Keir: The Antagonist

Name; Keir1

Born: approx. 119 ad2

Birthplace: Mauritania, Africa3

Height: 6'6"4

Weight: 2505

Hair: bald (black when grown out)6

Eye Color: black7

Physical Characteristics: Muscular, dark chocolate skin, big meaty fists. Long sharp vampire teeth. Deep voice.8

How does he/she dress? Business casual, almost yuppieish, mostly white silk shirts.9

Mannerisms: very macho10

Health: impeccable, he's a vampire11

Hobbies: other than torturing Toni? He can play multiple instruments and writes sad, romantic songs and can sing fairly well. He is a bit of a scholar, especially in African and Roman studies.12

Favorite Sayings: "Do as you're told!"13

Speech patterns: slight European accent from living in Europe so long but mixed with something Toni doesn't recognize which could be from his life in Mauritania14

Style (Elegant, shabby etc.): Very elegant, like a lord in a high court15

Greatest flaw: his temper as he lets it get away from him16

Best quality: he can be soft and loving at times17

Educational Background: Never formally educated but has lived a long time and read plenty, so has experience.18

Intelligence Level: Above average19

Any Mental Illnesses? Not a mad man trying to take over the world, no.20

Learning Experiences: Plenty of those, perhaps the most significant one is when he killed his own son and realized what he's capable of.21

Character's short-term goals in life: get rid of, or at least control, Toni22

Character's long-term goals in life: become King23

Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof? Mostly ruled by emotion only allows logic to direct him when he has no other option. He is a sadist and expects to have his way all the time, he does not lose.24

What would most embarrass this character? To be shown publicly he's not as strong as he appears. He only shows his soft side in private.25

Strengths/Weaknesses: His strength is he knows his opponent very well and has patients to deal with her. His weakness is his anger and his need to get it out through physical violence.26

Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert most certainly, he uses the attention he gets to bring people to his side.27

How does the character deal with anger? Not well at all, as stated above.28

With sadness? He hides it even from himself. He's never truly happy, but he doesn't let his sadness show either.29

With conflict? He strives on conflict, he needs it even.30

With change? Life changes, he knows this by now, while the vampires hide away from the world even their own experiences change the dynamic in their society so he is used to it.31

With loss? Same as with sadness.32

What does the character want out of life? He wants mostly what every person wants; to have a peaceful life with someone to love. It's his methods to reach such goals, that make him bad.33

What would the character like to change in his/her life? He'd like to have more control over his life, hence the reason for wanting the throne.34

What motivates this character? His main interest is the longevity of the clan and has an eye on the King's throne.35

What frightens this character? Being wrong. He can not hear that at any time that he was wrong, he will never admit it.36

What makes this character happy? Only one thing and she's been dead for a very long time.37

Is the character judgmental of others? Yes absolutely38

Is the character generous or stingy? Surprisingly he can be quite generous, when it works to his advantage, but he's not stingy at all39

Is the character generally polite or rude? He's rudely polite. Think that's an oxymoron? He can insult you with a grin and a bow and sometimes you don't even know you've been insulted.40

Does the character believe in a higher power? no41

What are the character's spiritual beliefs? He believes vampires are superior and everyone else should serve them.42

Is religion or spirituality a part of this character's life? Not in the least. He does not believe in any god, and was Islamic but stopped practicing over the years.43

How does Character see himself/herself? He sees himself as doing the right thing, doing what's best for the vampires.44

How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others? He thinks he's admired, at least by the vampires, and envied by the slaves, he thinks all the slaves should want to sleep with him.45

How self-confident is the character? Extremely so.46

History: Romans forced him to fight in their army until one of them turned him into a vampire and took his wife leaving him to fend for himself. While searching for that roman and his wife, he killed one of his own children. Eventually he found the current gens (clan) of vampires that he lives with. He has fallen in love with a woman named Sophia. He is mortal enemies with Antoniette Aloise because one of her ancestors killed Sophia. Among other things as he sees Toni as a threat to the gens. His place in the gens is one of the King's top advisors and Sergeant at Arms.47

Here is an excerpt from "Leaving the Light" in which Keir is in perfect form, being cruel and manipulative, but not violent;48

I woke up with dread in my heart. After all, I'd rather be dreaming than here. My dreams were so pleasurable. They had nothing to do with vampires. There were green fields and airplane rides and dogs in them, and in-between blissful nothingness. Compared to the sight I had to wake up to, that was heaven. Now there were ugly toes wiggling before my eyes and a strangely soft low voice said, "Get up, time for breakfast." 49

"Breakfast?" I must still be dreaming. I hadn't been offered food upon awakening since I entered this room. I rubbed my eyes and fingered everything around me. My blanket, the ground and the bed all had a very real, solid feeling to them. "Well, come on. I don't have all night." The gruff voice called to me. That sounded more familiar, I was used to him yelling at me. I blinked a couple more times, stretched and slowly got to my feet. I began folding the blanket and he said, "Don't worry about that for now, come and eat." Okay, Keir was ill, that had to be it. I did finish folding it and put it neatly on his unmade bed and turned to find his dining table full of food. He sat across from me beaming. 50

Red flags were going up everywhere. This was not right. Why? "You have been good." He answered my unasked question. "You have done everything you have been told in the past week, within reason." He smirked and I remembered the shirt incident and let's not forget being caught picking the lock. "You are entitled to a small reward." Keir waved his hand to the table before me. 51

