Name: Serenity Elaina Nigher (pronounced NYE-er) Nicknames: None Age: 17 Gender: Female Nationality: American Species: Witch Circle: None

Family: Karena Nigher, Augusto Notte (parents); Melisande (sister); Micah (brother) Position in School: Senior Type of Student: Transfer Residence: Waldgrave Hall Roommate: Fey Mallory Soulmate: Vinnie Windcaster

Serenity is of average height and weight with a young woman's curves and an overall roundness. Her face is round and girlish making her seem younger than her years. She has bright grey-blue eyes and a pensive, steady gaze. Haloing her head is an unruly mass of light brown curls that take on a reddish-hue in certain light and in the summer. Serenity fights with her hair daily, and the curls have a tendency to frizz in damp and humidity. Her skin is a fair, peachy color that tans easily. She moves unobtrusively through the halls, but there is a definite grace and balance to the way she carries herself. Serenity has a small, heart-shaped mouth that curves in her trademark soft, closed smile. Her clothing choices are usually nice, casual and comfortable with few accessories. Serenity wears minimal make-up, if any at all, since most of her prep time is spent taming her curls.

Serenity is a model oldest child: responsible, considerate, and obedient. She tries good example and do what other people want or expect, usually at the expense of her own desires. She views the world calm acceptance and takes the curves life throws in stride. She's rarely misbehaves or lets herself be seen upset. She keeps a lot locked up inside, and can appear distant. Serenity is skilled at masking her true feelings behind a smooth gaze and a quiet smile in public while waiting to let out her frustrations in private. She hasn't found her niche in the world so she simply drifts along, taking the middle road, while searching for something exciting. Serenity hasn't yet found a calling or passion to give her some direction in her life. She is intelligent and curious, and likes to question, but she's not a fighter. She doesn't like to agitate or instigate drama. Serenity had been brought up to be the "good child". Her family expects her to pursue a career worthy of a Nigher that will at to the family's status. Despite these high family aspirations, Serenity often views herself as second fiddle to her younger siblings, notably her sister. She has a skewed sense of humor, and some of her ideas and perspectives are different having grown up on the West Coast. Serenity sometimes dreams of hauling off and going wild, being absolutely crazy, but so far sense and conscience have always won out and the most damage done is to a pint of ice cream. She enjoys low-key quiet past times like reading, listening to music mediation and being with small groups of friends.

Serenity is very intelligent and pours her heart into her studies. Her spellcraft is strong but unpredictable, and she has a decidely green thumb. Serenity prefers working with natural tools (herbs, stones, raw elements), and she has a developing energy sense and can navigate very well in the dark. She's dabbled in music, dancing, art and writing, but so far she's not found something to really lights her fire. She bounces from interest to interest being mediocre at many things and great at none. Serenity enjoys singing and has a lovely, if untrained, mezzosoprano voice. Acting comes naturally, and she finds being in a character helps her deal with and express emotions she would normally avoid. However, Serenity doesn't think she's good enough to pursue them professionally, and it's not really an acceptable career choice for her family. She has a strong sense of duty and responsibility to keeping order that is both a strength and weakness.

Serenity lets herself be overshadowed by the goals and expectations of her family and others. Serenity has a hard time saying 'no' when people ask favors of her, not because of an altruistic nature or desire to fit in. She just feels obligated to help people who sincerely ask, whether she wants to or not. Her desire to not cause trouble can lead to decisions that are not always wise. Her first instinct is to walk away from confrontation rather than stand her ground. She was raised to say and do what is proper for a woman of her age and family, what is expected, and not what pleases her own self. Serenity has an on-and-off jealousy of her sister, Melisande, who has always been the beauty of the family and the pampered princess. Because of her lack of competitive spirit, she's terrible at pretty much any seriously played sport or game. She'll try because she feels obligated to whatever unfortunate team has her, but there's no heart in her game.

The Nigher family is an old witch family that came to Graves Island as an escape from persecution and eventually found a place amongst the other Night World families. In the very old days, they were the Night Watchers and guarded the tribe from the darkness. Today many Nighers are involved in security and protective services and careers. Karena Nigher had goals and ambitions that didn't necessarily include living her whole life in Winthrop being a proper woman of means. Shortly after graduation from Ashwood, Karena eloped with Augusto Notte without her family's blessings and became pregnant with Serenity. Which event actually occurred first is something the Nighers refuse to discuss. Serenity's name was chosen because she cried for a moment after birth, and was quiet thereafter, watching the doctors and nurses with serene, blue eyes. When Serenity was almost two years, her mother gave birth to twins: Micah and Melisande. Micah, the older twin, was born without incident, but the smaller Melisande was born in trouble and was intermittently ill through the first few years of life. Although Melisande outgrew her medical problems and is as healthy as any witch, she was already pegged as the fragile, delicate little flower of the family that was cossetted and indulged. Over the years, Serenity was encouraged to be nothing but a kind and understanding big sister, to provide a good example for her siblings, and help her parents with their care. Some of her earliest memories are of waiting rooms in doctor's offices and hospitals and be given lukewarm hot chocolate to occupy her. Now, the drink is an ultimate source of comfort and escape.

When Serenity was four and the twins two, Karena and Augusto packed up their brood and headed to the Seattle area to follow their dreams despite the protests of Karena's family. Karena got into the New Age scene and Augusto started in the computer field. Between the two of them, they made enough money independent of the Withrop Nighers to send Serenity and the twins to private schools.

Life was going well until the Nigher matriarch, Serenity's great-great-great grandmother Madelaine, fell very ill. In her final days, Madelaine called the family together, including Karena and Augusto, to dole out her estate and the affairs of the family. One of the stipulations of Madelaine's will stated that Serenity, Micah, and Melisande must finish their education at Ashwood Academy, where generations of Nighers had graduated, if Karena wanted any part of Madelaine's wealth. Serenity was expected to do great things and Ashwood would be a stepping stone to bigger and better schools. Grades and test scores were not a problem for Serenity, and a few well placed calls and donations assured her a place in the senior class.

Serenity quietly pursued her studies and became active in drama club and photography. She started to make friends including a human, Vinnie Windcaster. Fate seemed to frequently cross their paths, and over time her feelings evolved from friendship to a secret crush. One day, while looking for a CD she had lent Vinnie, Serenity accidentally stumbled across a cache of his weapons. She considered doing the responsible thing and turning him in, but doing so would put him in danger from the school administration and the Night World. Rather than risk his safety and start trouble, she kept silent and never realized that he figured out she was witch. An magical misadventure one afternoon led to the revelation of both their secrets and their feelings, and eventually Serenity and Vinnie discovered their soulmate bond.