Cole, Kempac, and Nelsar negotiated the passageways of the underworld heading for the chamber that held the pages from the Tome of the Ancients. Cole looked exactly like the Source complete with scars on the left side of his face. As they walked toward the chamber Cole scratched at the underside of his face.
"This makeup is beginning to itch," he said.
"It was necessary," said Kempac. "If the witches had used a spell to create the illusion of the scars the Vision demons would notice it immediately."
"Let's just not take too long," said Cole. "I'm nervous enough being down here. I don't want to stay any longer than I have to."
"Do not fear, brother," said Nelsar. "We will protect you. I only wish I knew how the confrontation with the Source is going. Malevants' plan has many elements of risk. If the Source takes a Vision demon with him he will know it's a trap."
"Let's not be concerned with that," said Cole. "Let's just get those pages and get out of here."
They came to a large chamber that had no door on it. All of them could see some form of mystical energy surrounding the doorway. As they stepped up to the door five demons suddenly shimmered in, surrounding them.
One was a Vision demon similar to the one Peter had encountered when he had gone to the Source. The remaining four were large demons, uniformly gray in color. They had no hair and their eyes were a brilliant blue. The Vision demon stared at Cole, Kempac, and Nelsar for a moment, then bowed in reverence.
"Welcome, Source," said one of the guardian demons. "We had not been told you were coming."
"I chose well in picking you to guard the chamber," said Cole, trying to sound as arrogant as the Source. "No one has tried to gain admittance?"
"None, my Lord," said the demon. "The chamber remains undisturbed as when you left it."
"Good," said Cole. He turned to Kempac and Nelsar. "Wait here. I won't be long."
Cole stepped up to the doorway and looked it over. The magic of the enchantment was a powerful one. Any creature that stepped into the doorway would be instantly obliterated by the power of the Ancients. Any creature but the Source, the one person it was not designed to keep out.
This was the moment of truth. If Michael was right, Cole should be able to enter the chamber unharmed. If Michael was wrong, the magic would destroy him. And Kempac and Nelsar would probably have to fight their way out of the underworld. Cole took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then, without any hesitation, he stepped through the doorway.
Cole opened his eyes and looked round. The magic of the protection spell hadn't affected him. Michael had been right. For all intents and purposes Cole and the Source were virtually identical. Physically anyway. Cole looked around the room. It contained many items the Source had collected during his reign of the underworld.
Cole was tempted to take as many of the items as he could. They were all items that would serve the underworld. And could places the forces of good in danger. But he immediately decided against taking anything but the pages. If he removed more than that the guards might become suspicious. This plan was too risky, and too important, to arouse their suspicions.
Cole walked over to the small chest that contained the pages. He opened it and looked inside. Sitting snugly in the chest were the pages he was looking for. Michael said that the Source had collected eight pages from the book. He counted the pages in the chest and found all eight. Cole scooped them up and headed for the exit.
As he exited the room he glanced cautiously at the demonic guards standing just outside. None seemed alarmed that he had removed the pages. Instead they bowed slightly as Cole walked over to Kempac and Nelsar.
"Remain on guard," said Cole. "My orders still stand. Anyone trying to gain access to this chamber is to be destroyed immediately. As are anyone who appears not in their true form."
"As you wish," said the first demon. "We shall protect this chamber as you order."
"Let's go," said Cole to Kempac and Nelsar. "There is much work to be done."
Cole and the two demons turned and moved back down the corridor they had just come from. They couldn't risk shimmering out in the open like this. They had to return to the hidden alcove where they had appeared in the underworld. Until the pages were safely away from the underworld they were still at risk of exposure. As they walked toward the alcove the Seer and two of her demonic underlings suddenly surprised them. She stood looking at Cole as he felt sure their ploy had been discovered.