TWENTY-EIGHT

"This is not my idea of a fun night on the town," said Prue, pacing the back and forth in the small room she and her sisters were sharing. "This place is barely livable."

The room was barely large enough for the four cots it held. There was also a small bathroom off to one side that had a shower in it. A shower barely large enough for one person to squeeze into. In addition, there was a small desk and chair but little else.

"Well, Cole did say it was the safest place on the planet," said Phoebe. "This far underground the satellites can't pick up our biosigns."

"I'm just not comfortable being around so many demons," said Piper. "What's to keep them from deciding we're easy targets?"

"Cole said this place was a safe haven for demons," said Phoebe. "Violence isn't allowed here. He made arrangements with the demon who runs this place. No one here is going to harm us."

"Speaking of which," said Piper, "what this invulnerability I supposedly have? Are you sure about that?"

"Well, I was in the real timeline," said Phoebe. "It's the only thing that makes any sense. Somehow when time got folded and everything got all jumbled up you remained pregnant. And your pregnancy protects you from harm."

"And you say Leo is the father?" Prue asked.

"Yes," said Piper. "He's been watching over us our entire lives. When he first came to the manor he pretended to be a handyman. When they fell in love and decided to get married there was a lot of interference from the Elders. But they finally came around. And now Piper is pregnant and basically invulnerable, just like she was earlier."

"That could come in handy," said Piper. "If I can't be hurt then I can get mom out of that prison once Leo find out where she's at. Maybe I could even free the other witches in the camp. There's no way for them to stop me."

"Hold on girl," said Phoebe. "You may not be hurt but others can. If you go running off to save the world a lot of people could end up getting hurt."

"I hate to say it," said Prue, "but I think she's right. And you may be invulnerable but you can still be knocked out. Or at least dazed. Being invulnerable doesn't do any good if you aren't able to use it."

"Yeah, you might be right," said Piper. "But if I am invulnerable it could come in handy at some point."

"I wish Leo would get back," said Phoebe. "He's been gone a long time. I don't like just hanging around doing nothing like this."

"I'm sure you're White Lighter friend will return when he's completed with whatever task he's on," said a voice from the only door into the room. "They are such noble individuals. You can always count on them to keep their word."

"Gangus, isn't it?" Paige questioned.

"That it is," said the demon. Gangus looked almost human. Except for the glowing red eyes, pale blue skin, and forked tongue, he might even have passed for human. "I've just come to see if you're comfortable."

"In this bread box?" Prue asked. "It's barely large enough for us to get into."

"Necessity, I'm afraid," said Gangus. "Space is a premium down here. Originally the Overworld was a get away of sorts for demons on the mortal plane. We used to reside in the warehouses above which allowed us more room to spread out. But with the current situation we've been forced to relocate here below the buildings above. But as Belthazor told you, it is completely secure. We can't be detected down here and those who come here aren't about to reveal its existence to the outside world."

"Where is Cole, by the way?" Phoebe asked. "He didn't say where he was going when he left. Just that he had to take care of some things."

"I believe he's returned to the underworld," said Gangus. "I really couldn't say for sure. What happens outside the Overworld is of little concern to me."

"But you do know things," said Piper.

"I hear things," said Gangus. "From those who visit here. Rumors mostly. I rarely concern myself with such rumors unless they directly affect the Overworld."

"Yeah, well it might be secure but it's boring," said Prue. "There's not really a whole lot to do."

"You could go to the common areas," said Gangus. "Most of the inhabitants spend their time there. There is usually something going on that can divert your attention."

"A room full of demons?" questioned Phoebe. "That might not be a good idea. We're witches. I'm betting more than one would love to take us out."

"Which will not happen as long as you are here," said Gangus. "As you were told when you came here, violence is not permitted here for any reason. And it is strictly enforced. The first demon that attempts to harass you will have to answer to me."

"I'm sure there are demons more powerful than you are," said Prue. "That's how you demons work, isn't it? The stronger ruler the weaker?"

"True," said Gangus. "But there are safeguards in place in that event. Trust me. You will be perfectly safe in any of the common areas. Word has all ready been passed that you are guests here and to be treated as any other guest."

"The word of a demon?" Piper questioned.

"Well, it's your choice," said Gangus. "You're welcome to take advantage of all of our amenities, no matter how few they may be. Or you may remain here waiting for your White Lighter to return. The choice is yours."

"It couldn't hurt to get out of this room for a while," said Piper after Gangus had left the room.

"I suppose," said Prue. "It does beat sitting around here just waiting. I wonder what kind of 'amenities' this lace has?"

The girls wandered out of the room and looked around. The common areas weren't hard to find. They were centrally located and appeared to be a combination of a cafeteria and a bar. They found a table and a female demon took their drink orders.

"You sure it's okay to drink anything here?" Paige asked.

"I doubt if they wanted to hurt us they'd try to poison us," said Phoebe. "Demons are usually a lot more direct than that."

"Well, what have we here?" questioned a very large demon walking over to the table. "For humans you ain't half bad looking. How about one of you joins me for a drink?"

"Sorry, we're busy right now," said Prue, undisguised disgust in her voice.

