"Peter," said Cole. "The last time you were here..."
"I said I would kill you one day," finished Peter. "I've had time to reflect on everything that happened. And Malevant, or rather Michael, has convinced me you deserve a second chance. I'm not sure I agree with him. But I can't discount it either."
"You've been busy," Piper said to Michael.
"To be honest," said Michael, "I first enlisted Peter thinking he might be useful to me as Malevant later on. He's a demon outside the normal mainstream of most demons."
"Quarter demon," Peter corrected.
"Just like your father," said Phoebe. "He's always correcting us, too. He's not a demon. He's a former demon."
"Cole," said Peter, "you will never be my dad. But you are my father. And Michael says that what's going on affects not only you but the sisters as well."
"More than that," said Leo. "If the Source is able to complete his plans all the forces of good will be at risk. How much did Michael tell you?"
"As much as he could in the short amount of time he had," said Peter. "About the pages from the Tome of the Ancients and his possession of Cole. How they were able to force the Source out of Cole. And how he has to be stopped. I'm not sure how much help I can be but I'm willing to do what I can."
"The boy is right," said Baldasor. "Most demons do not consider him demon. They would trust him even less than a warlock. And you know warlocks are not the most influential of our kind."
"But he has one advantage that not even the Charmed Ones have," said Michael.
"What's that?" Peter asked.
"You're the son of the Source," said Michael. "I'm sure there will be many demons coming to you trying to get in good with him. Your existence is known in the underworld. Many demons feel it's only a matter of time before you succumb to your evil side. When that happens you could have a lot of pull in the underworld."
"How does that help us?" Paige asked.
"It will take some time to arrange," said Michael. "But Peter can be very helpful. He can distract the Source while we get the pages from the Tome of the Ancients. Once we have those we can deal with him."
"That will not be easy," said Baldasor. "The Source has not informed the hierarchy of his being forced out of Cole. He's afraid if they learn the power to strip the Charmed Ones failed he will loose his advantage."
"That makes sense," said Leo. "They think the girls no longer have their power because of that spell. If they learn they still have their powers they'd think the spell was a fake."
"Yes," said Baldasor. "And it is the power of the Ancients that the hierarchy is counting on to get rid of the Elders. Without the Elders witches everywhere will be at risk."
"But he'll have to deal with us eventually," said Piper. "He knows the spell didn't work. He also knows that eventually that will come out. As long as we're still alive we're at risk."
"Yes," said Kempac. "And he has plans to deal with you. He has not told us exactly what he plans but we know it will be soon."
"So we're running short of time," said Michael. "We have to get those pages back within the next few days."
"Getting them is impossible," said Baldasor. "They are sealed in a chamber that only the Source can enter. And he has enlisted the powers of Vision demons for protection."
"That's not good," said Michael.
"What are Vision demons?" Phoebe asked.
"They are demons with different types of vision," said Nelsar. "Infrared, x-ray vision, some have a limited precognitive ability. They are a sub-sect of demons that are born with their peculiar abilities."
"Yes," said Michael. "But they all have one ability. They can see a creature's true form no matter what form that creature takes. They are used to protect against shape shifters or people using magic to alter their form."
"The Source has some near him all the time," said Baldasor. "And there are at least two that guard the entrance to the chamber holding the pages. And several very powerful demons to deal with anyone trying to gain entrance to that chamber."
"Which means even a White Lighter can't get in there," said Leo.
"Yes," said Baldasor. "The demons guarding the chamber have instructions to destroy any even attempting to gain admittance to the chamber."
"I remember that," said Cole. "He was afraid some demon might find he had them before he was ready to reveal them to the underworld. And that someone might try to steal them for themselves."
"He did this before he was forced out of you?" Michael asked.
"Yes," said Cole.
"Okay," said Michael. "Then the plan is simple. Peter can distract the Source, keeping him occupied so he won't go to the chamber. While he's doing that, the girls can be making preparations to vanquish him. Without those pages and until he goes through the Ascension Ceremony he's just another demon.
