Chapter Nine- Revenge
Tyce looked at the tomb entrance and then back at Mahad. "The traps weren't sprung, Master?"
"Correct. The other three tombs' traps were sprung and the curses broken. I used a reveal spell to determine that those three were robbed but not yours. Why is that? I could not see your trap, indicating a concealed one which was very clever, by the way."
Tyce beamed at Mahad's praise. "Thank you, Master. Well, it's possible that the tomb robber triggered my curse and fled before getting very far."
"I see. You surmise our robber friend tripped your curse before going too far into the tomb."
"Yes, Master." Tyce stepped closer to the entrance and Mahad came up behind him. Mahad took a quiet calming breath before seizing Tyce's arms and pinning them back. Tyce struggled to break Mahad's grip but Mahad's strength was too great. Master, what are you doing?"
"Getting my revenge," he said in a dark tone before marching his student into the tomb and shoving him at the concealed curse. Tyce stumbled into the trap and triggered it. He cried out as the curse's shock raced through him before he fled outside while Mahad calmly followed him out with a satisfied smirk.
That smirk didn't waver when he came out and Tyce glared at him. "Master, you just cursed me as a werewolf!"
"I know. I triggered it…when I tried to rob the tomb."
Tyce gaped at him. "No," he whispered, stunned. "Master, why?"
"My Item held a darkness in it and during a meditation, it got loose and infected me. It urged me to be a criminal and my monster had gotten infected by the same darkness and had gotten stronger as a result. I robbed a tomb after the four of you placed your curses." Mahad's smirk grew into a grin. "It is clear that I'm suited to tomb robbing as I am charged with protecting them and laying traps.'
Tyce drew himself up. "My curse will fix that. It will diminish your criminal tendency and return you to your previous self, albeit, still a werewolf."
Mahad laughed. "You are wrong. I read up on it thoroughly yesterday and only dark and truly evil criminals can resist being simple wolves at night and the diminishment of their criminal life. I am in control of myself and fully aware when I transform. A pity that you won't." Mahad watched the sun go down and he threw back his head and howled as he shifted into a wolf and watched with relish as Tyce painfully shifted into a black wolf. His gold eyes showed only the intellect of a wolf. Tyce fell to his belly before Mahad and whined in submission. Mahad growled at him and barked forcefully. Tyce rose, turned, and ran off into the desert while Mahad laughed.
"What did you tell him?" Bakura asked as he became visible, having wanted to see Mahad's revenge.
"I ordered him to leave and to go far into the desert. Heh, with his wolf mind, he couldn't refuse an order from an older, more dominant wolf."
"Interesting. So, he is only a wolf right now. Mahad, when morning comes, he'll be able to tell the palace about you being a criminal. You'll be put in the dungeon, judged, and sentenced."
"It will take him time to return to the palace despite his enhanced speed as he will be far in the desert. I will have enough time to retire from the pharaoh's service and leave…with the Ring. I refuse to surrender it or leave it behind."
"Of course." He ran his fingers over Mahad's fur as he again admired his boyfriend's wolf form. He was strong and lean with a wolf's natural abilities and grace. His human senses were sharper as was his speed. Bakura felt jealous of Mahad's curse which he had turned into a gift. He continued to run his fingers through the fur while he stared at the tomb. He could become a werewolf too. The curse could affect countless people but only those like him and Mahad could resist being simple wolves and stop being criminals.
Mahad felt Bakura stroking his fur but in an absentminded way. His eyes moved to see Bakura staring blankly at the tomb. He smiled a wolf's grin as he intuited what Bakura was thinking. "Bakura," he said and waited until the thief gave him his attention. "You'd like to be a werewolf too, don't you?"
"Well, yes. I mean, you've turned a curse into a gift and I'm jealous. Also you've got the natural abilities and grace of a wolf plus sharper senses and speed in human form."
"If that is what you want, I would be happy to guide you to the trap as I can see in the dark."
Bakura took a firm hold of Mahad's fur. "Yes, I do want to be a werewolf. Lead the way." He followed Mahad by being next to him as they entered the tomb. They skirted the other traps and stopped before the curse spot. Mahad waved a leg in front of him. "There it is."
Bakura's heart pounded as he looked at the spot. He knew it was going to hurt as Mahad had spoken of a shock run through him. Plus, he had heard Tyce cry out in pain earlier. He slowly let out his breath as he moved forward and in front of Mahad to step onto the concealed trap.
He gasped and screamed at the shock that went through him but did not flee the area. Instead, he stayed put as he howled and painfully shifted into a silver wolf. The inside of the tomb became clearer as Bakura blinked his gold eyes. He panted and his tail swished. "Oh, wow. It's better than I thought. It's so clear and not as dark." He looked behind him and then ahead of him. "So, this is what a tomb looks like."
"You've never been inside one?" Mahad asked with surprise.
Bakura shook his head. "No. My specialty is stealing from others whether individually or a traveling caravan. Heh, it'll be easier to rob a caravan now than it was before especially if they move at night or stop at an oasis or make camp for the night." He bared a wolf's grin at his extended claws.
"Have you ever killed someone?" Mahad asked as he led the way out of the tomb. He noticed how gracefully Bakura moved in his new form. It would seem Bakura was meant to be a werewolf. I hadn't intended to be one but tonight, my third night, I have become comfortable with my body as well as the abilities I have gained from the curse.
"No," Bakura answered. "I understand that murder is the ultimate act of evil and darkness. Taking someone's life is a horrible crime but I'm sure I could do it if my life was threatened." The two emerged out into the starry sky and Bakura flared his nose, taking in the smells around him. He picked out Mahad's scent as well as the scents of other animals and the sand. His ears turned as he heard the sounds of unseen creatures around him. He ran his claws across the sand and like how easily they moved through it. Amazing. I never really knew how pathetic my senses were and now they'll remain sharp forever.
"I too have not killed anyone," Mahad said, bringing Bakura back to the topic of their conversation. "It's one thing killing animals for food but to actually kill a person…"
"Does that mean you won't kill Tyce?"
Mahad's eye hardened. "No. I will kill him. No one curses me and gets away with it. Also, he would tell the pharaoh and others about me and that threatens my life and my safety. While he lives, my secret is in jeopardy." Mahad was aware of what he was thinking and that it was truly evil and he didn't fight it. His path to being a criminal had started when he fell for Bakura. His Item's performance then began to change because of the relationship and his monster had become evil and dark. The darkness of his Ring then infected him and Illusion Magician. He allowed Bakura to nudge him further along the path by the thief saying Mahad would be suited to be a tomb robber as no one would suspect him of robbing the tombs he protected.
Bakura had been correct in Mahad's talent in tomb robbing especially with his monster's Foresight ability. His robbing had gotten better when his monster gained other powers which he used too as well as his magic. Then came the day when he attempted Tyce's tomb and contracted the werewolf curse. At first, it had angered him that he fell prey to the trap of a mere student but he had since then turned this curse into a gift. He did, however, want to make Tyce pay for his trap.
And I have. He's a werewolf and is currently roaming the desert as a simple wolf as he is not dark and evil like Bakura and me. Tomorrow I will retire from serving the pharaoh and be a full-time criminal.
