“I am Zafirah, daughter of fire, mistress of the desert wind, pathfinder of the forbidden, acquirer and keeper of the lost, teller of—”
“She’s a jinn who’s good at stealing shit,” grumbled the angel.
— Zafirah and Rachel, Personal Demons, chapter 18
A jinn, thief, and sorceress who ran a night club in Beirut. She first appeared in Personal Demons.
Biography[]
Zafirah was a several thousands year old Si’lat—a jinn. She was a collector of stories, a master thief, and a skilled sorceress. Around 2 500 years ago or more she loved Tokol—a mortal human. After his death she stole a book from the library of Heaven, in the hope of being able to find his reincarnated soul again. She was successful in stealing the book, though she found it didn’t help her. She was caught by Rachel, who retrieved the book. This gave her fame and the nickname Thief of Heaven, though what she stole was unknown outside very few.[1][2] She and Rachel kept in touch since then, though Rachel was reluctant to think of them as friends.[3]
Meeting Alex[]
She met Alex in January, when Rachel brought him to her nightclub in Beirut after he had been sent to Iraq by a botched spell. She helped him and Rachel get back home to Seattle, taking three days and three nights of service from Alex as payment for Rachel, and Alex’s story as payment for Alex.[4] Alex’s story led her to investigate Rico’s team and through them the Family.[5]
In March she foiled Michiko’s robbery of a museum in Alexandria with the help of the museum guard Mahmoud.[6] Her discoveries there led her to claim Alex’s debt, kicking off the confrontation with the Family.[7] She was at the Family party and the Battle of the Silver Delta. With the assistance of Joel she found Tokol’s incarnation as a construction worker in Brazil, and was considering reconnecting with him.[8]
Reputation[]
Zafirah was famed amongst the jinn, and rumors about her had spread to other parts of the Shadows. However, very few knew much about her, and Zafirah preferred to keep it that way.[2]
Personal[]
“We know a master thief,” said Alex.
“Z would steal the guy’s entire house just to show off,” said Rachel.
“Amends”
Compared to most supernaturals, Zafirah cared for the mortal world and actively looked after and assisted mortals.[4] Like Rachel she had a very low opinion of Heaven’s policies and rules.[1] She was curious and mischievous, though not in a malicious manner.
Like all jinn she could shapeshift. her habitual appearance was as a slender and beautiful black woman.[3][6]
Relations[]
Zafirah had no known lovers after the death of Tokol for a period of at least 2 400 years.[1] She flirted openly with and was attracted to Alex, but seemed to value his friendship more than romance or sex.[8]
She and Rachel had likely kept in touch after their initial meeting, and Rachel had voiced at least some of her complaints and irritations about Heaven to Zafirah.[4] Alex thought that she had been lonely. She valued the friendships she gained with the Crew highly.[8] In particular, she offered Taylor a job as her assistant.[9]
Abilities[]
Zafirah was a powerful sorceress. She was able to open portals between continents[4] and to throw fireballs[10], but a lot of her magic was utilitarian or for convenience. She was a very capable healer even if it was not her main focus.[6][9]
She had great skills—both mundane and supernatural—as a thief, with great abilities of going unseen, stealth, speed, forgery, opening locks, and related areas. She has demonstrated knowledge in Arabic and English. She could hide from both demons and angels, and she was confident that she could hide from Sammael.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Past Due, chapter 8
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Past Due, chapter 14
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Personal Demons, chapter 18
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Personal Demons, chapter 22
- ↑ Personal Demons, Epilogue
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Past Due, chapter 4
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 6
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Past Due, chapter 28
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Past Due, chapter 27
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 25