"You were upstairs a long time," Piper said to Phoebe as the family sat down to dinner.
"Oh, yeah," said Phoebe, glancing at Leo. "I, uh, was working on some wedding ideas."
"All done, I hope," said Leo.
"Yep, all ready," said Phoebe. "At least that particular aspect. There's still a lot to do before the wedding."
"Have you set a date yet?" Paige asked.
"We're still discussing it," said Cole. "Nothing definite yet but it will be soon I'm sure."
"I just hope it goes better than my wedding," said Piper. "Boy, was that a disaster."
"Well, we don't have Prue's astral self to interfere," said Phoebe. "I wish she could have been here for this. It won't be the same without her."
"You have me now," said Paige.
"And I appreciate it, don't think I don't," said Phoebe.
"I half expected Michael to be here," said Cole. "He seems to be spending a lot of time around here recently."
"Just a lull in demonic activity," said Leo. "He's taking advantage of it."
"How's the big case going, Cole?" Piper asked.
"Pretty good, actually," said Cole. "We hit a couple of snags but they've been worked out. Tomorrow we go in for a judgment. And I'm reasonably certain of the outcome."
"Does that mean you'll have more free time after it's settled?" Phoebe asked.
"Absolutely," said Cole. "In fact, I was thinking we might take a mini vacation once the case is settled. Just the two of us."
"Isn't that what your honeymoon is supposed to be for?" Piper asked.
"No reason we can't have both," Cole said. "I rarely got a vacation in the district attorney's office."
"Yeah, well with trying to kill us and all I'm not surprised," said Paige.
"Paige, please," said Phoebe.
"No, it's okay," said Cole. "I know she doesn't quite trust me yet. But hopefully that will change soon. You'll see, Paige. I'm just a normal human attorney now. Nothing more."
"If you say so," said Paige.
"So, Leo," said Piper trying to change the subject, "they still partying up there?"
"It's toned down a bit," said Leo, "but, yeah, it's still pretty festive up there. That will change soon. The underworld may be disorganized without the Source right now but that will change soon enough."
"Well, let's hope it takes a while," said Paige. "I, for one, appreciate the peace and quiet for a change."
"Hear, hear," said Phoebe.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," said Michael sticking his head in the dining room door.
"Michael," said Piper. "No, not at all. Funny how you always seem to show up when we're just sitting down to eat."
"Isn't it, though," said Michael smiling at her. "Actually, it is just coincidence. I was hoping I could steal Leo for just a bit. It won't take long."
"Sure," said Leo, getting up from the table.
"Cole," said Michael. "Good to see you again."
"You, too," said Cole, confident that Michael didn't suspect him.
Michael and Leo went into the living room. Michael looked back toward the dining room to make sure that no one could overhear them.
"What's going on, Michael?" Leo asked.
"Thaddeus told me about the Power of Three spell," said Michael.
"Yes," said Leo. "I asked Phoebe to write it. I didn't say anything to Piper or Paige. I don't like it but I think it's best for the time being."
"Good," said Michael. "We may need it sooner than you think. The Seer is planning to unveil the new Source tomorrow. I'm supposed to be there to confirm who he is."
"The Elders haven't said anything about a new Source," said Leo.
"No, they wouldn't," said Michael. "This is a very tricky situation. When the girls vanquished the Source he wasn't destroyed. His essence inhabited another person and has been slowly submerging that person's personality ever since. Very soon the Source will completely overwhelm the original personality."
"That's why Thaddeus wanted the spell," said Leo. "They want to separate the Source from the human host. To protect the innocent the Source has possessed."
"Exactly," said Michael. "That's why I haven't tried to vanquish him myself. The innocent is not responsible for what's going on. It's the Source. If we vanquish him now we'll have to kill the innocent. We want to try everything we can to prevent that first."
"No wonder you needed a Power of Three spell," said Leo. "As powerful as the Source was it would take a Power of Three spell to force him out."
"Yes," said Michael. "But it's even more complicated than that. The human being possessed has a lot of knowledge about the girls. Enough so that he could be a serious threat to them. Which means that in order for them to use the spell he can't know what they're planning. If he does he might strike first. And with the Sources' power that could put them at a definite disadvantage."
"Well, lots of demons know about the girls," said Leo.
"It's not the Source I'm talking about," said Michael. "It's the person the Source has possessed. He had knowledge of the girls before the possession. Knowledge not even the Source had. Now, with the possession, the Source has access to that knowledge. He'll be able to use it against them."
"A human with knowledge of the girls?" Leo questioned. "You never mentioned this before."
"I wanted to, believe me," said Michael. "But I felt it was best not to say anything until I had to. Now, we have little choice. Once the new Source is revealed the entire underworld will be behind him. He'll go through the Ascension Ceremony that will instill him with the power of the underworld. And you can bet his first priority will be to finish the Charmed Ones."
"So what are we going to do?" Leo asked. "I assume you plan for the girls to use the spell before he's revealed to the underworld."
"No," said Cole. "They have the spell to force the Source out of the host. But once that happens the Source will take on corporeal form. When that happens he'll more than likely attack immediately. Even though they could use the spell that vanquished him the first time it will take time to cast it. And the Source will not simply stand by and let them do it."
"They could use the crystal cage as they did before," suggested Leo.
"If they do the host will be trapped in it when they forced the Source out," said Michael. "When they vanquish the Source, the host could be killed as well."
"I assume you have a plan," said Leo. "Otherwise you wouldn't be telling me all this."
"Yes," said Michael. "First, I have to gather some more witches. Witches who can help keep the Source occupied while the girls prepare the spell to vanquish him. Once the girls force the Source out of the host you will need to orb him away so he's out of danger. Then we can finally put an end to the Source forever."
"Won't he just possess another person?" Leo asked.
"No," said Michael. "The Seer used some form of ancient magic to allow the Source to possess the host. Without her there to use that magic again the Source will finally be vanquished for good."
"Okay, sounds like a good plan," said Leo. "Any idea where you plan to do this? We'll need to get the girls there."
"They're all ready here," said Michael. "I plan to do it right here in the manor where they are the most powerful."
"That makes sense," said Leo. "How do you plan to get the host here?"
"That won't be hard," said Michael. "That's why this is so difficult. He's all ready here, too. Leo, the human the Source has possessed is Cole Turner."
Leo just stared at Michael in shocked disbelief.