Well, here's the next chapter. This story is nearing its end.

Chapter 29:

"What is up with all these demons all of a sudden?" Phoebe asked as she threw a vanquishing potion on yet another demon. "That one's, what, the fifth one today?"

A sound of a demon screaming in pain came from the kitchen. Piper walked in and said "Sixth."

Piper and Phoebe heard a sound come from upstairs. "How much do you want to bet that's number seven?" Piper asked. Phoebe didn't respond and walked upstairs. Piper followed.

Upstairs they saw Chris fighting a demon. Chris flung his hand towards the demon and an athame went flying into it. The athame was sitting on a dresser when Chris flung his hand. He was nowhere near it.

The demon burst into flames just as Piper shouted "What was that?"

Chris jumped and spun around. "Piper! Phoebe! That was a demon."

Piper rolled her eyes. "I saw that that was a demon, what was with the athame? Did you move it without touching it?"

"No, you must have imagined it," Chris said.

"Nice try," Phoebe said. "But I'm an empath, remember? I can feel you lying. You're hiding something, I just don't know what."

Chris sighed. "Alright, alright, fine. I'm half witch and half Whitelighter, just like Paige."

"Why would you hide that from us?" Phoebe asked.

"Would you be more likely to trust a Whitelighter or a hybrid? Whitelighters are inherently good; can the same be said of Whitelighter-witches?" Chris asked.

"Good point," Piper said. "But that doesn't mean you can lie to us."

Chris opened his mouth to say something when a loud crash came from downstairs, cutting him off. "Let's talk about this another time. Right now we're being attacked by waves of demons."

Piper nodded and Phoebe said "Agreed." The three of them all ran downstairs to investigate the crash.

The crash turned out to be Melinda, fighting off a demon. The demon was throwing energy balls at Melinda. Melinda shouted "Energy ball!" and redirected it back at the demon. The energy ball disappeared and reappeared, shooting towards the demon, in a flurry of Orbs. The demon exploded in flames.

"Is she half Whitelighter, too?" Piper shouted.

Chris winced. Melinda jumped and spun around, looking guilty. "Yes," Chris confessed.

"Is there anything else you haven't told us?" Piper snapped.

Chris was spared from answering by the sound of lightning from upstairs. Piper and Phoebe ran upstairs to check, leaving Chris and Melinda behind. "They found out?" Melinda asked.

Chris nodded. "They caught me using telekinesis to vanquish a demon."

"And then I used telekinetic Orbing to do the same," Melinda said.

"Yep. We're busted, but they don't need to know we're brother and sister, or that we're Piper's children," Chris said.

Melinda sighed. "You know I don't like lying to them."

"I know, Mel, but we have to. Otherwise, we won't be able to save Wyatt," Chris said.

"I know," Melinda said.


Piper and Phoebe ran upstairs to see Jerome, blasting a demon with lightning. The demon exploded in a burst of flame. "Jerome? What are you doing back?" Piper asked.

"And where's Paige?" Phoebe added.

"We managed to get the other Defenders out of the Garden. Benjamin and Daniel set up a hidden place to hide them from the Destroyer. With the Adgressors free, we're going to need every single fighter we have," Jerome said.

"And you took Paige?" Piper asked.

"Yeah," Jerome said. "What did you think we were doing?"

"I don't know, training?" Piper asked.

Jerome shook his head. "If it helps, Paige didn't get hurt. She's with the Defenders, staying there until either Benjamin or Daniel gets there."

"But you took her with you!" Phoebe nearly shouted.

"Well, it was more along the lines of she found out and wouldn't let me leave her. I didn't want her to come," Jerome said.

Piper and Phoebe visibly calmed down. "Yeah, she gets like that a lot. Sorry, we've been attacked by demons all morning, so we're a bit on edge," Piper said.

"We know you don't want to hurt her," Phoebe said.

"All morning?" Jerome asked.

"Pretty much. It's been nearly nonstop demon after demon," Piper said.

Jerome frowned. "Demons don't usually attack en masse like that. I wonder if somehow the Adgressors are behind this."

Phoebe frowned. "What would the Adgressors want with demons?"

"I don't know," Jerome replied. "But the demon I fought said 'Why did I get the invincible one?' before I vanquished him."

"Maybe Cole had something to do with this. He is a demon, and I imagine the Destroyer could find a way to use demons. They destroy stuff," Phoebe said.

