Crimson Bonds

Chapter 53: Secrets of the Past

The weight of the discovery sat heavily on Billy's shoulders as he sifted through ancient texts scattered across the library floor. He had come searching for answers, but what he found was far worse than he'd imagined. The walls around him seemed to close in as the truth about his family's role in the Leviathans' imprisonment slowly unraveled before him.

His fingers grazed the pages of an old manuscript, its ink faded but the words unmistakable. The Patchanon clan-his family-had struck a deal centuries ago, not just to contain the Leviathans but to ensure their power remained dormant. In exchange for this binding, they had promised something to an ancient being. And now, the deal was breaking apart.

Billy's breath hitched as he scanned further, realizing that this wasn't just about sealing the Leviathans. It was a pact, a twisted bargain that could destroy everything he and Babe had fought for.

The sudden creak of the door interrupted his thoughts, and Billy looked up to see Babe entering the room, his expression a mix of concern and determination.

"Find anything?" Babe asked, his voice steady but laced with exhaustion from their recent encounters with the Leviathans' dark influence.

Billy nodded, pushing the manuscript toward Babe. "I found more than I wanted to."

Babe knelt beside him, taking the manuscript carefully into his hands, his eyes scanning the pages. "This... this changes everything, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Billy whispered, running a hand through his hair. "My family-our clan-didn't just seal the Leviathans. We made a deal with something far more dangerous to keep them contained. And now... now it's falling apart. The power the Patchanon clan was entrusted with is tied to this."

Babe furrowed his brow, trying to process the implications. "So what happens if the deal breaks?"

Billy's jaw tightened. "The Leviathans get stronger. The balance we've kept in place all these centuries collapses. And if that happens..." He didn't need to finish the sentence. They both knew what it meant.

Babe set the manuscript down, his hand instinctively reaching for Billy's. "We won't let that happen," he said firmly. "We'll find a way to stop them. No matter what it takes."

But Billy wasn't convinced. His thoughts kept spiraling back to his family's role in this-how his ancestors had made decisions that now put everything they loved in jeopardy. "Babe, this is bigger than I thought. The power my family held is failing, and the Leviathans are getting stronger because of it. We might not have time to-"

"We do have time," Babe interrupted, his voice soft but filled with determination. "You're not alone in this, Billy. We'll figure it out together, just like we always have."

Billy glanced up at him, his chest tight with emotion. The weight of his family's past, the looming threat of the Leviathans, and the responsibility he felt to protect Babe and their child-it all felt crushing. But in Babe's eyes, there was a strength that anchored him.

"I found something else," Billy said after a pause, pulling out a small, intricately carved artifact from the pile of ancient relics he'd been sifting through. It gleamed faintly, an ominous glow emanating from it. "This artifact... it's tied to the deal my family made. It's ancient, and powerful. If we use it, it could strengthen our child's powers."

Babe's eyes widened slightly. "Or... it could strengthen the Leviathans."

Billy nodded solemnly. "Exactly. It's a double-edged sword. We could use it to help protect Pudding, but we risk giving the Leviathans more power in the process. I don't know if we can take that chance."

Silence filled the room as they both stared at the artifact, the glow of its power reflecting the difficult decision they were faced with.

Babe finally broke the silence. "We'll have to be careful. We can't make the same mistakes the Council and the clans have made before. We have to find another way."

Billy let out a deep breath, grateful for Babe's unwavering determination. "You're right. We need to be smarter than them." His gaze softened as he looked at Babe, his voice quieter now. "You always know how to bring me back, Tofu."

Babe chuckled softly, leaning into Billy's side. "Well, you need me, Mumu. Someone's gotta keep you in check."

Billy smiled, the tension in his chest easing slightly as he wrapped an arm around Babe, pulling him closer. Despite everything-despite the darkness closing in around them-moments like this reminded him of what they were fighting for.

As they sat together, their fingers intertwined, Billy whispered, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You won't have to find out," Babe replied, his voice gentle yet firm. "We're in this together. Always."

Billy pressed a kiss to the top of Babe's head, feeling the warmth of their bond seeping into the cold, hard reality of the situation. "I love you, Babe," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too, Billy," Babe murmured back, tilting his head up to meet Billy's gaze. "We'll figure this out. For us. For Pudding."

They sat there for a long time, the quiet of the moment wrapping around them like a protective shield. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, their love was a constant-a source of strength that no ancient being or Leviathan could ever break.

"We should get some rest," Babe said softly, though the weight of their decisions loomed over them.

Billy nodded, but just as they started to pull away, Babe hesitated, his gaze flickering to the artifact again. "What do you think we'll do with this?"

Billy's expression hardened slightly. "We'll keep it safe for now. We can't afford to make any rash decisions. But when the time comes... we'll do what we have to."

As they made their way toward the door, Billy glanced back at the ancient texts and the artifact one last time. He knew that the road ahead was treacherous-filled with impossible choices and dangerous consequences. But with Babe by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope that they could still overcome it all.

Babe turned to him with a tired smile. "Come on, Mumu. Let's face whatever comes next together."

Billy returned the smile, a quiet determination settling in his chest. "Always, Tofu."