Zafiriel
”H-hmph, I'm out of here!”
Kanako’s exclamation was left echoing in the almost deserted hallway moments after she had disappeared behind the corridor. Silas had lashed out at her, thus making her leave the scene. Zafiriel stood, frozen in a bow, staring at the direction Kanako had ran off to. She must have been upset, having embarrassed herself before a boy unknown to her. Firiel felt her pulse still thump against her temples. She closed her eyes taking in a few deep breaths, not realising she was still stuck in a bow. She secured her hands around her trembling feet.
”Um Zafi? What's up with the bowing? Why the tears?”Suddenly her feet gave in. Firiel crashed on the floor. Through her long damp lashes, she saw Silas look at her with wide eyes – in great contrast to his reaction to Kanako only a minute earlier. Firiel shook her head vigorously. She wiped the last tears off her cheeks. Slowly, she raised her head to lock eyecontact with Silas, her face void of emotion.
Now is not the time to feel defeated. I have to explain myself. I have to. I don’t want him to hate me. Please don’t hate me…As she lowered her gaze again, a ghost of Granfather’s fuming wrinkly face flashed before her eyes. She felt as if she was sat in that vast room again, trembling under his burning stare, trying to make amends for shaming the name of Paolini. Only she was not in Paris anymore. This time, she was sat in a sooty hallway, sitting before a bewildered boy awaiting answer. Firiel had no idea how she should go about apologising to Silas. The only person she had ever had to explain herself to was Grandfather Paolini.
”I’m sorry, Silas. I di’nt meaned to… to… agir sans vergogne... Allez me pardonner?”Will you forgive me? – Merde, that’s not it. In English, Zafiriel!”Can you… please, me pardonner?”As she struggled to finish the sentence, tears hot as fire began to burn the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t help sniffing. All of the sudden, the gates of her heart were opened again. Firiel could feel the uncontrolled fire wanting to burst out of her fingertips. Her whole body was pulsating like one human-shaped flame. She would surely hurt Silasi again if she stayed here a second more.
Faltering, she got to her feet, bowed one more time to Silas and ran. She ran and ran and ran, no destination in her mind she ran, guilt and shame chasing her in the form of a ghost of her Grandfather’s face.
@CriticalHit @Hammerman@Zelosse Gonna bring her to the current timeline in my next post.