A/N: Thank you once again for the reviews! I hope you enjoy this next installment.
Crashing Waves
Chapter Four
"Miss Elise?" her tutor snapped harshly, snapping her out of a daze. "You'll find that education is truly worthless when the pupil isn't willing to pay attention."
Elise rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, casting one last look of longing out the window. The day was beautiful; the sun was shining, the waters causing cascades of glittering sapphires to spray the rocky shore as each azure wave washed over it. Elise sighed inwardly, wishing that her history tutor would dismiss her for the day.
"You're right, sir," she said politely. "I apologize."
"Yes, alright," he nodded curtly. "Well then, as I was saying…"
Elise looked at the old man before her putting up an attentive front, then proceeding to tune him out. Education, to Elise, was of the upmost importance, and she was very thankful for how accessible it had been made to her. However, on a day like today, her lessons fell on deaf ears, however privileged she was to have it. It was very uncharacteristic of her, and the tutor was having difficulty attaining the princess's undivided attention, never before having to vie for it.
While disappointed by her lapse in character, Elise couldn't help it. Unless he begins spewing facts about Atlantis rather than Ancient Greece, I'm afraid I won't be of much use today, she thought, once again glancing out the window.
Her tutors hands fell into his lap, and he shook his head slightly, a small smile on his face. "Miss Elise, I'm afraid that will be all for our lesson today," he said, his shoulders slumped slightly in defeat.
"We're finishing early?" Elise asked, perking up in her seat. Her enthusiasm caused the old man to chuckle.
"Yes – go," he sighed. "I don't believe we'd get much accomplished today anyways."
"I'm afraid not," Elise beamed. "Thank you very much, sir. I promise I'll be on my best behavior for our next lesson."
Her companion didn't have a chance to respond; Elise practically bolted from the room, running down a long hallway. It was a rather unladylike sight to behold: the heir to the kingdom, hurrying down a corridor like a young child.
"And where are you off to in such haste?"
Elise stopped dead in her tracks, turning to look at the source of the voice. Tucked into the shadows stood her new step brother, Vincent.
"Oh, nowhere in particular," she lied, slightly winded. "Just pleased to be finished with my lessons is all."
Vincent stepped away from his hiding place and out into the light. He was a man only three years older than Elise. He had a short, stocky build, dark brown eyes, and curly black hair that always laid perfectly against his head. He wasn't an unattractive young man, but Elise always thought that he had a certain unmistakable wickedness. Something about his gaze was unsettling to her, and so she made a point to avoid him at all costs. He, however, seemed determined to pry into her life at every opportunity he found.
"Is that so?" he asked, his tone indicating that he didn't believe her.
"It is," Elise responded coolly, eyes narrowing. She disliked his tone.
"Well, since that's clearly the case, I suppose I'll deliver my piece and be on with it," he said mockingly. "I'd like to request your presence tonight for dinner. Father would like to have a family affair."
"Is that so? May I ask why?" Elise wasn't used to dining with the entire family; since the death of her mother, she had drifted away from her father. She loved him dearly, but there was a rift between them. Her father was too busy running a kingdom, and too distracted by grief and a new family to remember her frequently. She understood, and learned to accept her loneliness.
"I suppose that's to be revealed. I'll see you tonight, sister," he said the last word with a smirk, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "And make yourself presentable, I like when you look pretty," he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down Elise's spine.
She watched him retreat from where he came before continuing on her journey to the ocean, now thoroughly shaken by her strange encounter. Her mind was abuzz with possible reasons for the dinner tonight, some wild guesses, and others much more sensible. Elise attended balls and dinners with important lords and ladies, but the king never made a habit of holding a formal dinner each night. Elise normally took dinner in her room.
By the time Elise reached her and Jason's meeting place, she had properly worked herself up over a simple request. She knew she was being irrationally paranoid; perhaps her father simply wanted to spend time with his family.
But still, she thought. Something about this feels strange to me.
"Something on your mind?"
Elise jumped at the sudden noise, turning to see Jason surfaced beside her. "Do you make a habit of sneaking up on people?" she asked, her voice slightly irritable.
Jason lifted himself up to sit beside her, smiling. "No, but I'll make a habit of sneaking up on you."
Elise smiled for a moment, before furrowing her brow again, slipping back into her own thoughts. Jason watched her for a moment before interrupting.
"Really, what's bothering you?" he asked, his expression one of genuine concern.
She sighed, turning back to look at him. Despite his being a stranger, Elise didn't find the question particularly invasive. She knew he was genuine in the things that he said to her; he simply had a sincerity to him that was difficult to deny.
"It's nothing really," she admitted. "My step-brother asked me to attend dinner tonight with the entire family. My father apparently has something he wishes to discuss."
Jason looked confused. "But why's that bothering you?"
"I don't know what he wants," Elise said. "I have a feeling it has to do with me, and Vincent seemed especially smug when he told me." She paused. "I don't know. I just have a bad feeling."
Jason looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before speaking. "Intuition only goes so far. You can trust it to an extent, but don't mistake paranoia for a gut feeling," he said. "Continuing to worry about it is only going to make you upset."
Elise nodded. He was right, and she appreciated the bit of advice. Unlike the other men in her lives, Jason seemed to respect her and treat her as an equal. She was already beginning to like that particular quality.
"You're right," she said, a small smile creeping onto her face. "I'll find out sooner or later."
He returned the smile. Elise simply looked at him for a moment afterwards, appreciating his features. His blonde hair seemed to be made up of strands of gold, and she'd never seen eyes so blue before. Physically, he was very appealing, but what drew Elise so quickly to him was the way he treated her. He seemed to know her, despite their having just met, and he seemed to enjoy her company. Elise hadn't felt appreciated by anyone in such a long time, having been pushed to the side as most children of nobility were. He made her feel important.
Jason squirmed a bit under her intense gaze. "So how about we get your mind off of the palace?" he asked. "I think it's about time you learn how to swim."
A/N: REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
Hope you liked this chapter (: It's a bit late, but I've been busy lately! The next chapter will be much more eventful and exciting; this was mainly a filler. As I've said before, I'm mostly writing this story for the fluff.
