Oni-Gil: You know, it kind of sucks that the Invisible Woman can't help them right now. She kicks ass. As usual, thanks for reviewing and where is that Charmed fan fiction that I want to read from you? Go flame away and start writing!
Patricia L. Bryans: I'm glad you liked the title. It just kinda popped into my head, considering that I mentioned blood a lot...I actually thought of the Crimson Tide and was going to name it that, but that just wouldn't make much sense...but enough rambling. I am still reading the newest installment of Harry Potter, but I'm glad you like the plot twists and such. Incidentally, what surprised you about the chapter? Just curious! Looking forward to another update from you!
Catreddick4: Now you'll know what happens! Thanks for reading!
Chuckles1414: I'm glad you liked the last chapter and your wait is over!
Aussie-Soccerfreak4: I'm not sure about a "legend", nor "great writing" but thanks all the same! You make me blush! I try to make it so the reader feels like they're in the story. That's what I want. I love it when that's how I feel at movies and I try to make it like that here.
Dr. Magic PhD: I'm so glad you enjoy my story so much! It means a lot! And I would be honoured to do a crossover with you sometime! Just let me know and tell me your ideas.
Kings Lioness: Yes. Cliffhangers are over...for now. More to come, I'm sure! Happy reading!
-21-
"AUUGH!"
The defening howl of anger echoed off the grimy walls of another Underworld cave, its noise causing previously sleeping bats to flutter off in search of more peaceful resting conditions. As the small animals flew off, an energy ball hissed through the air, blinding the demons occupying the cave before being propelled into one of the many cloaked figures huddling in retreat, causing an explosion of black dust as it hit. Covering their atrocious faces, the demons standing nearby the victim scuttled away quickly, separating and trying to find a spot that their master would not see them and attack them too in his rage. Unfortunately, there was no where that they could go.
"THEY GOT AWAY!" Zoltof was screaming, his anger causing the room to shake. Dust flew off the walls as, in another blast of fire, a second demon exploded with a high-pitched scream. "How could you let them escape for the second time! Now it's not just one! It's all four who have escaped! And with the Charmed Ones no less! YOU FOOLS!"
He spun on his heel abruptly to face his second-in-command, who was nursing her bruised jaw in the shadows of the room, anxious to stay hidden from Zoltof's wrath, but not afraid of him. "And YOU!" The High demon fumed at her, shaking a long finger in her face, spit from his mouth splattering on her. "How could you just leave them? Run like a coward? They were vulnerable and easy to kill! You did not take advantage of that situation!"
Lynxe didn't answer at first as her swollen tongue moved around in her mouth, then she spat out a bloody tooth and it landed at Zoltof's feet. "Coward?" She repeated, incredulously, rising slowly. "You call me coward? You vanished as soon as the witches posed a threat! You deserted me and your demons! You ran at the first sign of danger, and you call me coward? You didn't have enough balls to stay and fight them yourself."
"ENOUGH!" Bellowed Zoltof, causing Lynxe to twitch slightly. Zoltof's cloak swung about him violently as he began to pace up and down, but continued to rant. "You had orders and you disobeyed them! You were told to keep the Magicked Ones from escape and they did! The Charmed Ones have helped them escape! Now they are all together! Assuming those two witches, Heather and Piper, stay alive, they are more powerful than we can deal with. Possibly even without the two! You failed me, Lynxe. I have no use for a demon who does not follow my directions!"
What color had remained in Lynxe's face drained from it then. She stumbled to a steadier position as her vision darkened. Lightheadedness suddenly creeping up on her, she began to back away from her master, her hands raised to protect herself. "No. I did not disobey! I have not-"
"You have failed me!" Shrieked Zoltof, his eyes blazing, and he formed a huge energy ball in his fist, this one doubly bigger than the average. Grinning at the horror-stricken look on Lynxe's face, Zoltof raised his arm and threw before she could blink.