Jerome heard the sound of Orbing and turned around. Chris was standing behind him. "The Elders just told me that demons are attacking everywhere. It's like they all decided to attack every source of good available, and all at once. Some have even managed to go after some Elders that are down here."

"What do the Elders think is going on?" Phoebe asked.

"They don't know what to think. They suspect someone's taken over the Underworld again, because there is no way the demons all decided to work together and plan an attack this massive without a powerful leader," Chris said.

"Wait a minute," Jerome said. "I'll bet that Cole is the new leader of the Underworld. I imagine the Adgressors, or maybe even the Destroyer himself, got Cole to take over the Underworld so he could use the demons to wipe out every available source of good. That would mess up the balance so badly that the Grand Design would be vulnerable to the Destroyer."

"Then we need to stop him," Piper said. "Even if it means completely vanquishing all the demons."

Jerome shook his head. "No, you can't risk getting rid of all evil. That would mess up the balance just as badly as killing all the good. We need to find a way to just vanquish Cole, so the rest of the demons stop attacking."

"Do you think you can vanquish him?" Phoebe asked.

Jerome paused, then nodded. "Yes, I think I can. He's still a demon, regardless of how powerful he is."


The time had come. Excisio's plan was finally taking place. The Defenders may have escaped, but there was no way they would be able to prepare themselves for the Adgressors in what little time they had. "Mortus!" Excisio called.

Mortus Flickered in front of Excisio. "Yes?" he asked, careful not to let any irritation slip into his voice.

"The time has come. The Defenders will come out if enough people are slaughtered. Find somewhere to lay waste to, and destroy anyone and everyone who crosses your path. The Defenders will try to stop you, and then your people can have their revenge."

"Our revenge is planned for Electus. He locked us down there, not the Defenders. We want a guarantee that Electus will be delivered to us after we do what you want," Mortus said.

Excisio growled. "Fine, you have my word. After I achieve my goals, you may have any of the other Ancients you want, including Electus."

Mortus nodded. "Good. My people will leave at once." Mortus Shimmered away. A few minutes later Excisio felt a burst of energy as the entire population of Adgressors all Shimmered at once. Excisio allowed himself a small grin. There was no one who could stop him.


Aedifex's realm was easy to find. It was the largest and had the most amount of junk in it. Evidently, the Creator cannot stop creating just as the Destroyer cannot stop Destroying. Aedifex had the appearance of a majestic, winged being. He glowed in a holy white aura, and had golden eyes. His wings were white as snow and each was as long as a bus. As Electus entered, Aedifex looked at him. "Brother, what brings you here?"

"Have you heard of your counterpart's release?" Electus asked.

Aedifex grunted. "So, He's out. I suppose it was only a matter of time before His eventual release. What does that matter to me?"

"He's also allied himself with the leader of the Underworld and the Adgressors."

Aedifex was silent for a moment. "It seems that the world is in for quite a shock," he eventually said.

"It will be completely destroyed if we don't do something to stop Excisio," Electus said.

"And how, exactly, do you suppose we do that? Since you seem to have forgotten, Ancients cannot interfere with other Ancients," Aedifex said.

"No, we can't interfere with other Ancients. There is one Ancient who was never a part of that magic," Electus said.

Aedifex was silent. "Surely you know how dangerous releasing her could be?"

"No less dangerous that letting Excisio succeed."

"She'd be furious and may turn on us for sealing her away," Aedifex said.

"And you'd deserve it. Then she'd stop Excisio. She loves the Grand Design and its people far too much to let them be destroyed," Electus replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then so be it. Whatever it takes to lock the other one back up. I have only one condition," Aedifex said.

"And what is that? Clean your realm for you?" Electus asked.

Aedifex looked confused. "Why would I ask that when I can create people to do that for me? No, I want you to make Excisio," Aedifex spat His name out like it was venom "suffer. Everything I've ever created, He destroys. He's a scourge upon the Grand Design and must suffer His fate."

"I will personally make sure He suffers, if that is what it takes to get you to help," Electus said.

"Then so be it. My barrier around Medeis is now gone. You may now approach her and set her free, though her powers remain sealed in the three obelisks," Aedifex said.

"I know," Electus said. "But we'll figure something out. We always do."

Author's Note:

Writing this stuff leading up to the climax is kind of hard. But I have things with which to utilize and, hopefully, can get this story written. Please, leave me a review telling me how incredibly awesome and epic my writing is or how truly horrible and awful it is.