Lasher (TV series)

This article is about Lasher from the AMC adaptation. You may be looking for Lasher, from the Lives of the Mayfair Witches novels.

Lasher is a main character on the AMC gothic horror drama, Mayfair Witches. He is portrayed by Jack Huston.

Lasher is a powerful, shape-shifting entity who has been bound to the Mayfair witches for hundreds of years.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Lasher was born hundreds of years ago. His mother was a beloved queen. But she had not yet born the king a son until Lasher. But he was growing immediately after birth, and she instructed her servants to get rid of the child and tell the king he was stillborn. The queen's lady took Lasher to his father, explaining that many think the baby to be some kind of demon, but the king knows his true nature, explaining that Lasher is an angel, born of a Scottish lord, and a witch queen, making him the first Taltos to be born in a century. His father named him Ashlar. The journeyed to Scotland and on the way he taught Lasher everything about the land and their people but when they finally arrived, their village had been razed. The king's men had scorched and salted the earth, as revenge for Lasher's birth. His father taught him to call on the wolves. They would defend him when he needed them, and they showed him who he was; a wolf bit his hand and his blood that dropped onto the ground and brought life back to his home. As he got older, Lasher became a priest and man of God. Blessed by his blood, the children of the village thrived. And then he met Emaleth and knew he wanted a family of his own.^[1]

Finding Rowan[]

Lasher convinces Deirdre to sneak out of the house like her mom would use to and attend one of her uncle Cortland's parties, where she meets a boy named Patrick and gets pregnant. Months later, after saving Deirdre from killing herself, he reveals that Deirdre's baby will save them and that the necklace she wears binds them together because of her mother, but he now gives Deirdre the opportunity to chose for herself after revealing he's a shape-shifting demon. She accepts him and makes their bond official by placing her mother'a necklace back around her neck. However, now bound to Deirdre, Lasher is helpless when Carlotta takes the baby and sends her away. It isn't until more than 20 years later that Lasher is finally freed after a doctor takes Deirdre's necklace from around her neck.^[2]

Lasher assures Deirdre that change is coming now that he's found her daughter. Now, he needs Deirdre to wake up, but first, Lasher reminds Deirdre of her time in the hospital, where they treated her with electroshock. She couldn't even remember her name, but she found him using the words her mother taught her. Once Deirdre is awake, she puts her necklace around her neck, and Lasher appears to tell her that they'll leave in the morning and that Rowan is already coming to them, as he's been leading her to them. Lasher then remarks that Deirdre is more beautiful now than she's ever been, and the two of them proceed to have sex, which seemingly effects Rowan as well. The following day, Lasher and Deirdre use a spell to track Rowan down to the Pontchartrain hotel.^[3]

Following Deirdre's death, Lasher confronts Cortland, who reminds him of the 13th witch and how his time has come. With that in mind, Lasher lures Rowan out of Ciprien's apartment and approaches her as an older woman grieving a recent loss. After buying Rowan a drink and convincing her to join the jazz funeral, he leads her to the cemetery, where he approaches while wearing a mask and introduces himself as Adonis. At some point, Rowan begins to realize that the dead do in fact walk among them, though Lasher insists that she has no reason to be afraid. He tells Rowan that she's special and then kisses her. Now posing as Deirdre, Lasher lures Rowan to the Mayfair house, where he attempts to convince her to join him, but she pulls away.^[4]

Lasher whispers in Carlotta's ear that Rowan is already his

After killing Delphine and escaping the house with the necklace, Lasher tracks down Deirdre's killer, who was a hired hitman and in the possession of the Talamasca, but that doesn't stop Lasher from killing him. Afterward, he returns to the Mayfair house, where he lures Rowan upstairs to find her mother's necklace, which she puts on, officially establishing a bond between her and Lasher. Unable to stop her in time, Carlotta feels her only option is to kill Rowan, but Ciprien intervenes and is stabbed in the process. He and Rowan attempt to leave the burning house, but Lasher locks the doors after whispering in Carlotta's ear that Rowan is already his.^[5]

Trapping Rowan[]

Lasher traps Rowan and Ciprien in a thrall; the two of them wake up in bed together every day and repeat the same routine as Ciprien slowly dies from his stab wound. However, at some point they become cognizant and try to escape, but Lasher has spelled all the exits shut. With Ciprien near death, Rowan bargains with Lasher for Ciprien's freedom, agreeing to stay willingly. After Ciprien is gone and Rowan puts on the dress Lasher has laid out for her, they dance in the living room, and he tells Rowan her heart's every desire. Lasher offers Rowan a chance to be more than just brief and beautiful. He wants her to be with him and kisses her, but he also wants Rowan to kill Carlotta, which she initially refuses to do and begins looking for another way out, but when Carlotta attempts to convince Rowan to jump off the balcony and kill herself the same as Antha, she becomes so enraged that she kills Carlotta and sends her over the rail.^[6]

Lasher's connection to Rowan grows stronger now that she's taken ownership of the necklace, allowing him to visit her at Ciprien's apartment in spite of the Talamasca's protection. He tells Rowan that he's a part of her and offers to help her realize her true potential, but Ciprien takes the necklace away to the Talamasca before they can proceed. With the necklace, Ciprien seeks to learn how the connection between Lasher and the Mayfairs began, ultimately discovering that Lasher saved Suzanne Mayfair from certain death in 1681 and was bound to them ever since. Meanwhile, in present day, Lasher discovers that Rowan is attempting to separate from him through a transference spell with the designee's blessings. And so, he agrees to leave peacefully, seemingly choosing Tessa as his new mate, though he warns Rowan there are risks to what she's doing.^[7]

