Spiritual Deficiency

Chapter 1

Amarisse

"Daddy, I know you've told me a hundred times!" I whined.

We had been in lessons for 3 hours and I was getting fidgety. I needed to go and do something. I had already doodled all over my paper, to the point I couldn't doodle anymore.

"Honey, you need to pay attention. You're going to be taking over for me soon enough." He said softly. I smiled at him and nodded. "I know that you already know this," he paused. "but the council wants to make sure that you are ready. I want to make sure you're more than ready." He placed his hand over my shoulder.

"I know," I said quietly. "I just really need a break."

"Alright, I suppose a break is in order. Go eat some lunch and we'll meet back in 2 hours to finish." This is why I loved my father. He was stern but so compassionate. That is what makes him a great leader. That is why the council chose him. That is why I will never be able to fill his shoes.

"Thank you!" I hugged him and wasted no time leaving the study.

Our house was a large estate given to us by the council.

We were "royalty" for the water fae, or so said everyone. Each member of the council was considered royalty for their respective element. However, I just felt like a normal girl with some pretty awesome gifts, I've never necessarily felt like a "princess". Mother says I will at my coronation. I miss her.

She's not dead or anything, but she's an Earth fae. We have to stay in our divided groups, so I don't see her or my brother that often.

We see each other at night, on occasion, when we're done with our fae duties during the day. Mostly we see each other on holidays, one of the few traditions we take from the humans.

I walked into the kitchen and sat at the table, alone. My food already waiting for me. That was how most of my meals went lately. Dad was too busy getting everything in order for my coronation in a few months, on the first full moon of the summer.

I couldn't wait, not just because I wanted to swim, but because my power of controlling water isn't easy when it's cold. The water is more unstable and unpredictable in the winter times.

I finished up my food quickly so I could go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

I grabbed my favorite cardigan, a blanket, my sketchbook and my pencils, and then headed for the bluff.

This was my favorite time to draw. The sun washed over everything, bathing it in it's warmth against the chill of the air. There were few shadows to be found and everything was bright. Although the trees were bare, the essence of the earth was full of life.

I got to my favorite spot underneath a large oak, out of shade, and fully in the sun. It was warm on my face. I spread out my blanket and sat back against the tree, legs stretched in front of me, and began to draw. I drew the lake and the trees around it. I looked closer to the bank and saw a young man laying back, propped up on his elbows, taking in the sunshine.

I smile to myself, he looked human.

As a fae, we have a certain aura. It shines, making it obvious that we are fae. He had no aura, but his pale skin was radiating in the sun.

I traced his outline and filled in every detail I could make out from a distance.

He was beautiful. I couldn't stop looking at him.

Then he lifted his head and looked directly at me. He smiled, more like smirked, and lifted his hand to do a little half-wave.

I sucked in a breath. I quickly grabbed up my stuff and ran back towards my home. I had never associated with a human before. Of course, my people did it all the time but I was always told to be wary of them. They were cunning and manipulative. I had never even seen one in person.