"Doctor Slone. You have a visitor here to see you."

"Send them down please."

Taking a sip of her coffee Slone sighs, fixing her glasses and looking up, ready to greet the visitor. They wore black musketeer clothing and a hat with gold accents. With a revolver and dagger on both hips plus a belt containing a red potion, they were quite a mysterious individual.

"Ah, just the one I was waiting for." Slone begins, smiling a little.

"I heard my services were needed here."

"Indeed they were." Slone nods, taking out a file and opening it up. "Now, your name is Victoria Saint if I recall, correct?"

"That's right. A vampire hunter of the old West. What can I assist you with?"

"Excellent. You see, for the past month or so a vampire has been sabotaging my plans and killing my guards. I was hoping you could 'take care of him'."

"I see." Victoria hums. "Consider it done Doctor. What's his name?"

"Midas. He was once human, but some trail of events caused him to become one of those creatures. I'm guessing it happened round about 4 months ago."

"Very well. I'll seek out this Midas and make sure he's nothing but dust." Victoria agrees, heading out of Slone's office.

"I will be sure to reward you for your efforts."

The door closes as the vampire hunter leaves. Slone puts her hands together, smiling to herself.

"Count your days Midas. You won't have many left..."

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

A week later...

Jones smiles with a hum, happily slipping into a white tuxedo shirt, doing up the buttons and tightening the red headband he refused to take off. The bite mark Midas left on him a week ago had fully healed.

"Hey Midas, whenever you're done moping around in the bathroom you wanna help me make some pancakes for breakfast?" Jones calls out, knocking on the door.

"Ah- Sure dear. Just give me a second."

Midas leans against the sink, scratching an itch on his back. For the past couple of days an odd sensation had begun coming from his back, irritating him. He didn't know what it was, but he wanted answers.

He emerges from the bathroom and finds Jones waiting for him.

...

The two of them find joy in one another's company, flipping pancakes together. Jones flips his and nearly doesn't catch it in the pan again.

"Woah! That was close."

"Very." Midas chuckles softly. "Try not to flip it too high, or else the harder it'll be to catch it."

Of course, Jones knows that. He's only trying to be a showoff and impress his boyfriend... and failing miserably. But Midas can't help but snicker anyway.

"Um... Jones. I wanted to ask something."

"I'm all ears Midas. Fire away."

"Well, I don't mean to dampen the mood...but something's be up with me the past two days."

Jones' smile fades a little, putting his pan down and listening to Midas.

"Some strange sensation from by back has been irritating me. I'm assuming it's something else related to my vampirism, but I can't be sure."

The blond wraps his arms around him, comforting him.

"Well I don't know what that means, but hey! Least you're not hiding stuff from me anymore."

He smiles shyly. Then, Jones looks thoughtful.

"Hey, y'know the library in Misty Meadows? Maybe they have a book on vampires we could look at, and that'll answer your question."

Jones goes to leave through the front door, but Midas puts his hand on his shoulder and pausing him.

"Wait. I'll go with you."

"Midas you know you can't. The sunlight out there will burn you." Jones reminds him.

"I know, but if I can cover up my skin enough maybe I'll be able to join you." Midas persists. "Besides, it'll save you wasting your money bringing it back here."

Jones looks unsure about the idea still. He doesn't want Midas risking his life and burning his cold skin out there. He'd kill himself if he wasn't careful, but he knew Midas wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Fine, okay. Let's have a look in your wardrobe."

--------

After an hour or so the boys eventually found clothing long enough to cover Midas' body. Consisting of a long sleeved jumper with a hood, a pair of Jones' trousers and boots. The only thing that wasn't cover were his golden hands. He didn't fancy wearing gloves over them as it reminded him of...

...not so pleasant childhood memories.

"Okay. You ready Midas?" Jones asks stepping out the door and turning around.

He nods, putting the hood over his head and taking a deep breath, and steps outside. He expects to feel a sting of pain course through his body as the sunlight touches his body, but thankfully what he was wearing was enough.

"Haha, it's working."

Midas slips his hands into his pockets and slides next to Jones. As they approach the garage they find Jules inside busy with something.

"Hey Jules, mind if we borrow your car for an hour?"

"Hm? Why? Where are you going?"

Jules suddenly notices Midas beside him and looks surprised.

"Midas?! What are you doing in broad daylight?"

"Relax Jules. I'm wearing clothes that can cover me up. I'll be fine."

She looks unsure, but eventually sighs.

"Fine. Just be careful."

Jones hops into the driver's seat while Midas sits in the passenger side. Then they begin to drive over to Misty Meadows.

---------

"Mm, nope. Nothing here." Midas hums, looking over at Jones. "What about you blondie?"

Jonesy blushes at the nickname, but then moves to grab a book and look at the cover.

"How about this?"

The book in question is titled 'Dark Mythical Legends: Stories of the supernatural.'

"That might work."

They huddle together and sit down, Jones going through the contents and scrolling to the page they were looking for. There wasn't much light in the library, so Midas tries taking the hood covering his head off.

Thankfully, he doesn't feel the light burn away at his skin. Only sunlight could burn him after all. At least he could feel and act human in the presence of Jonesy in a place that wasn't at home.

"Ah, here. Vampires."

