Two demons stood guard outside the private chamber of the Source. They were Brotherhood demons that were tasked with preventing anyone from entering the chamber unbidden. With them stood a smaller demon. It was short for a human and its eyes were a strange aquamarine color.
"Afternoon, fellas," said Peter, walking up to the two as if he hadn't a care in the world. "I'd like to speak to your boss if you don't mind."
The Brotherhood demons looked at the smaller demon that was looking intently at Peter.
"He is demon," announced the Vision demon finally.
"I know you," said one of the Brotherhood demons. "You represented a demon I know in the human courts. And did a very effective job of it I hear."
"Yeah, I do that quite a bit," said Cole. "The pay is good. And sometimes you can't just vanquish those who get in your way. Now, if you don't mind, I need to have a word with the Source."
"Be gone," said the other Brotherhood demon. "I know of you as well. You're only a quarter demon. Even less than a warlock. Leave here before we vanquish you for your insolence."
"Look, pea brain," said Peter, "If you know who I am then you also know who my father is. And while I may not be a full-blooded demon like the three of you, I still have a special connection to the demon in there. Keep threatening me and he may not find it so amusing. Ya' really want to take that chance?"
The two demons looked at each other for a moment.
"Wait here," said the first one.
He stepped into the chamber while Peter waited patiently outside. After a moment the demon came back out.
"He is to be granted admittance," said the demon. "But be warned. Try anything and you will never leave here alive."
"Boy, you guys are just a barrel of laughs," said Peter as he walked into the chamber.
The Source was sitting in the back of the chamber. He got up as Peter entered the room. He looked exactly like Cole. Except he had scars on the left side of his face. He was wearing the dark gray robes the old Source had worn constantly but he didn't keep the hood drawn.
"Hey, dad," said Peter, looking around, "love what you've done with the place."
"Peter," said the Source. "I must admit I'm surprised to see you here. After our little encounter the last time I thought this would be the last place you'd want to be."
"Save all the father-son bonding," said Peter. "I know you aren't really Cole Turner. So my differences with him don't apply."
"Very well," said the Source. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I've been thinking," said Peter. "Since our last encounter, as you put it. You've come a long ways. From a former demon with no powers to leader of the underworld. You may not be Cole Turner but I guess in some ways that all still applies to you."
"Okay," said the Source. "That doesn't explain what you're doing here."
"Simple," said Peter. "I came to join you."
"You said you wanted nothing to do with the underworld," said the Source.
"Yeah, well, that was before," said Peter. "I didn't really fit in the underworld or the mortal world. You can change all that. As the Source you can If I were a demon with some authority I wouldn't have to bow and scrape to other demons. And I wouldn't have to put up with humans who only want to use you for what they can get out of you."
"You're singing a different tune from the last time," said the Source.
"When you tell the person you love most in the whole world what you are," said Peter, "and she looks at you with disgust in her eyes and says she never wants to see you again, that can kind of change your outlook on things."
"So," said the Source, "you have discovered that humans can be quite fickle."
"Yeah," said Peter. "I tried to be one of them. Even gave up my lucrative law practice to provide legal surfaces to the poor and indigent. Not exactly the roaring success I had envisioned."
"They didn't appreciate your altruistic motives?" the Source asked.
"All I know is they didn't appreciate what I did for them," said Peter. "They're ungrateful and selfish. And when things didn't go their way they blamed me. Now, I can handle that when I was getting paid for it. It's part of the territory. But did they even appreciate that I had made the attempt? Not in the least. I wasn't sure what I was going to do until I learned you had become the Source."
"So what is it you think I can do for you?" the Source asked.
"Look," said Peter, "no on ever has to know you aren't really my father. In fact, it kind of works to my advantage a lot of the time. A lot of demons are going to approach me. Hoping to curry favor with you. I can be a big help to you."
"Perhaps," said the Source. "Just what position do you think you'd be best suited for?"
