SIX
The sisters sat in a chamber in the underworld. Two demons were also there keeping watch over them. Adasar and Cole were nowhere to be seen. The demons had just shimmered them into the chamber and then left without so much as a goodbye.
"Where's Cole?" Phoebe demanded of one of their guards.
"Don't be concerned with Belthazor," said the demon. "Malevant is sure to give him the greeting he deserves. And I'm sure the Source has an appropriate greeting as well. It's best if you don't dwell on it. It will make your stay here much less painful."
"He talks like they aren't going to kill us," Paige whispered to her sisters. "Why else would they bring us here if not to kill us?"
"I don't know," Piper whispered. "But at least dad is safe. At least that much of the plan is working."
"How long to we wait?" Phoebe whispered, glancing at the two guards.
"Just a little longer," Piper whispered back. "We have to wait to make sure our surprise is ready. But we weren't counting on them separating Cole from us. That's going to make it more difficult."
"Don't worry he should be okay," said Paige. "By the time any of these demons figures out what's going on it should be too late."
"I hope you're right," said Piper. "This is dangerous enough as it is. I just hope nothing else unexpected happens."
The two demonic guards heard the sisters whispering but seemed to be ignoring them. They were far enough away that the sisters felt sure they couldn't hear what was being said. Occasionally one would glance in their direction but other than that neither made any move toward them.
"I just don't get it," said one of the guards. "What's so appealing about human females? Without their powers they're weak. I don't see what the master sees in them."
"To each his own," said the other demon.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked the first demon.
"Something I once heard a warlock say," said the other demon. "He said it means everyone has their own tastes. Obviously the master has a taste for humans. But I'm not going to be the one to say anything about it, are you?"
"Don't be crazy," said the first demon. "The last thing I want is to get Beelzbor ticked off at me. I just don't know what he sees in them, that's all."
"Well, we're just supposed to watch them, that's all," said the second demon. "But he must see something in them. First one and now these three. You'd think he was creating his own human harem."
The first demon just laughed as the sisters listened to their conversation. If what they were understanding was correct, this Beelzbor had all ready taken a human woman captive.
"Are you saying your master all ready has a female down here?" Piper asked before she realized what she was saying.
The first demon struck her with the back of his hand knocking her to the floor.
"Shut up," said the demon. "Our orders are not to kill you. But no one said anything about not roughing you up if you got out of line. So just watch your mouth."
"Are you okay?" Phoebe whispered to Piper, helping her to her feet.
"Yeah," said Piper, rubbing her face. "But if what they said is true that means Beelzbor has an innocent down here. Which means once we get rid of these bracers we'll need to find her and get her out of here. There's no telling what kind of torture they're putting her through."
The sisters just stared at their captors wondering how they would ever find an innocent in the underworld.
Adasar stood in front of another demon. The latter demon stood some seven feet tall and its skin was a dark green - nearly black - with bright yellow markings. Its eyes glowed like two piercing spotlights in the dark. Belthazor stood next to Adasar.
"I told you I could deliver him, Malevant," Adasar said. "I've delivered the traitor to you. Now there was some talk of a reward."
"Yes," said Malevant, glaring at Belthzor. "But tell me. Why bring him to me? Why not just turn him over to Talistar?"
"The Source is the one who put the bounty on his head," said Adasar. "If I had turned him over to Talistar he would have taken the credit. Now you can inform the Source that I was the one who caught the traitor."
"Is that all it is?" Malevant asked. "Simple greed?"
"What else?" Adasar asked. "He's worth a lot. Why should I share it?"
"Talistar will not be happy about this."
"I'll worry about that. All you need to do is make good on the bounty. That's all I want."
"It will be waiting for you when you leave my domain. And rest assured I shall inform the Source you are the one who captured the traitor. He will be most pleased."
"Enjoy yourself," Adasar said to Belthazor as he turned and left Malevant's domain.
Belthazor just stared at Malevant. With the bracer locked around his wrist he didn't have access to any of his powers. There would be no way for him to defend himself against this senior demon.
"We meet again," Malevant said. "You have the distinction of being the only being to ever resist my torture session. During your initiation into the Brotherhood. I may have to come up with something special for you this time."
"Just get it over with," said Belthazor. "The Source wants me vanquished. Why prolong it?"
"Oh, he will want that privilege for himself. While he does want you vanquished he has confided in me that it would give him no greater joy than to be the one that actually…."
Malevant's voice trailed off as he stared at Belthazor's arm. The look on Malevant's face changed to one of uncertainty. He grabbed Belthazor's wrist and raised the arm staring intently at Belthazor's markings.
"Who are you?" the senior demon demanded. "You are not Belthazor. These are not the true markings of a member of the Brotherhood of the Thorn. Are you a shape shifter?"
"You're mistaken," said Belthazor. "Just get it over with."
"Not so fast." Malevant turned to one of the demons that waited patiently for it's masters instructions. "Bring Lacasta to me." He turned back to Belthazor. "The markings are nearly identical. But the true markings are something very similar to a brand. You bear no indications these are like those.
"You must be very foolish to impersonate Belthazor this way. All demons know he is under sentence of death from the Source himself. What do you hope to gain from this little charade? Impersonating him would be tantamount to a death sentence. Why would you risk such a fate?"
"You're wrong," said Belthazor. "I am Belthazor. Just take off this bracer and I'll prove it."
Just then another demon entered the chamber. It was shorter than the other demons and its eyes were a strange aquamarine color. It bowed slightly to Malevant. This was a Vision demon. Among its abilities was the ability to see a creatures' true form no matter what form they took.
"Lacasta," said Malevant, pointing to Belthazor, "what manner of creature is he?"
The Vision demon stared at Belthazor for a moment. Then a strange look came over its face.
"My lord," said the Vision demon, "he is White Lighter."
"A White Lighter?" questioned Malevant. "Why would a White Lighter be impersonating Belthazor? And why come to the underworld? Speak, White Lighter. With that bracer on you cannot use your powers. And since you cannot die except from the poison of a Dark Lighter's bolt, I can make your existence very uncomfortable for a very long time."