Damien Takida
Damien Hesha, born Damien Takida, is a Venusian Summoner, a Venusian Treasure, and a member of the Takida Bloodline. He serves as a High Priest of Venus; the Takida family directory also records his priestly offices for Eros and Cupid and his position as a Royal Ward of Pergrand.
Damien is married and mated to Grand Duke Wolfgang Hesha and holds the title of Duke of Icefall alongside him. He oversees their castle, its staff, and the Temple of Venus that Wolfgang commissioned for him.1 His children include Addison Hesha-Karadin, the biological son of Raimarc Karadin who later becomes king of Pergrand.
Appearance
Damien has long silver-blonde hair and pale blue eyes. He usually wears his hair long and loose. His appearance is associated with pale robes, elaborate gold ornamentation, blue gemstones, and floral decorations. Venusian symbols feature prominently in his devotional presentation.
His mating mark is a pale blue dragon curling from his neck beneath his collar.1 Pink devotional tattoos distinguish him from his identical twin, Hestor, whose Anubian markings are black and gold. When Hestor wears his hair long, the resemblance is strong enough for strangers to mistake one brother for the other.7
Personality
Damien is gentle, kind, devoted, and soft-spoken. Compassion, love, and the possibility of a kinder world are central to his outlook. His ideals are expressed in the saying:
Love is a sacred power. To cherish is to create a kinder world.
His priestly identity emphasizes prayer, guidance, protection, and care for others. He is deeply protective of his children, but supports their independence even when separation troubles him. He agrees to Addison's apprenticeship because he understands that his son needs to discover his own worth, rather than live only in the shadow of his parentage.1
Damien's gentleness does not prevent him from speaking firmly against prejudice. During Addison's early reign, he publicly rejects the claim that loving a woman is a moral deviation and identifies the doctrine with the Karadin family's demonic pact.6 He enjoys chocolate and strawberries, and values the cold-resistant flowers Addison grows for him.46
Biography
Birth family and upbringing
Damien is the identical twin brother of Hestor Adom Kedanza, and a son of Kiran Kedanza and Ming Kedanza. He has Stellan and Boscan heritage. His Takida birth identity and Hesha married name refer to the same person.
The Anubrey Anja raised Damien from infancy. Damien regards him as a father and remains close to him after Anja is freed from service to the Karadin dynasty. Anja taught him Stellan, a language he later also taught Addison.12
Captivity and the protection of his children
Damien was captured by King Gustan Karadin. Ivan Karadin later assisted Wolfgang Hesha in secretly extracting Damien from the royal palace and bringing him to Icefall.
Damien also survived sexual assault and forced pregnancy at the hands of Raimarc Karadin. After fleeing to Icefall, he gave birth to Addison. Raimarc was told that the child was a girl and had been killed, concealing Addison's survival and identity.
Wolfgang adopted Addison at birth and publicly raised him as his own son. The concealment risked Wolfgang's position and the safety of his household, but protected Addison from Raimarc. Damien's children were sheltered in different households: most grew up in Icefall under Wolfgang's protection, while Iris and Jasmine remained with Ivan, who was best placed to protect them. Uram concealed Damien's connection to Tylan and Pyter to shield him from Raimarc's anger.1
Marriage and life in Icefall
Wolfgang recognized the possibility of a mating bond when he and Damien first met, but gave Damien time and support to choose the relationship for himself. Their eventual marriage and mating gave Damien a shared ducal title and responsibility for their castle and its staff. Wolfgang also had a Temple of Venus built for him.1
Their relationship is characterized by devotion and lasting companionship, expressed in the phrase:
Two hearts. One journey. Always.
