The Dark-Hunters (853 page)

In order to maintain this elaborate ruse, the Squire Council designated that the league of Squires be broken into various branches.

Some Squires can be classified under two branches—for instance, a Squire can be both a Blue Blood and a Blood Rite. (It is actually quite rare to have a Blood Rite Squire who is not descended from a long line of Squires before him.) Similarly, all Blood Rite Squires are Theti Squires, but not all Thetis have spiderweb tattoos. Confused yet? Good, that’s why I’m here. It’s all about to become clear again, so take that Tylenol (not that it’ll work on you), and come right back.

Some Squire classifications are mutually exclusive. One cannot be both a Dorean and an Assigned Squire, for example. You either have a Dark-Hunter, or you don’t. There’s no two ways about that one.

The branches of the Squires are:

Barnacle/Echo Squire
    A Squire who is assigned to a particular Dark-Hunter, usually living in the same house and very often the legal mortal owner of the property. This Squire attends to all the day-to-day monotony of running the household, so that the Dark-Hunter can concentrate on killing Daimons. (And you just remind your Squire of that the next time she acts out.) This Squire (and his or her family) is the most at risk, since the Daimons know there is an inevitable emotional attachment between a Dark-Hunter and his or her assigned Squire.

They often fetch for the Hunter as well. They are aides and personal assistants. They live with the Dark-Hunter and help to create an illusion that there’s nothing unusual going on with the occupants of a house. “Barnacle Chip” is a slang term used for someone who was recruited to be a Squire, as opposed to someone who was born into an established family.

Blood Rite Squires
    Squires called out to perform blood hunts to terminate any Rogue Dark-Hunters, or to execute humans (including other Squires) who betray their world. They are all marked with a spiderweb tattoo on their hands, usually on the skin between the thumb and forefinger or over the knuckles. The Blood Rites are a subbranch of the Theti Squires.

Blue Blood Squires
    Squires who hail from a multigenerational Squire family. If his last name is Addams or Carvaletti, you can bet your bippy he’s probably a Squire.

Dorean Squire
    A sort of free agent. A Dorean Squire has no attachment to any particular Dark-Hunter; he is a protector of all. These Squires often set up businesses that support the Dark-Hunters in their work in some way, specializing in goods such as weapons, computers, and cars. Doctors, pilots, police officers, and judges fall into this category. The Dorean Squires have also enlisted bankers and lawyers who know all about the Dark-Hunter world, and who work to keep up the outward appearance of normality.

Oracle Squires
    Squires who confer with the gods, especially the Fates, to gather information that is helpful to the Dark-Hunters. The most prominent Oracles are the Lekti, who keep the Book of Prophecy where all important events in human history are predicted. It is said even the end of the world is chronicled within its pages. They fall outside the control of the Squire Council and are led by the Delphinian (or Oracle of Delphi).

Talpinas
    Originated in the Dark Ages, the Talpinas were a clan of Squires whose sole purpose was to sate the carnal needs of the Dark-Hunters. Talpinas were banned by Artemis after one of her Dark-Hunters fancied himself in love with a Talpina, and she didn’t pass the test. The Talpinas are the origin of Ash’s “Never touch your Squire” law.

Tech Squires
    Squires who are involved in research and technological fields. They are the ones who conceive and create special toys and who enable Dark-Hunters to communicate with one another. These are the Squires who handle the intricate workings of the Dark-Hunter.com Web site.

Theti Squires
    The Squire police, the Thetis make sure all the Squires obey the law. They are also the ones sent out to deal with any civilian who finds out about the Dark-Hunters. Unlike Blood Rites, layman Theti Squires are not allowed to kill. They are sent in first to clean up the situation. If they are ineffective, then the Blood Rites are called in.

The Squire Oath

Somewhere, the Squire Council has a book of all these contracts to Artemis, signed in blood by every Squire that has ever lived … and died. Remember, Squires don’t ever really “quit”—a Squire’s oath is both unbreakable and eternal.

You can relate.

The Squire Oath

In the light of day, I am all that protects my Dark-Hunter from death and persecution. I am the eyes, the ears, and the soul of my chosen one and I will die before I let any harm befall him.

It is my duty to maintain a haven for my Dark-Hunter. To keep his residence clean and safe. I will do as asked without question, without complaint until the Fates see fit to separate us.

I am a Squire, the human counterpart of my Dark-Hunter, and it is my oath that I will never allow harm to befall my Dark-Hunter on my watch. I will be there when he needs me and will give myself freely to anything he requires.

I am all that stands between him and the world that would see him dead. I, alone, am his link to humanity and I, alone, will be with him when he needs me most.

I will never speak publicly of my Dark-Hunter or of their world. All things of them, their lives, their pasts, their abilities, and existence are secret.

I take this oath freely, without reservation or under any duress. I understand that once made, it is absolutely unbreakable. To breach my oath will call down the Wraiths of Hades upon my head, and I will pay for my treachery with my life. No one betrays the Dark-Hunters with impunity.

So says the goddess Artemis, and so she accepts my eternal service to her and all her Dark-Hunters.

Squire Directory

Again, this is not a list of all the Squires in the world that ever were, are, or shall be—you’d need the Squire’s Handbook for that (dusty, enormous tome that it is). This is just a sampling of folks you might run into on your travels … or ones you might want to call when you’re in need of absolutely anything. And don’t be afraid to call on any of them at any time; keeping you alive to fight another day is what they’re there for.

An assigned Squire can also put you in touch with his or her Dark-Hunter, when necessary.

Addams, Alicia
    Daughter of Patricia Addams, Alicia is sister to Brynna, Jack, Jessica, and Tad.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

Addams, Brynna
    Brynna is an eighth-generation Squire to Xander St. James, and very often his angel of mercy. Handmaiden to the goddess, she occasionally works as an Oracle. Brynna’s father Squires for Treig Olavsson.

