SIX
"You would just give the book to me?" asked Lornok.
"Of course," said Martin. "It would do me no good. The book is good. I couldn't use its power. But you, however, could find a way to destroy it."
"Perhaps," said Lornok. "At the very least, it would be out of their hands forever. What do you get out of this?"
"Two things," said Martin. "First, I get the witch's powers. Once I take the book, I'll have no more use for her. So I'll just kill her and steal her powers."
"Seems only fair," said Lornok. "You said two things."
"Yes," said Martin. "How do you think the Source is going to react when he discovers you not only have the Book of Shadows, but you also arranged for the destruction of the Charmed Ones?"
"I imagine he'll be quite pleased," said Lornok.
"I imagine so," said Martin. "In fact, I imagine he'll be so pleased he'll reward you appropriately. Probably a promotion in the ranks, greater power, more authority, something along those lines."
"It wouldn't surprise me at all," said Lornok.
"That's all I ask for," said Martin. "A position within your hierarchy. A significant position."
"Commanding demons, no doubt," said Lornok.
"No doubt," said Martin, smiling.
"Many would think that as inappropriate," said Lornok.
"Not for one who stole the Book of Shadows," said Martin, "and destroyed the Power of Three. It would be just compensation for a job well done. Especially coming from the demon who only recently became the favorite of the Source."
"True," said Lornok. "Under those circumstances, my word would carry a great deal of weight."
"And your enemies would have to think very hard before they attacked you," said Martin, "for fear of angering the Source."
"You seem to have thought this through very carefully," said Lornok.
"Oh, I have," said Martin. "Warlocks have always been considered the bastards of the underworld. Those evil cousins no one wants to talk about because we had the misfortune to be born human.
"This is going to change all that. We'll finally get the respect we deserve. When a warlock brings down the famous Charmed Ones, we can never be looked on as second class citizens again."
"You're more insolent than I thought," said Lornok. "And more arrogant."
"It's not arrogance if you really are that good," said Martin. "I am. I'll prove it when I kill the witch and give you the book."
"You pull this off," said Lornok, "and I'll pay your price. A position high enough in my hierarchy that no demon would dare be disrespectful to you. At least, not to your face. Just make sure your ambition doesn't out step your ability."
"I have no desire to replace you," said Martin. "I like living in the mortal realm. I wouldn't want to relocate to the underworld. You don't have to worry about that."
"Just make it stays that way," said Lornok. "How long before this is finished?"
"One day," said Martin, "maybe two. I'm very close now. I don't want to risk messing it up by appearing too accommodating or too eager. If I agree to let her to go to the manor too readily, she might become suspicious."
"Good thinking," said Lornok. "I'll expect to hear from you as soon as it's finished."
"You will," said Martin.
Lornok flamed out and was gone. Martin relaxed. That had actually been easier than he had expected. Lornok was one of the most suspicious demons in the underworld. Martin had expected to do a lot more convincing.
Now, it was almost over. For nearly three years the Charmed Ones had vanquished demons and warlocks alike. They had seemed all but unstoppable. Now, he would put an end to that. With virtually no risk to himself. Prue Halliwell would remove the book from the manor and then her part in this would be done. He'd make sure her death was quick and relatively painless. He owed her that much after what she was going to do for him.
Martin smiled to himself. Every warlock in the world would be grateful for what he was doing. He'd become the most celebrated warlock in history. And he would be commanding demons. He had a lot of plans to make for the future.
"You would just give the book to me?" asked Lornok.
"Of course," said Martin. "It would do me no good. The book is good. I couldn't use its power. But you, however, could find a way to destroy it."
"Perhaps," said Lornok. "At the very least, it would be out of their hands forever. What do you get out of this?"
"Two things," said Martin. "First, I get the witch's powers. Once I take the book, I'll have no more use for her. So I'll just kill her and steal her powers."
"Seems only fair," said Lornok. "You said two things."
"Yes," said Martin. "How do you think the Source is going to react when he discovers you not only have the Book of Shadows, but you also arranged for the destruction of the Charmed Ones?"
"I imagine he'll be quite pleased," said Lornok.
"I imagine so," said Martin. "In fact, I imagine he'll be so pleased he'll reward you appropriately. Probably a promotion in the ranks, greater power, more authority, something along those lines."
"It wouldn't surprise me at all," said Lornok.
"That's all I ask for," said Martin. "A position within your hierarchy. A significant position."
"Commanding demons, no doubt," said Lornok.
"No doubt," said Martin, smiling.
"Many would think that as inappropriate," said Lornok.
"Not for one who stole the Book of Shadows," said Martin, "and destroyed the Power of Three. It would be just compensation for a job well done. Especially coming from the demon who only recently became the favorite of the Source."
"True," said Lornok. "Under those circumstances, my word would carry a great deal of weight."
"And your enemies would have to think very hard before they attacked you," said Martin, "for fear of angering the Source."
"You seem to have thought this through very carefully," said Lornok.
"Oh, I have," said Martin. "Warlocks have always been considered the bastards of the underworld. Those evil cousins no one wants to talk about because we had the misfortune to be born human.
"This is going to change all that. We'll finally get the respect we deserve. When a warlock brings down the famous Charmed Ones, we can never be looked on as second class citizens again."
"You're more insolent than I thought," said Lornok. "And more arrogant."
"It's not arrogance if you really are that good," said Martin. "I am. I'll prove it when I kill the witch and give you the book."
"You pull this off," said Lornok, "and I'll pay your price. A position high enough in my hierarchy that no demon would dare be disrespectful to you. At least, not to your face. Just make sure your ambition doesn't out step your ability."
"I have no desire to replace you," said Martin. "I like living in the mortal realm. I wouldn't want to relocate to the underworld. You don't have to worry about that."
"Just make it stays that way," said Lornok. "How long before this is finished?"
"One day," said Martin, "maybe two. I'm very close now. I don't want to risk messing it up by appearing too accommodating or too eager. If I agree to let her to go to the manor too readily, she might become suspicious."
"Good thinking," said Lornok. "I'll expect to hear from you as soon as it's finished."
"You will," said Martin.
Lornok flamed out and was gone. Martin relaxed. That had actually been easier than he had expected. Lornok was one of the most suspicious demons in the underworld. Martin had expected to do a lot more convincing.
Now, it was almost over. For nearly three years the Charmed Ones had vanquished demons and warlocks alike. They had seemed all but unstoppable. Now, he would put an end to that. With virtually no risk to himself. Prue Halliwell would remove the book from the manor and then her part in this would be done. He'd make sure her death was quick and relatively painless. He owed her that much after what she was going to do for him.
Martin smiled to himself. Every warlock in the world would be grateful for what he was doing. He'd become the most celebrated warlock in history. And he would be commanding demons. He had a lot of plans to make for the future.