Zaiana Silverfair

## Zaiana

by @saramirza\_art

**Zaiana Silverfair** is a dark fae stormcaster and the delegate of the Silverfairs. Known as one of the most powerful dark fae ever, she is one of the five masters and Maverick Blackfair's lover.

## Biography

### Early life

Born a dark fae in the Mortus Mountains, Zaiana is a part of the Silverfair bloodline. She hopes to take every opportunity to escape the confines of the mountains that have been like a prison to her for centuries. Well-trained, powerful and skilled, Zaiana showcased her ability by winning the Blood Trials a century ago and became the delegate of the Silverfairs. She had been pushed and trained ruthlessly to win the position since birth. She earned her place, through blood and sacrifice, working from the bottom just like any dark fae. Zaiana successfully led the Silverfairs through training, and kept order and discipline of her leagues in the mountain, without a single drop of human blood in her system.

Despite human blood being a drug for the dark fae and a means to strengthen their power and agility, Zaiana stopped feeding a long while ago, not wanting want to depend on a feed to make her strong. She relished in the silent satisfaction she made herself into one of the most powerful dark fae without a performance enhancer. But every time she is around human blood she has to fight against past cravings; the beckoning to drink. When she was young, it had never been a choice: blood was fed to create the strongest of warriors even out of the darklings. If the masters knew how long she had gone without blood, she might be killed. For disobedience or weakness.

Zaiana has fought in every Great Battle and had led a legion to attack Fenstead. It was glorious, if only because it was the sole time she tasted any sense of freedom. Her tether always pulled her back to the mountain, but the Great Battles were the only years out of her 300 in which she had been allowed to kill, move, and decide every action for herself as the commanding general.

Though she remained confined to the mountain under the laws of the masters, she hoped to one day be free and unleash her centuries' worth of revenge on all those who wronged her. Zaiana hoped to finally taste permanent freedom once the dark fae conquered Ungardia. Not just from the mountain, but from every insufferable dark fae master and high lord she despised.

Living under obsidian rock for over 300 years never got easier for her. She always felt trapped, suffocated, and the numbers that crowded the cavernous halls were becoming too much for her to withstand. She spent as little time as she needed to there. If she wasn't the delegate and didn't have the freedom to roam the towns, or glamour at her leisure… she often wondered if she would still be alive. Physically, though not out of choice. She believed her mind would be the first to lose its tether on sanity.

### A Throne From the Ashes

Zaiana kills a human in the town of Galmire and returns to Mortus Mountains where she goes to the pit to oversee the training of the Silverfairs. When she spots Amaya Silverfair being bullied by some Blackfairs, she warns them. Maverick, the delegate of the Blackfairs, goads and riles Zaiana and she attacks him leading to a power battle between the two. Zaiana is called to the council room for initiating an attack on another delegate. Mordecai reveals that he is visiting to choose a candidate for a quest and hers was the first name brought to him but not the only one. Zaiana offers to accept the quest for any chance to taste the air away from the mountains.

Mordecai announces a trial between Zaiana and Maverick, a war game of their choosing upon the trial grounds with a team of six others. He states that the winner of the battle would be the one to lead the quest. Feeling jealous of the fact that Zaiana attracted Mordecai's interest enough to be spared from punishment despite the attack, Nephra slaps her. Breaking the law against attacking results in physical punishment, but they cannot kill Zaiana. She holds satisfaction in the knowledge she is too useful to them to be killed. Zaiana questions Amaya and orders her to be the last member of the team in the quest.

Maverick joins Zaiana in the baths and though she wants to leave instead of sharing the water with him, a part of her flares in defiance. To leave would be an act of defeat and they hold each other's stares in silent challenge to see who would balk first. Maverick reveals he knew that if she attacked first, she would be far less likely to be given a death sentence as compared to him. He adds that he overheard Mordecai and when he realised it was important enough that the masters volunteered for it, he orchestrated their fight by riling Zaiana so that out of all the names he heard, theirs were the only ones that stuck around for consideration after seeing their display of power and ability. When Maverick sees the scars on Zaiana's back, he asks which of the masters hurt her to which she replies all of them and leaves.

