Glossary

Abadonna: Atlantean term of honor. Means " the heart of the destroyer."

Act of Vengeance: In exchange for their souls, Artemis allows all new Dark-Hunters to have twenty-four hours to exact revenge on those who wronged them in their human life. After the twenty-four-hour period, they belong to her and are trained by Acheron.

Adelfos: Greek for " brother."

Agrotera, Katra (Kat): She is handmaiden to both Apollymi and Artemis and serves as a bodyguard to Cassandra Peters. She has a mysterious affinity for Acheron, and is known as the Abadonna. In Seize the Night, Artemis releases her from her service in order for Apollymi to help Acheron.

Agrotera is also one of the Greek names for Artemis, meaning " strength" or " wild hunter."

Akelos Daimons: A branch of Daimons who have taken an oath to kill only the humans who deserve it—murderers and criminals.

Akra: The Atlantean tern for " lady and master."

Akri: The Atlantean term for " lord and master."

Akribos: Greek endearment meaning " dear" or " precious."

Alastor: A demon who sometimes works with the Were-Hunters to cause mischief. Conjured in Night Play by Vane's mother, Bryani, to bring Bride back in time to Dark Age Britain.

Alexander, Grace: A down-to-earth psychologist, Grace has the fortune (or misfortune) to count psychic Selena Laurens as a best friend. She is the wife of Julian Alexander and heroine of Fantasy Lover. And yes, both she and her husband are immortal.

Alexander, Julian: An ancient Greek general who trained and fought alongside Kyrian of Thrace (and was originally his commanding officer). He is a demigod who was cursed by his half-brother Priapus to become a sex slave; Julian is now the husband of Grace Alexander and a professor of classics at Loyola and Tulane. He is an Oracle, and the hero of Fantasy Lover.

Alexion: Atlantean word meaning " defender."

Ambrosia and Nectar: Food and drink of the gods. Consuming them will make a mortal into an immortal demigod.

Anaimikos Daimon: A Daimon who feeds only from another Daimon in order to drain him.

Apollites: Apollites are a race created by the Greek god Apollo. More beautiful and stronger than mankind, they were blessed with psychic abilities. Apollo loved his people and wanted them to replace mankind. They were sent to Atlantis where they intermarried with the Atlantean natives. Until the day that the Apollite/Atlantean queen, in a rage of jealousy, sent her people to kill Apollo's Greek human mistress and his son. In retaliation, Apollo cursed his people threefold:

1. Because they made it appear that an animal had killed his beloved, they would have to feed off each other's blood in order to live. They were given fangs and the eyes of a predator.

2. They could never again walk in his daylight realm.

3. Chi their twenty-seventh birthday (the age his mistress was murdered), they would all disintegrate slowly and painfully over a twenty-four-hour period until they were dust. (See also Daimons.)

Today many of them blend seamlessly into the human world while others live in segregated communes.

Apollymi: An Atlantean goddess known as " the Great Destroyer." Protects and uses the Spathi Daimons and keeps an elite group of around thirty Illuminati as her guards, in addition to Charonte demons and ceredons. She is Archon's wife and Apostolos's mother. For centuries, she has been trapped in Kalosis where she can see the human world and other gods, but not affect them. However, she can still control the Charontes.

Apostolos: The son of Apollymi. He is the Harbinger who will bring about the end of the world.

Arcadians: See Were-Hunters.

Archon: Atlantean counterpart to Zeus. He is the son of Chaos, who first established order throughout the universe his father had created. Mate of Apollymi.

Also called Kosmetas, which means " orderer." He is the one who ordered the death of Apostolos and who trapped Apollymi in Kalosis.

Aristo/Aristi: A rare breed of Arcadian with the ability to wield magic effortlessly. They are me most powerful of their kind. Aristi are considered gods in me Arcadian realm and are guarded zealously by patria who would gladly die for them.

Artemis: The redheaded, passionate Greek goddess of the hunt, and creator of the Dark-Hunters. She has twin obsessions with Acheron Parthenopaeus and her own comfort.

Astrid: Astrid is the daughter of Themis, and the sister of the Three Fates. She is a Justice Nymph, an immortal impartial judge who is sent down to earth to rule on possible rogue Dark-Hunters. Olympian justice states that once accused, the defendant must prove himself worthy of mercy. Since the gods only accuse with good cause, Astrid has only been called in to judge guilty Dark-Hunters, and she is beginning to give up hope that there are any innocents. She is the heroine of Dance with the Devil and married to Zarek of Moesia.

Atlantis: An ancient island nation with an advanced culture and its own pantheon of gods. It sank into me Aegean Sea eleven thousand years ago.

Atropos: Oldest of me Three Fates, responsible for cutting the threads of lives. Daughter of Themis and sister to Astrid. Also known as Atty.

Blood Rite Squires: The Squires called out to hunt rogue Dark-Hunters or to execute humans/Squires who betray their world. They are all marked with a spiderweb tattoo on their hands.

Blue Blood Squires: Squires who come from a family with many generations of Squires.

Bolt-holes: Portals between Kalosis and the human world, often used by Spathi Daimons to escape Dark-Hunters. Also known as laminas.

Brady, William Jessup: See Sundown.

Callabrax: Spartan or actually Dorean (the ancient precursers of the Spartans) Dark-Hunter. One of the first three Dark-Hunters created by Artemis, along with Kyros and Ias.

Callyx: An Apollite who seeks vengeance against Zarek for his wife's death in Dance with the Devil. The most recent incarnation of Thanatos.

Camulus: A Gaulish god of war, forced into retirement. Wants to reclaim his godhood.

