Can we say LOOOOONG chapter everyone?
Ernie: Long. Chapter.
Ernie!!! You take the fun out of everything!
Please forgive my recent and slight absence. Hope this chapter makes up for it. It's a lot longer than I planned for it to be, and easily the longest chapter in the story.
Thank you to all those who make my day with their wonderful reviews. You know who you are . . .
Please, please, please review. . .
Ernie: We. Will. Be. Eternally. Grateful.
Yes, we will Ernie, yes we will.
*****************
Chapter 29: A game of "I Spy"
As Valdis walked through the dark corridors of the Underworld, he felt the, by now familiar mixture of dread and excitement, he felt every time he was to meet the Source. His footsteps echoed in the silence that seemed to envelop the Source's underground palace.
Valdis stopped in front of the enormous, wooden doors of the Great Hall. He took a minute to compose himself, and knocked loudly. The doors burst open as a deep voice ordered him to enter.
"Ah, young Valdis," the voice said, not unpleasantly.
Valdis walked slowly across the large room to stand before the dark figure sitting on what could only be described as a throne. When he could finally see the Source in the dim light of candles, Valdis bowed deeply.
"Command me my liege," he said respectfully.
There was only one other person in the room. Valdis recognised the old man with the silver hair and sparkling blue eyes, as Xander, the Source's right hand, his most trusted confidant. Xander was standing by the throne like he always did. Much was whispered about him in the Underworld, but little was in actual fact known. The only thing that everyone was certain of was the devotion Xander had to the Source. Yet no one seemed to know the reason for this devotion.
The Source stood up from his black marble throne. Cole's eyes glittered in anticipation of learning news of his daughter.
"How is she, Valdis?" he asked unable to keep the interest or the warm tone, out of his voice.
"She is well, my Lord." Valdis hesitated slightly before continuing. Only Xander noticed. "She has a new boyfriend."
"A boyfriend?" The Source seemed startled by the news.
"A mortal, highness. I believe his name is Josh." Valdis forced himself not to grimace at the horrible aftertaste Josh's name left in his mouth.
"He poses no threat?"
"I. . . find it doubtful, sir."
The Source stayed silent for a while. He seemed to the other two, to be battling with himself. It was an internal struggle Valdis became very interested in. Cole had always taken a rather "healthy" interest in his daughter's boyfriends. But then again, her previous boyfriends had all been demons. This particular boyfriend however, was a mortal, and his daughter deserved a little happiness in her life. He finally relented.
"Keep an eye on this boyfriend, Valdis."
Valdis forced the disappointment out of his voice. When he answered, his face and tone were expressionless.
"Yes milord."
The Source proceeded to pace around the room.
"Demon attacks?"
"No demons, but there has been one warlock this week."
Cole paused in his pacing.
"What happened?"
"Baurbatour. He attacked both the Princess and her cousin on their way home from school three days ago. He ran off before they could vanquish him. The fool's mistake lay in not giving up while he was still alive.
"He stupidly attacked them again that very same night at the Haliwell manor. Not only were two of the Charmed Ones home when the attack happened, but apparently, the Princess and her cousin had already done their research on Baurbatour in their Book of Shadows."
"If I remember correctly," interrupted the Source, "Baurbatour's weakness was extreme cold."
Valdis nodded solemnly.
"They were expecting him with the air conditioning on. Needless to say, Baurbatour is no more."
Had the demons in the room been any other than the ones they were, they would have visibly winced at the imagery Valdis' colds words, expressionless as they were, implied.
Cole did not wonder how a pure blooded demon like Valdis knew about something as non-magical as air condition. Valdis was a smart young man, cruel and ambitious, yet Cole was sure that there was more to the young demon than that. Valdis was a complex man, a man of many layers, somewhat of a rarity in the Underworld. If Cole was asked, he would admit that the young demon reminded him very much of himself before he had met Phoebe. That was part of the reason why Cole trusted Valdis with this most important of missions, despite Cole's awareness of Valdis' father's ambitions. He knew better than to trust DADA with anything he could use against him. But Valdis was not his father and Valdis had something that few demons had. A sense of honour. Cole doubted that he would betray the Source for his father's petty ambitions.
"What about her relationship with the witches? Her cousin?"
"She seems particularly close to her mother and she gets along nicely with her aunts. But she is perhaps closest to her cousin. They spend an incredible amount of time together. They have definitely accepted her as one of the family. I've never realised how close and family oriented the Charmed Ones are."
