“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 runs a night club in Beirut. She first appeared in Personal Demons.
Biography[]
Zafirah is a several thousands year old Si’lat—a jinn. She is 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 is now considering reconnecting with Tokol in his current incarnation in Brazil.[8]
Reputation[]
Zafirah is famed amongst the jinn, and rumors about her has spread to other parts of the Shadows. However, very few know much about her, and Zafirah prefers 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 cares for the mortal world and actively looks after and assists mortals.[4] Like Rachel she has a very low opinion of Heaven’s policies and rules.[1] She is curious and mischievous, though not in a malicious manner.
Relations[]
Zafirah has no known lovers since the death of Tokol, at least 2 400 years ago.[1] She has flirted openly with and is attracted to Alex, but seems to value his friendship more than romance or sex.[8]
She and Rachel has likely kept in touch after their initial meeting, and Rachel has voiced at least some of her complaints and irritations about Heaven to Zafirah.[4] Alex thinks that she has been lonely. She values the friendships she has gained with the Crew highly.[8] In particular, she has offered Taylor a job as her assistant.[9]
Abilities[]
Zafirah is a powerful sorceress. She has shown the ability to open portals between continents[4] and to throw fireballs[10], but a lot of her magic is utilitarian or for convenience. She is a very capable healer even if it is not her main focus.[6][9]
She has great skills—both mundane and supernatural—as a thief, with great abilities of going unseen, stealth, speed, forgery, opening locks, and related areas. She knows at least Arabic and English. She has hid 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
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 18
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Personal Demons, chapter 22
- ↑ Personal Demons, Epilogue
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 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