TWO
Cole looked around. He was standing in what looked to be the living room
of a house. It was nothing like the manor. This one didn't have any of the
amenities the sisters had at the manor. Obviously this place was home to a
single man.
He turned and looked behind him. He was standing in front of a door that,
from the looks of the window next to it, led to the outside. He wasn't sure
where he was. Or how he had come to be there, for that matter. He hadn't
shimmered. He couldn't do that any more. So how had he come to be here,
wherever here was?
"I suppose right about now you're wondering how you got here," said a
voice with a slight British accent behind him.
Cole turned around. Standing in the doorway to another room was a man.
He was as tall as Cole and had jet-black hair. He wore a goatee the same black
but with some spots of gray in it. He was dressed in what Cole recognized as a
very expensive suit. He had his arms folded across his chest and was smiling at
Cole.
Behind the man stood a smaller man. This man was not dressed nearly as
well. He had dark blonde hair and the stubble of about three days growth. He
hovered behind the other man as if to use the man's body as a shield. Cole
instantly recognized the body language of an underling.
"It had crossed my mind," said Cole. "I assume you're my host?"
"Sebastian Craggen, at your service," said the man with the goatee. "And
if my information is correct, you would be Cole Turner. Also known as the demon
Belthazor. This cowering worm behind me is Corlin."
"Craggen?" questioned Cole. "There used to be a warlock by the name of
Craggen. About three hundred years ago."
"Guilty as charged," said Craggen, bowing slightly.
"That's not possible," said Cole. "Craggen was vanquished three hundred
years ago, like I said."
"Not vanquished," said Craggen. "Retired, so to speak. I have recently
come out of retirement."
"Now why should I believe you?" asked Cole.
"Well, since you've not denied being Belthazor," said Craggen, "I must
assume you're he. And you should believe me because it's the truth. I wasn't
vanquished. I had a run in with a particularly powerful witch. I
underestimated her power. She used a spell to bind me into a sort of stasis.
Corlin and his elder brother were kind enough to release me some weeks ago."
"Interesting story," said Cole. "Yes, I'm Belthazor. But if that's who
you're looking for, I'm afraid you're a little late. He was stripped from me
recently."
"So, you're completely human?" questioned Craggen. "Does it not worry you
to tell me this?"
"Well," said Cole, "assuming you are Craggen, you've been in this stasis
for three hundred years. Long before I came on the scene. Which means that it
must be Belthazor's power you want. Since I don't have that any longer, I'm no
use to you. And it wouldn't make sense for you to vanquish me. I'm not a
threat."
"Very logical," said Craggen. "Corlin told me that you were highly
intelligent. I can see he didn't exaggerate. However, it's not your power I
need from you. If I needed power there are still a number of demons around I
could call upon for that."
"Okay," said Cole. "So just why did you bring me here?"
"You are in a unique position to help me," said Craggen. "You see, Corlin
has provided me with the ability to restore my former power. All in a single
instant. I've spent the weeks since my release to regaining a portion of that
power. So that I move on to my main objective."
"And that objective would be?" Cole asked.
"In good time," said Craggen. "As I said, you are in a unique position to
help me. I understand that you recently fell out of favor with your former
employer."
Cole looked suspiciously at Corlin who only cowered more behind Craggen.
"We had.... a misunderstanding," said Cole.
"You vanquished the Triad," said Craggen. "Must have been quite a
misunderstanding."
"Let's just say we had different ideas about the direction of one of my
assignments," said Cole. "I decided to resign."
"Of course," said Craggen. "Actually, your recent loss of power could
work to my advantage. If you were to assist me, I can promise you that you
would regain at least as much power as you lost. Perhaps more."
"Now how would you be able to do that?" asked Cole. "And why would a
warlock help a demon, even a former demon? We don't exactly travel in the same
circles."
"With this," said Corlin, holding up a piece of paper. "This spell will
give Craggen all the power he needs. And anyone who helps him will reap the
benefits of that power."
"The little toad is correct," said Craggen. "The spell he holds will
provide me with enough power so that not even the Source will be able to oppose
me. And I would help you, even though you are or were a demon, because I always
reward my servants."
"I'm no ones servant," corrected Cole looking deliberately at Craggen.
"Of course," said Craggen. "An associate, then. Assist me and I'll
replace all the power you've lost. More, even."
"How is one spell going to do that?" Cole asked. "It must be some spell."
"It is," said Corlin, holding the spell up again. "With it Craggen can
get power not only from one witch but all of her sisters as well."
"The Succession Spell," said Cole. "I've heard of it. Every one has.
But it's only a myth. It doesn't really exist."
"Really?" questioned Corlin. "Read it for yourself."
Cole reached out to take the paper from Corlin. He pulled it back out of
Cole's reach.
"Ah, ah," said Corlin. "Read but don't touch."
Cole looked the spell over. It was written in an ancient language.