Cole repressed a sigh from rising to his lips.
"Yes. They have to be. The Power of Three depends on their bond as sisters."
Valdis couldn't stop himself. He was a demon after all.
"And if that were broken?"
"The Power of Three would be lost to them."
Cole could practically see the wheels turning behind Valdis' thoughtful expression.
"Don't bother," he said. "Nothing and no one has ever been able to break the Power of Three. Only one demon ever came close to it, and even he failed."
"Who?" Valdis asked.
An awkward silence fell in the Great Hall. Valdis looked strangely at the Source who seemed lost in his own world.
It was Xander who finally answered. Valdis watched him walk down the steps he had been standing on, next to the throne. The old man stood next to his king and placed a comforting hand on the Source's shoulder, but it was Valdis he faced when he finally spoke.
"His name was Belthazaur."
***************
She walked steadily through the corridors and caverns of the Underworld. Talia's determined face was hidden by the hood of a long black cloak. Under the hood she was wearing a short, violently red wig and was decked completely in leather. Only the highest level demons had ever seen her face, but she was taking no chances as she walked into the bar.
The bar in question was dark and filthy, an establishment of the worst kind. It was also a known demon hang out, and for anyone looking for the kind of information Talia was, it was a wealth of knowledge.
There were demons of all kinds present. There seemed to be a larger collection and variety of horns, sharp teeth and skin colours than was ever imagined in anyone's nightmares, but of course most demons looked almost human. Talia knew first hand how useful that appearance was in their. . . line of work.
When Talia had been part of this world she had often come to this bar with her cronies. She had never allowed herself to believe that any of her so- called "friends" had been anything else. She was the Princess of the Underworld back then. Revered, feared, and her every whim was to be obeyed if one expected to live.
Following her father's instructions she had covered her face at almost all times with a black mask. She had been the Source's most treasured assassin back then, and she had soon discovered that her anonymity without the infamous mask would come in useful in her assignments. Back then all knew the beauty in the black mask to be the Source's own daughter. She had been wild and free, alluring and at the same time forbidden. Fire and ice all rolled in one. She had soon discovered her hold over the male species and she had used it to her full advantage, to the dismay of her father and Xander who tried in vain to keep up with her torrid conquests. Yet even in the throes of passion she never allowed herself to forget who she was, and she never, ever took off her mask.
She perched herself on the stained stool and motioned at the barman. In places like this she missed the safety of her old mask, but wearing it, would have been a dead give away.
"Johnny Black. Neat."
The barman placed an almost clean glass in front of her and poured the amber liquid in it. Talia looked into its golden depths before taking a first sip. She let the alcohol burn its way into her stomach and sighed with pleasure at the warmth it placed there.
It took her a few seconds to make the connection she should have made days ago at the football match when she had uncovered the plot against Josh.
She had always worn a mask in the underworld, even as a small child. Only at officious ceremonies and with her father and Xander did she ever take the mask off. Consequentially, only the highest level demons could recognise her without it. Nemos and Deimos, the two demons she had captured at the football game, and whose names she had found out afterwards in the Book of Shadows, were as low level as you could get, yet they had recognised her without her mask.
Talia's eyes widened in realisation.
This meant that whoever sent the two demons after Josh knew not only who she was and what she looked like, but was aware of her relationship with their intended victim. Why else would they have described her to Nemos and Deimos in enough detail for them to recognise her?
With a grimace and a large gulp she finished off her drink.
It was her father who had instilled the appreciation of alcohol in her. On many nights, in their literary discussions and arguments, the two of them would lock themselves in the Sources' private library with a good bottle of whiskey or brandy and they would sit for hours talking. Talia had never seen her father drunk, and although she too drank, she had never allowed herself to become inebriated. Being drunk mean losing control and being he Source and the Princess of the Underworld was all about maintaining control.
Her father. Everything always came back to her father. Talia decided that she had to find out exactly what was going on and fast. She caught the eye of the bartender and motioned him towards her.
"Same," she said pointedly looking at her glass.
The large man behind the bar nodded curtly and hurried towards her with a bottle of her requested drink. The golden loop hanging from his ear would have given him a pirate's appearance if it weren't for the pair of small pointy horns protruding from his bald head. He looked familiar to Talia. His name was Jimmy she seemed to recall.
He once again poured the liquid in her glass. Before he had time to pull his hand away she placed hers on top of it.
