“Really?” Dee asked Vicki. “Why me?” she added, looking alarmed.

“Because just do it. I need a favor, and you’ve been an asshole to me lately. You already gossiped about me and Vinn, and I can’t go hang out with this guy alone, he could be dangerous and if he’s not then you’ll start a rumor about me screwing him. Can’t start a rumor of you were there and saw everything. And I will pay you.”

“Okay, fine, but it’s not gonna be an everyday thing like whatever you and Vinn do. Just one time.”

Dee stood nervously, holding Jacks unloaded SMG and trying to look like she could use it. Claybourne stared at her with a smirk.

“Hello again.”

“I’m just here as a backup support.” This thing’s loaded with rounds that can take down about anything, so if she doesn’t check in with me when I call, your ass is grass.”

“No, I get it. Can’t be too careful. There are some weird people in these tunnels. I’m definitely one of them, and so is your friend, but there’s also dangerous weird too, and it’s a good thing you got that. Just in case.” He smiled as Vicki waved him in and left the door open.

“Give us a few minutes.” Vicki said as Dee rolled her eyes.

“Odd choice of security." Claybourne smiled. "I would have assumed you’d bring your Jack, and not a porn star who looks like she never held a gun before. Better than nothing but…weird choice."

“She knows how to handle a gun.”

“Jack doesn’t know, does he?”

“No he doesn’t. Neither does anyone but you and Vinn, the big furry guy. But she thinks I’m screwing him already so if I bring him for backup she’ll start a rumor about me having 3-ways so this way she shuts up.”

“So how did you get in this…situation?” he asked, leading her under the skylight.

“Cancer. New drug with new side effects, and I got bitten by a bug right after. Apparently mutagen high dose medication plus bug venom equals vampire?”

“Would not have called that. So Jack's human, and you think he’ll freak out that his girlfriend might, like, suck him dry him in a non-fun way?” he asked.

“I just can’t tell him yet.” She said sadly.

“No, I get it. That would freak him out for sure. Shame you have to hide thought. Anyway the skylight here is big enough for delivery, The medical drones have bug-repellant systems, so I can just have fresh bodies or blood delivered here.”

“What’s it gonna cost me?” she asked with a sick look.

“Nothing…you need it. It’s medicinal necessity, or you could die... I think. They just don’t cover that in the human healthcare program. I have a shitload of money, I spend more than this on entertainment and hookers. This is probably a healthier social activity for me at the same cost. And I can still afford hookers if needed. Consider this a friend discount, and by discount I mean free.” He shrugged.

“I can’t thank you enough.” she sighed with relief.

“So is she gonna sit out there with a gun the entire time or is she gonna come in and hang out?”

"I wanted to discuss details before letting her in. She doesn’t know I’m having blood delivered. She thinks I’m just giving you the rules and warning speech. You’ll be dealing with Vinn a lot after this"

“Cool. So can you eat regular food?” he asked.

“I can, but only if it’s mixed with human blood or flesh. Regular food alone doesn't taste right, and it doesn't seem to provide any nutrition.”

“Yea, I assumed that. I brought you a little gift.” He said, digging into his jacked and getting out a package. “Blood sausage, human pepperoni, and blood infused mozzarella. All fresh and cured this morning. I can't order the best pizzas in town and then find out you can't try it. I dropped some of this off there, this morning, too. They have it special order waiting.”

“That’s actually very thoughtful.”

“So…we good? You wanna bring Dee in and hang out for real. I will absolutely stomp both your asses on the racing simulator. I have a bike collection. I’m pretty decent.

Hyde laid into the punching bag with full hatred, stressing the chains holding it in place. Jack strolled in to check on the noise.

“Rough day?” he asked.

“I can’t stay awake, and the coke just makes me angry. Plus, Dee is avoiding me constantly.”

“You think maybe she’s avoiding you because you’re raged up on coke, and she’s having her own side effects?” Jack inquired as Hyde punctuated with a heavy left hook, breaking the chain.

“We had an incident, and since then she has not wanted sex. I cannot control my side effects, it’s not my fault I fall asleep and the drugs to stop that are apparently upsetting as well, so what am I supposed to do…NOT have sex again?” he barked.

