Zankou

Cole had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Normally that meant something was wrong with Grace. He had experienced the feeling the first time a demon had attacked his daughter in his apartment. He excused himself from his client as quick as possible, headed for the next safe place and blurred out.

Cole appeared at the Halliwell manor only split seconds later, the deafening cries of his daughter filling the attic. Cole maintained the spot he had blurred into analyzing the scene in front of him.

The Charmed Ones were hurdled together around the Book of Shadows. Piper ready to strike on the left side, next to her Paige. One step behind stood Phoebe cradling Grace in her arms and trying to calm her down. Their expressions were tense and to his surprise, slightly fearsome.

Opposite them stood a single person. He looked like a human but Cole could sense the demonic energy signature. He felt very much power emanating from that demon. The mere fact that the demon came alone to the Halliwell manor and Piper hadn't already blown him up meant that he was really powerful. As far as Cole knew there was no Source at the moment, but this demon could easily go as one.

"Who are you?" the demon barked at him, but not taking his eyes from the Halliwells.

Cole turned to the demon. He had to be careful. It wasn't wise to enter a fight without knowing who you were up against.

"Sorry to interrupt your business," he said politely but not submissively, "but I sense a conflict of interest here."

"You have no business here," the demon growled, "and if I ask your name, you answer."

Cole pulled a surprised eyebrow. Definitely an upper level demon who was used to his commands being followed without hesitation.

He took some steps towards the demon to demonstrate that he wasn't impressed at all. And of course to get nearer to the sisters, just in case.

"I'm a little bit offended that you don't know me," Cole addressed the demon without complying with the demon's demand of giving his name. "I used to be the Source."

"Ah," the demon seemed to remember something, "Belthazor. The one who fell for a Charmed One. The half breed who betrayed his origins and the brotherhood."

"It depends which origins you mean. And you are?" Cole asked, not taking on the side blow, "see I like at least to know the names of the demons I vanquish."

Cole acted very condescending towards the demon. It always worked to annoy high- level demons.

"Ha," the demon laughed nastily, "Who says you could do that? But I like the demon I vanquish to know who did it," the demon said, full of himself, "I'm Zankou."

"Zankou," Cole repeated, "I have to admit I'm honored to finally meet you." Cole gave Zankou a light nod of his head.

Zankou didn't return the gesture. "How come you are alive?" Zankou asked, "I heard these witches vanquished you."

Cole wondered why the girls hadn't taken any action by now. He had certainly given them enough time to think of some plan of action. He noted that Grace had stopped wailing. She seemed to feel when he was near, and it often worked to comfort her.

"I didn't like being dead. It's just plain boring," Cole smirked, "So I decided to come back and get back at the witches, which would be much more fun."

Cole heard the girls gasp at his statement. "You insidious evil bastard," Paige hissed from her place.

"See they love me," Cole smirked towards Zankou.

Zankou didn't show any emotion at all. He just watched the interaction between Cole and the Charmed Ones suspiciously. He knew the story about Belthazor and the witches. It was an infamous story in the underworld. Still he wasn't sure which side Belthazor was on. Belthazor had the reputation to betray anyone for anything.

"If you leave now, I spare your miserable life," Zankou offered.

He was about to kill the Charmed Ones, and that set him in a good mood. They hadn't enough power to oppose him. If they had they would have done something.

"As I said, I think we have a conflict of interests here," Cole repeated patiently.

He tried to move closer to the girls but Zankou didn't like it. He sent a red energy wave just before Cole's feet.

"You could have said something," Cole complained looking at the scorch mark at the ground.

"You didn't strike me as a good listener," Zankou sneered, "but since you are so insistent. What is the business you have here?"

"I want the baby," Cole demanded, holding Zankou's stare.

"The baby? Why?" Zankou's glance slid to Phoebe and the baby she was pressing against her. He had planned to end the Halliwell line once and for all. That also included the children.

"They took my heir from me when I was the Source," Cole explained and anger slipped into his voice, "I want reparation for that. I want their child to raise it as my personal assassin."

"Over my dead body," Piper spat hateful towards the demons.

"That can easily be arranged," Zankou informed her gleefully.

Piper winced inside because she knew that their chances to escape this were weak. Nevertheless she stared back defiantly at Zankou.

Cole put his hands in his pockets nonchalantly. "So how is it going to be? Can I have the child or do you prefer to fight for it?"

Zankou sized Cole up. Belthazor had the reputation of being hard to kill. Besides he had come back from the wasteland. Zankou figured it was better to let him go this time, since fighting both the Charmed Ones and Belthazor at the same time wasn't smart.

"If I give you the baby, you won't interrupt my business again?" Zankou asked.

"Promise," Cole held up his hands, "I just want what is mine."

"How can I be sure you don't cross me?" Zankou asked.

"You can't. But Zankou, think about it. They killed me once. I don't harbor any solidarity to them. They are just still alive because I figured taking their children would be a bigger hurt for them than just killing them." Cole shrugged his shoulders.

"I knew you were up to something," Phoebe breathed, "you are pure evil. You almost got Piper to believe you have changed."

What she said about Piper also held true for her. She had thought about Cole a lot in the last months. He seemed to have his powers under control. She had gotten up her hopes again that there might be a future for them. But again, he had let her down.

"I take that as a compliment," Cole grinned towards Phoebe and she stared back icily.

"You humans are so gullible," Zankou taunted, "Did you really think that a demon ever forgives something like a vanquish? I wonder how you made it this far with that little of brains."

"Just shut up," Paige hissed heatedly.

"Go ahead, take the baby and leave Belthazor. You wasted enough of my time." Zankou went back to giving orders.

"With your permission." Cole made a slight bow and waved his hand. Grace dematerialized from Phoebe's grip and reappeared in his arms.

"I leave you to your business now," Cole said to Zankou, then turned to the Charmed Ones, "It was a pleasure. Too bad I can't stay to see the demise, but I have to take care of the kids."

Phoebe stared back at him with hate in her eyes. Every bit of concern and softness Cole thought he saw before was now missing. Paige didn't even look at him, she watched Zankou warily. But Piper looked back at him intense and pleading, her dark eyes searching his. Cole returned her stare and hoped she understood.

"Out," Zankou roared and sent an energy wave at Cole's back. But Cole anticipating the impatient nature of the demon blurred out just before the wave hit him.

tbc