Clarence has always been easy to underestimate. As a child, he was frail and bookish, a stark contrast to the two strapping brothers who followed him. His father expected little and his mother even less. When his father died, he dared to hope that the world–or at least the rest of his own family–might start to take him seriously. Instead, his younger brother stepped into the role of man of the house without so much as a word of discussion, and Clarence settled into the kind of resentment that either poisons a man from within…or sets him free. Whatever his private truth might have been, he refused to box himself up small to fit the old container designed by his family. He left them back east and headed out west, where a man could supposedly make his own destiny.
Several decades (and deviances) later, he’s become one of Never’s most well-established residents. The demon that heeds his commands is a double-edged sword, but even his detractors can’t ignore the political, financial and social influence that she’s given him.
Clarence Barron
Margaret “Maggie” Bell
Maggie Bell is the heart and soul of the Silver Hills Hotel, a welcoming refuge nestled in the center of Never. With her upbeat demeanor, ready smile, and the warmth of someone who genuinely cares for the comfort of others, Maggie makes everyone who walks through the hotel doors feel like family. Whether she’s personally overseeing the meals in the dining room or offering a reassuring word to a guest, she radiates a sense of hospitality that has earned her the trust of the town.
Unlike some of her more subtle angelic counterparts, Maggie isn’t content to sit back quietly: She’s actively involved, using her innate sense of right and wrong to keep an eye on the darkness that lingers in the corners of Never. If something feels off, if someone is being wronged, Maggie is the first to speak up. She believes that the fight for goodness isn’t passive, and that even the smallest action can spark a ripple of change.
Her relationship with her brother Otto is one of quiet support, but Maggie’s true mission is clear: To help the lost find their way home, and to ensure that even in a town as strange as Never, there’s always a light shining to guide them.
Gladys Daugherty, aka Molly
Strictly speaking, Molly Daugherty doesn’t really exist. Neither did Gladys Daugherty, or Gilda Cartwright before her, or Glenna Gordon before her. None of them lasted longer than a series of letters, each one sealed with a perfumed kiss and mailed to a man looking for love in the personal advertisements of various Midwestern papers. After the letters, a meeting; then a wedding; then a few weeks or months of wedded bliss before tragic accidents befell Mr. Gordon, Mr. Cartwright, and Mr. Daugherty, each in his turn. Each one’s worldly possessions went to their newly-minted widow, who sold everything for a quick profit and then…summarily disappeared.
Of course, the money of a relatively poor lonely heart doesn’t stretch very far, and sometimes a woman needs to make ends meet while she’s looking for her next true love. The Silk Rose is just a starting point for a lady with ambition.
Felix Salazar
Felix Salazar is the most sought-after barber in Never, not just for his razor’s precision or the indulgent warmth of his lather, but for the experience he makes of every visit. His shop, nestled off a quieter side street, is a dim, fragrant haven where time slows down and pleasures linger. Felix himself is a sensualist to the bone: Graceful in his movements, silver-tongued in conversation, and always clad in crisp waistcoats that smell faintly of clove and smoke. He’ll remember your name, your drink, your dreams, and he’ll listen, truly listen, as you pour them out in the chair.
Beneath that velvet charm, though, lies his darker calling as a demon, placed in Never to seduce the weary, the lonesome, and the damned into taking one small step further into Hell’s embrace. He doesn’t pressure, he tempts. A whispered suggestion, a shared secret, a decadent favor with just the right price. His scissors shape more than hair; they trim the edges of a soul’s resistance, snipping away hesitation thread by thread.
Duke Aguilar
Like generations of his forefathers in Argentina, Duke Aguilar has always had a way with horses. Even the most spirited stallion or ornery pack horse would yield to his murmured words and calming hands. When his family fled the growing political and social unrest of their homeland, that skill proved just as valuable to the ranchers of California as the ones in Buenos Aires. For years, he coasted on those talents and his charm, weaponizing a sheepish smile and soulful eyes, getting what he wanted with as little effort as possible.
That worked perfectly well until he ran headfirst into Gloria Mata, whose determined disinterest drove him to absolute distraction. Winning her heart took time and effort, but when she finally gave him her hand, she also offered him the truth. She was a witch–the first he had ever known, though he’d long believed in magic. To protect her and soon enough, their children, Duke left his family legacy behind and bent his skill with horses into a slightly different direction. In Never, he runs the livery and works at the forge, with his children following in his footsteps. If the closest he gets to a horse these days is hammering on its shoes… He tries not to let nostalgia sour his overall satisfaction.
Dolores Aguilar
Like her elder brother, Dolores realized by the age of ten that she hadn’t inherited the slightest spark of her mother’s magic. Unlike her brother, who accepted the disappointment and turned his attention elsewhere, Dolores got angry, and she’s been simmering at a low level of irritation ever since. Her mother encouraged her to work on her patience, which only created a divide between them. The fractures worsened when Dolores decided that she would force magic upon herself by any means necessary. Over the years, she’s attempted a half-dozen questionable rituals. Perhaps fortunately, she’s been unsuccessful every time, but her mother’s misguided reassurances that they all love her anyway just rub salt in the wound. Her close relationships with her father and brothers have thus far kept her from leaving the family business and striking out on her own.
Otto Bell
Otto Bell is the jovial half of the Silver Hills Hotel duo, always ready with a quick joke or a playful quip to put guests at ease. His humor is infectious, and he has a natural gift for making even the most anxious traveler feel welcome and comfortable. Whether he’s cracking jokes behind the desk or creating a lively atmosphere at the hotel’s social gatherings, Otto’s ability to bring joy and laughter makes him a beloved figure in Never.
But beneath the playful exterior, Otto shares his sister Maggie’s angelic calling. While Maggie guides lost souls with quiet grace, Otto is the one who gently lifts their spirits with humor and warmth, easing their burdens before they continue their journey. His mission to help the lost find their way to Heaven is woven into his every action, though he wears it lightly. He may be more inclined to crack a joke than preach, but he is just as devoted to his heavenly task as Maggie — Ensuring that the light of kindness and laughter reaches even the darkest corners of the town.