No More Tomorrows

[noazmale]

CHARMED
"No More Tomorrows"
by J. B. Tilton
email: [e-mail]
Rating: K

Disclaimer: “Charmed” and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

* * *

In the year 2021, Leo struggles in a world decimated by a hollow-possessed Source.

* * *

ONE

Leo Wyatt orbed into a small office and froze. He knew that using his magic was dangerous. But there were times when he had no choice. After a few moments, he decided he was safe. He hadn’t been detected.

His opponent must be searching elsewhere at the moment, Leo decided. Returning to San Francisco was risky. But, perhaps, not as risky as going somewhere else. His wouldn’t expect anyone to come into his backyard.

Leo looked out the door. Just as he thought, he had orbed into the office of a large supermarket. He should be able to find something to eat here. Even the few scavengers that roamed the cities and countryside would miss something in a place this large.

Leo located some canned foods under one of the gondolas. He risked using his healing power to purify it. It was such a small quantity of food; his opponent shouldn’t notice the use of the magic on it.

Eating from one of the cans, Leo moved to the front of the store. Hiding in the shadows, he looked out through the shattered windows at the front of the store onto the street beyond. In twenty years, nothing had changed.

Not a single building in the entire city was left intact. Most were just skeletons of buildings. Even the roads and streets were little more than rubble. For the past twenty years, very few people had walked those streets. Overhead were the perpetual gray-black clouds that blanketed virtually the entire planet. Clouds that always threatened rain, but never produced even a single drop.

Nothing moved outside. No people, no birds, no animals, not even insects. But Leo had not expected any. His opponent would have seen to that. Subsisting on even the life essences of any living creatures, his opponent would have long ago absorbed any sign of life. In twenty years, his opponent had literally drained the life from the Earth.

Well, not quite all of it, of course. There were still pockets of humans struggling even now to survive. Hiding in the vain attempt that he would never find then. Eventually he would, Leo knew that. Eventually, even the few remaining humans would be absorbed in his lust.

2001 had, for all intents and purposes, been the last year for civilized humanity. That year, the Charmed Ones had faced the Source. With the Power of Three restored in Paige Matthews, they had felt confident they would win.

They were wrong.

Faced with his own impending doom at their hands, the Source had done the unthinkable. He had unleashed the Hollow. Believing he could control it, the Source had used that forbidden power to destroy his greatest foes. And in so doing, had sealed all their fates.

Thinking of the Charmed Ones, Leo choked back a tear. It had been twenty years since he had laid them to rest beside Prue. Twenty years since his beloved Piper and her sisters had given their lives trying to stop the Source. Now, the four Halliwell sisters lay together in the mausoleum.

Graveyards were the only places that had been spared the destruction. The only places that remained untouched in all the destruction. The dead held no power for the Hollow. Only the living commanded its’ attention. Leo had learned long ago that hiding in a cemetery afforded him some temporary measure of security from his pursuer.

He would wait until it was dark. Then he would make his way to the mausoleum. He would pay his respects to the sisters. And visit his beloved Piper once again. The first time in twenty years.

After the sun had set, Leo cautiously made his way through the rubble of the city. Orbing to the cemetery would have been too dangerous. His opponent would have been instantly alerted to Leo’s presence. So Leo spent the next few hours picking his way among the destroyed buildings and ruined streets. Eventually, Leo reached the cemetery. The full moon overhead cast strange, misshapen shadows everywhere. Leo kept an eye out for any signs of life.

His opponent wasn’t the only danger, especially in a large city. Some of the humans who had escaped the destruction had turned to their baser instincts. Roaming cities and the countryside for any unsuspecting people they could find. Cannibalistic marauders who preyed on anyone they came across.

None of the marauders seemed to be around at the moment. Only an occasional breeze disturbed the night air. The door to the mausoleum building was open enough for Leo to squeeze through. He stopped and looked around the graveyard once more, looking for any sign that someone might be about. Nothing moved around him.