On the day of the trial, Mordecai announces that the winner of the trial will also be recognised as the fifth master, further flaring Zaiana's desire for victory. This opportunity will not only secure her fate away from the mountain but will rank her above Maverick and place her equal to those she promised to get vengeance on someday.

Berrik Blackfair illegally smuggles a Niltain Steel dagger onto the field and injures Amaya leading to a furious Zaiana. A power battle ensues as both Zaiana and Maverick seek to find the final flag. After a series of attacks, Zaiana rips the flag and wins the trial. Amaya's condition is serious over the next days, her body not healing fast enough to counteract the metal poison.

When Zaiana spots Maverick, she slams him to the wall and settles her blade across his throat. He reveals that Berrik and Rex are dead and that he told Mordecai he has no plans of challenging their deaths as they were killed by Amaya during fair game. Maverick adds that he brought Nerida, a healer from Fenher for Amaya. When a shocked Zaiana asks him why, he responds that Amaya was impressive on the field and it would be a shame to see such talent go to waste. Mordecai reveals that Dakodas' ascension is the coveted quest they were fighting for. He orders Maverick to accompany Zaiana under her authority.

After spending centuries in the mountain and killing countless fae, humans, and dark fae, Zaiana's hands are coated with the blood of all species, and she didn't think it would ever wash off. Yet in the span of less than a month she feels she has shown compassion and kindness.

When Zaiana leaves for the quest with Maverick, Tynan, Amaya and Nerida, Zaiana closes off her emotions. She seals every feeling behind the vault of her emotions not willing to afford any weaknesses. Nerida is terrified when she sees the dark fae kill three humans and steal their horses in a forest. Zaiana reprimands her and warns her of death if she doesn't cooperate.

During the long journey, Zaiana finds herself daydreaming. Some of the thoughts are of a life of liberty as she glances at the skies and longs to soar through them freely. Some of them are of having a beating heart and wondering if it will change anything. Zaiana and Maverick stop for a night, and scout a deep enough carving in the mountain to shield against the weather, and the creatures of the mountains known as Skailies.

Maverick sits beside Zaiana and lights a discreet fire to keep them warm because she refuses to risk a proper fire. When she reveals that she is not going back to be shackled to the mountains, he responds that he admires how she never shies away from defying orders. They share a rare smile and Zaiana asks him if he remembers his life in Dalrune before he was turned into a dark fae. Maverick replies that he doesn't remember anything past waking up in the dark room, feeling alone and different. Zaiana reveals that she was forced by the masters to see him transform and narrates what she saw.

She feels they are nothing but weapons of war and while she plans to have her revenge on the masters for their methods, she acknowledges they brought back the species, kept them alive, and stripped their weaknesses, honing them to win the war. This is followed by an argument and their want for each other overshadows all else. They kiss passionately and make love under the night sky. The next morning, Zaiana detaches herself from everything she feels for Maverick and convinces herself that nothing more can happen between them. He looks defeated and hurt but puts on his cold mask once again.

Zaiana and Maverick attack Faythe and Kyleer and a long battle ensues. In the temple at the Niltain Isles, Zaiana feels heartache on seeing Reylan's love for Faythe and removes her blade from her throat. Maverick doesn't hesitate as he plunges his sword through Faythe's chest after which he completes Dakodas' ascension.

## Personality

Zaiana is confident, disciplined, observant and smart. She is a skilled leader.

## Physical description

Zaiana has pale skin, long ink-black hair, vibrant amethyst eyes, large black wings with talons, a tall and slim build, and sharp, elongated canines. She has scars on her back from the countless lashings she received from the masters.

## Powers and abilities

**Stormcasting**: Zaiana posseses the power of lightning. She can harness her anger, control her strength, merge the currents, and direct each bolt of lightning and spark with precision and purpose before casting the full force of a blast.

