Phoebe sat in her room staring at the ceiling. Just when things were going ok, Cole just had to appear. Why did life have to be so complicated? It bugged the hell out of Phoebe and there was nothing she could do about it. She was relieved that at least Cole hadn't said anything about wanting her back but he had also been looking at her like he used to when they first met. That was a wonderful period of time in Phoebe's life and she wished with all her heart that things could have stayed that way. Unfortunately, things changed.
Phoebe sighed to herself. Part of her wanted to go and help all the demons in the Underworld because helping them get rid of the Source would be good for everyone. Then again she was afraid, afraid that if she helped the demons her feelings for Cole would return. If those came back then who knew what could happen.
A small knock on the door took Phoebe out of her reverie. "Come in!"
Piper slowly came in and said, "Hey…"
"Hi…is Cole gone?"
Piper nodded and said, "Yeah, he's gone." She stood in silence for a moment before saying, "You know you could at least give him a chance and listen to what he has to say."
Phoebe snorted and said, "I'm guessing that that's exactly what you did."
"It is," replied Piper softly, "and I personally don't care that you or Paige have something against him. I hate what's going on in the Underworld right now."
Phoebe sat up with a smirk on her face and said, "Ok then, all knowing Piper, tell me, what exactly is going on down there?"
"Phoebe this isn't a joke. The Source is killing all demons that aren't loyal to him."
"Big deal…demons are back stabbing asses."
"Phoebe, don't let your grudge against Cole hinder you better judgment. As I was saying, he's leaving demonic children homeless and killing off the ones who aren't loyal to him."
Phoebe's eyes widened. "He's killing…children?" Piper nodded and sat down next to Phoebe. "That's horrible, Piper."
"I know…I said the same thing."
Phoebe looked at Piper and said, "So, what are we going to do?"
Piper looked up at Phoebe with a small look of guilt on her face and said, "Well I kind of already told him that I would help him no matter what so now it's just you and Paige."
"Did you have to agree?" groaned Phoebe. "Now I have out of obligation."
"Come on Phoebe, don't look at it like that, besides, if we help them kill the Source, Cole said that they're probably going to make him the Source and with him as the Source, he'll be able to give us a reward."
Phoebe laughed. "Cole will be the Source again? Great! Now I really want to help him." She looked at Piper and said, "What's the reward?"
"He wouldn't tell me."
Phoebe leaned back onto her bed and said, "Life is wonderful today."
Cole shimmered into his penthouse apartment in good spirits. What he was not prepared for at the moment was company.
As soon as he turned on the lights to his apartment, he was greeted with the sight of about thirty or forty children.
Cole's eyes widened in astonishment as he said slowly, "Uh…what's going on here?"
A teenager who looked to be about 17 stepped out of the crowd of children. He was a little shorter than Cole, had jet black hair, light brown eyes, and had a fang earring in one ear. He bowed down to Cole and said, "Belthazar, please forgive us. We had no where else to go."
"You're forgiven.," replied Cole, warily sitting down. "You can get up."
Damien's head snapped up at Cole's act of kindness as he said, "Kindness among demons is rare. Those who have it are destined for greatness."
Cole let a small smile show as he said, "Well, what are you all doing here?" He glanced at all the children noticing that many of them were hurt and looked very hungry.
Damien bowed again and said, "A few men from Cragnis's army were talking. I heard them say something about your house being surrounded by some kind of magical ward that prevented them from entering." Damien stood up straighter and gestured to the others behind him, "They had come to kill me and the rest of these demons."
Cole frowned and said, "If I had wards around my house how did you get in here?"
Damien frowned and said, "Honestly, I have no idea."
Cole nodded and said, "I'll look into that." He looked around at all the children and said to Damien, "I'm guessing that you're all very tired and hungry?"
He was answered by a series of, "Yes! Of course! Are you stupid?"
Cole smiled and said, "Why don't you all get some rest and I'll see what food I can get." Cole looked at the children who were still standing where they were. "Or…you can do whatever you want." A loud cry of joy erupted from many of the children as they began racing about the penthouse. "Just try and keep it down here!" he yelled. "The mortals here get very annoyed by loud noises." Immediately, the shouts quieted down to whispers.
Damien came and stood next to Cole. "I've never seen them act so obedient before."
Cole shrugged and said, "This is good then."
He turned and began walking out of the apartment when Damien said, "Where are you going, Belthazar?"
"Out to get some food. I only have enough food for two people."
"May I…come with you?" asked Damien with awe. "I've never seen the above world before."
Cole frowned for a second and said, "I suppose you could…do you have anyone who can watch over them while you're gone?"
Damien nodded vigorously and called, "Taryn!" Seconds later, a tall girl who looked exactly like Damien except with blue eyes appeared in front of him. She looked to be about 15. "Taryn, can you watch over everyone?"
Her eyes flashed green for a moment and she said, "Why not? Where are you going?"
"With Belthazar to get food."
Her eyes flashed again as she replied, "Fun…so many people to kill…hurry back."
"We're not killing anyone," said Cole. "It'll draw too much suspicion to us." Taryn shrugged and went back to the other children. Cole turned to Damien and sad, "A few things before we leave. You will be my…nephew if anyone asks and you will call me Uncle."
"Uncle?" asked Damien with a raised eyebrow. "Funny name."
Cole smiled and said, "Cole Turner is what I go by up here." Cole grabbed his car keys from where he had put them in the morning and said, "Let's go."
Damien excitedly followed Cole out of the apartment.