Malevant flamed into the underworld. He was no ordinary demon. He stood some seven feet tall and his skin was a dark green - nearly black - with bright yellow markings. The markings were vaguely reminiscent of the late Belthazor. His eyes glowed bright red like two piercing spotlights in the dark. He wore black robes with the hood thrown drawn to hide his features. In the entire underworld few demons were as respected - or feared - as this former advisor to the Source of all Evil.
Several demons stepped out of the shadows and surrounded him. They all looked very similar. Standing about six feet tall they were all a bright green color with emerald green hair that hung past their shoulders. Each had a tattoo on the back of the right hand that looked like three triangles with the points touching. As they recognized Malevant, all but one of the demons stepped back.
"Welcome, advisor," said the demon that stood before Malevant. "Shartan will be pleased to see you. He suspected you might agree to join him. He is the most logical choice to be the new Source."
"Fool," Malevant spat out. "I'm joining no one. I'm here to put an end to this foolish war once and for all. We are loosing too many demons over this petty squabbling. If you can't see that then you are as irrational as your master. Inform Shartan that I am here. I will speak with him immediately."
The demon simply bowed and then disappeared into a chamber behind him. Malevant looked at the other demons that stood guard over the chamber. Powerful demons capable of defending their master to the death. Yet, not as powerful as the one demon that now stood before them. Malevant had no cause to fear them. Even in such great numbers they were no matches for him.
The demon returned after a few moments and told Malevant that Shartan was ready to see him. Malevant turned and walked into the chamber the demon had just come out of. He gave no thought to the demons he left behind. None would dare attack him. They all knew the price for such foolishness.
Malevant entered the chamber and looked around. It was much like most of the underworld. Carved from solid rock it was the home of one of the most powerful demons in the underworld. A demon that nearly rivaled even Malevant's great power. But in the former hierarchy of the underworld, Shartan had occupied a place lower than Malevant. Shartan stood in the back of the chamber watching as Malevant entered.
Shartan looked to be extremely similar to those demons in the outer corridor. He was larger, however, standing nearly as tall as Malevant himself. He did not have the tattoo on his hand. That was reserved for his underlings. A sign that they belonged to him and that other demons should keep their distance.
"Malevant, it is a pleasure to see you," said the demon, smiling. "Greckkor told me you were here. I assume it is about my offer. Once I am proclaimed the new Source I will be in need of your advice and guidance. You were a great benefit to the former Source. I will need that benefit as well."
"I'm not here about your offer," Malevant spat out. "Your war with the others is foolish. It needlessly exposes us to mortals. And while you fight amongst yourselves witches are left unhindered. If this war continues much longer it will be the end of us all."
"I disagree," said Shartan. "Once this war ends, and I am the new Source, I will unite the underworld. Then we will put an end to all witches."
"By exposing us to humanity?" questioned Malevant. "How long do you think it will be before the humans find a way to protect themselves with their science and technology? All ready they have the means to detect us if they choose to. They don't choose to because they don't believe we are real. That is our greatest weapon against them."
"True," said Shartan. "But I long for the old days. When the mention of my name caused the humans' blood to run cold. Most humans do not even know my name now. That will change very soon."
"After loosing how many underlings?" demanded Malevant. "This war is too costly. Demons die at each other's hands. Demons that could better serve fighting the forces of good. How many underlings must you loose before you see the foolishness of this war?"
"What can I do?" Shartan asked. "I must protect myself and my domain. If I don't one of the others will overwhelm me. Would you have me simply lie down and play dead?"
"Of course not," said Malevant. "But this war must end. I'm calling for a truce. To be implemented immediately. A cessation of hostilities between all of the factions."
"To what end?" Shartan demanded. "And how long will this truce last? A day? Perhaps two? How long before one of the others decides to break the truce and launches an attack against us that could decimate our ranks?"
"The truce will be used to settle this dispute once and for all," said Malevant. "Even if you should win this war, how will you be able to command the underworld with your underlings vanquished? How will you even live long enough to rule before some other demon decides you are too weakened from the battle to adequately protect yourself?"
"You do raise valid points," said Shartan. "I remember the last struggle for a new Source. I was a young demon then. I saw many good demons die needlessly. But how will you put an end to this war? The others will never agree to a truce. They will see it as an opportunity to strike unopposed."
"Any demon that breaks the truce will answer to me," said Malevant. "Many of my underlings are still some of the most powerful demons in the underworld. It is one reason each faction courts me to join them. While the truce is in place my underlings will assure that no faction breaks that truce. And if one does, their leader will answer to me personally."
"I see," said Shartan. "That might keep the truce in place for a time. But what benefit will it do us? Once this war is settled, what will be the difference? The old rivalries and hatreds will still exist."
"True," said Malevant. "But what if you could gain a domain of your choosing? Say, the domain of souls acquisitions? You have always coveted that domain. Would you be willing to call a truce for a chance to become master there?"
"You could guarantee that?" Shartan asked.
"I guarantee nothing," said Malevant. "Only the chance to become master of a domain more to your liking. Without the need to vanquish half the underworld to do so."
"Interesting," said Shartan. "How will you accomplish this miracle? Torlock will not like being removed from that domain. He is quite pleased with it."
"That is my problem," said Malevant. "Will you call a truce for a chance to become master of a domain of your choosing?"
"Only if the others agree," said Shartan. "And you personally guarantee that the truce will not be broken."
"As I said," said Malevant, "any demon that breaks the truce will answer to me personally. Meet me on the mortal plane in three days. Bring your chief lieutenant with you. No more than that. There is a human warehouse on the outskirts of San Francisco. We will meet there and discuss the arrangements to end this war permanently."
"The mortal plane?" questioned Shartan. "Not in the underworld?"
"A neutral location," said Malevant. "So that there can be no trickery from any faction."
"A wise precaution," said Shartan. "Assuming the others agree, I will meet you there. But mark my words. If any of the other factions attempt to take advantage of this truce, I will use all of the resources I have to destroy them."
"Three days," said Malevant who simply flamed out of the chamber.
Shartan summoned his chief lieutenant to him to tell him of the truce and the meeting.