TWELVE

Tru put the phone back onto its' cradle. She could tell that Davis wasn't completely convinced with her explanation. But he didn't press the issue. She wasn't sure what she was going to say when she got back to New York. He would be expecting a full explanation and she knew she couldn't tell him everything. Witches, demons, angels and everything else she had learned really existed? Davis was a scientist. He would insist on trying to find some logical explanation for it all.

Well, she had some time to think of what she would say. They had to wait for Talent to attack and then the girls would vanquish him. That would probably be later this afternoon that meant she would take the flight back to New York the next day. She figured she'd have something to tell him by the time she got back to New York.

Tru turned to go back into the kitchen. As she did, she nearly collided with someone standing directly behind her. She looked up and found herself staring directly into Talent's face. He put one hand over her mouth and put a single finger up to his mouth indicating she should be quiet.

"Not a sound," he whispered to her. "I'm not here for you, girl. But I won't hesitate to dispense with you if you prove troublesome."

Tru looked in his eyes. She saw determination in those aquamarine orbs. And she had no doubt he would carry through on his threat if she made a sound. She stood looking at him, afraid to make a sound.

"No," said Talent, reaching into his belt and removing a pistol, "call Leo in here. Don't sound concerned, just call to him. Once my business is concluded I'll be gone and you'll never see me again."

He removed his hand from her mouth and stepped behind her. She looked about at him. She was pretty good a taking care of herself. Growing up in New York City you learn very early in life to protect yourself. But against a Dark Lighter she wasn't sure her street-smart skills would be enough to protect her from him.

"Uh, Leo," she said finally, "could you come in here a moment please?"

After a moment Leo walked into the living room.

"What is it?" he asked, and then suddenly noticed Talent crouching slightly behind her. Talent stood up to his full height. "Talent. Leave her alone. She's no threat to you."

"Oh, I know that," said Talent. He released Tru and she moved over next to Leo. "I'm not after her. You're the one I want."

"Why?" Leo asked. "Why are you trying to kill me?"

"You're a Whitelighter," said Talent. "Isn't that enough?"

"You're coming after me specifically," said Leo. "That implies you're not just after a Whitelighter."

"Not just a Whitelighter," said Talent, "but an Elder as well. You're the proverbial brass ring for my kind. Imagine how my status will be improved if I can take out an Elder?"

"From what we know about you," said Leo, "you're all ready at the pinnacle for your kind. How much higher do you want to be?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised," said Talent. "I'm at the pinnacle for a Dark Lighter, that's true. But there are higher echelons for me to aspire to. The Source is gone, thanks to your wife and her sisters. And there's no sign of a replacement for him. That leaves a great deal of the underworld ripe for leadership. When it's learned that I've taken out an Elder, imagine how many demons will side with me."

"Leo, what's taking so long in here?" asked Piper, coming into the living room. She froze when she saw Talent pointing the pistol at Leo. "You must be Talent."

"At your service," said Talent, bowing slightly and smiling. "And if you're thinking about trying to freeze me or blow me up with your power, you should know I'm immune to your power. For a time, anyway. You'd be surprised some of the ancient potions I have access to. Things you've never even thought of."

"Can he do that?" asked Tru. "Can these Dark Lighters make potions?"

"Not normally," said Piper. "About all their good for is killing Whitelighters."

"Oh, we do much more than that," said Talent. "Your Elders really have no idea how much we're utilized. Killing Whitelighters is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg."

"You seem fond of referring to proverbs," said Piper.

"You have to remember," said Talent, "a great many of them weren't even in use for most of my life. You'd be surprised how many have been coined in my lifetime."

"So what are you waiting for?" asked Leo. "You came to kill me. What are you waiting for?"

"A bit of gloating, I'm afraid," said Talent. "It's been so long since I've had a chance to talk like this with anyone. Most of my underlings know all of this all ready. You know what's it's like to want to talk to someone but everyone all ready knows the answers? It's so boring."

"Enough of this," said Piper. "You aren't going to get away with this. Even if you should be lucky enough to get to Leo, I'm going to vanquish before you can get out. Is it worth it? Are you willing to trade your life for his?"

"Really?" Talent asked. "And just how do you plan to do that? Your powers aren't of any use to you against me. Your sisters are upstairs at the moment with your son. Your Whitelighter is off doing whatever it is he does. How do you plan to stop me?"

"With this," said Piper, holding up a vial. "You may be immune to my power, but I'm willing to bet you can't survive this vanquishing potion."

"A vanquishing potion, how quaint," said Talent. "It's been tried before. It's been a few decades, but trust me. It's not going to work."

"I'm pretty sure this one will," said Piper. "Remember, I'm a Charmed One. I helped vanquish the Source, not once but three times. I defeated the Titans. When it comes right down to it, I can do some pretty 'impossible' things. You want to take that chance."

Talent looked at her. He was obviously considering what she had said. She was right and he knew it. How many times had she and her sisters overcome all odds to come out on top? More times than he could count. He smiled once more.

"Well, it seems we have what they used to call a Mexican standoff," said Talent finally. "I need the death of an Elder to gain the power and prestige I need to take over a portion of the underworld. And if I do, it is very possible your little vanquishing potion might just work. What to do, what to do?"

"You could leave here and figure out something else," suggested Tru. "There has to be some other way for you to gain this prestige you want."

"Perhaps," said Talent. "Although Charmed Ones aren't known for letting demons just walk away. They have this nasty habit of vanquishing any demon they come up against."

"That's because most of them are trying to kill us," said Piper. "Okay, I'll make a deal with you. No one has to die here today. You just leave here and promise to stop trying to kill Leo, and I won't use this."

"A deal?" questioned Talent. "From a Charmed One? How uncharacteristic. And intriguing at the same time. What makes you think you can trust me not to come back after I leave? You know how notoriously unreliable demons can be especially when it comes to giving their word."

"We'll still have this," said Piper, holding up the vial again. "Besides, from what you said, that potion that makes you immune to my powers will eventually wear off. Break your word and you'll be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your miserable life. And one of those times I'll be standing there."

"Good point," said Talent. Cautiously he stuck the pistol back into his belt. "I guess we have a deal then. I'll just take my leave of you then."

"Leave the pistol," said Piper. "Can't have those bullets falling into the wrong hands. I'm sure you can make more but at least those won't be used to kill any other Whitelighters."

Talent let out a small chuckle, and then pulled the pistol out and tossed it on the sofa.

"Actually," he said, "you'd be surprised how difficult they are to make. Not to mention the cost. It will be a while before I can afford to create any more of them. But I still have the recipe. Never know when they might come in handy."

Suddenly, Talent vanished from the manor.