Charmed. Cole and Phoebe Guardian Series.How quaint the ways of paradox?

Charmed. How quaint the ways of Paradox Chapter 16

Part 2: Promises,promises,promises

Chapter 16

"How quaint the ways of paradox; At common sense she gaily mocks" (Gilbert and Sullivan. Pirates of Penzance)

Ten days after the demon Arturo had gone to find out whether it was even remotely possible the mortal lover of the Charmed witch was a half-breed demon seeking the light, or the Great Betrayer himself living up to his reputation, the whitelighter Francesca sat in Arturo's living room watching coloured crystals flashing away in the glass case. She knew of the magic Arturo had given the crystals to tell him of the ways of Good and Evil, of magic beings and demons but she never told the Powers of Light. She understood the very real fear the definers of Good had of a demon half-breed who had found the ultimate level of his own power and Francesca had thought it better not to remind them of what Arturo was capable. They had to accept Arturo and his kind but they were frightened of him. Unlike Francesca, who sat at ease after helping herself to Arturo's wine.

Some time later Arturo shimmered into the room. Without a word he helped himself to the wine and then sat down opposite the whitelighter. Francesca finally asked, "I gather from your call, that you have finally decided what to do about Belthezor. Have you the answer?" she said " Are you sure now?"

"Yes" murmured Arturo sadly " I am sure. I have watched him for ten days and I know."

...

On the first day Arturo watched very little happened. It was a Wednesday. A sister witch went into her small green car about 8.30 and Arturo followed her to what was quite clearly her place of work. He had returned to the manor and nothing had happened until late in the afternoon another of the witches got in a car and drove off. Arturo followed her to what he discovered was a nightclub of some sort. She stayed there all day. The first witch returned from work, the other stayed at the nightclub until closing and drove back to the manor.

On Thursday, the witch drove to work, there was no sign of the little witch Arturo knew or Belthezor until about midday when, a tall good looking man dressed in very casual clothes left the manor and drove off in the car. It actually took Arturo a few seconds to realise this was Belthezor. He drove to a garage where he filled the car with gas and then went to a few stores and appeared to pick up household goods and then he returned to the manor. Very ordinary mortal things. Belthezor's reputation for duping his victims was well know to Arturo.

A few hours later, Belthezor and the little witch flew out of the house and jumped in the car and Belthezor drove, very fast. They arrived at the nightclub and the other witch ran out and jumped in the car. Belthezor drove like fury across San Francisco , where he stopped suddenly at a warehouse. The third witch was waiting at the warehouse. The three ran in and Arturo managed to see them demolish three very nasty Arachnid demons. Belthezor watched from the door. He drove one witch back to the club and then he and his own little witch returned to the manor. They stayed in all night.

Friday was the same almost. One witch went to work, around mid morning, Belthezor came out and worked in the garden for a few hours. After lunch, the little witch that Arturo thought of as his witch left the house and drove off in her sister's car. Some hours later, the witch who worked returned and went into the house. She and Belthezor came out soon after and drove away in her small car. Arturo followed. They drove to a part of San Francisco that was poorer and had many needy people. They stopped in front of a dilapidated weatherboard house. Arturo risked getting close to the car to listen. Arturo heard the witch say "Piper will kill me, she would say helping this old lady was personal gain."

Belthezor replied "Damn their bloody rules."

He and the witch talked for a few minutes. Arturo was sure he was offering advice on a spell then the witch got out and recited a regeneration spell on the house. She drove back to the manor and the demon r went inside while she drove away. The little witch returned about an hour later. She and Belthezor left the house and drove to the club later that night, they stayed until closing, then Belthezor, the two sisters and a man Arturo guessed to be the other witches whitelighter husband got in the car and went back to the manor. The whitelighter drove. Arturo was guessing by this time, they had some arrangement for the car.