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Not part of Riordanverse
The following article/section is from the Paola Santiago continuity under Rick Riordan Presents and not the Riordanverse canon. |
“ | As fleeing is an occupational hazard of reporting to El Cucuy, I won’t toss you out the window this time. But I won’t be so lenient next time. | ” |
–El Cucuy to who he assumes is his minion in Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows. |
El Cucuy is a figure in Latin American folklore similar to the Boogey Man. He is the main antagonist of Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows.
History[]
In life, El Cucuy was lonely and lived a life of solitude. He died of old age without truly living. In death, he started collecting souls by lying to them of the afterlife and turned them into fantasma. He would also collect the essences of the living through their nightmares, dooming them before they died.
Paola Santiago series[]
Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows[]
He summons “Falsita” to his throne room as she explains that she closed all the portals before “the girl” could get to them. After hearing this, El Cucuy decides to reveal his master plan to her takes her down an elevator, where she screams and he revels in her fear. When they reach their destination, he shows her a his laboratory and explains how he salvaged La Llorona's resurrection experiments and shows her half a dozen copies of Dante. El Cucuy says he plans to create an army out of clones of people via fears. He mentions the template he used to create the clones is damaged, startling Pao. She suggests seeing her might jog something in Dante while mentioning that copying clones could water down their potential, but El Cucuy says he is willing to risking. Pao wanders into a hallway before demanding she be sent home. After he finds out he was tricked he sends horrific images to Pao in an attempt to get her to fail at opening a portal.
After his copy of Dante Mata is discovered, he speaks through it and shows the Niños de la Luz their worst nightmares and threatens to kill anyone who aids Pao last after forcing them to watch their loved ones die. After realizing someone found his cube, he finds Pao, Dante, and Carmela Mata and demands the cube. Pao refuses and he sends nightmares at them, subduing the Matas but not Pao. Pao then looks through the magnifying glass and sees El Cucuy for who he really is, she offers him a chance to let go of his fears, but he refuses.
Appearance[]
El Cucuy resembles a short man with a long black ponytail and a face that constantly shifts depending on what is looking at him. He wears a dark pinstriped suit and a dark cape with red velvet on the inside.
Personality[]
El Cucuy is manipulative and preys on the fear of his victims.
Abilities[]
- Phobikinesis: El Cucy can manifest the fear of his victims.
- Marrionetakinesis: El Cucuy can control his victims by simply calling their name.
Paola Santiago series | |
Books: | Paola Santiago and the River of Tears | Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares | Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows |
Main Characters: | Paola Santiago | Dante Mata | Emma Lockwood | Bruto | Naomi |
Secondary Characters: | Maria Santiago | Ondina | Marisa Martínez | Carmela Mata | Beto | Joaquín | Kit | Robin Long |
Minor Characters: | Karen Lockwood | Sal | Franco | Aaron | Johnny | Shadow Dante |
Mythical Creatures: | Chupacabra | La Llorona | Ahogada | La Mano Panchona | Lechuza | Duendecillos | Cadejo | The Hitchhiker | El Cucuy | Falsita |
Related Content: | Tehlor Kay Mejia | Rick Riordan Presents | Bruto and the Freaky Flower | Disney+ series |