Crimson Bonds

Chapter 24: The Hunter's Plan

The loft was quiet. Too quiet.

Babe sat beside Billy on the dusty, worn-out couch in their temporary hideout. His fingers absentmindedly traced the creases in the leather, his mind swirling with thoughts of the danger that loomed over them. The rogue witches were bad enough, but the human hunter? That was a whole new level of trouble.

"I don't like this," Babe muttered, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

Billy leaned back, stretching his long legs out before him. His usual playful demeanor had been replaced by a stony, contemplative expression that Babe wasn't used to seeing. "I don't either," Billy finally said, his voice low. "She's not like the others."

Babe glanced at him, sensing there was more to it. "The hunter?"

Billy nodded. "Her family's been hunting the Patchanon clan for generations. They won't stop until they've wiped us out."

Babe felt a chill creep down his spine. He had heard stories about vampire hunters—humans trained from birth to kill immortals—but he never imagined they'd be dealing with one so soon. And not just any hunter, but one with a vendetta against Billy's bloodline. "Why your family, specifically?" Babe asked, trying to piece it together.

Billy's jaw tightened. "We're one of the oldest vampire bloodlines, and for centuries, we were untouchable. But the hunter's family—" He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "They've been obsessed with us. It's personal. They believe we're the key to controlling the balance of supernatural power. If they can kill us, they believe they can tip the scales."

Babe swallowed hard. He'd known Billy was powerful, but this? This was something else. "And now she's after us."

Billy nodded, his eyes darkening. "Not just us. She's after me. And she has something that can actually hurt us."

Babe sat up straighter. "What do you mean?"

"There's an artifact," Billy said, his voice quieter now. "It's been passed down through her family, made with magic that's strong enough to neutralize even a vampire as old as me. If she gets her hands on it..."

Babe felt his stomach drop. "She could kill you."

Billy didn't answer right away, but the look on his face told Babe everything he needed to know. The danger was very real.

"So what do we do?" Babe asked, his voice edged with urgency.

"We stay ahead of her," Billy said, his tone grim. "And we figure out how to take her down before she gets too close."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air, pressing down on them both. Babe's mind raced with possibilities, strategies, anything that could give them an edge. But the truth was, they were up against a seasoned hunter with centuries of knowledge and experience at her disposal.

"We can't outrun this forever," Babe said after a long pause. "We need to confront her. Head-on."

Billy turned to him, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "That's what I like about you. You never back down, even when the odds are stacked against us."

Babe snorted, leaning back against the couch. "Yeah, well, I've never been great at running away."

Their brief moment of levity faded as quickly as it came, and the room fell silent once more. Outside, the city hummed with life, oblivious to the deadly game of cat and mouse that was about to unfold. Babe closed his eyes, trying to focus on a plan, something, anything that would give them a fighting chance.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Krit and Elysia stepped inside. Both of them looked weary, their faces drawn with concern.

"We've got a problem," Krit said, walking over to join them. "It's all over the supernatural underground—word's out that the hunter is here, and she's not alone."

Babe's heart sank. "Not alone?"

Elysia nodded, her expression serious. "She's recruited other hunters. Not as strong as her, but still... they're all gunning for the Patchanon clan."

Billy cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "This just keeps getting better."

Krit sat down across from them, rubbing his temples. "I've been talking to a few contacts. There's a rumor that she's looking for a specific location. Some kind of old stronghold linked to your family, Billy."

Billy stiffened. "The Patchanon stronghold? That place hasn't been touched in centuries."

Elysia crossed her arms. "Well, she's looking for it. And if she finds it, who knows what she'll uncover."

Babe glanced at Billy, his mind racing. If the hunter got to the stronghold, there was no telling what kind of ancient power or artifacts she might find. It was too dangerous to let her get anywhere near it.

"We need to get there first," Babe said, his voice steady. "Whatever she's after, we have to stop her."

Billy nodded, his jaw clenched in determination. "Then we move fast."

Krit looked between them, his expression skeptical. "You really think we can beat her there?"

Billy's eyes gleamed with resolve. "We have to."