Crimson Bonds

Chapter 26: Bloodlines Unveiled

The night was quiet, too quiet, as Babe paced around the room, waiting for the arrival of a relative he barely knew. The tension was palpable; it was the first time he would meet someone from his family in years—someone who might finally give him answers. Billy lounged nearby, but his posture was tense, watching Babe's every move with concerned eyes.

"You're wearing down the floorboards," Billy said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "Is this how you greet long-lost family members?"

Babe rolled his eyes but didn't stop pacing. "I can't help it. I've got a bad feeling about this."

Billy stood up and walked over, pulling Babe into a gentle embrace. "Whatever happens, we face it together. Bloodline drama or not, I've got your back."

A sharp knock at the door cut through the room. Babe's heart skipped a beat, and Billy tensed slightly. Babe took a deep breath and nodded toward the door.

The door creaked open, and a tall, elegant woman stepped into the room. She was in her early thirties, dressed in a tailored suit that made her seem both out of place and completely in control. Her long black hair was tied back in a tight bun, and her eyes—sharp and observant—immediately locked onto Babe.

"Babe Tanatat," she said, her voice calm and measured. "I'm Anong. It's time we talked about our family."

Babe swallowed hard, unsure how to feel about this sudden connection to his past. "You're... my cousin, right?"

Anong nodded, her gaze softening for a moment. "Yes. I'm here because it's time you learned the truth about the Tanatat family and the legacy of blood magic we've carried for centuries."

Sitting down with Babe and Billy, Anong slowly began to unravel the tangled history of the Tanatat family, detailing the ancient coven's deep ties to blood magic. Babe listened intently as she revealed how the family had once been one of the most powerful witch covens in Thailand, with a long history of mastering the dangerous art of blood magic. Their magic had been both revered and feared, for it could heal or destroy, depending on the wielder's intent.

However, it was their involvement in a particular prophecy tied to the Blood Moon that had brought about the family's downfall.

"The Blood Moon prophecy," Anong explained, her voice growing quieter as the weight of her words settled over them, "foretold a time when a powerful blood witch from our family would either save or doom the supernatural world. Your parents, Babe, were trying to stop it."

Babe froze, his heart pounding. "My parents? What do you mean?"

Anong hesitated before answering. "They were part of a small group within the family that believed the prophecy could be prevented. But there were others—others who believed the prophecy should be fulfilled, that our family's power could be used to reshape the world. Those rogue witches who killed your parents? They were part of that faction."

The revelation hit Babe like a ton of bricks. For years, he had assumed his parents were merely victims of a power struggle among witches, but now... now he knew there had been a deeper, darker purpose. His parents had died trying to protect the world from a prophecy that could spell its doom.

Billy watched Babe carefully, sensing the turmoil building inside him. "Hey," he said softly, reaching out to squeeze Babe's hand. "We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this."

Babe nodded, though his mind was still racing. He was tired of being afraid of his power. Maybe it was time to stop running from his destiny, no matter how terrifying it was.

"I need to know more," Babe said, his voice shaking slightly. "I need to understand what this prophecy is really about."

Anong leaned forward, her expression grave. "The Blood Moon is coming soon. And you, Babe... you're the key. Your bloodline is central to the prophecy. The witches who follow the prophecy believe that by unlocking the full potential of your blood magic, they can bring about the Blood Moon's true power. But if they succeed... it could bring chaos to both the supernatural and human worlds."

Babe's stomach twisted. "And if I stop them?"

Anong looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. "If you stop them, you could prevent the prophecy from coming to pass. But doing so might mean sacrificing everything—your power, your future... maybe even your life."

Babe felt the weight of his family's legacy pressing down on him harder than ever. His parents had sacrificed their lives to stop the prophecy, and now it was his turn to decide whether to continue their fight. For so long, he had been afraid of his powers—afraid that embracing them would lead to something terrible. But now, he realized that running away wasn't an option anymore.

"I won't let them win," Babe said, his voice steady despite the fear gripping him. "I won't let my parents' deaths be for nothing."

Billy gave Babe a proud, reassuring smile. "That's my guy. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."

Anong stood, her expression unreadable. "You've made your choice, but the real battle is just beginning. Be careful, Babe. The rogue witches are watching, and so is the Council. You won't be able to trust everyone."