Almost instinctively, Lynxe threw up a hand, her powers deflecting the energy back towards the attacker, hissing through the air. Zoltof dodged it just in time, then shook his head in disbelief as it crashed into the wall behind him, sending fleck and chunks of stone ricocheting off. "What are you thinking, Lynxe?" He asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "You are not nearly as strong as me! You cannot survive!"
"No," Lynxe agreed as her hands raised slowly. "But I can sure as hell take some of you with me!" A blast of red lightening shot from her fingers, zipping across the room and slamming into Zoltof's chest before he could react, just as the Source shimmered into the cave, quite unharmed and unnoticed. Zoltof was hurled backwards at the surprise attack, his chest burning, but when he hit the ground, he lay there for only a second before righting himself again.
Normally, that blast of power would have killed a lesser being. But Zoltof was too strong. Panicking now, Lynxe shot more red lightening, this time at Zoltof's face, but the powerful demon conjured a force field from the air that took the brunt of the power, though did not stop it all together. Some lightening seared on his face, burning more flesh that Heather's powers had not, and he yelled in pain and anger, momentarily distracted, but Lynxe made no further move. She seemed to be pondering the best way to use her powers.
When the burning had subsided on his now blackened skin, Zoltof's eyes flicked over and burned into Lynxe's, sparking. "Your service with me is over, demon!" He bellowed, summoning all his strength and powers together and circling them between his palms until they formed a massive emerald energy ball. It flared, lighting up the entire cavern and the awestruck faces of the demons inside, crackling and sparking with power, hate, and evil. Without a pause, he hurled it at his former second-in-command. Lynxe threw up her hands automatically, trying desperately to use all of her telekinetic powers to block the energy, but it was far too strong for her and it hit her full in the chest. Her agonizing scream was cut short as she exploded in a huge ball of fire and smoke.
"Am I interrupting something?" The Source spoke ringingly from the cave entrance after a few seconds had passed. He was leaning nonchalantly against the stone watching the events that unfolded before him. When he had not been summoned to the torturing of the eldest Magicked One, the Source had sent a bat to spy on them, so he knew precisely what had happened. He had also seen Lucy and the Charmed Ones coming to the Magicked Ones' aid. "If only you had let me remain in the cavern when you woke the witches. Their powers could have been ours by now!"
In a whirl of cloak, Zoltof swept over to the Source and grabbed the demon by the throat. No other demon had ever been able to touch the Source before now and the Source was surprised as he felt his air being cut off, Zoltof's blackened face inches from where his own nose should be. "Do not mock me, demon," Zoltof warned, leaning close. "I'm in a foul mood." Releasing the Source, Zoltof turned around and began to walk away. Deep inside, however, he knew the Source was right. He knew the Magicked Ones better than the Source, but the Source knew ways of keeping witches from escaping. He had been fighting the Charmed Ones for years. "What do you want?" He snapped at the lesser demon.
"I have a plan," the Source replied, trying to keep his voice neutral as he gained his breath back instantly and folded his arms across his chest. "Attack the witches sooner rather than later. Two of them are dead, though how the Charmed One, Piper is I know not. They must be linked. But the point is that they are vulnerable now. Now is when their power is weakest. Now is the time to advance in force."
A harsh guffaw issued from Zoltof's throat, rattling harshly. "They are at the Charmed Ones' manor, where they are the most powerful. How can you expect them-"
"They just lost an innocent," the Source interrupted knowingly. "Their guard will be down. I know these witches well. Saving an innocent is more important than anything to them and they just lost the eldest Magicked One. They will be open to an attack and weak. If you let me help this time, they will not escape alive and their powers will be ours," the Source offered, standing up straighter.
As Zoltof pondered this, the Source waited. The demon had a point. As he mulled it over in his head, Zoltof saw again the look of shock and pain on the youngest Magicked Ones' face as she watched her eldest sister collapsing to the ground. They would be wrapped in grief and powerless to stop them now. "Fine," Zoltof muttered, deciding at last. "But let me gather enough demons first. We need them to distract the witches long enough for us to throw the power-stripping potions. They will not escape us this time!"
For the first time since the two had met, the Source bowed slightly to his superior. "As you wish," he breathed, and shimmered away.