Anja remains close to Damien by choice rather than obligation. Damien encourages him to live freely and to seek his own mate; Anja later credits that encouragement with his search for Zora. Anja and Zora remain part of the extended family.19
Addison's apprenticeship and accession
Damien supports Addison's departure for training with Rowan Drayke through White Sea, while asking him to stay in regular contact. Hestor helps arrange his education. Damien is distressed when Addison returns after fourteen years of personal experience off-plane while comparatively little time has passed for his family, and insists on visiting him.14
After Tylan renounces his claim, Addison assumes the throne of Pergrand. Damien and Wolfgang attend his early Senate proceedings. Damien is proud that Addison openly honors Venus and develops his magic to help the country, although the use of carnivorous plants unsettles him and he objects to Venusian roses being used to dispose of enemies.56
At home, Damien continues to treat Addison as his son rather than as a monarch, reminding him that he can set aside royal duties in the family household.9
Magic and Religious Role
Venusian Summoner
Damien's magical vocation is that of a Venusian Summoner. His devotional imagery combines Venusian symbolism with luminous flowers and motifs of beauty and compassion. He has seraphim among his spirits and can sense their emotional reactions.7
During a celestial-key auction, Damien acquires the Golden Seraphim, a winged white-gold key. His existing spirits react uneasily to the purchase. He decides to wait until returning home before attempting its contract.7
Perception of bonds
Damien can perceive the strings connecting people. At Eventide Bay, he sees these connections in the Venusian clams and pearls and recognizes their relationship to The One Magic.5 His perception distinguishes different kinds of attachment: he identifies Addison's connection with Yessa as a profound friendship rather than romantic love.9
He takes an active interest in helping others find their destined partners. Hestor describes him as a persistent matchmaker who has encouraged the dukes and princes for years, and Damien offers to help Sydelle find her partner.7
Venusian Treasure and High Priest
Damien is a Venusian Treasure. This aspect of his identity is distinct from his summoning vocation and his priestly offices.
As a High Priest of Venus, Damien's spiritual life centers on love, compassion, beauty, and care. The Takida Bloodline directory additionally identifies him as High Priest of Eros and Cupid. His practical duties include overseeing the Temple of Venus in Icefall.1
Children
Damien's children were protected by several households during Raimarc's reign. Their places of upbringing do not all indicate biological parentage.1
| Name | Family and upbringing |
|---|---|
| Addison Hesha-Karadin | Biological son of Damien and Raimarc Karadin; adopted and raised by Wolfgang Hesha in Icefall. Later king of Pergrand. |
| Iris Karadin | Daughter of Damien and Raimarc; Phoenix shifter raised by Ivan in the Dollhouse. |
| Jasmine Karadin | Daughter of Damien and Raimarc; Phoenix shifter raised by Ivan in the Dollhouse. |
| Wolfram | Son born to Damien as a surrogate for Wolfgang Hesha; Wolfgang's heir in Icefall. |
| Tylan Karadin | Son born to Damien for Uram Karadin; Uram concealed Damien's identity as his birth parent. |
| Pyter Karadin | Son born to Damien for Uram Karadin; grew up under Uram's protection alongside Tylan. |
| Madeline | Younger daughter with a twin brother. Both are present during Addison’s family reunion in Icefall. |
The chapters also depict younger children whose names are not supplied. Madeline's twin brother is unnamed in the reunion scene.9
Relationships
- Wolfgang Hesha: Husband and mate; Grand Duke of Icefall. Wolfgang helped secure Damien's escape and protected his children. He calls Damien his angel; Damien affectionately calls him Wolfy.7
- Hestor Kedanza: Identical twin brother and High Priest of Anubis. Their different priestly markings help distinguish them. Hestor arranges a gift of Boscan marriage jewelry for Damien and Wolfgang, incorporating stones for their children.7
- Anja: Anubrey foster father who raised Damien. Their bond remains familial after Anja's freedom, and Damien expressly reassures him that he is free to choose his own life.1
- Zora: Anja's mate and a protective member of the extended family.1
- Ivan Karadin: Helped Wolfgang bring Damien to safety and protected Iris and Jasmine.
- Uram Karadin: Father of Tylan and Pyter, whose connection to Damien he concealed for Damien's safety.1
- Raimarc Karadin: Perpetrator of Damien's sexual assault and forced pregnancy; biological father of Addison, Iris, and Jasmine.
- Gustan Karadin: Former king of Pergrand who captured Damien.
See Also
- Takida Bloodline
- Venusian Treasure
- Wolfgang Hesha
- Hestor Kedanza
- Addison Karadin
- Kiran Kedanza
- Ming Kedanza
- Pergrand
Sources
- Chapter 1, Icefall family dinner and Addison's departure.
- Chapter 2, Addison's education and Anja's language teaching.
- Chapter 4, Addison's return, family calls, and preparations for his reign.
- Chapter 5, the family's pearl-diving visit and discussion of Addison's future.
- Chapter 6, Addison's first Senate session and the palace gardens.
- Chapter 7, the market, celestial-key auction, and Hesha family jewelry.
- Chapter 9, Addison's visit to Icefall and the family's discussion of bonds.
