FOUR
The demon shimmered into a large cavern. Its defeat at the hands of the Charmed Ones had caused it some concern. Those higher up rarely accepted failure regardless of the reason for that failure. It hoped that at least in this instance its failure would be understandable.
Standing in the back of the cavern was another demon. This one was not as large as the one that had just shimmered in. It stood only about average height for a human. Its skin was a grayish-green color and was somewhat reminiscent of reptilian skin. It stood looking over some papers. It didn't look up as the first demon shimmered in.
"You do not have him," commented the smaller demon.
"No, sir," said the first demon. "He has found help."
"So tell me, Locarris," said the second demon, turning to face the first one, "just what type of help could stand against two of my best demons?"
"Three witches," responded Locarris. "It was the Charmed Ones. They vanquished Timmeron. I thought it best if I returned to let you know immediately."
"The Charmed One," repeated the second demon, eyeing Locarris closely. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Malator," said Locarris. "Three sisters, all witches. We nearly had the human when they intervened. They vanquished Timmeron as I said."
"You were right to return," said Malator. "I know of their power. You would have not been equal to it."
Locarris relaxed slightly. The news he had brought had tempered Malators' anger at his failure.
"What are we to do?" Locarris asked Malator.
"Why would the Charmed Ones be protecting the human?" Malator asked.
"I don't know," Locarris replied. "They attacked the instant they saw us. I was lucky to get out with my life intact."
"This will take special handling," Malator said. "Timmeron was my most powerful and trusted underling. It is clear we are no match for the Charmed Ones. I will need help in this. Ask the advisor to come see me. I will see what he suggests. He knows more about the Charmed Ones than I do."
"At once, my lord," said Locarris, shimmering out of the chamber.
Malator was uneasy. He didn't like asking for help especially from the advisor. But his demons simply were not equipped to deal with witches and certainly not the Charmed Ones. The advisor would know what to do. Silently, Malator waited for the advisor to arrive in the chamber.
The demon shimmered into a large cavern. Its defeat at the hands of the Charmed Ones had caused it some concern. Those higher up rarely accepted failure regardless of the reason for that failure. It hoped that at least in this instance its failure would be understandable.
Standing in the back of the cavern was another demon. This one was not as large as the one that had just shimmered in. It stood only about average height for a human. Its skin was a grayish-green color and was somewhat reminiscent of reptilian skin. It stood looking over some papers. It didn't look up as the first demon shimmered in.
"You do not have him," commented the smaller demon.
"No, sir," said the first demon. "He has found help."
"So tell me, Locarris," said the second demon, turning to face the first one, "just what type of help could stand against two of my best demons?"
"Three witches," responded Locarris. "It was the Charmed Ones. They vanquished Timmeron. I thought it best if I returned to let you know immediately."
"The Charmed One," repeated the second demon, eyeing Locarris closely. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Malator," said Locarris. "Three sisters, all witches. We nearly had the human when they intervened. They vanquished Timmeron as I said."
"You were right to return," said Malator. "I know of their power. You would have not been equal to it."
Locarris relaxed slightly. The news he had brought had tempered Malators' anger at his failure.
"What are we to do?" Locarris asked Malator.
"Why would the Charmed Ones be protecting the human?" Malator asked.
"I don't know," Locarris replied. "They attacked the instant they saw us. I was lucky to get out with my life intact."
"This will take special handling," Malator said. "Timmeron was my most powerful and trusted underling. It is clear we are no match for the Charmed Ones. I will need help in this. Ask the advisor to come see me. I will see what he suggests. He knows more about the Charmed Ones than I do."
"At once, my lord," said Locarris, shimmering out of the chamber.
Malator was uneasy. He didn't like asking for help especially from the advisor. But his demons simply were not equipped to deal with witches and certainly not the Charmed Ones. The advisor would know what to do. Silently, Malator waited for the advisor to arrive in the chamber.