Dark-Hunter Series
Cherise Gautier is a minor character in the Dark-Hunter (DH) series. She is motherly towards everyone she meets and makes them fall in love with her. In One Silent Night, it is said that Nick's father Adarian was drawn to her because they were so opposite, her pure good to his evil. Cherise was fifteen years old and Adarian was posing as a career felon. Cherise's parents gave her an ultimatum: give up the baby, finish high school, and continue living with them or keep her baby and be kicked out without any recognition. Cherise chose the latter and became an exotic dancer on Bourbon Street. She was a single mother since Adarian was in and out of prison and eventually died in Angola during a prison riot.
She eventually quit stripping and went to college on a full scholarship, then became a cook and bartended at Sanctuary. She was murdered by a Daimon in Seize the Night. Her death is what caused her son Nick to go down the path of darkness.
Chronicles of Nick
Cherise is a main character in Chronicles of Nick. She is blind to the supernatural world despite having such a big role as mother of the Malachai. She knew nothing of Adarian's origins or how they play a role in her son's place in the universe. For reasons unknown her mind simply can't comprehend the supernatural world. It is implied that she was raped, which led to her son's conception, but she loves him despite the way he was given to her.
In Instinct, we learn that Cherise's parents adopted her and her real parents are Jared, a Sephiroth, and an unknown woman who passed away in a car accident. Jared does not know that he is her father, as it was a secret that was never to be revealed. Initially she was a trap for Adarian, as he would be attracted to her goodness, a byproduct of her Sephiroth bloodline. It is for this reason that Nick is such a conundrum as a Malachai.
Powers and Abilities
- Malachai Control: Cherise is Nick's world and is the only person in existence who can exert complete control over him. This means that she has control of what is quite possibly the most powerful being ever born.
- Spiritual Balm: Cherise has a calming and soothing effect on others.
Weaknesses
- Supernatural Blindness: Cherise is utterly incapable of seeing or believing the existence of the supernatural.