Pierre Chareut

Shea had promised that Pierre would die before he was ready, but he'd dismissed that; Shea didn't understand that death would be a relief.

Edgar had promised that Pierre would die before he was ready, but he'd dismissed that; Edgar didn't realize that Pierre had been ready to die since he was ten years old.

But he's thirty-four now. He has nothing to gain and nothing to lose, and he can't help thinking back on those two condemnations. The only thing that could possibly leave him unprepared for death would be a child, and he will never have one of those. He has nothing against sex, as it's as much an implement of torture as of pleasure, but closeness, relationships, children – unacceptable.

That doesn't stop him from offering his small smile to Eileen when she passes. Who will care for her when he meets Edgar and Shea at Hell's gates?

When he was eight, the only comfort he knew was found in Rachel's embrace. When he was ten, that was taken away from him. When he was twenty-six, he took revenge. And after Edgar was dead, Pierre went first to Eileen, promised to take care of her no matter what – and he'd keep that promise until she's an adult. Then he went to Rachel, and without a word, he marked on her wrist and his own that her health and safety would always come first.

Because what promises were made in blood were irrevocable and eternal. Could never be broken.