"It's written in a dialect of Latin," said Cole. "I didn't know someone
like you could read Latin."
"I don't," said Craggen. "In truth, neither does my servant here."
"But my brother and I were able to translate it," said Corlin. "It took
some doing. But we were able to finally get the whole thing translated. See
this part here." He pointed to a portion of the spell. "This says that it will
work on the oldest witch in a family. And this part here." He pointed to
another portion of the spell. "This part will translate the power of the spell
from that witch to all of her siblings and offspring, draining their power at
the same time. When Craggen uses this spell, he'll gain all the power of an
entire family in one instant."
"So, what do you need me for?" Cole asked Craggen. "Just find yourself a
witch and use it."
"Oh, I've already selected my target," said Craggen. "That's where you
come in. You see, the witch who trapped me in that damnable prison so long ago
was one Melinda Warren. Corlin tells me that her descendents live here in San
Francisco. The famed Charmed Ones. And you, I understand, are closely
connected to those sisters."
Cole looked at Craggen. He was after the Charmed Ones. And Corlin had
obviously told him about Cole's involvement with Phoebe. An involvement that
was not putting the girls in danger. Craggen was no ordinary warlock. Only
Melinda Warren's power had been strong enough to stop him. And the only power
that could stop him now was the Power of Three.
"So you think I'll just help you kill the Charmed Ones, is that it?" asked
Cole. "If Corlin told you about my involvement with them, then you must know
there's no way I'm going to help you do that."
"Kill them?" Craggen questioned. "Heavens no, you misunderstand me. I
have no intentions of killing them. Only to gain their powers. Believe me, I
have no grudge against them. I simply want their power."
"You might as well kill them," said Cole. "Without their powers they're
helpless against the demons. They wouldn't stand a chance."
"But with you power restored," said Craggen, "and the additional power I
can give you, you will be more than capable of protecting them. And once I've
disposed of the Source and replaced him, I can make sure all demons leave them
alone. It's what's called, I believe, a win-win situation."
Cole thought about Craggen's offer. It was very tempting. Having his
powers back would help him protect the girls. And if Craggen were the Source,
every demon would do as he commanded. The girls could live normal lives without
any fear of demonic involvement ever again.
"I'll tell you what," said Craggen. "I still have some preparations to
make. Why don't you give it some thought? I'll send Corlin to contact you when
I'm ready. You can give me your answer then."
Craggen waved his hand and Cole vanished from the living room of the
house.
Cole looked around. He was standing in what looked to be the living room
of a house. It was nothing like the manor. This one didn't have any of the
amenities the sisters had at the manor. Obviously this place was home to a
single man.
He turned and looked behind him. He was standing in front of a door that,
from the looks of the window next to it, led to the outside. He wasn't sure
where he was. Or how he had come to be there, for that matter. He hadn't
shimmered. He couldn't do that any more. So how had he come to be here,
wherever here was?
"I suppose right about now you're wondering how you got here," said a
voice with a slight British accent behind him.
Cole turned around. Standing in the doorway to another room was a man.
He was as tall as Cole and had jet-black hair. He wore a goatee the same black
but with some spots of gray in it. He was dressed in what Cole recognized as a
very expensive suit. He had his arms folded across his chest and was smiling at
Cole.
Behind the man stood a smaller man. This man was not dressed nearly as
well. He had dark blonde hair and the stubble of about three days growth. He
hovered behind the other man as if to use the man's body as a shield. Cole
instantly recognized the body language of an underling.
"It had crossed my mind," said Cole. "I assume you're my host?"
"Sebastian Craggen, at your service," said the man with the goatee. "And
if my information is correct, you would be Cole Turner. Also known as the demon
Belthazor. This cowering worm behind me is Corlin."
"Craggen?" questioned Cole. "There used to be a warlock by the name of
Craggen. About three hundred years ago."
"Guilty as charged," said Craggen, bowing slightly.
"That's not possible," said Cole. "Craggen was vanquished three hundred
years ago, like I said."
"Not vanquished," said Craggen. "Retired, so to speak. I have recently
come out of retirement."
"Now why should I believe you?" asked Cole.
"Well, since you've not denied being Belthazor," said Craggen, "I must
assume you're he. And you should believe me because it's the truth. I wasn't
vanquished. I had a run in with a particularly powerful witch. I
underestimated her power. She used a spell to bind me into a sort of stasis.
Corlin and his elder brother were kind enough to release me some weeks ago."
"Interesting story," said Cole. "Yes, I'm Belthazor. But if that's who
you're looking for, I'm afraid you're a little late. He was stripped from me
recently."
"So, you're completely human?" questioned Craggen. "Does it not worry you
to tell me this?"
"Well," said Cole, "assuming you are Craggen, you've been in this stasis
for three hundred years. Long before I came on the scene. Which means that it
must be Belthazor's power you want. Since I don't have that any longer, I'm no
use to you. And it wouldn't make sense for you to vanquish me. I'm not a
threat."
