Chapter Eight- Success

Mahad moved down the hall, his ears straining to locate heartbeats. He heard some that belonged to the guards. He headed for the library, figuring he'd find at least one priest there. He was in luck: He found two. He silently chanted the sleep spell. Aknadin and Kalim were instantly out. He quickly went over to them, bit Aknadin and then Kalim. Once they had changed, he poured the blood down their throats and left to find the others. He encountered Shada on the way to where Isis did fire-reading visions using her Item. He knocked the Millennium Key user out, turned him, and fed him before seeking out Isis.

He found her exactly where he thought she'd be: In the Tower Room. She faced him calmly. "I know why you're here and what you plan to do. I know that I cannot stop you, so go ahead." She tilted her head, giving him a clear shot and kept her arms at her side showing she was unarmed. He came closer and bit down. He figured Isis would be the easiest to turn what with her ability to see the future. He sucked some blood from her before pulling back and watching her change. He passed her the container of blood and was about to leave when she said, "Turning Seto will not be easy."

"You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?" he asked without looking back.

"His Spirit Temple," she said.

"Ah." He smirked as he walked away. Yes, Seto will likely duel me to stop me. But, I have had quite a bit of blood today and I feel very strong. He will join the rest of us. Even if he defeats or kills me, one of the others would turn him or the pharaoh will do it. Then again, he is unaware of what I plan to do.

He entered the temple and spotted Seto at the very top. He climbed the steps to see Seto regarding the tablets on the wall; he did the same for a few moments. "Spying on me, Mahad? You hope to learn my new strategy?" Seto asked after several more moments.

"Not at all. I came to tell you that the pharaoh wants to see all of the sacred court right now."

"Does he?" He faced Mahad. Suddenly, the Rod was in his hand, the concealed point exposed. He raised the Item and swept it down toward Mahad, intending to strike him in the skull but Mahad turned and got a cut on the side of his neck.

"Seto! Have you gone mad?" Mahad exclaimed, a hand to his neck, to staunch the bleeding until it healed.

"I will not let you turn me," he sneered. He nodded at Mahad's free hand, the claws in evidence.

Mahad scowled. "I should have put you to sleep like most of the others." He removed his hand and licked away the blood, knowing the wound was healed.

Seto held the Rod's point in front of him. "Yes, you should have, but you didn't. That was foolish and arrogant, Mahad. Once I kill you, I'll kill whoever you turned and will lead a search party to kill Bakura. I will protect the kingdom from-," Seto suddenly screamed and Mahad saw why: Atem was on his back, fangs buried in the priest's neck! He's attacking a human! So soon. Has he given in already?

Atem pulled out and jumped away. Seto turned around and stared at Atem, stunned. "My pharaoh, why?" he managed to say before gasping as his heart began to slow.

Atem folded his arms. "I was given a gift. You will understand soon enough."

"Pharaoh?" Mahad said slowly, hardly daring to believe Atem had turned dark already.

"I thought about what you said. I like the idea of being immortal and powerful. I know I will become dark like you. Indeed, I believe it is starting."

"All of you will be dark. It depends on how accepting you are. It took me a few days as I fought against it."

"And I will fight it," Seto insisted as he stood and examined his claws. "Or maybe-,"

"You will not kill yourself," Atem ordered. "Mahad, do you have more blood?"

"Yes, my pharaoh." Mahad retrieved the final container and Atem pried open Seto's mouth and Mahad poured the blood in. Atem closed the mouth and insured that the blood went down. Seto reluctantly swallowed and a look of disgust crossed his face.

"Oh, come now Seto," Atem said. "You love power and as a vampire you will have that and immortality."

"True, but I do not like the price."

"We do not have to kill," Atem replied. "Mahad did not."

"Actually, I have killed two," Mahad admitted. "Yesterday and today."

"What!?" Seto exclaimed.

Mahad kept his head up, unashamed. "I was told once I drained someone, I will want to continue to feed that way and I realize that I do."

"We need to minimize that," Atem stated. "We cannot have seven people dying every day."

"Criminals," Seto said quietly. "Two dying a day should be acceptable."

Atem considered that a moment. "Gather the court and bring them to the Throne Room."

"Yes, my pharaoh," chorused the priests as Atem left.

"I am not happy with being turned," Seto commented as they entered the palace. "And I blame you."

"Of course you do and I accept responsibility. Even though the pharaoh bit you and he would not have done so if I hadn't turned him."

"How could you?" Seto asked before wincing as his fangs pierced his lip.

"Focus on shortening them. I learned that from watching Bakura."

"I…take back blaming you. This is all Bakura's fault."

"Seto, you asked how I could turn all of you. Your suspicions of my behavior prompted me to take this course sooner than I expected. This was all part of Bakura's plan. He turned me so that I could turn the others."

"But, why?"

"To have the freedom to feed and steal as he wishes."

Seto sighed. It was too late to stop Bakura's plan as it had already succeeded. He was a vampire now as was the pharaoh and the court. He required blood to live and he would turn dark like the one beside him. The pharaoh is starting to turn dark. He sees being a vampire as a gift and he's already attacked in order to turn me.

Atem regarded his court before him. All six were like him: Fangs, sharp claws, no heartbeat, and much more. They, in turn, were looking at Mahad with burning resentment, except for Isis. She must have seen this future with her Item and knew sharing this knowledge would not change it.

He cleared his throat. "We cannot change what's happened and continued resentment will likewise not help.

"It is obvious that we will need blood every day. Seto suggested feeding on a criminal." Atem held up a hand. "We can use our claws to create an opening and drink a little. Mahad, I trust you will heal the wound and remove memory of the attack should our…victim live?"

"Yes, my pharaoh."

"Good."

"My pharaoh, what of Bakura?" Seto asked. "He planned for us to be turned and he is still out there."

"He has not attacked the people," Atem said. "Let him be. We are all part of the same group now."

Seto bowed. Atem then dismissed the court after announcing security patrols for the next day. Mahad smiled, pleased with succeeding with the plan. We are all vampires and we will live for eternity. A new era for Egypt has begun.

The End