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My earliest childhood memory is one of Auntie Miriam's smiling face.If I recall correctly, she was always trying to smile around me. For a long while my life revolved around her, and trying to make her smile.

My parents, however, did not like her at all. Since my parents were always working, other people took care of the children. Auntie had raised my brother Zander, and he was a big disappointment to Mother and Father. He did not share their ideals, which infuriated Mother, and Father was terrified that when he took over the clan he would somehow destroy it. But I loved my big brother and Auntie, even though I sensed my parents disliking of both of them.

Auntie was in charge of both keeping me out of my parent's way and training me in all of the royal family's ways. She didn't have to love me, but she did. Perhaps that is why she allowed me to slack off in my lessons. This usually got her into trouble, but I don't really think she cared. Auntie didn't care much about anything, but there were a few things she couldn't stand. My first introduction to her true dislikings was when I was 4. That was also when I began to lose my Auntie.

People always seemed to like to antagonize Auntie. They would jeer at her in the streets, calling her names and saying hurtfull things to her. I would always try to fight them on her behalf, but every time Auntie would just put her hand on my shoulder and walk me away from them.

"Pay no attention to them." she'd say, "They weren't raised to know any better, and yelling back at them will only worsen things. It's better to handle situations like this in a peaceful way."

One day, however, two men took things too far.
Auntie was walking me home from the movie theatre, it was past my bedtime, and she was trying to rush us along when a voice wafted over from a brick wall.

"Well, look at that Carl. If it isn't that f*****t who works for the Maxwell's." Auntie stiffened briefly, but instead of turning around she tried to hurry me along even faster. There was a cruel snicker behind us.

"Hey, Jack, I think you're right. Hey, lady, stop! Yeah, I'm talking to you." Carl reached over and grabbed Auntie's hand, yanking her back towards them. They studied her for a moment, like a human might study a dead chipmunk on the side of the road, and I remember wondering about what could possibly be so interesting to them.

Jack's face got a nasty sneer on it, as if something that gave him some perverse pleasure had entered his mind.

"Carl, do you think one of these nasty little half-breeds would be as nice to screw around with as a pure blood?"

An expression half-way between fear and disgust entered Auntie's features.

"You shut your mouth! Can't you see I have a child with me?" Auntie's voice seemed harsher than usual, and the two men didn't seem to appreciate being told what to do. Jack grabbed Auntie by her hair and slammed her into the brick wall. Leaning in closely he hissed into her ear,

"Do you think a filthy abomination like you has any right to tell us what to do? If I were you I'd start begging for forgiveness right now!"

I didn't have any idea what they were talking about, but I knew they were hurting Auntie. I could feel my face burn with rage and I rushed at the man called Jack. Punching him in the side I shouted,
"You let go of Auntie right now!"

Before I knew what was happening Jack's hand swung around and slapped me across the face. I stumbled, lost my footing, and fell onto the edge of the street. Both of the men stood over me, looking ready to rip my throat out. Carl reached over, grabbed my chin, and tried to get me to look at him. I glared into his eyes defiantly. Immediately he paled and let go of me.

"I-it's the Maxwell girl!" he choked out, looking terrified.

"Are you kidding me?" Jack not only sounded surprised, but also unbelieving.

"I'm done here!" Carl said, turning and bolting down an alley.

"Hey, wait for me!" Jack, who seemed to have forgotten about Auntie, followed after his friend.

Auntie helped me up and did her best to brush the dirt off of my dress. While we were finishing our walk home I broke the awkward silence with a question.

"What were those men talking about Auntie?"
Auntie inhaled sharply.

"Nothing, Clara. They were talking about nothing." For the first time I felt as though my Auntie was lying to me. I could have pulled rank and ordered her to tell me, but I didn't like ordering Auntie around.

"Why did those men want to hurt you Auntie?"

I was honestly confused about this. Auntie was the nices person in the world, why would anyone want to hurt her? Auntie stopped and kneeled down before me.

"Clara, in this world there are a lot of people who like to hurt others. They will pick on people for no reason other than the fact that they are different." One of the cat-like ears on Auntie's head twitched, and her tail swished back and forth agitatedly.

"Why Auntie?"