"Wait."
The man looked up at her, a wary look in his eyes.
"Anything else I can you lady?"
His gruff voice betrayed his displeasure at being detained.
Talia placed a hand inside her cloak. Almost immediately it came out holding a small leather pouch.
"Some information," she said, throwing the pouch carelessly on the counter. The pouch landed with a heavy clung of metal against metal. There was no doubt as to what it contained.
Greed shone in Jimmy's eyes, as he took the pouch and opened it. The moment she saw the gold of the coins sparkling in his eyes she knew she owned him.
"Ask away, milady," he said with a toothy grin.
"There's a certain contract out, if I'm not mistaken."
The barman's eyes settled into a look of recognition. Talia could feel him reaching her desired conclusion. He thought her a bounty hunter.
"A mortal boy called Josh," she continued.
"I've heard about it. I hear it pays quite a bit, especially for a mortal and that's because apparently the kid has powerful protection. Information is sketchy on this one. Some guys from pretty high up are involved. I hear you have to contact them first before you can get any details."
"Names?"
"The only name I can give you is Remos."
Talia frowned in concentration trying to put a face to a name.
"Short, balding kind of man. Feeds off the life force of humans. Has a preference for teenagers, when their life force is at its highest."
"Yes," said the barman looking at her strangely. "You know him?"
"Never met the man. I thought you said there were some major players involved."
"There are, but no one really knows who they are. Some names are whispered of course, but one can't be sure."
Talia grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him roughly towards her. Her eyes bore into his, showing him that she meant business.
"Who put out the contract?" she asked emphasising every word.
"I don't know," Jimmy said calmly, but there was fear in his eyes. "Some say it's Dacremon, Perdicus and even Cremon, but it could be just rumours."
Talia let the man go reluctantly. The names he had just mentioned all belonged to members of the Evil Council, leader of which was the Source, her father. They were all powerful men, not to be reckoned with lightly. It was the next words that confirmed Talia's greatest fear.
"Some even say that it was the Source himself who ordered the hit."
Her father, her own father, had ordered the hit on Josh!
She already knew about the contract that had been taken out on her. The bounty hunters that had hounded her ever since she left the Underworld, had made sure of that. She had understood the necessity of her father's action. Talia had betrayed everything the Underworld stood for, and for the Source to do anything than what he did, would show weakness and that couldn't be allowed.
But the hit on Josh, knowing her involvement with him, was different. What other purpose would that serve other than to hurt her? Talia knew that her father had been angry when she had left the Underworld. Strangely enough however, part of her had hoped that he would understand. She had believed he would!
She felt her temper rising, but used all her willpower to make herself calm down, as she looked at the barman who was watching her closely. She would store this information at the back of her mind and deal with it later. She still had a few questions for the barman.
"What about Princess Talia?"
The Jimmy's face showed open hostility at her question for the first time.
"What about her?" he growled.
"I heard she left the Underworld."
"Old news," the barman narrowed his eyes at her. "You haven't been around much lately, have you?"
"I've been away, yes," Talia admitted.
"The little phoenix left the nest," confirmed the barman neutrally.
"Why would she do that?" said Talia feigning both surprise and disbelief. She was an accomplished liar after all. . .
The barman seemed to relax slightly, taking her interest to be no more than idle gossip and an attempt to start a more friendly conversation, now that "business" was taken care of.
"They say that there was an argument between her and the Source. She wanted to be a member of the Council. She resented him telling her what to do all the time, she wanted more power and he wouldn't give it to her.
"Not that one can blame him of course. She has plenty of power of her own, what with being his daughter and the daughter of a Charmed One. Had he given her any more power than what he already had, she would have been strong enough to compete against him for the throne, and the Source isn't stupid.
"They say the servants ran away in fear when the two of them fought. There was thunder and lightning everywhere. The earth shook."
The barman's eyes glittered with relish at the story he was narrating. Talia kept a straight face, albeit a fascinated one, with great effort.
"I've seen her angry before," he continued. "She used to come here all the time with her friends. She would laugh and play pool, flirt with all the men in here. . . Had them all drooling, she did.
"One of them got carried away once. He grabbed her in a way he had no right to, and kissed her.
