There’s something about Daphne Iapetus that’s unnerving, and it has nothing to do with the fact that she’s a demon with a scary powerful ability. It might be her fierce loyalties to Gideon that does it; she’s completely in compliance with everything he ever sets in motion. Maybe it’s the ruthlessness in which she follows orders. Maybe it’s her strong determination to get things done, and to do them right. Or, you know, it might just be the fact that she used to be a watcher, killed her charge, and then went demonic.
....Yeah, that’s probably it.
See, in millenniums past, Daphne was a watcher for the original Saturn Celestial, and she was pretty good at her job. She had been raised for it, with the elder watchers spotting great potential in her from birth. As she grew up, she was strong for a watcher, and seemed to have a better control over certain things that the other Watchers just couldn’t understand. She was the best of the best, which could explain how she was assigned to protect one of the most volatile Celestials, Saturn. But even then, there was little for anyone to fear. The planets in those days were well-aligned, and times were mostly peaceful. Daphne and her charge had little to worry about, because things simply weren’t bad. Enemies existed, of course, but none of them were strong enough or dedicated enough to defeat the original protectors of the universe.
Of course, that’s when someone with a real plan... a real thirst for destruction came into the picture and started the Fall. With all the perfect timing in the world, Gideon came into Daphne’s life at her weakest point, when indecisiveness reigned heavily through her mind. When the only world she knew started to disintegrate, Daphne couldn’t help but wonder if this was really her place in the world... if this was truly what she was meant to do. A single battle with Gideon changed all that, and eventually her loyalties to the Celestials and the Watchers that raised her evaporated just as quickly as the semblance of serenity disappeared in the silver millennium.
Daphne turned on her charge in a weak moment and played a part in her death. Then, after playing the part of a Watcher for a longer while to get information to Gideon, she finally broke through the barriers and killed another of the Watchers. After that, the next step was obvious.
She became a demon.
A strong demon, actually, with the ability to manipulate gravity. Her loyalties rested strongly with Morgan and Gideon, and when Luna Zeru tossed the Celestial Crystal into the space-time continuum, Daphne made it her job to find it. So of course, that’s where she’s been all this time. Looking for the Celestial Crystal. It seemed unlikely that it would be earth bound... what were the chances that it ended up right where Morgan had centralized her life? Right where the Celestials were located? Daphne had been sure she’d be the one to find it. Returning to Gideon with stories of failure was not a plan she wanted to enact.
Unfortunately, that’s what she had to do. She came to him, confessed her deepest disappointment in herself, and prepared for any punishment she might deserve for failing. But who would have thought that everything she had been searching for had been easily found, immediately used, and then subsequently destroyed? It was a dizzying sort of reality for her, something she’s still trying to get a hold on. Regardless, Daphne still has a job to do, and this one is scarier than ever.
Because of her familiarity with the other side, with ‘watching’, Gideon has yet again given Daphne a purpose in life. That purpose, naturally, is to destroy the Celestials. Because Morgan’s attempts had so clearly failed, the process would be different this time. Daphne would take them down, one by one, from the inside. It wouldn’t be hard. She knows all about them. She knows the ins and outs of Watching... knows how the Celestials would react, how they function. She even knows a great deal about each of their abilities.
So Daphne does what’s only natural. She becomes Editor In Chief of a newspaper office, putting her in the perfect position to screw with the Celestials lives. It’s her that’s doing the real cover-ups, but it’s also her that’s having a part with the incidents that need covering up. She certainly knows how to do all kinds of damage, and the Celestials don’t even know what’s coming.
But then again, neither does Daphne.
She knows a lot about the Celestial’s history, she’s witnessed it for herself, took part in it. She knows how demons grew and evolved on earth, how the gods hid from view while their creations were overrun. But with all that knowledge, and all those years lived, Daphne Iapetus is about to discover the first thing she has no idea about.
There was never an ‘Order’ in the Silver Millennium, never a need to establish a ‘balance’. Why would they surface now, and what’s their true purpose? For now, Daphne knows nothing... and that might just be okay. After all, she’s got enough to do with sabotaging the lives of the Celestials, setting them up for failure. She’ll have plenty of time to deal with the Order after the remaining eight self-righteous children are slaughtered.
CONNECTIONS
1. EDGAR CROWE:
While Edgar is far from her dream ideal of a man, Daphne appreciates the appeal of doing the professional tango with a man the likes of Edgar Crowe. Dancing with death is one of the most exhilarating things on this stupid planet, and she’s quite enjoying herself. Plus, it’s interesting to play ball with a being who seems to be on the same track she is. She’s helping him cover up things and he’s helping her cover up things. He’s hiding things from her, and she’s hiding things from him. It’s a mutual relationship of sly looks and casual understanding, and right now, it’s nice. Edgar, after all, isn’t the type to moon after another while she throws herself at him. It might not be love, or even anything close... but it’s genuinely nice to be close to something like him without expecting him to lose interest in her at the first sign of a pretty face. Besides.... playing with Death has a certain list of advantages... and there’s no way Daphne could pass up something like that.