"He hasn't informed the underworld about me yet. Which means he can't count on any of them for help. He'll have to kill you himself or risk the hierarchy learning that your powers haven't been stripped."
"The Brotherhood knows of it," said Nelsar. "The guards outside his chamber saw the witches use their power. They orbed out before the guards could assist."
"Does he know that you're aware he and Cole have been separated?" Michael asked.
"I do not think so," said Nelsar. "He knows we only serve him because he is a brother. Were that to change he could not be assured of our loyalty."
"Another advantage," said Michael. "Once we have the pages we lure him here. In the manor the girls are the strongest. They should be able to vanquish him as they did the first time. Especially since they know he's coming this time."
"How do we lure him here?" Paige asked.
"We let him know we have the pages from the Tome of the Ancients," said Michael. "He won't be able to ignore that. It's how he plans to gain control of the underworld again. Without them, as I said, he's just another demon. Until the Ascension Ceremony any other demon can challenge him for the throne. And he won't have had time enough to gather enough of the hierarchy to his side yet."
"That's true," said Kempac. "I was there when he took the throne the first time. It took him months to gather enough high level demons to his cause to make a bid for the throne. I think this time he's counting on the power of those pages to keep anyone from challenging him this time."
"Exactly," said Michael. "Once he's been through the Ascension Ceremony he will be able to do whatever he wants. It won't matter then if the hierarchy learns of my betrayal or that your powers haven't been stripped. He'll have the power of the underworld to back him up. Plus the pages. No demon would dare challenge him then. We have to do this before the Ascension Ceremony. Any idea when he plans to have it?"
"As quickly as possible," said Baldasor. "They are making the preparations as we speak. In three, perhaps four days they will be ready. He has commanded that all be in attendance to witness his ascension."
"Baldasor," said Michael, "if we're going to pull this off we're going to need your help. And the help of the Brotherhood. We need to put our differences aside for the moment. Call a temporary truce. If we don't stop the Source, not only will the girls be in danger. He'll destroy the Brotherhood eventually as well. Can we count on your support in stopping him?"
Baldasor looked at Michael for a moment, then at Cole. He was considering the matter very seriously. He looked at Kempac and Nelsar for a moment. The other two demons looked at Baldasor for a moment, and then looked down at the floor.
"I cannot speak officially for the Brotherhood," said Baldasor. "Teltrick has assumed leadership since Raynor was vanquished. But I believe he will agree with us. We share a common enemy. What is that old human adage? 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'? We may not be friends. But I believe you can rely on the assistance of the Brotherhood to stop the Source."
"Oh, gee, the word of a demon," said Paige sarcastically. "That makes me feel a whole lot better."
"Remember what I told your sister when we were here last," said Baldasor. "Not all demons are without honor. Especially when it comes to the Brotherhood of the Thorn. We disobeyed the Source to vanquish Cole because that would have brought dishonor on the Brotherhood. I have given you our bond. We shall honor that bond until this task is finished."
"He's right," said Cole. "The Brotherhood does not give its word easily or lightly. But when they do give it, they keep it."
"But you're breaking your word to obey the Source," said Phoebe.
"We are breaking nothing," said Kempac. "Our word was that we would serve Belthazor as long as he ruled as the Source. He is no longer the Source. Our pledge to him is discharged."
"What about the others?" Michael asked.
"I cannot speak for them," said Baldasor. "But if Teltrick chooses not to assist you, you can still count on the three of us. And I know of other Brotherhood demons that will join us."
"Won't that cause dissension in the Brotherhood?" Leo asked.
"No," said Baldasor. "If Teltrick chooses not to join he will not order the Brotherhood to interfere. He will allow each member to make their own decision."
"Good," said Michael. "Now, we need to make some preparations. Time is short and we have a lot to do to get ready for the Source."
"Aren't you forgetting one thing?" Phoebe asked. "No one but the Source can get into that chamber. Even if everything goes as planned, which it rarely does, we still have no way to get the pages from him."
"Of course we do," said Michael smiling. He looked over at Cole. "We have the Source himself to get them for us."
Phoebe got a very sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.