((? POV))
I stand in front of him, a trident clutched in my hand. The man I despised so much, now I must follow an order, or face certain Misting.
"You requested my presence, my lord?" I spat. I hated this. I was not supposed to be bowing to him, it was all wrong! How could everything have gotten so mixed up?
"Yes, child, I request you do something for me."
A long pause passed. "Yes?" I prompted.
"There is a group I wish you to eliminate."
"What group?"
"Oh, I think you know…"
"No, you're wrong. I don't know. Please, milord, tell me the group leader's name."
"I'll tell you, just so there can be no mix-ups. The leader's name is a sloth named Sidney."
My heart shot up into my throat. I understood perfectly now what he was asking. He wanted me to kill…
"But, milord, you know what the people in there mean to me!" I pleaded with him. It wasn't fair, wasn't fair! I wanted to get on my knees and scream, like when I was three.
"Exactly. You must have a bone to pick with this group. Wasn't it the mammoth whom you said you hate with all your heart, the one you claimed cared nothing for you? Didn't you so openly complain at how forgiving your mother was being to him? Well, have you?"
My lip trembled. I would not cry, I would not cry. I will not give him the satisfaction. "Yes, I did."
"Then why are you acting so hesitant to take his life?"
I opened my mouth, a reply on my lips, but then, I caught myself, because what was I going to say?
I finally settled on, "What will I get out of it?"
"Oh, don't worry. You will be richly rewarded."
"With what? Give me answers, milord."
"Your mother will be freed from Hell."
The trident dropped out of my hand.
Oh, I'm sure that you were wondering about that reply that I was too smart to say. So, I'm giving it to you.
It was, Why am I acting like this? Because he's my father, that's what! Something you can't say the same to, Soto!
Yes, now you finally know who I am, and who this tyrant who forced himself into power is. You think that Manfred's son and mate faded to oblivion when those humans killed us in cold blood? You think that Soto ceased to exist when his reign of terror was put to an end?
You're wrong.
My name is Gavin, and I am Manfred's dead son.
My name is Gavin, and I am ordered to kill my entire surviving family by the man who was killed by them.
My name is Gavin, and welcome to my personal Hell.