SIX

"Are you sure we're still in the underworld?" Paige asked as she looked

around their surroundings. "This looks like we're on some deserted island

somewhere."

The group seemed to be standing on a beach. To one side was a large ocean

that was a strange greenish color. To the other side was what appeared to be

thin forest. Overhead dark clouds covered the sky threatening rain.

"I'm sure," said Cole. "This area is only a few miles in diameter. Most

of what I know is only rumors. Most demons that are banished never leave here

so there really isn't a whole lot of information about it. I can tell you

there's a settlement of sorts about a mile or so inland. Stay away from the

water. It's more corrosive than any acid known."

"What was all that about at the entrance?" Piper asked. "About if you

didn't return?"

"Just a little precaution," said Cole. "None of us know what's going to

happen in here. If something should happen to me, I just wanted to make sure

that you didn't have any trouble getting back home."

"Aren't you indestructible?" Paige questioned. "Why would you think

something might happen?"

"You just never know," said Cole. "I just thought it was best to be

prepared."

The group turned and headed inland. As they walked they all felt like

they were on a stroll through a lightly wooded forest rather than the outskirts

of the underworld. There were no animal sounds but other than that there was no

difference between this place and many places on the mortal realm.

Suddenly they topped a hill and looked down into the valley below.

Sitting in the valley below was what appeared to be a settlement of some kind.

Crude by most human standards, it was still more organized than any of them,

even Cole, had expected.

"Well, now that's not something I didn't expected to see here," said

Piper. "From the way you described it, I expected something more like small

roving bands of demons preying on each other."

"That's pretty much what I expected, too," said Cole. "Like I said, most

demons never leave here. Considering that demons rule by fear and intimidation

I would have expected something a little more militant than this peaceful

setting."

"This place is not ruled," said a voice behind them. "It is governed.

And know if you show violence in this place the penalty is severe."

They all turned to see two demons standing only several feet behind them.

The demons were about Cole's height. They were black with no markings or

identifying features. Their eyes were fiery red and neither had any hair. No

emotion showed on their faces betraying none of their emotions.

"I am Belthazor," said Cole, "the Source. I've come here to find a

banished one called Gastion. We are not here to do violence. We are here only

in search of a human female Gastion has taken."

"There are no humans in this place," said one of the demons, looking at

the sisters. "Except for these two. Only demons inhabit the settlement. You

are not forbidden from entering but know that violence is not permitted. If you

have a grievance you may address that grievance with the ruling body. Guard

well my words. The penalty for violating the law is severe."

Suddenly the two demons shimmered and vanished.

"Well," said Cole, "looks like they have something that passes for

security around here. I'd say we've just encountered the perimeter guards for

that settlement."

"Perimeter guards?" questioned Leo. "Guards from what?"

"Probably on the look out for newly banished demons," said Cole. "This is

strange. That settlement looks like something from the early 1900s not on the

lowest levels of the underworld."

"Well, Phoebe's in there somewhere," said Piper. "We didn't come all this

way to stand and admire the scenery. Let's get down there and find our sister."

The four of them began to descend the hill. It was an easy stroll. As

they entered the settlement a few people took notice of them. But most of them

went about their business. The settlement was a series of wooden structures the

highest being only three stories. The streets were unpaved and it looked to the

girls like pictures of the old west they had seen in movies.

But the strangest sight was all the humans. Or what appeared to be

humans. They only saw creatures in demonic form scattered through the crowd.

Most appeared to be nothing more than humans. Here and there they also saw

demons similar to the ones they had seen on the hillside. These demons glanced

in their direction but otherwise didn't acknowledge them.

"This is weird," said Paige. "Are you sure these are demons?"

"Everyone of them," said a woman coming out of what looked like a

restaurant. "The rules require that all demons remain in human form if they

have one. Only on certain days are we allowed to assume our demonic form. You

must be new here."

"Yes," said Cole. "I'm Cole Turner. This is Piper Halliwell, Paige

Matthews, and Leo Wyatt. We only just arrived."

"A White Lighter?" questioned the woman. "Since when are White Lighters

banished to the Émigré?"

"I wasn't banished," said Leo. "We're here looking for their sister.

She's a human and she was kidnapped by a demon called Gastion. He took her from

their house on the mortal plane."

"Gastion?" questioned the woman. "Now there's a name I haven't heard in a

very long time."

"You know this Gastion?" questioned Piper.

"I did," said the woman. "He used to run a store on the other side of the

settlement. That was, what? Thirty, thirty-five years ago, I think. He was a

good storeowner. But he used to go on and on about human women. Didn't care

much for most of us here."

"That's him," said Piper. "That's the demon we're looking for."

"Now, why would you be looking for him?" questioned the woman. "He was a

decent store owner but other than that he wasn't much good for anything."

"As Leo told you," said Cole, "we're looking for a human woman he's taken.

She's their sister and they want her back. He took her from their house and

he's not in the underworld anywhere so he must be here. We just want to find

her and get back to the mortal plane."

"Human?" questioned the woman. "You two are human? A White Lighter and

two humans here? This is most unusual. We've never had either here before.

Who are you?"

"My name is Cole Turner," said Cole.

"The Source," gasped the woman, suddenly dropping to one knee. "Forgive

me, my lord. I didn't know."

"Get up, Malatta," said a voice behind the group. "He's no longer the

Source. My information is that he was vanquished. By these two no less. They

would be the witches I was told about."

The group turned to see a demon standing several feet from them. The

demon was Coles' height and was in human form, just as the other inhabitants

were. It appeared to be about forty years old, had blonde hair, and was clean-

shaven. He stood smiling at the group.

"Samodun," gasped the female demon.

"Samodun?" questioned Cole. "You were banished thousands of years ago. I

just figured you were probably dead by now."

"On the contrary," said Samodun. "I'm what you might call the

administrator of this place."

"He is our leader," said Malatta. "He makes sure we live in peace with

each other."

"So, the former Source of all Evil is here in search of a lowly Carack

demon," said Samodun. "I'm afraid you've come all this way for nothing. What

you are looking for isn't here."

"What are you talking about?" Piper asked.

"Gastion couldn't follow the rules," said Samodun. "He was much too

disruptive for us to remain with us. I'm afraid he's no longer here. If he's

taken your sister then she is lost forever. Where he's gone, no one ever

returns."

Piper and Paige's hearts sank.