Leo turned and moved into the mausoleum. The crypts had been undisturbed in the last twenty years. The moonlight barely lit the interior of the building. In a little while, when the moon had risen higher, even that small amount of light would be gone. But Leo knew exactly where he was going.

Ignoring the two short corridors that branched left and right, Leo moved to the center of the building. He stopped and faced the crypts. He couldn’t read the plaques on the crypts. But he had no need to. He knew these crypts intimately. He reached up and gently placed the palm of his right hand on the crypt that held Pipers remains.

“Get away from those,” said a voice to his right. “You won’t be robbing those graves today or any other day.”

Leo turned to see a man standing several feet from him. The man was dressed in rags and had a scarf covering his face, obscuring his features. He held out a long knife, threateningly. After a moment, the man shined a light in Leo’s face, blinding him.

“I’m not a grave robber,” said Leo, holding up his hand to block the light and preparing to orb out of danger. “My wife is buried here. I just came by to visit her grave.”

“Leo?” questioned the man, removing the light from Leo’s eyes.

Leo looked at the man. The voice sounded familiar. One he hadn’t heard in twenty years. The man reached up and pulled the scarf away from his face. He was older than Leo remembered. And there were scars on the face. His beard was mostly gray. But Leo recognized the man. Even after twenty years, Leo still recognized Cole Turner.

[noazmale]

TWO

“You’re older than I remember,” said Leo.

“Without my demonic half,” said Cole, “I’m no longer immortal. I age like any other human.”

“I guess you’re here visiting Phoebe’s grave,” said Leo. “Just as I’m visiting Pipers’.”

“Actually,” said Cole, “I’ve been protecting them. Some of the marauders rob graves for anything they can find. We need to get out of here. The marauders like to roam at night.”

Cole led Leo down into the sewers under the city. Sewers that hadn’t been used since the destruction of the city. They walked for nearly an hour before they came to what looked like some kind of control room. It was evident that Cole had been living in this room for quite some time.

“It’s one of the few safe places around,” said Cole, turning on a gas lamp. “I’ve been living down here since everything went to hell. I have some food, though it’s not very good. It’s the best I can find.”

He pulled out some canned foods similar to the ones Leo had found in the store. Once the cans were opened it was apparent that some of them had started to go bad. Leo used his healing ability to purity the food for them.

“Aren’t you afraid he might detect you using your magic?” asked Cole.

“No,” said Leo. “It’s not like healing an injured person. Even if he detects the magic, it’s so insignificant he won’t be able to determine where it was used. I’m surprised to see you still alive.”

“I knew that the Source would be taken over by the Hollow,” said Cole. “Once that happened, he’d go after any source of magic he could find. After that I knew he’d turn on humanity. The life essence of mortals may not be as powerful as magic, but I knew he’d want it all the same. Being only a human, I knew there was nothing I could do to stop him. So I came down here. I’ve been here ever since.”

“The Source was a fool,” said Leo. “The Hollow can’t be controlled. That’s why it was locked away. Once it took him over, it was only a matter of time before it turned on mankind. He should have known that.”

“I think the Source was insane,” said Cole. “That’s the only reason he’d ever consider releasing the Hollow. After the girls died, when the White Lighters suddenly stopped coming down, I knew it was only a matter of time before humanity was doomed.”

“They couldn’t come down,” said Leo. “They’re all dead. Or most of them, anyway. The only thing that makes any sense was that the Source absorbed a White Lighter’s powers. He was able to orb up there. Not even the Elders could stand against him.”

“I figured as much,” said Cole. “He did the same thing to the underworld. Only a few of the most powerful demons were able to get away. With each power he absorbed, he grew stronger. Soon, none of the demons could stand against him. Even Malevant proved too weak to stop him.”

“I can imagine what the humans thought,” said Leo. “At least we knew what we were fighting. They had no idea. Most of them died without ever knowing who or what was trying to destroy them.”

“So, here we are,” said Cole. “No Elders or White Lighters. Most demons dead or scattered to God knows where. Humanity wiped out. And the Earth a barren hunk of rock. All courtesy of me.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Cole,” said Leo. “You’re only human. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent this.”

