Piper and Prue landed in the middle of the conference room of at the Demon Fighting Division's office suite. John had contacted them and asked them to return to base immediately. The entire VCTF with the exception of Bailey was there along with Hercules, Morrigan, Leo, Harry and Evander. Piper noticed immediately that Sam was holding Phoebe's hands across the table in an obvious gesture of support. Piper didn't like the looks of this.
"What's wrong? Nothing's happened to any of our family and friends has it?" she asked worriedly. "Everybody is all right," Hercules assured her. "For now at least," Phoebe added forlornly. Piper immediately crossed the room to her sister's side and placed both arms around Phoebe's shoulders.
"What do you mean for now?" Piper asked with concern. "Belthazor made his first kill," Phoebe answered. "His victim was a young family man in Atlanta where John and the rest of the team used to be headquartered." "Did you know him?" Prue asked her husband. John shook his head no. "Why would Belthazor have chosen this particular guy then?"
Sam spoke up, "I think Belthazor really wants to get to Cole and by association John. He doesn't know their specific location, however, and even if he did he may not have regained enough of his power to go up against them directly yet. In the meantime, however, I think Belthazor is trying to send a psychological message with this killing.
John may not have known the victim but he was similar in build and appearance to John and Cole. I think what Belthazor wants Cole to know that John's a target now too."
Piper's glance turned to Prue for her reaction and saw alarm developing in her older sister's eyes. Prue turned and wrapped her arms around John and held on tight. This sucked, Piper thought. All this family wanted to do was protect innocents yet it was kind of hard to do when they had to run around with targets on their own backs all the time.
Everyone was silent for a few moments and then Rachel said, "I hate to add to the sense of gloom already in this room but I think we need to be prepared. I think his next move will be to kill three young women who resemble the three of you. It would be the next logical move in the sick game he is playing."
"Not if we figure out a way to stop the sick bastard first," Piper muttered. Leo came to stand next to her and said, "We will honey don't worry! You're still the Charmed Ones and now Goddesses to boot, and we are all with you, and we will take Belthazor out together." Piper kept one hand on Phoebe's shoulder and reached the other one towards her husband. He clasped it and held it comfortingly.
"Has anyone told Cole yet?" Prue asked. "No he and Iolaus are off looking for Bailey and anyway we wanted to figure out the best way to tell him first," Phoebe answered. "I hate the thought of what he's going to put himself through. He's going to feel responsible for this man's death even though he isn't."
"Do you want us to be there when you tell him?" Piper offered. "We'd be more than willing," Leo backed up his wife. "Yeah, it might help him to know that we are all on his side and that he doesn't have to face Belthazor alone anymore," Prue added.
"Thank you for offering, and I'll be sure and let Cole know that you are there for him although I think he already knows that. I think it would be best, however, if John and I broke the news to him alone. You know how he is about keeping his deeper emotions as private as he can besides we need all of you to start brainstorming about how to send this demon back to hell where he belongs."
"You'll get no arguments from me on that score," Piper replied. The sooner we get rid of Belthazor the better.I'm going to go consult with Hestia about potions. Unfortunately we lost all our potions in the explosion and we are fresh out of Belthazor flesh so I'm hoping Hestia has an idea about an alternative potion that won't require it. Plus we need to figure out the whole issue of whether a potion will work at all on the ghost of a demon, which technically I think he will be once we free the innocent from his possession?"
"That's a good idea," Prue commented. "The rest of us will start formulating a battle plan to ensure there are no surprises and that we take him out once and for all on our next face to face encounter."
Phoebe stood and hugged her sisters and then everyone else in the room as well. "We've put this off as long as we can I suppose," she said. "John, let's go find Cole." "Go with the gods," Piper said to her sister and John as they orbed out.