“You know, sometimes women just need space, give it a week and see how she feels.”

“Jack, wake up, you’re giving your women space, and she’s running to Vinn. He’s on something too, I gave him my dealer’s number. When you give them space, they find someone else. You’re just too blind to see that you’re the ass end of the joke. You’re the Jackass, Jack.”

“I trust Vicki, if you can’t trust Dee, then maybe that’s the problem. Your relationship is based on cheating, that’s how you ended up together. Don’t compare that with Vicki’s cancer medication giving her side effects and our relationship needing space. Don’t act like you’re the Alpha male expert on keeping women happy, I’ve been with the same woman for years, you’ve lost 2 women in 2 weeks.” He barked. Hyde hung his head and sighed heavily, trying to catch his breath. “I’m sorry, that last part was uncalled-for, but you need to wake up. You can’t date human women and expect to know what you’re doing, and act like THEY are the problem when they don't act Delmarian.”

“And you would suggest I simply find a Delmarian woman more my type? Should I maybe wait till game night and see how many are in this house? Perhaps I should just move out and live in the new club, hope some of them find me there. Or should I just wait until Vicki tires of Vinn and swoop in on her?”

“Careful Hyde. That mouth of yours is getting you into dangerous territory.

“Jack, I’m not angry with you. I respect you. I don’t know your love life, I just know mine, and it’s bullshit. Everything I do is wrong with these humans. They want a beast, but they want a gentleman beast, they want you to dominate and be the alpha male of the house, the protector, but they want you to weep with them at the sight of kittens and watch shows about cake decorations. The impossible contradictions are endless, at least with Evee they were fascinating and harmless.”

“You can’t replace her with the next human girl that likes you. Nicoles are 2 of a kind. They’re unique, they’re not like other girls, even though every other girl says they’re not like other girls. Dee is different, and you knew she was wild and unhinged when you screwed her behind Silverback’s back. What did you expect? YOU fucked it up with Evee, and Dee ruined something good with Nathan, and now you both have trust issues with each other because you know you’re both capable of betrayal. I don’t have the solutions here. But don’t act like it’s entirely her, don’t act like you can alpha your way out of this, and don’t you dare even say the word Vicki in a negative context again. You’re a guest in both of these houses, act like it. Or you may end up without one."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“I need to know. I need to know what she’s doing or who. Right now her and Vicki, who is blameless and pure and would never do anything wrong, are both sneaking around at the Arcade, and I’m going to find out why. You can stay here or go with me. Trust your woman or not, maybe yours is faithful, that doesn’t mean mine is.” Hyde growled.

“I’m staying. And if you go there and break that trust with her, you’re dooming it. If you show up barging in accusing her of having another man there, and it’s just two gals complaining about their men, you’ve killed it and proven her right. How confident are you that she’s unfaithful?”

“Ask Silverback if he would trust her.” He said storming off.

“So here I am with the cop holding the ticket” Chuckled Claybourne. “And I say to him, how fast was I going, sir? And he says…55 in a 50 zone, but you’re bare-assed naked on a stolen bike!” he busted out laughing as Dee snorted and spilled her wine.

“You crazy bastard. You stole the bike?”

“From my dad.” He smirked. “I never thought he’s report it. Ugh, I spent the night in jail. Happy 11th birthday to me.” He said, sighing and pouring more wine.

“I’m glad to see you two getting along so well.” Vicki smiled.

“Why, because I’m not paying attention to you anymore?” He grinned.

“Exactly, you’re so much better company when you’re not actively hitting on me. And this Pizza is incredible. How have I never known about this place?” Vicki said, sipping her red sparkling “beverage” from the bottle.

“Well, it’s not listed anywhere, it’s kind of a private owned thing. They really do make the best pizzas. They better, it’s 115 credits for a 3 topping medium.” He chuckled. The girls both about had a small heart attack. The small heart attack nearly became a second, larger one, when the door shuttered from an impact and stressed the lock. The second impact, following, broke the latch and the doors swung open. Hyde barged in and snarled. Claybourne stood up and got between the beast and the girls.