“You’re wrong,” said Cole. “Before the Source killed Phoebe and the others, I did have a chance to prevent it. The Seer offered me that chance. She said I could use the Hollow to stop the Source.

“But I was too suspicious. I thought it was a trap to get me. So I refused. And because I did, all of this has happened.”

“You don’t know that,” said Leo. “For all we now, it would have been you, not the Source, the Hollow would have taken over. It might not have made any difference.”

“I guess we’ll never know, will we?” asked Cole. “All I know is that I was given the opportunity to do something, and I balked.”

“I don’t blame you,” said Leo. “We all knew how powerful and how dangerous the Hollow is. That’s why we agreed to keep it locked away. The Source is responsible for all this, not you. You couldn’t have foreseen the outcome.”

“I guess there’s no sense in laying blame on anyone,” said Cole. “There’s nothing we can do about it anyway.”

“It’s not over yet,” said Leo. “There may still be a way to stop the Source.”

“How?” asked Cole. “It took the combined magic of the most powerful forces of good and evil to lock it away the first time. We don’t have anything nearly that powerful now. As far as I know, there aren’t even any witches left. The Source absorbed them all.”

“I don’t know,” said Leo. “The power of the Portal could stop him. If we could find a druid, they might be able to contact the Portal Guardian. She could use her power to stop him.”

“Leo,” said Cole, “in the past twenty years, have you found a single druid still alive? Even a minor one, let alone one powerful enough to contact the Portal Guardian?”

“No,” admitted Leo. “But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.”

“Well, I hope you’re right,” said Cole. “I sincerely do. If we can find a way to lock the Hollow away again, humanity might get a second chance.”

“I just hope there’s enough people left to start over,” said Leo. “Each year there are fewer and fewer of them left. The Source has been systematically searching them out and absorbing them. The only thing that’s protected me is my orbing. He can sense when I orb, but he doesn’t know where I orb. He’s nearly caught me a dozen times.”

“That’s why I stay down here most of the time,” said Cole. “Except when I’m looking for food or visiting Phoebe’s grave. I don’t think the Source expects anyone to live so close to him. Except for his slaves.”

“Slaves?” questioned Leo.

“The Hollow has taken physical form in the Source,” said Cole. “That means he’s also taken on some of the needs of that form. So he’s allowed a couple dozen humans to live. They take care of his physical needs. I see them from time to time scavenging among the buildings. But I’ve never gotten close enough to get a very good look at them.”

“Maybe they can help,” said Leo. “They might have learned something that can help us stop the Source.”

“I doubt it,” said Cole. “You haven’t seen them. From what I can tell, they’re in worse shape than any war refugees ever were. More than likely, they’d turn us over to the Source to curry favor with him.”

“We have to take that chance,” said Leo. “If they try, I can orb us away. It’s worth a try. At the very least we can let them know they aren’t alone. That there are others left in the world who are still fighting the Source.”

“Maybe it is worth a try,” said Cole. “They come out scavenging every couple of days. I’ve never approached them because I was too afraid of getting caught. I never had a way to get away before. But with your orbing, it might be worth the risk.”

“Good,” said Leo. “The next time they come out, we’ll have a talk with them.”

“You really think there’s a way to defeat the Hollow?” asked Cole. “You know how powerful it is. And now it has all the magic it’s absorbed as well.”

“I don’t know,” said Leo. “Everyone’s always thought it was undefeatable. But you said it’s taken on human form. Everything has a weakness. It’s just a matter of finding that weakness.”

“I hope you’re right,” said Cole.

Secretly, Leo hoped he was, too. He wasn’t nearly as confidant as he was letting on to Cole.

[noazmale]

THREE

Leo and Cole didn’t have long to wait for the Sources’ scavengers. Cole had kept track where they scavenged to make sure they didn’t discover him. The next day, just past noon, eight of them showed up where they had left off the last time.

Cole had given Leo some rag clothes to wear so he would appear to be just another survivor. If Leo did have to orb them away, they didn’t want anyone thinking he was anything but another human.

