Cole To The Infinite Power

Are You A Good Witch?

By: Alchemystik

As I mentioned before, time passes at a different rate in the Underworld. By the time I approached my advanced level in school, approximately 50 human years had passed. I, myself looked like a typical older teenager. Tall, slightly gangly, a few blemishes on my otherwise handsome face, which was now twisted into the arrogant sneer of an Upper Level demon.

It was during that time that Raynor decided to begin educating me personally. The subject? My future mission in life...killing good witches.

Anyone can kill a common witch, even the lowest level demon. A potion here, a power there, but a true witch hunter/killer was among the elite. We killed up close and personal, using an Athame, a kind of ceremonial dagger. The Athame rendered the witch's power useless as soon as the blade entered her body...did I mention the excruciating pain it delivered, too? This form of killing was never wasted on a nascent witch. Oh no...I wouldn't bother with THOSE. I would go after the real thing.

So, in addition to athame classes, I had to sit each evening and listen to the fiery rhetoric my mentor spewed out. He was passionate about witches; he hated them with a passion, I should say...

" Thou shall not suffer a witch to live! " Raynor began, in an insidiously pious tone of voice.

I choked back a bit of laughter. It had been a grueling day, and the last thing I needed was clout upside the head from Raynor's heavily carved cane.

Were you surprised by the biblical reference? When I said we had an intensive program of learning, I wasn't joking. We studied History, Geography, Literature, Sociology, Humanities, The Arts, Music and yes, Religion. We then moved on to spells, potions, powers, martial arts, manners and morals. Oh yes, we young demons were well-versed in all areas of Academics; The better to function in the world above.

Raynor was staring at me from under those shaggy brows, waiting for a response.

" Oh, yes...witches. There like...vermin, aren't they, Master? "

Raynor smiled, benignly. Well, as benignly as a demon could smile, and nodded.

" Exactly, Turner! They're nothing but fleas, little pests that need to be exterminated. That's where you come in. "

" Anyone with sufficient skill and knowledge can kill a witch. But a white witch, one who comes from a long line of powerful practitioners; Ah, there's a challenge, My Boy! "

Over the next several months, I learned all I could about those " do-gooders, " who protect the rest of the world from evil.

That would be me and my ilk.

Witches were plentiful, but most were small fishes in the proverbial ocean of magic.

And then, there were the Wiccans, powerful practitioners, well-versed in the lore of white magic. Witches like those in the Warren-Halliwell family.

A line of witches, started by one Melinda Warren, was the focus of one cold night.

Raynor lit a fire in the old stove and sat back in his overstuffed chair, puffing on his dragon horn pipe. I was directed to a stool in front of him, a singular honor not often given.

" Turner, I'm going to tell you about a prophecy. A prophecy that disturbs our Lord and Master, and concerns you...personally. "

I was intrigued, and settled myself into a comfortable position. Raynor was a phenominal speaker, keen and concise when it was a subject he felt passionately about.

Witches, the future Charmed Ones to be exact, was his particular passion...

" In the sixteen hundreds, a powerful witch was born. She was the first in a long line of these " Charmed " women, and she was the most powerful of all. Loaded with powers, she was, and we tried like hell to prevent her birth. We failed, and she lived long enough to tell all about a prophecy..."

Raynor paused, staring off into space, puffing on his pipe. I was breathless, impatient to hear this story. Why, I didn't know, but just the mention of these charmed women sparked something inside of me. Something savage and dark...tinged with a certain wistful excitement.

" Anyhow..." Raynor resumed, focusing those bright eyes on me, " This witch told of a day when all her powers would come together again. Come together in three sisters descended from her, steeped with her blood. These sisters would be known as " The Charmed Ones " and will be the most powerful force of good to ever walk the world above. They aren't here yet...but the day is coming. "

The fire crackled in the little stove as Raynor paused once again to re-light his pipe. Most powerful force of good?

Our enemies. And, the enemies of any and all who called the dark side home.

Raynor was watching me process this information, a sly smile on his lips.

" Well, Turner...what do you think we have to do about this Charmed Ones? "

I didn't hesitate, " They must be destroyed, Master. In fact...why not destroy their line now? Before they're even born? "

The smile turned almost tender, and the bright eyes blazed with pride. I puffed my chest out, so sure of myself, so arrogant...so young.

The cane descended upon the top of my head with a thud, and for a moment, I heard and saw nothing. When my vision cleared, I saw Raynor standing over me; I had somehow slipped off my stool and onto the rought stone floor.

