"It's nice to meet you all again," said the Elder with an English accent after everyone had gathered in the living room.
"Which one are you again?" Phoebe questioned.
"His name is Paracellious," said Leo.
"Para- what?" questioned Prue.
"Just call me Percy," the Elder said, smiling at them. "It's much easier."
"Percy," said Leo, "what are you doing here? And why did you use the front door? Why didn't you just orb in?"
"I was down here visiting a Whitelighter," said Percy. "He and I are very close and I occasionally visit him. Anyway, I had just left his place and was communing with the other Elders when suddenly it just stopped. I couldn't commune with them any longer. And not only that. None of my other powers are working, either."
"You, too?" questioned Timothy, fear beginning to rise in his voice. "Then we're all defenseless. This must be a prelude to a demon attack. We're all in terrible danger."
"Timothy, calm down," said Percy. "Getting emotional is not going to solve anything."
"That's what I told him," said Leo.
"So, it's as I expected," said Percy. "It isn't just me. This is quite serious. Quite serious indeed."
"How serious?" Leo asked.
"If I'm right," said Percy, "it isn't just us that's been affected. It's all Whitelighters and Elders. It's the only explanation for why I can't contact the others. And why they haven't come to find out why."
"All of them?" questioned Prue. "Has anything like this ever happened before?"
"Quite frankly, no," said Percy. "And I am at a loss to explain it."
"Can I get you anything?" Piper asked. "A cup of coffee or something?"
"A spot of tea would be quite lovely, thank you," said Percy. "I rarely am able to indulge up there. The other Elders frown on it."
"Tea coming right up," said Piper heading for the kitchen.
"Percy, do you have any idea what might cause this?" Leo asked.
"Honestly, no," said Percy. "The level of magic capable of doing this is enormous. It would take all the combined powers of every Elder to duplicate such a feat. And I know of no beings capable of exercising such powerful magic."
"Could it be a spell?" Phoebe asked.
"Not of this magnitude," said Percy. "Besides, a spell might affect the Whitelighters, but certainly not an Elders. Perhaps one or possibly two Elders but not all of them. And as I said, none has come to investigate why we suddenly lost contact. If even one were unaffected he or she would have come immediately to find out what was going on. Since none have arrived, I can only assume they are all in the same boat, as you humans say, as we are."
"So shimmering to another Whitelighter won't do any good," said Cole.
"Ah, yes, Belthazor," said Percy. "I was aware you were here."
"I prefer the name Cole Turner," said Cole.
"Of course," said Percy.
"Here's your tea," said Piper, setting a tray with a pot and several cups on it. "I didn't know how you liked it so I brought some lemon, sugar, and milk for you."
"Just a touch of milk, thank you," said Percy. "I never cared for lemon in my tea."
"Okay, no lemon," said Piper pouring the tea for him.
"Well," said Percy, sipping his tea, "this is certainly a conundrum. And you say you can find nothing about an occurrence like this in your Book of Shadows?"
"Nothing even close," said Piper. "There are spells and potions for stripping someone's power but nothing that might cause such a widespread affect. And nothing that pertains to Whitelighters and Elders alone."
"I suppose it could be prelude to a demonic attack," Percy speculated. "The incident recently where you stopped the warlock from decimating the Whitelighters shows that we are far from untouchable. I supposed it could be something along those lines."
"Trust me," said Cole, "that's hardly an option. The power it would take to cause this does exist in the underworld. But getting those demons to work together is another matter. Some of them hate each other and would never work with the others. Not even if it meant getting rid of the Elders."
"Yes, I'm sure you're right," said Percy.
"You seem awfully sedate for someone who's just lost his powers," Prue said.
"As I told Thomas," said Percy, "getting emotional isn't going to solve anything. Oh, I'm concerned, to be sure. But we must remain logical and clear headed if we are to solve this little enigma."
"Leo," said Phoebe, "I think we should get Percy to somewhere else. As long as he's here my premonition could come true."
"What premonition?" Percy asked.
"I had a premonition just before Leo and Thomas lost their powers," said Phoebe. "A demon was attacking an Elder here in the manor. I'm not sure if the Elder was you because I couldn't see him clearly, but as long as you're here you're at risk."
"You may be right," said Leo. "Maybe Cole should shimmer Percy somewhere else."
"That would solve nothing," said Percy. "If a demon is after me they would simply follow me. And I can think of no place safer at the moment than the home of the Charmed Ones. Another witch may not fare so well if a demon should attack me."
"He has a point," said Prue. "But staying here is a risk. If this Damonculous should attack while Percy is here at least we're here to protect him."
Everyone was startled as Percy suddenly dropped his cup. It clattered to the coffee table shattering on impact. All of the blood had drained from his face and a look of what appeared to be fear was evident.
"Oh, that was one of my best cups, too," said Piper, beginning to clean up the mess.
"Where did you hear that name?" Percy demanded very somberly.
"What, Damonculous?" Prue questioned. "It was the demon in Phoebe's premonition."
"That's impossible," said Percy.
"Hey, all I can tell you is what I saw," said Phoebe.
"Percy, what is it?" Leo asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"This is not possible," Percy muttered to himself, standing up and walking absentmindedly to the fireplace. "They were destroyed millennia ago. None remain. They were all accounted for."
"What are you muttering about?" Prue asked. "Who is this Damonculous? You act like you're afraid of him."
"My apologies," said Percy. "Phoebe, are you sure it was a premonition and not a vision of the past?"
"He was attacking here in the manor," said Phoebe. "I doubt that would be a vision of the past."
"This isn't possible," Percy said. "Damonculous was vanquished a very long time ago. You must have misinterpreted your premonition."
"No, it was quite clear," said Phoebe.
"Who are what is this Damonculous?" Piper asked.
"Something far above you, witch," said a voice from the entryway. "I am Damonculous. And I've come for you, Elder."
Everyone turned to see the demon from Phoebe's premonition standing in the entryway. They all immediately jumped to their feet taking up defensive postures against the demon. As they did, the demon raised its hand and a bream of blue energy shot out directly at Percy.