They watched the scavengers for a couple of hours. The group of three men and five women took anything that was useful. Clothes, tools, canned foods, anything that might aid in their survival. But they practically ignored anything else. Jewelry and other luxury items held no interest or importance for them.

Under any other circumstances, they would have been considered looters. But Cole had been right. Even war refugees would have been considered better off than these poor souls. They were simply doing what was necessary to survive.

Leo finally decided they had watched long enough. It was time to make contact. He deliberately picked a young woman. When, and if, he had to orb, she would be too startled to attempt to interfere.

Leo and Cole stepped out from behind the wall of a fallen building. Leo expected the woman to scream or cry out. Instead, she just stood looking at them for a moment.

“Who are you?” she finally asked.

Her words caught the attention of the other scavengers. They began to gather around.

“We’re friends,” said Leo. “We saw you looking around and we thought we might be able to help each other.”

“Leo Wyatt?” came a voice from the back of the group.

The group parted as a man made his way to the front. He was an older black man, about Cole’s age. One arm hung limply at his side.

“Leo, it is you,” said Darryl Morris. “I thought you were dead with everyone else. And Cole Turner. Under the circumstances, I’m even glad to see you. We haven’t seen any new faces in years.”

“Darryl,” said Leo, “it’s good to see you’re still alive. What happened to your arm?”

“Punishment,” said Darryl. “I talked back to the master. He didn’t kill me, but he did this as an example to everyone else.”

“This is going to make things a bit more simple,” said Cole. “We won’t have to make as many explanations to Morris as we might have to a stranger.”

“What explanations?” asked Darryl.

“Later,” said Leo. “We’d better find some place to get inside right now. Before the Source shows up.”

“You mean the master?” asked Darryl. “Good idea. He can have quite a temper. We’ve learned to just do as we’re told. As long as he’s happy with our work, he pretty much leaves us alone.”

“Darryl,” said the young woman, “we don’t have time for this. We’re expected back soon. We need to find as much as we can before we head back.”

“She’s right,” said Darryl. “We only get out a few hours every couple of days. We have to find what we can during that time. And we have so little as it is. Listen, we live at the old Farmington building on Cypress Street. Do you know the place?”

“I do,” said Cole.

“Good,” said Darryl. “Come there after it gets dark. We can talk then. I’ll tell the others about you so they’ll know who you are.”

“We’ll be there,” said Leo. “It was good seeing you again, Darryl.”

“Same here,” said Darryl. “You’d better go. We could all be in danger if we’re caught.”

“You think it’s safe?” asked Cole after the group had left.

“I think so,” said Leo. “I don’t think Darryl would betray us. He was always a decent guy.”

“I suppose,” said Cole. “It’s just that a lot of things have changed. We just need to be very careful.”

“We will,” said Leo. “We still have my orbing. But I think we’ll be safe.”

[barmyoncharmed]

When are you updating, this is good

[noazmale]

FOUR

“Welcome to our humble abode,” said Darryl as Leo and Cole entered the building that night.

They were both appalled at what they saw. Everywhere they looked they saw people living in squalor. There were even a few children, which surprised both of them. Most were dirty and wore little more than rags. And seeing the food they ate, Leo decided that the leftovers found in a dumpster in the old days would have been preferable.

“It’s not so bad, really,” said Darryl. “At least we’re still alive. And the master even let’s us have children from time to time. To keep his line of attendants going.”

“Morris, I’m sorry about all this,” said Cole.

“Why?” asked Darryl. “You didn’t do it. He did. There’s just no one strong enough to oppose him.”

“You call him the master?” questioned Leo.

“That’s what he likes,” said Darryl. “I used to think he was a demon. The kind that Prue and her sisters used to tell me about. But now I know he’s far worse than even those demons. Nothing is safe from him. The only reason we’re still alive is because we’re useful to him.”

“How many of you are there?” asked Leo.

“About three dozen,” said Darryl, “counting the children. He rests at night so he usually leaves us alone in here. When he does have dealings with us, he usually talks to me. I’m sort of the spokesman for our little group.”