The razor sharp iron-tipped middle and pointer finger guards Zaiana wears act as a conductor of her lightning allowing her to strike with far more precision. She has to hold an edge of caution around water. If she isn't careful, her bolts can strike whoever is in contact with the water and she is not immune to a blast of her own current if it is conducted back to her.

Zaiana can create vibrant purple bolts with the mesmerising lightning that matches the hue of her eyes. She further has the ability to form an electric shield with her lightning.

**Sword Fighting**: Zaiana is skilled at sword fighting. She picks up on her opponents fighting style, twitches, habits and flaws. She moves like air, her swipes and steps so calculated it is as though she can predict one hundred of her opponent's maneuvers before they are made.

**Glamouring**: Being able to glamour is not a common ability, but Zaiana can very effectively glamour herself, hiding her ears and wings.

**Niltain resistance**: Zaiana started building a tolerance to Niltain steel since she found out it could harm her. She wore it in small pieces at first. Zaiana trained while wearing it and though it was agony, it was nothing compared to how it could be used against her if she didn't master it.

## Relationships

### Maverick Blackfair

Zaiana and Maverick met when he was captured from the kingdom of Dalrune and brought to the Mortus Mountains to transform from a fae into a dark fae. Zaiana was the only one forced to see the transition happen, in the hope that it would make her stronger, more ruthless. Right before Maverick was forced to drink the spiritual blood, he looked at Zaiana. There was something about him that gave her slight hope he would make it.

Zaiana was not allowed to, but she checked on Maverick every day out of curiosity to see how it worked and because she wanted to be correct. That the defiance she saw in Maverick's eyes will make him one of those who survived and lived.

After his transformation, Zaiana and Maverick grew up side by side but always in competition as they belonged to different dark fae bloodlines. She bested him at many things, but he wasn't above cheating or lying to get his way, which Zaiana had no time or respect for.

Maverick delights in anything he can get out of Zaiana, whether its good or bad so she tries not to feel anything toward him. Both of them relish in competition. It is fun for them, even when it involves pain and brutality regardless of whether they win or lose. It's a guilty pleasure they share. When Maverick sees the scars on Zaiana's back and asks which of the masters hurt her, there is a coldness and chilling wrath to his voice.

Zaiana is aware that Maverick is the only worthy opponent under the mountain. She despises him for so many wicked reasons, some not even his own fault. But she respects him as sometimes, she can't deny they are one and the same. Zaiana smiles at one of Maverick's quips and feels a flutter of unusual warmth that acknowledges her genuine amusement. Most of the times, Zaiana thinks Maverick can see past the cracks of the hard expression she tries to maintain.

When the underpasses dredge up panic and past trauma, Maverick is the one to wrap his hands around her forearms, his whole body pressing to hers offering a short moment of relief and awareness, that she is not alone in a stone cage. Zaiana feels a pull in his black eyes. A shiver trails down her spine as she risks tunneling into their depthless voids, never to see light again. It is a harrowing thought, but still very alluring.

Zaiana is surprised at the softness in Maverick's black eyes and the concern in his voice when he says that both of them will be hunted and killed if they don't return which shocks her since she didn't think he would risk his standing with the masters for her. Maverick muses how they used to tolerate one another, how he used to consider her an ally and then wonders what happened to them. She says they were always destined to be enemies with a common purpose.

Maverick's hands graze Zaiana's thighs while he wonders if there is something in the depths of a wicked soul that can be saved, if there is a light. He gives her an opening to ask him to stop but she doesn't. His touch is so unlike the male she thought she knew. Zaiana looks at him and sees vulnerability, because Maverick doesn't look at her with the victory she expects from winning her body, she isn't a conquest to him.

Zaiana realises she doesn't hate Maverick, she hates how much she wants him. With him, she feels like she is alive and for one moment, one night, she wants to pretend she is. Their lips collide like the moon and stars, like a merger of darkness. There is nothing soft or searching in the way they move; it is anguish and hatred. It is long and barricaded emotion unleashing like an angry storm: raw, and furious.