" Destroy them now, he says! Get up! "

I hastened to obey, my limbs trembling and my head throbbing. The blow most likely caused a concussion, and I was light-headed and sick to my stomach as I faced my mentor.

" I told you this concerned you in a personal way, didn't I? " Raynor glowered, having collapsed back into his chair.

" Yes, Master. " I said, my voice weak and strained.

" Do you know WHY?! " He rasped at me, the eyes now bright with mockery.

" No, Master. " I whispered.

" Ever wonder where Mummy went, Lad? Hmm? Ever wonder why she just disappeared?! "

I knew then. By the loathing in his eyes and the venom in his voice, I knew. I had blindly, unknowingly, strayed into a very sensitive area.

Mother.

My beautiful, treacherous, evil mother had been given just such an assignment...

And had failed. What happened when you failed in this place, I wondered?

I didn't want to know...

I was somber and self-contained after the revelation. So much so, that even my mentor was worried about me. The rotten old bastard.

" Everything alright, Turner? " He asked me one evening, and actually seemed to care about the answer.

" I'm fine, Master. " I answered, coldly.

" Studying hard? "

" Yes, Master. "

" Any..er..problems? "

" No, Master. "

Raynor sat back in his chair, and pursed his lips. " Look, boy, perhaps I was a bit harsh the other night. Your Mother was...incredible. Lovely and venomous, a class act all the way. It was...a misfortune that she didn't kill her first target, but there were compensations. "

" I don't follow. " I said, truly curious.

Raynor looked surprised and then actually chuckled. After waving me onto my stool, he explained.

" Your father was quite a man, Turner. Wealthy, a good businessman, but with this distressing habit of helping those in need. He was making things rather difficult for us, and the Source was not too pleased. Your Mother was assigned to the task of...well..."

" Eliminating him. " I finished, rather amused to see Raynor trying to be delicate around me. " Mother told me that father tried to interfere with my upbringing and she went a bit too far with persuading him otherwise. "

Raynor laughed until he choked on that, thumping me on the shoulder in a rare moment of camraderie. " Yes, yes...I can hear her now. What a woman! "

It was then that I realized that my mentor had had the hots for my mother. Talk about things that make you go...Blech!

After a few more wheezes and a long draught of the disgusting liquor he favored he continued;

" Dear Elizabeth found your father fascinating company, and being the woman she was, thought how nicely she could help your father spend that fortune of his. "

I remembered Mother's love of fine gowns, precious gems and the best food and drink. Father had indulged her completely, obviously as enchanted by her dark and seductive beauty as Raynor had been.

" She married him, but stayed true to her nature. Oh, the Source was a bit put out, but the thought of her reproducing another one like her was just too intriguing to dismiss. Of course, no one expected you to be, well, you. "

I was puzzled for a moment and then the truth dawned on me...

" I was suppose to be a girl? " I asked, already knowing the answer.

" Indeed you were, Lad! " Raynor chuckled, " And, His Lordship was NOT amused! But she dedicated you in the dark way immediately, and I suppose that was the beginning of the end to her fairy tale life with you father. "

" He found out what she was, didn't he? " I asked, curious and fascinated by this tale of my past.

" Oh, yes...he found out. The hard way. She had to dispose of one of his closest friends, a rather boring fellow who kept giving money to those wretched soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Do you know how hard it is to recruit the down-trodden when they had a place to stay and food in their bellies?! "

Raynor's outrage amused me to no end, but I still suffered headaches from the last time I had triggered his temper, and was not about to do it again, so I merely nodded in mock sympathy.

Fortunately for me, Raynor was finishing up his tale..

" Our Master immediately saw the possibilities of having a male Upper Level demon born from our Beloved Elizabeth. He'll expect great things from you. "

" Just like he did from her? " I asked, and Raynor narrowed his eyes.

" Make no mistake, Turner, The Source cherished your mother, and made many allowances for her. In the end, he really had no choice. One does not disregard one's Life Assignment. "

Life Assignment? I opened my mouth to ask, but Raynor waved his hand...

" All in good time, Lad. Can't learn everything in just one night. Now, off with you, and remember who you are. "

I nodded and bade my Master good night. Back in the dormitory, I was unable to fall asleep right away. My mother had failed to do something and was...what?

Captured? Disgraced?

Killed?

And just what was a Life Assignment? Would I get one?

As I drifted off to sleep, finally, I knew...

I would get one of the best, most important Life Assignments, and I would perform flawlessly. I would banish any lingering doubt about my cursed human half, and redeem my family line in everyones eyes.

I was so arrogant. So naive.

For once the day came for me to receive my Life Assignment, I learned the truth about my Mother's whereabouts...

And my Father's soul.