Carvaletti, Otto: Half Italian mafia, half Blue Blood Squire, with a Ph.D. in film from Princeton. He has a black spiderweb tattoo over the back of his knuckles. Now assigned to Valerius in New Orleans, where he often pretends to be a stupid, loudly dressed lout to annoy his boss.

Ceredon: A creature with the head of a dog, the body of a dragon, and the tail of a scorpion. Several of them protect Apollymi.

Charonte demon: An ancient type of demon that the Atlantean gods managed to tame. Fearsome, powerful, all but unstoppable, they can bond to gods, Hunters, or humans as companions. Once bonded, they can rest in the form of a tattoo on their bonded's body. Charontes are all appetite—they love to shop, kill, and eat everything. They are very easy to annoy and very dangerous when angry. Simi is Acheron's bonded Charonte, and like a daughter to him.

Clotho: One of the Three Fates who is in charge of spinning the threads of lives. Daughter of Themis and sister of Atropos, Lachesis, and Astrid. Also known as Cloie.

Corbin: Born an ancient Greek queen, Corbin was married and widowed young. She fought to keep her husband's throne as her own, and was a beloved queen. Her reign was uncontested until her brother-in-law made a pact with a barbarian tribe to sack the city and burn it to the ground. She died trying to save her servants and their children,

Cronus: Greek god of time.

Cult of Pollux: Apollites who take an oath to die exactly as Apollo cursed them to die—to neither commit suicide nor turn Daimon.

Daimons: Daimons are Apollites who refuse to die at age twenty-seven. They have to steal human souls to artificially elongate their life span. However, once a human soul is taken it begins to die, leaving Daimons always looking for their next victims. So long as they have a living human soul within them, they can continue to live indefinitely. Any Apollite who takes a human soul into his or her body is classified a Daimon.

D'Alerian: Oneroi Dream-Hunter, son of Morpheus, he is a healer and helper to the Dark-Hunters. D'Alerian is a straight man who never met a rule he didn't love. He keeps a constant vigil over the Dark-Hunters and is quick to step in with aid whenever one of them needs it. He and Acheron are close friends.

Danger: A Dark-Huntress who died during the French Revolution. She is the heroine in Sins of the Night.

Dark-Hunters: Dark-Hunters are immortal warriors created from those who died wrongfully. Whenever such a person dies, the soul screams out for vengeance. The strongest and angriest of the screams echo through the halls of Olympus. Whenever one reaches Artemis, she considers offering a deal to the one who screamed:

Give her your soul, agree to fight the Daimons who are trying to kill and enslave mankind, and she will make you immortal.

Once the bargain is struck, the new Dark-Hunter is branded with Artemis's double bow-and-arrow logo and allowed an Act of Vengeance. He or she trains with Acheron Parthenopaeus, the enigmatic leader of the Dark-Hunters, and is assigned a location on earth. The Dark-Hunter then spends the rest of eternity fighting Daimons and other evil. Like the Daimons they kill, they have fangs, light-sensitive eyes, and a prohibition against going out in the daylight. The only things that can kill a Dark-Hunter are sunlight, beheading, or total dismemberment. Those who have read Dance with the Devil also know that piercing the bow-and-arrow mark can kill them as well. It's something Acheron keeps from them since he doesn't want them to panic and concentrate on it while they're fighting. To do so would give that knowledge to the Daimons who would have a very easy way to kill them.

Artemis pays them well for their services, and provides them with human helpers. (See Squires.)

The only way for a Dark-Hunter to become free of Artemis is to find the one true soul who loves him or her enough to pass Artemis's test. That person must take the medallion that contains the Dark-Hunter's soul and hold it to the bow-and-arrow mark on the Dark-Hunter's body until the soul returns. The medallion is lava-hot and will scar the hand. If the person can't maintain his or her grip and the medallion is dropped, the soul is released into nothing. This traps the Dark-Hunter into a painful existence as a Shade. If, on the other hand, the lover succeeds, the Dark-Hunter is once again a mortal with a soul, restarting life at the age they were when they first died.

Dark-Hunter Code: Honor Artemis. Drink no blood. Harm no human or Apollite. Never touch your Squire. Speak with no family, no friends who knew you before you died. Let no Daimon escape alive. Never speak of what you are. You walk alone. Keep your bow mark hidden.

Dark-Hunter.com: An online community of Dark-Hunters and Squires disguised as a fiction and role-play Web site.

Dayslayer: Apollite myth of a Daimon/Apollite who can walk in daylight. (See Thanatos.)

Desiderius: Dangerous demigod Spathi Daimon with a grudge against the Devereaux family. Appears in Seize the Night and Night Pleasures. Can control minds and throw bolts of lighthing.

Devereaux: A close-knit family of sisters with a lot of magical talent. Daughters include Esmerelda (Essie); Yasmina (Mina); Petra; Ekaterina (Trina); Karma; Tiyana (Tia)—a voodoo princess; Selena (Lane)—a psychic; Tabitha (Tabby)—a human Vampire-Hunter; and Amanda—an accountant. (See also Devereaux, Tabitha; Hunter, Amanda; and Laurens, Bill and Selena.)

Devereaux, Tabitha: A member of the Devereaux family who hunts Daimons. Owns Pandora's Box, an adult shop on Bourbon Street. Has the ability to sense others' emotions, a quick temper, and an unmatched vibrancy. Twin sister to Amanda Hunter and wife of Valerius Magnus.

Dionysus: Greek god of wine and excess—now amuses himself as a corporate raider. Usually appears as a tall man with short brown hair and a neat goatee. Appears in Night Embrace. Not a very good driver…

Divine, Maria: Drag queen friend of Tabitha Devereaux. Loves to steal men's coats. Was once escorted in a drag pageant by a very uptight Dark-Hunter.

