BORDER

Chapter One

NERISSA

Tendrils of sunlight slides across my room until it flushes over my face. My eyes flutter open and I take in the bedroom full of warm sunlight. I stretch outwards until my fingertips skim over the pink rose vines twirling up and down my golden bedposts. A breeze from the open windows allows my bed curtains to shy away from each other and give me a clear view of the blue skies ahead of me. I nuzzle my face sleepily into the silk sheets. They had been worth the amount of money I paid for them; after all they are from some of the highest paid nymphs in Lani. It is no surprise they are so cool and welcoming to the touch.

I could stay in this spot forever.

Well, I could if I didn't have duties to attend to as the Princess of Angels. I pull myself from my bed and walk towards the open windows. The blue sky is so much bluer than usual, it's puffy and full clouds sit happily. The sea below it is just as sparkling and blue, I can not wait to take a swim later this evening. It would calm my nerves for today's usual events.

The chatter below takes my attention away from the sea and I look to see merchants and customers speaking kindly to one another. Everyone greets each other with a hug and soft kisses to the cheeks. The happiness my people exude settles any nerves that could deny me a beautiful and wonderful day. If they are happy, so am I.

"Nerissa, you are awake." My lady's maids greets cheerily as I place a lock of golden hair behind my ear, the curls tickling my chin as I do so. Her strawberry blonde hair is perfectly straight and pairs well with her stunningly golden brown skin. "It is nice to see you up and about."

"It is nice, you usually have to drag me from the confines of my bed." I joke before pulling her into my arms. Our embrace is warm and tender.

She chuckles against my hair before pressing a maternal kiss along my forehead. "My dear, good morning."

"Good Morning, Elsira."

We pull away before I travel to my vanity. I lounge myself on the seat as I await her orders for what I am to do this morning. She pulls out her decorative scroll. "You do not have much to do this morning, breakfast with your ladies, a tutoring session with Professor Ami, and then you are free to roam, as you wish until lunch time."

"Great!" I twist around and face the vanity. "I shall get ready for the day, thank you."

"Of course, my darling girl." Elsira says kindly before leaving.

My hand easily finds a brush and drags it through my golden hair as I admire myself. My eyes gleam blue and vivaciously — I have always loved the color of my eyes. The tan that coates my skin is perfectly bronze, it made my eyes pop even more. I pin my curls away from my face after I brush through it. The pearl pins adorning my hair like winter ornaments.

My daily journal finds my attention and I pull it to me. The pearl encrusted case shimmers against the sunlight in a series of pink and blues. The journal is nearly exploding with tellings of my days and whatnot. I write down what I am grateful for every morning, I am most grateful for Him.

I owe my life to Him, he chose me to be the princess of angels when I was just a babe. My life is dedicated to my creator. He is wonderful — inspiring, extraordinary. Even though I have yet to meet him, I know it in my soul.

It is said in our book of rules that we all have a creator and it is Him — God of Creation. Phanes wrote every single one of us out, he created us from nothing but a drop of his ichor and the feathers of a bird. I have nothing but admiration for our God. I desperately wish to meet him. I believe that I will one day, in all due time.