Chapter Three- Fated Encounter

Atem ventured through the empty, sunlit road, the silence as oppressive as always. It wasn't too bad as it allowed him to think. Mahad had come to him last night to report on drained bodies that had been eaten and requested greater protection.

"Mahad, we sleep in coffins that are hidden under our chamber floors and we have a protective shield," he had said. "I don't know how much more protection we could need."

"Some silver perhaps?" he had suggested.

Atem had suppressed a growl before snapping, "No. No silver in this palace or city, ever."

Mahad had bowed his head. "Yes, my pharaoh. I apologize."

I hate being cross with my court, but I can't be around silver and I can't explain as I don't know how they'll react. I do plan to admit my true nature tonight so that would explain everything. A small yelp and whine broke the silence and he hurried toward it; it sounded like someone had run into the shield and was rebuffed. He rounded a corner and came to a startled stop. Sitting on the other side of the shield was a boy who had spiky tri-colored hair like him. His eyes were closed and he was rubbing the side of his head. "Are you all right?" he asked.

The boy's eyes opened as he looked up. Atem was startled again as the boy also had purple eyes. His eyes trailed up to Atem's crown before kneeling on both knees and bowing his head. "Pharaoh," he said, the sun glinting off a gold crown his hair concealed slightly.

"You're a prince," Atem said, recognizing the design.

"Yes," he answered. "Prince Yugi." He rose to his feet and gently put a hand on the shield. "Why the protection?" He looked past Atem. "And where are the people?"

Ah, yes. He doesn't know. No one outside the city knows why there's a shield. His nose flared and, despite the shield, he smelled a scent he hadn't smelled since his parents were alive and there was only one source. "You're a werewolf," he said to Yugi in soft amazement.

"No, I'm not," Yugi countered but Atem heard the slight panic in his voice.

"You are. I can smell it on you."

"Smell…?" Yugi's nose flared and he smiled. "You're a werewolf too. What's your name?"

"It's Atem. Listen Yugi. There's a hole near the shield you could go through to come in. I could show it to you."

"I'd like that. So, you can't lower the shield?" Yugi followed Atem as the pharaoh walked.

"No. My court magician is the only one who can and he's asleep right now."

Asleep? Yugi thought. Why is he sleeping during the day? Is the entire city asleep? Why? Atem then vanished from sight but called, "Keep going along the shield and you should see a hole." Yugi did so and found the hole that had clearly been dug by claws and paws. Yugi shifted to wolf before leaping into the hole. He crawled through the tunnel and came out the other side.

He resumed human form and he wrinkled his nose at the stench he picked up. "Ugh! No offense, pharaoh, but your city reeks like vampires."

"I know, but I'm familiar with that. Everyone here, except me of course, are vampires. That's why there's a shield."

"Vampires? Wow! You rule a city of vampires. I didn't think that was possible."

"Actually…they think I'm a vampire too." Atem headed for the palace with Yugi behind him, happy to have someone else to talk to.

"They do?"

"Yes. There was a time long ago when a vampire pharaoh fell for and wedded a wifewolf. They had two children, one vampire and one werewolf, both brothers. The vampire was expected to rule as he was the oldest but he tragically died and his brother became pharaoh. His father changed the family records and claimed a family illness every full moon. Every ruler since then have been werewolves and wifewolves. No one's questioned the illness or lack of silver." The pair went through the open gates.

"The illness story is kind of weak," Yugi said. "I mean, illness can't spread in a dead body and vampires are technically dead."

"True, but I fear if they knew the truth, I would be cast out."

"I understand that but you've lived here your whole life. Surely, everyone would see that our kind can live peacefully with them."

"My top advisor knows I'm a werewolf as he had served my parents and heard my heartbeat though the others don't bother to check it."

"He could vouch for you then. If he served your parents and knew they were wolves then the others would know that you're not bad or however they view us."

"I know that human prey is the main reason for the rivalry as does every vampire and werewolf, but I don't know if there is another reason." Atem led the prince into the courtyard. "My advisor, Siamun, suggested I hold what we call Court Talk tonight with our races as the topic. I would like to come clean about myself. It would save more blood for the others."

Yugi didn't ask why Atem was drinking blood: It kept up the lie that he was a vampire. "Are all of your court truly immortal?"

"No. There are two who are not. One will be immortal in a year and the other will be in three years. I myself have five years to go."

"I'll be immortal in three years."

"I see. You know, a deal could be worked out concerning prey. The vampires need the blood but our race prefers the flesh. It would cut down on the burial pits." He gestured to them.

"There's bodies just wasting away here?" Yugi asked, licking his lips unconsciously.

"Indeed. I had thought of coming here to eat after my walk and you must be hungry too."

"I am. I was hunting but the shield's shimmering distracted me." He watched Atem shift into a black wolf with yellow tips before taking his form of a black wolf with violet tips. The two dug at the sand to make a hole before leaping in and eating their fill. Once done, Atem changed to human and pulled a rope out of the sandy wall with the end tied around a buried rock in that wall. They climbed out and covered the pit, the rope again concealed in its place.

"Ah, that was good," Yugi sighed. "We don't get much chance to eat flesh. It's usually fish, bread, cheese, fruit, and water."

"Yugi, if the talk goes well, perhaps that deal I spoke of could take place. It would benefit both races."

"That would be great. I'll roam the desert tonight and wait by the hole tomorrow for you report."

"Agreed." Atem escorted Yugi to the palace gates and then closed them so it seemed like they had never opened today. Yugi changed to wolf, went through the tunnel, and came out the other side. Yugi breathed deeply, taking in fresh air, and cleaning that vampire stench out of his lungs. He raced out into the desert and to an oasis where there would be plenty of water, shelter, and prey once the heat of the day had passed. He reached the oasis and slid to a halt upon seeing a gray wolf with purple eyes like his own. "Hi, Grandpa."

"Yugi, I thought you were hunting."

"I was but I found a city behind a protective shield and met its ruler."

"Really?"

"His name is Atem, he looks a lot like me, and he's a werewolf. He actually rules over a city of vampires who don't know he's not a vampire. He plans to tell his court the truth tonight and, if it goes well, we could make a deal with them as they have burial pits of drained bodies."

"My boy, this is excellent news. We could have an understanding with vampires, access to flesh, and maybe a mate for you?" He gave Yugi a wink and the prince shuffled a paw, a blush on his cheeks.