Secret Love

Chapter 1 - Surprise

Midnight. Midnight is my weakness. I only realize that when he showed me many new things, but none as beautiful and memorable. He always said "The stars represent a person's love for another and that's why there are more than can be seen." I never thought of them that way. Never. Not before him....

Cars drive by and children laugh behind me. I simply ignore them and stare at the cars passing by outside the bus window. My seat on the bus is cold and it just reminds me of how things are at the moment. The bus slowly comes to a stop. I stand, walk to the door, and step off the bus. Onto a gravel road. I look up and in front of me is a small house. It looks old and rundown on the outside, but I guess it's my new home. Which is better than nothing I guess. I have my bags in my hands and I walk up to the creaky steps of the porch as the bus behind me drives away. Animals and bugs nearby make noise. The cows moo, the birds tweet, and the crickets chirp. Looking around I don't see much for neighbors. Only a few large farms.
"Excuse me?" Just past the edge of the porch a young boy appears out of true bushes. He doesn't seem that old. Maybe twelve or thirteen. "Excuse me, but are you miss Kinley?" The boy asks.
"Yes and what would your name be sweetheart?"
"I'm Darrel Minnie. My father sent me to come get you." That name... I froze and I can't move. "You're our new sister, right?"

Last week I was told by my aunt Cia that I was to marry the eldest son of the Minnie family and if I refuse... I'll end up like my parents. Dead.

"Yes." My eyes start to tear up. I wipe my eyes before the boy could realize I'm crying.
"Are you okay, miss?" He asks.
"Yes, I'm okay. Can you show me to my room so I can unpack my things?"
"Of course and afterward you must come meet father and your new husband to be."
"Yes." I walk away from the house towards the boy. He takes my bags in his hands and starts walking past the bushes. I follow him around the bushes and past the house.
My name is Luna Kinley and I'm 21. My parents were Aiden and Lily Kinley. They have been dead for sixteen years now. Up until now I have been living with my aunt Cia. My aunt has arranged for me to marry the eldest son. She says she knows the family from years passed, but I'm only concerned about the engagement. Not because of the engagement itself, but because the fact that I know nothing about the man I'm marrying or his family. All I know is that his mother died over a year ago and that the father and his three sons live their lives in their family home in Traverse City, Michigan and he is 22. I feel bad not know more about him. Not paying attention I bump into someone and we both fall.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Trying desperately to gain forgiveness. I look up at the person I ran into and see a man looking back at me. He had grey like hair and grey like eyes. At first glance he looked like an old man, but he was actually a teenager.
"What are you both doing on the ground?" Asked Darrel. We both look at him.
"Oh we just bumped into each other." Said the boy. He then looked at me. "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention either. My name is Damian Minnik."
"Well we've gotta get going or else we will be late for our meeting with father." Said Darrel.
"Ok, I'll see you back at the house." He said as he got up and helped me up. He waves his hand and walks away. I wipe the bits of dirt from my clothes.
"Come on, miss Kinley."
"Oh, ok." Darrel and I continue walking. We got to the house and it's huge. A mansion. Darrel showed me to my room and dropped off my bags. He told me to change into my best clothes for when I meet his father and his brother. I do as he said because I want to look decent for the man I'm going to marry. I change into a white dress about knee length and red heels. I put my hair up into a bun. This is probably the best I have ever looked just to meet someone. Once I finished, Darrel took me to his father who was in his study. As soon as I walk into this room... My life is set. Darrel opens the doors.
"Father, I brought miss Kinley." I can't help it. I'm too scared. Who wouldn't be. I walk through with my eyes looking down towards my feet. My eyes barely open.
"Hello, Luna..."