Nyx in the House of Night

Stark, James Dean’s character in Rebel Without a Cause
    In the movie . . .
Rebel Without a Cause has become a cult classic for generations of “misunderstood teenagers” and James Dean in that red windbreaker the symbol of living fast and dying young.
    In the House of Night . . .
It’s unclear if James Stark also took his first name from James Dean, but it is certain from the moment he is introduced in Untamed that he is a bit of a rebel. Incidentally, the archer also “dies” very young. (Luckily, he is resurrected and eventually finds his way back to the Light in Hunted .) Stark’s original surname was MacUallis, which marked him as one of the Guardians of the Ace (see Seoras ).
    Of note . . .
Red windbreaker, red vampyre. Coincidence? We’ll leave that up to you
    Jack Twist
    Jack Twist taken from the character Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain
    In the movie . . .
Brokeback Mountain is the story of two cowboys who fall in love and must keep their relationship hidden, mostly through the means of unhappy marriages. Jack Twist is by far the more outgoing and passionate half of the couple. This may or may not have contributed to his death, which was either from changing a tire that exploded or his being beaten to death after his sexuality was discovered.
    In the House of Night . . .
Jack Twist is the bubbliest of Zoey’s circle, sensitive and innocent almost to the point of being childlike, and like his namesake, he is the dramatic half of his relationship with Damien.
    Shaunee
    Shaunee taken from the Shawnee Indian tribe, also the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma
    In history . . .
The Shawnee Indians were only one of many tribes that settled around what is now known as Shawnee, Oklahoma, after the Civil War. All three federally recognized Shawnee tribes are based in Oklahoma today: the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe in Shawnee, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe in West Seneca, and the Shawnee Tribe in Miami.
    In the House of Night . . .
Shaunee is the brunette half of the Twins. She has an affinity for fire that matches her sometimes fierce temper. Despite her name’s Oklahoma connections, she hails from Connecticut.

    THE VAMPYRES
    • • •
    House of Night Professors
    Anastasia Lankford
    Anastasia (Greek) resurrection; Lankford see Dragon Lankford
    In Christianity . . .
Anastasia of Sirmium was a Christian saint and martyr. She is specially commemorated in the second Mass on Christmas day. Not much is known about her actual life, and legends conflict as to whether she was Roman or not and even who she was exactly. However, it is certain that Anastasia gave her life for her faith in Sirmium, and because of this her memory was kept sacred. St. Anastasia is also revered as a healer. The Eastern Orthodox Church calls her “Deliverer from Potions” and she is often called upon to protect people from poison and harmful substances.
    In the House of Night . . .
Anastasia was married to Professor Dragon Lankford. She taught Rituals and Spells at the Tulsa House of Night, and she was among the few professors who fought against the Raven Mockers in Hunted . Anastasia was also the single casualty of that fight. Murdered by Rephaim, her sacrifice helped allow Zoey and her friends to safely escape the overrun campus.
    In reality . . .
The real Anastasia Lankford is married to Bryan Lankford, the inspiration for the character Dragon Lankford.
    Dragon Lankford
    Dragon (Greek) derived from drakōn, a large serpent, python, or dragon; Lankford taken from Bryan Lankford, on whom the character is based
    In mythology . . .
Dragons of Eastern myth are benevolent, often bringing good fortune and symbolizing excellence and power. However, dragons of European myth are often evil. They are intelligent, but extremely greedy and selfish.
    In the House of Night . . .
Dragon Lankford is the fencing instructor at the House of Night. His facial tattoos are in the form of two dragons breathing fire at the crescent symbol in the middle of his forehead.
    In reality . . .
Dragon Lankford’s real-life counterpart, Bryan Lankford, who wrote an essay for this book, is also an educator: he writes books and leads classes on Wicca. After winning the chance to become a new character in the House of Night series in a charity auction at an autumn Pagan gathering where P.C. was speaking, Bryan and his wife, Anastasia, were added to the cast of vampyres.
    Of note . . .
Dragon Lankford’s name also evokes the story of the red dragon in Welsh myth and Arthurian legend.