Chapter 1 (Pt. 1)
�Welcome back to life, Cole Turner.� � the words cut into his clouded consciousness, and, suddenly, the memories came back, flooding in on him like a giant tidal wave. And he gasped and sat up on the cold smoke-covered floor, looking wildly around him.
A familiar face came into view, and he blinked, struggling to his feet. �Leo?� His voice sounded weak and hoarse, almost alien.
He coughed, clearing his throat. �Why am I here?� he tried again, and frowned, taken aback by the undisguised hatred that he saw flash in the eyes of the former Whitelighter.
�You shouldn�t be asking me that,� Leo answered coldly. �If it were up to me, you�d stay exactly as you should be � dead.�
Cole didn�t have a chance to respond to that, as another Elder spoke up, cutting him off.
�Elder Wyatt still has trouble separating his personal feelings from his professional obligations,� Menelaus drawled calmly, his gray eyes boring into the ex-demon�s. �He still apparently takes issue with the way you have treated his former charges.�
�I never-�
�But we have reconsidered your case,� the Elder raised his hand, silencing him once again. �And we decided to give you a chance to redeem yourself, to prove that you are not evil at heart.� He flicked his fingers, and a swirl of white lights enveloped Cole and vanished to reveal a white cloak covering his naked body.
The ex-demon cringed visibly, tugging at the soft fabric; an expression of disgust twisting his handsome features.
�When I tried my absolute best to be good, you all have, in turn, done your best to damn me,� he said in a cold flat voice. �Why, all of a sudden, would you want to help me �redeem myself� now?�
The Elders exchanged brief looks with each other, as if deciding on a best way to respond to his question.
�It is � conceivable that we have been wrong about you in the past,� Kronus offered finally, nearly choking on the words. �We need this demon,� he reminded himself. �What�s a little lie if it can help us get him to cooperate?�
�Conceivable?� he scoffed, folding his arms defiantly on his chest, his voice dripping with sarcasm. �It is hardly conceivable that the Elders would admit to any wrongdoing.� He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. �What is the real reason?�
Kronus winced almost imperceptibly. He was beginning to regret his decision. Still, Amadeus needed to be stopped�.
�Have you heard of a place called the Tower of Epsilon?� he asked quietly.
Cole nodded. �The prison where they keep the demons that could not be vanquished by conventional means.�
�Correct. There was a group of very powerful demons a long time ago. They wanted power � the ultimate power. And they did not care who stood in their way � good or evil, they were ready to destroy them all.�
�And the Good and the Evil joined forces and kicked their sorry asses. Couldn�t vanquish them completely, so they locked them up in the tower, so they could never threaten the balance of power again. Yes, I�ve heard the story,� the ex-demon quipped, shaking his head impatiently. �Is there a point to this history lesson?�
Arturo pursed his lips, his eyes gleaming in anger. �This is a serious matter, demon. Do not treat it with contempt!�
�I�m not,� he objected. �But I�m still waiting to know what the matter is � exactly.�
�There was a � an accident � at the Tower,� Menelaus began slowly.�
�An accident?�
�A breach. One of the prisoners managed to escape.�
Cole cocked his head to one side, his brow wrinkled in concentration. �If I remember correctly, these demons were stripped off their corporeal forms.�
The Elder nodded. �Like you said earlier, they could not be vanquished by conventional means. Only their corporeal forms were destroyed.�
�Right. So what you�re saying is that some spirit has fled the prison ��
�Amadeus is not just some spirit,� Menelaus interjected harshly. �He used to be one of the more powerful of the group.�
�Used to be?�
�And still is,� Kronus added in a tight voice.
�How so?�
�Amadeus escaped into the past � 1941 Nazi Germany, to be more precise � to change the outcome of that war, to make the world succumb to evil. If he succeeds, as he is very close to doing, this world will be changed forever.�
Cole heaved a sigh, rolling his eyes in frustration. �Do you, people, get off on melodramatics?� he snapped, ignoring the furious looks that assaulted him from four sides. �So he escaped into the past. He�s still only a spirit. What can he possibly�?�
�He inhabited a human,� Arturo supplied, eyeing him intensely. �He is now capable of anything.