Author's note: I know I've been away for a long-long time, but unfortunatel I didn't have the opportunity to upload or to get near a computer for a longer time. But I've written a lot and now I hope I'm back to the track. Probably I shouldn't start a new story before I finish the on-going ones, but I couldn't withstand this one. I promise though that I will soon upload - if those who are interested are still out there!

Disclaimer: Of course I still don't own anything.

Read and enjoy and please let me know what you think!

The shape of my heart

Chapter 1.

The guard stepped inside the cave and Cole heard as he reported:

„Belthazor is here, My Liege!"

„Let him in" the deep and hoarse voice answered. A long time ago Cole used to shiver when he heard that voice, by now though he was over those childish feelings. Fear or even disgust meant weakness and demons weren't allowed to be weak.

The guard came back and waved him in.

The room that from the outside looked like a cave was the personal quarter of the Source of All Evil. It was a dark place in every sense. It was only lightened by some torches on the wall and it radiated cruelness and malignancy. But this was another thing Cole was used to.

Despite everything the room itself seemed to be rather comfortable. Demons might live in the Underworld but they liked amenities. So there was nothing cave-like in it except maybe for the form. A huge table dominated the room that was surrounded by ten armchairs. One of those was more decorated than the others, and that one was occupied by the Source.

The private quarter of the Ruler consisted of more rooms than Cole could even imagine but this was the only one he could ever see. This was the place where the Source dispatched business.

In the moment he stepped inside Cole bowed his head and waited.

"I've heard of your latest success, Belthazor. I appreciate your service."

"Thank you, My Lord."

The Source admonished him closer.

"I have a new task for you."

This was nothing new. Most of the time, he was sent from one mission to the other, but usually he had at least one or two days to rest. Now though he's only arrived back two hours ago. And he normally got his assignments from Raynor, or one of his minions, not from the Source himself. He stayed quiet however, and didn't show any surprise. The Source continued:

"There are some rebels who have conspired against me for a time now. They seek out my loyal followers and try to persuade them to join their ranks. I decided to take care of their so-called leader and I want you to eliminate him."

"His name is Zankou" the Source finished after a short pause.

Cole took it without flinching. Of course, he heard about Zankou, who hasn't? He was one of the most powerful demons in the Underworld and everybody knew that he was hungry for even more power. This wasn't the first conspiracy he led against the Source – if Zankou could have eliminated the Ruler, he would have been the most probable candidate for the throne. Not just because his power but because of his blood as well. Namely, he was the second-born son of the present Source. The first born was dead – died by the hands of his own father, and now this destiny waited the second as well.

"I'm at your service, My Lord" he answered the awaited words and waited if his master wanted to tell anything else.

"I don't want him dead though" the Source added. "Just bring him to me!" then he waved. "You can go now!"

He bowed again and left with his new assignment and a lot of trouble.

Half an hour later he was rummaging around in his quarter for something he could use against such a powerful enemy. In the moment the Source announced the target he realized that he practically had no chance. But he wasn't famous for giving up easily.

He's already looked over some books and now was searching amongst the many vials he stocked.

His quarter was much more cave-like than that of the Source. It was small, dark, messy and rather poorly arranged. Only the two shelves were well-ordered. On one of them were the different potions, on the other his weapons.

His clothes he had in an old suitcase that he picked up somewhere years ago, and books lied everywhere in the room: on the small table, in front of the open fire (that was magical and was designed to remind one of the fireplace of a human household), on the ground and on his so-called bed (that was nothing more than rectangle-formed exostosis of the rocky wall).

He just decided that none of his potions were strong enough for Zankou when he heard the noise of shimmering. Instinctively an energy-ball appeared in his left hand.

"I hope you don't plan to shot that at me" the familiar voice said before the form of the middle-aged man materialized in the room.

"Raynor" he nodded in a respectful manner and extinguished the energy-ball.

"Who else? If I remember well you have wards against illicit shimmerings."

"You can never be careful enough. I've learned it from you."

"Oh, yes. I've been always somewhat paranoid, haven't I?" of course it was a poetic question and Cole didn't spend the time to answer it. "Vornac told me you were back and also that you were immediately summoned to the Source. I guess you got your new job then."

"Yes. Probably the last one" he mumbled under his nose.

"Our ruler asked me, if you were capable of killing Zankou" Raynor continued without minding his student's comment. "I told him you weren't."

"Thanks for the trust."

"You've just confirmed that you thought the same." Cole could tell the Raynor was amused by the situation. The demon was quite unpredictable and impenetrable, but he always had some ulterior motive.

"Why are you here?" Cole asked his former teacher openly.

"Can't I visit my favorite student for a chat?"

"You never chat. Did you want to say me good-bye or what?"

"Don't be impudent, my boy!" but he still wasn't angry. "I came to help you with some information."

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? If you manage it will be a glory for the Brotherhood."

"But this isn't a Brotherhood-mission, is it?"

"No, it isn't. But you are still a member."

"I see. If I win you also win, but if I fail, it's only my fault and not yours" Cole concluded rolling his eyes.

"Clever boy. Now listen: Zankou is always guarded by his minions. He alone is powerful enough to kill you, but with his demons around you really have no chance. But he has one weak point: women – or more accurately succubus-demons. When he meets one of them, he always goes alone, once every week but I can't tell the day as he changes it all the time. There you can overrun him, because he is not just alone but he's also more careless and weaker than normally."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Don't disappoint me" with that he started to shimmer but Cole wanted to know something else.

"Wait!" the older demon stopped. "Can I ask you one more question?"

"What is it?"

"If you told the Source that I wasn't capable of the task why did he still chose me?"

"Because I also told him that none of the attainable assassins are. And I said if we had to chose somebody, you were the best."

With that he shimmered out leaving Cole wondering if this was a compliment or his death warrant.