Change permeated the air. It filled his nostrils with the stench of Good, his ear with the drums of war and his cold, cruel heart with a need to… roar out and face his foes, to rip them apart, to consume their souls. And he would do so. Oh, he would do so.<br/><br/>Sha’kos did not sleep further that night. The dream had awoken him in old, forgotten pain, but with the adrenaline of victory racing through his dark veins. Now, he sat, silently, contemplating, stretching himself out through every shadow, connecting him to both the underworld and the real world.<br/><br/>The Source had a similar capability, only it spread out throughout all things evil, all demons, all monsters and through the souls of all humans that harboured the dark in their hearts. It was a more powerful power than that of Sha’kos, the benefits of being the Source, for through all these beings connected to him, the Source had access to vast, near immeasurable amounts of pure, raw power.<br/><br/>Sha’kos was still the weaker of the two, but he was closer to Vasahir than even a brother. They were bound together, unifying their powers, first against Good, and then against Mauhod in the civil war that Merlin caused. It had made them both stronger… stronger even than the Source before Vasahir. And they kept growing stronger.<br/><br/>But so did their enemies.<br/><br/>Good had been growing stronger for centuries. Remarkable families of witches had started honing themselves in fighting Evil beyond any witches before them. Their powers matured, growing stronger through each generation, culminating into the James sisters. These sisters had the power to vanquish even the highest orders of demons. While Sha’kos himself and Vasahir, as well as their strongest lieutenants were still stronger than them alone, these witches, with the allies they gathered, their powerful, new White Lighter…<br/><br/>He had to be careful.<br/><br/>They all had to be careful.<br/><br/>Good had had the upper hand for too long now. Ever since that blasted fool Merlin… they had outbalanced Evil. Now, it was time to strike back, before these James sister grew too powerful and had too much success.<br/><br/>He would throw all his might against them, distracting them, keeping them busy and destroying them… while…<br/><br/><strong>“You… Gaet…”, </strong>he summoned a minion which shimmered to do his bidding, kneeling immediately in the presence of his master.<br/><br/><strong>“I have a message for our glorious Evil, the Source. Tell him it has come to the point I have to take the gloves off. Tell him… no charmed ones will be available to obstruct any of his plans or desires for the rest of the world.”</strong><br/><br/>Gaet, a fiery red demon, nodded gracefully, honoured to be bringing a message to the Source for his Master. He shimmered away, in a fiery glow, travelling to the deepest bowels of the Underworld to seek the Master of them All.<br/><br/>Sha’kos rose from his throne like chair, pacing his main chamber, absentmindedly  scratching his itching, near-invisible scar. He flared up his power, glowing gold, runes and other symbols like molten lave patterned over his black, monstrous, yet mostly humanoid form. His wicked chain-sword, feared by soldiers of Good for two millennia, wrapped around his shoulders, lethal horns protruding from these shoulders and his back, while his black hair clashed in an unseen wind of power.<br/><br/>With a powerful pulse through the shadows, he called for his three surviving lieutenants.<br/><br/><strong>“My right hand has been vanquished. That was the signal we’ve been waiting for. It is time to go to war. We focus on Georgia. Trellos, tell your Dark Lighters hunting season is open. And don’t be too quick about granting them their deaths. Let their witches see their White Lighters die of agony from your poisons. Alastor, your warlocks will collect every power available in Georgia. But as with the Dark Lighters… let your men take their time. There are certain benefits from their targets being… female…”</strong><br/><br/>His voice was so chilly, so menacing, so powerful, even his lieutenants cringed and thanked the Source they were male. They still vividly remembered the screams of anguish and terror, as well as the utter, excruciating agony of the redheaded cop their master had captured two days earlier.<br/><br/>The screams had been delicious, and had all reminded them why it was not a good idea to cross Sha’kos. Many plots to overtake him had been put on hold because of it.<br/><br/><strong>“And you Gregor… gather the Legion. Wreak havoc on Douglasville and every inhabited area within driving distance. IT is time to spread chaos and Darkness. Keep the witches busy, collect souls, but don’t kill them. Weed out the incompetent warriors from the Legion, using them as cannon fodder against the witches. Gather your strongest soldiers and keep them geared, let them power up, feasting on all the souls they can collect, and prepare for a big battle.”</strong><br/><br/>Sha’kos was in full leader mode, his mind going over the plans. He would take care that within a month’s time, only the James sisters were still active as witches in Georgia. He would then exhaust them, and meanwhile, he would infiltrate them as Alexander Marks. He would enjoy seeing them suffer, enjoy tearing them apart from within, slowly but surely.<br/><br/>Then, the Demon Lord faced his Lieutenants, his eyes lighting up the cavern, filling all who could see him with dread and obedience.<br/><br/><strong>“The James Witches are mine. I will… join them. I do not want you to cease your attacks on them, but send minions that are not essential… or not bright enough to survive the approaching war. I will have to help the witches to infiltrate their circle of trust, to get so close to them… they will never know what hit them when I strike. Now, begone… and do not fail.”</strong><br/><br/>Shivering, yet determined, the three lieutenants shimmered away, spreading their Lord’s orders amongst their servants and warriors.<br/><br/>Soon, hell would be unleashed upon Georgia and the world… Sha’kos would face the Charmed ones, while the Source would take the earth…<br/><br/>Minutes later, Sha’kos turned into a black shadow, before transforming into the devilishly handsome Alexander Marks. Time to prepare himself. One of the witches, the hot oldest one most likely, would be his, soon…<br/>