Cole To The Infinite Power

Chapter 2: In The Proving Grounds

Cole:

I wandered far and wide, my eye always on the main chance. The Brotherhood saw that I was well-equipped with an education, and the monetary means necessary to complete my missions. I wasn't your low level hit man-type demon; I was a member of the elite corps. Our means, although usually culminating in the death of our target, was a more subtle approach. Those who had made the demonic hit list were not insignificant men, and occasionally women. They were rich, powerful, and usually well-protected.

Witches were a specialty of mine; nothing gave me more pleasure than to rid the world of those do-gooders who were little more than vermin in my eyes. They were a challenge, often aware of my lurking presence, but basically helpless against my superior magical ability. Witches tend to band together, kind of like rats, which made it all the more easy for me to kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. The only good witch was a dead witch in my book.

I told you I was narrow-minded and arrogant, didn't I?

Occasionally, I came across a worthy adversary, but they usually succumbed to my powers of persuasion...or they died. But, hey, I always gave them a choice. To me, the chase was as satisfying as the kill.

When I needed a woman, I took one, and believe me, there were willing women everywhere. I had them all; young and old, rich and poor, beautiful, plain, shapely, full-figured, every race, human or magical. Sex was almost too easy, and I quickly became bored with my easy conquests. I was looking for more; a challenge, perhaps.

But I'm getting ahead of myself...

Take a small child and place him in a training center devoid of other children to socialize with. I'm not talking about Pre-school, here, there were no play areas, no jungle gyms. Think "Lord Of The Flies"...with attitude. I remember my first motivational meeting with Raynor, when I was about five years of age.

Raynor: " Stand still and don't speak unless I ask you a question. Stand up straight, show respect at all times, but never become servile. You're no ordinary scavenger demon; you're one of the chosen few. "

Cole: " Yes, Sir. "

I had no time to even try to evade the hand that lash crossed my face.

Raynor: " I didn't ask a question, did I? "

Mutely, I shook my head, which earned me another slap in the face.

Raynor: " I asked a question. You answer all questions; quickly, accurately, and with respect. Do you understand? "

Finally, a question! I nodded, earnestly, eager to avoid another blow.

Cole: " Yes, Sir. "

Raynor: " You don't call me Sir, I am your Mentor. "

Cole: " What's a mentor? "

I was lucky that Raynor was in an expansive mood; he ignored my breach of decorum, and settled himself into a chair, more than eager to encourage my budding interest in my new life.

Raynor: " A Mentor is a special type of teacher. I will teach you what it means to belong to the Brotherhood, to be proud of your heritage. In a way, I'm your father now. "

My Father? But, my Father was dead. Mother...no, I didn't want to think about that, let alone talk about it, yet...

Cole: " May I asked a question? My Father. Why did Mother kill him? I thought she loved him. "

Raynor: " Love him she might have, but understand this; He was a human, a non-magical human at that. Beneath contempt, beneath your Mother. Now there was a fine demon! "

Cole: " Mother? "

Raynor: " Beautiful, passionate, strong, talented...those are the most desirable traits in a female demon. "

Cole: " But why did she kill him? Didn't she like him any more? "

Raynor: " Like...love, are human emotions. You'll study them, learn to mimic them to perfection, but you will not waste valuable time indulging yourself. You must work hard to overcome your defect. "

Cole: " What defect? "

Raynor: " Your humanness, boy! You're a half-breed! You must always work harder, be faster, smarter, stronger, etc. You must overcome your basic humanness...bury your conscience and soul the best that you can. "

Conscience? Soul? I was confused, but I didn't dare ask anymore questions. Not then. However, Raynor was wise...

Raynor: " You'll learn all there is to know from life itself. I'll prepare you well, but you'll learn as you go. Two things you will always remember...are you listening? "

Cole: " Yes. "

Raynor: " You always obey an order. And, you will never allow a good witch to live. Understand? "

Cole: " I think so. What's a witch? "

Raynor: " A White Witch, one who studies and employs the Way Of Light is our enemy. You kill them before they can get to you, because only a good witch can vanquish a demon. We can kill each other, but outside our own sect, only one of those do-gooders can send us away for good. Kill them. They're like rats or spiders...just pests that need to be exterminated. "

I nodded, not really understanding. A witch was good, but bad for us. I had already learned that killing was something we did, and there was no use being upset by it. You followed orders, and if the orders were for you to kill your best friend, you did it. Without question. Or...

You became something very bad. Something that Raynor didn't like. He narrowed his eyes, and practically spat out the explanation.

Raynor: " The worst thing a demon can do is to disobey an order, because that makes you a traitor. Traitors don't live very long around here, and there are demons who do nothing but find and destroy these fallen demons. It's better to be vanquished then to betray your own kind. Remember that, Turner. "

I remembered it all too well.

And, I realized later that Raynor never answered my question. Why did Mother kill Father? Was he really just an assignment to her?

Confusion reigned within me for many years; unfortunately, once I learned the answers to all of these questions I couldn't help but wonder if ignorance was indeed bliss.

You see, I was the reason Mother finally killed Father. And then I learned about my Father's soul. Held captive, never allowed to rest, because Mother had become that bad thing that we demons learned to hate.

Mother became a traitor.

I didn't learn this until my training in the Underworld came to an end, and it was time for me to learn about life above ground. No little jaunts to observe the human species...I would learn to live like them. Blend in.

It wasn't as easy as it may sound. All I had ever known was darkness, yet now I was expected to embrace another way. More confusion, as I had to allow my human side free reign. The one thing that set me apart from the other demons, the thing I hid to the best of my ability, must now be my guide.

I found I had a great capacity for the side of light. I enjoyed the sight and sound of children at play, I appreciated a well-written book, a snifter of fine,old Brandy, a beautiful piece of music.

I became darkness and light, day and night..and my two sides warred within me until something amazing happened; I fell in love.

They say you always remember your first love. I remember mine very well. Before Phoebe, before everything else, I learned what the function of a human's heart and soul truly was...