"Well, some of them are hurting inside and want others to feel their pain. Others like to make themselves feel superior by putting others down. Clara, in this world there is a lot of good and bad. But the good is the only thing worth living for."

Auntie stood up, took my hand, and started walking again. We were nearing the front gates when I asked Auntie a question that had been at the back of my mind for a long time.

"Auntie, are Mother and Father good people?"

Auntie stopped and rubbed her forehead.

"Clara..." her voice sounded pained, and I instantly regretted asking the question. "Your parents are trying their hardest to rebuild our clan."

"Yes, but are they good people?"

"Jeez, Clara! Look at what time it is! You must be exhausted, off to bed with you!"

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The next morning, when I woke up at seven as usual, I was groggy. I didn't feel well rested at all, and there were still many questions buzzing around in my mind.

I slowly made my way downstairs, and when I found the door to Mother's study open a crack I allowed myself in.

"Mother?"

"Hmm?" Mother looked up and seemed surprised at my presence. And it wasn't a pleased surprised either.

"Can I ask you some questions?"

"Why of course, dear." Sometimes it was hard to tell if she was faking such lovingness or not. Mother motioned for me to come and stand in front of her. I obeyed.

"Mother, what is 'abomination'?"

"Who's been saying such things around you, sweetie?" Mother's voice was sickeningly sweet. I wanted to throw up. Could I lie to Mother? Mother reached out and pulled me into a stiff, unnatural embrace.

"I heard some demons from our clan say it, and I wanted to know the meaning."

"Then why didn't you ask Miriam dear?" her hug tightened, but her voice didn't change.

"Well, Auntie is so busy. And she's not as smart as you."

"Clara," her voice suddenly became cold and hard. I was never more terrified than when Mother used this tone of voice. "You know I don't like being lied to." I began to wish I had never asked.

"Some men tried to hurt Auntie, and the called her 'abomination'." I said, refusing to make eye contact with Mother. Mother clutched my shoulders and moved me away to look me in the eye.

"Is that so?" her eyes glinted, and her voice was thick with 'love' again.

"Clara, abomination is....Well, it's something unnatural. Something that never should have been born. An abomination is something to be hated."

"But Auntie isn't unnatural! She's sweet, and she loves me. I love her."

"Oh, but Clara, Miriam is unnatural. She has both demon and human blood in her. It's disgusting. People aren't meant to be like that. It's alright that you think you have feelings for her now, I forgive you, but you will grow to hate her and her kind eventually."

I disagreed with this, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell Mother that.

"But Mother, how could I hate Auntie?"


Mother's nails dug into my shoulders and loosened again.

"I had been planning to save this lesson for later Clara, but you're a smart child. Would you like me to teach you something new?"

I nodded my head and told her that I did. Mother spun me around so that my back was to her and covered my eyes with her hands.

"Do you remember those men that tried to hurt Auntie?" She asked. I nodded. "Do you remember how they talked to her? How they touched her? Didn't it make you want to slice through them with your claws?"

I was imagining this in my mind and a smile slowly crept onto my face. Such revenge would feel good.

"Imagine their screams." she hissed, "Imagine how sorry they'd feel when you hurt them. Do you think you could hate them?"

"But Mother, I already hate them."

"Do you see how easy it is? And you can hate more if you want. You can hurt those people who hurt you."

"How?"

"I can teach you if you'd like."

It had felt so good imagining my revenge, hating them, that I couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to actually hurt them.

"Yes please."

Mother took her hands off of my eyes and turned me around. She stroked my hair with one hand and looked me straight in the eye. I began to feel dizzy, yet calm. My mouth felt loose, and I felt as if I were floating in a void. I didn't know it at the time, but Mother was controlling my mind, this was an ability all snow-leopard demons had, and could get good at if they practiced.

"Before we begin your first lesson I need to know the names of those men, Clara."

"Well, I think their names were Jack and Carl."

"Very good Clara. Now go get dressed. Your Father wants to see you on the training grounds. He wants to see how much you've learned."

I rushed off to get dressed. I was always eager to please my parents, to show off how much Auntie had taught me. I always aced my tests. People thought it was because I was gifted, but in actuality it was because I spent hours practicing.

