His heart was pounding so hard it hurt and it took several more deep breaths to calm it. “Who-who are you?” he asked at last.

The male bowed his head gently. He didn’t have the red eyes of the Infected. A human? “My name is Xander and I am in charge of all of Young Master Merrik’s affairs. He has asked me to make sure you are properly fed and are granted anything you might need. What would you like to eat this evening?”

So…he was like a butler? A human butler. Xander must have had no sense of pride as a human being. Who would be able to cater to an Infected? He frowned at him as he stood up. 

“Not interested.” He told him, turning away from the male in the mirror.

Xander seemed surprised and confused at August’s clear rejection. The mirror in the bathroom returned to normal as he walked back out into the main bedroom. But he hadn’t escaped Xander so easily. A section of the fish tank disappeared to have the man reappear, this time a full body projection. 

“August, please. You need food or when the Young Master might kill you when you feed him!”

Fury exploded from him and he turned on his heels to stalk towards the image of Xander. He pointed a finger at him. “You might have been here for so long, it's addled your brain but I am not here willingly and I’ll be damned if I let any Infected bite me! You’re also human and should understand this, or did you forget about that little tidbit? Do you see yourself as one of them?”

Xander kept a steady gaze and an aloof expression. He clasped his hands behind his back. 

“Of course I know I’m human. I also have a sense of self-preservation. To stay alive, I must do as I am told. And if that means force-feeding you, so be it. You seem to have given up the fight as a human yourself if you wish to starve yourself. Eating doesn’t chain you here, nor does it make you any less human. It simply keeps you alive until the next day. Surely this should be all that matters?”

August opened his mouth, only to close it again. He dropped his hand and just glared at the image of the cool male. Okay, he got him there. He didn’t have a response to that. If he was going to be forced to eat, then he was going to make sure they were paying for it. 

“Alright, fine.” he told him, crossing his arms. “Then I want steak. And potatoes. And wine and a giant chocolate cake.”

In the slums, his weekly payment for his job hardly afforded him a bag of chips, let alone a steak and wine. If he was going to be forced to preserve his life by eating, then he’d be damned if he went back to eating bread and browning fruits and vegetables. 

Xander bowed, not at all concerned about his ridiculous request. “I shall have it delivered to your room. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

August grinned, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Is this coming from Merrik’s pocket?”

Xander hesitated and it was all August needed for confirmation. 

“Well, in that case, yes. Yes, there is more you can get for me.”