“Who the hell are you?” Claybourne asked.

“Who Am I? I’m the Hydra, you asshole. That’s my woman, so who the hell are you?” Hyde snarled.

“Claybourne, playboy, philanthropist, rich kid, and pizza expert. You wanna drink?” he joked.

“This is the guy everyone’s sneaking around for? What are you, some kind of Male escort?”

“HA!” Claybourne gasped with a smile. “Thank you for the compliment, I wish. But no, I’m just a small business owner and friend of the girls. We met at the club the other day, I saved your woman’s life. I see you feel compelled to thank me in person, I graciously accept, you may go now, I did not order enough food for someone your size.” He said turning his back.

“I don’t appreciate that you’re here with my girlfriend.”

“Well, fortunately the thing is...I don’t care.” He shrugged.

“Do you know who I am?” Hyde barked.

“Yea, actually I do. Hydra Smith, formerly the famous Kraken. You’re a violent unstable assclown purist who got owned in the arena, cloned back for some damn reason and then got your ass owned again in the same arena, and somehow got your honor back. I know your type, you pricks don’t change, you don’t scare me, and frankly I don’t give a shit what you think or say. I try and respect people, and I get that you’re their friend and whatnot, but you had a reputation, and if a third of that reputation carried over now that you’re born again and sparkly clean, then you’re still 90 percent prick. You went from calling all humans livestock and suggesting slavery, to dating them? That sounds totally safe and non-toxic. I bet you treat her great. Kicking down doors is a good sign. Yes, we are clearly having an orgy without you, hence the pizzas the nobody having sex and how all of us are fully clothed. Frankly, this human girl deserves better. I’ve seen her videos too, so she has talent and can DO better than you if she wanted. I barely know her and I know she deserves better, because anyone does. You're a piece of shit. I know plenty about you, now please, respectfully, go suck off a cow.” Claybourne scoffed. Hyde turned him around by the shoulder with a firm grip.

“I will break you in half you pint-sized bitch.” Hyde growled, leaning forward to tower over him.

“Oh sweet buttercup, Please try it. Please give me a totally legit excuse to defend myself and make you a new asshole right in the middle of your forehead... Just to spit in it.” he grinned.

“There’s something familiar about you.”

“I’m sure you’ve seen me in your nightmares, Punkin.” He grinned.

“Boys, stop this. We’re friends, not enemies. Nobody fucking in here, and nobody is fighting here.” Vicki said.

“Damn, looks like you gotta be nice there Bullwinkle.” Claybourne shrugged. “Ladies orders.”

“Fuck all of you.” Hyde said stomping out and leaving the arcade.

“Hyde, Damnit get back here. We’re all just hanging out, stop being…” she paused. “Like yourself.” She muttered to herself. Jack appeared at the stairwell and made his way into the arcade.

“I tried to stop him, he said he wouldn’t do anything stupid, but by the time I realized he was gone he was way ahead of me. Did he break anything?” Jack asked.

“Nothing that wasn’t already broken.” Dee said, heading after him.

“Shit…do I follow her or stay?” Jack huffed. “I don’t wanna intrude on anyone, but there’s one narrow tunnel, and I’m in the middle already.”

“Let them sort it, Jack, this is Claybourne, you met him already.” Vicki noted.

“Yea, from the…nightclub disaster.” Jack huffed.

“You gonna give me the speech too?” asked Claybourne.

“What speech?” Jack puzzled.

“The stay away from my woman you stunningly charming manwhore who’s plowing my girlfriend.”

“You’re not plowing my girlfriend…were you plowing Dee?” he asked.

“No.”

“Well then where’s the problem?” he said sitting down and catching his breath.

“You look exhausted.” Vicki said, giving him a hug.

“I am exhausted. I work all day, and then I fight in my sleep, I never just rest anymore. It’s like pulling double shifts. You look great though. Are you feeling better?”

“Actually I am physically, but I have a confession to make, and you need to be sitting down.”

“Okay.” He sighed. “Is this about why you’ve been avoiding me and giving me space, should we…no offense, talk about this alone?”

“Well, it involved Claybourne here, and he already knows. So does Vinn."