Dorean Squires: Dorean Squires don't serve a particular Dark-Hunter, but rather serve the whole group. These Squires set up businesses that fulfill the more bizarre needs of the Dark-Hunters such as making specialized weapons or cars. They are also bankers and lawyers who know all about the Dark-Hunter world and who help keep up the appearance of normality.

Doulos: A human servant of Apollites and Daimons.

Dream-Hunters: Dream-Hunters are the children of the Greek gods of sleep. Some of them are born of human mothers, but most are born of the Greek goddess Mist.

Dream-Hunters are also known as Oneroi. Long ago, one of the Oneroi played a trick on the Greek god Zeus. In anger, the god cursed all of their kind to have no emotion whatsoever. Now the only time they can feel anything is when they are in a human's dreams.

Because this is seductive, Oneroi may only visit dreams; they may never participate and never revisit the same human.

There are also a few Dream-Hunters who prefer to stay out of dreams, except to police their own brethren. All Dream-Hunters take a prefix to their name so that everyone will know their role:

M' are the enforcers, they work like a police force and are the leaders.

V' are the ones who help humans who are having trouble sleeping or who have nightmares.

D' are the ones who help the gods and immortals. One of these is almost always sent in to aid newly created Dark-Hunters. Since the Dark-Hunters usually come from horrible pasts, they tend to be plagued with nightmares. Their designated Dream-Hunter will usually watch over them throughout their entire DH existence.

The Dream-Hunter world is complex, but not hard to understand. The main thing to remember is that they are born gods or half-gods. They can be either male or female, and for the most part, they leave the human realm alone and are found only in your wildest dreams as lovers or demons.

Sometimes a Dream-Hunter will become enamored of a dreamer. Sometimes they even instigate the dreams and alter them to enhance their borrowed emotions. When this happens, they are termed Skoti. Oneroi are charged with seeking them out to punish them for their actions.

However, many of the Skoti go unchecked and uncaught. They inhabit our dreams as incubi and succubi.

Eda: Archon's sister, Atlantean Earth goddess.

Elekti: Atlantean word meaning " chosen."

Elysia: A secret underground Apollite city, where Apollites live hidden from humans and Daimons alike. One of the oldest Apollite cities in North America. Home to Phoebe Peters. Featured in Kiss of the Night.

Eriksson, Christopher (Chris) Lars: Wulf Tryggvason's Squire and a direct descendant of Wulf's brother. Since Chris is the sole surviving member of Wulf's family, he is the only human who can remember Wulf and who he is.

Eros and Psyche: Married Greek gods of sexual desire and the soul. Often seen playing pool and poker at Sanctuary.

Eycharistisi: Atlantean word for " pleasure." Also a potent Atlantean aphrodisiac that floods the body with endorphins and destroys all inhibitions.

Gallagher, Jamie: Gangster Dark-Hunter from the American Prohibition era. Killed when he fell in love and tried to go straight. Featured in " A Dark-Hunter Christmas."

Gataki: Term of endearment, meaning " kitten."

Gautier, Cherise: Nick Gautier's mother, who had him when she was only fifteen. A beautiful, kindhearted woman in her early forties who works at Sanctuary.

Gautier, Nicholas (Nick) Ambrosias: Kyrian's Squire. A young man with a rough past, a loving mother, and an irreverent attitude. Nick is fiercely loyal and as close to being a friend of Acheron's as any mortal can be.

Gilbert: Valerius Magnus's trusted servant and butler, who would like to be a Squire.

Godeau, Marguerite D'Aubert The daughter of a Louisiana senator and a Cajun beauty queen, Maggie wants to escape her straight-laced social world. As a student at Tulane University, she joined a study group with Nick Gautier. Heroine of Unleash the Night.

Hold the human hair: A phrase used at Sanctuary to indicate that a Were-Hunter wants an especially strong drink, one that would inebriate a human with one shot. Weres have a higher metabolism and can handle a lot more alcohol.

Hunter, Amanda: One of the Devereaux sisters, Amanda always wanted to be more normal than the empaths, voodoo priestesses, and psychics she was raised with. Tabitha Devereaux is her twin sister. Amanda became an accountant, but the supernatural found her anyway. Heroine of Night Pleasures, she is a human sorceress, married to Kyrian Hunter, and the mother of Marissa Hunter.

Hunter, Kyrian: Ancient Greek Dark-Hunter. Born prince and heir to Thrace, Kyrian was disinherited when he married an ex-prostitute against his father's wishes. As a legendary Macedonian general, he cut a trail of slaughter through the Mediterranean during the Fourth Macedonian War. Chroniclers wrote that he would break the Roman stranglehold on the known world and claim Rome for his own. He would have succeeded had he not been betrayed by his wife and delivered into the hands of his enemies. He was tortured for weeks and then executed by Valerius's grandfather. Hero of Night Pleasures. He is the husband of Amanda Hunter and father of Marissa Hunter.

Hunter, Marissa: Amanda and Kyrian Hunter's daughter, Marissa is a baby with astounding powers and a favorite with Acheron and Simi.

Hypnos: Greek God who holds dominion over all the gods of sleep.

I am the Light of the Lyre: Phrase used by Daimons and Apollites to seek shelter from another Daimon or Apollite. Refers to their kinship to Apollo, god of the sun. Ias of Groesia: An ancient Greek Dark-Hunter. One of the first three created, along with Callabrax and Kyros. Cruelly betrayed by his wife. Icelus: Greek god who creates human shapes in dreams, and father of some Dream-Hunters. His children tend to be the more erotic Dream-Hunters.