Just then a man came up to them. He simply stared at the men without saying a word. Leo and Cole could tell from the look in the mans’ eyes that his mind was gone.

“Jana,” said Darryl, calling to a woman nearby, “Gregory has gotten out again.”

A young woman came over and took the man by the arm. He offered her no resistance as she led him into a back room.

“We’ve found a few like that,” said Darryl. “We keep them in some of the back rooms where they can’t hurt themselves.”

“I’m surprised the Source let’s you keep them around,” said Cole. “He never had much tolerance for those kind in the past.”

“Is that his name?” asked Darryl. “The Source? As for letting us keep them around, he wouldn’t if he knew about them. He said they serve no useful purpose. We keep them hidden.”

“How?” asked Leo. “The Source can sense living creatures from thousands of miles away. How do you keep them hidden when you’re so close to him?”

“Let me show you,” said Darryl.

He led them into the back rooms where Jana had just taken Gregory. The back rooms were filled with about a dozen people, each in a mental state similar to Gregory. Three women and two men, all crippled, attended to them.

“Those with physical impediments stay here, too,” said Darryl. “The Source, as you call him, has no use for them either. It’s worked out pretty well so far.”

“How do you hide them?” asked Cole. “I can’t believe these simple rooms protect them from the Source.”

“With this,” said Darryl.

He put his hand on the back wall of one of the rooms. Unlike the other walls, this one was made of metal.

“Actually,” said Darryl, “it’s what’s on the other side of this wall that protects them. The Source has gathered all kinds of magical items and placed them in there. It’s an old bank vault.

“We found that by keeping these people in the rooms next to the vault, he can’t sense them. He doesn’t even know they’re here. As long as they stay here, they’re safe.”

“That would make sense,” said Cole. “The magic emanating from those items would mask anyone or anything in these rooms. Kind of like the sun blocking out all the other stars during the day.”

“When there was a sun,” said Darryl. “But that’s kind of what we figured. At least they won’t be sucked dry like everyone else the Source encounters.”

“If that’s true,” said Leo, “I could risk using my healing in one of these rooms. I could at least make things a little easier for you.”

“That would be great,” said Darryl. “We don’t have many medicines here. Anything you could do to help would be greatly appreciated.”

“I can start with your arm,” said Leo.

“No,” said Darryl. “He knows me too well. If my arm should suddenly be made whole again, he would get suspicious. Start with the children. It’s been roughest on them.”

As they talked, one of the attendants hobbled over to them on a pair of crutches. He wore the tattered remains of a robe and had the hood drawn. He glanced at Leo, and then stared at Cole.

“I had thought you vanquished even before the Source unleashed the Hollow,” said the man.

Leo and Cole looked at each other. Aside from Darryl, no one here should have known who Cole had been.

“I had my powers stripped,” said Cole.

“Of course,” said the man. “That would account for your aging. You’re completely human, then?”

“Yes,” said Cole. “Do I know you? You obviously know me. Or at least who I used to be.”

The man reached up and pulled the hood away from his head. Leo and Cole stared at him in shock and disbelief. They stood staring at Tempus, the time manipulation demon.

[noazmale]

FIVE

“This is impossible,” said Leo. “Tempus was destroyed when Prue died.”

“I nearly was,” said Tempus. “It took nearly all of my power to turn back time for the Source. I was in a coma for many years rebuilding my strength.”

“We found him buried in a building about twelve years ago,” said Darryl. “When he told us he used to manipulate time, we thought he was crazy.”

“He could do it, all right,” said Cole. “Tempus, I understand how you stay hidden from the Source. But how do you stay alive? You’re a demon. Demons are creatures of magic.”

“I can siphon energy from the vault,” said Tempus. “Not very much, really. Just enough to keep me alive.” He pulled out an hourglass from his robes. “I still have this, but I can’t get enough magic to make it work. It would take me days to siphon that much magic and the Source would detect it.”

“That’s because you’re siphoning it through the wall,” said Cole. “If there’s enough magic in there, and you could make direct contact, you could do it in minutes. All you need to do is get inside that vault.”

