Post by StoryGirl83 on Aug 27, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5
Chapter Nine – The Demons' Guide to Fighting Halliwells
and Archemneme
Back in the underworld the warlock and Archemneme were preparing. The warlock dropped pills into vials filled with steaming, clear liquid.
“Are you going to tell me what that is?” Archemneme asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Water.”
The question marks in Archemneme’s eyes started turning. “Water?”
“Boiling water,” the warlock confirmed. “The pills keep the temperature hot.”
Archemneme wasn’t sure he heard correctly. “You want me to throw potion bottles at them filled with boiling water. It will never work.”
“Then, use it as a distraction,” the warlock replied uncaring. “If it breaks it’s still just water. The pills are still effective and it still burns if they touch it.”
“How long?” Archemneme asked, deciding to give the idea a chance.
“Twenty-four hours or until mixed with colder water,” the warlock told him. “Any other substance doesn’t alter the temperature, but when mixed with water they blend instantly and get the medium temperature. After that it reacts like normal water.”
“Interesting idea,” Archemneme admitted.
The warlock walked over to a desk and pulled open a drawer. He pulled out a belt with pouches for vials in it. He tossed it at Archemneme, who caught it easily. “Use this for vials.”
“You seem prepared,” Archemneme commented. “Why haven’t you attacked?”
“Like you, I don’t think that they are weak enough to destroy,” the warlock admitted. “For now we aim to maim, to weaken, not to kill. Obviously if we have the chance, we will kill them, but one step at a time.”
“That sounds like good advice,” Archemneme stared at the warlock. It was surprising to hear one so young think things through so thoroughly. The warlock couldn’t have been much more than thirty. “You really have thought this through.”
“A friend of mine made me promise before he attempted to take them on that I would avenge him if he lost.” The warlock paused, remembering. “He lost. I’ve had time to think.” The warlock began rummaging through another drawer.
“Do you have any more advice?” Archemneme asked, surprising himself.
The warlock’s head popped up. “To start with they can’t orb. Use this to your advantage. Also attack from behind. It may be the cowards way, but if we want to win we can’t afford to play by the rules.”
Archemneme scoffed. “When have demons ever played by the rules?”
The warlock chuckled. “True, but you never know. Make sure you don’t get cocky or waste time explaining yourself. Braggers lose precious time and sometimes the battle as well.” The warlock dropped down to look in the drawer, again. This time he found what he was looking for rather quickly. He straightened up and held out an amulet on a chain. “Wear this.”
“What is it?” Archemneme asked, looking at it suspiciously.
“You ask that a lot,” the warlock commented. “It’s an anti-freeze amulet. The boys’ mother has the ability to freeze objects. She lives in the family manor, which is where we saw them in the scrying bowl. That means you will have at least three of them verses one of you and they will have the power to freeze on their side. You will need a way to avoid being frozen and you will need help. I suggest you find someone to help you, even the numbers out. Find someone who won’t freeze and find them fast.”
Archemneme took the amulet from the warlock. “Thank you.”
“Just don’t let me down,” the warlock told him, evil in his eyes. “Do some damage.
“Are you going to tell me what that is?” Archemneme asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Water.”
The question marks in Archemneme’s eyes started turning. “Water?”
“Boiling water,” the warlock confirmed. “The pills keep the temperature hot.”
Archemneme wasn’t sure he heard correctly. “You want me to throw potion bottles at them filled with boiling water. It will never work.”
“Then, use it as a distraction,” the warlock replied uncaring. “If it breaks it’s still just water. The pills are still effective and it still burns if they touch it.”
“How long?” Archemneme asked, deciding to give the idea a chance.
“Twenty-four hours or until mixed with colder water,” the warlock told him. “Any other substance doesn’t alter the temperature, but when mixed with water they blend instantly and get the medium temperature. After that it reacts like normal water.”
“Interesting idea,” Archemneme admitted.
The warlock walked over to a desk and pulled open a drawer. He pulled out a belt with pouches for vials in it. He tossed it at Archemneme, who caught it easily. “Use this for vials.”
“You seem prepared,” Archemneme commented. “Why haven’t you attacked?”
“Like you, I don’t think that they are weak enough to destroy,” the warlock admitted. “For now we aim to maim, to weaken, not to kill. Obviously if we have the chance, we will kill them, but one step at a time.”
“That sounds like good advice,” Archemneme stared at the warlock. It was surprising to hear one so young think things through so thoroughly. The warlock couldn’t have been much more than thirty. “You really have thought this through.”
“A friend of mine made me promise before he attempted to take them on that I would avenge him if he lost.” The warlock paused, remembering. “He lost. I’ve had time to think.” The warlock began rummaging through another drawer.
“Do you have any more advice?” Archemneme asked, surprising himself.
The warlock’s head popped up. “To start with they can’t orb. Use this to your advantage. Also attack from behind. It may be the cowards way, but if we want to win we can’t afford to play by the rules.”
Archemneme scoffed. “When have demons ever played by the rules?”
The warlock chuckled. “True, but you never know. Make sure you don’t get cocky or waste time explaining yourself. Braggers lose precious time and sometimes the battle as well.” The warlock dropped down to look in the drawer, again. This time he found what he was looking for rather quickly. He straightened up and held out an amulet on a chain. “Wear this.”
“What is it?” Archemneme asked, looking at it suspiciously.
“You ask that a lot,” the warlock commented. “It’s an anti-freeze amulet. The boys’ mother has the ability to freeze objects. She lives in the family manor, which is where we saw them in the scrying bowl. That means you will have at least three of them verses one of you and they will have the power to freeze on their side. You will need a way to avoid being frozen and you will need help. I suggest you find someone to help you, even the numbers out. Find someone who won’t freeze and find them fast.”
Archemneme took the amulet from the warlock. “Thank you.”
“Just don’t let me down,” the warlock told him, evil in his eyes. “Do some damage.