Chapter 4: Estimations

"Let's not jump to conclusions here," Prue calmed them, confident in her magical knowledge she gathered over the last three years, "not all her reincarnations are evil. Just because we met one of her reincarnations a couple of years ago and she was against us, doesn't mean she is in her current skin as well."

"In theory," Leo nodded, "you're right. She is the mother of all witches, not just the dark ones, even if the underworld named her as their sole idol. But before that,

Hecate's influence was strong and the medieval witches worshipped the willow tree which was sacred to her. The same root word which gave willow and wicker, also gave witch and wicked. You should treat her as any other being, she is not guilty until it's proved she is. She could be a witch looking for other witches to hang out with now. At times she was benign and motherly and would act as midwife, wet-nurse, and foster-mother, while keeping an eye on flocks and crops. Greek kings asked for her help in administering justice, knowing that with Hecate on their side they would attain victory and glory in battle. But the other side of her nature, most apparent when she was reincarnated when the moon was dark, superseded her kinder side. That is how she was last time."

"But we sent her back to the underworld last time. However she is, she can't be too happy about that," Piper held, "what does she want with us? Why does she pose as different people trying to get close to us?"

"We ask her," Prue suggested, "Phoebe, make a summoning spell."

"I need to notify the Elders," Leo orbed out, "take care," he said through the tingling sound.

"Come on people, you can't be serious," Cole objected, "are we talking about the same woman here, protector and teacher of sorceresses and enchanters, the woman who gave birth to the flaming torch that consumed Troy, key-holder of hell and queen of the departed, dispatching phantoms from the underworld? At night she left Hades and would roam on earth, bringing terror to the hearts of those who heard her approach. She was accompanied by her hounds and by the bleak souls of the dead. I did not meet her in person yet, but by the time Hesiod was chronicling the events of his world, her powers were already very great. The most powerful magic incantations of antiquity were connected with Hecate. She can do anything."

"Don't worry, we kept the poignard we banished her with the last time," Prue assured him, "would you get it Piper?"

"Okay, so how's I call upon the ancient powers,

to send the ancestor with the oldest powers, sound to you?" Phoebe read up her spell when her sister got back.

"Great," Piper pointed towards the doorframe with the knife she just got, where a tall woman with a grey lock of hair in her otherwise black fringe appeared.

"One false move of a finger and you're sucked in," Prue set the tone for the conversation, "why are you spying on us?"

"I created magic. It shouldn't exist, but it does. I'm trying to make sure it doesn't cause too much harm, amongst other things."

"Wrong place," Prue talked for all of them, "you should make sure of that in the underworld."

"I'm doing my best to make amends," she said unwavering, "I'm here to watch over you."

"Well, that, as well," Leo came back, "the Elders want you to cooperate with her to defeat Abracax."

"Gets better and better," Cole commented.

"Abracax...it does sound familiar," Phoebe mumbled.

"Familiar?" Hecate laughed, "I bet. It is from his name that the mystic word, Abracadabra, is taken."

"Abracax is a supreme god," Leo explained, "and it was said that Jesus Christ was only a phantom sent to earth by him. The older mythologists placed him among the number of Egyptian gods, and demonologists have described him as a demon. Abracax, they thought, had under his command 365 gods."

"Me amongst them," their visitor goddess revealed, "that is why I can't take him on alone."

"Excuse me, but why do we need to take him on?" Cole tried to remain practical.

"Cause he threatens to destroy all gods because they don't listen to him anymore, ridding the Earth of all religions," Leo supplied.

"And just why is that a bad thing?" Prue argued, "there has not been more conflict, heartbreak, violence, and death then from the blood stained hands of religion and it's followers. From the days of recorded history to the present situations across our Earth, if religion is there, pain and suffering has been quick to follow. I actually hope that the time will come soon when mankind will overcome the absurdity of killing in name of religion."

"That doesn't mean religion is inherently bad, Prue." Leo defended his angelic status, "all that happens when religion is misunderstood. The message of religion is love, the inherent good in all of us and the triumph of the human spirit against seemingly insurmountable odds, only that mankind is not ready for it yet. But one day they will, if gods are there to show them the way."

"So what do you want us to do?" Prue urged him, trying to get back to work.

"For the easiest way destroy all, he will need the help of two reformed representants, one from each side, a good witch who accepted dark magic and a demon, who suppresses the fiend in him. Preferably in close connection with each other so their powers intermingle at times of great stress. They can infiltrate his organisation and find out where he keeps the so far imprisoned gods till he can annihilate them altogether. When we are all free, the power of the three hundred and sixty five gods can send him back into the middle of the sun."

"What? Don't look at us," Phoebe stood up from Cole's lap, "since when do I use dark magic?"

"You can pretend you do," Hecate proposed, "I'm quite sure Abracax will hire you immediately once he finds out about your existence. All you need to do is go down the underworld and make sure your performance is believable."

"Hey, wait, you want my little sister to put her life at risk," Prue defended her younger sister, "and go down with Cole when he is so hunted by demonic hitmen his energiser bunny arrested charged without batteries."

"No problem," Cole offered, "if you really wanna go through with this, I know just the thing to do. We will be safe."

tbc