TWO
Cole watched as Lucan and Mellock walked up to him through the swirling mists that were the home for the Avatars. He didn't know why they had sent for him. They had made it clear that getting the Slayer to trust him had been his top priority. He couldn't do that if he was up here.
"Cole," said Lucan, nodding to him slightly.
Mellock didn't say anything. He rarely did. He usually just started talking, telling Cole of the plans that needed to be completed. Cole got the distinct impression that Mellock was impatient about something. Unlike Lucan, who never seemed to betray his emotions. Nothing seemed to bother the elder Avatar. Something that Cole found decidedly odd.
"Why did you send for me?" Cole asked. "I've only just begun to interact with the Slayer. It's going to take more than my telling her about one werewolf for her to trust me."
"We know," said Lucan. "But there has been a.... complication. The Slayer is going to see the Charmed Ones. She will undoubtedly tell them about you in the hope that they will be able to tell her who you are."
"That's a problem," said Cole. "The girls think I'm dead. If they figure out who I am...."
"Precisely why we had you use a false name," said Mellock. "None of us use our real names when we interact with mortals. Her description of you can fit any number of people. I doubt they'll figure out it's you. As you said, they believe you to be dead."
"But what if they do?" asked Cole. "And why would Buffy be going to see them anyway? She's rarely sought outside help before. With her human Watcher and her friends she's usually been able to handle whatever she's come up against."
"It's different this time," said Mellock. "She's not exactly going to them. They're going to bring her to them. They're fighting a particular demon and they believe she can help them."
"Which demon?" Cole asked. "Why would they need the help of the Slayer to fight a demon? They have the Book of Shadows and the help of an Elder. Not to mention their White Lighter."
"It's a demon the Slayer has fought before," said Lucan. "They are simply seeking out the Slayer to find out what she might know about this demon. That's not a very unusual occurrence. The Charmed Ones often do research to learn about their adversary."
"Still," said Cole, "I find it odd that they would take her to the manor instead of just going to talk to her. If there's a demon after them it would put Buffy in danger and that's something they don't normally do."
"That particular matter is actually incidental," said Mellock. "We just thought we'd let you know what was going on. So that you can make sure you don't appear to the Slayer while one of the Charmed Ones is around. If they discover you're still alive, and that you're helping the Slayer, they're sure to tell her about you. I don't think that will sit well with her."
"No, it wouldn't," said Cole. "Especially from Phoebe. If they tell Buffy about my past she's sure to turn against me."
"Precisely," said Lucan. "However, this does present us with a unique opportunity to help you build the trust of the Slayer even further. The Charmed Ones don't know exactly which demon they are fighting. And the Slayer is not likely to be of any help to them based on the information they will give her. However, you can help her with that. Pass on some information about the demon that the Charmed Ones can use. When the Slayer sees that you're providing valuable information on the demon her trust in you should become more solidified."
"Okay," said Cole. "But I need to know what demon it is so I'll know what information to pass on."
"Call it a Sycophant," said Mellock. "I'm sure you're aware of those types of demons."
"Yes, I am," said Cole. "Bodiless demons that inhabit babies. They push the spirit of the child out and take over the body. They account for most of the psychopaths and serial killers throughout history."
"Yes," said Lucan. "This particular demon is after the Charmed Ones child. Wyatt, I believe his name is. While the Sycophant has not yet taken possession of the child's body, it is only a matter of time."
"That's hard to believe," said Cole. "Wyatt is such a powerful baby. And his power is only going to grow as he gets older. Sycophants don't normally go after magical babies because of the power they possess. It prevents them from taking control of the body."
"This is an exception," said Mellock. "In a short time the child will become vulnerable. Enough so that the Sycophant will be able to possess the child's body. It's a very narrow window of opportunity. One the Sycophant will make full use of."
"Okay," said Cole. "I'll let Buffy know so she can pass it onto the girls. I think there's an entry on Sycophants in the Book of Shadows. It will help them prepare a defense against the demon."
"Excellent," said Lucan. "Just be sure the Charmed Ones don't see you. It's important they do not know you've returned."
"I understand," said Cole. "I'll go see Buffy again when she's alone."
Cole watched as Lucan and Mellock walked away. As usual they gave him only enough information so that he would do what they wanted. And they avoided the questions he asked. A Sycophant demon made perfect sense. If one took control of Wyatt, its power would be staggering. Wyatt was a child of a Charmed One. He'd have access to those powers when he got older.
And if Cole had been anyone else, their little explanation might have fooled them. But Cole was half demon. And a former Source. Not to mention he'd actually survived the Wasteland twice. Even if Wyatt were at deaths' door, the magic he possessed would make him much too powerful for any Sycophant demon. These demons preferred the path of least resistance.
Which meant that the Avatars were using him. Just as he had been used his entire life. First by his mother, and then by the Triad, and finally by the Source. Even Phoebe and her sisters had used and manipulated Cole. Everyone wanted him to be what they wanted, not what he was. Or what he wanted to be.
Joining the Avatars had seemed like a good idea after Phoebe had vanquished him a second time. It no longer seemed like such a good idea. Once again the people who claimed to care about him and want only what's best for him were really just using him to further their own ends. That would end soon enough. As soon as he knew what they were up to, he'd make some changes.
