SIX

"It's working perfectly," Devlin said. "The entire house is encased in the force bubble. No one can get out. In addition nothing can get in. Which means that eventually all the air in the bubble will be used up and the witches will suffocate. You'll be rid of them forever."

"What of the traitor and the White Lighter?" the Source asked.

"Well, if what you've told me is correct, the traitor may last a bit longer than the witches," said Devlin. "His demonic constitution will allow him to survive a bit longer. But eventually all of the oxygen in the bubble will be gone. He'll suffer the same fate as the witches."

"And the White Lighter?" questioned Malevant.

"I'm afraid there's not much I can do about that," said Devlin. "As you are both aware, White Lighters can only be killed by a Dark Lighter. They don't require oxygen. So that won't affect him.

"However, he'll still be trapped in the manor. I should think it would be an easy matter for you to arrange a Dark Lighter to dispatch him. I could even leave the bubble in place until he's actually dead so that he can't get any assistance from another White Lighter."

"You have done well, Devlin," said the Source. "Your service to me will prove invaluable."

"All I ask is that you keep our bargain," said Devlin. "Release me from my prison and I will serve you faithfully."

"You've all ready proven yourself a traitor once," said Malevant. "Why should the Source trust you now?"

"Because I've had seventy years to consider my mistake," said Devlin. "Believe me, I have no desire to return to my existence in that cavern."

"You have honored your part of the agreement," said the Source. "Once the witches have been dispatched your banishment will be ended. But I warn you. If you turn against me again I will make your prison in that chamber preferable to what I will do to you then."

"You have no need to fear that," said Devlin. "My compatriots are all gone. And I know of no other demons strong enough to even attempt to overthrow you. Even if I did, it is quite evident that siding against you would be a monumental mistake. One I shall not be making in the future."

"Just see that it stays that way," said Malevant.

"You've come a long way since I was imprisoned," Devlin said to Malevant. "Seventy years ago you were nothing more than another mid-level demon with aspirations of rising within the hierarchy. Now you are primary advisor to the Source of All Evil. You have done well for yourself."

"I have proven myself a valuable asset to the Source," said Malevant. "I have earned my place in the hierarchy."

"Oh, I wasn't implying otherwise," said Devlin. "I only mention it because at the time I didn't think you would ever come of anything. Or that you'd end up getting yourself vanquished. You're half White Lighter. I would have thought that would have been a weakness in you."

"Weakness can be overcome," said Malevant. "And one can hardly be held accountable for the happenstance of one's birth. And being half White Lighter doesn't imply that I am in the least bit pacifistic. If you betray the Source again you will learn firsthand just how unlike a White Lighter I can truly be."

"Oh, I believe you, Malevant," said Devlin. "If you were anything like a White Lighter you would never have risen as high as you have. And I have no desire to test your dedication to the Source. Believe me, my days of disloyalty to the Underworld have long since passed. I've been given a second chance and I intend to use it wisely."

"That is good to hear," said Malevant. "Just one last matter. In the future when we have dealings, you will appear to me only in your demonic form. The sight of a human form disgusts me. And I can be particularly harsh to those underlings who deign to disregard my wishes in this matter."

"No problem," said Devlin. "I may prefer my human name over that of my demonic name but that doesn't make me human. If you wish me to appear only in my demonic form I am more than willing to oblige you."

"Well, Malevant, it seems imprisonment has taught this particular human some humility," said the Source.

"Yes," said Malevant. "That's a human trait but one that can serve you well. But I will still continue to watch him closely for a time. To make sure that his newfound change of heart is not a ruse. If I should suspect that it is you may not get the chance to deal with him. I will deal with him myself."

"My, my, you are the suspicious type," said Devlin. "But you'll see. It's not a ruse. I know my place in the hierarchy. And I have no intentions of pushing my luck a second time."

"That would be wise," said the Source. "I can tell you that Malevant can be singularly vindictive when he puts his mind to it. It is a trait that I have had occasion to put to good use in the past. And I can tell you that his threat is not unfounded. If you do betray me he will most definitely deal with you himself."

"I understand," said Devlin. "But as I said, I have no. . . ."

He suddenly cocked his head to one side as if listening to some sound in the distance.

"Are you all right?" Malevant asked.

"Someone seems to be summoning me," said Devlin. "It has been a while but I recognize it. Now who would be summoning me?"

"More importantly," questioned the Source, "how would they know to do so? No one but you, Malevant, the demons guarding your prison, and myself know you have been removed from the prison. How would anyone know to summon you?"

