InsaneJournal

Voices Prompt #2: Family
I never had a real family, not for long anyway. My demon mother killed my human father when I was three years old and put an end to that idea.

My mother wanted nothing to do with her "disgusting half-breed" child after that, and she would have killed me as well if the Source hadn't ordered her otherwise. Instead she gave me into the care of Raynor, leader of the Brotherhood of the Thorn, an elite circle of demons who served the Source. Raynor became my new father.

He was patient with me at first. I tried to run away and find my way back to the human world, and he would find me and bring me back. He told me what I was and that it was my duty to serve the Source of All Evil. He would guide me and teach me and protect me.

I needed the protection. The other young demons training for the Brotherhood hated me for what I was. Only Raynor's presence kept them from doing more than taunts and threats. I quickly realized that Raynor's protection lasted only as long as his approval, so I began to struggle to please him. I learned, I obeyed, and I tried to prove that I was the demon he thought I could be.

The stronger I became, the more my "brothers" hated me. They were ashamed to be outdone by a half-breed. They tried to arrange accidents during training. They tried to sabotage me. They taunted me for hiding behind Raynor and pushed me around as much as they could without earning Raynor's wrath.

When I was ten, I failed Raynor. I couldn't bring myself to kill a helpless witch. The human part of me was still too strong. My mentor was disappointed and withdrew his protection. It was still forbidden to kill me, but anything else was fair game. My brothers beat me and abused me at any opportunity.

I learned to bury my human heart. Love, compassion, and mercy meant nothing to me. Only the Source's will mattered. My brothers gave me their grudging respect, but I never trusted them not to stab me in the back any chance they got. They were my "family," but that meant nothing when it came to demonic ambition.