"I'll just be glad to be out of here," said Piper as she and Phoebe neared the front doors to the HMO. "This is the weirdest place I've even been in."
Phoebe hardly heard her sister. She was looking at the people in the corridors and sitting outside of offices staring at her as she passed them. She heard bits of comments such as, "that's her", "she's the one", and other comments that seemed to indicate she was someone important. As they neared the doors, a small demonic child approached her. The child had a pad and a pen, which he held out for Phoebe.
"Excuse me, Miss Halliwell," said the small boy who appeared to be about ten or so. "Could I have your autograph?"
"Yeah, I guess," said Phoebe taking the pad and pen and signing her name.
"Boltoc, don't bother her," said a demoness moving quickly up to the boy. "I'm dreadfully sorry about that, ma'am. He's always been so impetuous. I do hope he hasn't been a bother. Please, he's only a small child. He meant no harm."
"No harm done," said Phoebe, smiling to the boy and handing the pad and pen back to him. "I really don't know why he wanted my autograph but it wasn't any bother, really."
"Oh, thank you, thank you," said the demoness, kissing Phoebe's hand. "You're as compassionate as your are wise and just. Thank you so very much for understanding."
The demoness hurriedly pulled the boy away from Phoebe and scurried down a hallway. She had seemed almost frightened of Phoebe. Nearly in a panic. Neither Phoebe nor Piper could figure out just what was going on.
"That was certainly weird," said Piper. "Come on. Let's get out of here before something else weird happens."
As they were walking through the front doors, two female demons passed them entering the building. As they passed, Phoebe heard one of them say, "she's the one". Phoebe spun around to face the demoness.
"The one what?" she demanded.
"I beg your pardon?" asked the demoness that had spoken about her.
"You said I was 'the one'", said Phoebe. "The one what?"
"Please, mistress, I meant no disrespect," pleaded the demoness. "I was merely pointing you out to my friend. So that she would know who you were."
"So just who the hell do you think I am?" demanded Phoebe.
"You were married to him," said the second demoness. "Everyone knows of it. He was the half demon who became the Source. And you were his wife. That makes you...."
"Queen of the Underworld," finished Phoebe. "Okay, Cole and I were divorced. And besides that, he's dead now. Which means he's no longer the Source."
"Oh, we know that, Mistress," said the first demoness. "But we still pay homage to our queen. The Source may be gone but you remain. We must honor you as our queen."
"So that's what all the fuss was about," said Piper as she and Phoebe got into Piper's car. "It seems that being Queen of the Underworld has its perks. No wonder the administrator changed his tune so quickly."
"Apparently," said Phoebe. "Let's just get home. I've put that whole Queen of the Underworld behind me once. I don't want to have to do it again."
"As you wish, milady," said Piper mockingly. "Would Her Majesty care to take the freeway or should we take the route through town so that her loyal subjects may admire her?"
"Just drive," said Phoebe. "The sooner we get this behind us the better I'll feel."
"Certainly, Mistress," said Piper, still mocking Phoebe. "And would Her Majesty wish me to kiss her ring?"
"Oh, I got something you can kiss, all right," said Phoebe, cracking a smile.
The two sisters just laughed as Piper pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the freeway.
The End
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