Shadow

Russian: Тень (Shadow)

Age: twin of Vulture; would have been 18-19 at "present"

Other Nicks: one of the Siamese ("they hadn’t acquired separate nicks"); Max, as he is sometimes referred to in the flashbacks, appears to be his real name.

Status: in the flashbacks, member of The Pack, but then defects to the Poxy Sissies with his brother. At one point splits with Rex in refusing to participate in The Pack's assaults on Grasshopper and Blind. After formation of the groups - one of the Birds.

Appearance: identical to Vulture, except that where Vulture has a deformed right leg, Shadow has a prosthetic in place of the left (the twins have been conjoined, "with three legs between the two of them").

Outside the House: With his mother dead and father absent since infancy, has been brought to the House by his grandparents at the age of 5; had no contact with them afterwards.

In the House: Died in the Sepulcher of an undisclosed illness two years before the main events in the book. According to Vulture, haunts the corridors as a ghost.

On the Other Side: Vulture, when discussing his own Jumps and his inability to find the Master of Time there, asserts that Max "would have succeeded where I have failed. He was so much stronger.” This leads us to believe that Max was at least a Jumper.

Ombre