Matt
Matteo Alacrán is a clone of El Patrón the lord of Opium. Matt was created so his body can be used for organ transplants to extend El Patrón's life. Matt is smart, resourceful, determined and strong willed. However, he also has emotional issues because as a clone, he was treated as an inferior.
Celia
Celia is the chief cook for the Alacrán estate and Matt's caretaker. She also serves as a mother figure to Matt, defying El Patrón to protect him. Celia also comes from El Patrón's hometown.
María
María is Mr. Mendoza's younger daughter, an important politician. El Patrón is friends with her father, but María's mother walked out on her family to help take down El Patrón's empire. Maria is kindhearted and is one of Matt's only friends. She doesn't view Matt as inferior because he is a clone and shares her mother's passion.
El Patrón
El Patrón is the ruler of Opium, a country between the US and Mexico (now called Aztlán). He is 140 years old and has survived that long by using clones of himself for body parts. He rules Opium with an iron fist and has complete control of everyone in the country by virtue of his wealth. Though most clones have their brains destroyed at birth, El Patrón's keeps his unharmed out of vanity.
Tam Lin
One of El Patrón's bodyguards. Tam Lin came to work for El Patrón after he killed 20 children with a bomb he meant to use to blow up the British Prime Minister. He appears loyal to El Patrón but is secretly Matt's friend, and acts like a father to him.
Felipe
El Patrón's son who died long ago.
El Viejo
El Patrón's grandson and Mr. Alacrán's father. He is extremely aged and his name literally means "old" in Spanish.
Mr. Alacrán
El Patrón's great-grandson, husband of Felicia, and father of Benito and Steven.
Felicia
Mr. Alacrán's wife and mother of Benito, Steven, and Tom.
Benito
Oldest son of Mr. Alacrán and Felicia.
Steven
Second son of Mr. Alacrán and Felicia.
Tom
Son of Felicia and Mr. MacGregor
Fani
Benito's wife.
Senator Mendoza
An extremely powerful politician in the United States who is corrupt and holds influence with the drug lord El Patrón. He is the father of Emilia and María and is also called Dada.
Emilia
Oldest daughter of Senator Mendoza.
María
Younger daughter of Senator Mendoza.
Esperanza
Emilia's and María's mother who suddenly disappeared when María was only five.
Mr. MacGregor
Another drug lord who had an affair with Felicia.
Daft Donald
One of the bodyguards of El Patrón. He is a foreigner and extremely intimidating, chosen because he has no ties to the locals or any enemies of El Patrón.
Rosa
Cruel housekeeper and Matt's brutal jailer who essentially tortures and humiliates him, treating him like an animal in certain sections of the novel.
William
Chief doctor for the Alacrán household and Rosa's lover.
Mr. Ortega
Matt's music teacher.
Eejits
People with computer chips in their brains that essentially program them to be slaves for whomever owns them. They also known as zombies in the book due to their slow and brain-dead behavior.
Teacher
An eejit who has the task of educational development.
Hugh, Ralf, and Wee Wullie
Members of the infamous Farm Patrol.
Furball
María's dog.
El Látigo Negro
Literally, "The Black Whip," and old television character.
Don Segundo Sombra
Literally, "Sir Second Show," an old television character.
