Читать книгу Shadow Wrack - Kim Thompson - Страница 4

Willa Fuller — Twelve years old. This “ordinary” girl was faced with some pretty extraordinary events one summer and rose to the challenge. Clever, brave, and responsible … but also hesitant, anxious, and afraid. She wishes more than anything that her family could just get along.

Mirabel (a.k.a. Belle) — Cranky old dame in a wheelchair who loves the ocean. Spends a lot of time in the bathtub. Her secret: under that lap blanket is a mermaid tail. Long ago she assumed human form to marry a handsome fisher­man. She had a child but was dissatisfied with life on land and left them both, returning to the ocean. Now she seems mostly land-bound; she still has a tail but no longer has the ability to breathe underwater.

Grandpa — Willa’s grandfather who singlehandedly raised Willa’s mother. Still a rather handsome fisherman. Gentle and forgiving. Doesn’t like to dredge up the past.

Baz — Elderly and enigmatic, rather short and stout. Loves to take cat naps. Used to be the cook at Eldritch Manor but now doesn’t have much to do. Her secret: she’s part cat, but which part … she’s not telling.

Horace — A bookish and mild-mannered old gentleman. Very old. Very, very old. As in old enough to remember ancient Egypt, because he was there. His secret: he is really an androsphinx, which means he is half lion. Occasionally changes into a lion, but not often. Starting to lose his memory a little.

Mab — Queen of the fairies. Keeper of dreams, mistress of enchantments, Mab is a dainty spitfire. Her secret: swears like a sailor. Loves pulling pranks. Do not get on her bad side. Since making peace with the tree nymphs in the backyard, she once again has subjects to boss around, which she thoroughly enjoys.

Robert — Irascible old fellow with a quick temper and a love for fine brandy. His secret is not so secret: he is a centaur, human from the waist up, with the body and legs of a horse. Cannot change shape, which makes it pretty difficult for him to blend into a crowd.

Tengu — Small in stature but a martial arts master. Always cheerful and remarkably free of ill will, considering he loves nothing more than a good fight. Has an unhealthy obsession with weaponry.

Miss Trang — This stern, middle-aged lady in the sensible shoes with no sense of humour is the caretaker-manager of Eldritch Manor. Her secret: she is also a dragon in her spare time. Often leaves town for unknown reasons, placing Willa in charge of the Eldritch oldsters.

The Phoenix — Descendent of an ancient line, she is the daughter of Fadiyah, the bird who went up in flames to save Willa but ignited Eldritch Manor in the process. The young bird has got a few issues.

Mr. and Mrs. Hacker — Live next door to the ruins of Eldritch Manor. Snoopy, gossipy, critical, sniping … in short, extremely annoying. Pretty much everything about Eldritch Manor and its inhabitants causes them irritation and intense curiosity.