Crimson Bonds

Chapter 9: Aftermath

The dawn broke over the city, spilling soft light across the streets that had been steeped in darkness just hours before. Babe stood on the balcony of his apartment, the cool morning breeze tousling his hair as he gazed out at the skyline. The world felt different now—he was different.

Babe couldn't shake the adrenaline coursing through him, the exhilaration of their confrontation with the rogue witches. But beneath that thrill lay an undercurrent of uncertainty. What came next? He had faced down Syl Coral and her coven, but the victory felt hollow without understanding what it meant for him, for Billy, and for the supernatural community.

"Hey," Billy said softly from behind him, his presence warm and steady. He stepped onto the balcony, leaning against the railing beside Babe. "You good?"

Babe turned to him, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... thinking."

"About?"

"About what happens next. We've stirred up a hornet's nest, and I can't help but feel like the worst is yet to come."

Billy considered this for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "You're right. We made a big splash, and the Council is definitely going to take notice. But we also showed them that we're not to be messed with."

Babe nodded, but his stomach twisted at the thought of the Council's reaction. He had felt their eyes on him since the moment his blood magic had awakened, and now they were sure to be intrigued by what he'd unleashed during the confrontation. "I just don't want to be a pawn in their games. They'll see my power as a threat—or an opportunity."

"Maybe both," Billy mused, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "But you're not alone in this. We face it together, remember?"

The warmth of his words washed over Babe, soothing some of his anxiety. "Right. Together."

They stood in silence for a moment, the city awakening beneath them. Babe could feel the bond between them strengthening—a promise forged in the fire of their shared ordeal.

"Do you think we should check in on Krit and Elysia?" Billy asked, breaking the quiet. "I'm sure they're worried about us."

"Yeah, let's do that," Babe replied, the thought of their friends bringing a flicker of warmth to his chest. "I'm sure they'll want to hear about our little escapade."

As they made their way to the living room, the weight of the confrontation settled heavily on Babe's shoulders. The chaos of the night lingered in his mind, the faces of the rogue witches still haunting his thoughts. What had Syl meant when she said that Babe's magic was the key to something greater?

Once inside, they found Krit sprawled on the couch, a half-eaten bag of chips at his side, and Elysia perched at the kitchen counter, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. She looked up as they entered, her eyes lighting with concern.

"There you two are! I was starting to think you'd gotten yourself killed," Krit exclaimed, sitting up abruptly.

"Not yet," Babe quipped, unable to resist the urge to tease his friend. "We survived our little adventure."

"More than survived, I'd say!" Elysia chimed in, a wide grin stretching across her face. "You should have seen the footage I caught on my phone. You were like a blood magic superhero!"

Babe raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. "A superhero? I think you're overselling it a bit."

Krit snorted. "Nah, man. You were epic! I didn't know you had it in you. What did you do? Blow them away with your charm?"

Billy stepped forward, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "More like he blew them away with his blood magic. It was pretty impressive, actually."

Babe felt heat rise in his cheeks, a mix of pride and embarrassment flooding him. "It was nothing, really. Just a little flare-up."

"Just a little flare-up?" Krit echoed incredulously. "Dude, you're downplaying it! You fought off a coven of rogue witches! That's like the stuff of legends!"

"Legends," Elysia repeated, a faraway look in her eyes. "I can see it now: the tale of Babe the Blood Mage. It'll be told around campfires for generations."

Babe rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You guys are ridiculous."

Elysia moved closer, her expression turning serious. "But really, are you okay? You looked a bit shaken when you came in."

Babe exchanged a glance with Billy, who nodded slightly, encouraging him to share. "It's just... I've never felt power like that before. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. I don't want to become something I can't control."

Krit's expression softened. "Hey, it's okay to feel that way. You did what you had to do to protect yourself. That means you're strong."

"But there's still a lot at stake," Billy added, his tone grave. "The Council is going to be watching Babe closely now. They won't take kindly to what we did last night."

Elysia crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "They might see it as a threat or an opportunity. Either way, we need to be prepared for whatever they throw our way."

Babe nodded, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. "I'll handle it. I've faced my fears, and I won't let them dictate my path."

"Exactly!" Krit cheered, clapping Babe on the back. "And you've got us. We're all in this together."

Just then, a low chime echoed through the apartment, the sound reverberating against the walls. Babe's heart dropped as he realized it was his phone—a message from an unknown number.

"Who's texting you?" Billy asked, curiosity piqued.

Babe picked up his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he opened the message.

We need to talk about what happened last night. The Council is not pleased. Meet me at the old library at dusk.

"Looks like we're not out of the woods yet," Babe said, his voice tight.

"Who's it from?" Krit leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing.

Babe hesitated, dread pooling in his stomach. "I don't know. Just someone who wants to meet."

"Do you think it's a trap?" Elysia asked, her concern palpable.

"Maybe," Billy said, crossing his arms. "But we can't ignore it. The Council is going to be involved whether we want them to be or not. We should at least hear what they have to say."

Babe took a deep breath, trying to steady the rapid beating of his heart. "Alright. We'll go. But we stick together. No matter what."

"Always," Billy replied, his gaze steady and reassuring.

As the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows across the city, Babe felt a sense of foreboding settle over him. The confrontation with the rogue witches had been just the beginning, and now they were stepping into a world that would demand even more from them.

Little did they know, the true test of their strength and loyalty was yet to come.