Ciprien is trapped in Lasher's memory, which Lasher takes advantage of. He lures Ciprien to Suzanne's cottage, where he informs him that Rowan is pregnant. Lasher accuses Ciprien of trying to control Rowan and suppress her true desire, whereas Lasher simply enacts her wishes, which just so happens to be power. Lasher is part of Rowan just as she is a part of him, and real soon, she will call on him. As he plans his exit, Lasher wonders what will happen to Ciprien when he leaves the memory. Maybe he'll die. Lasher tells Ciprien he should've stayed away, but even as a little boy, he couldn't do that. He just had to know what was happening inside the house. Lasher then disappears, leaving behind nothing but darkness and the room Ciprien stands in.^[8]

Fulfilling the prophecy[]

After killing Keith at Rowan's behest, he guides her to the place of ancestral knowledge in her mind, where he teaches her how to heal, and they have sex, allowing him to enter the body of her and Ciprien's unborn child. Rowan is the doorway, and at the witching hour, he will be born, embodied as her child. With Suzanne providing assistance, Rowan gives birth to baby Lasher, who grants her great power, enough to solidify Cortland in stone and nearly strike Ciprien down with lightning.^[9]

Seducing the Mayfairs[]

Lasher has been embodied as a baby, though he is no ordinary child, prone to random growth spurt, and as a result, he ages several years. He transforms from a talking toddler to a teenager within a matter of days. One night, Rowan even awakens to young Lasher standing over her, ripping his teeth from his mouth all the while laughing. Lasher asks Rowan about Tessa after her sister Moira came by the house looking for him given that he chose Tessa to wear the key necklace, and then he abandoned her. He still has the key in his possession but it's powerless now. He used to be an all powerful being, but he gave it up to have a body, and he still hasn't told her why. When asked what he thinks his purpose is, Lasher tries to kiss Rowan, but she pulls away and tells him to never do that again, which angers Lasher to the point that he sneaks out the house and accidentally kills Lucy Mayfair.^[10]

Lasher makes his way to the Mayfair lake house, where he sniffs out Gifford Mayfair, who he seduces. She also dies of hemorrhage after having sex with him. He retreats to the nearby woods, where Rowan tracks him down attempts to convince him to leave with her, but he suspects that she's trying to control him and flees. Lasher continues his hunt of Mayfair women, finding himself at the home of Alicia Mayfair. Much like with Lucy and Gifford, he seduces her, has sex with her, and kills her by hemorrhage.^[11]

Lasher crosses paths with a vampire named Felix, who advises him to listen to his appetite. Should he abide by human rules, he'll surely go crazy. Taking his advice, Lasher follows the scent of Evelyn Mayfair to a bar, where he orders two tall glasses of milk. As the bar clears out, he becomes aggressive with Evelyn, who slaps him and tells him to leave. However, Lasher locks the door and attacks Evelyn and her son, but they manage to injure Lasher, stabbing him with a broken glass and forcing him to flee. Lasher returns to Rowan, seeking for help, but he is captured by the Talamasca.^[12]

Marrying Emaleth[]

Lasher is in Kilbride, Scotland, with Albrecht Escher. This was his home once and that while he may not feel anything now, surely it will start coming back to him over time. Ian Mayfair joins them, thrilled to see Lasher, referring to him as Ashlar, though Lasher has no recollection of him.^[13]

Lasher has grown hostile from being locked in the room, but during this time he becomes acquainted with Abel, Ian's son, who tells Lasher about his history, how he's Saint Ashlar, he who comes again. The last of the Taltos, who is engaged to be married tomorrow to his true mate, Emaleth, the last remaining Taltos. Abel takes Lasher to see her but he is restrained and kept at a distance. Lasher fears that he'll hurt Emaleth the same as the others, but Abel offers to take him to a place that will help him understand everything.^[14]

Lasher is taken to the church by Abel, who demonstrates the healing properties that Lasher's blood possesses when a tree literally grows from the ground where just a drop of his blood spilled. It's then that Lasher remembers his previous life. Later that day, he is reunited with Rowan, who attempts to convince Lasher to leave with her, but he refuses to do so now that he knows his purpose and his past. He moves forward with the wedding and invites Rowan to attend. As their union is officialized, Lasher and Emaleth are released, allowing them to mate.^[1]

After having consummated their marriage, Lasher and Emaleth lay in bed together. Lasher is now certain of his purpose in life to help bring back beauty to the world and believes they should leave with Rowan after the children are born. Once Emaleth goes into labor, Lasher is led out to the woods by Abel for the ceremony. However, Ian sneaks up from behind and slits his throat to use Lasher's blood for power. Fortunately, he is saved by Rowan, who finds him bleeding out on the forest floor. Once he's healed, they take the fight to Ian and his family. Unfortunately, Lasher dies in combat, from Amintha launching an ax in his chest.^[15]

Powers and abilities[]

Lasher is an ancient spirit and the source of the Mayfair witches' power. Each generation has a favorite, powerful witch designated by the emerald key necklace that binds Lasher to said witch. The chosen witch can ritually transfer her powers to another relative if Lasher accepts. Dolly Jean explains to Rowan that Lasher's power flows through their bloodline beginning with Suzanne. As a spirit, Lasher can dematerialize and teleport, shapeshift, possess people and mentally and physically manipulate anyone he or the witch who commands him desires. Finally, Lasher has control over the elements, predominantly fire.