Vincent Demabrien

Vincent Demabrien is the secretary of Mehitabel Parr.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 18.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He is also a former prostitute and friend of Felix Harrowgate, as well as the former tarquin and catamite of Lord Ivo Polydorius. Vincent can see ghosts.
== Appearance ==
Mildmay describes Vincent as "a small guy, no more than five-foot-six, and he looked about as heavy-fleshed as a bird. He’d braided his hair down to the nape and then let it fall to his waist” and his hair was black.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 9.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. “The ribbon tying it was mulberry, too, a couple shades lighter than his coat. His skin was pale, . . . with those cold blue undertones . . . This guy just looked tired.” At the time, Vincent is wearing an expensive mulberry coat with silver embroidery. Mildmay also notes that Vincent looks a little old for a prostitute. “His nails were long and lacquered black, another sign of a high-class hooker.”
Mehitabel describes Vincent as "feline", and he is several inches shorter than her, with fine bone structure, and is as pale-skinned as Felix and Mildmay.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 12.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. He has lines around his eyes and mouth, and is older than Felix. Vincent is eight inches shorter than Felix. He is 35 in The Mirador.
As part of his work with Mehitabel, she tells him to cut his nails.
== Personality ==
When Vincent and Felix work together under Lorenzo, Felix describes him as "a tired boy".Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 4.” Mélusine, Ace, New York, 2005. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Vincent gets no joy out of his ability to see ghosts.
Vincent is polite, courtly, timid, apologetic, and good at sucking up to the upper classes. Vincent is not given to swearing. Vincent is wary of offers that seem too good to be true.
Vincent seems to like poetry and art, generally, including the performing arts.
== Life ==
Vincent is the youngest of three sons of "a poor but virtuous scrivener who lived in Havelock."Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 14.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. When Vincent is 12, his father dies, having left most everything he had to his eldest son, Jonathan Demabrien. Jonathan cuts their family off, which Vincent's mother lies about. About a month later, Vincent's brother Conrad Demabrien runs away as their savings dwindle. A man comes to their home and gives Vincent's mother a septagorgon in exchange for Vincent.
Vincent is one of Lorenzo's prostitutes alongside Felix at the Shining Tiger. Vincent nearly doesn't survive Lorenzo.
Vincent goes on to work at the Unicorn's Mirror.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 10.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Ivo finds him, and Vincent enters Ivo's service as his tarquin.
=== The Mirador ===
Ivo comes to the Mirador to encourage Stephen Teverius to marry Ivo's daughter, Zelda Polydorius, and Ivo brings Vincent with him. Felix and Mildmay come across Vincent and another man arguing in a hallway of the Mirador. Felix and Vincent greet each other warmly, and Felix introduces Vincent and Mildmay.
Felix sends Mildmay to give Vincent an invitation. Vincent tells Mildmay that Ivo won't let Vincent go, and gives Mildmay a letter for Felix, stating that Ivo is jealous and capricious, and Vincent will try to visit again when Ivo is in better humor.
Isaac Garamond seeks to talk with Vincent, but Ivo stops them from meeting, so Isaac gets Mehitabel to approach Vincent.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 11.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Mehitabel sends Vincent an invitation for dinner, which Vincent accepts. Mehitabel invites Felix to the dinner as well, knowing that Felix wants to spend time with Vincent, but is unable to due to Ivo's interference. When Vincent arrives, Lenore Nevillson introduces him to Mehitabel, and Mehitabel leaves Vincent and Felix alone to talk. Later, while the three of them are drinking together, Vincent sees a ghost, and Felix explains this to Mehitabel. Felix asks to conduct an experiment with Vincent to figure out how Vincent sees ghosts, to which Vincent is warily open.
Mehitabel arranges another meeting, which Ivo encourages (as Vincent neglects to mention Felix's presence). Vincent chats with Mehitabel about his past life and about Felix, before Felix arrives for their experiments in the crypt of the Cordelii. Vincent sees Amaryllis Cordelia. They depart, and Felix proposes another experiment, despite Vincent's discomfort and concern he won't be able to do it.
Ivo sends Mehitabel a letter wishing her to introduce Vincent to Shannon Teverius.
