SEVEN

Cole shimmered into the room where Jezic was being held. He was standing in a dark corner of the room to make sure they were alone. After a moment he decided that Shoal must still be with the Elders. Cautiously he moved up to the cage where Jezic sat.

"What do you want, human?" Jezic spat out at Cole, not even bothering to stand up.

"First of all, I'm not human," said Cole. "My name is Belthazor. And I've been sent to free you."

"You were with the witch," said Jezic. "Since when do demons work with witches?"

"I wouldn't exactly say I was working with her. I figured this was the best way to find out what's going on and figure out how to free you. Except I'm just a bit confused. This appears to be a normal cage. Why haven't you just shimmered out?"

"So, Beelzbor sent you to get me," said Jezic, ignoring Coles question.

"No, Beelzbor didn't send me. I was hired by the Triad. They're a bit concerned about what you might have told the witch. My job is to bring you back to them so you can tell them what information you might have passed to her and her White Lighter."

"The Triad?" questioned Jezic, suddenly becoming very nervous. "Why should the Triad be concerned with me?"

"First, you answer my question," said Cole. "Why are you sitting in this cage instead of shimmering out?"

"Because I can't shimmer," said Jezic. "I didn't inherit that ability from my father. Nor did I inherit his fireball or I would have just destroyed the lock the first chance I had. I have no way to free myself. I'm as helpless in here as any other human."

"Any other human?" Cole repeated, finally realizing the implication. "Your father was a demon but your mother was human."

"That's right," said Jezic. "I'm a half breed. But I can pass among humans without suspicion. Or at least I did until the witch showed up. Claiming I had passed some demonic disease on to humans. I don't know how she found me but before I knew it I was locked in here. And she keeps using me to try and find some cure for this disease."

"That's it," said Ava. "That's the missing link I've been looking for. That's how he was able to pass a demonic disease to humans."

"Why?" questioned Piper. "Because he's half human?"

"Exactly," said Ava. "I should have thought of that sooner. It explains how a demonic disease can affect humans. When this Jezic contracted the disease, his human DNA must have altered the infection. Being half human would have incorporated human characteristics into the mutated germs. That's why it can affect humans. It also explains why they had so little success fighting it. They can combat the human aspect of the disease. But they would have virtually no success combating the demonic aspects."

"Why didn't they discover this in 1918?" Piper asked.

"DNA wasn't discovered until 1953 by James D. Watson and Francis Click. They received the Nobel Prize for their discover. But in the early part of the 20th century DNA was unheard of. They wouldn't even have had the equipment to look for it. It will be decades before it's discovered and even more decades until there is the right equipment to study it."

"So Jezic contracts the disease, which to him is nothing more than the common cold. But his body chemistry alters it so it becomes the Spanish Flu. And he's been infecting anyone he comes into contact with ever since."

"That's about the size of it. At least I know what to look for now. The problem is I don't know how to fight it. I would assume that Shoal tried to use his healing power on the disease like Leo did. Probably with the same results. It's a demonic based disease so a White Lighter's healing power is probably useless against it."

"So why haven't Shoal or McCoy gotten sick?" Piper asked. "If it's as contagious as you've implied, shouldn't they have gotten the disease by now?"

"Maybe. There's no way to know for sure. Maybe they have some kind of natural resistance to it. I don't know. Maybe there's some catalyst that makes certain people more susceptible to it. But at least we know where the disease came from. That's a start."

"Well," said Piper, looking around, "the spell hasn't finished yet. Which means you haven't gotten all of the information. There's not much else we can do except wait for the spell to run its' course."

"Now, why would the Triad be concerned with what I might have told the witch?" Jezic asked Cole. "I spend most of my time on the mortal plane. I really don't know that much about demonic activities."

"They may not be aware of that," said Cole. "But it's obvious the witch isn't interested in any information you might have. She's more interested in finding a cure for the disease. Which means she'll keep you alive as long as she feels you can be useful to her."

"Then get me out of here," said Jezic. "You did say that's why you were hired. You can shimmer me out of this cell and away from here.

"Not just yet," said Cole. "I'm afraid you'll have to remain where you are for the time being. If what she said is correct, you could be as dangerous to the Underworld as any witch. Just sit tight. I'll be back soon."

Without another word Cole shimmered out of the room and into the Underworld. Piper and Ava, caught up in Phoebe's spell, went with him.

Cole entered the audience hall for the Triad. Normally he would have been stopped long before he had gotten that far. As with the Source, demons didn't usually just walk in unannounced. But he was on a major assignment for the Triad. As such he was expected to keep the Triad apprised of his progress. As he entered the chamber, Candor was waiting for him.

"I assume you have news," said Candor. The look on his face suggested he was confused. "Where is the underling?"

"You mean Jezic?" questioned Cole. "You never told me Jezic was a half breed."

"Half breed?" questioned Candor. "Beelzbor never mentioned that he was half breed. Only that he was being held by a witch, presumably to garner information regarding the Underworld. It does, however, explain many things. But that does not change the assignment. You were hired to free Jezic. So, where is he?"

"I left him in his cage on the mortal plane. There are matters we need to discuss."

"I am disappointed in you, Belthazor. You came highly recommended. Even those of the hierarchy such as LaTarrin and Mephistan have had high praise for the work you did for them. I had expected as much when I hired you. It seems that the praise is unwarranted. You cannot even free one simple half breed from a witch."

"Oh, I could have freed him all right," replied Cole. "But like I said, there are matters we need to discuss. There have been some developments that you should be made aware of."

