"Wait a minute," said Piper. "We've always been told the Power of Three is the most powerful magic in history. That we were the most powerful witches in history. When we went back to save Melinda Warren's birth the witches there summoned the most powerful witches that will ever live and they got us. How can this Tome of the Ancients be so much more powerful than that?'
"You are the most powerful witches in history," said Michael. "And the Power of Three is the most powerful magic in history. The reason the tome is so much more powerful is because it pre-dates history."
"I don't get it," said Paige.
"Before human history began," said Leo, "there was a race of beings. Today we refer to them as the Old Ones. According to all references they were extremely powerful demons. Much more powerful than the ones that exist today."
"That's right," said Michael. "The Old Ones are the ones who originated magic. Created it as a tool. Just like humans have created all sorts of scientific and technological marvels to assist them. That's the equivalent of what the Old Ones did. They created magic to use as a tool to help them."
"But like so many things what they created was much more powerful than they imagined," said Leo. "When the first atomic bomb was tested, even the scientists who created it were staggered by it's power. They had no idea it would be so powerful."
"And the Old Ones were equally staggered," said Michael. "The tool they had created turned out to be even more powerful than they first imagined."
"What does this have to do with this Tome of the Ancients?" Phoebe asked, wiping tears from her eyes.
"The Ancients were the second race to exist," said Michael. "An offshoot of sorts from the Old Ones. It is believed they were created when some of the Old Ones mated with what were essentially the first humans. The Ancients were more human than the Old Ones but just as powerful.
"After several millennia the Ancients began to realize just how powerful the magic that had been created was. They also realized that the magic was being used to keep the humans in virtual slavery. Humans answered to the whim of the Old Ones and some of the Ancients."
"And with each succeeding generation," said Leo, "the magic of the Old Ones was being further diluted. The magic those generations could control was nothing compared to the original two races."
"Yes," said Michael. "Eventually the humans revolted against the Old Ones. The Ancients sided with the humans. There was a terrible battle and thousands died on both sides. When it was over, according to legend, the Old Ones were either vanquished or forced from the mortal realm."
"But the Ancients were decimated," said Leo. "Most had died during the battle. Those that had survived were greatly depleted of power. According to some very ancient legends, the surviving Ancients gathered all of the magic that had originally existed into one massive book. This was the Tome of the Ancients. The magic it contains is so powerful there is no known way to destroy it."
"What happened to this book?" Paige asked.
"No one knows for sure," said Michael. "Accounts vary on what exactly happened to it. One account has the book eventually being divided up and the individual pages hidden in distant locations so that no one would ever again have access to its terrible power."
"And you think the Source has found some of these pages?" Phoebe asked.
"I know he has," said Michael. "I've seen them for myself. They are exactly as described in the most ancient texts. They're written on some type of material that I haven't been able to identify. And while it appears to be written in ink it's not ink. Again, I don't know what it is. The pages were probably created magically which would help to explain why they can't be destroyed."
"Because we don't have the necessary power to overcome the magic they were created with," said Piper.
"Exactly," said Michael. "You've been told there are creatures and things that predate human history. This is one of those things. And it's the most powerful magic that has ever existed."
"So if the Source uses this magic against us," said Paige, "there's no way to resist it?"
"That's about the size of it," said Michael. "Our only ace in the hole, so to speak, is that he doesn't plan to kill you. He plans to strip your powers from you. And the spell he's going to use will not only strip your powers but the powers of all descendants of Melinda Warrens' line. And prevent any of your descendants from ever having any powers."
"That's a pretty powerful spell," said Piper.
"Everything about the Ancients was powerful," said Leo. "Too powerful to be entrusted in the hands of anyone today. Especially not the leader of the underworld. We have to get those pages away from him and the Elders can lock them away with other magic too powerful to use."
"We have a more immediate problem," said Michael. "As Malevant I should be able to get the pages. But only once the Source is dealt with. Not even the Seer will challenge me without the Source around. We have to force the Source out of Turner and vanquish him before he has a chance to use the pages he has. Trust me. I've seen the pages. We cannot allow the Source to use them on anyone."
"Okay," said Phoebe. "Let's say I believe you. That the Source has possessed Cole. How do you propose we force him out of Cole and vanquish him without him catching on to what we're doing? Once we start the incantation he could just shimmer away."
"Not if he's occupied," said Michael. "He said you and he were planning to go away next weekend."
"Yes," said Phoebe. "A little getaway after his big case."
"Well," said Michael, "we'll have to make our move before then. One night when you're all here for dinner Leo can contact me telepathically and let me know Cole is here. I'll orb in with some help and we'll attack immediately. While Cole is busy defending himself against us you cast the spell to force the Source out of him.
"Once the two have been separated Leo will grab Cole and orb him away. While Leo is orbing Cole away, we'll attack the Source again. Paige can orb the crystals into place trapping the Source inside. Then you can use the vanquishing spell to finally put an end to him forever. We should be able to keep him off balance enough to pull it off. Assuming we can catch him by surprise."
"Does he have any idea we're onto him?" Piper asked.
"Not yet," said Michael. "He was afraid I might be able to sense him inside Cole. I assured him as Malevant I couldn't do that. In most cases I can't. But it's different with him. In a way, I'm like him. Very defined forces of good and evil at war inside. Because of it I was able to sense the Source inside Cole."
"Okay," said Piper. "I have an idea. Wednesday night I'll fix a special supper. Kind of a send off for their little getaway. That will make sure that Cole is here Wednesday."
"That's a good idea," said Paige. "Cole knows I'm suspicious of him. I can make a stink about I don't think you should do it. After all, they're going to be married soon and you'll be fixing a special dinner for that, too."
"Okay," said Phoebe. "I'll go along with this on one condition. You guarantee me that nothing, and I mean nothing, happens to Cole. If he is possessed by the Source he's an innocent in all this. I won't have him being hurt or killed by carelessness."
"You have my word," said Michael. "The second the two are separated Leo will orb Cole away. The Source will be much too busy protecting himself against the attacks to be concerned with Cole. Cole will be out of here before anything can happen to him."
"That's a very good plan," said a voice from the entryway. "One worthy of you, Malevant. And I must congratulate you on keeping your secret from me for all these decades. I must applaud your ingenuity. No one has ever suspected your true identity."
Everyone turned toward the entryway. In the entryway, Cole stood smiling at them. Behind him stood four other demons. Demons that belonged to the Brotherhood of the Thorn. The personal bodyguards of the new Source and four of the most powerful demons in the underworld.