Sin's Dark Caress (27 page)
Authors: Tracey O'Hara
Focal:
Focus thaumaturgic energy into or onto items. Users of focal magic produce magical potions and medical preparations (such as love potions, glimmer creams), and can also enchant items such as jewelry, charms, and talismans; an apotheke, for example, is like a magical pharmacist.
Necromantic:
Deal with the dead. They contact spirits of the dead to help heal, to find things, to guide them, and speak to the dead. Also use the energy released from the death itself, such as animal sacrifices, bones, blood, feathers; for instance, voodoo.
Government and Organizations
Academy of Parahuman Studies:
A tertiary institution of parahuman studies for both humans and parahumans alike. All potential Venators must spend three years at the Academy learning their craft and preparing for the final examsâa set of grueling mental and physical tests to determine a candidate's suitability to become a licensed Venator and what specialization they will undertakeâbe it Necrodreniacs, Rogue Animalians, or Dark Thaumaturgists. Other courses are offered, such as parahuman law, corporate thaumaturgy, and parahuman forensics.
Academy, the (NYAPS):
New York campus of the Academy of Parahuman Studiesâone of the first parahuman academies. Originally constructed in the early 1800s as an Aeternus stronghold, the complex has several underground dormitories and lecture halls connected through a large network of tunnels; years later, rooms and halls were built on the surface as well. When first converted to a center for learning, it catered only to parahumans, but in the 1960s, a period of integration for renewed human and parahuman relations, the Academy was opened to human students studying parahuman courses. In the early seventies the Guild moved its training and testing facilities to NYAPS to bring all parahuman studies under the one umbrella. Day and night lectures are scheduled to suit different student lifestyles.
Council for Human and Parahuman Relations
(CHaPR):
A council similar to the United Nations, consisting of parahuman and human ambassadorial representatives. The CHaPR passes laws that govern human and parahuman coexistence. It is governed by the CHaPR Treaty, established in 1887 after a bitter and bloody war between the Aeternus and an alliance of Animalians and humans. Since its inception, a majority of the other parahuman races have also signed the treaty and are bound by the laws.
Five, the:
A small council of five representativesâeach from a different race of parahumans or humansâthat represents the wisdom of the combined population of the world. While they still have to answer to the rest of CHaPR, they have considerable power, especially in emergency situations.
Department of Parahuman Security (the Department):
The umbrella group responsible for enforcing the laws handed down by CHaPR, the Department consists of many divisions and branches, including the following five: divisions are only some of those that make up the Department.
Necrodreniac Control Branch (NCB):
Responsible for monitoring and setting Necrodreniac bounties.
Parahuman Intelligence Division (Intel):
The Intelligence division of the Department, which gathers information (or “intel”) on gangs and rogue parahuman groups, usually through the use of undercover agents.
Personal Security Branch:
Provides bodyguard details to officials and VIPs.
Office of the Chief Parahuman Medical Examiner (OCPME):
The office that performs the autopsies for the Department.
Violent Crimes Unit (VCU):
A team that investigates serious violent crimes usually committed by or against parahumans.
Draconus Nocti:
An elite black ops force, named after a legendary group of warriors. The earlier version of the modern Draconus Nocti went behind enemy lines and performed extractions and assassination as required by their employers (rumored to be the Elders of CHaPR). Now, Raven Matokwe is training new recruits specializing in black ops tactics in order to fight the Dark Brethren and their followers.
Guild, the:
An organization founded by humans as a part of the CHaPR Treaty and as a form of protection against the parahumans. The Guild is responsible for Venator licensing. Once licensed, a portion of all Venators' bounty earnings go to the Guild.
Petrescu School of Training:
One of the many small institutions that take a young human and train mind, body, and soul through regular academic studies supplemented with strong martial-arts regimes. This school has built a reputation for preparing its students to enter an academy for parahuman studies. This is not a Venator training facility, but those wishing to take up that line of work compete for a place in the school.
