EIGHT
Malevant moved through the caverns of the underworld. He passed other
demons without a word. They all moved aside to give him passage. His temper
was legendary in the underworld. There were few demons that would openly
challenge him for fear of his retribution.
He came to a chamber flanked by two demons. Malevant didn't stop but
proceeded directly into the chamber unannounced. Neither of the demonic guards
spoke to him. Malevant went where he wanted when he wanted. As the primary
advisor to the Source of all Evil, there were few places in the underworld
closed to him. As he entered the chamber, the Seer stood in the back.
"You asked to see me," announced Malevant without preamble.
"Yes," said the Seer. "It concerns the Source."
"Should you not be discussing that with him?" questioned Malevant. "I am
simply an advisor, just as you are."
"That is why I have asked to see you," said the Seer. "As you know, the
Source has been planning something. He has chosen not to confide in me."
"He has not confided in anyone," said Malevant. "That is his right as the
Source."
"Not when it endangers all of us," said the Seer.
"What are you talking about?" Malevant asked. "You would dare question
the actions of the Source? He would vanquish you for such impudence. Perhaps I
should save him the trouble."
"I have had a vision," said the Seer. "And impudence or not, what he has
planned is dangerous. Too dangerous for all concerned, good or evil."
"What vision?" Malevant questioned.
"The Source has gone to release the Hollow," said the Seer.
Malevant didn't speak. He knew about the Hollow. All demons did. Magic
so powerful that no one had dared release it in three and a half millennia. A
power of such magnitude that it could destroy everyone whether good or evil.
"Are you sure?" Malevant asked.
"Yes," said the Seer. "He feels it is the only way to defeat the Charmed
Ones. Am I impudent now?"
"Has he gone insane?" questioned Malevant. "The Hollow cannot be
controlled. Its power will destroy us all. Doesn't he know that?"
"He doesn't care," said the Seer. "He is obsessed with the Charmed Ones.
That they must be destroyed no matter the cost. And his obsession may well cost
us all our lives."
"He must be stopped," said Malevant. "Perhaps he will listen to reason."
"No, he won't," said the Seer. "In my vision, I have seen him use the
Hollow against the sisters. You know when he has his mind set on something, not
even you can dissuade him. He will release the Hollow and use its power against
the witches."
"And with the power of the Hollow at his disposal," said Malevant, "we
cannot even oppose him."
"There is a chance," said Seer. "A slim chance to stop him. But there is
a risk. It is why I have asked to see you. I believe it is our only option but
I wanted your input about it."
"What is this chance?" questioned Malevant.
The Seer outlined her plan to Malevant. He stood looking at her with no
emotion on his face. She could not determine if he agreed with her or not.
"That is a risk," said Malevant. "This human may choose not to relinquish
the Hollow once he has defeated the Source. Assuming he does defeat him."
"We have no other choice," said the Seer. "None of the forces of good
would agree to help us, thinking it to be only a trap. And we cannot risk
allowing another demon access to the power of the Hollow. We would be trading
one destroyer for another."
"This human," said Malevant, "Cole Turner. He would relinquish the Hollow
once he has defeated the Source?"
"I believe so," said the Seer. "His motivation is the love of the witch,
Phoebe. I believe that love will allow him to give up the power of the Hollow
to protect her. But that is far from guaranteed. However, as a human, it would
be only the power of the Hollow he would possess. It would give us an edge if
he refused."
Malevant thought for a moment. Their options were limited. Everything
the Seer had said was true. And a human would be the least dangerous person to
use the Hollow.
"Agreed," said Malevant. "Many of the tasks the Source has given me
lately now make sense. But if this human refuses to relinquish his control of
the Hollow once the task is finished, I will destroy him and return the Hollow
to its prison."
"Agreed," said the Seer. "I must make plans now. Time is short."
"Inform me when it is finished," said Malevant. "If the Source is not
defeated by your plan it may become necessary to destroy him as well. If that
happens, we will need the combined forces of the underworld to do it. I had
better make arrangements just in case."
Without another word Malevant flamed out of the chamber. The Seer smiled
to herself. She knew the Source would be defeated if Cole would agree to take
the Hollow into himself. That was the only real risk. If he refused, they
would have to face the Hollow-possess Source alone. She would have to make sure
that Cole did not refuse. And she had a very good idea how to do just that.
The End
If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my
website, You can also post your own "Charmed"
stories if you like to write fan fiction.
