NINE
"Get out of here," Cole said, pushing Phoebe toward Paige and moving to position his body between the girls and Malevant. "I'll take care of him."
"They'll never make it, Belthazor," said Malevant. "I'll get at least one of them before the witch can orb them out. And you must know you are no match for me alone. But I will know why you have chosen to infiltrate the underworld."
"We didn't infiltrate anything," said Piper. "Your buddy Talistar kidnapped our father used him to get us down here. We just want to get Leo and go back home. We don't want any trouble out of you or anyone else."
"Why would Talistar bring you down here instead of killing you?" Malevant asked. "It makes no sense. As long as you are alive you would be a threat to him. And keeping you together is the height of foolishness."
"Can't answer that," said Paige. "He made us where these binding bracers. He said we couldn't use our powers as long as we had them on."
"He was correct about that," said Malevant. "But as I heard, you are no longer wearing the bracers."
"You got that right," said Piper. "Now, just give me my husband back and we won't vanquish your sorry butt."
"How amusing," Malevant said. "Your powers alone are not enough to vanquish me. And since it is unlikely you expected to encounter me you would not have prepared one of your famous Power of Three spells for me. So your threats are of little concern to me."
"Malevant," said Cole, "there are indications that Talistar and Beelzbor are working together. And Phoebe said that Beelzbor has a human female down here. What say we make a deal?"
"Beelzbor has a human female? You're sure about that?"
"Pretty sure," said Phoebe. "We overheard our guards talking about it. Now, what about that deal?"
"A deal?" Malevant questioned. "With three humans and a traitor? What makes you think I'm even interested in making a deal with the likes of you?"
"Because," said Cole, "as much as you dislike us I know you hate Talistar and Beelzbor even more. You know as well as I do if the two of them are working together they're up to no good. And considering how they feel about you I'm betting whatever they have in mind it doesn't have your best interest in mind."
Malevant stared at Cole for a moment. Then he extinguished the fireballs he was holding.
"What do you have in mind?"
"We'll help you find out what Talistar and Beelzbor are up to," said Piper. "In return you let us and the female Beelzbor has prisoner return to the mortal plane unhindered."
"And why should I agree to this deal of yours? I have my spies. I could discover what they're up to on my own."
"You didn't know Beelzbor had a female down here," said Cole. "From what their guards said she must have been down here for a while. It might take you a while to find out what they're up to. We can find that out a lot faster."
"We had planned to vanquish Talistar for kidnapping our dad," said Piper. "When he comes to see us we'll find out what he's planning. If what Cole has told us is true, he'll be wanting to gloat about his plan. Once we learn what he's up to we'll tell you. Then you can deal with it any way you want."
"An interesting plan," said Malevant. "How can you be so sure Talistar will tell you what you want to know?"
"She'll just goad him into it," Cole said looking at Piper. "Trust me, if anyone can get it out of Talistar it's Piper."
Malevant didn't speak for a moment. He seemed to be thinking. Neither the girls nor Cole could tell what he was thinking. There was no expression on his face. Finally he spoke.
"Assuming that what they are planning is sufficient, we have a deal. But you will not vanquish Talistar. If he is planning something against me I will deal with him myself."
"Sounds fair to me," said Cole. "One more thing. We need Leo here. He's part of the plan. And he leaves with us."
"The White Lighter does not concern me. I shall have him brought to you immediately. And do not think for an instant that my agreeing to this plan is any indication of weakness on my part. I agree to it only because it suits me to do so. Nothing more."
"Yeah, yeah we know," said Piper. "Now, bring my husband to me and let us find out what Talistar is up to."
Malevant didn't say a word. He simply shimmered out of the chamber leaving the others alone. A few moments later he shimmered back in with Belthazor.
"Here," he said. "I have kept my end of the bargain. Now keep yours. When you have discovered what they are up to inform me immediately."
"Don't worry," said Piper. "We just want to get the female and get back home. What you guys do down here is your business."
Malevant didn't say another word. He simply shimmered out as Cole removed the binding bracer from Leo. Leo immediately glamoured to his normal form.
"What deal?" he asked.
"We'll tell you as we get ready," said Piper. "Right now Talistar may be back at any minute. When he gets here it has to look like things are going according to his plan. Cole, do you think he knows Adasar got you, too?"
"Probably," said Cole. "Adasar is very much like Talistar. He'll be bragging all over the underworld how he captured me."
"Great," said Piper. "So it won't be suspicious if you're here when Talistar gets here."
"What do I do now?" Leo asked.
"You looked good as Belthazor," said Piper, smiling. "How do you look as another demon?"
Leo just looked at her in confusion.