"Now, that ain't very friendly," said the demon leaning down to stare her in the face. "You're going to need some friends here. You might want to be a bit more cordial."

"They have friends here," said Gangus, walking up to them. "They said they weren't interested, Dorak. I suggest you move along."

"Stay out of this, Gangus," said Dorak. "I'm just being friendly. These girls should learn to be a bit friendlier. I just thought I'd help out that's all."

"I said move on," said Gangus. "You know the rules. Everyone minds their own business here."

"Then I suggest you mind your business," said Dorak. "This is between me and the ladies, understand?"

Suddenly three demons shimmered in around the table. They were the largest demons Phoebe had ever seen. They stood at least a foot taller than any other demon in the room. The three demons stood staring at Dorak.

"As I said," said Gangus, "violence is not allowed in the Overworld. Now I suggest you go back to the bar, have a drink on the house, and leave the ladies alone."

Dorak looked at the three large demons and then moved away from the table, fear in his eyes. Gangus just smiled at the sisters.

"As I told you," he said, "no one is going to bother you while you're here. These enforcer demons will see to that. They make sure that all of our guests behave themselves while they're here."

"Thanks," said Prue.

"My pleasure," said Gangus.

Gangus walked back over to the bar and the three enforcer demons simply shimmered out of the room.

"Well, I guess we don't have to worry about anyone bothering us any more," said Piper. "Those enforcer demons seem to be able to handle anyone they have to."

"We still have to decide what we're going to do," said Prue. "When Leo gets here we need to decide on a plan to free mom. And then we have to get Nostradamus out of that hospital and back to the underworld."

"If Leo can find out where she's being held," said Paige. "Word about her hasn't leaked out since they supposedly 'killed' her. And if she's being held in a special prison I'm willing to be they have some special protection to keep her there. And to keep anyone from breaking her out. It's a sure bet they'll have protection to nullify the powers of any witches who try to break her out."

"There has to be some word," said Prue. "She's the mother of the Charmed Ones. I can't believe they could keep her alive and locked up without someone knowing something about it."

"Charmed Ones?" questioned a small figure sitting at the next table. He was just the least bit inebriated. "You're look for mother of Charmed Ones?"

"Yes," said Phoebe. "Do you know her?"

The demon was in human form and was considerably shorter than most of the figures in the room. He stood barely five feet tall and had long scraggly hair. He hadn't shaved in several days and apparently hadn't bathed in as long either.

"I heard about her," said the figure. "What's my information worth to you?"

"Ignore him," said Prue. "He probably doesn't know anything."

"Ya' think so, witch?" questioned the figure. "Well, you'd be wrong. I know plenty. Only it'll cost you to find out what I know."

"Yeah?" said Piper. "What could you possibly know?"

"Well," said the figure, "like she's in a special complex. Like you're right about the special protection. Like you'll never find it without me 'cause they got her underground and there ain't that many people who know how to get to her. That's what I know."

"Okay, smart guy," said Prue. "If you know so much the where are they keeping her?"

"Oh, no," said the figure. "You ain't getting that for nothing. And I ain't telling you about the special key you need either. You want that information you gotta pay for it."

"Buzz off," said Prue. "You're obviously making this up. You think we're easy marks. We pay you and give us some bogus information and then we never see you again."

"Suit yourself," said the figure shrugging. "Just trying to make a living here. But if you ain't interested then you ain't interested."

The figure picked up his drink and moved away from the table he was sitting at.

"There's probably a lot like that down here," said Prue. "I guess even the underworld has their version of con artists."

"Maybe he knew something," said Phoebe.

"How would he know anything?" Prue asked. "He's a demon. Anyone who has any information on mom is going to be high up in the government. No way a demon like that gets close to someone in a position like that."

"Prue's right," said Paige. "Anyone with that kind of information is going to have some tight security around them. I couldn't get that kind of information. There's no way someone – or something – like that would get close enough to find out."

"Well hopefully Leo will be back soon," said Piper. "Then we might have our answer."

Just then the door to the room opened and Leo and Cole walked in. Cole spoke to Gangus, who was tending bar, and the demon pointed toward the girls. Leo and Cole walked over to the table.

"Did you find her?" Prue asked.

"Not here," said Cole. "Too many ears. Let's go back to your room where we can talk privately."

The small party made their way back to the room where the girls were staying at the moment. When they were in the room Cole checked the corridor outside to make sure they were alone.

"Well?" Prue demanded. "Where are they holding mom?"

"I don't know," said Leo. "I know that's not what you want to hear. But the Elders couldn't get a fix on her location. Wherever she's being held she's probably being magically shielded. There's no way for them to find her."

"We'll just have to go looking for her ourselves," said Piper.

"That's not a option either," said Cole. "I checked with some old friends I have. Mortal friends. Word is out on your three. The authorities have orders to shoot you on sight, no questions asked. If you show your face on the surface you won't last more than an hour or so. Your pictures are being broadcast everywhere."

The girls just looked at Cole and Leo, all hope fading. If they couldn't go to the surface they had no way of finding their mother. I all likelihood they would be trapped in the Overworld or even in the underworld for the rest of their lives.