They live for sex and drift from dream to dream seeking new partners. Idios: A rare serum made by the Oneroi that allows the user to become one with the dreamer for a short time. Used in dreams to guide and direct, allowing one sleeper to experience another's life so he can better understand it.

Illuminati: The Spathi Daimon bodyguards of Apollymi, led by Stryker and comprising between thirty to forty members. They include the oldest and most powerful of the Spathi.

Inferno: Also known as Dante's Inferno. The nightclub run by Dante Pontis, located in Minnesota.

Inkblot: A derogatory term for Daimons stemming from the strange black mark that all Daimons develop on their chests when they cross over from being Apollites to human slayers. This is what a dagger or sharp object must pierce to kill a Daimon.

Kallinos, Jasyn: A Katagaria Were-Hunter, Jaysn changes into a hawk. He is one of Sanctuary's deadlier inhabitants.

Kaltttechnis: A Greek term meaning " dream master."

Kalosis: Atlantean word for " hell." The place where Apollymi is imprisoned so that she can see the human world but not participate in it. It is also where the Spathi Daimons live in perpetual darkness. No Dark-Hunter can enter and few Were-Hunters are allowed to live after visiting this realm, but it is accessible to Daimons through bolt-holes or laminas.

Katagaria: See Were-Hunters.

Katoteros: The Atlantean term for " heaven" and where Acheron makes his home. All Apollites and Daimons dream of being able to reclaim their right to rest here.

Kattalakis: A family name that indicates direct descent from one of King Lycaon's sons. The name belongs to the Drakos and Lykos branches on both the Arcadian and Katagaria side. Family members include Vane, Fang, Fury, Sebastian, Damos, Makis, Illarion, Bracis, Acmenis, Antiphone, Percy, Markos, Dare, Bryani, and Star, among many others.

Kattalakis, Bryani: An Arcadian Lykos Were-Huntress; mother to Vane, Fang, Anya, Fury, Dare, and Star. She has three vicious-looking scars on her face and neck and is a Sentinel. Bryani dresses like something out of a Xena episode. She hates Vane and his Katagaria father who tried to force her to accept him as mate. Lives in Dark Age Britain.

Kattalakis, Fang: A Katagari Were-Hunter who changes into a brown timber wolf. Fang loves to crack bad jokes and is currently recuperating from wounds under the care of Aimee Peltier at Sanctuary. Brother of Vane and Fury.

Kattalakis, Fury: Vane's littermate. Like Vane, he is a large white timber wolf in animal form, with a distinguishing brown spot. Fury was born in human form and was Arcadian until puberty when his Katagari half took over.

Kattalakis, Markus: Katagari Were-Hunter. Changes into a brown timber wolf. Tried to force Bryani to accept him as mate and failed. Father of Vane, Fang, and Fury, among others.

Kattalakis, Sebastian: Arcadian Drakos Were-Hunter, grandson of King Lycaon. Was excommunicated from his patria after the death of his sister. Now he walks as a solitary Sentinel, and has done so for four hundred years. Hero of " Dragonswan (Tapestry)."

Kattalakis, Vane: Arcadian Were-Hunter. He is a large, solid white timber wolf in animal form. Vane was born Katagaria but changed to Arcadian when puberty gave him his magic and his human form. He was protected from his pack by his brother Fang and his sister Anya. Vane is an Aristo and a Sentinel. Brother of Anya, Fang, and Fury. Hero of Night Play.

Kell: A former Roman gladiator from Dacia, now a Dark-Hunter stationed in Dallas. Makes weapons for the Dark-Hunters.

Kori: Handmaiden to Artemis, the most noted of which is Kat Agrotera.

Kouti, Pandora: Heroine of " Winter Born (Stroke of Midnight), " Arcadian were-pantheress. Pandora is of a patria whose women are subject to a bargain with a Katagaria panther patria, but she is not willing to honor it—she will fight back. Pandora is mated to Katagaria panther Dante Pontis.

Kyklonas: A ceredon guarding Apollymi's temple in Kalosis. Its name means " tornado."

Kyrios: A respectful Atlantean term for " lord."

Kyros of Seklos: An ancient Greek Dark-Hunter. One of the first three created, along with Callabrax and Ias. Stationed in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Lachesis: The middle of the Three Fates, responsible for weaving the pattern of fate. Sister to Astrid and daughter of Themis. Also known as Lacy.

Laminas: Atlantean term for " haven." It can refer to a portal between Kalosis and the human world, often used by Spathi Daimons, that is also known as a bolt-hole. This term can also applied to any Were-Hunter sanctuary. These are established safe houses where the Were-Hunters can go without fear of being hunted by their own kind. Apollites and Daimons in those havens are safe from Dark-Hunters.

Laurens, Bill and Selena: Bill is a politically connected lawyer, who sometimes does work for the Dark-Hunters, but his real ties are to the Were-Hunters. His wife, Selena, is a psychic who tells fortunes in Jackson Square in New Orleans. Selena is a Devereaux sister, and the best friend of Grace Alexander. In fact, Selena is the one who gave Grace the enchanted book at the beginning of Fantasy Lover. She is impulsive and emotional—the perfect foil for Bill.

Limani: A Were-Hunter sanctuary where Arcadians and Katagaria alike can go without fear of being hunted. No violence is permitted in a limani. Limani status is difficult to achieve.

Liza: A Dorean Squire who owns a doll shop on Royal Street in New Orleans. She makes custom dolls and special weapons for the Dark-Hunters.

Loki: The Norse trickster god.

Lycaon: The king who used his magic to make the Were-Hunter races.

