Santiago is Louis’s most villainous antagonist when he comes to Paris for the first time with Claudia. He is chiefly responsible for the death of Claudia and Louis’s first fledgling, Madeleine. The vampire Santiago appears in Interview with the Vampire (1976).
Little is known about the history of the vampire Santiago at present, although several issues can be deduced. His name is a combination of “Santo” and “Yago,” Spanish for “Saint James,” the patron saint of Spain. Probably originating from a Spanish-speaking country, Santiago likely joins Armand’s theatrical coven shortly after Lestat convinces Armand to destroy his former coven, the Children of Satan, in the late eighteenth century. By the time Santiago encounters Louis in the streets of Paris in the late nineteenth century, he is already one of the most prominent figures in the Théâtre des Vampires coven. Santiago is not as old as Armand, who is three hundred years old at the time, since Santiago often begs Armand to tell him stories of the old covens that once existed and of herbs that can make vampires invisible and of innocents burned at the stake. Even Armand attests that Santiago is not as old as Louis, whom Lestat turned into a vampire in 1791.
When Louis and Claudia arrive in Paris after attempting to kill Lestat, Armand sends Santiago to them with an invitation to come to the Théâtre des Vampires, but Santiago decides to test Louis first. He approaches Louis in an empty street on a lone night and mocks him by imitating his every move. Because Louis has been eagerly searching and hoping for years for any sign of an intelligent vampire, he is quickly disappointed and annoyed with Santiago and calls him a buffoon. Santiago furiously shoves Louis to the ground, and a brief scuffle occurs. Santiago flees, but Armand still gives Louis the invitation to come to him at the Théâtre des Vampires. Now Santiago hates Louis and wants him gone or dead.
As Louis continues to visit with Armand at the Théâtre des Vampires, and as their intimacy deepens, Santiago’s hatred for Louis increases, and all because Louis called him a buffoon. When Louis and Claudia refuse to answer any questions about their maker, Santiago begins to suspect that they killed Lestat, and he seeks any shred of proof to justify his suspicions. Lestat arrives and accuses Louis and Claudia of attempting to kill him. Armand allows Santiago to exact retribution for their violation of the outmoded Great Laws of the Children of Satan.
Santiago leads the vampire coven; captures Louis, Claudia, and Louis’s new fledgling Madeleine from their hotel; locks Louis in a wood coffin with large iron locks; and puts Claudia and Madeleine in a small courtyard where they are exposed to the sunlight and die. Armand frees Louis from his coffin and allows him to seek revenge. Louis brings two barrels of kerosene and a scythe to the theater. He splashes the kerosene on the theater’s walls and beams, and even on the resting places of the vampires, then he lights the theater on fire and attacks any vampire with the scythe. Realizing what Louis has done, Santiago attacks, but Louis slays him with his scythe, decapitating him and kicking Santiago’s head far down a distant corridor. As the Théâtre des Vampires burns, so does Santiago, along with all of the Paris coven, except for Armand, who welcomes Louis’s companionship.
For more perspectives on Santiago in the Vampire Chronicles, read the Alphabettery entries Armand, Claudia, Louis de Pointe du Lac, Madeleine, and Théâtre des Vampires.