“Don’t you think I’ve thought of that?” asked Tempus. “The vault is magically sealed. I don’t have enough power to open the doorway. And the minute I did, the Source would know it. I’d never get the chance to absorb any of the magic in there.”

“He’d only need a few minutes,” said Cole, looking at Leo. “You said the Source couldn’t track you. He might be alerted, but it would take him a few minutes to figure out what was going on. Maybe that would be long enough for Tempus to get the magic he needs.”

“It would be risky,” said Leo. “We don’t know how long it would take the Source to figure things out.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Darryl.

“I can get Tempus inside the vault,” said Leo. “I’m a White Lighter. We don’t have to open the vault. I can orb Tempus inside.”

“Then what?” asked Tempus. “Turn back time a few weeks or even months so we can relive it all over again?”

“No,” said Cole. “Turn back time farther than that. About twenty years.”

“That’s insane,” said Tempus. “I’ve never even attempted anything like that before. I’m not even sure I can turn time back that far.”

“It’s worth a try,” said Cole. “Even if you can’t turn it back that far, you can send one of us back some. Then they simply get you to do it again until they’ve gone back all the way.”

“Assuming the Source isn’t aware of what we’re doing,” said Tempus. “With his power, he might not have his memory reset like everyone else would. After the first try, he’d probably find me and destroy me to prevent it from happening again.”

“We have to take that chance,” said Cole. “It just might work. If it does, we might have a chance to stop all this.”

“Tempus, they’re right,” said Darryl. “This Source can’t be defeated. I’ve seen what he can do. He’s too powerful. And there isn’t anyone strong enough to face him. If we have a chance to stop him, we need to take it no matter what the risks to us personally.”

“We might not get that chance,” said Tempus. “I don’t know how long it would take for me to get the power I need to even try. He might stop us before I’m ready.”

“You want to go on like this?” asked Cole. “Eventually all magic in the world will be gone. Then what? That’s not a death I’d like to have.”

“Maybe you’re right,” said Tempus. “Well, if you’re willing to risk it, I guess I am. Having to depend on humans for everything I need is not something I really care for. Considering everything I used to be able to do.”

“Now, all we need to do is figure out who’s going,” said Leo.

“You are, Leo,” said Cole. “Darryl’s in no condition to go. There’s no telling how far back Tempus will be able to send you. If it has to be done again, it could take him too long to get anyone to listen to him, anyway.”

“What about you?” asked Leo.

“If this works,” said Cole, “everyone will need to be warned about what’s going to happen. No one is going to listen to me. Remember, I’m a traitor to my own kind. They want me dead in the past. And most of the forces for good won’t trust me because they’ll still think of me as Belthazor.

“But they’ll listen to a White Lighter. Especially the White Lighter of the Charmed Ones. Even if they think you’re deluded, they won’t want to risk it. All you’ll have to do is convince a powerful demon and a powerful witch to read the inscription on the Hollow’s prison to lock it away again and prevent all this.”

“Convincing a demon might be difficult,” said Leo. “They aren’t known for cooperating with White Lighter, you know.”

“Try Malevant,” said Cole. “He warned the Source not to unleash the Hollow. Once you tell him what things are like, I’m sure he’ll be inclined to help. More importantly, he has the necessary power to seal the prison again.”

“If he’ll listen,” said Leo. “After my little ploy about turning evil a few years before, I’m not sure he’ll trust me. And assuming I go far enough back to prevent this. No matter how many times it takes, Tempus may still be in his coma.”

“Couldn’t you just heal him?” asked Darryl. “I can tell you where we found him. You could heal him and he could reset time again or whatever it is that he does.”

“It won’t work,” said Tempus. “A White Lighters’ healing does not work on demons.”

“At least there’s a chance this might work,” said Cole. “A chance to put an end to all this.”

“A very small chance,” said Tempus.

“It’s more than we had yesterday,” said Cole.

“I guess I’d better get you in there,” said Leo.

“I’m going, too,” said Cole. “Tempus is going to have to absorb as much magic as fast as he can. I can help locate the most powerful items in there. The fewer items he needs to absorb, the less time it will take.”