Maverick talks about the depraved things he has dreamed of doing to Zaiana and she asks him to do them all. Seeing him as free and unburdened as the wind, a warmth passes through her and she kisses him fiercely, with a passion that is so all-consuming. As if she is releasing years and decades of fighting herself, denying a longing she refused to admit she harboured for so long.

Zaiana thinks of tomorrow when they'll go back to how things were, and how they will always be while blood divided their species. She whispers that she still hates him and he replies he would be concerned if she didn't. Their lips collide and something bursts in her heartless chest.

Zaiana wakes up feeling free and light. And even when the sun has replaced the moon, she does not regret their night. She panics when she does not find Maverick. Zaiana assumes he left her and feels hurt for believing he was any different. When Maverick comes back, she feels relieved but pushes it back with anger. There is a note of pain in his voice when he realizes she assumed he had left her. Zaiana responds that she would not be surprised if he did.

Maverick explains he found a nearby lake for her to bathe in after their night together but Zaiana warns him not to speak of it. He flinches, looking conflicted while she looks at his lips and recalls how they felt like against her skin. Zaiana halts him from saying something that could ruin her cold facade as she convinces herself nothing more can happen between them.

Maverick looks like he wants to protest and she has never seen him look so defeated before. But the crestfallen look is gone as quickly as it came. There is a small glimmer in her heart that thinks of their passion to be treasured and protected, and that is as much emotion she yields to the memory before storing it behind a steel barrier in her mind where anything warm is abandoned.

When Zaiana says she wanted to erase his scent of herself, Maverick flinches. It is surprising as even in their most wicked moments he is not one to give a reaction. Maverick's face becomes ice cold and angry as he tells Zaiana she cannot pretend she didn't want the passion they shared to which she replies she wanted it but knew it was nothing more than a single night of release. She adds they are the monsters who don't get the happy ending even if they want it. Maverick twitches to respond but leaves in silence.

During the battle, Maverick calls out Zaiana's name with terror and desperation at her cry of pain. He drops his focus and begins advancing to her aid. Zaiana finds her eyes sliding towards Maverick and feels a want for him to be okay as he meets her eyes through his pain.

Zaiana clenches her fists, infuriated by Dakodas' desirous gaze on Maverick. She feels a drop in her gut at witnessing the flirtation. He calls out her name like a dark caress with a slight note of plea wavering in his eyes.

## Gallery

***Category: Images of Zaiana Silverfair***

by @saramirza\_artby @amiranavalby @bethgilbert\_art
## Trivia

### From the book

* Being born a dark fae, Zaiana is a Silverfair, thus her blood is silver in color.
* She prefers silence and the company of stars against a black sky.
* Zaiana and Maverick Blackfair are two of the very few who possess any magick among the dark fae.
* Her sword has a strip of black fabric tied to its hilt ever since the day she killed Finnian as a symbol of her strength and victory for the eyes of her kin.
* She has trained herself to function and exist without consuming human blood because she does not want to depend on anything.
* Zaiana has a lattice of scars on her back and chest from the punishments inflicted by the masters during her lifetime residing in the Mortus Mountains.
* Heights provide comfort to Zaiana as her mind is eased of its heavy burdens and her demons relent as though their cage has been opened into the endless sky.

### From the author

* Zaiana's soundtrack includes Villain by Arcana and Et Tu by Aaryan Shah.
* One of Chloe C. Peñaranda's favourite storyline to write has been Zaiana's.
* Chloe loves writing Zaiana, Faythe and Tarly's point-of-views the most.
* Initially, Zaiana had a different name and it was very hard for Chloe to change it but she loves her name now.
* According to Chloe, Zaiana's inner darkness and conflict is very real and she feels that sometimes the strongest exteriors are the most vulnerable within.

## References

*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 10
2. ↑ Author Art Board
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 1
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 5
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 19
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 26
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 54
*A Sword From the Embers*, Chapter 40
*A Sword From the Embers*, Chapter 53
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 22
*A Throne From the Ashes*, Chapter 53
*A Sword From the Embers*, Chapter 53
*A Sword From the Embers*, Chapter 4
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Instagram live by @ccpenaranda.author