Skipping through the basics and what they already knew, they try to see if there's a connection to the 'itch' on Midas' back and vampires.

This is the first thing they find:

'When the time is right on a blood moon evening, a vampire can obtain its wings that protrude from its back. This is hinted at a week prior with any aches or itching on the back. At the same time, for that week, they won't require to go and satisfy their hunger on the night they usually do.

For more on 'Blood Moon' and its effect on vampires, see pg.87'

Jones looks over at Midas, who in return looks back.

"Well...that answered a lot..."

He begins to put the book down, but Midas stops him.

"Wait. I want to read that page on the blood moon, it might be important."

The blond passes the open book to Midas and he scrolls to the noted page.

This is what it reads:

'Blood Moon.

A moon that only shows up every 3 years. It has a effect on all supernatural beings, such as werewolves and vampires. This page covers the effects it has on vampires.

When a human has been turned, it's decent into vampirism is quite fast. Normally lasting around 4 months. The stages in order are as noted;

1st Stage: Fangs (obviously the most obvious thing)

2nd Stage: Paling skin (harder to notice if they have pale skin in general)

3rd Stage: A change in ear shape (pointed ears are quite common in most vampires)

4th Stage: Sharpened nails (for some humans turned vampires this is normally the last stage)

The 5th and final stage requires the unnatural power of the blood moon.

If they haven't already, by the time the vampire hits stage 4, they will have begun loosing sight of their humanity.

With the power of the blood moon a vampire can obtain its wings. But this comes at a price;

Any humanity they had left will be striped away from them, leaving them with no compassion or regard for others. Any human who has hopes to kill it will have to aim directly to the heart with a silver bullet.'

Midas shivers slightly, sweat dripping down his forehead. The pointed ears, pale skin and sharpened nails...

It was all leading up to this.

With that sensation coming from his back it only meant one thing:

A blood moon was approaching, and all his friends, plus the whole island were in grave danger.

"Midas? You okay..?"

"...Jones... I'm in trouble..."

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

Later that night...

"So this 'blood moon' is coming... and there's nothing we can do to stop it from infecting you..."

"Mhm."

Jones sighs sadly, scratching the back of his neck while holding a mug of hot chocolate. He didn't want to believe it, but if Midas was this worked up and broken over it he had to believe it was the truth.

"I honestly have no clue how I'm even still sane. Other vampires would've been lost at this point, but not me..."

"Maybe it's cos of your attachment to the Light? You have so much power that you're able to barely cling onto your sanity."

"Maybe..."

They sit in silence for a moment.

"And you said because of this you don't need to go and 'eat' tonight, right?"

Once again, Midas nods.

"That's right. Although...a part of me still craves it, even now..."

Jones hums a little, getting a dumb idea in his mind.

"If I cut a finger and make it bleed, you want mine?"

Midas blushes a little, snickering lightly.

"Oh Jones, you really are an idiot. But a smart one at times. And that's what I like about you." He sighs. "I-I'm not hungry though..."

His stomach growls at him, making Midas flinch.

"Oh yeah? Your instincts tell a different story-"

Without a warning Midas presses his lips against Jones', giving him a passionate and gentle kiss. The blond simply melts into his comforting embrace, sighing softly. They part slightly.

"Keep still for me dear. It won't take long, but it will hurt."

Jones suddenly feels a sharp pain coming from his neck. He resists the urge to scream as he feels Midas' lips against his now bleeding neck.

"Midas what are you-"

"I-I'm sorry Jones, I can't help it. I'm hungry." He breathes. "I won't take too much, I promise."

Jones trusted him, sighing as he lets Midas begin to start softly sucking on his neck and drink his blood. He shivers, gripping on to Midas' shoulders.

"Mmm~ Midas, I-I~"

He covers Jones' mouth, looking at him with blood staining his own mouth.

"Please. As much as you find this arousing and good, don't make any noises. It'll attract unwanted attention and I'll only get more lustful and desperate for more blood from you...and I don't need you dropping dead in front of me..."

Though a little sad, Jones nods in understanding. Midas keeps his hand over his mouth and returns to his neck, licking the blood that strayed from the bite mark away. Soft quiet noises leave the mastermind as the warm liquid runs down his throat.

Jones wished he could express himself the same way, but he could take it too far and drive Midas' bloodlust crazy.

"Mmm~" Is the only thing he can muster out before Midas leans next to his ear

"Shhhhh, I'm almost finished."

He cleans up the last of the blood, making sure that the bite mark had stopped bleeding out. Then he quickly locks lips with Jones, giving him a taste of his own blood.

They eventually part lips. Jones gazes into Midas' slightly red golden iris, stars glittering in his own eyes.

"So precious he is." Midas' thoughts tell him.

"Thank you for letting me do that darling. " He thanks him, wiping his mouth and pulling a plaster from his pocket. "I feel much better now."

He gently puts the plaster over Jones' bite mark, while he wraps his arms around Midas, giving him a tight embrace.

"Don't worry Midas. I'll try and keep you alive. I don't want to lose you... I'll protect you even with my life at risk..."

Midas hums sadly, rubbing his back. As much as he enjoyed these sweet tender moments with Jones, he didn't know how much longer they'd last.

He was running out of time...

And pretty soon, he'd have to leave behind everyone he loved...