Chapter Eight- Discoveries

Mahad folded his arms as he glared defiantly at the tomb. Thanks to his student, a werewolf curse had been placed on the tomb and he had been infected. His magic and most of his monster's powers still worked at night, but the shapeshifting power was rendered inactive at night. However, now that it is daylight, I can use it and I will do so now. He closed his eyes and invoked it. He morphed into an eagle and swooped past the traps, taking human form once he was in treasure room.

His eyes roved over the riches and began to take the rarest items and the clothes too. He hefted the bag over his shoulder, called on his monster, and invoked the ability to pass through walls. Master and monster passed through the side of the room and emerged into the sunshine. A smirk graced Mahad's lips as Illusion Magician returned to him. That was worth it, he thought as he headed for Bakura's home. I'm glad I decided to rob that tomb and Bakura will like what I stole. Hmm, I know of a tomb not far from the kingdom. I'd like to try to rob a tomb in my wolf form; see what it is like. Mahad dropped the bag off at Bakura's, the owner fast asleep, and then used a spell to teleport back to the palace. There had been no meeting so he was spared having to answer questions about his whereabouts.

He exited his room where he had teleported to and headed for the archives to read up on the curse he had. He had already known a good deal about it, but suppose there was a counter curse and he could cure himself? He strode along the aisles, searching for the scroll he sought. He soon found it and sat down to read it. His eyes skimmed what he had already told Bakura, read about how on the full moon he would only speak as a wolf in addition to being able to turn others and how only truly dark people wouldn't succumb to being a simple wolf at night and less criminal overall. He went to the end and found the answer he had been seeking. He resisted the urge to howl in fury. There was no counter curse! He was a werewolf for the rest of his life!

Damn him! Mahad snarled silently. I said no lethal curses and he instead places a permanent curse. The curse can't be removed from the tomb or the ones who contract it. Any tomb robber who enters it will become werewolves as well, provided they trigger it. Mahad put the scroll back and pondered on what to do with Tyce. There were two things he could do…well three but only two appealed to his dark feelings. One was simply killing Tyce. The other was shoving Tyce into the tomb and infect him with the curse. Or I could do both. Curse him as a werewolf and then kill him one night. I would enjoy watching him act as a simple wolf every night until I feel the urge to kill him. He smiled at the thought. I will need to lure him out there so I can question him about it…wait. I sprung the traps in the other tombs, but not his tomb. That's how I'll lure him out there: By asking him to accompany me and explain why his tomb remains untouched. He bared an evil smile as he went about his day, waiting for night to fall.

Mahad strode out of the city and headed for his target with a brilliant sunset in progress. He tapped his new supernatural speed to reach his destination in good time. He stood at the entrance and accessed his monster and its power he dubbed the Foresight ability. His monster went in and he saw easily avoidable traps whether in human or wolf form. He called his monster back and, as it entered his body, his nose flared and smelled a human. He glanced around and saw he was alone and yet the human was close by. He smiled as he already knew what his eyes and nose told him. "All right, Bakura. Drop the invisibility. You can't hide from me anymore as I can smell you."

"I bathe every day," he protested as he became visible.

"That may be, but I have the sharper senses of a wolf now even in human form."

"Is there a counter for this curse? Can it be broken?"

Mahad shook his head. "I am a werewolf from now on. I and every tomb robber who entered that tomb and triggers the curse. I read more on the curse when seeking a cure. When the full moon comes, I will only speak as a wolf but still retain my human mind as opposed to low-level criminals. Only truly evil criminals can resist the simple wolf aspect. I plan to inflict the curse on Tyce, let him be a simple wolf, and then kill him when I feel like it."

"Oh, that's…"

"Evil? Yes. Yes, it is but it is also revenge. He will regret choosing that curse when he contracts it and I kill him." The sun's rays flared as it vanished and Mahad howled as he shifted painlessly into his wolf form. He then slunk into the tomb, his eyes piercing the darkness with ease. He gracefully dodged the traps his monster had shown him, reached the treasure, and used his monster to fill a sack and carry it out for him.

Bakura shifted on his feet and looked in the direction of the not visible city. The laying of curses by four students had resulted in one of them casting a permanent curse that caught Mahad. Now his boyfriend and partner-in-crime was a werewolf for life and he was planning to curse the student and, later on, kill him. He wasn't disputing the plan for he would have done the same thing if it had happened to him. Mahad has not killed anyone since he became a criminal but now he's considering it and it's likely because of the curse. Wolves are predators and can be brutal when hunting or attacking a threat. Mahad intends to kill out of revenge. I have nothing against revenge; it's just a bit disconcerting to hear a priest speak of killing. He then smirked. Ah, but Mahad is not just a priest. He is a criminal tomb robber and a werewolf too. He maintains the deportment of a righteous priest to all but me. Only with me does he let his true nature show; a nature that grew from our love and led him down a path of evil and darkness.

The sound of clicking claws drew his attention and he looked over to see Mahad emerge with his monster floating over him and holding a sack which it put down before returning to its master. Mahad's tail was straight up and he panted with excitement. "That…was…wonderful!" Mahad said before giving a howl that carried on the air. "These senses make my curse worth it! The darkness in the tomb is nothing to me! I am graceful in avoiding the traps as well as being quick. The only drawback is the lack of hands but that's where my monster comes in."

"And me as well," Bakura put in. He went to the sack and looked in it to see a necklace with a gold crescent moon on it lying on the top. "Mahad, this is a lovely pendent."

"Lovely and unique. Two reasons why I had Illusion Magician put it in the sack."

"Well, I think you should wear it. It seems appropriate for a werewolf to wear a moon pendent."

"I cannot argue with that." Mahad allowed Bakura to slip it over his head so that it hung in front of the Ring. "Perfect," Bakura commented.

Mahad admired the pendent and his body as he stood in his chambers a few minutes later. The pendent was a shiny, beautiful piece and it definitely looked perfect against his dark brown fur. The thing was he couldn't wear it all the time as the pendent had been made special for that tomb and was meant to rest there. If he was seen wearing it, it would pretty much tell all that he stole it and that he was a criminal because he stole it. I'll put it in the pocket of my robes when morning comes and put it back on just before dark. With that settled, he turned to his body.

He hadn't actually seen himself in a mirror before, so he was properly impressed with what he saw. He was large for a wolf, a result of the curse and the muscles he had gained. His limbs were long and ended in large paws with claws that extended past them. The claws were sharp and he knew they could be deadly weapons. His tail was full and swished behind him. His ear were long and delicate-looking while his long snout was strong. He bared his sharp teeth in a snarl and chuckled low in his throat.

I was angry last night when I transformed but only because I had not truly used my body or sense like I did tonight. I have sharper senses in both human and wolf forms. Naturally, they're sharper in wolf form, more intense, but they're not so bad in human form. I did smell Bakura while human after all.

Mahad padded over to his bed, his claws clicking against the stone. His ears slicked back to express his concern. His illusion spell wouldn't cover the sound of his claws or his paw prints in the sand. It also wouldn't cover the fact that I'm longer instead of tall. Perhaps it is time for me to leave and move in with Bakura. But first, I need to get my revenge on Tyce. Mahad got into bed and fell asleep.