The elder Gilda is a 300-year-old white vampire with a whiskey rough voice and a mix of masculine and feminine traits. She runs a brothel called Woodard's and is protective and fair towards the girls who work there. Despite her strength, she feels exhausted by life on Earth and makes a significant decision due to her experiences and beliefs.

Bird is a vampire of the Lakota tribe with braided black hair and an earthy scent. Known for wearing leather or beads, Bird was transformed into a vampire by the elder Gilda after surviving smallpox. She worked in the elder Gilda's brothel and has a strong connection to American soil and native peoples, evidenced by her starting a new vampire settlement on the ruins of Machu Picchu. Her relationship with Gilda transforms from one of conflict to mentorship.

Aurelia is a young widow in Rosebud, Missouri, with a strong connection to her black community. She becomes an activist with Gilda's encouragement. Aurelia is one of the few mortals aware of Gilda's vampire nature, representing Gilda's human foil and a different perspective on independence and interconnectedness within a mortal context.

Julius is a lighter-skinned young black man with a strong desire for family, who Gilda transforms into a vampire. He manages a theater company efficiently and is characterized by his optimism and energy. Julius is driven by a commitment to political work, his dreams born of the Black Power movement, supporting his transformation into a vampire.