TWENTY-NINE

"There's got to be something we can do," said Prue. "We can't just hide out down here and hope for the best."

"I wish there was something we could do," said Leo. "But the Elders have checked with every source they have. There's just no way for them to locate her. Wherever they're holding her is very well protected."

"What about you, Cole?" Piper asked. "You must have a lot of connections in the underworld. Isn't there some way for you to find her?"

"I don't think any demon would be willing to help find the mother of the Charmed Ones," said Cole. "The prophecies claim that the Charmed Ones will be the ultimate bane of the underworld. You'd be hard pressed to find any demon willing to help fulfill that prophecy."

"We know where Nostradamus is," said Phoebe. "If we can get him back to the underworld Tempus can reset the timeline. Then none of this will have taken place."

"And if it doesn't work?" Prue asked. "What if Tempus can't fix things? As soon as the government figures out what's going on they'll kill mom and we'll be worse off than we are now. No, we have to save mom first. That way we won't have worry about her if your plan to reset the timeline doesn't work."

"Okay," said Phoebe. "I guess you're right. But we're kind of stuck right now. We're no closer to finding mom than we were yesterday. And Leo says their broadcasting our pictures all over the place. If we appear in public someone is sure to recognize us. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Look, they don't know about me yet," said Paige. "Maybe if I go back to the studio I can find out something. I do have a great many sources. One of them might know something or be able to find out something."

"No," said Leo, "that's too dangerous. You're a witch now. If you're scanned even one time they'll know you for what you are. And there's no telling what they'll do when they find out."

"I can continue to check around," said Cole. "If the underworld doesn't know why I'm checking they'll be more inclined to help. What information Leo did find out wasn't much but it might be enough to find out more."

"What information?" Piper asked.

"It's hardly worth mentioning," said Leo. "Bits and pieces, really. Nothing concrete."

"What kinds of bits and pieces?" Phoebe asked.

"It's really nothing," said Leo. "Nothing that would be of any use."

"Then there's no reason not to tell us," said Prue.

"Okay," said Leo. "The Elders did discover that a powerful witch was captured several years ago. We naturally assumed it was your mother. And they discovered she's being held in some kind of special prison but they don't know where or what kind of prison. And there was something about a key but that part is not real clear?"

"Key?" questioned Paige. "Hey, that little demon in the bar said something about a key. And he also said something about a special prison."

"Well that doesn't take a whole lot of imagination to make up," said Prue.

"What demon?" Cole asked.

Phoebe told him about their encounter with the drunk demon in the bar.

"That's interesting," said Cole. "Leo also mentioned that the special prison was hidden underground. It's interesting he should 'make up' that little bit of information."

"You think that demon knows something?" Piper asked.

"Years ago," said Cole, "before the witch hunts started in earnest, demons inhabited nearly every walk of life. The demon you described could be an information gatherer. Very low level but with a human form. They were often used to gain information used by their masters in the underworld.

"When the detection scanners were first introduced a lot of these information gatherers got scared. They knew what happened to demons when they were discovered. More than a few of them deserted their posts. It's quite possible that some of them made their way here."

"So he might actually have information on mom?" Prue asked.

"There's only one way to find out," said Cole. "We need to talk to him."

"I don't think it will do much good," said Paige. "He claims he won't tell us anything without some kind of payment. What he expects for payment I can only guess at."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that too much," said Cole, smiling coyly. "These information gatherers are basically cowards. Especially when faced with a more powerful demon. I'm sure we can get him to tell us what we want to know without too much trouble."

The group immediately went out into the bar to look for the inebriated demon they had spoken to earlier. They searched the entire room without success. Finally, Cole went over to Gangus and spoke to him for a few minutes. When he was finished, he came back over to the group.

"The demons' name is Lorto," said Cole. "He's been hiding down here for years like a lot of the other gatherers. According to Gangus he worked at a scientific research center before coming here. He's always trying to earn some money by 'selling' his information to whomever will listen."

"Did Gangus know where he is right now?" Leo asked.

"He said he's probably in his room," said Cole. "He shares a room with several other low level demons. He'll drink until he gets drunk then he passes out in his room. He's probably there right now."

"Let's go," said Piper. "Let's see if he knows anything."

Cole led them down the hallways of the Overworld to a small room in the back. Cole didn't knock but simply opened the door and walked right in. Three demons were currently lounging in the room including Lorto.

"Get out," Cole ordered.

"Hey, you can't do that," said one of the demons. "This is our room. You can't just come in and tell us to get out."

"I suggest you get out before you make me angry," said Cole, his eyes flashing.

"And what are you going to do about it?" said another of the demons, gathering his courage. "No violence here, remember?"

"Of course not," said Cole. "But that doesn't mean I can't shimmer you to the underworld. I'm sure there's an upper level demon that would be glad to see you again."

Fear showed on the demons' faces. Without another word two of them simply left the room. Lorto lay on one of the beds in a stupor. Cole walked over and grabbed the demon pulling him out of the bed.

"Hello, Lorto. I have some friends here who would like to talk to you."

"What?" questioned the demon, opening his eyes. "Oh, the pretty witches. Change your mind have you? How much is my information worth to you then?"

