Crimson Bonds

Chapter 15: Lines in the Sand

The clock on the wall ticked softly, counting the seconds as the weight of Elara's warning hung heavy in the room. Babe sat on the edge of the couch, staring blankly at the ground while Billy paced the length of the living room. His mind was racing, the steady rhythm of Billy's footsteps doing little to calm the rising anxiety in his chest.

They had barely spoken since Elara's call. What was there to say? The rogue witches were planning something big, something that involved him, and it was happening sooner than they had expected. The full moon was only days away, and right behind it, the Blood Moon loomed closer with each passing night.

"We need a plan," Billy said finally, breaking the silence. His voice was low, but there was an edge to it-something sharp and dangerous that sent a shiver down Babe's spine. "We can't just sit around and wait for them to come to us."

Babe nodded, though his mind was still spinning with possibilities. "What if we don't even know what they're planning? How are we supposed to prepare for something we don't understand?"

Billy stopped pacing, turning to face him. "We start by figuring out what they want. We already know it's connected to your blood magic, and we know they're planning some kind of ritual. If we can figure out what they need for that ritual, we might be able to stop them before they even get close."

"Right," Babe muttered, his voice heavy with doubt. "Because stopping a group of rogue witches with centuries of experience is going to be so easy."

Billy shot him a look, his dark eyes flashing with irritation. "This isn't the time to start doubting yourself, Babe. You've got more power than any of them combined. You just have to stop being afraid to use it."

"I'm not afraid," Babe snapped, though the words felt like a lie even as they left his mouth. "I just-"

"Just what?" Billy interrupted, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a near growl. "Just what, Babe? You've got all this power, and all you ever do is hold back. Why?"

Babe flinched at the intensity in Billy's voice, but he didn't back down. He stood, facing Billy head-on. "You don't get it, Billy. This isn't just some regular magic I'm dealing with. It's blood magic. It's dangerous."

"You think I don't know that?" Billy shot back, his eyes burning with frustration. "You think I don't see what's happening around us? The Council is waiting for you to slip up, and the rogue witches are counting on you being too scared to fight back. But you can't keep holding back, Babe. Not anymore."

Babe's fists clenched at his sides, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew Billy was right-knew that holding back wasn't going to save anyone. But every time he thought about using his magic, really using it, the fear crept back in, reminding him of how easily things could go wrong.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," Babe whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't want to become the thing they're all afraid of."

Billy's gaze softened, the tension between them fading slightly as he stepped closer. "You're not going to hurt anyone. Not with me by your side."

Babe looked up at him, the intensity of Billy's words sinking into him. There was something so steadfast about Billy, like no matter how chaotic everything got, he would always be there, grounding Babe in a way that no one else could.

"And what about the Council?" Babe asked, his voice quieter now. "They're just waiting for an excuse to take me down."

Billy's jaw clenched. "Let them try. They won't touch you. Not while I'm around."

The resolve in Billy's voice sent a wave of warmth through Babe, and for a moment, he allowed himself to believe that maybe they could handle this-together.

The next day, the tension in the air was palpable as Babe, Billy, Krit, and Elysia gathered in the apartment. Elara's warning hung over them like a dark cloud, and for the first time, there was a noticeable shift in the group. Even Krit, who had been pulling away from Babe in recent days, seemed more serious, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a quiet intensity.

"We don't have much time," Babe said, pacing in front of the group. "The rogue witches are planning something big, and we need to figure out what it is before it's too late."

Krit leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he spoke. "Elara didn't give you any more details?"

Babe shook his head. "Nothing specific. Just that they're planning a ritual, and it's going to happen on the next full moon."

Elysia, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the discussion, finally spoke up. "I've been having... visions," she said softly, her eyes distant. "They're not clear, but I keep seeing flashes of fire, blood... and a circle. A ritual circle. I think that's where they're going to do it."

Billy frowned. "A circle? Like a coven?"

Elysia nodded. "It's more than that. There's something powerful about the circle. It's connected to the Blood Moon."

Babe's stomach twisted. "Do you know where it is?"

Elysia shook her head. "Not yet. But I'm working on it. The visions come in bits and pieces, but I'm close."

Babe glanced at Krit, who had been watching him carefully. There was something different about his friend today-something more cautious, more guarded. He didn't say anything, but Babe could feel the distance between them growing, like a crack in the foundation of their friendship.

"We need to stay ahead of them," Billy said, his voice cutting through the tension. "If they're planning a ritual with Babe's blood magic, then they're going to need more than just a circle. We need to figure out what they're using and disrupt it."

Elysia nodded, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "I'll keep looking into the visions. There's more there-I can feel it."

Babe looked around the room, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. It wasn't just about him anymore. His friends, his magic-it was all tangled up in a mess of danger and uncertainty, and with the full moon approaching, time was running out.

Later that evening, as the group dispersed and the apartment grew quiet, Babe found himself standing by the window again, staring out at the darkening sky. The air felt heavy, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle.

Billy joined him a moment later, standing close but not saying anything at first. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable-it never was-but tonight, it felt different. The weight of everything that was coming pressed down on them, and Babe could feel it in every breath, every unspoken word.

"You okay?" Billy asked finally, his voice soft.

Babe shrugged. "As okay as I can be, given the circumstances."

Billy's lips twitched into a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "We're going to get through this, you know."

"I know," Babe said quietly, though the doubt still lingered in the back of his mind. "I just wish I knew how."

Billy's hand found his, their fingers intertwining in a way that felt so natural, so easy, despite everything happening around them.

"We'll figure it out," Billy murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over Babe's knuckles. "We always do."

Babe leaned into Billy's touch, the warmth of his hand grounding him in a way that nothing else could. For a moment, the chaos of the world outside seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet comfort of being with someone who understood, who didn't expect him to have all the answers.

But even as they stood there, the looming threat of the rogue witches, the Council, and the Blood Moon weighed heavy on Babe's mind. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pretending that everything would be okay.

Because deep down, he knew that the worst was still to come.