Chapter 218
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Note: All the characters mentioned in this chapter are from the original version of "Charmed." Also, this marks exactly 100 consecutive days that I've been posting this story. I just want to thank all my fans who made it worth the effort.
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When Phoebe thought about it, it mad sense that her son would choose the name Benjamin. This was the name of Cole's father, his human father. Perhaps there was some hope for him, that he would choose a name of his human side. And yet here he was, ruler of this mini-kingdom. Phoebe asked something else of Hondo, he said he'd put it on their tab. In the meantime, the heroes used this opportunity to learn about Benjamin's rule. Not suprisingly his control over the area was less than absolute, the politics in Hell were usually chaotic. However, many of the people that the heroes spoke with seemed to prefer Benjamin's rule. He mae sure that everyone had access to food, water, medicine. There didn't seem to be many people begging on the streets or wearing rags. This ofcourse did not mean that there weren't some who would prefer others in charge. They wanted excitement, the kind of gladiator games from Rome. They wanted to enrich themselves through exploiting others, they wanted to be able to own enslaved peoples for themselves. These forces could very well overthrow Benjamin, and he took certain "precautions" against this. His chief advisor was the Seer. Phoebe remembered the Seer well, she had been the Source's top minion. When the Source got desperate enough to use the Hollow against the charmed ones, the Seer betrayed him and worked with the charmed ones to destroy the Source. Then the Seer helped Cole to become the new Source, suppossedly to gain power for herself through him. After the Halliwell's destroyed Cole the Seer made a play to become the Source, by stealing Phoebe's unborn child. But that power could not be contained, it destroyed the Seer, the unborn Benjamin, and much of the Underworld's leadership. Now the Seer was making the best life she could for herself in Hell, allying with Benjamin and warning him of potential threats. Phoebe wondered, how many of these enemies were really threats and how many were just dissenters that the Seer wanted dead. How reliable was her advice? Still, the forces fighting against Benjamin were led by Zankou, a powerful demon who had been exiled by the Source. Zankou had briefly been allied with the Halliwells against the avatars. But that alliance ended once the avatars surrendered and returned free will to the world. Zankou was smarter than most demons, more rational. He defeated the avatars and was the only demon who actually tricked the Book of Shadows into allowing him to touch it, and use it's power for Evil. Now Zankou was manipulating these damned humans, promising them luxury and pleasure in exchange for power for himself. Benjamin was a better leader than Zankou, but was still fairly brutal when it was neccessary. As the heroes were talking to people about this, they were approached by a familiar face. This was Julie, a demon and rival of Phoebe. When Cole was in the process of becoming the Source Julie was his secretary, but she was also trying to manipulate him. To seduce Cole and steal Phoebe's unborn child, to become queen of the Underworld herself. When Julie attacked Phoebe, Phoebe killed her in self-defense.
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Phoebe: What do you want?
Julie: My son wishes to speak with you.
Phoebe: Your son? You don't mean...
Julie: Yes. You denied me the power in life. But here in Hell, I have raised this child to fulfill his true destiny.
Phoebe: He is not your son.
Julie: Not biologically no. But you let him be destroyed, just moved on. I have been his true mother. And now, he wishes to see you, alone. Maybe he wants to kill you, maybe he just wants to talk. Either way, he just wants you.
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Phoebe still hoped she could reach her son, the best way to do that was to start by building trust. Phoebe told her friends to wait while she went to see Benjamin.