“He has a point,” said Tempus.

“We’d better get started,” said Leo. “We won’t have a lot of time once I orb.”

Leo laid his hands on Cole’s’ and Tempus’ shoulders and orbed them out of the room.

[barmyoncharmed]

more soon

[noazmale]

SIX

“This is incredible,” said Cole, staring at the piles of items inside the vault. “There are things in here that have been lost for centuries. Even some things that are supposed to be only myths.”

“With his powers,” said Tempus, “the Source can locate items no one else can. There’s more than enough magic in here to restore me.”

“Then I suggest you get started,” said Leo. “The Source has probably already sensed me orb. He’s probably looking for me already. It won’t take him long to find us.”

Tempus picked up a book and closed his eyes. Within seconds he had completely drained the magic from the book. He tossed the now useless item aside.

“That felt good,” he said. “It would have taken me more than a week to siphon all that magic through the wall.”

“Don’t stop,” said Cole, handing him an amulet.

One by one Tempus absorbed magic from the items in the vault. With each item, he grew stronger. Leo and Cole helped locate the most powerful items for Tempus.

Suddenly a section of wall simply vanished. They all looked up to see Darryl on his knees outside the vault. Standing over him was the Source. The Source had his hand extended and a black beam shot from the hand covering Darryl’s head. The three watched as Darryl simply faded out of existence.

“He betrayed me,” said the Source. “Now he has paid the price for that betrayal.”

“How much more?” Leo asked Tempus.

“Too much,” said Tempus. “I’m not nearly ready yet.”

The Source walked into the vault and stood in front of the three. He looked at them and smiled.

“So, Belthazor,” said the Source, “you still live. But only as a pathetic mortal. How far you’ve fallen, Belthazor. Once you were one of my most powerful underlings. Now, you’re nothing more than a pathetic mortal.

“And Tempus. I had thought you destroyed when you helped me rid myself of that troublesome Charmed One. I can see I was wrong. You served me well for a very long time. It was a shame to have lost you. But no matter. You will serve me again.

“And last but certainly not least, the bothersome White Lighter who has eluded me these past twenty years. I’ve come so close in the past to catching you. You were a fool to come here. Now your life, and the lives of these others, will be forfeit for your insolence to me.”

“Cole,” said Leo, “get Tempus the magic he needs. It’s up to you, now. I’ll delay the Source as long as I can.”

Before Cole could respond, Leo suddenly orbed away. Just as quickly, he orbed in behind the Source. He reached up and grabbed the Source in a strangle hold. As the two fought, Cole watched. Leo knew he stood no chance against the Source. But he had sacrificed himself to buy them a few more minutes.

Quickly, Cole began to search for more items for Tempus to drain. It was a hopeless battle. Leo was nearly dead and Cole knew there wasn’t enough time to find enough magic for Tempus. Leo might have sacrificed himself in vain.

Suddenly, Tempus pulled out his hourglass. He poured some of the sand from the glass into his hand. Slowly he let the sand fall from his hand. As he did, Cole felt time begin to move backward.

It wasn’t much. Only a few minutes. Cole again watched helplessly as Leo turned and orbed in behind the Source.

“Hurry,” said Tempus. “I’ve bought us a couple of minutes, but I can’t risk doing it again. I’m almost there. Just a few more items and I’ll be strong enough to try.”

Cole quickly began to search again. He discarded one item after another knowing that they wouldn’t be enough. Tempus needed a single item with enough magic to complete the task. Silently Cole cursed himself for being too slow. Even now, Leo had vanished; absorbed by the power of the Hollow.

Cole looked down and saw a book lying just inches away. On the cover of the book was the triquetra; the symbol of the Charmed Ones. Only one book had that symbol on the cover. Cole reached down and picked up the Book of Shadows.

“Here,” said Cole, pushing the book into Tempus’ hands. “This should give you all the power you need.”

“I can’t,” protested Tempus. “The Book of Shadows protects itself from evil. I won’t be able to absorb any magic from it.”

“Try,” screamed Cole.

