SIX
A demon shimmered into Malator's domain. It was an impressive demon. It stood some seven feet tall and its skin was a dark green - nearly black - with bright yellow markings. The markings were vaguely reminiscent of tribal markings. Its eyes glowed a bright red like two piercing spotlights in the dim shadows of the cavern. It turned and moved up to Malator.
"For your sake," the demon said to Malator, "you had better have a very good reason for summoning me. I do not take kindly to being summoned by subordinates."
"Forgive me, Malevant," responded Malator, "it was not meant as a summons. I told Locarris to ask you to come. It was meant as a request."
"You should train your underlings better," snapped the larger demon. "What business have you with me? I have important duties to attend to."
"I assume, my lord, that you are aware of what has transpired here recently," Malator said.
"Of course," Malevant replied. "You should know there is little that goes on in the underworld of which I am not aware."
"Certainly," Malator replied. "I dispatched two Searchers for the human. Locarris was one of them."
"I do hope there is a point to all this," said Malevant.
"Yes, my lord," Malator said. "The human has found assistance. I sent Timmeron with Locarris to get the human. Locarris returned alone. Timmeron was vanquished."
"Vanquished?" questioned Malevant. "Locarris did not seem injured. Did he not avenge Timmerons' vanquishing?"
"No, my lord," Malator said. "As soon as Timmeron was vanquished, he returned here to inform me."
"Without even a fight?" Malevant asked. "So, your underlings are not only stupid, they are cowards as well. Perhaps it is time another demon took command of this domain. You seem to be unable to instill the proper fear in your underlings."
"Locarris is no coward," Malator said. "Neither was Timmeron. The assistance I mentioned a moment ago. The human has gained the help of three witches. The Charmed Ones."
Malevants' eyes narrowed.
"The Charmed Ones," he spat out. "Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my judgment of Locarris. If the human has the Charmed Ones protecting him, Locarris was wise to return when he did."
"That's what I thought," Malator said. "It is also why I requested your presence. I do not have any underlings powerful enough to go against the Charmed Ones. And you are aware of what could happen if the human is allowed to remain free."
"Yes," said Malevant. "I will handle it. The Charmed Ones are still new at their powers. Still, it would not be wise to underestimate them. Many demons have underestimated them. And paid for their foolishness."
"If the Source should learn of my failure," began Malator.
"I shall make it clear to the Source that the failure was not yours," Malevant said. "He is aware of the danger the Charmed Ones represent. Once I have the human, I shall see that he is delivered here. I assume you are preparing a fitting punishment for him."
"Indeed I am," Malator said. "A punishment that will serve as an example to others who might harbor similar ideas. I believe it will be quite effective."
"Good," Malevant said. "I shall have the human delivered as soon as we have him."
Without another word Malevant shimmered out of the cavern. Malator relaxed. Malevants' temper was legendary in the underworld. And as the primary advisor to the Source, there were few demons that would dare challenge him. It was always a good idea to stay on Malevants' good side. Or at the very least, not to anger him.
A demon shimmered into Malator's domain. It was an impressive demon. It stood some seven feet tall and its skin was a dark green - nearly black - with bright yellow markings. The markings were vaguely reminiscent of tribal markings. Its eyes glowed a bright red like two piercing spotlights in the dim shadows of the cavern. It turned and moved up to Malator.
"For your sake," the demon said to Malator, "you had better have a very good reason for summoning me. I do not take kindly to being summoned by subordinates."
"Forgive me, Malevant," responded Malator, "it was not meant as a summons. I told Locarris to ask you to come. It was meant as a request."
"You should train your underlings better," snapped the larger demon. "What business have you with me? I have important duties to attend to."
"I assume, my lord, that you are aware of what has transpired here recently," Malator said.
"Of course," Malevant replied. "You should know there is little that goes on in the underworld of which I am not aware."
"Certainly," Malator replied. "I dispatched two Searchers for the human. Locarris was one of them."
"I do hope there is a point to all this," said Malevant.
"Yes, my lord," Malator said. "The human has found assistance. I sent Timmeron with Locarris to get the human. Locarris returned alone. Timmeron was vanquished."
"Vanquished?" questioned Malevant. "Locarris did not seem injured. Did he not avenge Timmerons' vanquishing?"
"No, my lord," Malator said. "As soon as Timmeron was vanquished, he returned here to inform me."
"Without even a fight?" Malevant asked. "So, your underlings are not only stupid, they are cowards as well. Perhaps it is time another demon took command of this domain. You seem to be unable to instill the proper fear in your underlings."
"Locarris is no coward," Malator said. "Neither was Timmeron. The assistance I mentioned a moment ago. The human has gained the help of three witches. The Charmed Ones."
Malevants' eyes narrowed.
"The Charmed Ones," he spat out. "Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my judgment of Locarris. If the human has the Charmed Ones protecting him, Locarris was wise to return when he did."
"That's what I thought," Malator said. "It is also why I requested your presence. I do not have any underlings powerful enough to go against the Charmed Ones. And you are aware of what could happen if the human is allowed to remain free."
"Yes," said Malevant. "I will handle it. The Charmed Ones are still new at their powers. Still, it would not be wise to underestimate them. Many demons have underestimated them. And paid for their foolishness."
"If the Source should learn of my failure," began Malator.
"I shall make it clear to the Source that the failure was not yours," Malevant said. "He is aware of the danger the Charmed Ones represent. Once I have the human, I shall see that he is delivered here. I assume you are preparing a fitting punishment for him."
"Indeed I am," Malator said. "A punishment that will serve as an example to others who might harbor similar ideas. I believe it will be quite effective."
"Good," Malevant said. "I shall have the human delivered as soon as we have him."
Without another word Malevant shimmered out of the cavern. Malator relaxed. Malevants' temper was legendary in the underworld. And as the primary advisor to the Source, there were few demons that would dare challenge him. It was always a good idea to stay on Malevants' good side. Or at the very least, not to anger him.