CHAPTER 5:

2008, somewhere in the underworld.

Well that was a meeting of nothing", Gredam said to Norwan as they materialized back into the cave. "Really Gwen, you will not believe what we were summoned…", he started. Then looked around where she was. "Gwen? What the hell…" "Maybe she went for a walk", Norwan suggested. "Sure she did moron, we are in the underworld, remember? Around every corner there is someone trying to kill you!" "Right", Norwan said. "I'll trace her, I always can trace her", Gredam said focusing on Gwendolyn. He closed his eyes and thought of her. How she walked, how she smelled.

"I have got her, c'mon", he suddenly said as he took Norwan's hand. They shimmered away and materialized again in an old empty house. The house wasn't entirely empty. In the middle of the living room stood a child's bed and a piece of chalk lay on the wooden floor. On the wall was a drawing of a triquetra. It immediately hit Gredam. "Shit", he cursed. "This time she did something stupid, something really stupid."

"What's wrong?" Norwan asked, he really didn't understand what a piece of chalk and the witches sign on the wall meant to Gredam. "She made a time portal, Norwan. To the future, to the past, to another world, who knows? I can't trace her in another time or space. She could not have done this alone. She is not that powerful. She must have had help."

Gredam thought about it for a few minutes and then he understood what must have happened. "I think I know someone who knows more about this. A dear old friend of our Gwen." "Who?" "An elder. Gwendolyn grew up among the 'good' folks. When her parents were killed this particular elder thought he could save her from the evil inside her and he brought her up. He didn't succeed as you know, because well… you know Gwen. She can be one hell of a monster", he said.

Thinking of the evil Gwen had down as smile came upon his face. "Anyway, the trouble is she still likes the old fool. For some reason she couldn't bare to kill him when the higher men demanded her to do. He's her weak spot, Norwan. And I am positive he's behind this all. Thinking he could save the young Halliwell."

"So do you have a name, can we go to him and torture him until he says where they are?" "I do have a name, but we can't go up there. You know we can't go to the elders. It will kill us. We have to wait until he comes down. Or we have to send someone else up, but we can't tell the higher men, they will kill us. Say it is all our fault, after all we were assigned to kidnap the child and look after her until 'they' knew how to strip her powers."

"That what is your fault?", a man from behind them asked. They turned around and saw five higher men. They stood there like statues, with their arms crossed waiting what Gredam and Norwan would say. "Nothing", Gredam answered. "No, nothing", Norwan said.

One of the men stepped forward and shouted: "Cut it out with this crap. We know it. The girl is gone, the master sensed it. And you two have a lot of explaining to do." "We know nothing, honest", Gredam tried. The man waved his hand and Norwan flew trough the air. He crashed to the wall at the other side of the room and Gredam could hear the sound of breaking bones. "Now tell the truth, or you're next", the man said to him.

Gredam was kind of a coward, so he immediately gave in. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you all I know. You need to talk to an elder, Dronan is his name. I am positive he let the girl disappear." He looked at the man's face. Would he believe him? Not try to kill him? "To another time or space", he added pointing at the triquetra, hoping he would look helpful enough.

"What about the babysitter?", the man asked without showing on his face what he thought of Gredam's story. As Gredam still loved Gwen, he couldn't bare the idea of the higher men kill her. Or even worse, torture her. Therefore he said: "She has nothing to do with this. I know the elder. He's different than the others. He might have tricked her. Or worse, he killed her even before she knew what was going on. Trust me, she has nothing to do with this."

The man sensed that Gredam was lying to him. "How dare you lie to us", he said furious. "Once again: tell the truth, or you are next", he pointed at Norwan who still lay lifeless on the floor.

Gredam didn't know what to do. He felt his knees shaking at the thought of what would happen if he didn't betray Gwendolyn. But he still loved her, no matter what. And Gredam made the bravest decision he had after made. "I swear, the babysitter is not to blame, you need to find the elder."

"Liar", the man shouted as he waved his hand again and this time Gredam flew through the air. He hit the wall besides Norwan and fell down with an even louder crack of bones.

"Come we have an elder to visit", the man said.