Crimson Bonds

Chapter 35: The Hunter's Vendetta

The night was eerily still, the air heavy with tension that neither Billy nor Babe could ignore. The Blood Moon's lingering energy had unsettled the balance between the supernatural and the human world. More supernatural beings were disappearing, their powers stripped from them by a force no one fully understood. Whispers of hunters targeting powerful beings spread like wildfire, and the fear was palpable in every corner of the city.

Babe paced restlessly in the apartment, the glow of the moon filtering through the curtains casting a soft light on his pale features. His magic, which had always thrummed quietly beneath the surface, was now harder to control. He could feel it, alive in his veins, surging with a potency that both thrilled and terrified him. But it wasn't just his power that had shifted-something darker lurked at the edges of his consciousness, a presence he couldn't quite place.

Billy stood by the window, his sharp eyes scanning the streets below. The city was quiet, too quiet. The unease in his chest grew with every second, but it wasn't just from the Blood Moon's aftereffects. No, something deeper was clawing at him-memories of his family's ancient feud with the human hunters, a conflict that stretched back centuries. A vendetta that seemed to have resurfaced with renewed intensity.

"We can't keep running from this, Mumu," Babe said, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, but the determination in his eyes was undeniable.

Billy turned, the nickname pulling a small smile from his lips despite the weight of the situation. "Tofu, I'm not running. But I won't let them hurt you."

Babe rolled his eyes, but the affection in Billy's tone wasn't lost on him. "I'm serious, Billy. We barely got out last time, and the hunter... they're getting stronger. Whatever that artifact is, it's more dangerous than we thought."

Billy nodded, his expression darkening. The artifact had caught them off guard during their last encounter, weakening both his vampire strength and Babe's magic in an instant. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before, and it had almost cost them their lives.

"They're using something ancient," Billy said, his voice low. "Something tied to my family... and maybe even yours."

Babe frowned, crossing the room to stand beside him. "What do you mean?"

Billy hesitated. He'd kept most of his family's history from Babe, not out of distrust but because it was a past he wasn't sure he wanted to confront. The feud with the human hunters had been bloody, brutal, and it had cost his family dearly. But now, it seemed that history was coming back to haunt them.

"There's something I need to tell you about the Patchanon family," Billy began, his voice steady, though tension laced every word. "The hunters... they've been after my family for centuries. It wasn't just about power or control. It was about something much darker. Something connected to the Leviathans."

Babe's eyes widened. "The Leviathans? You mean-"

"They're part of the reason the hunters have this artifact," Billy interrupted, his voice grim. "My ancestors helped seal the Leviathans away, but it seems like the hunters have found a way to use that power against us. Against you."

Babe's heart raced. He'd known the hunters were dangerous, but this... this was something far worse. If they could tap into the power of the Leviathans, even indirectly, then no one in the supernatural world was safe.

"We need to figure out how they got their hands on this artifact," Babe said, determination filling his voice. "And we need to stop them before they figure out how to fully unleash the Leviathans."

Before Billy could respond, a sudden knock echoed through the apartment. The sound was sharp, urgent, and it sent a chill down Babe's spine.

Billy's eyes narrowed. "Stay behind me."

Babe didn't argue. He could feel the tension rolling off Billy as they approached the door. Without a word, Billy flung the door open, and standing on the other side was Elysia, her usually calm demeanor shattered by panic.

"They're coming," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The hunters... they're close."

Babe's blood ran cold. He didn't need to ask how Elysia knew-her visions had been growing more frequent, more intense, since the Blood Moon. And if she was here, it meant the danger was imminent.

"Where?" Billy demanded, already moving to grab his weapons.

Elysia pointed toward the edge of the city, where the shadows of the trees loomed dark and foreboding. "There. They've been watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike."

Babe's heart pounded in his chest. He'd known this was coming, but the reality of it still sent fear coursing through him. He glanced at Billy, whose expression had hardened into one of cold determination.

"We have to leave," Babe said, his voice tight. "We can't fight them here, not like this."

But before they could make a move, the windows shattered. Glass rained down as the cold night air rushed into the apartment, and from the darkness outside, a figure emerged. The hunter.

Billy reacted instantly, pushing Babe behind him as the hunter stepped through the broken window, their eyes gleaming with deadly intent. In their hand was the artifact, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

"Patchanon," the hunter sneered, their voice cold and venomous. "It's time to end this."

Babe's magic surged within him, but before he could tap into it, the artifact flared to life, its power pressing down on him like an invisible force. He gasped, his knees buckling under the weight of it. His magic, so strong only moments before, was slipping away.

Billy lunged at the hunter, his speed a blur, but the artifact's power hit him too, slowing him down, weakening him. The hunter smirked, swinging the artifact in an arc that sent Billy crashing into the wall.

"No!" Babe cried, struggling to his feet. His magic was slipping, but he refused to let it go. He reached deep within himself, pulling on every ounce of power he had left. The blood magic surged, wild and untamed, and with a roar, he unleashed it.

The force of the blast sent the hunter stumbling back, but the artifact absorbed most of the blow. Babe's magic was powerful, but the artifact was ancient, and it was designed to counter magic like his.

"Babe, don't!" Billy shouted, forcing himself to his feet. "The artifact-"

But it was too late. The hunter raised the artifact high, its glow intensifying, and for a moment, everything froze.

Then, in an explosion of light and sound, the world around them shattered.