Crimson Bonds

Chapter 6: The Tides Turn

The night was thick with tension, an oppressive weight that hung in the air as if the city itself was holding its breath. Babe felt it in every step he took, the way the darkness pressed closer around him, the shadows shifting unnaturally. The rogue witches were tightening their grip, their presence like a slow, creeping poison in the air. The Blood Moon was nearing, and he could sense it now—something was coming for him.

Babe paced restlessly in his apartment, running his hand through his hair. His mind was spinning with what Billy had told him. The Council was watching, the witches were hunting, and he was caught in the middle of a power struggle he hadn't asked for. But this was his life now, like it or not. He had to figure out a way to stay ahead, to keep his power in check without letting it slip through his fingers.

A knock on the door startled him. Babe's heart skipped a beat as he froze, every sense on high alert. For a moment, he considered the possibility that it could be one of them—one of the witches who'd been tracking him, coming to take what they believed was rightfully theirs.

"Babe, open up! It's me," came Elysia's voice, muffled but unmistakable.

Babe exhaled, letting go of the tension that had coiled in his chest. He hurried over to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open. Elysia strode in, her usual ethereal calm clashing with the urgency in her eyes.

"Elysia, you've got the worst timing," Babe muttered, though he felt a wave of relief seeing her. He shut the door behind her and turned to face her.

"Oh, darling, if I waited for the perfect timing with you, we'd never have a conversation," she replied, waving off his complaint with a graceful flick of her hand. "Besides, you look like you're about to implode."

Babe groaned and flopped down on the couch, burying his face in his hands. "You have no idea."

"Actually, I might," Elysia said as she settled herself on the chair across from him. "There's something in the air tonight. Magic... it's stirring. The Blood Moon, it's close. Closer than you think."

Babe lifted his head, his eyes narrowing at her. "Great. More doom and gloom. Just what I needed."

Elysia's expression softened, her playful demeanor melting into something more serious. "Babe, you need to understand something. The Blood Moon—it's not just about danger. It's about potential. You've been running from your magic for so long, afraid of what it could do, but maybe... maybe it's time you embraced it."

"Embrace it?" Babe scoffed, standing up and pacing again. "You want me to lean into the thing that has every rogue witch in the city chasing after me? Not to mention the Council breathing down my neck."

Elysia leaned forward, her voice low but firm. "What I'm saying is that maybe you're more powerful than you realize. If you learn to control it, really control it, you could turn the tide. The Blood Moon could unlock something in you—something that could change everything."

Babe stopped in his tracks, the weight of her words sinking in. He had always feared his magic, the way it had surged to life when his parents died, the way it had felt like it would consume him. But what if... what if there was another way? What if he could use it, instead of it using him?

"I don't know, Elysia," he said quietly. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

She stood up and placed a hand on his arm, her gaze steady. "You don't have to be ready, Babe. You just have to be willing to try."

Before he could respond, there was another knock at the door, this one sharper, more urgent. Babe's heart skipped again, but this time, there was no hesitation. He strode to the door and opened it to reveal Billy, his eyes flashing with intensity.

"Babe, we need to talk," Billy said, his voice a little more urgent than usual.

Babe stepped aside, letting him in. Billy's presence immediately filled the room, bringing with it a sense of both security and chaos. He glanced at Elysia, acknowledging her with a nod before turning his attention back to Babe.

"There's something you need to know," Billy began, his tone serious. "The rogue witches—they're planning something big. They're getting desperate, and with the Blood Moon so close, they're not going to hold back. We need to be prepared."

Babe crossed his arms, trying to keep his nerves in check. "Prepared for what, exactly?"

"An attack," Billy said bluntly. "They're going to make their move soon, and they're coming for you."

Babe's stomach dropped. He had known the witches were closing in, but hearing Billy confirm it made the reality sink in harder. "So, what do we do?"

"We fight," Billy said simply. "But this time, we fight smart. They're after your magic, Babe. They want to use it for their own purposes. We can't let that happen."

Elysia nodded in agreement, her expression more serious than usual. "Billy's right. This is bigger than just a few rogue witches trying to stir up trouble. They see you as the key to something powerful, something dangerous. If they get their hands on you during the Blood Moon..."

She didn't have to finish the sentence. The implications were clear enough. Babe's blood magic, amplified by the Blood Moon, in the hands of the rogue witches—it was a nightmare waiting to happen.

Babe clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had been running for so long, trying to avoid this confrontation, but there was no running anymore. The witches were coming, and if he didn't stand up and fight, they would take everything from him—his power, his freedom, maybe even his life.

"Okay," Babe said finally, his voice steady. "I'm in. But we need a plan."

Billy's lips curled into a small, approving smile. "Good. Because I've already got one."

Later that night, as the moon hung high in the sky, Babe found himself standing on the rooftop of his apartment building, the cool breeze tugging at his hair. Billy was next to him, silent but solid, a comforting presence in the growing darkness.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Babe wasn't running. He wasn't hiding. He was ready.

"I never thought I'd be doing this," Babe said, breaking the silence.

Billy chuckled softly. "What? Fighting rogue witches under the light of a Blood Moon? It's not exactly a typical Friday night, I'll give you that."

Babe couldn't help but smile at that, despite the tension. "No, I mean... I never thought I'd be standing here with you. Trusting you."

Billy's expression softened, and he turned to face Babe, his gaze holding a depth that made Babe's heart skip. "You don't have to trust me completely. But I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Not while I'm around."

Babe felt a warmth spread through his chest, a strange sense of comfort in Billy's words. For so long, he had kept everyone at arm's length, afraid to let anyone in. But Billy... Billy was different.

"Thanks," Babe said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Billy smiled, a real one this time, soft and genuine. "Anytime, Babe. Anytime."

Just as the night seemed to settle into an uneasy calm, a sudden shift in the air sent a shiver down Babe's spine. The faint sound of whispers reached his ears, and the shadows on the rooftop began to twist and warp.

"They're here," Billy murmured, his voice low but sharp.

Babe's heart raced as he glanced at Billy, who was already on high alert. The rogue witches had finally made their move, and there was no turning back now.

"Get ready," Billy said, his voice steady as he moved closer to Babe. "This is it."

Babe nodded, his breath quickening as the air around them thickened with the presence of dark magic. He could feel it, the pull of his own power responding to the energy in the air, ready to be unleashed.

The fight was about to begin, and this time, Babe wasn't running.

He was ready to stand his ground.