Vamps in Chaos

Chapter Seven: The (Un)Planned Test

The night had just started to settle in when Babe noticed a familiar glow in the loft—a telltale sign that another message from the witches had arrived. He groaned, rubbing his temples as he wondered what kind of "lesson" they'd cooked up this time. With a quick glance at Billy, who was reading intently on the couch, Babe cracked open the glowing seal.

"Babe,
Tonight will be a practical exercise. Billy must handle a situation that requires... initiative. We're confident in your ability to support him, of course. Luna and Margot will be monitoring the area to assess his... progress.
Good luck,
Seraphina"

Babe sighed, showing the letter to Billy. "Looks like it's test time again. Luna and Margot are out there watching, so... no pressure."

Billy's eyes widened slightly, though he maintained a calm exterior. "And what... precisely is this test?"

"Beats me," Babe replied, shrugging as he pocketed the letter. "Knowing them, it's probably something that'll throw us both off."

Just as he finished speaking, there was a loud crash from the alley outside the loft. They exchanged glances, both tense and alert, before heading downstairs to investigate. Babe pushed open the back door, revealing a small crowd of confused people gathered around something.

They pushed through the crowd to see the source of the commotion: a stray magic-charged creature—a scrappy-looking, dog-sized creature that appeared to be part cat, part raven, with a dash of something supernatural thrown in for good measure. It looked mildly annoyed, snapping at anyone who got too close.

"Seriously?" Babe muttered, his tone somewhere between amused and annoyed. "They couldn't pick something easier, like, I don't know, a bunny?"

Billy's gaze sharpened as he studied the creature, his face calm but determined. "This is... our task?"

"Looks like it," Babe replied, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it. "The witches are probably testing your 'initiative' to see if you can handle supernatural things without freaking out the crowd."

Billy nodded, his expression set with a kind of old-world dignity that might have looked ridiculous in this situation if he hadn't been so focused. "Then... let us proceed."

He approached the creature slowly, his movements calculated, making sure not to startle it. Meanwhile, Babe hung back, doing his best to keep the onlookers entertained.

"Nothing to see here, folks!" he called, giving them a big, friendly smile. "Just a... uh, neighborhood pet. Bit feisty, but no harm done."

The crowd gave him odd looks but didn't disperse, so Babe shot Billy an exasperated glance. "Any time now, dude."

Billy, undeterred, extended his hand toward the creature, speaking in a low, soothing tone. The creature's eyes narrowed, and it let out a hiss, its feathers bristling. But instead of backing away, Billy continued his steady approach, his expression calm, his hand unwavering.

Just as the creature seemed on the verge of snapping, a sharp voice from the shadows cut through the alley.

"Billy, darling," Luna's voice echoed, followed by her stepping into the light with her usual dramatic flair. "Do try not to startle it. That one's particularly sensitive to... hesitation."

Beside her, Margot appeared, her arms crossed, giving them both a look of exasperated amusement. "Honestly, boys, we thought you'd enjoy this little exercise."

Babe threw his hands up, half-smiling. "Could've given us a heads-up!"

"Oh, but where's the fun in that?" Margot replied, smirking.

With the witches' guidance, Billy steadied himself, taking a deep breath before reaching out to the creature once more. This time, he radiated a quiet confidence that seemed to soothe it. The creature hesitated, then allowed him to touch its head, letting out a low, almost satisfied growl.

The crowd murmured in surprise, their curiosity piqued as Billy gently coaxed the creature toward the edge of the alley, out of sight of the onlookers. Babe gave him an approving nod, stepping up beside him as they moved the creature away.

"Well," Margot said, watching from the shadows with a faint smile, "I suppose that'll do for tonight."

Luna clapped her hands, beaming. "Bravo, Billy! We knew you had it in you."

Billy straightened, looking mildly pleased. "Thank you. It was... a learning experience."

As they watched the creature fade into the shadows, Babe couldn't help but grin at Billy's quiet triumph. "Not bad for your first test. You didn't even break a sweat."

Billy turned to him, a small smile playing on his lips. "It was... not as daunting as I expected. Thanks to your... encouragement."

"Encouragement?" Babe laughed, nudging him. "Pretty sure you didn't need it. But hey, I'm here for the moral support."

The witches gave them a final nod of approval before disappearing into the night, leaving them alone in the now-empty alley. As they headed back to the loft, Babe could tell Billy was feeling more confident, his posture relaxed, his gaze thoughtful.

And as they walked in companionable silence, Babe couldn't shake the feeling that they were both learning a little more about themselves—and each other—with each passing night.