Malevant moved through the caverns of the underworld. He passed other
demons without a word. They all moved aside to give him passage. His temper
was legendary in the underworld. There were few demons that would openly
challenge him for fear of his retribution.
He came to a chamber flanked by two demons. Malevant didn't stop but
proceeded directly into the chamber unannounced. Neither of the demonic guards
spoke to him. Malevant went where he wanted when he wanted. As the primary
advisor to the Source of all Evil, there were few places in the underworld
closed to him. As he entered the chamber, the Seer stood in the back.
"You asked to see me," announced Malevant without preamble.
"Yes," said the Seer. "It concerns the Source."
"Should you not be discussing that with him?" questioned Malevant. "I am
simply an advisor, just as you are."
"That is why I have asked to see you," said the Seer. "As you know, the
Source has been planning something. He has chosen not to confide in me."
"He has not confided in anyone," said Malevant. "That is his right as the
Source."
"Not when it endangers all of us," said the Seer.
"What are you talking about?" Malevant asked. "You would dare question
the actions of the Source? He would vanquish you for such impudence. Perhaps I
should save him the trouble."
"I have had a vision," said the Seer. "And impudence or not, what he has
planned is dangerous. Too dangerous for all concerned, good or evil."
"What vision?" Malevant questioned.
"The Source has gone to release the Hollow," said the Seer.
Malevant didn't speak. He knew about the Hollow. All demons did. Magic
so powerful that no one had dared release it in three and a half millennia. A
power of such magnitude that it could destroy everyone whether good or evil.
"Are you sure?" Malevant asked.
"Yes," said the Seer. "He feels it is the only way to defeat the Charmed
Ones. Am I impudent now?"
"Has he gone insane?" questioned Malevant. "The Hollow cannot be
controlled. Its power will destroy us all. Doesn't he know that?"
"He doesn't care," said the Seer. "He is obsessed with the Charmed Ones.
That they must be destroyed no matter the cost. And his obsession may well cost
us all our lives."
"He must be stopped," said Malevant. "Perhaps he will listen to reason."
"No, he won't," said the Seer. "In my vision, I have seen him use the
Hollow against the sisters. You know when he has his mind set on something, not
even you can dissuade him. He will release the Hollow and use its power against
the witches."
"And with the power of the Hollow at his disposal," said Malevant, "we
cannot even oppose him."
"There is a chance," said Seer. "A slim chance to stop him. But there is
a risk. It is why I have asked to see you. I believe it is our only option but
I wanted your input about it."
"What is this chance?" questioned Malevant.
The Seer outlined her plan to Malevant. He stood looking at her with no
emotion on his face. She could not determine if he agreed with her or not.
"That is a risk," said Malevant. "This human may choose not to relinquish
the Hollow once he has defeated the Source. Assuming he does defeat him."
"We have no other choice," said the Seer. "None of the forces of good
would agree to help us, thinking it to be only a trap. And we cannot risk
allowing another demon access to the power of the Hollow. We would be trading
one destroyer for another."
"This human," said Malevant, "Cole Turner. He would relinquish the Hollow
once he has defeated the Source?"
"I believe so," said the Seer. "His motivation is the love of the witch,
Phoebe. I believe that love will allow him to give up the power of the Hollow
to protect her. But that is far from guaranteed. However, as a human, it would
be only the power of the Hollow he would possess. It would give us an edge if
he refused."
Malevant thought for a moment. Their options were limited. Everything
the Seer had said was true. And a human would be the least dangerous person to
use the Hollow.
"Agreed," said Malevant. "Many of the tasks the Source has given me
lately now make sense. But if this human refuses to relinquish his control of
the Hollow once the task is finished, I will destroy him and return the Hollow
to its prison."
"Agreed," said the Seer. "I must make plans now. Time is short."
"Inform me when it is finished," said Malevant. "If the Source is not
defeated by your plan it may become necessary to destroy him as well. If that
happens, we will need the combined forces of the underworld to do it. I had
better make arrangements just in case."
Without another word Malevant flamed out of the chamber. The Seer smiled
to herself. She knew the Source would be defeated if Cole would agree to take
the Hollow into himself. That was the only real risk. If he refused, they
would have to face the Hollow-possess Source alone. She would have to make sure
that Cole did not refuse. And she had a very good idea how to do just that.
The End
If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my
website, You can also post your own "Charmed"
stories if you like to write fan fiction.