Chapter Three- Thief Identified

"It happened again, Master Mahad. The thief got in, robbed the tomb, and set off the traps. The guards did not see anyone enter nor did they fall asleep so it's a mystery how he got in."

Mahad cupped his chin as he stared at the entrance and listened to the report. He did it again. He got away, but not scot-free. His image was captured and now is the time for his identity to be revealed. He entered the tomb and proceeded to the center, noting the robber had brazenly and deliberately set the traps off in a straight-forward manner. He found it amazing that he would set the traps off rather than avoid them on the way out as he had done getting in. He stopped past his clever blade trap and off to the side before chanting the spell to reveal the thief's identity. The air shimmered and a ghostly image walked past Mahad. It was a teenage boy with short silver-gray hair, lavender eyes, and a scar under his right eye. He wore the clothes of his thefts: An open red coat with a matching kilt, royal slippers, and gold cuffs on his legs and arms in addition to rings on his fingers and a couple of gold chains around his neck. Despite never really seeing him, the scar was enough for identification: Bakura!

My suspicions were correct. Bakura is the one robbing the tombs where I lay the traps. Mahad smiled in satisfaction. Now that he knew who was responsible, he would inform Atem and begin his plan to apprehend the young thief.

"So, Bakura is the one robbing the tombs whose traps you set," Atem said.

"Yes, my pharaoh. I had suspected him for a few weeks and now that I know, I can begin setting up the false tomb to snare him."

"See to it."

Mahad bowed and left the room, eager to trap Bakura. He again met Isis in the corridor but her blue eyes seemed troubled. "Isis?"

"Mahad, I keep seeing the vision I saw weeks ago and it concerns me."

"I see. Well, I haven't befriended anyone new and no one I know has tried to rob me. I have been careful while trying to catch the thief. He robbed my latest tomb."

"The one with your plan?"

"Yes. This one had a spell to capture his image so I would know who he is. I have learned his identity today: Bakura."

"Bakura. He's a very good thief. No one's ever caught him."

"I hope to be the one to do it. I will wait for him in a tomb that is empty save for a couple of traps. I plan to use the freeze spell in order to apprehend him."

Isis smiled and gave him a hug. "That sounds like a good plan. I look forward to judging him.'

"As do I." Isis released him and he continued down the hall with Isis watching him. She had kept her feelings to herself, feeling that telling Mahad while he was intent on catching the one who avoided his traps was not a good time. She felt waiting until the culprit had been caught was a better time. Yes. When Bakura is caught, judged, and sentenced, I will tell Mahad that I love him.

Bakura laid on his pillow with satisfaction. Thanks to his monster's new power, he could enter heavily guarded tombs easily. But only those with Mahad's traps. I enjoy defeating his traps, so much so, that I've stopped stealing and plundering other tombs for neither gives me the same thrill or pleasure. Once the Ring is mine, I may return to stealing. He laughed as he once again pictured Mahad's face upon having his friendship thrown in his face. I've never actually seen him but my men have described his back to me as they tell me when he completes the tomb's defenses. I see a foolish old man who likely wears a smug, arrogant expression.

"Master."

Bakura opened his eyes and sat up to see one of his men kneeling before him. "What is it?" he snapped.

"Mahad is defending another tomb. Word says it will be ready in a very short period of time."

"Really? Well, keep an eye on it and inform me when it's ready."

"Of course, Master." The man left and Bakura laid back down with a grin. He would soon be robbing yet another tomb being protected by Mahad. I usually have to wait weeks to rob a tomb. He is determined to catch me. Hmm, perhaps this time I will. I will not take anything and allow myself to be snared by a trap. Once I am before Mahad, I will claim that I wish to be friends and point out my lack of thievery and targeting only his trap protected tombs as proof. I will put on an act of sincerity so good, Mahad is sure to fall for it. Bakura's grin grew as he pictured that moment.

Mahad smiled as he stood before the false tomb. His plan was ready at last. Soon, Bakura would be arrested. He would give Bakura no opportunity to escape. He would cast the freeze spell and tie him up. "Stand guard men and this time, you have my permission to fall asleep or feign sleep."

"Yes, Master Mahad," the two of them said as the magician headed inside, setting a couple of simple traps behind him before sitting cross-legged in the center, closed his eyes, and waited for his prey. Come, Bakura. I'm waiting for you.

Bakura looked the entrance over with his customary ease. Only two guards again and they seemed alert. No matter. They can't stop what they can't see. He was about to call on Diabound when the guards slid to the ground, eyes closed and clearly asleep. They must be new to tomb duty. Pity it will be their last as Mahad will surely punish them for sleeping at their post. Bakura quickly, but quietly, crept up to the entrance and went in. He quickly spied a concealed trap that was easy for a thief of his caliber to spot. He skirted it and then came upon another simple trap. This gave Bakura pause. This wasn't Mahad's style at all and yet his men saw the magician overseeing the construction. This could be a trap. I better make sure it fails. He called on his monster and became invisible. He avoided the second trap and confidently oved on, decided to rob it after all.

A figure in white came into Bakura's field of view and this peaked his interest. Who was this and why was he in this tomb? Bakura drew closer and he felt his breath catch. The figure, a man, had a lean look under his white robes. He had a white cape, a white headdress, and accents of gold and gold jewelry. What really caught his eye was the object around the man's neck: The Millennium Ring! So, this must be Mahad. He's rather young and it seems I was right. This is a trap, but one I can work with. He reached a hand out to seize the Ring but when his hand was halfway there, Mahad opened his eyes and Bakura frozen as he saw brown eyes that spoke of power, authority, determination, and compassion. The eyes intrigued him. Perhaps it would be worth getting to know him. Bakura backed away from Mahad.

Mahad sat in his spot, eyes closed and focusing on his power. He was determined to be at full strength when Bakura showed himself. He also focused his senses on his surroundings to try to pick up a hint of anything or anyone in there with him. His ears heard a barely audible intake of breath and his eyes opened to look for the source of the inhale, but saw no one. He stood and called out, "Who is there? I demand you show yourself."

A voice spoke from the darkness. "Priest Mahad, I presume?"

"Who are you?"

"I am the one who robbed the tombs where you set those traps."

"Bakura."

"How…?"

"I cast a spell in the last tomb to capture your appearance and I used another spell to reveal it to me. Then, I set this place to lure you to me."

"You intend to arrest me?"

"I do and to know why you targeted the tombs I set traps in as opposed to robbing any tomb or stealing."

"Ah. You want to know my motives. I targeted those specific tombs to get your attention so that I could meet you and hopefully the two of us could become friends."