Читать книгу Darkling Green - Kim Thompson - Страница 4

Willa Fuller — Twelve years old, or to be specific, almost, almost thirteen. An “ordinary” girl who discovered this extraordinary house quite by chance. Clever, brave, and responsible. Has recently discovered mental powers she never knew she had: she can communicate telepathically and sense other people’s emotions.

Willa’s Family

Belle (full name: Mirabelle) — Cranky old mermaid in a wheelchair. Self-centred and blunt. Willa recently learned that Belle is her long-lost grandmother. Long ago, Belle assumed human form to marry a handsome fisherman. She grew dissatisfied with life on land and returned to the ocean, abandoning her husband and young daughter, Maris.

Grandpa (George Godwin) — Willa’s grandfather, a fisherman who singlehandedly raised Willa’s mother after Belle left. Jovial and full of life. Also gentle, kind, and forgiving. Doesn’t like to dredge up the past.

Maris Fuller (née Godwin) — Willa’s mom. A bit of a control freak, stern and strict. Dearly loves her family, with the exception of Belle, against whom she holds a gigantic grudge, even after all these years. She’s got her own secrets, and she keeps them well.

Marvin Fuller — Willa’s dad. Shy and retiring. There’s no drama in his past, and he’d rather avoid the drama in his wife’s family altogether, thank you very much.

Inhabitants of Eldritch Manor

Baz — Short, stout old lady who loves to take catnaps. Her past is a mystery, but it has become apparent that she is more cat than human, despite her appearance. Has a special interest in charms and magic.

Horace — A bookish and mild-mannered old gentleman. Thousands of years old. Prefers birthday cakes without the candles, for fire safety reasons. He also happens to be an androsphinx. This means he is able to assume the form of a lion, though he prefers his boring human shape. Recently, his memory has begun to fail him, with nearly disastrous results.

Tengu — An elderly, pint-sized martial arts master with a very big heart. Human in form, his age is advanced but indeterminate. Always cheerful and full of childlike enthusiasm. Has an unhealthy obsession with lethal weaponry.

Mab — Queen of the fairies. Keeper of dreams, mistress of enchantments, Mab is a dainty spitfire and imperious ruler of all the fairies of the backyard. She is combative and stubborn, and her past is about to catch up with her.

Sarah — A young, lively fairy, Sarah is the plucky personal assistant to Mab. When she began this job she was devoted and dutiful, but over time has become less impressed with her royal taskmaster. Not the greatest knitter around.

Robert — Irascible old fellow with a quick temper. 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.

Miss Trang — Stern middle-aged lady who is supposed to be caretaker-manager of Eldritch Manor, though Willa is left in charge whenever she wanders off. Miss Trang occasionally turns into a massive fire-breathing dragon.

Roshni — A phoenix, descendent of an ancient line. A bird of prey, she is the size of a large hawk and has recently been living in the wild. Quietly devoted to Willa.

The dwarves — Nine capable workmen hired by Miss Trang to rebuild Eldritch Manor. Though sometimes inscrutable, the dwarves have hearts of gold and are artists and engineers of incredible skill. Mjodvitnir is the leader, Fjalarr his right-hand dwarf. The others are Radsvidr, Vindálfr, Svíurr, Aurvangr, Dólgthrasir, Hlévangr, and Eikinskjaldi.