"Not that she wasn't prone to a little bit of action herself from time to time, but she obviously had done nothing to encourage this demon. When he was done she smiled at him, and asked him if he enjoyed it. He nodded. She said, "Good" then she raised her hand and blasted him away, throwing him against the wall. When he collapsed on the floor she did it again, and again, until he was nothing but a mass of broken bones and blood. The she threw a ball of hellfire at him, and he died screaming."
Talia hid the look of guilt from her eyes. She remembered the incident only to well.
For some reason that she couldn't remember now, she had snapped when the filthy demon with the foul breath had touched her. His hands had groped her while his snake like tongue had invaded her mouth.
And so, she had killed him.
She had taken pleasure in killing him, she admitted. He had made her feel dirty and unclean and she had killed him, coolly and methodically like the professional she was. She had killed a man over a kiss.
The barman seemed oblivious to her thoughts.
"She was always nice to me, though. Gave quite a tip, her highness," he said smiling fondly. "Not like all the other high and mighty ones. She was always friendly.
"She'd march in here, always with company, and she'd smile at me and say "Jimmy", she'd say, "put some music, will you? And get us a drink." Brandy she'd drink, and whiskey. Neat. Like you. "The only way to drink it," she'd say."
Talia looked at the barman, feeling even more guilt than she had a few minutes ago. The man clearly adored her, and while she had struggled to remember his name, he had easily remembered everything she had ever done in this bar.
"Where is she now?" she asked.
"No one knows for certain. The official word, from the Source himself, says, that she has switched sides, that she is Good now and living with her mother and the other Charmed Ones. He even put a considerable price on her head, though I don't suggest you go after it, if you know what's good for you. I've seen her in action, remember? You don't want to mess with the Princess of All Evil.
"Personally I don't believe it. Yes, her mother may be a Charmed One, but Talia was brought up in the Underworld. She has been the Source's best assassin. There's no going back after that. No, Talia is as demon as you and me. She's hiding somewhere, she's bidding her time, waiting to pick her allies and claim the throne for herself. I know it."
The look in Jimmy's eyes was almost triumphant. Was that what all demons thought of her?
Talia needed time to think. She threw some more gold coins on the counter.
"Thanks for the drink, and the conversation," she told the barman, and picking up her glass and the bottle, which he had left on the counter, she moved towards a lonely table in one of the dimly lit corners of the bar.
"Your change," he called after her.
"Keep them."
Ernie: Long. Chapter.
Ernie!!! You take the fun out of everything!
Please forgive my recent and slight absence. Hope this chapter makes up for it. It's a lot longer than I planned for it to be, and easily the longest chapter in the story.
Thank you to all those who make my day with their wonderful reviews. You know who you are . . .
Please, please, please review. . .
Ernie: We. Will. Be. Eternally. Grateful.
Yes, we will Ernie, yes we will.
*****************
Chapter 29: A game of "I Spy"
As Valdis walked through the dark corridors of the Underworld, he felt the, by now familiar mixture of dread and excitement, he felt every time he was to meet the Source. His footsteps echoed in the silence that seemed to envelop the Source's underground palace.
Valdis stopped in front of the enormous, wooden doors of the Great Hall. He took a minute to compose himself, and knocked loudly. The doors burst open as a deep voice ordered him to enter.
"Ah, young Valdis," the voice said, not unpleasantly.
Valdis walked slowly across the large room to stand before the dark figure sitting on what could only be described as a throne. When he could finally see the Source in the dim light of candles, Valdis bowed deeply.
"Command me my liege," he said respectfully.
There was only one other person in the room. Valdis recognised the old man with the silver hair and sparkling blue eyes, as Xander, the Source's right hand, his most trusted confidant. Xander was standing by the throne like he always did. Much was whispered about him in the Underworld, but little was in actual fact known. The only thing that everyone was certain of was the devotion Xander had to the Source. Yet no one seemed to know the reason for this devotion.
The Source stood up from his black marble throne. Cole's eyes glittered in anticipation of learning news of his daughter.
"How is she, Valdis?" he asked unable to keep the interest or the warm tone, out of his voice.
"She is well, my Lord." Valdis hesitated slightly before continuing. Only Xander noticed. "She has a new boyfriend."
"A boyfriend?" The Source seemed startled by the news.
"A mortal, highness. I believe his name is Josh." Valdis forced himself not to grimace at the horrible aftertaste Josh's name left in his mouth.
"He poses no threat?"
"I. . . find it doubtful, sir."