"The Charmed Ones," Malevant hissed. "It must be they who are summoning him."

"How could they possibly know?" the Source asked.

"Devlin's power," said Malevant. "The traitor must have figured out it was he that was creating the barrier around their house. He always was quite ingenious. And there are few demons that know as much about other demons as Belthazor does. He must have remembered what your power was."

"But why would they be summoning me?" Devlin asked.

"To barter, no doubt," said the Source. "I believe they think they can bribe you into removing the barrier around their home. Although I am at a loss to understand what they could possibly offer a demon in exchange for his betrayal of me?"

"Perhaps they believe that since he betrayed you once they can entice him to do so again," said Malevant.

"As I said," said Devlin. "That is not about to happen."

"Then ignore the summons," said the Source. "Let them die knowing that their final hope of escape has eluded them."

"No," said Malevant. "Perhaps he should answer the summons."

"To what end?" the Source asked.

"To taunt them," said Malevant. "It is only a matter of time before the oxygen in the barrier bubble is exhausted. They must be desperate if they are attempting to summon him. A last ditch effort to save themselves. What better punishment than to taunt them with the very escape they seek only to have it pulled out from under them when he refuses. Despite their enticement to him."

"Yes," said the Source, gleefully. "What is the humans say? Adding insult to injury? How sadistically delicious. Perhaps Devlin should answer the summons."

"There is another reason," said Devlin. "With another person inside the bubble the oxygen will be depleted just that much quicker. Every moment I spend there will drain more of the precious gas from inside the barrier. It will hasten their deaths even quicker."

"Of course," said Malevant. "The more people inside the barrier the quicker it will be used up. And the quicker we can celebrate the deaths of our greatest foes."

"I like it," said the Source. "They must not realize that by summoning Devlin they are actually hastening their own deaths."

"Or they are so desperate they are willing to take that chance," said Malevant. "Besides, it will be a good way to test Devlin's newfound loyalty. If he goes to them and then leaves them there to die it will be one step closer to proving his loyalty to you."

"Agreed," said the Source. "Answer their summons, Devlin. Show the witches that you are loyal to me and that their deaths are inevitable. Then return here."

"As you wish," said Devlin. He then shimmered out of the Underworld.

"Do you think we can really trust him?" the Source asked.

"We will know very soon," said Malevant.

"Do you think it worked?" Paige asked.

"I don't know," said Phoebe. "If nothing can get outside the barrier I don't see how it's going to summon Devlin."

"His magic is what's powering this barrier," said Cole. "He'll notice the summoning through that connection. That's why it won't be powerful enough to force him to come here but he'll know that you're summoning him."

"And what do we do when he gets here?" Piper asked.

"He removes the barrier or we vanquish him," said Phoebe.

"That's not a good idea," said Cole. "If you vanquish him the power suddenly stopping could react with the Nexus. And you don't want that to happen."

"It's never happened before," protested Phoebe. "Why should it happen now?"

"Because of the power of the Nexus," said Leo. "You really have no idea just how powerful it is. If the barrier is drawing power from the Nexus, suddenly stopping all that power by vanquishing Devlin could cause it to back up into the Nexus. That could cause a reaction that we can't predict."

"I see," said Paige. "So vanquishing him is out of the question. So like Piper asked, what do we do once he gets here?"

"I'll talk to him," said Cole. "Demon to demon. Maybe he'll listen to reason. I might be able to convince him to remove it."

"How?" Leo asked. "You said you only met him a couple of times. It's not like he's an old friend or anything. How do you plan to convince him to remove the barrier?"

"I'll think of something," said Cole. "I usually do. Remember, I'm a lawyer. I'm used to thinking on my feet. Not to mention I was a mercenary for a great many years. You learn to improvise in that line of work. Things rarely go as you plan them."

"Okay," said Piper. "Assuming you can't convince him to remove the barrier. What do we do then?"

"Well," said Cole, "we begin by you freezing him. And then you trap him in the crystal prison. After that we just keep him here until the oxygen begins to run out. Once that happens he'll have to remove it so he won't suffocate with the rest of us."

"And then we can vanquish him," said Paige. "So he can't do it again."

"A very admirable plan. I must say it seems to be worthy of the reputation I've been told about Belthazor. Too bad it won't work."

They all looked toward the entryway and saw Devlin leaning against the railing on the second floor of the manor. He stood there smiling at the group who sat I the living room staring at him.