Chapter 193: I Found it... Something Worth Living For...

"Hmm. I'm surprised you survived. Even if it was one of the weakest daemons." Poison filed her sharp nails. "You should thank your mother later. If not for her, you would've died of the cold. You certainly didn't tell me you left the house." She said in a stinging tone.

"I'm sorry…" Ethan was currently shirtless on top of his bed, with Poison sitting in his gaming chair, looking over him and his new daemonic weapon.

That daemon who tried to eat him apparently liked him enough to want to spend the rest of her life with him. At the cost of his blood, he could use her as a weapon effective against both daemons and magjistars. He didn't know if he should be flattered or pissed. This was the second hot girl who came on to him and tried to eat him. However, he was going to reject her. Probably… If there was a third time, it was proof he was a daemonic chick magnet.

Which wasn't as good as it sounds! If he could convince them not to eat him, they just wanted to use him! What did he get out of that?! Ethan might serve as Poison's slave and all, but it wasn't like he was satisfied being her slave forever. He wanted to eventually be an equal and be in a relationship with her! Even a lowly waste of life like him had some ambition.

"You still have use to me. I don't want to waste the time and effort I've put into raising a slave like you. So, don't go dying anywhere without my permission." She ordered.

Ethan thought the way she said that sounded weird but simply nodded. He was given more of her blood in small containers to carry on his person for protection. Then she left his room while narrowing her eyes at his spiffy new black bracelet. Ethan let out a breath as all his facade from seeming brave in front of Poison was expelled in an instant.

He buried his face into his pillow, letting off a muffled scream while slamming his feet into his bed repeatedly. HE ALMOST FUCKING DIED TODAY! Again! He almost fucking died again to a hot daemon! Ethan could feel his heart thumping like a drum as his fragile morality was brought to the center front of his mind. People shouldn't be forced to face death so often! Sure, it's been like a while since he met Poison, but still! That doesn't mean that was an acceptable amount of time for someone to realize how squishy and mortal they are! That kind of shit needs to be spread out across multiple decades, not months!

Ethan turned over to his back as he stared up at his ceiling. In and out. In and out. In and out. Ethan was hyperventilating. A world filled with monsters, people that hunt those monsters, and regular people like him caught in the middle… He didn't know why, but as he brought his bracelet close to his heart, he felt himself calming down. Like all of the rushing of his blood and nerves were slowed. "Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex." Ethan repeated like a personal mantra.

He needed to have sex with her. He needed to have sex with Poison if it was the last thing he did. He couldn't die before reaching that goal. Ethan refused to die. All of this would've been pointless. He only got into Poison's stolen car for the smallest opportunity of sex. 

The corner of Ethan's lips slowly turned up as he held the bracelet close to his chest. He found something to keep him going. Something worth living for. Something worth going down this path with Poison for…

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"H-Hey, guys. It's been a while, but I finally got your pay from our first job." Ethan greeted his employees.

"Not gonna lie, Mr. Ethan. Thought you were gonna hoe us and skip town with the money we got from the jewelry store." Ricky admitted.

Ethan took a brief glance at the others to realize that they, too, believed he would short them out of their money. "I'm not leaving Krey anytime soon." He replied. "You guys gave yourselves nicknames, right? I only know your real names, so please remind me of your alias when coming to get your pay. You first." Ethan pointed to Jasmine.

"Pinkie with an ie and not a y." Jasmine received 930 dollars. 

"1,500 was reduced from the original pay." He reminded her.

"I remember." Jasmine realized she could've gotten over two grand from one job! Although most of that would go to her bills, she could have enough to buy her babies some clothes or something! Then, when the next job came, if it was anywhere near the same amount or more, it wouldn't be long until her babies were living the good life! "Do we have another job coming up soon?" She couldn't help but ask.

"We do." Ethan found another place. 

This time, it wasn't a jewelry store. He refused to ever put himself in a position to sell jewelry ever again. That shit was annoying as hell to convert into cash. Ethan wasn't a social person in the first place. He could only tolerate people up to a certain extent.

"Ricky!" Ricky introduced himself as he was handed 2,430 dollars in cash.

"Natalie." Natalie calmly pocketed the money in her book bag.

"Jake." Jake counted the bills in front of Ethan before leaving.

"Ah, you can leave when you receive your pay. You don't have to stick around unless you have questions for me." Ethan reminded them. Jasmine and Ricky started to leave.

"Butterfly." Butterfly placed the money in her purse with a small curl of her lips.

"Queeny!" Queeny happily grabbed her money, shoving it into her pocket, forming a visible print bulging on the side of her waist.

"I go by Tyler or Ty…" Tyler cautiously grabbed the large amount of money with tears in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked.

"S-Sorry. I'm fine… It's just… this money will help me a lot… Goodbye, boss." Tyler explained as he made his way out.

"Glad I could help?" Ethan didn't know how to respond to someone suddenly crying in front of him.

Tyler muttered something, but Ethan couldn't hear it. Now that his employees were paid and happy, he had to invest the rest of the money they got from the heist into further growing their organization. The classic phrase of spending money to make money. A saying even more valid for starting companies than those already established and set. Now it was time to get to work preparing for the next job…

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Ethan leaned back in his gaming chair. His brows furrowed in concentration as he considered the upcoming job. He wasn't equipped for in-person scouting, and the internet was a dead end for acquiring detailed information on the bank. He had to rely on more traditional methods. Dragging his mouse, he clicked on a tab of Krey's city map. He studied the layout of the streets surrounding the small local bank. Ethan's approach would have to be grounded in simplicity and keen observation. He decided to take a drive around the neighborhood, observing the bank at different times of the day. As he drove around the streets, he memorized the landmarks, locations, and streets.

The publicly available city map was looked at so much Ethan was getting sick at the sight of it. As dusk settled, he stood across the street from the bank, hands in his pockets, observing the transition from business hours to evening. The streetlights flickered on, casting a warm glow on the quiet surroundings. Ethan's thoughts were practical, devoid of excitement; this was a task, not a thrill. Doing crimes didn't bring him any joy. It was simply a means to an end. This was what Poison wanted, and by doing what Poison wanted could potentially give him what he wanted.

Returning to his place, Ethan mulled over the gathered information. He knew the bank's exterior and the front lobby like the back of his hand now, but the specifics beyond that were a mystery. He'd have to be quick with this heist. Unlike with Poison, they couldn't just cut into the ATM machines. That would… Actually, yes, he could! Her blood! Just melt the damn thing and snatch the money.

Hmm, it would be risky, but it could be pretty lucrative if he went for the ATMs and the safe somewhere in the back. A small local bank like the one he was targeting didn't have security guards at night. It was nice and empty. While Ethan was confident in taking out security officers, he didn't want to. As much of a traitor to humanity, as he was, that didn't mean he was okay with killing humans for money.

All of this money was great. It felt really nice. But he wasn't willing to become a monster over it. He was just fine without money. He'll be fine with it. Don't get him wrong, money was the root of all evil and the solution to 99% of all problems. But he didn't really have an important need for it at the moment. He wasn't struggling, and he had all the latest devices he'd ever needed for a while. All of this money was simply for the sake of developing Poison's criminal empire. And for him to get a chance to become one with her.