Crimson Bonds

Chapter 11: The Shadow of the Blood Moon

The city buzzed beneath the glow of streetlights, the soft hum of nightlife contrasting with the tension that wrapped tightly around Babe. He could feel it in the air—the mounting pressure of the supernatural world, the whispered warnings, and, most of all, the looming Blood Moon.

Babe tried to brush off the discomfort as he walked, his mind racing with everything happening around him. The Council's restrictions had been announced that morning. Framed as "protective measures," the decree effectively put him on a short leash, limiting his movements within certain parts of the city. His initial reaction had been anger, pure and hot, but now it simmered beneath the surface, waiting for a reason to erupt.

He looked up at Billy, who was walking beside him, his hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. Billy's usual playful demeanor was absent, replaced by a quiet intensity. It wasn't often that Billy stayed quiet for this long, especially not around him.

"They really know how to piss a guy off," Babe muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Billy.

Billy turned his head slightly, his dark eyes scanning the surroundings as if he expected trouble at any moment. "The Council's playing their game. They think keeping you caged is the answer."

Babe let out a frustrated sigh, stopping in his tracks. "I'm not a danger to them. Or anyone! Why are they so obsessed with controlling me?"

Billy paused as well, glancing over at Babe with a slight frown. "You know why. They don't trust blood magic, especially not when the Blood Moon is coming. And Draven... well, he's not exactly a fan of anything he can't control."

"Yeah, well, Draven can shove it." Babe kicked a loose stone on the sidewalk, sending it skittering into the gutter. "I'm not going to sit around and let them act like I'm some kind of ticking time bomb."

Billy smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "That's the spirit. But you should keep in mind that they're watching closely now. Suriya's arrival pretty much guarantees that."

At the mention of the name, Babe tensed. He'd only met the Council's emissary once, and something about the guy had rubbed him the wrong way. Suriya had been all smiles and charm, but beneath that facade, there was something calculating in his gaze, something dangerous. Babe wasn't naïve—he knew when someone was sizing him up, and Suriya had been doing just that.

"What do we know about him?" Babe asked, trying to suppress the unease creeping into his chest.

Billy's jaw clenched. "He's loyal to Draven, which makes him a threat, even if he pretends to be on our side. Suriya's the kind of guy who gets what he wants by manipulating people without them realizing it. Right now, his job is to make sure you stay in line."

"Great," Babe muttered sarcastically. "Just what I needed—a babysitter with fangs."

Before Billy could respond, a soft chime echoed from Babe's phone. He pulled it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Elara.

Meet me at the old church. We need to talk.

Babe's heart skipped a beat. Elara had been quiet since the Council issued the restrictions, and while she'd promised to help him, her silence had made him worry that she was backing off. But this message meant she hadn't abandoned him—yet.

"Is it her?" Billy asked, peering over Babe's shoulder.

"Yeah," Babe replied, sliding his phone back into his pocket. "She wants to meet."

Billy's brow furrowed. "You sure it's safe? The Council's got their eyes on you, and Elara's playing a dangerous game if she's still helping you in secret."

Babe hesitated. He knew Billy was right, but he also knew that if he didn't get a handle on his powers before the Blood Moon, things could get much worse. He couldn't afford to sit back and wait for the Council to dictate his future.

"I have to go," Babe said firmly. "I need her help. You know that."

Billy stared at him for a moment before exhaling deeply. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."

"No," Babe shook his head. "You can't. It'll look suspicious if we both disappear. Suriya's already got his eye on us."

Billy's eyes darkened with concern. "Babe, I don't like this."

"I'll be fine," Babe reassured him, forcing a smile. "Besides, you've got your own eyes on me, right? You always do."

That earned a small smirk from Billy. "Damn right I do."

With that, Babe turned and headed toward the church, his heart pounding in his chest. As much as he hated to admit it, the Blood Moon was closing in fast, and the weight of the unknown was growing heavier by the day. He could feel the stirrings of something deep inside him, something powerful, and he needed to understand it before it consumed him.

The old church stood in the middle of a forgotten neighborhood, its worn stones and overgrown vines casting long shadows in the moonlight. Babe stepped inside, the air cool and heavy with the scent of dust and old wood. Elara was waiting for him near the altar, her figure bathed in the pale light of the moon filtering through the stained glass.

"You came," she said softly, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and urgency.

"Of course I did," Babe replied, walking toward her. "What's going on? Why the sudden meeting?"

Elara's expression darkened. "The Blood Moon is closer than you think. And your powers... they're tied to it in ways even I don't fully understand. If you don't learn to control them, you could be a danger—not just to the Council but to everyone around you."

Babe's stomach twisted with unease. "I don't want to hurt anyone, Elara. I never asked for any of this."

"I know," she said gently. "That's why I'm going to help you. But you need to be careful. Draven's eyes are everywhere, and Suriya... he's not just watching you. He's watching all of us."

"What do you mean?" Babe asked, his unease growing.

Elara hesitated before speaking. "There's more at play here than just the Council's fear of blood magic. Suriya's been sent to test you, to see how far you'll go. The Council is waiting for you to make a mistake—one wrong move, and they'll have the excuse they need to take you down."

Babe clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration. "So what am I supposed to do? Just sit back and wait for them to come after me?"

"No," Elara said firmly. "You need to be ready. You need to be in control when the Blood Moon rises. That's why I'm here. We're going to train, but you have to be careful. No one else can know about this."

Babe nodded, determination settling over him like a cloak. He wasn't going to be a pawn in the Council's game. He would be ready when the time came—no matter what it took.

As Babe left the church and made his way back toward Billy, the weight of the night's revelations pressed down on him. The Blood Moon was coming, and with it, a storm he wasn't sure he could weather.

But one thing was certain: He wouldn't face it alone.