"You've mentioned the Source has stolen powers from other demons," Xander commented. "but you haven't really told us much about the Source himself."
"Like what?" Cole asked.
"What species of demon is he?"
"I have no idea, I doubt many do. He hasn't been seen in his demon form in centuries, not since he became the Source."
"Why not?" Xander asked. "His human form is a cover, right, he's not part human?"
"It's his cover, yes. But he was severely injured, mutilated in the final battle that resulted in him becoming the Source. His demon form is nearly useless as a result, not that he had any enhanced strength in that form. He always relied more on his power, most higher level demons do."
"So he finds it easier to live in his human form, cover or no cover." Xander looked thoughtful. "But he, unlike other demons, doesn't go out among humans anymore either."
"No, the human form is mutilated too." Cole answered. "Just less so, the face was disfigured, he'd stand out and we're all about blending in, which is why a human form is used."
"But it's something only higher level demons have managed to create." Xander pointed out. "Lower level demons, unless they're like vampires, who can take over a human form, have to find some other way to blend in. About a year ago, Faith and I discovered a necromancer. We try to catch fledges as they crawl out of their graves, before they have a chance to feed. We realized some graves were actually being dug up. Turns out Wolfram and Hart had a contract with a necromancer, they supplied him with dead bodies and he helped demons possess the body. Including a woman who was trying to get a nomination as a State Senator here in California."
"They'd have to give up their demon form to do that." Cole informed them. "A necromancer's power is over the dead body and some can trap a soul in the dead body. But they can't blend a demon body and human body together, only bind an incorporeal demon into the human body. A variation on trapping the soul. The demon would lose the advantages of their demon form, including immortality. Plus they couldn't feed on humans anymore and many low level demons do feed on humans, upper ones tend to feed more on emotions, if they feed at all."
"But it gives them the advantage of being able to take positions of authority and covering for demons and corrupt human in other ways." Cordelia stated. "Like the one who was running for a State Senator position. But they're also still dead bodies, neither the demon possessing them nor the necromancer could change that. So they have to literally avoid human contact so no one finds out they're walking corpses, while still living among humans."
"That actually wouldn't go over very well with the Source, I don't think." Cole mused. "If he ever found out, it's a huge risk and walking corpses, like vampires, are pariahs to all other demons. He'd probably order his Seers to find every one of them and have them destroyed. And the idea of living above ground, like humans, wouldn't go over well with most demons in general. Humans are cattle, a food and entertainment source for demons. Actually living as one, let alone among them, is unthinkable to most demons. What could any of the demons that went along with it possibly get out of it?"
"I don't know. The necromancer told us he was just paid to make it happen, not to speculate or ask questions and most of the demons weren't chatty. Which proved to be true." Xander grimaced. "The demon we caught him transferring killed him, probably thinking we couldn't get any answers from a corpse, but I'm a different form of necromancer and I can. But he didn't have those answers, it was just a job to him, nothing more, one he was paid really well for."
"We're off topic." Phoebe looked grossed out. "You were talking about the Source and started talking about human covers and now you're talking corpses. Which reminds me, the Source wants to make us corpses. So let's get back to figuring out what Cordelia's premonition is about and stopping the Source from making us corpses."
"A good plan." Xander nodded. "Since I really want to do the growing old with Cordelia thing, not the burying her young thing."
"Backatcha." Cordelia grinned as the portable fax signaled a incoming fax and she moved to grab the paper coming though. "Well it looks like Dad's research minions found something."
"Which is a good thing because nothing matching it is in the Book." Piper closed the Book of Shadows. "What did they find?"
"The Amulet of Balthazar." They all turned to look at Cole, who grabbed the paper from her.
"Balthazar, not Belthazor." He insisted. "Different pronunciation and totally different demon. As in different species and the only one of its kind on this plain of existence, no one knows what Hell he originally came from. I heard about him, low level demon by our standards. Worshipped by vampires that he somehow fed off. Disappeared more than a century ago after a battle where he tried to take control of the Hellmouth."
"Over a century ago?" Xander took the fax from Cole. "Just when Wilkins was getting started and he wanted to build a fun-filled vacation spot for demons."
"Yeah, one he decided to call Sunnydale." Cordelia looked a little sick at the memories and knowledge of all the death Richard Wilkins had allowed in his insane quest to be a demon.
"The Watchers Council's records show a human named Gleaves took possession of the Amulet." Xander read aloud from the fax. "Since it was believed only Balthazar could use it, they saw no harm in it. It was buried with him in Sunnydale." He grabbed his phone and called Booth and reported the premonition and the findings.
"We need to go to Sunnydale, now. If the Source has figured out how to use it, it'll make him stronger some how." Xander told the others when he'd hung up. "Because that's what Balthazar used it for according to the researchers."
"Which would negate us using our family's Magic to make ourselves strong enough to counter what he's already got!" Phoebe yelped.