Cole watched as Lucan and Mellock walked up to him through the swirling mists that were the home for the Avatars. He didn't know why they had sent for him. They had made it clear that getting the Slayer to trust him had been his top priority. He couldn't do that if he was up here.
"Cole," said Lucan, nodding to him slightly.
Mellock didn't say anything. He rarely did. He usually just started talking, telling Cole of the plans that needed to be completed. Cole got the distinct impression that Mellock was impatient about something. Unlike Lucan, who never seemed to betray his emotions. Nothing seemed to bother the elder Avatar. Something that Cole found decidedly odd.
"Why did you send for me?" Cole asked. "I've only just begun to interact with the Slayer. It's going to take more than my telling her about one werewolf for her to trust me."
"We know," said Lucan. "But there has been a.... complication. The Slayer is going to see the Charmed Ones. She will undoubtedly tell them about you in the hope that they will be able to tell her who you are."
"That's a problem," said Cole. "The girls think I'm dead. If they figure out who I am...."
"Precisely why we had you use a false name," said Mellock. "None of us use our real names when we interact with mortals. Her description of you can fit any number of people. I doubt they'll figure out it's you. As you said, they believe you to be dead."
"But what if they do?" asked Cole. "And why would Buffy be going to see them anyway? She's rarely sought outside help before. With her human Watcher and her friends she's usually been able to handle whatever she's come up against."
"It's different this time," said Mellock. "She's not exactly going to them. They're going to bring her to them. They're fighting a particular demon and they believe she can help them."
"Which demon?" Cole asked. "Why would they need the help of the Slayer to fight a demon? They have the Book of Shadows and the help of an Elder. Not to mention their White Lighter."
"It's a demon the Slayer has fought before," said Lucan. "They are simply seeking out the Slayer to find out what she might know about this demon. That's not a very unusual occurrence. The Charmed Ones often do research to learn about their adversary."
"Still," said Cole, "I find it odd that they would take her to the manor instead of just going to talk to her. If there's a demon after them it would put Buffy in danger and that's something they don't normally do."
"That particular matter is actually incidental," said Mellock. "We just thought we'd let you know what was going on. So that you can make sure you don't appear to the Slayer while one of the Charmed Ones is around. If they discover you're still alive, and that you're helping the Slayer, they're sure to tell her about you. I don't think that will sit well with her."
"No, it wouldn't," said Cole. "Especially from Phoebe. If they tell Buffy about my past she's sure to turn against me."
"Precisely," said Lucan. "However, this does present us with a unique opportunity to help you build the trust of the Slayer even further. The Charmed Ones don't know exactly which demon they are fighting. And the Slayer is not likely to be of any help to them based on the information they will give her. However, you can help her with that. Pass on some information about the demon that the Charmed Ones can use. When the Slayer sees that you're providing valuable information on the demon her trust in you should become more solidified."
"Okay," said Cole. "But I need to know what demon it is so I'll know what information to pass on."
"Call it a Sycophant," said Mellock. "I'm sure you're aware of those types of demons."
"Yes, I am," said Cole. "Bodiless demons that inhabit babies. They push the spirit of the child out and take over the body. They account for most of the psychopaths and serial killers throughout history."
"Yes," said Lucan. "This particular demon is after the Charmed Ones child. Wyatt, I believe his name is. While the Sycophant has not yet taken possession of the child's body, it is only a matter of time."
"That's hard to believe," said Cole. "Wyatt is such a powerful baby. And his power is only going to grow as he gets older. Sycophants don't normally go after magical babies because of the power they possess. It prevents them from taking control of the body."
"This is an exception," said Mellock. "In a short time the child will become vulnerable. Enough so that the Sycophant will be able to possess the child's body. It's a very narrow window of opportunity. One the Sycophant will make full use of."
"Okay," said Cole. "I'll let Buffy know so she can pass it onto the girls. I think there's an entry on Sycophants in the Book of Shadows. It will help them prepare a defense against the demon."
"Excellent," said Lucan. "Just be sure the Charmed Ones don't see you. It's important they do not know you've returned."
"I understand," said Cole. "I'll go see Buffy again when she's alone."
Cole watched as Lucan and Mellock walked away. As usual they gave him only enough information so that he would do what they wanted. And they avoided the questions he asked. A Sycophant demon made perfect sense. If one took control of Wyatt, its power would be staggering. Wyatt was a child of a Charmed One. He'd have access to those powers when he got older.
And if Cole had been anyone else, their little explanation might have fooled them. But Cole was half demon. And a former Source. Not to mention he'd actually survived the Wasteland twice. Even if Wyatt were at deaths' door, the magic he possessed would make him much too powerful for any Sycophant demon. These demons preferred the path of least resistance.
Which meant that the Avatars were using him. Just as he had been used his entire life. First by his mother, and then by the Triad, and finally by the Source. Even Phoebe and her sisters had used and manipulated Cole. Everyone wanted him to be what they wanted, not what he was. Or what he wanted to be.
Joining the Avatars had seemed like a good idea after Phoebe had vanquished him a second time. It no longer seemed like such a good idea. Once again the people who claimed to care about him and want only what's best for him were really just using him to further their own ends. That would end soon enough. As soon as he knew what they were up to, he'd make some changes.