MacRae, Channon: A history professor at the University of Virginia specializing in pre-Norman Britain. Heroine of " Dragonswan Tapestry. "

M'Adoc: An Oneroi Dream-Hunter, he is the son of Phantasos. He is an Enforcer who watches over both the Oneroi and the Skoti. He is quick to issue orders, but seldom takes them. M'Adoc is the Oneroi of last resort. When he comes after you, you know you're going to pay. He often takes the jobs no one else wants to do.

Magnus, Valerius: A Dark-Hunter from ancient Rome, Valerius was once the son of a Roman senator. As a Roman general, he led conquests throughout Greece, Gaul, and Britannia. He doesn't play well with most Dark-Hunters, since so many come from Greece or other countries he conquered. Val is truly ostracized from the rest of his brethren. He is very formal and currently posted in New Orleans. He is the half-brother of Zarek and hero of Seize the Night.

Marvin the Monkey; Sanctuary's mascot, Marvin is the only real animal in Sanctuary. Good friends with Wren Tigarian.

McDaniels, Erin: Corporate drone who has repressed her more creative impulses and thus is a prime target for Skoti. Heroine of " Phantom Lover (Midnight Pleasures). "

McTierney: A human family with connections to the Were-Hunter world. Members include mother Joyce, father Paul, and children Bride, Dierdre, and Patrick. Paul is a veterinarian famous around the New Orleans area for his ads promoting neutering. The family have several pets: Titus, a black rottweiler; the Professor and Marianne, two cats; Bart, a gator; and a rotating cast of recuperating animals.

McTierney, Bride: A human who owns the Lilac and Lace Boutique on Iberville in the French Quarter.

She lives in an apartment behind her shop and is the heroine of Night Play.

Metriazo collar: A thin silver collar that sends tiny ionic pulses into the body of a Were-Hunter to prevent him or her from using their magic powers.

M'gios: The Atlantean word for " my son."

M'Ordant: Oneroi Dream-Hunter, son of Phantasos, he is an Enforcer who watches over both the Oneroi and the Skoti. He is hard-nosed and down-to-business. Still, he has a degree of compassion that is forbidden to his kind. It doesn't stop him from doing whatever is necessary to do his job. He makes his appearance in " Phantom Lover (Midnight Pleasures). "

Morginne: A Dark-Huntress who tricked Wulf Tryggvason into trading souls and cursed him so that no human except one of his bloodline can remember him.

Morpheus: Greek god of dreams; father of many Oneroi.

Morrigan: The Celtic Raven goddess. Talon swore loyalty to her during his human lifetime, but she seemed to have abandoned him long before his death. She is the grandmother of Sunshine Runningwolf.

Mount Olympus: Home of the Greek gods.

Nynia: Talon's first love, during his human lifetime. She was an ancient Celt, and a fisherman's daughter whom Talon insisted upon marrying despite the clan's disapproval. She died giving birth to his stillborn child.

Nyx: Greek goddess of night.

Omegrion: The ruling council of the Were-Hunters. Similar to a senate, one representative from each branch of the Arcadian and Katagaria is sent to represent them all. They make laws that govern all the Were-Hunters and are responsible for setting up sanctuaries. A=Arcadian representative, K=Katagaria representative.

Its members are: Litarian (lions) Patrice Leonides (A), Paris Sebastienne (K); Drakos (dragons) Damos Kattalakis (A), Darion Kattalakis (K); Gerakian (hawks, falcons, and eagles) Arion Petrakis (A), Draven Hawke (K); Tigarian (tigers) Adrian Gavril (A), Lysander Stephanos (K); Lykos (wolves) Vane Kattalakis (A), Fury Kattalakis (K); Ursulan (bears) Leo Apollonian (A), Nicolette Peltier (K); Panthiras (panthers) Alexander James (A), Dante Pontis (K); Tsakalis (jackals) Constantine (A), Vincenzo Moretti (K); Niphetos Pardalia (snow leopards) Anelise Romano (A), Wren Tigarian (K); Pardalia (leopards) Dorian Kontis (A), Stefan Kouris (K); Balios (jaguars) extinct (A), Myles Stephanopoulos (K); Helikias (cheetahs) Jace Wilder (A), Michael Giovanni (K).

Oneroi: Dream-Hunters responsible for watching over human dreams and protecting them from Skoti. Often assigned to newly created Dark-Hunters to heal them mentally.

Oracle: Anyone who communes with the gods.

Orasia: The Atlantean goddess of sleep.

Ouisa: Distinct from the body and the soul, the Ouisa is the personality—the part of a person that is left when a Dark-Hunter becomes a Shade.

Parthenopaeus, Acheron (Ash): Ancient immortal Atlantean, leader of the Dark-Hunters. Born in 9548 B.C. on the Greek isle of Didymos to King Acarion and Queen Aara. His promises and curses are binding and can have unintended consequences. Tall and naturally blond, he dyes his hair different colors and dresses like a Goth most of the time. He looks about twenty-one and makes his home in Katoteros.

No one knows anything about him and he likes it that way. In reality, he is a god-killer and an Atlantean god with powers that no one knows the full extent of. He refuses to answer, any personal questions and he must keep his word no matter what. The correct Atlantean/Greek pronunciation of his name is Ack-uh-rahn Pahr-thin-oh-pay-us. These days, only the older Dark-Hunters and Artemis pronounce it that way. The rest either call him Ash or Ash-uh-rahn. The exceptions to this are his demon, Simi, who calls him akri, and Talon, who calls him T-Rex.

Patria: A family grouping of Were-Hunters of the same race and animal genus.

