Crimson Bonds

Chapter 4: Unfinished Business

The moment hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken tension.

Babe stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, glaring up at Billy, who looked annoyingly comfortable for someone who had just shown up at his apartment uninvited. The vampire's smirk hadn't wavered, his eyes locked on Babe as if the world outside the door didn't exist.

"About us?" Babe repeated, his voice dripping with skepticism. "You're seriously going with that?"

Billy shrugged, a glimmer of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Well, I figured you weren't going to invite me in unless I made it personal."

"Bold assumption," Babe shot back, still not moving from the doorway. "For all you know, I might've slammed the door in your face."

"And yet... you didn't," Billy countered smoothly.

Babe rolled his eyes and stepped aside with a huff. "Fine. Get in before one of my neighbors starts asking questions."

Billy stepped over the threshold, his movements so fluid it was almost unsettling. Vampires. They always had that inhuman grace, like they were never quite bound by the laws of physics the rest of them were stuck with. He strolled into Babe's apartment, glancing around with casual interest.

"Nice place," Billy commented, his gaze flicking over the various mismatched furniture and the stack of old books by the window. "Very... you."

"Thanks, I guess," Babe muttered, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall, eyeing Billy warily. "Alright, you've got my attention. What's this really about?"

Billy's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "I've been thinking about what happened with the rogue witches. There's something off about this whole situation."

Babe narrowed his eyes. "You're telling me."

"More than just your blood magic," Billy continued, his tone thoughtful. "It's like they're being driven by something else. Something bigger than just hunting you down."

Babe stiffened. His fingers twitched involuntarily, the memory of the witches' dark magic still fresh in his mind. "What do you mean 'something bigger'?"

Billy's eyes met his, sharp and calculating. "I mean, whoever's after you isn't just after your magic. They're preparing for something. And I think it has to do with the Blood Moon."

Babe's stomach did an unpleasant flip, but he tried to keep his face neutral. "You think this is about the Blood Moon?"

Billy took a step closer, his voice dropping just above a whisper. "I know it is."

The weight of Billy's words settled over the room like a thick fog. Babe could feel the shift in the air between them—whatever game Billy had been playing before, it was gone now. This was real. And it was dangerous.

Babe swallowed hard, trying to maintain his usual sarcasm. "So, what? You're suddenly an expert on ancient witch prophecies now?"

Billy gave him a pointed look. "My clan has been around for a long time. We know things."

"Like what?" Babe challenged, pushing off the wall and stepping closer to Billy, his stubborn streak kicking in. "What exactly do you 'know' about my magic?"

Billy didn't back down. If anything, he seemed amused by Babe's defiance. "I know it's powerful. I know it's dangerous. And I know you don't have full control over it yet."

Babe's jaw clenched. He hated being reminded of that—of how his magic sometimes slipped beyond his grasp, how it could spiral into something darker, something he wasn't sure he could stop.

"I'm working on it," Babe said through gritted teeth.

Billy's gaze softened slightly, his voice lowering to something almost gentle. "I'm not saying you can't handle yourself. But the Council doesn't take kindly to blood magic, especially not when the Blood Moon's involved. They're all about control, keeping the peace... but they fear what they can't control."

Babe frowned, his irritation fading into something colder. "So, what? The Council would just hunt down anyone they think is dangerous?"

Billy's jaw tightened, his expression serious. "More or less. You've seen what they did to others in the past. If they catch wind of you drawing attention with your magic, they'll see you as a threat. And threats don't get warnings."

A chill crept down Babe's spine. He'd been so focused on evading the rogue witches that he hadn't thought about the Council's gaze turning his way. It was a reminder that he couldn't afford to be careless, not with so many eyes watching.

"So what do you want me to do?" Babe finally asked, his voice quieter now. "Just sit here and wait for them to make their move?"

Billy's lips twitched into a small smile, and he took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "That's not what I had in mind."

Babe raised an eyebrow, trying to ignore the way his pulse quickened as Billy got closer. "Oh yeah? And what exactly do you have in mind?"

Billy's smirk returned, but there was something different about it this time. Less teasing, more... intent. "I want to help."

"Help?" Babe repeated, blinking in surprise. "You?"

Billy's expression didn't change. "Yes. Me."

Babe crossed his arms, not entirely convinced. "And why would you want to help me, exactly? What's in it for you?"

Billy's gaze didn't waver. "Let's just say... I have my own reasons for wanting to stop those witches. And besides, I'm not exactly the 'sit back and watch' type."

Babe studied him for a long moment, searching for any hint of deception. But Billy's face was unreadable—calm, confident, and annoyingly sincere.

"And I'm just supposed to trust you?" Babe asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

Billy's smirk widened. "You don't have to trust me. You just have to trust that I don't want those witches getting their hands on you any more than you do."

Babe narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. He didn't trust easily, especially not someone like Billy—someone who was clearly playing his own game. But at the same time, Babe couldn't shake the feeling that Billy was right. Whatever was coming, it was bigger than just him. And if Billy really did have the kind of connections he claimed, then maybe—just maybe—he could help.

After a long silence, Babe finally sighed and uncrossed his arms. "Alright. Fine. I'll bite."

Billy's smirk turned into a full grin. "Smart choice."

"But," Babe added, jabbing a finger at Billy's chest, "if you try anything shady, I won't hesitate to put you down. Got it?"

Billy chuckled, the sound low and almost affectionate. "Noted."

Babe rolled his eyes, stepping back. "Great. Now get out of my apartment before I change my mind."

Billy held up his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish."

But as he turned to leave, Billy paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder with a look that sent a shiver down Babe's spine.

"Oh, and Babe?" Billy's voice was soft, almost teasing, but there was a sharpness to it. "You should probably keep an eye on the moon tonight. Things are going to get... interesting."

Before Babe could respond, Billy slipped out the door, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of his presence.

Babe stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, his mind buzzing with everything that had just happened. Interesting was an understatement. Things were about to get a whole lot more complicated—and fast.

That night, Babe found himself once again staring out his window at the moonlit city. The pale light of the nearly full moon cast long shadows across the streets below, making the world feel like it was on the edge of something... dangerous.

Billy's words echoed in his head. Keep an eye on the moon.

Babe had a bad feeling about what was coming.

But he wasn't about to back down. Not now.

Not with the Blood Moon so close.