InsaneJournal

Voices Prompt #1: Who Am I?
Up until recently, I was Belthazor, one of the most powerful demons in the Underworld. I killed countless witches, innocents, demons -- the Source of All Evil would point, and I would obey.

The first three years of my life I was a normal boy, or so I thought I was. I don't remember much about that time, but my father was a good man, warm and loving. My mother was more distant and rarely had time for me. One night everything changed. My father woke me and made me get dressed and told me we had to go. I asked him where my mother was, but he said not to worry, he would explain later. As we ran from the house, I heard my mother calling for us, and I yelled back to her before my father could stop me. Then my mother appeared before us. She yanked me from my father's arms and killed him.

She took me to the Underworld after that and gave me to Raynor, the leader of the Brotherhood of the Thorn. I found out then that I was half-demon. My mother wanted me destroyed as an abomination, but the Source saw potential in me, and told Raynor to train me. The first years were horrible. I didn't want to be there; I wanted to go home to my father. The other young demons tormented me and mocked my human side. To survive, I had to learn to bury my human soul and embrace my demonic nature. I had to learn to be strong and how to kill without mercy.

For over a hundred years I served the Source. I became feared and respected. When the Source ordered me to destroy the Charmed Ones, I obeyed. I knew they had vanquished other demons, but those demons weren't me. The witches were just another mark. I would infiltrate them, earn their trust, and kill them.

But one of those witches, Phoebe Halliwell, the one I thought would be easiest to manipulate and win over, somehow awoke the human in me. I didn't think I was capable of love and compassion anymore. I started to feel human. There were mornings that I'd wake up next to her and I didn't feel evil. I was just a normal man in love with a beautiful girl. Part of me wanted that life so much.

Eventually she and her sisters found out who I was. But somehow I managed to convince Phoebe of the truth -- that not everything was a lie. That when it came down to it, I couldn't kill her. I'd fallen in love with her, and I was willing to die to prove it.

I had to go into hiding after betraying the Source by not killing Phoebe and her sisters. Bounty hunters tried to hunt me down. Eventually, I stopped running and came back to Phoebe. I knew I had to be with her, to protect her. And she would keep my human side strong. She believes in me, but I know I still have to earn the trust of her sisters.

So now I'm Cole Turner, the name my father gave me. I'm still half-demon, but I only use my powers for good. And one day I'll be the man Phoebe thinks I can be.