Legacy 114: P3 Times a Lady
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In an Underworld cavern overgrown with green moss and plants, two demons appeared in their respective methods of teleportation. The first was a young white man with dark blond hair, who appeared through a stream of black particles. He was dressed in leather pants and a dark shirt with a low cut, showing off his chest. The second was a dark-skinned man, who appeared through wisps of smoke. He wore dark pants and a leather sleeveless vest. They looked around at their unusual surrounding, as they were only used to seeing rock and fire.
"This is a bad idea." The second demon said.
"Relax, Kovar." The first demon replied. "We're only here to talk with her."
"I'm not sure we should." Kovar said. "In mere months, she has already conquered half the Underworld. Those she did not vanquish are now her mindless slaves."
"I'm hoping for a third option, which is why we need to go to her before she comes to us." The first demon said as he started walking down the cavern.
"Why her, Dominik?" Kovar asked as he followed.
"Who else?" Dominik replied as he turned to his friend. "The old demons are gone. The Source, the Triad, Zankou, all dead."
"She can't be the last." Kovar reasoned. "Barbas is still out there, and there must be others. The Source was known to banish or imprison his enemies."
"Barbas is a lunatic who only cares for his own desires." Dominik said. "And we don't have time to search for long-forgotten demons. We need to make our move now before we are vanquished by the witches or our rivals."
"Still, I'm not bowing down to that woman." Kovar replied. "Women should kneel before men."
"Do you want to die?" Dominik asked with a frown. "If you keep up that attitude, you will, so just let me do the talking and don't do anything stupid."
Annoyed, Kovar muttered something under his breath as they kept walking down the cavern. Eventually, the demons reached a large wooden door.
"Should we knock?" Kovar asked.
"Go ahead." Dominik remarked.
Kovar shrugged and headed to the door while Dominik took a few steps back. Kovar slammed his fist against the door several times. A moment later, several large green vines shot up from the ground and wrapped themselves around Kovar, who screamed and struggled. Dominik smirked at his predicament, having foreseen the trap.
"Are you going to help me?" Kovar asked angrily.
"Let me think." Dominik said casually. "If I try to free you, I might end up trapped myself."
"Just do something!" Kovar called out as the vines tightened their grip.
Dominik tried to come up with a plan. He had no intention of getting caught. He would much rather lose his friend than his own life. These vines had to be controlled by the person they were seeking, so she had to be observing them.
"Lady Morrigan." Dominik called out. "Forgive our intrusion. We only wish to talk."
There was a moment of silence before the large wooden doors opened. A woman with pale skin and long black hair emerged, wearing a beautiful silk green dress. Her name was the Morrigan, a demonic sorceress from ancient times. Dominik knew she had only been resurrected recently, which would hopefully work in his favor.
"You lowly demons have some nerve appearing on my doorstep uninvited." Morrigan said.
"We can explain." Dominik replied. "Please give us a chance, my lady."
"You have until I get bored with you." Morrigan said.
The sorceress waved her hand and the vines entrapping Kovar retreated. He fell to the ground coughing and cursing. Morrigan entered her lair and the low-level demons followed. In her overgrown lair was a small pond of water and even black roses. Unlike the rest of the Underworld, it almost seemed serene. Morrigan sat down on throne made of vines and thorns. Dominik kneeled down and pulled Kovar down as well.
"Lady Morrigan, in these times of chaos, we have come to offer our services." Dominik said. "We respect the power you wield and wish to be a part of it."
"Why should I care about your wishes?" Morrigan replied. "If I wanted, I could take your minds in an instant."
"Our minds are our best offer." Dominik said. "As young demons, we have a unique insight in the modern world. Enslave our minds and that perspective will be lost."
"You think you are clever." Morrigan replied with a smile. "My gift of foresight has taught me all I need to know. You have nothing to offer except a pretty face."
"I told you this was a mistake." Kovar snapped at his friend. "She is nothing but a vile seductress. A woman cannot lead…"
Morrigan glared at him and snapped her fingers, causing vines to capture Kovar once again. "I offer you an audience, and you choose to insult me?" She asked angrily.
"You bitch. Release me." Kovar snapped at her. "I'll never bow to you."
"You pathetic creature." Morrigan interrupted him. "You are not even worth enslaving. You are nothing but food my garden."