"What developments?"

"You may be aware that there is a disease that is currently afflicting humans. They call it the Spanish Flu. It can be quite lethal to humans and as of yet they have found no cure and little treatment for it."

"I have heard some mention of this. But why should we care? This is a human disease. It is of no concern to demons."

"It should be. Jezic is the cause of the disease. The Spanish Flu is a mutated form of a demonic disease. Because he is half human his body has somehow mutated the disease so that it also affects humans."

"Again, not a concern for us. If the disease had been dangerous to demons Jezic would not have survived it. Besides, if it has mutated to affect humans, here again, it is not a concern for the Underworld."

"Then you'd be wrong. The witch holding him is a medical doctor. She says the mutation is enough to affect demons as well. In fact, because the original disease was demonic in nature, it would be even more virulent against demons. Because Jezic is half human and half demon, his body has produced a disease that is lethal to both. Apparently he is immune to the disease itself but he is a carrier. Which means he can infect anyone he comes into contact with, human or demon."

"This does change the complexion of the situation some," replied Candor thoughtfully.

"Some?" questioned Cole. "It changes everything. Imagine a demon infected with the disease that comes to the Underworld. He would infect every other demon he came into contact with. They, in turn, would affect others. The Underworld would very quickly find itself suffering from the same epidemic that now rages on the mortal plane. And because we are beings of magic, we do not have the resources to combat such a disease. Very quickly it could decimate the entire Underworld."

"I think you overestimate the situation. Those of us at the higher levels of the hierarchy would most likely be immune to such a disease. The power of our magic would protect us."

"That could be a foolish mistake," said Cole.

"You dare call me a fool? You are nothing more than a mercenary. Someone hired to do my bidding. You should be more careful in your choice of words. I have vanquished underlings for less."

"Forgive me, I meant no insolence. And I did not mean to imply you were foolish. Only that your assumption could be foolish. The natural arrogance of most demons can often lead them to make assumptions that are flawed. I am the 4th demon to try and rescue Jezic. It was assumed that my 3 previous predecessors could do it and that assumption proves false."

"I can assure you this is no assumption. The hierarchy has the power to resist even the most aggressive assailant. Regardless of who – or what – that assailant is."

"And what if it doesn't?" Cole asked. "Diseases have no rationale. They don't consider such things as status and power. But let's assume you're right. Let's assume that upper level demons would be immune. What of the lower ranks? The ones that make up the rank and file of the Underworld? It could sweep through them like a wildfire, as the humans say. Very quickly the hierarchy could find itself without any underlings to do their bidding. What do you do then?"

"I had not considered that. It would appear you are correct. This is a concern for the hierarchy. I must assemble the rest of the Triad. The Source must be made aware of this development. We must decide what we will do about it."

"I have a suggestion. We let the witch finish her work. She claims to be very close to coming up with a cure. Once she has found the cure, we can then use it to cure the human population of the disease."

"You show concern for humans?"

"Only because if a demon encounters an infected human, they could be infected. The best way to protect the Underworld is to get rid of the disease so no one can be infected."

"We could simply keep the cure with us," suggested Candor. "Let the humans suffer from this disease. If we have the cure we need not worry about any demons who might be infected."

"Except it could mutate again. If that happens the cure may not be effective. We'd be in the same situation we are right now. With the millions that are currently infected it is very possible the disease could go through another mutation. The best way to protect the Underworld, and the hierarchy, is to make sure this disease is no longer a threat to anyone."

Candor thought for a moment. He had no love for humans. As far as he was concerned they were little more than chattel for demons to do with as they pleased. But Cole was also right. As certain as he was that the hierarchy would be unaffected by this disease, he had been proven wrong before.

"What of Jezic?" Candor finally asked. "The longer the witch has him the more she can learn from him. And her White Lighter, in turn, will inform their Elders of what she learns. Leaving him in captivity with her is an unacceptable risk."

"The witch isn't interested in what Jezic knows. She's using him as a guinea pig for her experiments. He was the source of this new disease and she feels he is the best chance of finding a cure. Her only concern with him is his usefulness in her experiments. She hasn't even questioned him."

"I see. So he is not a threat to the Underworld?"

"Not at the moment," said Cole. "That could change. Once she's found a cure for the disease, she may decide to keep him around and see what she can learn from him. But I'll make sure that doesn't happen. Once she's found the cure, I'll make sure Jezic is no longer her captive. And I'll also deal with her and her White Lighter as well."

"Very well. But remain close to them. As long as Jezic is her captive it is possible he can still pose a threat to the Underworld. He may be a simple underling but even underlings could have information that would be useful to our enemies. We cannot allow that information to be passed to them no matter how insignificant it might seem."

"I'm aware of that," said Cole. "And as I said, I'll make sure that doesn't happen. So far the witch's interest in Jezic has been confined to his usefulness in her medical experiments. I'll make sure it doesn't go any further than that."

"I may have misjudged you. When you first told me you had failed to release Jezic I naturally assumed you had failed. I will inform the rest of the Triad and the Source of what you have told me. And I will have a discussion with Beezlbor. He should have told me his underling was a half breed to begin with. Return to me when you have completed the assignment."

"As you wish," said Cole, bowing to Candor.

The senior demon flamed out of the chamber. Cole stood in the center of the chamber thinking for a moment, and then suddenly shimmered and vanished. Piper and Ava also vanished from the chamber as Phoebe's spell carried them to the next part of the vision.