TWELVE

"I guess it's all over, then," said Leo after the girls had returned to the manor. "With Rowe vanquished there won't be any more Rowe warlocks to rebuild the Rowe Coven."

"I'm just glad Brendan showed up when he did," said Phoebe. "If what we heard about them is true we may not have been able to vanquish his father. And if he had our powers he could easily have killed all of us."

"I'm just sorry Brendan had to kill his own father," said Piper. "That couldn't have been easy for him. I just hope Father Austin understands and absolves him as Brendan said he would."

"I'm sure he will," said Leo. "It's like Brendan told you. It wasn't murder. He was protecting you three. And the lives of countless innocents from his father. Just like the three of you have done since you became the Charmed Ones. It was something he had to do and he understood that."

"I hope he's able to come to terms with it," said Paige. "He seemed okay but I can tell you that sometimes people hold their feelings like that inside. And it cause a lot of psychological problems even years later. I've seen it happen a hundred times at the social work office."

"I think Brendan might surprise you," said Leo. "For one thing he has Father Austin to talk to about it. And from what you've told me Father Austin knows everything about Brendan. And apparently about you. So he won't have to worry about exposing any confidences.

"Besides, Brendan was able to resist his evil heritage and escape from the Rowe Coven. That's no small feat, let me tell you. He's a lot stronger than you think. I don't imagine it will be easy for him but then being a priest isn't easy either. But it's the life he's chosen. I think he's going to be okay."

"Who's going to be okay?" Billy asked coming into the living room.

"Just an old friend," said Piper. "And just where have you been?"

"Following a lead about my sister," said Billy. "I'm surprised Leo didn't tell you."

"I did," said Leo.

"Well, anyway, it didn't pan out," said Billy. "But I haven't given up. I'll find my sister if it's the last thing I do."

"We have no doubt about that," said Paige. "But right now I think I could use a nap. I'm kind of tired after everything we've been through."

"Oh?" questioned Billy. "What's been going on?"

"Oh nothing," said Phoebe. "We just went up against a nearly invincible demon, faced an alchemist who was immune to our powers, rescued a young kid from demons, and watched as a priest killed his own warlock father. Just the usual."

"The usual?" questioned Billy.

"Come on," said Piper, dragging Billy into the kitchen. "I'll tell you all about it while I start lunch."

The demon in black robes flamed into a chamber in the Underworld. Two other demons were waiting for him in the chamber. They all wore the same black robes with an inverted pentagram on the chest. The other two turned to face their brother as he appeared in the chamber.

"Rowe has been vanquished," said the first demon. "His son killed him. We can no longer count on him to deal with the Charmed Ones for us."

"We always suspected Rowe wouldn't be up to the task," said the second demon. "He was too fixated on his revenge. He was never fully on board with the bigger picture. All he cared about was revenge against the Charmed Ones for killing his sons."

"That is in the past," said the third demon. "What of us? Do the Charmed Ones suspect us?"

"No," said the first demon. "He was too anxious to take the full credit for killing the Charmed Ones to be bothered with exposing us. For the moment, at least, our return is still unknown. What of the girl?"

"She is almost ready," said the second demon. "Soon we will allow her to be rescued and the next part of the plan will be in place. Then we can finish it."

"Very good," said the third demon. "We've waited a long time for this. It's best not to move too fast. All our planning will be for naught if we get careless now."

"That won't happen," said the first demon. "Everything is proceeding as planned. Soon the plan will be complete and the Charmed Ones will bother us no longer. Now, let's see to the other preparations. We must leave nothing to chance."

The End

If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my website, Creative Passions, listed in my bio. You can also post your own "Charmed" stories or other stories if you like to write fan fiction.