Peltier: The family of bear Katagaria Were-Hunters who run the Sanctuary bar in New Orleans. Family members include Nicolette, Aubert, Dev, Kyle, Aimee, Remi, Quinn, Zar, Serre, Etienne, Alain, Cody, Griffe, and Cherif. Mama (Nicolette) and Papa (Aubert) Bear decided to found Sanctuary as a safe zone after their cubs Bastien and Gilbert were brutally killed by Arcadian Sentinels.

Peltier House: Adjacent to the bar, Peltier House is the living quarters for Sanctuary's hidden animal population. There they can assume their animal forms without fear of discovery and their young cubs are protected. It has more alarms than Fort Knox and is always guarded by at least two Peltier family members.

Peters, Cassandra Elaine: Half human and half Apollite, she is one of the last Apollites in the direct bloodline of Apollo. Daughter of Jefferson and sister to Phoebe and Nia. The Peters family is subject to a prophecy that if they all die, the Apollites will be free of their curse, so they are hunted by Spathi Daimons who want their freedom. The truth, however, is that if their bloodline dies out, so does the earth and all who live here. Heroine of Kiss of the Night.

Peters, Jefferson T.: Cassandra and Phoebe Peters's human father. Wealthy owner and founder of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical research and development companies.

Peters, Nia: Cassandra's sister and Jefferson's half-Apollite daughter. One of the last direct descendants of Apollo. Died with her mother when Spathi Daimons blew up their car.

Peters, Phoebe: Cassandra's sister and Jefferson's half-Apollite daughter. One of the last direct descendants of Apollo. She was rescued from the Spathi attack that killed her mother and sister Nia. After their deaths, Urian turned her Daimon. Lives in Elysia as Urian's wife.

Phantasos: Greek god who creates nonsentient dream objects, father of some Dream-Hunters. His children tend to be more cerebral and they are most often the Oneroi who police the Dream-Hunters.

Phaser: An Arcadian Sentinel weapon developed for use against the Katagaria. Stronger than a Taser, it sends a vicious jolt of electricity through the victims, causing their magic to go berserk. They are unable to hold either of their forms and a strong enough jolt will cause them to literally fall out of their bodies and become noncorporeal beings such as ghosts.

Phobetor: God of animal shapes, father of some of the Dream-Hunters. Phobetor's children tend to make nightmares. They often take the shapes of demons, dragons, and other terrifying images.

Pontis: A patria of Katagaria Were-Panthers. Includes Dante, Romeo, Michelangelo (Mike), Leonardo (Leo), Gabriel, Angel, Donatello, Bonita, Sal, and Tyla, among others.

Pontis, Dante: A Katagari Panther who owns Dante's Inferno in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Though he technically owns one of the known Were-Hunter sanctuaries, he's not nearly as tolerant as other sanctuary owners. He is the head of his family and tends to take no crap from anyone. He first appears in Kiss of the Night, is the hero of " Winter Born (Stroke of Midnight), " and is mated to the Arcadian panther Pandora Kouti.

Priapus: Greek and Roman sex god, half brother of Julian Alexander.

Regis: Leader of a Were-Hunter pack who is essentially their king and representative.

Rogue Dark-Hunter: One who has breached the Dark-Hunter Code and must die. Hunted by Blood Rite Squires or Thanatos.

Runningwolf, Sunshine: Daughter of Starla and Daniel. A free spirit and an artist of tremendous talent who is easily distracted from the practical. Sells her art in Jackson Square and likes the color pink. Heroine of Night Embrace and now married to Talon Runningwolf.

R unning wolf, Talon: An ancient Celtic Dark-Hunter known as Speirr (which meant " Talon" in his language) in his human life. He was the son of a Druid high priest and a Celtic queen, and was high chieftain of his clan. After the deaths of his aunt, uncle, wife, and son over a short period of time, he was told that his ancient gods had cursed him. To appease the gods, he allowed himself to be sacrificed. Once his clan had Talon secured to the altar, they killed his sister before his eyes and then turned on him. As a Dark-Hunter, Talon has the power of telekinesis. He walks between this realm and the next with the help of Spirit Guides, and loses power when he feels negative emotions. The hero of Night Embrace and married to Sunshine Runningwolf.

Runningwolf's: A club on Canal Street in New Orleans run by Starla and Daniel Runningwolf.

Ryssa: A Greek princess who was one of Apollo's favorite mistresses. She bore him a son, which led the Apollite queen to such jealousy that she sent a team of Apollites to kill them. They were ordered to make it look like an animal had done it. That act caused Apollo to curse all the Apollites.

Rytis: An invisible stream of waves that move through everything. The waves echo, flow, and occasionally buckle. The Rytis is what Were- and Dream-Hunters use to move through space and time.

Saga: The Norse goddess of poetry.

Sanctuary: The premier New Orleans biker bar, owned by the Peltiers, a clan of Katagaria bears. It is a limani: a safe zone for all types of Hunters where natural rivalries are put aside and no fighting or killing is allowed.

Santana, Wayne: Convicted and imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter while still young, Wayne lucked out when the Runningwolf family decided to hire him despite his record. They lucked out, too, in gaining a faithful friend and a good lookout for absentminded Sunshine.

Sasha: Astrid's Katagari Were-Hunter companion in Dance with the Devil. He's a large white timber wolf in animal form and a lot of attitude in any form.

Savitar: Even more mysterious than Acheron, he is rumored to have been the one to train Ash in his powers. He oversees the Omegrion even though none of the Were-Hunters are sure how this came about. He has a strong fascination for the beach and surfing, and is usually found dressed as a surfer or beach bum. No one, not even Acheron, knows anything at all about him. He is extremely powerful and deadly. Most of his body is covered with tattoos.

