Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Charmed.

A/n: Someday I think I'll have to do more with Cole's past as a demon. It's a very interesting world to explore. Please enjoy and let me know what you think.

Tales of December

a story by Ryeloza

Cole: December 4, 1902

Cole had been standing outside of the cave where the Triad convened for over an hour. Every breath he took was an attempt to stay calm and in control, despite the fact that in the next room his future was being decided without him. Mother had taught him to maintain a healthy distrust of the Triad, though, and one didn't keep one's enemies closer for no good reason. He could not afford to let them see that this affected him; he could not allow Mother to see that either.

When he was younger, Mother had seen his human half as cancer that needed eradicated. More than once she had discussed ways to destroy the human soul inside of him; to crush that weakness he possessed unwillingly. Not until he had been able to entrap and destroy Emily Gordack where Mother had been unable had she seen some decency in his diluted heritage. Still, he knew that this half of himself disgusted her and for that he used every fiber of his being to suppress that part around her.

Across the way there was a drawn out groan and Cole shuddered in spite of himself. The Triad was notorious for slaughtering those who did their dirty work; anything to maintain their position of power; anything to stay close to the Source. They used other demons and disposed of them, successful or not. The stupid held out hope that success would win them power and respect only to be vanquished when the Triad was through with them. The pathetic were those who failed; whose groans now surrounded and entrapped him.

From the shadows, one of these demons looked at Cole now, curiosity temporarily blinding his fear of the inevitable. Cole knew what was coming before the other demon even spoke.

"You're Senalda's child, aren't you?"

"My name is Belthazor," said Cole contemptuously. He would never be this demon.

"I knew Senalda when you were conceived," the demon continued obliviously. "I was on the top then. The underworld lay at my feet. I was the one that caught your mother bedding that pathetic mortal. I was the one who turned her over to the Triad. They wanted her dead, you know? Her and her unborn spawn of a human."

Cole looked away, indifferent. The ramblings of a decrepit, has-been demon meant nothing. Apparently his lack of interest annoyed his storyteller, because the other demon spat, angrily, "You know what she promised them in return for her life, don't you? She promised them you." The demon laughed, clearly certain that he had revealed something intimate. Cole, however, was quite aware of Mother's relationship with the Triad and her intentions. Some day, the Triad would bow to them.

"She told them that she would secure a way to control you. She'd get them something that you would give anything to have. Then you'd be theirs to do as they liked with you. That's why she killed your father. That's why she bottled his soul. So they can keep you in check."

"What?" Suddenly Cole's attention was focused solely on the demon still laughing at him. He tried to shake away the fear that twisted up his spine; a witch had killed his father. There was no way—no reason—

"Belthazor!"

Cole's eyes snapped to his mother, who had emerged with a triumphant expression. She spared not a glance at the other demon, who now cowered against the wall again. "The Triad has agreed to our demands. You will train among the humans to become a lawyer. You will infiltrate them in a way no other demon ever has or ever will."

Cole nodded slowly. Everything was going according to plan. His and Mother's plan. The other demon had no idea what he was talking about; he was simply trying to raise Cole's ire.

Still, as Cole followed Mother out of the cave, he couldn't quite erase the niggling feeling of doubt.