House on the Hill

Prologue

I gazed at the passing scenery as we drove to our new home. The loud noises of the busy streets and passing traffic will forever be etched in my memory, because who knows when I'll see the city again.

It's been two years since mom passed away and dad got re-married. Our family life has been on a zero since.

My siblings and I hate our step mother and tend to avoid any means of conversation with her, while daddy only bends to her every whim.

The atmosphere in the car was equal to a funeral. Heck a funeral has more life than this!

"I can't wait to meet your parents darling." My step mother chirped in happiness.

She was a 29 year old, housewife with long curly blonde hair and perfect brown eyes. Today she decided to wear a summer dress, even if it was the middle of September, and a pair of wedges. It will be fun watching her survive the hard life of a country girl.

The five of us groaned in the back and I pulled out my beats by Dr. Dre turning on the music on my iPhone. I kept on gazing through the window, noticing the change of atmosphere in the car.

The twins have engaged another quarrel with our father.

* * *

"Hey Eve, wake up." The soft voice of my older sister woke me up.

Eva smiled kindly at me and motioned with her head towards the front of the car, her straight chocolate brown hair swaying in the process. I loved my older sister and her kind grey eyes. She always looked after me, no matter what the problem was.

Glancing to the front, Kenzie was glaring at me, anger written all over her face. Having a step mother who is younger than my dad times two, makes my life a living hell. I mean Eva is her age! That's got to count for something!

"Can't we just stay here and laugh at her crab face?" I asked, tired from my nap.

"Make room for us then." The twins nestled themselves on either of my side.

"Guys, be good children and help out." Owen walked past the car with a box in his arms.

Owen was the definition of hot country boy everywhere. His chocolate brown hair was shaggy, always falling into his baby blue eyes. Even though he was wearing a flannel shirt, his muscles were well defined.

Groaning, we got out the car and frowned at the Cruella Deville before us. She went to say something, but we quickly turned on our heels and headed for the moving van. We picked up a few boxes and started carrying them inside.

From the periphery of my eye, I saw a dark shadow of a house up on the nearby hill. It looked ominous and full of secrets. But something told me not to venture towards it. Taking my attention back on the task to carry the boxes, I helped my siblings, gladly glaring at Kenzie the rumored bitch of a mother.

* * *

"Eve, you've grown taller since the last time I saw you." Grandpa Jack said, his southern accent noticed.

The man was old, 72 years old and fat. And I loved him for that. When we'd spend our winter vacation here, I'd always curl up in his side while he read me books or made up stories. He was my own personal teddy bear and I shall never admit that to him!

I smiled in reply and gazed out the window. I am not much of a talker.

"Linda, Jack may I say that the ranch is very original and lovely." Kenzie licked our grandparents asses, literally.

"You may." Grandma Linda inquired. "Oh I can't wait for you to get started on the jobs here. We really need the help."

"Jobs?" Kenzie's expression was priceless.

"Yes." Gran smiled wickedly. "You will help out with the farm animals. You will feed them, clean after them and care for them. Also you will help mend the plantations and gardens."

The twins and I snickered and looked at gran proudly. The woman was 70 and hated Kenzie's guts. Her blue eyes were filled with mischief as she probably planned Kenzie's future.

"Hey kids, did you decide which room is who's?" Dad asked, coming down the stairs.

He wore a green shirt with dark jeans and boots. His shaggy chocolate colored hair hanged loosely in his baby blue eyes, just like Owen's. To say Owen was the spitting image of dad would be an understatement.

"Owen and Eve took the two vacant rooms on the third floor, while Kayden, Dexter and I took the second floor vacant rooms." Eva announced.

Dad nodded approvingly and took a seat next to me, on the couch. I stood up and walked over to where Dexter and Kayden sat.

My relationship with dad turned to one of pure hatred. He blamed me for mom's death and kept rubbing it in, until I snapped and told him things he never thought I knew.

"We got a hold of a new game." Dexter whispered.

The twins were my best friends. They were described as pretty boys because of their short silky black hair and pale blue eyes. Of course they had muscle from the labor work they'd do with Owen, while I was the exact opposite of all of my siblings.

I had my hair cut into a bob style since I was 10 and I liked it. It was silky black and some people decided to call me 'raven' or 'crow', because the color reminded them of those birds. I had natural beach waves that I inherited from our mother. I had a baby blue right eye, and grey left eye, but you could only decipher that when you really looked at me. Oh and did I mention that I almost always wear black and resemble a goth person?

"Which game did you get?" I whispered back.

"You will not play games, you are heading straight to bed!" Dad yelled at us. "You are still grounded for the mess you made back home!"

"Whatever old man." The three of us grumbled and went to our rooms.

Might as well get on with the unpacking.