Cole shimmered into the living room of the manor. Everyone was there sitting around. They looked depressed.
"Well, this is certainly a somber greeting," said Cole. "Did something happen?"
"More like nothing happened," said Phoebe. "The spell I wrote to break the blocking on us didn't work. I don't understand it. It should have worked. I just don't know what went wrong."
"It's not your fault," said Percy. "Damonculous is more powerful than anything you've ever faced. His power is just too great even for the Power of Three, I'm afraid."
"Well, I have some good news," said Cole. "I've managed to convince some outcast demons to help. They'll be ready when we need them. That should help provide some advantage for us."
"Can we trust them?" Prue asked.
"No," said Cole. "But I made it perfectly clear that if they try anything they'll have to answer to me. Trust me. Even if they think they can somehow take you out none of them are going to mess with me. They are very aware of my reputation. And I made it extremely clear if they try anything funny, I'm not going to be the least bit amused."
"So, what did you have to promise them?" Piper asked.
"That you'd vanquished the demon responsible for their exile," said Cole. "Once this is over all you need to do is vanquish one demon. And that demon should be easy to handle. I know him. He's not as high in the hierarchy as I was and I know all his weaknesses."
"Vanquish one demon?" asked Prue. "That doesn't seem like much of a payment compared to what those demons are risking."
"More than you know," said Cole. "He's responsible for their outcast. He's ordered them vanquished on sight. If he should suddenly be vanquished himself, that order becomes null. Those demons will be able to return to the underworld and find new masters to serve."
"Assuming we survive," said Phoebe. "We don't have our powers and this Damonculous seem all but unstoppable. Are you sure these demons can help vanquish him?"
"Probably not," said Cole. "But that wasn't the deal I struck with them. All they're going to do is help protect you and Percy. If they have to, they'll shimmer you to their lair where you'll be safe at least for a while."
"I'm not comfortable putting my safety in the hands - or claws - of a demon," said Percy. "As Prue intimated, we cannot trust them. Despite whatever threats you may have leveled against them, they may still feel they can safely eliminate any of us."
"Relax," said Cole. "They don't know you can't use your magic. I simply told them that your magic is less affective against Damonculous than against demons. As long as they believe you still have your powers - and that my threat is good - they aren't likely to try anything."
"It's still risky," said Prue. "I don't like it either. And we still haven't found a way to vanquish this guy."
"There must be a way," said Leo. "All beings, no matter how powerful, have a weakness. Percy, is there anything you can tell us that might help us? Any kind of weakness Damonculous might have, no matter how small?"
"I'm afraid not," said Percy. "As I said, he's from a time long before the Elders and Whitelighters even existed. The only weakness they appeared to have was against the magic of another Gray Council member."
"And without access to our powers," said Piper, "there's no way to find out if the Power of Three might have an affect on him, even a minor one. But I agree with Leo. He must have some weakness. Something we can exploit to our advantage."
"Even if he has," said Percy, "it may not be possible to use that advantage. Good magic is not available. And it is possible that even the most powerful demons may not be able to exploit that weakness. Remember, the Gray Council was initially good. It was only their near total control over humanity that corrupted many of them."
"More than likely," said Cole, "the demons capable of exploiting that weakness would wait until he's done away with the Elders and White Lighters. Then they would use that weakness to get rid of him leaving all witches vulnerable. Let him do all the work and simply step in and reap the rewards."
"Percy," said Leo, "what about us? You and me? With our powers blocked are we vulnerable to being killed by demons?"
"No," said Percy. "Our powers are blocked, not removed. But Whitelighters and Elders are still immortal beings. That immortality is not part of our magic, it's part of what we are. Damonculous is capable of draining our magic from us and killing us. But we are still as invulnerable against most demonic attacks as we have always been. Even your natural healing will still function, even if you can't heal someone else."
"Well that's good news anyway," said Piper. "All we have to worry about is Damonculous. If we can keep him away from the two of you at least we don't have to worry about you dying."
"Most demonic attacks," said Cole thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Percy. "As you know physical harm is ineffective against Whitelighters. And Elders are also Whitelighters, just a higher echelon, so to speak. Just as the Founders are a higher echelon than the Elders. It's similar to the hierarchy of the demonic underworld. Something I know you are very familiar with.
"Yes," said Cole, still thinking.
"Cole?" questioned Phoebe. "What are you thinking?"
Before Cole could answer, seven figures suddenly appeared in the entryway of the manor. They shimmer-orbed as Damonculous had done when he had previously left the manor. The six warlocks stood in front of Damonculous facing the group.
"Well now," said Persius. "What do we have here? The Charmed Ones, their Whitelighter, and an Elder. And Belthazor, I presume. It's a shame only Belthazor has his powers. A shame for you, that is."
The six warlocks began to move toward the group as Damonculous turned and headed for Percy. Almost unnoticed by everyone, Cole's shadow slipped away and vanished below the floor of the living room.