Phoebe came into the manor carrying two bags of groceries. As she set them down on the entryway table she noticed Paige sitting in the living room reading a book.
"I thought you had work today," Phoebe said coming into the living room.
"I finished early," Paige said. "I figured I'd get started on this book you recommended. You're right. It's really good."
"I knew you'd like it," Phoebe said. "The ending will just blow you away. You're never going to guess what's going on."
"Don't tell me," Paige said. "I don't want to ruin it."
"I won't," Phoebe said. "Just enjoy the book."
"Phoebe," said Paige thoughtfully, "I think we need to talk. About Cole."
"Look," said Phoebe, "you made your views quite clear. I know you don't trust Cole and I'm beginning to accept that. But Cole and I are going to get married. His demon days are all behind him. I would have thought that after he helped us vanquish the Source you would have accepted that."
"I did," said Paige. "I just can't explain it. I don't think he's being completely honest with us, that's all. Your future self was very reluctant to tell you anything about the future. If everything were okay why wouldn't she just say so?"
"I don't know," Phoebe said. "I'm sure she had her reasons. Maybe she thought if she said anything she'd change things. Maybe she thought if I knew too much it would give me an unfair advantage. I can't say why she wouldn't tell me anything about the future. I just know that you're wrong about Cole."
"I hope so," Paige said. "He knows enough about us to be a real threat. I just can't shake this feeling that something's going on that he's not telling us."
"We all have our secrets," Phoebe said. "Look, I know you're just concerned for me. And I know you wouldn't be feeling this way unless you honestly felt there was a problem. But trust me. Cole is fine. Belthazor has been vanquished, the Source is gone, the underworld is in turmoil; all in all I'd say we should be celebrating instead of suspecting people."
"I know," Paige said. "I'll try to give Cole the benefit of the doubt. It won't be easy but I'll try."
"That's all I ask," Phoebe said, hugging her sister.
"Well," said Piper coming in the front door, "looks like you two have made up."
"I guess I can't stay mad at her forever," Phoebe said. "We've talked it over and I think things are going to be okay. It's just going to take some time, that's all."
"Good," Piper said. "At least I don't have to play peace keeper like I used to do with you and Prue."
"You said you used to do that quite a bit," Paige said.
"Oh, she did," laughed Phoebe. "Prue and I used to fight like cats and dogs. It got better in later years but especially when we were kids it was really bad."
"Well I guess that's to be expected when you spend so much time together," Paige said. "God knows we've had our share of arguments."
"And we'll probably have more," Piper said. "But as long as we can talk through them we should be okay. Now, I'd better get started on dinner. I'll let you know when it's ready."
"Hey, why don't we help?" Phoebe asked. "It's been a long time since we all pitched in and helped make dinner."
"Sounds good to me," Paige said. "Any objections?"
"I guess not," Piper said. "It would make things easier. Come on, then. I think I'll make something special tonight."
As the three sisters moved into the kitchen a small lamp on the desk suddenly shimmered and changed form. The figure that stood on the floor next to the desk looked around the living room. It was barely five feet tall and was a uniform gray all over. It glanced back toward the kitchen then suddenly shimmered out of the living room.
Seconds later the creature appeared in a chamber in the underworld. Three demons in human form were talking as the smaller creature appeared. They turned to face the creature.
The first demon appeared to be about thirty years of age. He stood just over six feet tall, had shoulder length blonde hair, and was wearing a blonde goatee. The second demon stood only about five and a half feet tall. He had closely cropped black hair and was clean-shaven. The third demon was nearly as tall as the first and had brown hair and was clean-shaven. His eyes, however, were very similar to those of a cat.
"The shifter demon has returned," said the shorter demon.
"Pal-to," said demon with blonde hair, "what have you to report?"
"The witches have put aside their differences," responded the shifter demon.
"They did not know you were there?" asked the blonde demon.
"No," said Pal-To. "I took the form of a lamp. I went unnoticed."
"Well," said the demon with the cat-like eyes, "looks like you had a good idea sending Pal-to to spy on the sisters, Wolf. With the Source vanquished I would imagine they are resting on their laurels, as the humans say."
"Perhaps," said Wolf. He turned to Pal-To. "Return to the lower levels. You have done well. You will be rewarded."
The shifter demons turned and left the chamber.
"So, Wolf," said the shorter demons, "what do you propose now?"
"We must move slowly, Tennack," said Wolf. "The sisters have vanquished the Source. The underworld must be reunited before we can attempt to confront the sisters. They are much too powerful. It will take the combined power of the underworld if we are to defeat them."
"You must be joking," said the demon with the cat eyes. "Defeat the Charmed Ones?"
"That's precisely what I mean, Keltock," said Wolf. "As you said, they will be resting on their laurels. The last thing they will be expecting is an attack by demons. They will be expecting us to be disorganized for quite some time. Once I have ascended to the throne of the Source my first priority will be to dispose of those bothersome witches."
"The Seer has intimated that the current situation is only temporary," said Tennack. "She has suggested that a new Source will soon emerge."
"Yes," said Wolf. "Me. Her visions of the future are well known in the underworld. I'm sure she was referring to me. With Beelzbor and the other highest level demons gone I am the next logical choice."
"There is still the advisor," said Keltock. "It is more likely that he will be the new Source."
"Malevant has often said he does not wish to be the Source," said Wolf. "He is content to remain an advisor to the Source. He will not be a contender. That leaves only me."
"I'm not so sure," said Tennack. "The Seer has not said who the new Source will be. Perhaps it is another that she speaks of."
"We will have to wait and see," said Wolf. "If it is someone else then we shall have to see that he meets with an unfortunate accident. I will be the next Source. And no one, not the Seer nor even Malevant, will stand in my way."
"You had better be right," said Tennack. "Traditionally picking another Source has involved a civil war within the underworld. We would all loose many underlings if that should happen."
"Trust me," said Wolf. "In a very short time I will ascend the throne of the Source unchallenged. And the Charmed Ones will no longer be a threat to us."
Tennack and Keltock looked at each other. If Wolf did become the new Source they would be at his right hand. If choosing a new Source became a fight in the underworld, the outcome could well be very bloody. And one, or more, of them may not survive such a fight.