Sentinels: Out of the Arcadian patrias are born the Sentinels—the Guardians of man- and were-kind. Only a select few are born to each patria. They are the strongest Were-Hunters and they pursue and execute Slayers. A colorful geometric design covers one side of an Arcadian Sentinel's face once they reach maturity, but the Sentinel can hide the design if he or she chooses.

Sfora: A scrying globe that people in Katoteros can use to watch events in other realms, including the human realm. Sometimes those being viewed can sense that someone is watching.

Shade: What a Dark-Hunter becomes when he is killed and does not immediately get invested with a soul. Shadedom is an existence of unrelenting hunger and thirst, but its worst aspect is that the Shade is invisible to all mortals and denied contact with everyone—so it quickly goes insane screaming for attention in its solitary confinement. There are rumors of an out clause for Shades.

Simi: Acheron's Charonte demon, who can manifest as a human or a demon, and who rests as an ever-changing tattoo on Ash's body. Though she is thousands of years old, she is equivalent to a human eighteen-year-old. She is like a daughter to Acheron. Loves barbecue, movies, and QVC. Hates to be told no.

Also, the Charonte term for " baby."

Skoti: Usually the children of Phobetor, but can be any Dream-Hunter who goes bad. Nightmare demons who infiltrate the dreams of humans to suck emotions and creativity from them, they are also incubi and succubi who derive sexual pleasure from their dream-hosts.

Slayer: Katagaria Were-Hunters driven to madness at puberty when they come into their powers, but fail to find a way to control them. They become ruthless slayers who kill anything or anyone who cross them. Similar to rabies, it is an infection for which there is no cure. Hunted by Sentinels.

Smith, Janice: An African-American Dark-Huntress with a Carribbean accent. Currently posted in New Orleans.

Spathi: Warrior Daimons. Apollymi's guards and pets, who can be reincarnated after they die if someone cares enough; their essence remains intact. See also Illuminati.

Squires: To help the Dark-Hunters appear " normal, " Acheron set up a Squire's Council of humans who serve them. A Squire works with a Dark-Hunter, usually living in the same house, and—to the outside world—appearing to be the owner. It is a Squire's job to attend to all the day-to-day monotony of running the household so the Dark-Hunter can focus on killing Daimons. Squires are often at risk since the Daimons know a Squire is an emotional attachment for the Dark-Hunter.

If a Dark-Hunter is in danger, it is the Squire's responsibility to pull him or her out, although the Squire doesn't have immortality or psychic abilities. Like the Dark-Hunters they serve, they are extremely well paid for their services. (See also Dorian Squires, Blue Blood Squires.)

Strati: Term used for Katagaria soldiers who seek out Arcadians to fight. They are the Katagaria equivalent to Sentinels except they have no facial markings.

Strykerius (Stryker): The leader and trainer of Apollymi's Spathi Daimons and leader of the elite Illuminati force. He is the son of Apollo and turned on his father after Apollo cursed him and his race. He is the adopted son of Apollymi and father to Urian. Holds a grudge against Acheron and plots the deaths of all whom Ash holds dear.

Styxx: Acheron's human brother, and an identical twin. Styxx was born in 9548 B.C. on the Greek isle of Didymos to King Acarion and Queen Aara. His and Acheron's life forces are connected, so he can't die until Acheron does. Styxx has spent centuries hating Ash.

Summoning, the: A Daimon homing beacon the Dayslayer can use to summon Daimons and Apollites to conference or for war.

Sundown: Sundown is a Dark-Hunter from the nineteenth-century American West. His real name is William Jessup " Jess" Brady. Jess was orphaned at age five and grew up under the harsh hand of a preacher man who owned the local orphanage. At eleven, he ran away and headed out West where he quickly learned life wasn't fair and it wasn't easy for a boy with no family. At sixteen, he was making his living as a gunslinger, train robber, and cardsharp. He lived his life hard and was ruthlessly shot in the back on his way to his wedding by his best man—the only man he'd ever trusted—who wanted to collect the bounty on his head. He is currently stationed in Reno, Nevada.

Swain: Suffix for a male Were-Hunter, e.g., dragon-swain, pantherswain, bearswain, etc.

Swan: Suffix for a female Were-Hunter, e.g., dragon-swan, pantherswan, bearswan, etc.

" Sweet Home Alabama": The Lynyrd Skynyrd song played to warn everyone in Sanctuary when Acheron comes into the bar.

Sword of Cronos: Julian Alexander's sword. Only those with the blood of Cronus in their veins may touch it without being burned.

Talpinas: At one time, a type of Squire whose sole purpose was to take care of Dark-Hunters' carnal needs. Long since banned by Artemis.

Tartarus: Greek version of hell. The realm where humans are punished for the sins of their lifetimes.

Tessera: A group of four Were-Hunters sent out to hunt others of their kind.

Thanatos: The Greek word for " death." Also, an Apollite to whom Artemis gives special powers and whom he sends to kill rogue Dark-Hunters. Known as the Dayslayer in Apollite mythology. There has been more than one Thanatos over the centuries. See also Callyx.

Themis: Redheaded Greek goddess of justice, mother of Astrid and the Fates.

Theodorakopolus, Colt: A Were-Hunter Acadian Sentinel, Colt was orphaned at birth and raised at Sanctuary. Colt hides his Sentinel birthmark.

Theti Squires: The Squire police force that makes sure all Squires obey the laws. Unlike the Blood Rite Squires, they are not allowed to kill.

Thirio: The need Were-Hunters feel when mated to combine their life forces so if one dies, they both die. Can be resisted.

Thrylos: Greek word for " legend."

