Cole cautiously entered the abandoned building. He was early, he knew that. But the Brotherhood were sticklers for promptness. If they were going to show up here they would be on time. He wanted to be early so he was there when they arrived. Still, some of them would all ready be there. Advanced scouts making sure the coast was clear for the rest.
He picked his way through the rubble of the building. It had obviously been abandoned a long time. Most of the stools, chairs, and booths had long since been reduced to kindling. Weather conditions or probably kids had left the place a shambles. It was a perfect spot for a meeting. No one would suspect anyone of being here.
He would have to wait for a bit. That was okay. As long as he was here with the Brotherhood they wouldn't be going after Phoebe. And that was the important thing. He could understand how they would be angry. In their long, proud history none of them had ever betrayed the order. A twinge of guilt passed through him as he realized he was the first to do so.
"Expecting company are we?" said a voice behind him.
Cole spun expecting to see one of the Brotherhood standing there. He was shocked to see Peter standing in the only exit out of the place. The events of Peter's last visit came flooding back into his mind. So did the warning Peter had given just before he had left.
"One day you'll be alone. And when you turn around, I'll be there. Then I'll finish what I started here. Enjoy your life while you can. I'll be back for it when you least expect."
"Peter," said Cole, looking at his son.
"Hello, father," said Peter. "Surprised to see me? I told you I would be back. I just never imagined it would be so soon. Imagine my surprise when one of my clients offered me a chance to get even with you. I couldn't very well pass that up, now could I?"
"So the Brotherhood isn't coming," said Cole. "You hired Shellack to lure me here. That was a nice touch, by the way. He was very convincing. But then, he always was."
"Who?" Peter questioned. "I don't know any Shellack. You forget I'm even more of an outcast than a warlock. Not that I mind it so much. I don't think I was cut out to be part of the demonic underworld. There's too much of my mother in me."
"Yes, I can see that," said Cole. "The way you form certain words. That almost imperceptible birthmark over your right eye. She once told me that was a family trait in her family."
"So you remember her," said Peter.
"Of course," said Cole. "Peter, I know you don't believe me. But I am genuinely sorry for what I did to your mother. I was a different person then. I can't ask you to forgive me. Or even to understand. I can only say that I'm not that person now. I've changed. Phoebe and her sisters can attest to that."
"That doesn't alleviate you of the responsibility of what you did," said Peter. "You know how I found out what I was? I was in college. One night during my second year I was returning to my room when I happened upon a demon attacking one of my professors. I knew she couldn't handle it. So I stepped in. After I had vanquished it I learned she was a witch.
"She didn't fear me like everyone else did. In fact, after hearing my story, she sympathized. She's the one who taught me about witches, demons, the underworld, all of it. And she also told me that because I'm only part demon I would never be accepted by the underworld. She was right about that. I'm a bastard. The black sheep of the family that no one ever talks about because my mother was human.
"But I've done okay for myself. I have a large demonic clientele. When they run afoul of human law and can't use magic to extricate themselves, they come to me. They call me sir. And they pay me well. In some ways I'm more important than this Source everyone seems so afraid of."
"I can imagine," said Cole. "You forget I've been a demonic lawyer longer than you've been alive."
"But you're one of them," said Peter. "You're one of the demons. Oh, I know all about you. How your mother was a demon but your father was human. But your mother didn't abandon you."
"No," said Cole. "She just murdered my father and raised me to be a demon. She completely ignored my human half. Oh, I'm not blaming her for what I did. I chose my own path. Just like you'll choose your own path. Do you think killing me is going to bring your mother back? Will you sleep better at night knowing you murdered the man you think wronged you all those years ago?"
"It won't bring her back, no," said Peter. "But she'll rest easier. And funny you should use the word murder. I prefer the term execution. Just punishment for your crimes."
"So you're judge, jury, and executioner, huh?" Cole asked. "You're supposed to be a good attorney. Doesn't sound like you learned well enough. Your judgment is clouded by your hatred of me. That's why a jury is made up of twelve impartial people. So that justice prevails and not the mob mentality."
"One is hardly a mob," said Peter. "And you and I both know that if you were to ever stand trial for what you've done you'd receive a death penalty. I'm just not going through with the formality of a trial."
"Maybe," said Cole. "But it still makes you a murderer. You decide what crimes I've committed. You decide that I'm guilty. And you are the executioner. I've seen that happen a thousand times in my life. Almost every country in the world has their periods when vigilante justice ruled. As a lawyer you know about due process. You also know that without due process killing me in cold blood like this is nothing short of murder."
"You're twisting it," said Peter. "You're being punished for your sins. That's all."
"Is it?" questioned Cole. "And who are you to say what my punishment should be? You told me that it wasn't your place to forgive or not forgive me. You said that belonged to your mother. Well it would also be her place to say what my punishment should be. The two go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other. By doing this you become what you claim I still am. A murderer. Is that what Angela would have wanted for you?"
Peter stood looking at Cole. He knew Cole's ability to twist the truth. To make even the most outrageous thing sound intelligent and sensible. That was one of the things that made him such a good ADA. But what Cole was saying was true. Even if he was guilty of everything Peter had accused him of, this wasn't an execution. It was a murder, plain and simple.
Peter knew that Cole deserved to die for what he had done. How many innocent witches had he simply killed in his life just because someone had paid him? How many lives had he ruined to accomplish one of his elaborate plans? Peter couldn't even guess at it. But something had occurred to him that he had never considered in the decades he had carried this vendetta with him. If he killed Cole here now, unarmed and defenseless as he was, it wouldn't be justice. It would be murder, plain and simple. And that would make him exactly what he claimed Cole was.
Suddenly an energy ball streaked across the room striking Peter in the chest. It knocked Peter back sending him crashing to the floor. As Peter struggled to rise to his feet Cole turned to see Karran step out of the shadows of the building.
"Kempo was right to send me," said Karran. "I was only supposed to take care of the boy after he finished you. But it's obvious he's beginning to have second thoughts. Guess I'll just have to take care of this myself. First, I'll kill Coleson. You're not much of a threat without your powers, Belthazor. But don't worry. When I'm finished with your son I'll be back for you. And I'll get full credit for vanquishing the traitor to the Source."
Cole could do nothing but watch as the demon advanced on his still groggy son.
