Of Love and Betrayal
Taimat watched as her Shadow Beasts ripped at Diabound. The injured demon beast roared and thrashed about. Taimat's eyes widened. In a desperate movement, Diabound lashed his tail and flung Mountain at Taimat. The one-eyed tiger slammed hard into the dragon's belly. Taimat held her injured friend in her arms and watched Diabound rip Kraken from his face. Kraken's flame fizzled and sputtered. Midnight Flight released her hold on Diabound's throat and dove at the demon's hand. Using her sharp talons, the dragon sliced off Diabound's hand. Kraken was released from the severed appendage and scurried over to Taimat. He cowered behind his friend and shook in pain and fear.
Midnight Flight roared and swallowed Diabound's lost hand in one bite. Then she turned around and unleashed a massive ball of ruby fire. Diabound hissed and was engulfed in flames, lashing his tail out at Taimat, the cobra head's jaws latching onto the dragon's left wing.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Hrrrrrrr-waaaa!" Taimat screamed.
Outside the shadowy orb, Isis cringed as she heard Taimat's painful screech and the sound of bones crunching. Taimat fell to the ground and snarled. Mountain and Kraken quickly moved out of the way as Taimat lunged. She charged at Bakura and tackled him. She hissed and dug her fangs into the human's right arm. She tasted blood and bone. She bit harder and pierced Bakura's radius. The man pulled a knife and repeatedly stabbed Taimat in the throat, shoulder, and face. The shadowy orb faded, as did Mountain, Kraken, and Diabound. Midnight Flight landed in front of Isis, the Necklace hanging from her fangs.
"Priestess, take this and run. Call for help and it will come. Go. Run. My mother will handle things here."
Isis grabbed the Necklace and ran back toward the palace. "Help me, please!" she cried.
A loud roar answered. Peingk descended and scooped up Isis in her front paws. "I will take you to the palace, my friend. The Necklace is safe. Bakura cannot escape this unharmed. Do not worry."
Taimat, meanwhile, dug her tusks into the ground on either side of Bakura's head. She lashed her tail and hissed. "You cannot escape my wrath. I am the Goddess of Life! Your fate rests in my paws!"
"My fate is my own!" Bakura spat back. He dug his knife deep into Taimat's breast. The dragon reared and screeched in rage as the thief king ran off.
"Damn you, Thief King! Damn you! You will pay for that! You demon! You God damned man! You- you… Creature-killer!"
Midnight Flight cringed. Taimat had just hurled the worst insult swear known to the Shadow Realm.
Taimat clutched her chest wound. Blood coursed down her body like melting snow down a mountainside. She gasped and choked, spitting up blood and dirt. She turned and started walking back toward the palace, dragging her mangled wing through the sand. Midnight Flight landed and walked alongside her mother, supporting her as they padded through the desert.
I'm really glad I thought to call Midnight Flight, otherwise I would've probably died. I'm amazed Bakura lived through the Hell I gave him.