Tigarian, Wren: A Katagari Were-Hunter who can turn into a white tiger, a snow leopard, or a combination of the two. He has lived at Sanctuary since his parents died mysteriously violent deaths. He busses tables there and is extremely dangerous and withdrawn. He has no prejudice—he hates everyone and everything equally. His only friend is Nick, and he will only interact peacefully with Aimee and Marvin. Hero of Unleash the Night.

Tree of life: Supernatural tree that blooms only in the garden of the Atlantean Destroyer. Its leaves alone can break the ypnsi.

Trelosa: A disease similar to rabies that can strike Were-Hunters at the time of puberty. It causes a madness that leads to the infected Arcadian or Katagarian becoming an indiscriminate killer. There is no cure.

T-Rex: Talon's favorite irreverent nickname for Acheron.

Tryggvason, Erik: Son of Cassandra and Wulf and a direct descendant of Apollo. Guarded carefully and loved by too many protective males: Wulf, Chris, and Urian.

Tryggvason, Wulf: A Dark-Hunter Viking warrior whose recklessness brought him into contact with Morginne, a powerful Dark-Huntress. She tricked him into trading souls with her. He is the only Dark-Hunter who was never granted an Act of Vengeance.

And since he was wrongfully brought over by another Dark-Hunter, his powers are very different from those of the rest of his brethren. The most curious power of all is that of amnesia. No human or animal is capable of remembering him five minutes after they leave his presence. The only exceptions to that are those who bear his blood. Hero of Kiss of the Night, husband of Cassandra Peters, and father of Erik Tryggvason. His soul is held by Loki.

Urian: A reincarnated Spathi Daimon, formerly Stryker's eldest and last surviving son, a former member of the Illuminati, and husband to Phoebe Peters. Stryker killed Phoebe and cut Urian's throat for helping Cassandra Peters, and since then, Urian has been an occasional and prickly ally of Acheron and the Dark-Hunters.

V'aiden: A Dream-Hunter who longs to feel. Hero of " Phantom Lover (Midnight Pleasures). "

Villkatt: An old Norse endearment meaning " wild cat."

Were-Hunters: An ancient Greek king (Lycaon) unknowingly married an Apollite. She hid what she was from him until her twenty-seventh birthday, when she perished painfully. When the king realized what she was, he also realized that their two sons would follow in their mother's footsteps and die horribly at age twenty-seven.

To prevent this, the king rounded up Apollites and began experimenting on them. He magically spliced their life forces with those of various animals (lions, dragons, birds of prey, tigers, wolves, bears, panthers, jackals, leopards, jaguars, and cheetahs) to create hybrid beings.

The splicing created two classes of beings: Arcadians, those who held human hearts and could shapeshift into animals, and Katagaria, those who had animal hearts and could become human.

Once the king was done experimenting, he chose the two most powerful creatures (wolves and dragons) and merged them with his own children. When the Greek Fates saw this, they were angered that he would dare to try to thwart them. They demanded he kill his sons and all the others he had created.

He refused.

As punishment, the Fates decreed that the two species would always war against each other. The Arcadians and the Katagaria would never know peace. To this day and beyond, they hunt each other and wage their war.

Unlike their Apollite cousins, they live for hundreds of years. They share the same psychic abilities as the Apollites, plus they have a few extra abilities such as time travel and the ability to shapeshift.

Were-Hunter patrias are: Litarian (lions); Drakos (dragons); Gerakian (hawks, falcons, and eagles); Tigarian (tigers); Lykos (wolves); Ursulan (bears); Panthiras (panthers); Tsakalis (jackals); Niphetos Pardalia (snow leopards); Pardalia (leopards); Balios (jaguars); Helikias (cheetahs).

Were-Hunter Mate: Each Were-Hunter has a mate who is chosen, usually against their wills, by the Fates. Mates are indicated by a special matching tattoo that appears on the hand of both partners a few hours after they have sex. They then have three weeks to accept or reject the pairing. There is no way to force one partner to accept the other. If the mating is mutually accepted, they can have children together. If not, both will be sterile for the rest of their lives. After finding his mate, a male Were-Hunter will never be able to have sex with anyone else again. A female Were-Hunter will be able to have sex, but won't be able to have children with anyone else. (See also Thirio.)

Whitethunder, Carson: An Arcadian Were-Hunter who changes into a hawk, Carson is the resident vet and medical doctor at Sanctuary. He goes to Dr. Paul McTierney for advice on particularly tricky animal cases.

Wink: A minor Greek god of sleep, son of Nyx and Erebus. His mist can be used by a Dream-Hunter to make a human drowsy or to exert control over one, V'aiden's great-uncle.

Ydor: Atlantean ocean god.

Ypnsi: Sacred sleep that Orasia had once dispensed from the sacred halls of Katoteros, back in the days when the ancient Atlantean gods ruled the earth.

Zarek of Moesia: A Dark-Hunter who was born the unwanted son of a Greek slave and a Roman senator. Moments after his birth, his mother gave him to a servant with orders to kill the infant. The servant took mercy on the child and took him to his father, who had no more use for the baby than his mother. Thus Zarek became the whipping boy of a noble Roman family. He trusts no one. He seldom interacts with other Dark-Hunters, and when he does, it is always grudgingly and with the utmost disdain for them. Because of his steadfast refusal to follow any orders (even those of Artemis) and his lack of regard for anyone other than himself, he is kept in isolation in Alaska where his activity is seriously limited and closely monitored. There are many who fear he will one day unleash his powers against humans as well as Daimons. He is the hero of Dance with the Devil and married to Astrid.

Zurvan: Ancient Persian god of time and space. Also known as Cas.