Crimson Bonds

Chapter 49: Corrupted Allies

The tension in the air was palpable as Babe and Billy stood in the grand chamber of the Council, a room that had once symbolized unity but now seemed to radiate nothing but distrust and suspicion. Ever since the Leviathans' dark energy had begun seeping into their world, everything had started to change. Council members who had once worked together now eyed each other with wariness, their conversations guarded, their alliances fragile.

Babe glanced around the room, his heart heavy with a mixture of apprehension and growing uncertainty. His blood magic, always a constant hum beneath his skin, now felt volatile-like a storm waiting to break free. He couldn't help but wonder how much of his growing power was tied to the Leviathans and what it meant for him, Billy, and Pudding. The prophecy loomed over him, and now, with this new corruption spreading, he knew time was running out.

Beside him, Billy's posture was tense but composed, his expression betraying none of the turmoil he felt. They hadn't spoken much since discovering more about the Blood Moon prophecy, each of them quietly processing what it meant for their future. Billy's family legacy-his ancestors' involvement in sealing the Leviathans-had come to light, and with it, the crushing realization that their child was at the center of everything. Babe knew Billy was struggling to reconcile his family's past with their uncertain present, but he remained a steady presence at Babe's side, always protective, always there.

"Do you feel it too?" Babe whispered, his voice low as they watched the Council members gather for yet another tense meeting.

Billy's gaze flickered toward him, his hand gently brushing against Babe's. "The air in here feels like it could shatter any second," he muttered. "Too many secrets. Too many hidden agendas."

Babe nodded. The Council had always been political, but the Leviathans' influence had deepened the cracks, making alliances seem more like shifting sands. Just yesterday, one of the elders had accused another of manipulating the flow of information. It was clear that trust was eroding, and fast.

As the meeting began, Draven, the oldest of the Council members, stepped forward. His ancient, weary eyes scanned the room, though they seemed to linger on Babe longer than necessary.

"Dark forces have begun to corrupt our world," Draven's voice boomed, echoing off the stone walls. "We can no longer deny the Leviathans' influence. Their power spreads through the supernatural like a disease."

Beside him, Elara shifted uneasily. "We must take immediate action. We've already seen signs of their corruption within our own ranks. Waiting any longer will only make things worse."

Babe stiffened. He had felt the dark energy infecting people around him-some of it faint, others disturbingly strong. His blood magic seemed to react to it, as though sensing the Leviathans' touch in every corrupted soul they encountered.

"They're hiding something," Billy muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes scanning the Council members.

Babe followed his gaze. It wasn't just the usual tension anymore-there was something darker at play. He could feel it in the room, swirling beneath the surface like a malignant force. His grip on Billy's hand tightened as he fought the urge to release his magic, to push the energy back and clear the air.

Suddenly, one of the Council members, a normally composed witch named Nadia, stood up abruptly. Her eyes flickered with a strange glow, and for a brief second, Babe swore he saw shadows swirling in her gaze-an unmistakable sign of Leviathan energy.

"We need more than just talk," Nadia said, her voice sharp, cutting through the murmurs of the room. "It's time we stop relying on ancient prophecies and focus on protecting ourselves. Pudding is a threat, and you know it."

The entire room went silent.

Babe's heart skipped a beat. Billy shifted closer, his jaw clenching as he met Nadia's gaze.

"What did you just say?" Billy's voice was dangerously low, but calm, like the calm before a storm.

Nadia's lips curled into a small, cold smile. "Your child, the one tied to both the Patchanon clan and the Tanatat coven, is a ticking time bomb. You've all seen the signs. It's only a matter of time before Pudding becomes the key to unleashing the Leviathans fully."

"Enough," Draven snapped, his old hands gripping the sides of his chair. "You're out of line, Nadia."

But Nadia only sneered, the glow in her eyes intensifying. "You're blind if you can't see it. The Leviathans are already here, spreading their influence through this Council, through our world. You're all too weak to stop it. We need stronger methods-more decisive action."

Babe's pulse quickened. He could feel his magic roiling inside him, reacting to the taint in Nadia's words. She had been corrupted, manipulated by the Leviathan energy. It was clear now that the Council was no longer safe-not for them, not for Pudding.

Billy took a step forward, his presence towering, radiating protective energy. "Nadia, you're being controlled. This isn't you."

But Nadia laughed, a dark, hollow sound. "You don't get it, do you? This has always been bigger than all of us. The Leviathans will reshape this world, whether you like it or not."

Babe's hand shot out before he could stop himself, his magic flaring instinctively. The room was filled with a sudden rush of energy, crackling like electricity. For a moment, the shadows around Nadia wavered, her sneering expression faltering as Babe's power clashed with the dark energy within her.

But then, as quickly as it had come, the moment passed, and Nadia collapsed to the ground, her body limp.

The chamber was deathly silent.

Billy reached out, pulling Babe back from the edge of whatever dangerous magic had just flickered through him. "We need to get out of here," he whispered urgently. "This isn't safe anymore."

Babe nodded, his heart pounding in his chest as they moved toward the exit. But even as they left the Council chambers behind, the weight of everything-of Nadia's words, of the prophecy, and of the growing corruption-pressed down on him.

Back in the quiet of their sanctuary, far from the poisoned Council, Billy held Babe close. They had faced so much already, but this felt different. The threat was no longer just external-it was creeping into the very people they had once trusted.

As the evening deepened, their worries dissolved into an intimate silence. In the stillness of their room, the world outside faded away for a while, leaving just the two of them. Billy's lips brushed Babe's skin, a soft reassurance that no matter what happened, they were in this together.

"I don't care what they say," Billy whispered, his voice low and filled with emotion. "We're going to protect Pudding. Nothing's taking them from us."

Babe smiled softly, his fears momentarily forgotten as Billy's fingers traced delicate patterns on his back. "I know," he whispered back, leaning into the warmth of Billy's embrace. "We'll face it together. Just like always."

Billy chuckled, pulling him closer. "You're my Tofu, remember? I'm not letting you or Pudding go."

"And you'll always be my Mumu," Babe teased, the playful nickname bringing a much-needed lightness to the heavy air. They shared a slow, tender kiss, a reminder that even in the face of darkness, their bond was unbreakable.

For now, they had each other. And they had Pudding. Whatever was coming next, they would be ready.