Stephanie Dupont

Vivian’s early life was marred by an unrelenting series of hardships and despair. Born to Maria and Joseph Carver, her father's arrest for a heinous murder when she was still a toddler set the stage for a tumultuous upbringing. The absence of her father and the subsequent involvement of her mother, Maria, with an abusive partner named Evelyn, only intensified the difficulties faced by Vivian and her sister, Gwen.

Evelyn's cruelty knew no bounds, and she subjected the two young girls to ghastly "experiments" that left psychological scars as deep as the physical ones. This relentless torment pushed Gwen to flee in search of refuge, leaving Vivian alone in the clutches of their tormentor. In a horrifying fit of rage, Evelyn nearly took Vivian’s life, leaving her with a lasting and disfiguring scar on her face, a painful reminder of her traumatic past.

Desperate to protect Vivian, her mother took the heart-wrenching decision to send her away. Vivian was sent to live with her affluent grandparents in France, where a facade of normalcy was constructed to erase any connection to her troubled past. Under the insistence of her grandparents, her name was changed to Stephanie Dupont, and she was portrayed as an adopted orphan, their supposed "proper heir."

However, Stephanie's new life was far from idyllic. Her grandparents, driven by their deep religious convictions and disdain for Maria's relationship with Evelyn, used their faith as a pretext for strict discipline and punishment. Stephanie was trapped in an environment where repression and judgment were the norm.

At the age of 12, Stephanie's life took a remarkable turn when she crossed paths with a young girl named Alice Kiramman while hiding on the unforgiving streets of Paris. Their bond grew swiftly, offering Stephanie a source of comfort and friendship she had long yearned for. Together, they formulated ambitious plans for Stephanie to escape her oppressive life.

Before they could set their plan into motion, Stephanie's grandparents uncovered her intentions and reacted swiftly. She was sent away to a harsh and restrictive boarding school, where the rules were stifling, and discipline was meted out without mercy. It was in this oppressive environment that Stephanie's rebellious nature took hold, and she frequently found herself engaged in violent confrontations.

In the heart of the Boxer Rebellion's chaos, Stephanie's transformation into Gabriel Moreau heralded a journey into the depths of conflict and self-discovery. Enlisting under this new identity within the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment, she became a silent observer of the Rebellion's brutality, facing the horrors of war firsthand. The Battle of Peking etched indelible marks upon her: scars of both flesh and mind. The physical wounds were tangible but healed with time, yet the silent torment of PTSD lingered, a constant shadow in her thoughts and dreams. Eventually, the weight of these invisible scars led to an honorable discharge, releasing her from the regiment's service.

Struggling to find her footing in the aftermath of war, Stephanie turned to less conventional means of survival. She navigated the fringes of society, delving into the world of cons and schemes to make ends meet. But it was during these tumultuous times that a new fascination began to take root within her: snakes. Initially a means of passing time and distraction, this interest grew into an all-consuming passion. Stephanie was entranced by their elegance, their lethal beauty, and the mysteries concealed within their venom. Her curiosity blossomed into an obsession, driving her to immerse herself in the study of serpents, their venoms, and the art of breeding new, exotic species.

Amidst this infatuation, Stephanie found herself, at the age of 18, navigating her way to the bustling city of Saint Denis. There, fate intertwined her path with that of Alice once again, a beacon of familiarity and comfort amidst the chaos. Reunited with her dear friend, Stephanie also encountered the enigmatic figure known as Saint, a notorious gang leader whose reputation preceded her. Saint Denis pulsated with danger and allure, a world teeming with intrigue and peril that echoed Stephanie's own history of trauma and survival. Here, the collision of her past and the volatile present tested the depths of her resilience and determination in ways she never fathomed.