“Now that sounds bad,” Claybourne interrupted. “I would like to say for the record that was terrible wording and I don’t wanna fight you. I did kinda wanna fight Hyde, I’m disappointed he curled up into a big furry vagina and left, but I respect you and have no beef with you, big fan of your work, actually. Just sayin.”

“Did I build your house or something?”

“No the…other work.” He winked. “The uh…poker games if you will.”

“How do you know I…play cards?” he asked.

“Oh shitsnap, it is you. You’re the Jack with the steady hand at 2,000 meters. Holy shit, You’re like my hero, I am also not remotely doing your girlfriend, just to rehash that, sorry, this is very exciting for me, but emotional for you two, I’mma go play some pinball for a bit, let me know when you two get through the whatever. I’m gonna see if I can find some playing cards, I want an autographed Jack of Hearts, hell you can just shoot a hole in it and hand it back, and I’m good. Carry on.” He said, hopping up and heading to the pinball room.

“How does…” Jack pondered.

“Jack, he’s my…dealer. Of sorts."

"And you told him what I do for work?"

"No, that's...actually concerning, and I have no idea how he knows that."

“What are you hooked on?” Jack said in a concerned voice.

“When you were sleepwalking…sleepmissioning last week, and you got attacked by that bug, I fought it off, and I didn’t realize I got bit, more like nipped or lightly scratched, I got contaminated Jack, and I started getting sick.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, we should have called Gizzy."

“Gizzy doesn’t know what’s going on, she’s winging this like everyone. I know she’s trying, but this is all untested medicine being rushed in and tested on us. I got scared, I don’t wanna be a lab rat for cancer research, and then I thought you would blame yourself because I got bit defending you in your damn sleepwalking state."

“You’re right, I would have.”

“And then I started craving something, I couldn’t eat the sterile slop anymore, I couldn’t hold it down, and I was craving meat. So I snuck out to the club to unwind and just relax, take my mind off things, and that was the night I was attacked.”

“God you’ve just been through one thing after another.”

“I… Jack, I don’t know how to say this, or if I CAN say this.”

“Well, you have to say it.” he insisted, as Claybourne interjected to speed up the progress.

“She went full vampire mode and sucked him dry. Not like, in a sex way, but she drank his blood and got all healed and better again.” Said Claybourne from the other room. “Just thought that needed rushed along, sorry.”

“What?” Jack gasped. Vicki welled up in tears and nodded.

“It’s true. I’m a monster. I’ve been getting blood and human flesh, it’s the only thing I can eat and if I don’t, I get sick again. He has connections at the funeral home.”

“Bro just tell her vampires are hot and get your fuck on, I’ll come back later.”

“Can you please shut up for like 5 minutes?” Vicki asked politely with tears in her eyes and a heated tone. He replied with silence.

“You’re not a monster, Vicki. You’re sick, you have a medical condition and you need medicine. There may be better options than this, but you have to tell me, so I can take care of it.”

“You take care of everything, of all of us. You’re so tired you can barely move, I needed to do this on my own, but I just can’t.”

“Let Gizzy help. We can call her up, and you can sit in with the robot and get an exam, we can get you the medication you need.”

“So I hate to interrupt again, but you said Gizzy, like THE Gizzy…is at your house?”

“We have a remote connection through the robot.” Jack noted.

“So I gotta split, there’s this thing I gotta do at the…not here place. Somewhere else. You two need some alone time, you don’t want me here, you got my number, just, call me for the hookups, if you need them, just…you know. Just call. I’m out.” Said Claybourne, leaving his food and wine and getting the absolute hell out of dodge, in a brisk way.

“Yea, he’s clearly met Gizzy. Probably said or did something to piss her off.” Jack said.

“So you’re not…afraid of me, or repulsed by me?”

“Of course not. Honey I kill people on the side, I cleaned up the guy you killed. The fact that you can handle yourself that well is impressive, in fact that weirdo was right. Vampire gals are kinda sexy…at least this one.” He said leaning forward.

“Jack I’m a little bit…aggressive. What if I hurt you?”

“Oh like you’ve never left a bite mark before.” He smirked, slowly pushing her shoulders to the floor.