Asher (Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter)
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Asher is a fictional character in
Like
In the epilogue to
Skills and abilities
Like many of the master vampires of Belle Morte's line, Asher's powers revolve around seduction. His powers are more intimate than those of Belle Morte and Jean-Claude, and seem to center around personal seduction.
- Rolling. Asher's ability to roll victims with his eyes is nearly unparalleled, and he is one of the few vampires with the ability to roll Anita, despite her formidable defenses. He is stunningly beautiful, and Anita describes him as having the supernatural power to "fascinate" his victims.
- Vampire Bite. Asher's bite is orgasmic, to the point where his victims (including Anita) may become addicted to his bite, and may experience orgasmic flashbacks hours or days after being bitten. Although Asher cannot draw power from lust like Jean-Claude or Anita, he appears able to draw power from those he has deeply seduced (in this case, only Anita).
- Flight. Asher is one of the best vampires Anita has seen at flying.
- Animal to Call. In Narcissuswill lead to further developments in the series).
Although Asher is Jean-Claude's second in command, his lack of offensive powers caused most vampires to classify him as less powerful than Jean-Claude's other master-level retainers, at least prior to the development of his newest powers.
Character
In
Although Asher loves Jean-Claude and Anita deeply, he is something of a
Biographical summary
Asher was originally a member of Belle Morte's court. Initially jealous of Jean-Claude for his beauty, Asher and Jean-Claude eventually became lovers. Asher, Jean-Claude, and Asher's human servant Julianna then left Belle Morte to travel the world. Asher and Julianna spent 20 years together which came to an end when they were captured; before Jean-Claude could leave his dying mother and save them, Julianna was burned at the stake as a witch and Asher was permanently disfigured by holy water. For the next three hundred years, Asher never forgave Jean-Claude for failing him and Julianna and was never able to accept the loss of his own beauty. He came to St. Louis with the intention of killing Anita as revenge for Jean-Claude not being with them or saving Julianna.
In
Asher's scars are hesitant around the face and groin, noted by Anita that it was as if the priests flinched at the destruction of such beauty. The priests, used Holy Water in an attempt to save Asher's soul, although it is never said from what exactly. Asher is moody with a sadistic mean streak, lashing out at everyone in his fits of melancholic pain. He wants most to be loved and devoted by Jean-Claude, more a lover of men than women. Asher knows that it is through Anita's attraction to him combined with Jean-Claude's that Jean-Claude returns the love. Without Anita's acceptance, Jean-Claude could never bring himself to nearly be consumed for want of Asher again. That coupled with the incident of Asher nearly bleeding Anita to death during their first and only exclusive sexual experience leads to Asher's emotional neglect. Neither Anita nor Jean-Claude trust themselves alone with Asher, but as a trio, they live in nearly perfect love.
Appearances
(See individual novel pages for a discussion of Ashers's role in each novel in which he appears).
.Major themes
Within the novels, Asher seems to represent the darker sides of Anita's sexual desires. Asher's demanding nature, ability to dominate Anita's mind, and pure physical danger represent a strong contrast with more supportive, less demanding lovers such as
References
- ^ Boyungs, Andie (13 April 2023). "Smolder By Laurell K. Hamilton The Anita Blake Series Book 29". The Game of Nerds.