Leery I sat never taking my eyes off his. He must be lying. Yet he did not waver and there was no malicious sneer. I reached out my hand tentatively towards a plate. "You may only choose one." He said before I had gotten close enough to pick any up. I knew there had to be a catch. I surveyed the table again. There was a wide variety there: three kinds of omelets; plates of ham, bacon, sausage, and steak; waffles and pancakes; eggs and grits. I was overwhelmed. I decided on that which would be the most filling, as who knew when my next opportunity to eat might come. As I was about to pick up the large meet filled omelet he interrupted me again. "Be sure that is the right choice, for the wrong one may make you ill, or worse." There it was. 52

Now what was all of this about? A table full of food and no doubt only one of the offerings was suitable to eat. Why? Why was he doing this? I looked to him again. There was no indication of an answer and he wasn't about to give away the answer as to which plate was safe. 53

I decided on the safest course of action. I wouldn't choose any. I folded my arms and looked at him. I knew he'd be angered by it and indeed I heard his teeth squeak as he ground them together. He did not yell, but he did say in a very controlled, soft voice. "You must choose one as you are told to do." 54

Okay… Eenie meenie meinie moe… I began picking off one at a time. He drew in deep breaths as he waited for me to choose and after the third round he said, "I know which is right." Okay, what kind of clue was that? Of course he knew which one was right, he no doubt had the chef prepare it special. He did not intend to tell me which one it was, so why did he even mention it? 55

I started moving my hand towards different plates and watched him for a reaction. His face twitched less than a wooden Indian. Plate after plate there was nothing in his countenance as to what would be the correct one. Perhaps, yes, perhaps he intended me to go deeper. There was just a slight twinge of a smile. That must be it! He wanted me to try to read his mind. God, how could I have been so blind to this? I could talk with Bram any time I liked. Well, I used too anyway. Of course it was something that Bram had over him. It must really piss Keir off. 56

If my contacting his mind would make him happy I guess it wouldn't be all bad. It could help me improve my skills too. 57

So I tried it. 58

I sat back in my chair and relaxed. I looked at Keir but avoided trying too hard to look into him. Soon I closed my eyes and kept the picture of him sitting there in my head. I could feel the fuzziness of my disconnection from myself. Soon I was looking at the table from what I believed was his perspective. Which one? Which one would he eat? 59

I looked over each one. None seemed different in any way. What? Did I expect it to be highlighted? A general feeling that it would be okay I suppose. Perhaps I was going at it all wrong. I wasn't even sure if it was my imagination or if I was in contact with him. I sat for a long while. I knew the food was getting cold and his temper increasing. I had to make a decision soon. I may not be able to read his mind, but I could guess at what he would think. He would choose the one food I would dislike the most. 60

I made my decision and picked up the one that looked like a scrambled mess that was mostly peppers and onions. He showed no emotion as I did so and even after I took the first bite. It tasted fine. Well, as fine as a bunch of disgusting peppers and onions can taste. I took several more bites as much as I disliked the taste I was hungry so I ate as much as I could. He watched each bite intensely. I didn't like that. About halfway through, I came to the conclusion that I had chosen wrongly. I realized this was Heremon's revenge. It's a good thing he wasn't here to enjoy it. 61

My stomach was bubbling. I needed to go to the restroom. I began to stand. "I didn't excuse you to the bathroom." 62

"Keir, please." 63

"Finish eating." He pointed at the plate. 64

"But-" 65

His voice rose. "You made your choice and you must live with the consequences. You may not leave this table until I say you can. Do not ask again." 66

I weighed the consequences of sitting here and most likely having to change my pants later or getting up and being tortured by Keir and still having to change my pants later. I took another bite and looked obstinately at Keir. He would not win this. I would just have to control my body as much as my mind. 67

My stomach grumbled again. It wasn't happy with my choice. I tried I really did. I knew what the food was doing to me, not to mention that it wasn't that appetizing. I could hardly swallow. Each time I put my fork down to chew Keir's scowl deepened. It was as if he thought I would bolt. 68

I lifted the fork as if it weighed 80 pounds and prepared myself for another disgusting mouth full of bell pepper when it happened. I couldn't keep it from happening. It was as if my control had been switched off. I still have to wonder if it hadn't. Tears filled my eyes as I was in an uncomfortable position now. I could not leave the table for fear of Keir. I didn't want to move anyway and feel it down there. 69

I put down the fork, closed my eyes and just sat there. "Finish eating." Keir growled. 70

"You know you were much nicer when you were joking about your jail time." 71

"I'm sure you'd be much nicer if you spent time in jail. Now if I have to tell you one more time to finish eating…" 72

He didn't have to I finished and he then excused me. I took a long shower before I felt human again. 73

He didn't talk to me the rest of the night. It wasn't until I was half asleep on the ground and he was preparing for bed that he said, "It wasn't laced." 74

"What?" 75

"Your breakfast was perfectly safe. As a matter of fact they all were." 76

I closed my eyes and tried to control my temper. "What?" I hissed. 77

"It is not my fault you chose a food you're allergic to." 78

It was true bell peppers didn't like me and went right through me, but they weren't normally so fast acting. I wanted to beat him. I wanted to strangle him. 79

"Do you want to lose your bowels again?" 80

"No Keir." I said yielding. 81

"Perhaps from now on you will realize I do not always have harmful intentions towards you." Uh right, after that last statement?