As Tempus tried to absorb the magic from the book, Cole picked up a dagger from the floor. He knew it wouldn’t stop the Source, but he had to buy them some time. He threw the dagger at the Source, striking him in the shoulder.

“Really, Belthazor,” said the Source, pulling the dagger out of his shoulder, “did you really think a simple dagger could stop me? I, who command the Hollow?”

“No, I didn’t,” said Cole. “I just needed to delay you for a few seconds. And it seems to have worked.”

Cole and the Source both watched as Tempus let the Book of Shadows fall to the floor. He didn’t know why, but he had been able to drain all the magic from the book. That magic now coarsed through him. He was once again at full strength.

Tempus smiled at the Source. Once more he poured the sand from his hourglass into his hand. The other two watched as he let the sand fall from his hand and he began to reset time.

“No,” screamed the Source.

He rushed past Cole and grabbed Tempus by the throat. The two demons struggled against each other. The Source brought all his power to bear in order to drain Tempus’ magic. Tempus resisted, knowing it was only a matter of moments before the magic he had absorbed would be extinguished. Then it would all be over.

In a final attempt to stop the Source, Tempus raised his hourglass over his head. Then he sent it crashing to the floor. The glass shattered spilling its’ contents. In that single instant, Tempus released every bit of magic he still possessed. In that same instant, he ceased to exist.

The Source turned on Cole. Leo was dead. Tempus had been absorbed. With no powers of his own, Cole knew he would be dead within seconds. There was no place for him to run. Suddenly, everything around Cole faded from view. His head began to swim. Somehow Tempus had succeeded. Cole was moving through time.

But to when?

[noazmale]

SEVEN

Cole’s vision cleared and he found himself facing a stone wall. It appeared to be the same type of stone that had once been found in the underworld.

“Well?” questioned a voice behind him.

Cole turned and saw the Seer facing him, her hands folded inside the sleeves of her robes.

“I need your answer now,” said the Seer.

“My . . . my answer?” questioned Cole.

“Yes,” said the Seer, impatiently. “Did the witches strip your mind as well as your powers? Even now the Source battles the Charmed Ones. In a few moments it will be too late.”

The Charmed Ones? Tempus had done it. He had sent Cole back. Far enough back so that he could prevent . . . what? And back from where?

Cole concentrated hard. His memories of the future were quickly slipping away. Memories of what he had been through the last twenty years quietly and silently faded into oblivion. In sending Cole back, Tempus had not reserved any of his power to make Cole retain his memories of the future. Even now, those memories were vanishing faster than Cole could recall them.

Cole looked at the Seer. He had come from somewhere to do what? Somehow it seemed important. Unbelievably important. If he could just remember what it was that he was supposed to do.

“Belthazor,” snapped the Seer. “You have precious few minutes left. The Source has weakened the Charmed Ones with the Hollow. Stolen the powers of two of them. Without those powers, they cannot hope to defeat him unless you agree.”

Agree? Of course, thought Cole. Agree to take the Hollow into himself. Use that power to defeat the Source. But this was probably a trap. To catch him or possibly even destroy him. The Hollow couldn’t be controlled. Not by the Source, and certainly not by a former demon with no powers. It had to be locked away or everyone would suffer.

“Once the Source is defeated,” said the Seer, “the witches and I can seal the Hollow away again. But we can’t do that if they are dead. Decide now, Belthazor. Will you use the Hollow to save your precious witch? Or will you destroy us all by refusing?

Cole knew he shouldn’t trust the Seer. He knew she couldn’t be trusted. She always had her own agenda for everything. Even serving the Source was part of her private agenda. But some small voice in the back of his mind screamed at him. Screamed that to ignore her now would have dire consequences.

“Yes,” said Cole, against every instinct in him.

The Seer smiled and picked up the box that was the prison for the Hollow. She opened the lid and Cole allowed the Hollow to possess him.

The End

If you’ve enjoyed this story, you can find more “Charmed” stories at my website, www.geocities.com/killeenmale/. You can also post your own “Charmed” stories if you like to write fan fiction.