Chapter 4: Demonic Politics

"What about Sabrina?" Charles asked, once they were back in the house, in the living room. The others were sitting around, watching them. Robert didn't give an answer. He just orbed back to the Underworld.

"What happened?" Millie asked.

"Sabrina was hit with an energy ball," Charles said. "When we had left, she was unconscious."

"We have to help her," Jordan said, worried.

"Good idea," Charles said. "But we can't just go down there."

"Don't worry," Millie said. "Robert will get her and bring her back."

"What if he can't?" Charles asked.

"You must trust in your Whitelighter," Millie said. "Even though he really shouldn't have done this in the first place."

"So what, we just sit and wait?" Annie asked. Millie nodded her head. Charles walked over to them and sat on a chair.

"Millie?" Charles asked.

"Yes, my dear?"

"When I was down in the Underworld, the demons seemed to hate Nexell, and other warlocks. One of the demons said he was going to turn him in to the Guild, whatever that is."

"Well, first of all, the reason the demons hate warlocks is simply racism. Warlocks are scum in the eyes of demons. And the Guild is a group of strong, upper level demons that pretty much rule the Underworld."

"Why do demons hate warlocks?" David asked.

"Because they think they are better than the warlocks. They two races are always fighting to become 'top dog'."

"Why would a demon turn in Nexell to the Guild though?" Jordan asked.

"Because killing one of their own kind in order to steal their powers, even in their standards, is forbidden. It's punishable by death. The Guild will kill Nexell when they track him down."

"So we don't have to worry about him?" David asked.

"The Guild won't be able to track him down so easily," Millie said. "He's got a lot of powers that can cover his tracks and keep them from sensing him."

"How powerful exactly is the Guild?" Annie asked.

"Very, very powerful," Millie said. "Let's put it this way, just one of the five of them could kill each of us."

"So, are we going to have to fight them someday?"

"Yes," Millie said. "But that's along ways from today."

"So what are they a bunch of dictators for the Underworld or what?" David asked.

"Okay, you know what," Millie said. "Someday, we're going to add history of demons into our training, but that's not today. You'll learn whatever you want some other time. We need to get ready for Nexell."

"All we do is say the spell right?" David asked. "How hard could it be?"

"Not that hard," Charles said. "So I'm gonna leave that to you guys. I have to find out who this girl in my vision was." As Charles walked out the door, Robert orbed back in with Sabrina in his arms. He fell to his knees and laid her down. He then placed his hands over her wound. They shone with a golden light, which healed the wound instantly. Sabrina woke up and stood up.

"What happened? Where's the warlock?" Sabrina asked.

"Not here, for now," Millie said.

"What happened down there?" Annie asked.

"I had to fight him off long enough until I could orb her to safety," Robert said. He was still out of breath from it.

"Whitelighters aren't supposed fight," Millie said.

"I wasn't about to lose my daughter again."

"We need to be ready for him when he comes," Millie said. "And there may be more to worry about. I'm afraid there's more to this than just your powers now, Sabrina."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"This has turned into a whole political battle. More evil than just Nexell could show up."

"He's killing other demons, Elvon," a demon informed him. "He's taking their powers for his own personal use." There were five members of the Guild. Each of them sat around a circular, stone table.

"Thank you for telling us this," Elvon said. He was leader of the Guild. He was the eldest and strongest. "You shall be rewarded." The demon bowed his head and shimmered away.

"We must kill him," Jalvor said.

"Do not worry," Elvon said. "He will be taken care of."

"By who?" Zera, an old, female demon asked.

"As I said, I shall be sending Marvik in to deal with the Four Corners. When Nexell attacks them, Marvik shall attack."

"Marvik won't be able to fight a warlock plus who knows how many witches," Jalvor insisted. "We should go in ourselves."

"I agree," Berralack said.

"Marvik will get the job done," Elvon insisted.

"Why don't we ask Minxie and find out," Heru said.

"Fine," Elvon said. "Minxie!" The seer shimmered in.

"What do you require me for?" she asked, bowing her head.

"I wish for you to peer into the future." Her crystal ball appeared in a white flash and she looked into it.

"The future is unclear at the moment," she said. "It's clouded with uncertainty. It could sway either way."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jalvor asked.

"It means that there is much happening," Minxie said. "Making the future unclear."