Paz

Paz's mother died when she was still fairly young, and it sent her father into a tailspin.  He became an alcoholic that would emotionally manipulate her into doing anything he wanted — and that 'anything' eventually ended up in her being pimped out to pay for his habit.  She became unphased by sex, unaffected by physical pleasure.  It was a means of making money, and she continued for many long years to do the same things and pay for his habit.  For a very long time, her father was only emotionally manipulative; however, he became more and more violent the wose his habit got, and he eventually tried to kill her.  Paz overpowered and killed him instead.

Paz's descent as a Kursorian was long and slow, but it started when she was only six; by the time she killed her father, she was steeped in negative power.  That strong negativity caught the eye of Naji, a general with the Kou Sect— an army of humans, Kursorians and Demons hellbent on forcing open the Gates of Heaven and waging war against God for his treatment of them.  More than really resenting God, Paz thought the war sounded like fun without giving it much consideration.  Naji became her mentor, and before long she was well-trained and strong enough to stand on equal footing with him.  Paz became one of the five Generals that supported the army beneath its leader, Jakome.

When it came time for their plans to be put into motion, Paz was charged with the kidnapping and keeping of the Corinthian prince, Enlai.  Enlai proved to be of a type similar to Naji, whom she adored.  It encouraged her to listen to him, pay attention to what he was saying; Paz encouraged Enlai to talk because he was amusing at first.  He would crack carefree jokes full of silly innuendo, badger her like a child, and occassionally offer her advice that was so calm and astute she couldn't help but consider it seriously.  By the time Eliana came to rescue him, Paz let him go almost willingly.

She left the army and picked up her old job, travelling and thinking about Enlai; her steps eventually brought her back to Corinth where she was captured for prostitution and debauchery after a few days in the capital.  Her name managed to find its way to Enlai's ear though, and she was released and greeted as a friend.  She couldn't help but mellow beneath his consideration of her, and eventually she was Redeemed as her heart turned toward him.  Convinced she would not be able to stay, Paz intended to leave the palace.  However, Enlai's adoration of her was no joke; he decides to adopt her as his own daughter, and makes her a princess of Corinth.

It is a few years later when she meets Menghuan; he is a baku, the last of a kind that is nearly extinct.  He is considered an aide to the throne, but Enlai secretly tells her that Meng's real job is to quietly travel about all the planets in the Realm and keep corruption in check where the royal eye does not reach well.  His motivation is less a drive for justice and more the compassion for victims; it's less loyalty to the crown itself, and more loyalty to those who wear it.  His tacit gentility is a type Paz had never seen before, and it draws her attention quickly.  

However, Meng makes getting to know him difficult when he continues to put her on a pedastal as Enlai's 'daughter.'  Paz faces an inferiority complex she's never had before upon hearing Meng's tragic upbringing; he is over a millenia old compared to her paltry two and a half centuries, and yet he has never once Fallen to Kursorian status.  Meng has always been true, and loyal, and honest.  He has never cursed his fate even when he grieved it.  She falls in love with the steely integrity and unbending compassion that have kept him strong all his life.  Menghuan is conflicted as he deals with her affections and his own, but with a lot of pushing from Enlai he is finally able to act on his feelings and begins to court Paz officially.

Sexy, sassy, cute and quirky— those are the four words that are most easily used to describe her.  Since sex is next door to meaningless for her, she thinks nothing of using her body to tease others.  She has been known to walk into the men's barracks stark naked just to watch them freak out.  Her pleasures include money, comfortable beds, intelligent company and savory dishes.  Paz almost always wears a smile on her face; she is smarter than she lets on, and always knows more than she's telling.  She is cunning and frugal, but still loves extravagance (as long as it's on someone's tab other than her own).