Aiden Reign

***Full Name:*** Aiden Reign

***Birthdate:*** March 12th, 1961

***Age:*** 48

***Gender:*** Male

***Height:*** 6'2

***Weight:*** 240 pounds

***Hair Color:*** Light brown

***Eye Color:*** Dark brown

***Species:*** Human

***Alias:*** Aiden

***Family Members:*** Dobrev Reign (son)

Ian Reign (twin brother)

Elena Reign (sister-in-law)

Everly Reign (niece)

Unnamed ex-girlfriend

***Occupation:*** Criminal

Drug dealer

***Residence:*** Salem Prison

***Abilities:*** None

***Status:*** Alive

***Quote:***

**“What about girlfriends?” Aiden smirked playfully. “I bet all the girls at school are starting to notice you. Once you grow a little taller like me, they’ll be all over you. Maybe you can ask Everly to introduce some of her cheerleading prospects…”** *-Aiden to his son in Chapter 14*

**Aiden Reign** is a minor character in the novel *DOBREV*. He is the twin brother to Ian Reign and irresponsible father of Dobrev Reign, who lost custody of his son when he was imprisoned due to multiple drug charges.

### Early Life

Aiden was raised in Massachusetts with his identical twin brother, Ian Reign. He was often in trouble with the law from a young age, crimes escalating as he got older until he was eventually addicted to both drugs and alcohol. Aiden's dangerous occupations caused Ian to both fear for his brother, as well as distrust him. It is unlikely that Aiden ever attended college. He had an on-again, off-again relationship with Dobrev's mother, who left shortly after the boy's birth.

### Appearance

Aiden Reign is described by his son as being tall and strong, bigger than his older twin brother Ian and standing at around 6'2 with an athletic build. He does not resemble his son much, having light brown hair, thick eyebrows, wild eyes and an intimidating expression. Dobrev painfully notes that his father's face is not as gentle as Ian Reign's, nor as affectionate; he also has crooked teeth and a deceptive, fake smile. Aiden has the same face as his identical twin brother, but their personality traits set their similar characteristics set them apart drastically.

### Personality

Even since childhood, Aiden's egotistical and selfish personality has gotten him into trouble with the law; his twin brother Ian Reign was constantly worried that he would never see his brother again whenever he was imprisoned or charged with serious crimes. Despite the birth of his son, Dobrev, Aiden's inability to be responsible and care for others only worsened. His erratic behavior, anger management problems and homophobic tendencies had a deep, lasting impact on Dobrev, to the point where he was nearly mute at one point in his childhood and was later diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Aiden's drug and alcohol addiction did not help matters, keeping him away from the apartment for days at a time, leaving his infant son alone to defend for himself. In addition to being self-centered and cold hearted, Aiden did not believe in ghosts, and frequently punished Dobrev for claiming to see them.

After being sentenced for drug possession and child endangerment, Aiden's personality does not change much, and he still has difficulty keeping in touch with his son, now legally adopted by his brother, Ian. He rarely writes about anyone other than himself, feeding his son the same lies he promised years before. Aiden's inability to change and improve himself is what ultimately causes Dobrev to stand up to his father.

### Relationships

**Family**

**Ian Reign**

Despite being identical twins, Aiden and Ian are nearly opposites in personality, appearance and lifestyles. Dobrev Reign describes them as having the same facial features, but drastically different expressions that sets them apart; Ian has not approved of his brother's behavior for many years, and this is especially true after Ian learns how Aiden treats his only child. Their relationship continues to become more strained and volatile whenever Aiden is arrested for various crimes, including drug possession and child endangerment. Ian once told Dobrev that the first time his brother was arrested, he was worried he would never see him again; this concern would become somewhat true in the following years, given Aiden's frequent stints in prison and rehab.

Ian does not have frequent contact with Aiden while he is in Salem Prison, given the abusive circumstances in which Dobrev was being raised until Ian and his wife, Elena, took full custody of Dobrev and adopted him as their own. Their brotherly bond has most likely deteriorated ever since.

**Dobrev Reign**

Aiden's relationship with his son is a crucial part of Dobrev's sensitive, antisocial personality; Dobrev's unhealthy childhood and mental abuse by his father has sustained its negative impact on his mind, and is a main source of his anxiety and depression throughout the novel. Aiden was an irresponsible father from the beginning, leaving his son alone for days at a time, leaving him unsupervised and unprotected while Aiden went on drug binges. When Aiden was home, Dobrev lived in constant fear of making mistakes, in fear that his father would yell at him for small infractions, which he was known to do so loudly even his "shady" neighbors grew concerned.

**"I can’t be strange in that way, too…I mean, it’s cool if other people are gay, but not me. Imagine if dad knew: he would be SO mad at me. I don’t even want to know how mad…"** *-Dobrev thinking about his father in Chapter 10*

Due to Aiden being quick to anger, threatening and extremely judgmental, Dobrev forced himself to repress all his supernatural abilities and emotions--this included his romantic preference for males. Terrified that Aiden would be furious for his son feeling this way, Dobrev never accepted this part of himself for many years, until he met and befriended Achille Descoteaux. Although there was never any obvious evidence, Aiden may have also physically abused Dobrev, in addition to all the emotional abuse. Even while imprisoned, Aiden does not write his son often, too self-concerned and entitled to reevaluate his life choices and treatment of his only child.

Dobrev's entire personality and lack of self-confidence is centered around his fear for his father, which he eventually overcomes near the end of the novel and finally stands up to Aiden, much to the latter's shock. When asked about their final conversation by Mina Anderson, Dobrev remarks that it is unlikely he will receive a letter from his father for a while, if ever.

**Elena Reign**

Given Aiden's treatment of his only child, it is likely that his sister-in-law Elena does not have much respect for him. When Dobrev opens a birthday present from his father, Elena tries to change the subject to baseball games, in hopes of preventing her nephew's spirit from falling. She frequently worries about his relationship with Aiden, and doesn't seem open to the idea of Dobrev ever living with his father again.

**Everly Reign**

Not much is mentioned about Aiden's relationship with his niece, but given his lifestyle, it is likely he has only met her a handful of times. He does know that she is a cheerleader, and mentions her briefly in a letter he wrote to his son, Dobrev.

**Others**

**Unnamed Ex-Girlfriend**

Aiden had a toxic, on-again, off-again relationship with an unnamed woman who would eventually give birth to his son, Dobrev. She left shortly after this, never speaking to Aiden or her son again.

### Trivia

-Aiden's son Dobrev looks more like Aiden's twin brother, Ian Reign, than him

-Ian Reign tells Dobrev that Aiden has been getting into trouble with the law since high school

-While Dobrev was living with him, Aiden did not believe his son could see ghosts and instead thought he was mentally ill

-The name *Aiden* is of Irish origin and means "little and fiery"

-Aiden is currently incarcerated at Salem Prison, Massachusetts for various charges, including drug possession and child endangerment

-He is taking an economics class while in prison

-It is possible that Aiden has some form of bipolar disorder, according to Achille Descoteaux's evaluation of the man in a family photograph of he and Dobrev