Morrigan clenched her fist, causing the vines to wrap around Kovar even tighter. He screamed and struggled as he was pulled into the ground and disappeared from sight. Dominik nervously waited and faced the ground, fearing his own fate. Kovar was a fool with a big mouth, but he hoped that his stupidity would not condemn them both. When nothing happened, Dominik looked up.
"You are not going to kill me?" Dominik asked.
"That depends." Morrigan said. "You sought me out while most flee. I'm curious to know why."
"Most demons fear you because of your power, I just admire it." Dominik replied.
Morrigan smiled and rose from her throne. Dominik stood up and waited as she circled him. Her pale green eyes studied him as she placed her hand on his chest. Dominik felt her magic as she tried to lure him. Any other man would see her as the most beautiful creature ever and fall to his knees to worship her. Luckily, Dominik had an ace up his sleeve, he was not like most men.
"Interesting." Morrigan said intrigued. "My power does nothing, which makes you either immune to mind control or just naturally resistant to the seduction of women."
"I knew that would get your attention." Dominik said confidently.
"You risked a lot coming here." Morrigan said. "I respect that, but you still have not convinced me of your use."
"Even a powerful sorceress like yourself cannot do everything alone." Dominik said. "Your enslaved minions can only do so much. You need a right hand. One who can think for himself."
"And what would you seek in return?" Morrigan asked.
"Nothing much." Dominik said. "A place at your side, to rise above my current rank."
"I do need subordinates with minds of their own, especially now that my hold of the Underworld is growing." Morrigan reasoned. "But what I most need is someone on the surface. My foresight is not perfect and I can sense forces working against me."
"I spent much time in the mortal world." Dominik said. "I can blend in easily."
"Then I will give you a chance to prove yourself." Morrigan replied. "There is one thing that can threaten me, the Warren witches. Study them and tell me how to destroy them."
"As you wish, my lady." Dominik said.
Dominik took a bow and disappeared in streams of black particles. The Morrigan smiled, the entire Underworld was at her feet. It had been so easy to reclaim it. The demons of modern times were nothing but feeble-minded fools. But then again, that could be said for almost all men.
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Late in the morning at the Halliwell manor, Wyatt headed down the stairs, still dressed in pajama bottoms and a tank top. As he yawned, he almost tripped over a cardboard box at the bottom of the stairs, filled with flyers for the reopening of P3 tomorrow night. Penny had been working for weeks to open the club and had decided to use the manor as her command central, much to Wyatt's frustration. It meant that the manor was filled with her junk, while she didn't even live there.
As Wyatt moved a couple of the boxes around, the front door opened and Penny walked in. She had plastic bags in one hand and her phone in the other.
"No, tomorrow afternoon is too late." Penny said on the phone as she dropped her bags on floor. "I need those bottles of wine by the end of the day. That was the deal. Just figure it out." She hung up the phone and sighed.
"More stuff?" Wyatt asked annoyed looking at the bags. "Do you really need more stuff?"
"Morning, grumpy." Penny replied. "Need some coffee? I know I do."
Penny headed to the kitchen and Wyatt followed as he rolled his eyes. As he entered the kitchen, Penny had already started making coffee.
"I've been up since 5 o'clock this morning." Penny said. "I still have so much work to do before the opening. Worst of all, the agency that promised me bartenders just called to say they had a double booking. Luckily, I was able to find another agency and they are sending guys over today for interviews."
"Lucky." Wyatt replied a little uninterested.
"Prue is going to help me conduct the interviews." Penny said. "And I was hoping you would help me move all this stuff to the club."
"What? No." Wyatt called out. "I have other things to do."
"Like what? Sleep till noon and hang around in your PJ's all day?" Penny asked. "I thought you wanted all this stuff gone."
"I told you to move it." Wyatt remarked. "Days ago."
"Wyatt, please." Penny pleaded. "I know that I've asked a lot the last couple of weeks, but this means everything to me."
"Alright, fine." Wyatt reluctantly said.
"Thanks." Penny said with a smile as she handed him a cup of coffee. "Besides, you can help check out the bartenders. You like guys now, right?"
"I'll stick with one guy for now." Wyatt replied.
"Just kidding." Penny said. "But looking never hurt anyone, right? I need some hot dudes to lure in the customers. And now that I see you in that tank top… Are you by any chance looking to earn some extra cash?"