Characters
Akentia, Princess:
Aeternus. An ancient Aeternus and chancellor of the Five of CHaPR.
Crompton, Trudii:
Unknown. Roving reporter for WTFN news.
DuPrie, Oberon:
Ursian. Current head of security at NYAPS and former VCU agent. He is putting together a covert team of specialists to look into the possible recurrence of the Trouble of several years ago.
Ealund:
Dark Brethren. An incorporeal being that thrives on violence.
Geraldi, Tones (Antonio):
Aeternus. Former VCU agent. Oberon poached the computer expert to work on his team. Tones is a humegetarian and a card carrying member of Parahumans Against Animal Abuse.
Hilden, Astrid:
Witch. Board member of the Hilden Group Corporation and Gayla Hilden's daughter.
Hilden, Gayla:
Witch. Head of the Hilden coven, Domina of the Eastern Seaboard, and CEO of the Hilden Group Corporation.
Hilden, Marcus:
Witch. Board member of the Hilden Group Corporation and Gayla Hilden's son-in-law.
Hilden, Tiffany:
Witch. Gayla Hilden's granddaughter.
Jordan, Kitt:
Felian. Former Chief Medical Examiner for OCPME. She recently resigned from OCPME to take up a teaching position at the New York Academy of Parahuman Studies and to join Oberon's Team.
Keith:
Ursian. Personal bodyguard of Princess Akentia.
McManus, Lancelot:
Human. Detective with the NYPD Homicide department. Burnt out, a drunk, and addicted to a new drug, Neon Tears.
O'Connor, Tez:
Unknown. Medical Examiner at OCPME and occasional lover of Oberon.
O'Shea, Corey:
Unknown. Freight and transport magnate and suspected drug lord.
O'Shea, Seamus:
Unknown. Corey O'Shea's younger brother. A silent and dangerous man, rumored to be a crack assassin.
Petrescu, Antoinette:
Aeternus. Ex-Venator and newly turned Aeternus. Oberon offered her a job after she was expelled from the Guild for threatening several members.
Roberts, Neil:
Human. Agent in charge of VCU and the man responsible for having Oberon kicked out of the unit.
Rudolf:
Human. An old human expert on the Dark Brethren, and chancellor of the Five of CHaPR.
Shields, Cody:
Incubus. Head of Administration at NYAPS, he looks more like a surfer than an office worker. Oberon uses Cody to defuse emotional situations and as a liaison to external agencies.
Sin, Artemisia:
Witch. High ranking witch and current Alto of the Sin Coven. Artemisia is Bianca's mother.
Sin, Bianca:
Witch. Expert in forensic thaumaturgy and head of thaumaturgy at NYAPS. Bianca is a nonpracticing familial witch and often called on by city law enforcement agencies to consult on cases.
The road to writing this book was rather more difficult than others, but I have to say how much I love the result. Several people helped me along the way. So a big thanks goes to my editor, Diana, and all those people at HarperVoyager who helped get this book out, and to my agent, Jenn, for her support.
With this book I had several readers who really stepped up when I needed it the most. So a big kiss goes to Heather, Nicky, Mel and Cathyâlove you girls muchly. Without you I couldn't have done it. Also I would like to thank Karyn, who suggested the brilliant newspaper moniker for my serial killer on facebook. It was priceless and perfect.
And as always I would like to thank my supportive familyâspecially my husband, David, who is the love of my life, and my two wonderful sons, Corey and Seamus, who found their way into the pages of this book. Love you boys.
T
RACEY
O'
HARA
grew up reading Stephen King, Raymond E. Feist, and J.R.R. Tolkien, where she developed her taste for adventure and the paranormal thriller. When she's not writing, reading, or listening to heavy metal, she spends time with her husband, two sons, and three cats. The author of
Night's Cold Kiss
and
Death's Sweet Embrace
, she lives in Australia.
www.traceyohara.com
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