Crimson Bonds

Chapter 32: The Final Confrontation

The night had never felt so ominous. The air was thick with tension, as though the world itself held its breath in anticipation of what was to come. The Blood Moon, now fully risen, bathed everything in an eerie crimson glow, casting long shadows across the ancient Tanatat grounds. Its power surged through the air, tugging at the blood magic inside Babe like a living force, demanding to be unleashed.

Babe stood at the center of it all, with Billy by his side. For the first time, there were no barriers between them—no secrets, no hesitations. They were in this together, and their bond had never been stronger. But they were not alone.

All around them, the world seemed to close in. The rogue witches, emboldened by the rising Blood Moon, had arrived in full force, their eyes glowing with dark magic. The human hunter stood at the edge of the clearing, her gaze locked on Billy, the artifact now destroyed but her resolve unbroken. And in the distance, the Council loomed, their presence an oppressive weight.

Draven, Elara, Kael, and Anya—each of them had their own stakes in this battle, their own agendas. The Council had always been about control, and now, with the Blood Moon at its peak and Babe's power fully awakened, they could no longer stand idle.

"We can't let them take control," Babe whispered, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them.

Billy glanced at him, his expression hard but resolute. "We won't."

The ground trembled beneath them as the rogue witches moved forward, their magic pulsing in the air like a living thing. They were after Babe's blood magic, desperate to use it for their own ends, and they would stop at nothing to get it.

"Get ready," Billy murmured, his hand brushing against Babe's for a brief moment of reassurance.

Babe nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the power of the Blood Moon coursing through him, stronger than ever before. It was terrifying, but for the first time, he wasn't running from it. He was ready to face whatever came next.

The witches struck first.

A wave of dark magic surged toward them, crackling with raw energy. Babe reacted instinctively, raising his hands as his blood magic flared to life. The air around them shimmered with crimson light as his magic met the witches' head-on, creating a barrier that shielded him and Billy from the onslaught.

But the witches were relentless. They circled around, their voices chanting in unison as they wove their spells together, trying to break through Babe's defenses.

"You can't hold them off forever," Billy muttered, his fangs bared as he prepared to fight. "We need to do something."

"I know," Babe said through gritted teeth, feeling the strain of maintaining the barrier. "But we can't fight them all alone."

As if on cue, a voice rang out from the darkness. "You're not alone."

Krit and Elysia emerged from the shadows, their faces set with determination. Krit's eyes glowed with the magic of his coven, while Elysia's otherworldly presence seemed to shimmer in the light of the Blood Moon.

"We've got your back," Krit said, his voice steady. "We're in this together."

Babe's heart swelled with gratitude, but there was no time for relief. The rogue witches launched another attack, and this time, they weren't the only threat.

From the edge of the clearing, the human hunter made her move.

She darted forward, faster than any human should be, her eyes locked on Billy with deadly intent. Even without the artifact, she was a force to be reckoned with—trained and relentless in her pursuit of supernatural prey.

Billy moved to intercept her, his vampire speed matching hers as they clashed in a flurry of motion. Their fight was brutal and fast, each strike a blur of deadly precision. But as strong as Billy was, the hunter was relentless, her hatred for the Patchanon bloodline driving her to the brink of madness.

While Billy fought the hunter, the Council finally stepped forward.

Draven's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Enough."

The rogue witches faltered, their chanting ceasing as they turned to face the Council. Draven stood tall, his expression cold and unyielding. Elara was beside him, her gaze softer but no less determined. Kael and Anya flanked them, their eyes glowing with the power of their respective clans.

"This has gone on long enough," Draven said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "The Blood Moon has risen, and it is time to take control."

Elara stepped forward, her eyes on Babe. "You must understand, Babe. Your power is dangerous. If it's left unchecked, it could destroy everything."

Babe's heart pounded in his chest. He knew the Council was here for one thing—to control him, to bend his power to their will. But he wouldn't let them. Not now. Not after everything he'd been through.

"No," Babe said, his voice steady. "I won't be controlled."

Draven's eyes narrowed. "You have no choice."

Before Babe could respond, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The Blood Moon above seemed to pulse with energy, growing brighter, more intense. The air crackled with magic, and suddenly, a vision flashed before Babe's eyes.

He saw a world on the brink of collapse, the supernatural and human realms merging into one. Chaos reigned as ancient beings rose from the shadows, their power dwarfing anything the world had ever known. And at the center of it all was Babe—his blood magic the key to either preventing or triggering the apocalypse.

The vision faded, and Babe gasped, his heart racing. The true purpose of the Blood Moon... it wasn't just about power. It was about control. Control over the very fabric of reality.

Billy was beside him in an instant, his eyes filled with concern. "What did you see?"

Babe shook his head, trying to process the enormity of it all. "The Blood Moon... it's not just about us. It's about everything."

The rogue witches moved again, their desperation clear as they tried to seize control of Babe's power. But this time, Babe didn't hesitate. He raised his hands, his blood magic flaring to life with more intensity than ever before.

As the power surged within him, he felt the primal pull of the Blood Moon, demanding to be unleashed. But this time, he didn't shy away. He leaned into the magic, feeling it surge, controlled and steady in his hands. He knew he could easily lose himself in the power, let it consume him. But with a deep breath, he reined it in, using only what he needed, only what he could control. This was his choice, his power, and he wasn't going to let it own him.

The crimson energy swirled around him, and with a shout, he sent it crashing toward the witches. The ground shook with the force of the blast, and the witches were thrown back, their magic shattered.

The human hunter, seeing her chance, lunged at Billy once more, but this time, Babe was ready. He reached out with his magic, wrapping it around the hunter and lifting her into the air. She struggled, but Babe's power was too strong. With a flick of his wrist, he sent her flying into the trees, unconscious but alive.

Draven stepped forward, his eyes filled with fury. "You can't control this power, Babe. It will consume you."

But Babe didn't back down. "Maybe. But I'm not letting you or anyone else control it either."

Elara's gaze softened, but there was sadness in her eyes. "Be careful, Babe. The Blood Moon is far from over."

With that, the Council retreated, their presence still looming but their immediate threat diminished. The rogue witches were gone, and the hunter was defeated. But the battle was far from over.

Babe turned to Billy, his chest heaving with exhaustion. "It's not over, is it?"

Billy shook his head, his hand finding Babe's. "No. But we're in this together."

Babe nodded, squeezing Billy's hand as they stood together under the light of the Blood Moon. Whatever came next, they would face it as one.