"Getting creepy, cousin." Wyatt remarked.
"Come on, just because you're my cousin doesn't mean I'm blind." Penny said. "Anyway, I have to get to another appointment. I will see you at the club."
Penny finished her coffee and headed out. As she did, she playfully slapped his butt and whistled. Wyatt smiled and shook his head. Although opening the club was a big step to becoming more mature and responsible, Penny would never really change. She would always stay the most daring and outspoken one of the cousins.
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At Baker high school, Payton Halliwell was sitting on the bleachers by the football field. She always used to hate those girls that would watch their boyfriends practice, but now she was one of them. She waved at Sean as he practiced tackling dummies. He waved back, but was quickly called out by his coach. Payton smiled and resumed her homework. Unfortunately, she dropped her pen and it fell between the bleachers. Since it was her favorite pen, she sighed and got up to get it. If only she could orb stuff like her cousins.
Payton headed underneath the bleachers and quickly found her pen. She wanted to go back, but she stopped when she heard something. She looked around and saw a couple of kids standing by near some equipment. They were the stoners of the school, who spent most of their time smoking pot and skipping class. She decided to ignore them, but then she noticed Tess was with them.
"What is she doing with them?" Payton asked herself.
When her curiosity got the better of her, Payton moved closer and turned invisible to avoid being seen. She sneaked close enough to eavesdrop on them.
"Come on, I heard you carry the stuff." One of the stoners said.
"I might, but what's it to you?" Tess replied. "This stuff isn't for amateurs."
"Do we look like amateurs?" The other stoners asked.
"You really don't want me to answer that." Tess remarked as she crossed her arms. "Look, this stuff isn't easy to come by. I doubt you can afford it."
"We'll pay whatever." The first stoner said. "We want to try it. Just a little."
"Fine, I can give you each a sample piece." Tess replied reluctantly. "They're fifty dollars each, and that's a friendly price."
"Fifty bucks?" The second stone asked. "Do you know much weed we can buy for that?"
"Hey, it's take or leave it." Tess replied annoyed.
"Dude, we should try it." The first stoner said.
The stoners both reached into their pockets and managed to scramble together a hundred dollars. Tess accepted the cash and handed them each a tiny plastic back with a bright pink powder inside. Payton could not believe her eyes, Tess was a drug dealer or something.
"Be sure to do it in a safe place, and don't mix it with anything else." Tess said. "It is pretty potent on its own. And remember, you didn't get it from me."
The stoners nodded and quickly walked away. Tess checked the cash and put in her pocket. Payton wondered what she should do. Tess was dating her cousin after all. If she was mixed up in anything dangerous, she needed to help her. Payton stepped out from her hiding place and became visible. Tess turned and was startled when she saw her.
"Payton, you scared me." Tess said. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough." Payton replied. "Anything you want to tell me?"
'Not really." Tess said defensively.
"What is going on, Tess?" Payton asked. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"Look, just because I hang out with Henry, doesn't mean I owe you an explanation." Tess replied.
"If does is you get him in danger." Payton said. "He is my family."
"Henry is a big boy, he can take care of himself." Tess replied. "Besides, he has no idea about any of this and I don't intend to involve him."
"I don't get it. Why are you dealing drugs?" Payton asked. "You know it's wrong."
"God, don't you ever get tired of being such a goody-two-shoes, little miss perfect?" Tess asked.
"I'm not." Payton called out.
"Sure." Tess remarked. "You should learn to lighten up and let loose. Boys like Sean are not going to wait around forever, you know."
Tess walked away, leaving Payton speechless. She was a little insulted. She wasn't that much of a goody-two-shoes, was she? She just followed the rules and tried to be a good student. And that remark about Sean was completely uncalled for. She headed back to the front of the bleachers and grabbed her stuff. She wondered if she should tell Henry about what she saw. She did not want him to get in trouble because of Tess.
"Payton." Sean called out as he came running over. "What were you doing under the bleachers?"
"Oh, I dropped my pen." Payton quickly said.
"Okay. Hey, so practice is over." Sean replied. "Do you want to wait while I shower so I can drop you off at home?"
"Actually, can you drop me off at the manor instead?" Payton asked. "I think I have something I have to do."
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