After I was properly dressed I made my way to the outdoors training grounds, a large empty field.

My Father was there with three other powerful demons. I knew their names, but could only remember meeting them at parties.

There was Sesshomaru, the dog demon, Cal, the arctic fox demon, and Tess, the badger demon. They all seemed to tower over me, and I took note that none of them were half demons.

"There she is. Clara, we've been waiting for you." I didn't respond to this. I wasn't supposed to.

"My, she's grown since last year!" Cal exclaimed, "If only my son would grow like that."

"She's adorable," Tess stated, "And she's aced all her tests so far. I do believe she is destined to be one of the great ones."

Father beamed from all of their compliments, until Sesshomaru made a partially joking comment, probably because he could see Father getting an inflated ego.

"Yes, but Zander also aced all of his tests. And we all see how he turned out."

Father brushed the comment off and turned towards me.

"Now Clara, let's start with..."
**********

After much praise for another perfect performance I went inside to tell Mother and Auntie. I had reached Mother's study. The door was open a crack and I could hear voices. I peeked in.
Mother was standing tall and looking furious. Standing before her was Auntie and the two men from last night. Currently she was yelling at the two men.

"Do you know what my daughter asked me this morning?! She asked me what 'abomination' meant! Not only did you dare to use such language in front of her, you almost screwed up my plans for her! There are things I want to teach her so that she doesn't turn out like Zander, so that she becomes the perfect leader for this clan, but how am I supposed to do that if she learns things before I'm ready to teach her them! How am I supposed to teach her how to be a killer when idiots like you mess up my plans!?" Mother let out a snarl. "We were once one of the most powerful clans in the world, and we will be again if I can teach Clara to be a heartless leader! Belive me when I say you will be punished for this."

I thought Mother might be done. I didn't know what she was talking about. In fact, the only thing I understood was that she wanted me to lead our clan. Then she turned on Auntie.

"And you, you filthy half-breed! You are supposed to protect my child! She's air to the throne! And yet I hear that this man got away with slapping her across the face! If I hear of one more incident like this you will be severely punished, you useless wretch. And what's this I hear about my daughter loving you?! She is not supposed to have feelings for anyone but me and her Father! From this moment on you will show her no signs of affection. If I hear so much as a rumor of you showing her kindness or friendship you will be executed!"

I didn't understand this part of the lecture either, all I knew was that Mother was mad. I backed away from the door and began turning around the corner at the end of the hall when I heard a guards voice.

"Miss Clara, your Mother says she has a lesson for you!"

As I made my way towards Mother's study I grew eager to please her again.

"Oh, there you are Clara! Are you ready for your second lesson? Yes?" Mother picked up a dagger and placed it in my hand.

Now not many people know this, but if I were to make a weapon it could kill any other Snow-leopard demon. Why? Because I have royal blood in my veins. If anyone in my family made a weapon it could kill any person from our clan, without having to climb to the top of our sacred tower and go through the procedure. Mother had made this dagger.

"Make them hurt. Make them hurt like they hurt you and Auntie. Hate them Clara."

I remembered my imaginings from before, and before I could stop myself I was flying at them. I can't remember much after that, except for a voice that was not Mother's, Auntie's, or my own whispering in my ear.

I don't know how long I went at it, but when I stopped the carpet and walls were soaked. Jack was lying on the ground not moving. I later learned that he was dead. Carl held his face with his hands, and blood seeped through his fingers. Mother put her hands proudly on my shoulders..

"Good job, my darling." she said softly. "You've done well. I'm proud of you."

I felt happier than I'd ever felt before. Mother accepted me! She was proud of me! She loved me. I finally had one of the only things I had always wanted.

I looked over at Auntie, expecting her to also be proud, but a look of disgust was painted on her face. I was shocked. Was my Auntie not proud of my success? Did she not like me anymore? For the first time ever I hated my Auntie. I had done this for her, to get back at the people who had hurt her! A ball of ice formed in my stomach. Fine, if she didn't care about me, I didn't care about her.

I don't need her, I thought, As long as Mother is proud of me and loves me I'll be fine!

Auntie looked me straight in the eye at that moment. I will never forget the look of revulsion on her face. Revulsion towards me.</div>