The Source stayed silent for a while. He seemed to the other two, to be battling with himself. It was an internal struggle Valdis became very interested in. Cole had always taken a rather "healthy" interest in his daughter's boyfriends. But then again, her previous boyfriends had all been demons. This particular boyfriend however, was a mortal, and his daughter deserved a little happiness in her life. He finally relented.
"Keep an eye on this boyfriend, Valdis."
Valdis forced the disappointment out of his voice. When he answered, his face and tone were expressionless.
"Yes milord."
The Source proceeded to pace around the room.
"Demon attacks?"
"No demons, but there has been one warlock this week."
Cole paused in his pacing.
"What happened?"
"Baurbatour. He attacked both the Princess and her cousin on their way home from school three days ago. He ran off before they could vanquish him. The fool's mistake lay in not giving up while he was still alive.
"He stupidly attacked them again that very same night at the Haliwell manor. Not only were two of the Charmed Ones home when the attack happened, but apparently, the Princess and her cousin had already done their research on Baurbatour in their Book of Shadows."
"If I remember correctly," interrupted the Source, "Baurbatour's weakness was extreme cold."
Valdis nodded solemnly.
"They were expecting him with the air conditioning on. Needless to say, Baurbatour is no more."
Had the demons in the room been any other than the ones they were, they would have visibly winced at the imagery Valdis' colds words, expressionless as they were, implied.
Cole did not wonder how a pure blooded demon like Valdis knew about something as non-magical as air condition. Valdis was a smart young man, cruel and ambitious, yet Cole was sure that there was more to the young demon than that. Valdis was a complex man, a man of many layers, somewhat of a rarity in the Underworld. If Cole was asked, he would admit that the young demon reminded him very much of himself before he had met Phoebe. That was part of the reason why Cole trusted Valdis with this most important of missions, despite Cole's awareness of Valdis' father's ambitions. He knew better than to trust DADA with anything he could use against him. But Valdis was not his father and Valdis had something that few demons had. A sense of honour. Cole doubted that he would betray the Source for his father's petty ambitions.
"What about her relationship with the witches? Her cousin?"
"She seems particularly close to her mother and she gets along nicely with her aunts. But she is perhaps closest to her cousin. They spend an incredible amount of time together. They have definitely accepted her as one of the family. I've never realised how close and family oriented the Charmed Ones are."
Cole repressed a sigh from rising to his lips.
"Yes. They have to be. The Power of Three depends on their bond as sisters."
Valdis couldn't stop himself. He was a demon after all.
"And if that were broken?"
"The Power of Three would be lost to them."
Cole could practically see the wheels turning behind Valdis' thoughtful expression.
"Don't bother," he said. "Nothing and no one has ever been able to break the Power of Three. Only one demon ever came close to it, and even he failed."
"Who?" Valdis asked.
An awkward silence fell in the Great Hall. Valdis looked strangely at the Source who seemed lost in his own world.
It was Xander who finally answered. Valdis watched him walk down the steps he had been standing on, next to the throne. The old man stood next to his king and placed a comforting hand on the Source's shoulder, but it was Valdis he faced when he finally spoke.
"His name was Belthazaur."
***************
She walked steadily through the corridors and caverns of the Underworld. Talia's determined face was hidden by the hood of a long black cloak. Under the hood she was wearing a short, violently red wig and was decked completely in leather. Only the highest level demons had ever seen her face, but she was taking no chances as she walked into the bar.
The bar in question was dark and filthy, an establishment of the worst kind. It was also a known demon hang out, and for anyone looking for the kind of information Talia was, it was a wealth of knowledge.
There were demons of all kinds present. There seemed to be a larger collection and variety of horns, sharp teeth and skin colours than was ever imagined in anyone's nightmares, but of course most demons looked almost human. Talia knew first hand how useful that appearance was in their. . . line of work.
When Talia had been part of this world she had often come to this bar with her cronies. She had never allowed herself to believe that any of her so- called "friends" had been anything else. She was the Princess of the Underworld back then. Revered, feared, and her every whim was to be obeyed if one expected to live.
Following her father's instructions she had covered her face at almost all times with a black mask. She had been the Source's most treasured assassin back then, and she had soon discovered that her anonymity without the infamous mask would come in useful in her assignments. Back then all knew the beauty in the black mask to be the Source's own daughter. She had been wild and free, alluring and at the same time forbidden. Fire and ice all rolled in one. She had soon discovered her hold over the male species and she had used it to her full advantage, to the dismay of her father and Xander who tried in vain to keep up with her torrid conquests. Yet even in the throes of passion she never allowed herself to forget who she was, and she never, ever took off her mask.
