TEN

"What can you tell us about this Jorlan?" Piper asked Cole.

"He's an alchemist," said Cole. "He used to be the apprentice of another alchemist named Kumak. Kumak began to experiment in cloning witches and turning the clones evil a few decades back. To the best of my knowledge he's never been successful. After a couple of decades Jorlan came to the conclusion that it couldn't be done and went out on his own."

"And he's the one who had this absorption crystal?" asked Phoebe.

"Yes," said Cole. "He made it known to the Underworld that he had acquired it some time back. And that it was available to any demon who wanted it: for the right price. Until now no demon needed it bad enough to pay his price."

"Looks like that changed," said Paige. "Apparently the Brotherhood thought you were worth paying his price for it."

"It's as much for them as it is for me," said Cole. "Not to mention that they expect to get the three of you in the process. That's would give them even more prestige than they all ready have especially with the Source. That will please Kempac."

"What do we know about this Kempac?" Leo asked.

"He was one of the original Brotherhood members," said Cole. "He's never had any desire to lead the Brotherhood and usually has been content to work as an advisor to the leader."

"You said Teltrick was the most likely choice to be the new leader of the Brotherhood," said Leo.

"Yes," said Cole. "He's belonged to the Brotherhood nearly as long as Kempac. He's well respected by the other members. Everyone suspected that if Raynor was ever vanquished or stepped down that Kempac would succeed him. And he and Kempac have always had a close bond. If Teltrick is chosen leader to succeed Raynor I think it's likely he'll choose Kempac to be his lieutenant."

"So we have Teltrick and Kempac and who knows else to deal with to get the crystal back," said Paige. "My question is how are we going to get the crystal back from a group of upper level demons without getting ourselves killed?"

"I get it," said Cole.

"That's out of the question," said Phoebe. "You have no powers. You're not even half demon any more. It's too dangerous."

"But I'm the only one who can get it," said Cole. "Look, the Brotherhood has done all this to get me back. They aren't likely to hurt me. I'm one of them. Brother does not hurt brother. It's the code of the Brotherhood."

"You killed Raynor," said Piper.

"And the others will understand why," said Cole. "What he did would have been perfectly acceptable with any other demon. But to do it to another member of the Brotherhood was completely contrary to what the Brotherhood stands for."

"How are you going to get it?" Leo asked. "They aren't likely to just give it to you."

"That depends on how you ask them," said Cole, glancing at the ceiling. "And just who does the asking."

"I know that look," said Phoebe. "You're all ready have something in mind, don't you?"

"I did spend most of my life working out plans to accomplish my missions," said Cole smiling coyly. "Most of the time it required me to come up with something on the fly. After nearly a hundred years of doing it you kind of get good at it."

"So what is this plan you have in mind?" asked Piper.

Cole just smiled at the group.

Kempac looked at the absorption crystal and then put it up on a shelf. He would have preferred to gone with his brothers to face the witches in battle. The Brotherhood of the Thorn did not shrink from battle. Under normal circumstances he would not have been sitting in this chamber waiting for his brothers to return.

But these were not normal circumstances. If they were successful they would return a wayward brother to the fold. And the Brotherhood would be whole again. It was his responsibility to safeguard the crystal that would make that possible. As second in the Brotherhood it would often fall to him to remain behind while his brothers went into battle.

He heard a noise at the entrance to the chamber. He wasn't worried. The personal chambers of the Brotherhood of the Thorn were some of the best guarded chambers in the Underworld. If anyone tried to gain access to the chambers without permission they would find them nearly impossible to reach.

He expected to see Teltrick and the others enter the chamber. They had been gone a long time. They had no way of knowing how soon the Charmed Ones would take before they went to Jorlan. But he knew that when they did his brothers would be victorious over them. He looked on in surprise as he saw Cole enter the chamber followed by Belthazor.

"Brother," said Kempac in surprise. "I had not expected to see you so soon."

"Hello, Kempac," said Cole. "It's been a while."

"The witches left to got to Jorlan," said Belthazor. "They left him behind so that he wouldn't be harmed. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to return him to us."

"That was good thinking," said Kempac. "Now we have him back with us. Once the witches are dead the task will be complete and he can take his place at our side where he belongs. Don't look so surprised, Cole. You didn't think we'd just let you walk away, did you? Even now your witch and her sisters walk into an ambush. One that not even they can withstand. And you will get the credit for their deaths. The Source will welcome you back with open arms."

Cole just stared at Kempac.

"We should kill him," said Belthazor. "So that we never have to be concerned with him again."

"We've had this conversation, brother," said Kempac. "As distasteful as it may be for you he is still part of who you are. Besides, he is also a brother. He belongs with us."

"Of course," said Cole. "Once a brother always a brother. The creed of the Brotherhood of the Thorn. Even after I vanquished Raynor you still accept me back."

"It is the way of the Brotherhood," said Kempac. "Just as we would accept back any wayward brother. But you're home now, brother."

"Where is the crystal?" Belthazor asked. "If he is to return to the Brotherhood we might as well get it over with."

Kempac walked over and picked the crystal up from the shelf where he had placed it. He walked over and held it out. Belthazor took the crystal from him.

"That would be a mistake," said a voice from the chamber entryway.

They all turned to see a demon standing in the doorway. The demon was very reminiscent of Belthazor but the black markings wore were somewhat different from Belthazor's.

"Baldasor?" questioned Kempac. "What are you doing here? I thought you went with Teltrick and the others to deal with the witches?"

"I remained behind," said Baldasor. "I had hoped I was wrong. But I can clearly see I was not. You have been played the fool, old friend. That," he indicated Belthazor, "is not my brother. He is an imposter."

Cole looked at Belthazor and then at Baldasor.