"Very logical," said Craggen. "Corlin told me that you were highly
intelligent. I can see he didn't exaggerate. However, it's not your power I
need from you. If I needed power there are still a number of demons around I
could call upon for that."
"Okay," said Cole. "So just why did you bring me here?"
"You are in a unique position to help me," said Craggen. "You see, Corlin
has provided me with the ability to restore my former power. All in a single
instant. I've spent the weeks since my release to regaining a portion of that
power. So that I move on to my main objective."
"And that objective would be?" Cole asked.
"In good time," said Craggen. "As I said, you are in a unique position to
help me. I understand that you recently fell out of favor with your former
employer."
Cole looked suspiciously at Corlin who only cowered more behind Craggen.
"We had.... a misunderstanding," said Cole.
"You vanquished the Triad," said Craggen. "Must have been quite a
misunderstanding."
"Let's just say we had different ideas about the direction of one of my
assignments," said Cole. "I decided to resign."
"Of course," said Craggen. "Actually, your recent loss of power could
work to my advantage. If you were to assist me, I can promise you that you
would regain at least as much power as you lost. Perhaps more."
"Now how would you be able to do that?" asked Cole. "And why would a
warlock help a demon, even a former demon? We don't exactly travel in the same
circles."
"With this," said Corlin, holding up a piece of paper. "This spell will
give Craggen all the power he needs. And anyone who helps him will reap the
benefits of that power."
"The little toad is correct," said Craggen. "The spell he holds will
provide me with enough power so that not even the Source will be able to oppose
me. And I would help you, even though you are or were a demon, because I always
reward my servants."
"I'm no ones servant," corrected Cole looking deliberately at Craggen.
"Of course," said Craggen. "An associate, then. Assist me and I'll
replace all the power you've lost. More, even."
"How is one spell going to do that?" Cole asked. "It must be some spell."
"It is," said Corlin, holding the spell up again. "With it Craggen can
get power not only from one witch but all of her sisters as well."
"The Succession Spell," said Cole. "I've heard of it. Every one has.
But it's only a myth. It doesn't really exist."
"Really?" questioned Corlin. "Read it for yourself."
Cole reached out to take the paper from Corlin. He pulled it back out of
Cole's reach.
"Ah, ah," said Corlin. "Read but don't touch."
Cole looked the spell over. It was written in an ancient language.
"It's written in a dialect of Latin," said Cole. "I didn't know someone
like you could read Latin."
"I don't," said Craggen. "In truth, neither does my servant here."
"But my brother and I were able to translate it," said Corlin. "It took
some doing. But we were able to finally get the whole thing translated. See
this part here." He pointed to a portion of the spell. "This says that it will
work on the oldest witch in a family. And this part here." He pointed to
another portion of the spell. "This part will translate the power of the spell
from that witch to all of her siblings and offspring, draining their power at
the same time. When Craggen uses this spell, he'll gain all the power of an
entire family in one instant."
"So, what do you need me for?" Cole asked Craggen. "Just find yourself a
witch and use it."
"Oh, I've already selected my target," said Craggen. "That's where you
come in. You see, the witch who trapped me in that damnable prison so long ago
was one Melinda Warren. Corlin tells me that her descendents live here in San
Francisco. The famed Charmed Ones. And you, I understand, are closely
connected to those sisters."
Cole looked at Craggen. He was after the Charmed Ones. And Corlin had
obviously told him about Cole's involvement with Phoebe. An involvement that
was not putting the girls in danger. Craggen was no ordinary warlock. Only
Melinda Warren's power had been strong enough to stop him. And the only power
that could stop him now was the Power of Three.
"So you think I'll just help you kill the Charmed Ones, is that it?" asked
Cole. "If Corlin told you about my involvement with them, then you must know
there's no way I'm going to help you do that."
"Kill them?" Craggen questioned. "Heavens no, you misunderstand me. I
have no intentions of killing them. Only to gain their powers. Believe me, I
have no grudge against them. I simply want their power."
"You might as well kill them," said Cole. "Without their powers they're
helpless against the demons. They wouldn't stand a chance."
"But with you power restored," said Craggen, "and the additional power I
can give you, you will be more than capable of protecting them. And once I've
disposed of the Source and replaced him, I can make sure all demons leave them
alone. It's what's called, I believe, a win-win situation."
Cole thought about Craggen's offer. It was very tempting. Having his
powers back would help him protect the girls. And if Craggen were the Source,
every demon would do as he commanded. The girls could live normal lives without
any fear of demonic involvement ever again.
"I'll tell you what," said Craggen. "I still have some preparations to
make. Why don't you give it some thought? I'll send Corlin to contact you when
I'm ready. You can give me your answer then."
Craggen waved his hand and Cole vanished from the living room of the
house.