She perched herself on the stained stool and motioned at the barman. In places like this she missed the safety of her old mask, but wearing it, would have been a dead give away.
"Johnny Black. Neat."
The barman placed an almost clean glass in front of her and poured the amber liquid in it. Talia looked into its golden depths before taking a first sip. She let the alcohol burn its way into her stomach and sighed with pleasure at the warmth it placed there.
It took her a few seconds to make the connection she should have made days ago at the football match when she had uncovered the plot against Josh.
She had always worn a mask in the underworld, even as a small child. Only at officious ceremonies and with her father and Xander did she ever take the mask off. Consequentially, only the highest level demons could recognise her without it. Nemos and Deimos, the two demons she had captured at the football game, and whose names she had found out afterwards in the Book of Shadows, were as low level as you could get, yet they had recognised her without her mask.
Talia's eyes widened in realisation.
This meant that whoever sent the two demons after Josh knew not only who she was and what she looked like, but was aware of her relationship with their intended victim. Why else would they have described her to Nemos and Deimos in enough detail for them to recognise her?
With a grimace and a large gulp she finished off her drink.
It was her father who had instilled the appreciation of alcohol in her. On many nights, in their literary discussions and arguments, the two of them would lock themselves in the Sources' private library with a good bottle of whiskey or brandy and they would sit for hours talking. Talia had never seen her father drunk, and although she too drank, she had never allowed herself to become inebriated. Being drunk mean losing control and being he Source and the Princess of the Underworld was all about maintaining control.
Her father. Everything always came back to her father. Talia decided that she had to find out exactly what was going on and fast. She caught the eye of the bartender and motioned him towards her.
"Same," she said pointedly looking at her glass.
The large man behind the bar nodded curtly and hurried towards her with a bottle of her requested drink. The golden loop hanging from his ear would have given him a pirate's appearance if it weren't for the pair of small pointy horns protruding from his bald head. He looked familiar to Talia. His name was Jimmy she seemed to recall.
He once again poured the liquid in her glass. Before he had time to pull his hand away she placed hers on top of it.
"Wait."
The man looked up at her, a wary look in his eyes.
"Anything else I can you lady?"
His gruff voice betrayed his displeasure at being detained.
Talia placed a hand inside her cloak. Almost immediately it came out holding a small leather pouch.
"Some information," she said, throwing the pouch carelessly on the counter. The pouch landed with a heavy clung of metal against metal. There was no doubt as to what it contained.
Greed shone in Jimmy's eyes, as he took the pouch and opened it. The moment she saw the gold of the coins sparkling in his eyes she knew she owned him.
"Ask away, milady," he said with a toothy grin.
"There's a certain contract out, if I'm not mistaken."
The barman's eyes settled into a look of recognition. Talia could feel him reaching her desired conclusion. He thought her a bounty hunter.
"A mortal boy called Josh," she continued.
"I've heard about it. I hear it pays quite a bit, especially for a mortal and that's because apparently the kid has powerful protection. Information is sketchy on this one. Some guys from pretty high up are involved. I hear you have to contact them first before you can get any details."
"Names?"
"The only name I can give you is Remos."
Talia frowned in concentration trying to put a face to a name.
"Short, balding kind of man. Feeds off the life force of humans. Has a preference for teenagers, when their life force is at its highest."
"Yes," said the barman looking at her strangely. "You know him?"
"Never met the man. I thought you said there were some major players involved."
"There are, but no one really knows who they are. Some names are whispered of course, but one can't be sure."
Talia grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him roughly towards her. Her eyes bore into his, showing him that she meant business.
"Who put out the contract?" she asked emphasising every word.
"I don't know," Jimmy said calmly, but there was fear in his eyes. "Some say it's Dacremon, Perdicus and even Cremon, but it could be just rumours."
Talia let the man go reluctantly. The names he had just mentioned all belonged to members of the Evil Council, leader of which was the Source, her father. They were all powerful men, not to be reckoned with lightly. It was the next words that confirmed Talia's greatest fear.
"Some even say that it was the Source himself who ordered the hit."
Her father, her own father, had ordered the hit on Josh!