"Second-in-command, of course," said Peter. "Answerable only to you. I am your son after all. In a manner of speaking. The heir to the throne, to coin a phrase. Seems to me that's the best position for me."
"That's a pretty big promotion," said the Source. "From a quarter demon whose considered almost a pariah to second to me? There are other more powerful demons that think they deserve that position. Even if they believe you are my son you have to give me more than that."
"How about if I give you what you want most?" Peter asked.
"And what would that be?" asked the Source.
"The Charmed Ones," said Peter. "And the traitor, Malevant."
The Source looked at Peter. Very few knew the truth about the Charmed Ones and Malevant. They were secrets he had to keep well hidden until after the Ascension Ceremony if he hoped to regain his position as the true Source.
"What about them?" the Source asked.
"I know all about them," said Peter. "Like the fact that Malevant isn't who you've always thought he was. How the Charmed Ones still have their powers, even though you supposedly stripped them. How the demonic hierarchy would probably tear you limb from limb if they found out."
"You're threatening me?" questioned the Source.
"Not at all," said Peter. "Just making a point. It wouldn't do me much good to expose all this. If you don't go through the Ascension Ceremony I go back to be a bastard. I'm looking for more than that."
"You said you could give them to me," said the Source. "How do you plan to accomplish that?"
"By telling you what they're planning to do," said Peter. "You don't think they're just sitting around waiting for you, do you? I know what they're planning."
"And how would you know that?" the Source asked.
"Because," said Peter, "they think I'm helping them. I'm supposed to keep you busy while they try to get the pages from the Tome of the Ancients you have hidden away. I keep you busy here, they steal the pages, and then they vanquish you."
"They can't get the pages," said the Source. "Only I can enter that chamber. And it is closely guarded."
"Yeah," said Peter, "but you're forgetting something. Physically, you and my father are virtually identical. Which means he can get into that chamber as easily as you can. That's their plan. While I keep you busy up here they plan to have him sneak into the chamber and steal the pages."
The Source closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment.
"No one has entered the chamber in hours," said the Source.
"Of course not," said Peter. "They're still making their plans. When they're ready, I'm supposed to come back here and keep you occupied. This visit was supposed to let you know what the deal was I wanted. I was supposed to pretend that you were my father and that I've had a change of heart. That the demonic side of me finally won out over the human side. Then I was supposed to give you time to think about the deal and come back for your answer. That's when they plan to strike."
"Very clever," said the Source. "It sounds like one of Malevant's plans."
"It is," said Peter. "Only he goes by Michael now."
"And when do they plan to make this attempt?" the Source asked.
"In two days," said Peter. "It's going to take them that long to set up the trap they have planned for you. Once they get the pages they'll let you know they have them. When you come to get them back they plan to vanquish you."
"A clever plan," said the Source. "Why would you warn me of this? I thought you were on their side?"
"I'm on my side," said Peter. "Besides I want something else. In addition to being your second-in-command."
"And what would that be?" asked the Source.
"I want to be the one to kill Cole," said Peter. "I owe him for what he did to my mother. Last time the Charmed Ones stopped me. But I made a vow that one day I'd kill him. Once you've taken care of the Charmed Ones I get him. And he pays for all the years my mother waited in vain for him to return thinking she had done something wrong to drive him away."
"Vengeance?" the Source asked. "That's what this is all about? Vengeance on the man who wronged you?"
"Why not?" Peter asked. "I spent nearly fifty years trying to make him pay for what he did. Now I have the chance. And a chance to find my place. To be what I was destined to be."
"I always knew your demonic half would win out," said the Source. "Turner had his love for his witch to keep him on the side of good. You, apparently, do not have that catalyst."
"Like I said," said Peter, "when the person you love most in the world
hates you for what you are, it changes your perspective. So, do we have a deal?
I tell you what I know of their plans and in return I get to be your second-in-
command and the chance to kill my father. What do you say?"
"It seems we have a deal," said the Source.
"Great," said Peter. "Now, here's what they plan to do."