Another Branch of the Mayfair Witches
Merrick (originally spelled 'Merrique') is the
daughter of Cold Sandra, who in turn is the
granddaughter of Great Nananne. Her older
sister was Honey in the Sunshine, who died along
with their mother in a murder/drowning. Found
with Cold Sandra and Honey in the Sunshine was a watch
given to Cold Sandra from their Oncle Vervain, who
told Merrick that it did not tick for her; therefore,
there was no need for her to have it.
It is revealed later in the book that Oncle
Vervain knew time would stop for Merrick because
she would become a vampire.
It is revealed later in the book that Oncle Vervain knew time would
stop for Merrick because she would become a vampire.
This branch of the Mayfairs, descended from Julien (of course), are
witches who practice Vodou alongside Catholicism. They have
little or nothing to do with the First Street Mayfairs, and when
Merrick took a tour of the First Street house, she did so
discreetly, during a holiday tour. When Great Nananne dies,
Aaron Lightner has to hide during the
funeral, explaining to David Talbot that his work on the Mayfair
Witches has made him known to the two Mayfair attorneys who
arrive with the interests of the family at large in mind - Ryan and
Lauren Mayfair. It is Lauren Mayfair whom Rowan is with
when she meets Merrick Mayfair, noting that Merrick does not
carry herself with her hips as the center of gravity like most
women do.
Merrick is one of the three members of the Talamasca whom Sterling
Oliver referred to in BF who were lost to vampirism.
Many of the Vodou Iwa that corresponded best with Catholic saints
took on aspects of those saints as Catholicism was enforced among the
African slaves. Vodou basically went underground at this time
but was never abandoned as the slaves who had brought Vodou over to
the U.S. and Haiti from Africa kept it alive.
Here is what Wikipedia has to say on the subject of Vodou and
Catholicism in Louisiana:
Here is a page on Wikipedia that gives an overview of the Olmec,
whose jade mask Merrick recovers from the cave in Central
America:
Merrick is contacted by David Talbot in his vampiric form on behalf
of Louis, who wants to make contact with the child vampire,
Claudia, who died in Interview With the Vampire. Louis's
guilt over Claudia has not waned over time, and Merrick has
recovered Claudia's diary found by Jesse in the wall of the New
Orleans townhouse. Upon reading it, she wants reassurance from
Louis that contacting Claudia is what he really wants. He says
he does.
David Talbot, the narrator of Merrick, spends a great deal of
time telling of Merrick's early life; specifically, his role in
it. He recounts in particular a trip to Central America, where
Merrick recovers an ancient mask from the same cave where her
stepfather, Matthew, contracted a fatal illness. David, too,
nearly dies, but Merrick is untouched. The mask makes spirits
appear as living people. Merrick wants to use this to contact
her dead sister, Honey in the Sunshine. Merrick feels as guilty
about her sister's death as Louis feels about the loss of
Claudia.
Please see What Is a Witch? for more discussion on the religious and spiritual
practices of the Mayfair Witches.