She already knew about the contract that had been taken out on her. The bounty hunters that had hounded her ever since she left the Underworld, had made sure of that. She had understood the necessity of her father's action. Talia had betrayed everything the Underworld stood for, and for the Source to do anything than what he did, would show weakness and that couldn't be allowed.
But the hit on Josh, knowing her involvement with him, was different. What other purpose would that serve other than to hurt her? Talia knew that her father had been angry when she had left the Underworld. Strangely enough however, part of her had hoped that he would understand. She had believed he would!
She felt her temper rising, but used all her willpower to make herself calm down, as she looked at the barman who was watching her closely. She would store this information at the back of her mind and deal with it later. She still had a few questions for the barman.
"What about Princess Talia?"
The Jimmy's face showed open hostility at her question for the first time.
"What about her?" he growled.
"I heard she left the Underworld."
"Old news," the barman narrowed his eyes at her. "You haven't been around much lately, have you?"
"I've been away, yes," Talia admitted.
"The little phoenix left the nest," confirmed the barman neutrally.
"Why would she do that?" said Talia feigning both surprise and disbelief. She was an accomplished liar after all. . .
The barman seemed to relax slightly, taking her interest to be no more than idle gossip and an attempt to start a more friendly conversation, now that "business" was taken care of.
"They say that there was an argument between her and the Source. She wanted to be a member of the Council. She resented him telling her what to do all the time, she wanted more power and he wouldn't give it to her.
"Not that one can blame him of course. She has plenty of power of her own, what with being his daughter and the daughter of a Charmed One. Had he given her any more power than what he already had, she would have been strong enough to compete against him for the throne, and the Source isn't stupid.
"They say the servants ran away in fear when the two of them fought. There was thunder and lightning everywhere. The earth shook."
The barman's eyes glittered with relish at the story he was narrating. Talia kept a straight face, albeit a fascinated one, with great effort.
"I've seen her angry before," he continued. "She used to come here all the time with her friends. She would laugh and play pool, flirt with all the men in here. . . Had them all drooling, she did.
"One of them got carried away once. He grabbed her in a way he had no right to, and kissed her.
"Not that she wasn't prone to a little bit of action herself from time to time, but she obviously had done nothing to encourage this demon. When he was done she smiled at him, and asked him if he enjoyed it. He nodded. She said, "Good" then she raised her hand and blasted him away, throwing him against the wall. When he collapsed on the floor she did it again, and again, until he was nothing but a mass of broken bones and blood. The she threw a ball of hellfire at him, and he died screaming."
Talia hid the look of guilt from her eyes. She remembered the incident only to well.
For some reason that she couldn't remember now, she had snapped when the filthy demon with the foul breath had touched her. His hands had groped her while his snake like tongue had invaded her mouth.
And so, she had killed him.
She had taken pleasure in killing him, she admitted. He had made her feel dirty and unclean and she had killed him, coolly and methodically like the professional she was. She had killed a man over a kiss.
The barman seemed oblivious to her thoughts.
"She was always nice to me, though. Gave quite a tip, her highness," he said smiling fondly. "Not like all the other high and mighty ones. She was always friendly.
"She'd march in here, always with company, and she'd smile at me and say "Jimmy", she'd say, "put some music, will you? And get us a drink." Brandy she'd drink, and whiskey. Neat. Like you. "The only way to drink it," she'd say."
Talia looked at the barman, feeling even more guilt than she had a few minutes ago. The man clearly adored her, and while she had struggled to remember his name, he had easily remembered everything she had ever done in this bar.
"Where is she now?" she asked.
"No one knows for certain. The official word, from the Source himself, says, that she has switched sides, that she is Good now and living with her mother and the other Charmed Ones. He even put a considerable price on her head, though I don't suggest you go after it, if you know what's good for you. I've seen her in action, remember? You don't want to mess with the Princess of All Evil.
"Personally I don't believe it. Yes, her mother may be a Charmed One, but Talia was brought up in the Underworld. She has been the Source's best assassin. There's no going back after that. No, Talia is as demon as you and me. She's hiding somewhere, she's bidding her time, waiting to pick her allies and claim the throne for herself. I know it."
The look in Jimmy's eyes was almost triumphant. Was that what all demons thought of her?
Talia needed time to think. She threw some more gold coins on the counter.
"Thanks for the drink, and the conversation," she told the barman, and picking up her glass and the bottle, which he had left on the counter, she moved towards a lonely table in one of the dimly lit corners of the bar.
"Your change," he called after her.
"Keep them."