Damian Argyros

Damian Argyros is a supporting character in The Book of Falling by Rob Pegler. Argyros is the leader of the Chernysvet Clan, currently the third most powerful of the vampire syndicates controlling the city of Roseburg. Argyros is over three hundred years old and is believed to be of Mediterranean descent. An uncharacteristically passive character for a clan boss, he is generally concerned with managing his own affairs in his own territory, claiming that it doesn’t “serve his interests” to interfere with the other Clans. Argyros’ last territorial dispute was with Xander Moorden, the somewhat ineffectual leader of the Okhotniki Clan, and even in that feud Argyros went to unusual lengths to keep the peace, such as sending one of his adopted “children” into Moorden’s service as compensation for an accidental offence. Less than a year later, however, Argyros was able to lauch a full-scale assault on the Okhotniki, wiping them out and taking over their territory (largely due to the actions of Gabriel Pope and Meliad). This habit of biding his time and ruthlessly exploiting every opportunity has been the source of most of Argyros’ success, and he has a reputation as a character not to turn one’s back on.

One of the most puzzling aspects of Argyros’ character is his relationship with his adopted daughters, Salome and Celeste. The twins were seldom far from their “father’s” side in the past, but in recent years the “family” appeared to have a falling out. He apparently disowned the somewhat volatile Celeste, leading her to form her own gang and ally herself with Johnny Fantôme, a situation that eventually led to her death at the hands of Gabriel Pope. (Argyros seems to bear no ill will towards Gabe for Celeste’s killing, even saving his life at one point; Mel suspects he’s merely “working an angle”). Meanwhile Salome had been sent to work for Xander Moorden, until she was set adrift by the destruction of the Okhotniki Clan and later fell into Fantôme's employ herself. Argyros has expressed a desire to have his daughter back, though it remains unclear whether this is out of love or merely a concern for her deadly talents being in the control of another boss.

Weapons of choice: Argyros carries a Walther P38 handgun, possibly a trophy weapon from his days in occupied Paris.

Damian Argyros is mentioned in various stories, but has only personally appeared in the story “Agenda”.