"Oh, you don't understand," said Cole. "They aren't going to pay you. You're going to tell them what they want to know. And you're going to tell them now."

"Oh, I can't do that," said Lorto. "What I know is worth a lot. Especially to witches. I could make quite a little bundle with what I know."

"Look, you little toad," said Cole. "You're lucky Gangus let's you stay here at all. He might not be so agreeable if he learns you've been causing trouble. Spreading rumors trying to get demons to fight for your own amusement."

"I ain't doing that," protested Lorto in fear becoming fully sober.

"Who do you think he's going to believe?" Cole asked. "You or me? And what do you think he'll do when I tell him?"

"He . . . he'll kick me out," stammered the little demon. "You can't do that. If my master finds me he'll vanquish me."

"Yes, he will," said Cole. "And I'll make sure he knows exactly where you are. I'm not an outcast like you. I can go to the underworld any time I want to. Now, tell us what you know about the witch or I'll go have a chat with Gangus right now."

"No, no, I'll tell you," said the demon. "It's an old bunker. They used to use it for genetic experiments. I was assigned there to learn what they discovered. I wasn't important. Just a janitor. But I could get around without being detected. When the humans passed laws against genetic engineering they closed the place down."

"What does that have to do with our mother?" Prue demanded.

"When they discovered who she was – the mother of the Charmed Ones – they took her there. There was a room on the lowest level. I never did learn what it was used for. But they converted it into a prison for her. Put charms around the room so she couldn't use her powers. She's guarded night and day."

"You said something about a key," said Piper. "Some kind of special key we'd need to get her out."

"Yeah, yeah," said the demon. "It's a special key that only two people have. Commissioner Morris has one of them. The other one is kept by the head of the complex. You can't get to the lowest level without it. But he could get down there." He looked at Cole. "He could just shimmer down there. Of course you still gotta deal with the guards. That should be easy for him."

"Where is this bunker?" Cole demanded.

"It's under the federal building in San Francisco," said Lorto. "There are two basements to the building that's available to the public. Below that are four levels no one knows about. Below that is the room you want. It's about a hundred feet below the lowest level."

"Anything else?" Prue asked. "What about the special protection you mentioned?"

"It's those charms I told you about," said Lorto. "They nullify a witches' powers. And they got armed guards all over the place. It's a real fortress."

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Cole asked, letting the little demon go.

"What about Gangus?" the demon asked. "What are you going to tell him?"

"Nothing," said Cole. "Provided no one learns what you just told me. Just go back to sleep and forget this ever happened and you won't have to worry about me again. But you breathe one word of this to anyone and I'm coming back. And if I do your master is the last demon you'll have to worry about."

"No, no, I won't say nothing. Promise. I'll keep my mouth shut. You'll see. You can trust me. I won't say a word."

"Just see that you don't," said Cole.

"I know the building he's talking about," said Paige when they had returned to their room. "You'd never now there was a secret bunker below that building. But that demon is right. That place is guarded like Fort Knox."

"Then we go get her now," said Prue. "Leo and Cole can get us in there and we can get her out."

"Hang on," said Leo. "That's not a good idea. Remember what Lorto said? There are charms that will prevent you from using your powers. If you go down there you'll be at risk and unable to protect yourself."

"But," Piper began to protest.

"No, he's right," said Cole. "They're ready for any witches that might try to rescue her. But they won't be ready for a demon."

"What about the armed guards?" Phoebe asked. "Their weapons could be a real threat to you."

"Only if they get a chance to use them," said Cole. "That's kind of hard to do when you can shimmer in unannounced."

"It will still be dangerous," said Leo. "Maybe I should come with you."

"You're a White Lighter," said Cole. "You don't have any offensive powers. You'd just be in the way."

"And you're a demon," said Cole. "What do you think the chances are that Patty is going to go with you even if you are able to get her out? She won't trust you. But she'll trust me. As you say, I'm a White Lighter. She's more likely to trust me than you."

"You have a point," said Cole. "Okay. We both go get her. But you stay out of the way. I may have to do some things you wouldn't approve of but I can't be arguing with you over the ethics of my methods. Your only job is to take the witch out of the prison. Nothing more."

"Understood," said Leo. "Just try to keep the killing to a minimum."

"No promises," said Cole, smiling. He turned to the girls. "You'll be safe here until we return. Under the circumstances it would probably be best if you stayed in here."

"Just make sure you get her out of that prison," said Prue. "Unharmed. If anything happens to her I'm holding you personally responsible."

"She'll be okay," said Cole. "Very soon you'll be reunited with your precious mother. And once you are we can go after this Nostradamus and get him back to the underworld."

"Just get our mother here," said Piper.

Cole just smiled. "Let's go, White Lighter. The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can get on with more important tasks."

Prue just glared at Cole as he shimmered out of the room. She knew he had chosen his words deliberately. He was a demon and she was a witch. Even if they did have to work together he just couldn't resist the opportunity to rub in the fact that he didn't care whether their mother was free or not. But it was a necessary evil she had to contend with if she hoped to have her mother back safe and sound.