Part Fourteen

Summary: The Avatars turned down Cole's request to stop Richard using his magic after he had a vision of him doing evil. Taking matters in to his own hands, he returns to 21st century Earth and threatens Richard to stop using magic. Cole is punished by the Avatars for interfering and is forced to live back on earth as Belthazor, he tries confronting Richard at his estate but he has the backing of the Charmed ones and Cole is forced to re-think his plan, he soon realises Leo is an Avatar. Richard has gone back to potion making in order to deal with the threat. Meanwhile, Cole returned to the Underworld to gain some allies and Lana lowered Phoebe in to a trap

The Penthouse, late evening

Since becoming Belthazor again, Cole's expectations for the mission at hand had to be altered. Ultimately, he knew whatever the outcome was to be he would most likely perish. The Assistant District Attorney had aligned himself with powerful dark forces and as powerful as he was, he was no longer unstoppable. He emerged from his sleeping quarters in new attire, exchanging the black hooded robe for the more civilian black cargo trousers, pale blue plain long sleeved jersey and his trade mark black trench coat. Gone was his bushy beard and he was now clean shaven with his hair neatly combed, he was ready for action. "Gentleman." He announced to his new colleagues. "Krea." He said, acknowledging the one half human woman in the room. "It's time." With that, Krea, himself and the eight other hand picked demons he had chosen for this mission shimmered and flamed respectively out of the room.

Montana Estate

The group re-emerged on the outskirts of the Montana estate; making no secret of their presence they stood stationed and not hidden nor crouched. "He's in there, but the chances are he won't be alone." The half human and demon informed the rest of the group as he gazed upon the large mansion that was home to his nemesis. "Montana is the target here and him alone. Anyone that's protecting him have their reasons… they live." He ordered. "Okay Trax and Kessler, I need you two to bring down the protection spell around the estate. Once it's down, you come with Krea and me on foot through the front." The new found leader commanded.

"On foot?" A slightly surprised Krea asked her former brother.

"He'll be ready for us using our powers to gain entry; we do this the old fashioned way." Cole answered.

"The rest of you split in to two groups, three go through the back and three of you feeling confident use your powers to get inside… and be mindful of his traps!" He warned.

A moment had passed when demon twin brothers Trax and Kessler suddenly stopped combining their powers to bring down the protection spell. They looked to their leader, "There is no spell to bring down here." Kessler informed the rest of the group.

Cole looked at Krea who looked at him back as they both thought about it for a moment, "He's more ready than I thought…" Cole thought aloud. "You all know your jobs, go and do them." He commanded after only a brief moment's hesitation.

No one questioned Cole's orders and three headed away from the pack to gain entry via the back of the estate. "Exercise caution!" Krea shouted as they ran off.

Cole nodded to his mini group and all four shimmered inside the grounds, making their way to Richard's door. The leader paused and waved at the remaining three demons that had waited for their signal to power inside. Once they received their thumbs up the three simultaneously flamed out. "Let's do this." Cole commanded to his group. In unison they all fired energy bolts at the front door, blasting it to pieces. The four stormed the building but inside the lights were out and no one was around. "Trax." Cole said, looking to one half of the twins. With one click of fingers, Trax lit the mansion up as they continued down the corridor single file with Cole leading. Suddenly, Cole came to a halt and the rest group stopped with him as they stared in disbelief that the three that had flamed inside were now laying unconscious at a set of stone clad steps leading downwards. "He's down there." He informed his group, stepping over three of his unconscious followers as he headed down. "Watch for traps."

"Athame!" A female voice shouted just as Trax, the last of the group to headed for the steps. He looked at his hand as the athame he carried orbed out of his grasp and reappeared in the hands of Paige who was at the shared remains of the front door. Trax launched an energy bolt at the witch. "Energy bolt!" She shouted in a panicking tone, making that too disappear and reappear in her hands, quickly launching it back and watched as the twin screamed as the bolt struck him, lighting him in flames and finally vanquishing him.

"No!" Kessler could be heard shouting, as he made his way back up the stairs. He saw the red headed witch and angrily began launching bolt after bolt at her. Paige knew by the time she had summoned one, she'd be hit by another and orbed out of danger. A raging screaming Kessler launched yet more bolts around the narrow long hallway, blowing holes in the walls. Krea came back up the steps to try in vane to instil some calm in him but their leader carried on down the steps, finally making his way to the vault. He couldn't fail to notice the place was littered with potions, mainly on the tops and still belching out steam, Cole knew what they were for and waved away the smoke as he stepped over broken glass and cautiously walked through the room looking for his target.

"In here, Cole!" The voice of his enemy shouted.

Cole instantly knew the voice was that of Richard's and as his head snapped towards the entrance to the kitchen he launched an energy bolt of his own at the doorway.

"About damn time." A seriously focussed Richard informed him as he stood athame in hand behind three demons that were crouched in front of him with their hands bound behind their backs.

TO BE CONTINUED!