Brynna has a great sense of humor, as well as the ability to remain calm in a crisis. She’s most often found on the Squires’ Web site.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

B
ORN
: September 12, 1976

B
IRTHPLACE
: Sioux City, Iowa

D
ARK
-H
UNTER
: Xander St. James

Addams, Daphne
    Helps maintain the Dark-Hunter.com Web site. She’s Brynna’s cousin.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

Addams, Jack
    Son of Patricia Addams, Jack is brother to Alicia, Brynna, Jessica, and Tad.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

Addams, Jamie
    Cousin to the other Addams.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

D
ARK
-H
UNTER
: Blade

Addams, Jessica
    Daughter of Patricia Addams, Jessica is sister to Alicia, Brynna, Jack, and Tad.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
/B
LOOD
R
ITE
S
QUIRE

Addams, Patricia
    (deceased) Matriarch of one of the most prominent Squire families in Seattle (mother of Alicia, Brynna, Jack, Jessica, and Tad). Maintained an enormous computer-filled Squire warehouse facility in Seattle, with a deli-coffee shop in front to keep up its innocent appearance. Patricia was attacked by a Daimon and killed in 2006.

Addams, Sara
    Sister to Jamie.

D
OREAN
S
QUIRE

D
ARK
-H
UNTRESS
: Corbin

Addams, Tad
    Brynna’s older brother, Tad set up and runs the ISP for the Dark-Hunter Web site. You’ll often find him there, hanging out with Otto Carvaletti. Oh, and the man’s brain functions like a computer. If you care anything about keeping your money, never, ever play poker with Tad.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

Bambi
    Orphaned when her Squire parents were killed by Daimons, Bambi was raised by the Squire Council. She’s not particularly computer-savvy, but Bambi certainly knows which end of a gun is which. Her greatest hope is to one day be chosen as an Oracle.

D
OREAN
S
QUIRE

Bennet, Tate
    Tall, African-American Parish coroner and Dorean Squire. Tate and his ambulance are often called to the aid of Dark-Hunters in a pinch … most often when they need to take refuge from the morning sunlight in one of Tate’s body bags.

D
OREAN
S
QUIRE

C
URRENT
L
OCATION
: New Orleans, Louisiana

Blackstone, Jamie
    A first-generation Squire raised by an alcoholic father (his mother died when he was very young), Jamie ran away from home at fourteen and made the fortunate mistake of trying to mug the Dark-Hunter Kell. Kell fostered Jamie with a family of Squires, and then offered him the position when his own Squire retired.

B
ORN
: August 17, 1977

B
IRTHPLACE
: Texas

D
ARK
-H
UNTER
: Kell

Brinks, Jeff
    Former Squire of Rafael Santiago, Jeff is a college student in Columbus, Mississippi. A budding fiction writer, he wrote a story (“The Night-Searchers”) based on the legends of the Dark-Hunters, and had it published in the well-known speculative fiction magazine
Escape Velocity.
This action compromised his Squire vows and got him into all sorts of trouble with the Council. The Squire Celena was sent after Jeff to kill him, but Rafael managed to stop her … by falling in love with her.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
S
QUIRE

C
URRENT
L
OCATION
: Columbus, Mississippi

Callahan, Mike
    Helicopter pilot … at least, he was until Zarek blew it up.

D
OREAN
S
QUIRE

Carmichael, Justin
    One of the group of Blood Rite Squires that went to Alaska in order to hunt Zarek.

B
LOOD
R
ITE
/D
OREAN
S
QUIRE

B
IRTHPLACE
: New York City

Carvaletti, Otto
    Half Italian mafia, half Blue Blood/Blood Rite Squire, Otto earned his Ph.D. from Princeton in film studies. (He’s cute, but he’s a contrary bugger.) Otto’s grandfather was the Squire Council Chair before Brendan.

Otto was assigned to Valerius in New Orleans, where he took up the persona of loudly dressed lout just to annoy his boss. (He should have been awarded a Ph.D. in that, too.) Otto has the unique talent of being able to insult your mother in twelve different languages. He even makes up some of his own; for instance, he delights in calling Valerius “Penicula.”

We joke that Otto doesn’t have a lot of close friends, but it’s truer than you’d think. I think it’s the intimidation factor—the superintelligence more so than the mafia—but that’s just my own personal theory. You’re welcome to decide for yourself, if you think you can keep up with him.

When it comes to his duties, however, Otto has no sense of humor, and even less patience. His day job is to keep watch over the safety of the Dark-Hunter Internet services. You’re likely to find him online, hanging out with Kyl.

B
LUE
B
LOOD
/B
LOOD
R
ITE
/D
OREAN
S
QUIRE

B
ORN
: August 30, 1972

B
IRTHPLACE
: Woodbridge, New Jersey

H
EIGHT
: six foot five

H
AIR
/E
YES
: black/dark brown

Celena
    The former Squire of Ephani, Eamon, and Sara. A native of Trinidad, Celena has a weakness for stiletto corset boots (and so do the boys, let me tell you). She is immensely efficient, loves lists, and never tells lies—after losing so many Dark-Hunters, she’s convinced she has bad karma and won’t dare tempt the Fates more than she already has.

She will break her very strict self-imposed rules only for Rafael Santiago, whose soul she had Acheron retrieve from Artemis. She passed the test and returned Rafael’s soul, freeing him from his Dark-Hunter bond so that they could be together for the rest of their lives.

Celena was drafted by the Squire Council to kill Jeff Brinks (Rafael’s Squire at the time) for publishing his story based on the Dark-Hunters.