"Are you sure you don't want us to reset the alarm?" Piper asked Michael as they sat talking in the living room. "You said yourself that the Source might send demons after us."
"I know," said Michael. "But I'm expecting someone to show up soon. Someone who might just be able to help us."
"Sounds mysterious," said Paige. "Just who are you expecting to show up?"
"You might not like it," said Michael. "But desperate times call for desperate measures. It's risky. But I think we need to take some risks if we're going to beat the Source."
"Your plans are always risky," said Cole. "Whether as Michael or Malevant you always seem to come up with the riskiest plans."
"The greater the prize the riskier the plan," said Michael. "And this is the greatest prize of all. The survival of the forces of good everywhere. So, yes, the plan is going to be risky."
"So just who are these guests you're expecting?" Piper asked.
Before Michael could answer three demons shimmered into the entryway. One stood in the forefront flanked by the other two. Everyone in the room was immediately on their feet. Piper's hands came up as she prepared to vanquish the intruders.
"Easy," said Michael, grabbing Piper's hands, "these are the guests I was speaking of."
"We're here," said the foremost demon. "We understand you wish to speak with us. We'll listen to what you have to say."
"Baldasor?" Cole questioned. "Kempac, Nelsar? What are you doing here?"
"Hello, brother," said Baldasor, smiling. "If that's who you really are. Mother sends her regards."
"Baldasor?" Phoebe questioned. "Your brother?"
"Brother by blood," said Baldasor, "and brother by virtue of the Brotherhood of the Thorn. I must admit, Malevant, I was intrigued when your agent came to me. And the story was even more intriguing. Is it true? Has the Source been forced from you, brother?"
"It's true," said Cole.
"And how are we to know this is true?" Baldasor asked. "How do we know this is not some trick by the Charmed Ones to try and vanquish our new leader?"
"You know me, brother," said Cole. "We grew up together. In a way you were a role model for me. What I always considered to be the perfect demon."
"A fact that is well known in the underworld," said Baldasor. "And since the traitor has been revealed, I know he could have coached you on what to say. So that we would be easily swayed."
"I'm no traitor," said Michael. "I was a spy. There is a difference."
"Still," said Baldasor, "how are we to know he is who he claims? I have spoken with the new Source. I am convinced he is who he claims. What do you offer to show me that has changed?"
"You want proof?" Cole asked stepping up to his brother. "You want me to show you that I am really your brother and not some pretender? Fine. Come on, then. Demon or not I'll show you who I really am."
"You don't have any powers," said Baldasor. "How could you hope to stand against me?"
"Cole, don't," pleaded Phoebe.
"I know what I'm doing," said Cole. "Come on, demon. Let's see what you've got. And I'll show you I'm just as good as you are."
Baldasor looked at Cole for a moment. It appeared that he might even take Cole up on his offer. Suddenly a broad smile broke out on Baldasors' face. He broke out in laughter and put his hand on Cole's shoulder.
"I am convinced," Baldasor said. "I doubt even the great Malevant would know that little bit of information."
"Okay, confused here," said Paige.
"When Belthazor was about ten I accused him of not being a true demon," said Baldasor. "He was just a boy. I had all ready established myself in the underworld and was a member of the Brotherhood. I told him he would never be a true demon because of his father."
"I thought you might have forgotten," said Cole. "When he claimed I wasn't a true demon I said pretty much the same thing to him that I just said to him. And I was serious. I still couldn't control my powers completely but I was ready to go toe-to-toe with him to prove I was as much a demon as he was. He could have smashed me like a bug."
"Instead," said Baldasor, "I recognized the true demon in him. I knew that he would one day make his mark in the underworld. Little did I realize then just how great that mark would be."
"Okay, enough of this foolishness," said Piper. "What do you want?"
"I asked them here," said Michael. "They agreed to serve the new Source because they believed he was Cole. That he was a member of their order. And as they always say."
"Once a brother, always a brother," said Baldasor. "Yes, we agreed to serve the Source as his personal bodyguard. But if he has been forced from my brother it means he is no longer a member of the order. That could change the complexion of our service to him."
"We have given our pledge," said the demon named Kempac. "The Brotherhood does not go back on its' pledge."
"We pledged to serve Belthazor," said Baldasor. "If the Source no longer possesses him, then the Source is no longer Belthazor."
"Agreed," said Nelsar. "We turned from the Source once before. When he ordered us to vanquish Belthazor. That has not changed. If it truly is the Source resurrected, then our loyalty to him is in question."
"Especially since he'll probably try to get rid of your once he's gone through the Ascension Ceremony," said Michael. "For our betrayal of him."
"He does," said Cole. "Once he has the power of the underworld he plans to disband the order. And he's going to vanquish as many of you as he can find. He has a long memory and holds a grudge for a very long time."
"Then we must talk," said Baldasor. "We told you before we believed he was insane. That makes him too dangerous to rule as the Source. But we cannot simply vanquish him. In the first place he is too powerful. In the second place, the demonic hierarchy must be convinced it is in their best interest. Otherwise they would look upon us as traitors."
"That's why I asked you to come here," said Michael. "You know, of course, that he has pages from the Tome of the Ancients."
"Yes," said Baldasor, looking at the sisters. "We believed he had stripped them of their powers forever. Apparently that is not true. Perhaps these pages are not as powerful as he says."
"Oh, they're that powerful," said Michael. "It didn't work because Leo took Phoebe's place in the great audience hall. Since he was trying to strip a Charmed One of her powers it didn't work on him."
"Clever as always, Malevant," said Baldasor.
"I go by Michael now," said Michael. "Malevant has been exposed."
"Only to the Brotherhood," said Baldasor. "The hierarchy and the population at large have not learned of your true identity. Yet."
"That might give us an edge," said Michael. "When I was impersonating the Seer he must have agreed with what I said about revealing my identity. He still needs Malevants' aid to be protected until he can go through the Ascension Ceremony."
"Yes," said Baldasor. "And if it is the Source reborn he may put us at risk again by his obsession with the Charmed Ones. We cannot allow that to happen. Before, he used the Hollow even though we all knew the dangers. With the power of the Ancients he might try something even more foolish."
"Like taking out the Elders?" Cole questioned.
"Is he a fool?" Kempac asked. "To go against the Elders themselves? That would risk exposing magic to the world. Exposing us. Not even the Source would be so foolish as to do that."
"We didn't think he was foolish enough to use the Hollow, either," said Michael. "But that's exactly what he did."
"He must be stopped," said Nelsar. "What he proposes is too risky. But Baldasor is right. If we are to vanquish the Source we must have the support of the demonic hierarchy. Or we risk being vanquished by them for our betrayal."
"That's why I asked you to come here," said Michael. "I have a plan that might work. But we need one more player before we can discuss it. He should be arriving any time now."
As if on cue a figured shimmered into the entryway. Everyone turned to look at him. Baldasor smiled.
"It appears your messenger has finally arrived," said Baldasor.
"Hey, everyone," said the man. "Hope I'm not too late. Baldasor said he had to be convinced you were telling the truth before he agreed to help. I just figured I'd give you a little time to get things sorted out."
"Right on time," said Michael. "I believe you all ready know everyone here."
"That I do," said the man. "Piper, Phoebe, Paige. Leo it's good to see you again. And of course there's Cole. How have you been, father?"
"Peter Coleson?" Phoebe questioned, staring at Coles' son.