Vincent visits Mehitabel again, and she shows him the letter. Vincent notes that Ivo is using it to humiliate Vincent, as Vincent wants to meet Shannon and more than him, Athalwolf Toralius, but by having him being introduced by Mehitabel, that changes how he is defined. Mehitabel insists on introducing him to Shannon, because Vincent wants to meet him. Felix arrives and discusses his experiment: allowing Felix and Mehitabel to see ghosts. Vincent desperately asks if Felix can make Vincent stop seeing ghosts, to which Felix is cautious, as he doesn't know how to do that, and it could be dangerous. They conduct Felix's planned experiment, and meet with Grendille Moran. Their discussion is too much and Vincent stops Felix before collapsing himself. Felix supports Vincent out of the room and they return to Mehitabel's rooms.
Mehitabel meets with Vincent, and introduces him to Shannon.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 15.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Shannon easily charms Vincent, as Vincent is a friend of Mehitabel's. Mehitabel leaves them alone.
Mehitabel sends Vincent a ticket for her theater's performance of Edith Pelpheria. Ivo tells Vincent to find his own company for it, and Vincent invites Felix. Felix invites Mildmay. They attend in Felix's box, the first time Vincent sees a play in such a way.
They return to Felix's suite, and Mildmay leaves Vincent and Felix alone. They talk about Ivo and Vincent's relationship, and Felix offers shelter to Vincent, if Vincent wishes, and to swear not to touch Vincent. Vincent doesn't trust Felix not to "want to tarquin a tarquin", and departs. 
Vincent sees and speaks to Silvester Ludovic Magnus.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 16.” The Mirador, Ace Books, New York, 2008. The Doctrine of Labyrinths. Vincent later visits Felix's suite while Felix is out, insisting to Mildmay that he speak with Felix. Vincent asks that Mildmay tells Felix that Magnus needs Felix's help to be laid. 
Vincent goes to visit Mehitabel while Ivo is fighting with Manfred, and Felix is visiting Mehitabel. The tension between Felix and Vincent is awkward, and they chat briefly about Magnus, and not so subtly about Felix and Vincent's issues. Vincent tries to placate Felix, and Felix tries to explain that Vincent should feel the way he does towards Felix. Felix gives up and leaves. Vincent apologizes for it all to Mehitabel, and explains Felix's offer.
After Felix is imprisoned in the Verpine, Vincent sends Mehitabel a letter talking about Magnus, and Vincent's hope that Felix can help Magnus before being executed. Mehitabel convinces Felix's guards to allow it, and Felix disperses Magnus. Vincent is questioned in relation to Ivo's guilt in the plot to place Shannon on the throne. Vincent is exonerated.
Vincent attends the trial, wherein Ivo is sentenced to death by burning, and gives rule of the house of Polydorius to Crowell Polydorius. Crowell hits Vincent in proxy for Ivo, and throws him out. Mehitabel hires Vincent as her secretary.
== Skills ==
Vincent has beautiful handwriting. He can also see ghosts.
== Relationships ==
=== Athalwolf Toralius ===
Vincent wants to meet Athalwolf, seemingly because Athalwolf is a poet.
=== Felix Harrowgate ===
Felix and Vincent are stablemates at the Shining Tiger. Felix is overjoyed that Vincent survived Lorenzo. He is hurt when Vincent turns down Felix's offer of help, and hurt worse when Felix realizes it's because of who Felix is, and what Felix will likely do. This leads Felix on a cycle of self-blame and hatred. Vincent notably does not believe that Felix would kill a lover in cold blood.
=== Isaac Garamond ===
Ivo refuses to let Vincent associate with Isaac. Isaac instead gets Mehitabel to approach Vincent for information.
=== Lorenzo ===
Lorenzo is Vincent's former owner.
=== Ivo Polydorius ===
Vincent is Ivo's tarquin, which Ivo hates, particularly because Ivo needs it. In exchange, Ivo enjoys humiliating Vincent whenever possible. Ivo likes having "a mad catamite." Ivo hates Vincent as well, but refuses to give him up because Ivo can control him.
=== Mehitabel Parr ===
Mehitabel and Vincent are friends. She is impatient with his timidity and formality in her presence. Mehitabel hires him as her secretary at the end of The Mirador.
=== Mildmay ===
Mildmay doesn't care for Vincent. In part, it's because Vincent reminds Mildmay (visually) of Kholkis.
=== Shannon Teverius ===
Shannon is friendly with Vincent.
== Trivia ==
* It's because of Vincent that Felix learns to shift his sight to see noirant energy/mikkary.Monette, Sarah. “Chapter 1.” Corambis, Ace Books, New York, 2009. The Doctrine of Labyrinths.
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:The Mirador
Category:Corambis