Prologue
The Elder Menelaus gave a small shrug of defeat. �He already has succeeded, Arturo. We cannot touch him there.�
�That is not entirely true,� Elder Kronus interjected, taking a small step forward and clasping his hands firmly on the front of his white flowing robe. �We cannot interfere ourselves, yes. But we can send��
�Whom?� Arturo interrupted. �The only thing that can possibly stop him now is the Omega spell. And to make it work, we would need��
�The combined power of the strongest possible force of good and the strongest possible force of evil,� Kronus finished, a light smirk twisting his features. �I know.�
�If you�re thinking of the Charmed Ones��
�As a matter of fact, I am,� Kronus nodded curtly. �The three witches are the most powerful source of good we have at our disposal.�
�Even if that were true,� a new voice spoke up, �there are no guarantees that they�ll be successful. We can�t risk losing the Charmed Ones!�
�You are forgetting yourself, Leo Wyatt,� Menelaus spoke coldly. �You are no longer the witches� Whitelighter.� He cocked his head slightly, ignoring the expression of indignation on the former Whitelighter�s face. �And I agree with Kronus. They are our strongest weapon.� He paused, turning to Kronus, his brow raised in expectation. �Besides, they would not be alone in their task. Right, Kronus? Am I correct to assume that you have a proper candidate in mind for us from the Dark Side?�
Kronus nodded, a mysterious half-smile twisting his features. �As a matter of fact, I do.�
The name that left his lips a moment later send a shudder of anxious murmurs through the small group.
�Are you insane?� Leo exclaimed, stepping up to the unperturbed smiling Elder. �Have you forgotten how much grief he brought the Charmed Ones? How could you even think�?�
�I have not forgotten, Elder Wyatt,� Kronus replied in the same imperturbable manner, as he calmly pulled back the hood of his white robe, revealing a thick mane of wavy gray hair. �But he�s the only one who can handle the power needed to complete the spell.� He paused, hesitating, as if suddenly remembering something � something that almost made him change his mind. And then he amended in a somewhat quieter voice: �He has the potential to handle it, at least�. He has shown that.�
�But��
�I agree with Kronus,� Menelaus intervened unexpectedly, coming to the Elder�s defense. �The risk is great, but he does seem like the best candidate we could hope for.�
Arturo shook his head skeptically. �I don�t know about this, Menelaus. The Charmed Ones vanquished him. You don�t think he�d be holding a grudge?�
Menelaus gave a small shrug. �His love for the witch was strong. Even till the very end.� He glanced briefly at Leo, who stood stock still, his lips pressed together in a tight line. �That love will probably still be there � if we bring him back. � He won�t harm them.�
Leo opened his mouth to object, but changed his mind, shaking his head in a mixed gesture of resignation and disapproval.
�That�s right,� Kronus intoned, in turn giving Leo a short sideways glance. �Besides, if we�re wrong about his abilities � if he�s not powerful enough, Amadeus will destroy him. If we�re right, the spell will. Either way, we don�t risk anything.�
�But how can you be certain that he�d agree to such a task � given these odds?� Arturo inquired slowly.
A cold spark flashed in the icy-blue eyes of the Elder. �I�d be willing to bet that he�d do almost anything for a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the witch.� Kronus�s lips twisted themselves into an unkind contemptuous sneer that gave his face an unsettling predatory look. �As for the odds, I don�t plan on giving him all the details �� He paused, calmly regarding the faces of his listeners. �Do any of you think I should?�
Silence was his response. Dead, acquiescent silence.
Kronus�s smile grew wider then, and he nodded curtly, throwing his hood back on his head; its thick fabric casting a dark menacing shadow on his face. �It�s settled then.�
The four beings joined their hands together, forming a small circle, as they began to chant, repeating the same verse over and over.
Suddenly, a pillar of thick white smoke appeared in their midst, twisting and turning wildly like a small tornado. The chanting grew louder, the smoke nearly swallowing up the four figures, hiding them in its winding foggy mist.
And then, just as suddenly, the smoke disappeared, evaporated without a trace, and the four Elders each took a step back, staring intensely at a spot in the center of their makeshift circle.
There, curled up in a fetal position, lay naked and shivering a figure of a man.
Leo Wyatt cringed, studying the familiar form, but said nothing. It was not his call; it was not up to him to interfere. He continued watching in silence, waiting for Kronus to make a move.
And Kronus did.
Stretching his hand out to the shivering, disoriented form on the floor, the scheming Elder said in a calm even voice, �Welcome back to life, Cole Turner.