Steven A. Starphase

**Steven A. Starphase** (スティーブン・Ａ・スターフェイズ, *Sutībun A Sutāfeizu*) is Libra's second-in-command. A shady man with many connections.

## Appearance

A tall man with short black hair and a thin scar running down the left side of his face. He typically wears a dark grey suit, blue shirt and a yellow tie with custom shoes to use his blood-skills.

## Personality

Seemingly laid back, he gives off an air of a suave businessman, always with a quip or sardonic comment to make about the situation. when crossed, however, he shows a ruthless side, and is not above using his connections to make 'problems' disappear.

## Plot

**Follow That Phantom Ghost Wagon.**

Stephen is first seen discussing the situation of Leo's kidnapping and Zapp's hospitalization with Klaus. Initially overwhelmed by his Leader's fierce expression, he realizes Klaus has been worrying himself sick and speculates he has a dozen ulcers from nerves.

After attempting to put the man at ease, he receives a report from the hospital and realizes Zapp tagged the wagon that took Leo and has been extending the thread with blood.

Instructing Chain to pursue, he and Klaus pile into Gilbert's car and take off down the street, Steven casually flipping passing drivers off before urging Klaus to destroy the crashed wagon.

**A Game Between worlds.**

Stephen is first seen inquiring of Gilbert as to why Leo is sleeping in Klaus' office, commenting on the boy's naivete at refusing additional pay due to 'not wanting special treatment'.

When Zapp comes in, covered in blood from a druggie, he brings up the existence of the drug Angel Scale and mentions the two monomaniacal Gatekeepers responsible for screening the gates.

Following the news report detailing the Attack on the U.S President, Stephen is among those intimidated by Klaus' expression, only to react humorously when it's revealed he was playing Prosfair.

**Bloodline Fever**

During a Libra Party, Stephen is seen as part of a 'Cabal', chatting amiably with Klaus and several other Libra members, during which time K.K vocally announces her distrust for him, calling him scarface.

When Leo unwittingly reveals he saw the Aura of a Blood Breed in the Subway, putting everyone on edge, Stephan pulls out a color coded sheet to confirm the color of said Aura. He is later deployed along with K.K, to the latter's ire, and manages to defeat her ghouls before being soundly beaten by the vampires.

As the Elder mocks them for trying to use blood correctly, Stephen stalls for time by implying that the ones with the fangs to reach them will arrive shortly, allowing Klaus to come up behind them, crush Antonio and seal the Elder with his pattern 999.

## Power and Abilities

**Esmerelda Blood Freeze** (エスメラルダ式血凍道, *Esumeraruda-shiki Kettōdō*?)**:** Steven's ability allows him to decrease the temperature of his blood in order to freeze targets. His techniques are spoken in Spanish. This is called **Esmerelda Blood Freeze Style** in the FUNimation dub

* **Espada del Cero Absoluto** (絶対零度の剣 (エスパーダデルセロアブソルート), *Esupāda deru Sero Abusorūto*?, literally "Sword of Absolute Zero")**:** A kick-based attack that freezes enemies on contact.
* **Avión del Cero Absoluto** (絶対零度の地平 (アヴィオンデルセロアブソルート), *Avion deru Sero Abusorūto*?, literally "Plane of Absolute Zero"): Steven stands firm and freezes the entire ground.

## Trivia

* In a mini-comic by Yasuhiro Nightow that was included in the volume 1 DVD, Steven and K.K. are revealed to be in their 30's.
* In a Q&A session with Nightow, it is revealed that the red marks on the back of Steven's neck are from a tattoo that runs from Steven's neck, down his back, and reaches all the way to his foot. The tattoo design itself is still in the works.