2. GIDEON ALISTERE:
There was a time when Daphne was uncertain of her future. She was uncertain of her present as well, uncertain of her life in general. Daphne was a strong woman, and one of the best Watchers there was. It was that strength that led her to begin to resent the celestials, as well as her own choices in alliances. She was doubting her desire to be a Watcher, and everything was crumbling around her. That is, until Gideon Alistere swooped in and saved her. He introduced to her to a new life, a new purpose. One that would be more fulfilling than babysitting an uncooperative celestial. Daphne owes her entire existence to Gideon, and she hasn't forgotten it. What Gideon says is concrete, and Daphne will do anything she can to ensure that the old werewolf remains happy. He introduced her to the wonderful world of being a demon, and she's going to introduce him to the true definition of loyalty.
3. HANNAH GRIFFITHS:
If ever there were a human to prove how naive their own race was, it's Hannah Griffiths. All it took was a smile, and compliment of Hannah's shoes, and the reporter was eating out of the palm of Daphne's hand. She used Hannah to cover up the Times Square Massacre, at Gideon's behest of course. She's continued to be a friend to the young woman, and has begun to genuinely like her. As it turns out, they have more than meets the eye in common. They both enjoy working for the newspaper (even though Daphne's job there is only a cover), and they both share doubts about the whole being a Watcher deal. Daphne, even if it was a millennium ago, still remembers the sting of an uncooperative charge. Truth be told, Hannah Griffiths isn't so bad. That doesn't mean, however, that Daphne has forgotten where her loyalties lie.
4. IVY VESPERILLIS:
Ivy Vesperillis is the very definition of the term 'demon'. She can't be trusted, as she'll turn on you as soon as you look the other way. She has ulterior motives and isn't the greatest at keeping them sealed. She's no slouch, that's for certain. But she isn't good for Gideon's cause. She never was. Daphne suspects that Ivy just wants to overthrow Gideon and take the chair for herself. Daphne doesn't like Ivy, not one bit. She pretends to, to suffice Gideon. He doesn't want his two trusted to be fighting, and Daphne does her best to seal her distaste. Still, the blond demon of darkness is nothing but trouble, and Daphne knows it. When the time is right, Ivy's disloyalty to Gideon will be exposed, and Daphne will be rid of the wretched bitch once and for all.
5. DONOVAN GALLOWS:
Daphne would like to think that she can do everything herself, but the fact is that she can’t. Luckily, she’s very persuasive. Only, it’s difficult to persuade someone when you can’t even see them. Donovan Gallows is perfect for the job of infiltrating the celestials, since they can’t see him either. Daphne has made a promise to Donovan, to keep Edgar off his trail. Of course, Edgar wants Donovan to move on, to go where he’s supposed to go. Donovan doesn’t want that, and right now neither does Daphne. She needs him. After all, she can’t listen in on all conversations, and she can’t be everywhere at once. What better spy than a ghost?
6. STEPHANIE REMINGTON:
The newest of the celestials, and most untrained, is none other than Stephanie Remington. Daphne hasn't forgotten her time as a Watcher during the Silver Millenium, and Rem reminds her of that failure. That blond girl is trouble, just like the one from Daphne's time. And, just like that girl, Rem will meet her end. It's Gideon's end game for the celestials to die. Daphne is on board with the plan, of course. She's just a bit sore that she'll probably have to be the one to kill her. Daphne feels a connection to the newest celestial. One that slightly resembles empathy. Daphne can feel when Rem is upset, or in trouble. Feeling that is a bit much, and drives Daphne up a wall. She can't help but feel like she should aid Rem, even though she refuses to, and she hates Rem for that. She hates her for reminding Daphne of everything she hates about herself. It makes looking at Rem hard, and makes the thought of killing her even harder. Still yet, Daphne has an agenda. And this time around, Daphne will not fail.
7. ARTEMIS DACHIEN:
Daphne has never been one for pets, and the same goes for the Watcher Artemis. He's old, as old as Daphne at least. And he could be big trouble for her. If Artemis were to recognize Daphne, all of her plans could go out the window. Everything she's been working for since Gideon has been in power could be wiped out just like that. Luckily for Daphne, that isn't the case. So far. Daphne has been able to keep her distance, to keep even the thought of her as far away from the dog as possible. But, once she gets inside, keeping the old mutt away from her might prove to be somewhat difficult.
