Chapter Seven- Dark Surrender

Mahad was horrified when he found himself in an alley. Somehow I found my way back. I probably smelled my human scent and followed it. Gods, why didn't I think of that possibility? He emerged from his hiding spot to see a scene of utter horror. The guards he had led last night had been mutilated; ripped to pieces! It was far worse than the previous night. I don't believe this. I killed my own men!

"Technically, they're not your men," said the shadows. "They are humans, you are a werewolf. Two entirely different species."

"But, I killed again and after I tried to prevent it."

"Mahad, you can't deny the werewolf's desire for terror, death, and taste for human flesh. No matter what precautions you take, the wolf will satisfy its desires."

"There is one thing I can do that will succeed: I will confess to the pharaoh and insist I be killed."

"No!" the shadows howled. "You mustn't!"

"Sorry, but I will. I should have done so yesterday."

"Mahad, if you try to tell, we will use the band to permanently turn you into a wolf, unable to talk or do magic."

Mahad had been heading for the palace gates when the threat brought him up short. "What? No magic!?"

"That's right. Yes, we desired a magically strong person, but we do have other options. Perhaps Seto, or the pharaoh, or maybe your dear Isis."

"No! Leave them alone!"

"Then swear you won't tell and they will be spared."

Mahad sighed. "I swear I will never tell anyone."

"Good. You know, you seemed to fear no magic than no speech."

"I assume I can't speak as a wolf except for wolf sounds."

"Well, yes. But we would have taken away the wolf sounds and left you mute."

"Ah."

Atem's face darkened as Mahad finished his report. "First the citizens and now the guards along with more citizens. This is unacceptable! Mahad, tell the guards to kill the wolf by any means necessary. This ends tonight!"

"Yes, my pharaoh." Mahad bit his lip once out of sight. Atem was determined to protect the city and he was sure to be in danger tonight: Serious danger.

"Use your position as captain to misdirect your troops so that you will be safe."

Misdirect. Yes, I could do that. If I send most of them to the desert t search for the wolf, I'll be safe from serious danger. Thing is, lying does not come naturally or easily to me. But, in the meantime, I want to explore my Item's magic some more.

Mahad retired to his room, put on his Item, closed his eyes, and put his hands on both sides of it. He missed the dark aura rising from it and was unaware of it wrapping around his head before sinking into it, filling his mind with dark, evil thoughts. He opened his eyes that were full of shadows before fading away. A smug smirk came to his face and he felt confident and smarter than the people around him. He was also now more powerful than before, magically speaking. I will be able to misdirect the guards and if my words will not do the job, then I will use my magic to convince them.

The guard who saved Mahad from the spear, blinked at the magician's statements. "You want us to search the desert for the wolf?"

"Yes. The pharaoh has ordered it. I believe the wolf lives somewhere out there as it only terrorizes us at night. If you start searching around sunset, you might encounter it and if you do, stop it. The pharaoh has given us the authority to use any means necessary, which includes killing it."

"Yes, Master Mahad."

"Good." He split the guards, putting most of them on desert patrol as well as the more-experienced guards. He put the highest-ranking one in this group in charge and instructed him to insure that everyone got some sleep. The guard swore he would and that they would kill the wolf if they found it. "That what we all want," Mahad said. "Good luck." The same smug smirk appeared once the guards' backs were turned. That had been too easy. They trust me which is as it should be. That trust will be their undoing.

Mahad watched as the city guards went on patrol before slipping out of sight. This would be his last night as a wolf and though he wouldn't remember it, he already knew that there would be death and terror. He enjoyed seeing the aftermath despite feeling awful about the destruction. Can't do anything about that. The wolf desires death, terror, and human flesh. Perhaps it's best to think that way even when in human form. Mahad took a calming breath and let it out slowly as he took his wolf form and mind once more.

The shadows were pleased as their servant terrorized the city to his heart's content. He didn't limit himself to the marketplace or the densely populated areas. He even stalked victims in their homes. He was making it known that no place was safe from his claws and teeth. This is wonderful! they cheered. The wolf in him is a terrible wonder to behold. Best of all, Mahad is considering giving in to thinking like the wolf when human. If he sticks to that decision and indulges in the dark thoughts in his head, he will gladly do what we want.

Mahad awoke the next day not feeling the least bit confused or apprehensive. He actually felt pleased at the death he saw on the way back to the palace. The despair, the sorrow, and the slightly accusing looks. Hmm, I wonder if they will petition the pharaoh to do something about the wolf than what he's already tried. But that will take time as they have t mourn the dead. And I plan to behave vicious and aggressive like a wolf despite my human appearance.

That's right, Mahad, the shadows purred. Accept your curse, see the behavior as necessary and the curse as the gift we promised. Do not care what others might think. You are so much better than they are.

Atem propped up his head in his hand, his purple eyes fixed ahead, unfocused. Yet another night of terror, despite the patrols. Was this not an ordinary wolf? That's possible, even likely. Not one animals has been harmed; all the dead are human. Stories tell of people who turn into vicious killer wolves even though they do not remember killing anyone. The stories also say that these attacks occur on the full moon. I will have another day and night shift today and if no attacks occur, then that will be positive proof that our wolf is actually a werewolf. If that's the case, how do we find out who it is and how do we stop them? I need to do some research. He stood up, catching Siamun and the guards' attentions.

"My pharaoh?" Siamun inquired.

"I'm going to do some reading in the library. I will return later."

"Yes, my pharaoh."

Hmm, it appears if we have a werewolf, it would be a newly-turned one as we didn't have any attacks on the last cycle. It's most likely a criminal, seeing as a decent person would have killed themselves after the first night when learning they killed.

Speaking of kill, werewolves are hard to kill as they are supernaturally fast and a glancing hit will heal fast. A fatal hit must strike the heart or the brain. Slicing off the head will work too. Of course, it's easier if you can identify the werewolf in its human form. Hmm, the fast heal would help identify the werewolf, but I can hardly have the prisoners injured to test that. Another possible sign is short temper as well as aggressive behavior which would be difficult to detect with criminals as they tend to be short-tempered and aggressive anyway. Still, the fact that deaths have occurred may make finding the werewolf easier as murder is the ultimate evil act and Mahad's Ring would react strongly to that.

Mahad led a midday patrol and felt restless in doing so. The Millennium Ring had not been detecting evil lately, most likely because he was becoming evil and thus the Ring would not work like it used to. That's fine. I like being evil and dark. I've been a fool, fighting for light. Darkness and evil can never be destroyed; only temporarily defeated. I now see the truth and I now pledge my loyalty to the darkness and I will faithfully serve the shadows forever.