to be taught a lesson."

"And this is your way of doing it?! Threatening my life and watching as he looses control over himself?!"

Slone chuckles, not giving him an answer. Gunshots from up above the base, alerting everyone.

"Aha. Look who's here."

"Midas..."

.......

Firing his drumgun, Midas charges through the I.O guards standing in his way. Jules and Marigold had his back every step of the way, eliminating the guards with their signature weapons as well.

"Midas! Down there!" Marigold shouts to him. "They have a secret base down under the barn!"

He thanks her, asking for both she and Jules take care of the guards left up here. As he runs down into the base Midas begins to sweat, worried he might not get there in time.

He reaches the bottom and dashes into the centre. There he finds a ton of guards with their rifles pointed at him and Doctor Slone in the middle.

"Where do you have him hidden?!" He demands as two guards grab him and restrain his hands.

"Steady now Midas. He is safe...for now..."

Clicking her fingers, the two guards holding Jones captive come in with him. He now had tape plastered over his mouth, rendering him speechless. He looked relieved to see Midas, but very worried at the same time.

"Let him go. NOW."

"Not so fast. I have to teach you a lesson first."

Jules and Marigold join the intervention, much to Midas' fear.

"Girls what are you doing here? Go-"

"Nah ah. You two can stay here as well."

Slone begins circling Midas as she talks.

"Now, I'm sure we're aware of the 'killer' roaming the island and killing people." Slone begins, turning to the girls. "But what if I told you that killer...was him?"

Slone points at Midas. His guilty conscience begins weighing him down. Jules gives him a confused expression.

"What? Midas?"

"Mhm. Did he not tell you of his decent into vampirism Jules?"

Her eyes widen and she walks over to Midas, as does Marigold.

"Midas, is this true?"

"N-No. She's lying. Don't listen to her."

He flinches slightly, sweat dripping down his forehead. He was about to run out of time!

"Ugh! I don't have time for lessons! Enough with you!!"

Midas elbows the guards in the chin, and pulls out his pickaxe and brings it down on Slone. Unfortunately, it phases right through her as it's revealed she wasn't actually in the room.

"W-What the?"

It was nothing more than a hologram copy of her.

"Oh come now Midas. Do you think I'm a fool? Why would I lock myself in a room with a madman?"

"Did you just lure me here for your own amusement?!"

"I had to teach you a lesson. No one goes around slaughtering my guards and gets away with it."

As if right on cue, that gut feeling in Midas' stomach returns, washing over his body. The urges come rushing back to him, making him clench his teeth and grip onto his head.

"A-Ahh! Ah-"

Jones' eyes widen in fear. His time was done. Midas was about to loose control over his bloodlust. The guards all quickly disperse, except the two still holding Jones hostage.

"No no no! This is bad."

"Midas! What's wrong?!" Jules asks, very concerned about him.

He can do nothing but groan in response, gasping for air as he struggles to hold back his hunger for blood. He feels drool forming near his mouth as his eye goes crimson red yet again.

"Please...J-Jules... Marigold...run..." He whispers, leaning against his pickaxe.

"What? Why?"

"Just go!! Please!!"

He motions the girls to back away with his golden hands. That's when he notices something happening to them.

"What in the..?"

A sharp sting of pain originating from his fingertips forces him to lean against the wall, gripping his wrists. This hadn't happened the previous times, it was new.

"Midas-"

"Jules we should do as he says. We can't do anything to help him-"

"And leave my brother in pain?! Nuh uh sister!"

"Listen to her Jules! Run away!!"

Midas grunts, breathing heavily and watching in horror as his finger nails sharpen on both hands. The pain was agonizing. He glances over at the guards holding Jones, a lustful intention in his eyes as he gives in to his hunger.

Jones knew what was going to happen and closes his eyes, listening to the shouts of the guards as his boyfriend's bloodlust gets them brutally murdered.

...

Opening them again, he sees Jules and Marigold shivering nearby while Midas continues drinking the warm blood from the dead guards, his fangs dug deep into their neck. Jules, while absolutely terrified takes a few steps towards him, seeing if she could make him listen to reason.

"Midas..?"

He glares at her with his bloodstained mouth.

"Brother it's me. Your sister. Don't you recognize me?"

Midas hisses at her, clearly not wanting anything to do with her in his current mental state, and focuses his attention back to the blood. Jones slowly gets up and Jules tears the tape over his mouth off.

"He's not gonna listen to us like this Jules. Even I have trouble getting through to him-huh?"

The 3 of them notice Midas making his way to the exit of the Imagined Order base. Despite knowing he'll fail, Jones reaches out to his boyfriend and tried to stop him.

"Midas wait!"

He turns to them with a small growl.

"Please, let's us help you. Just try to calm down."

Midas looks as though he wants their help, but his mind had other plans. He was craving blood so badly.

Ignore them. You don't need them.

"But they're my family. I need their help."

No. All you need is blood running down your throat. Just picture it hitting the pallet of your tongue. It's beautiful taste...you can't get enough of it, can you?

He moans slightly, liking the image in his corrupted mind.

See? It's all you need. Now go, quench your unending thirst.

With a snap of his fingers, he teleports away.

"What do we do?" Marigold asks Jones, seeing he had the most knowledge of Midas' vampirism infliction.

"And also, how the fuck did this all happen?" Jules adds, demanding an explanation.

"It's a long story. I'll explain while we look for him."

The 3 of them leave the I.O base and head out into the night looking for the golden vampire. All the while Jones reveals to the girls what caused Midas to turn this way.