Eirena POV
Determined to move quickly and silently through the forest on my family's property I chant in my head run as far and fast as you can. For a while now I have wanted to get away from my parents. After the news, they had just given me that was the last straw. My name may mean peace, but my life was anything but peaceful. My mother had just told me, I was going to be married at the end of the week to Charles.
I thought I had plenty of time. Maybe they would change their mind. But no. They wanted to rush it and for the end of the week no less.
I Miss Eirena Bellarosa Jones was not having any of it. I had one older sibling Andrew. He was my only saving grace from this mess. Andrew had been disowned from the family when he decided to tell our parents, and the world, he was gay. It was the scandal of that year and our parents hadn't talked to him ever since. That happened what felt like ages ago and I just hope I will be able to find him. I should have left with him.
Finally, I reach the river near the end of my family's property. All I need to do is find a shallow place to cross. Lucky for me, I know of a few spots I can cross thanks to playing here as a child. However, the rainy season is in full swing and the water levels are very high this year. Regardless of playing here and knowing this place like the back of my hand, I can't swim. I follow the river until I find a shallow spot, but the river still flows like lightning. If I'm not careful its flow will engulf me, and I will be gone. Mind made up, I test fate and begin to cross the treacherous river.
"One step at a time it will be fine" I tell myself.
I carefully step onto the first stone to cross, then another. A little over halfway, an unfamiliar sound comes from the side I'm headed to. This makes me stop in my tracks. Looking around I cannot pin point where the sound came from or what made it. Just as I'm about to blow it off and continue I hear it again and this time I can tell it is something moving near the tree line in front of me. I stay frozen in my spot not sure what to do.
"What do you think you are doing?" Comes an extremely masculine voice.
Relief floods my system. At least it's not a bear. Then panic strikes. I don't know that voice or who it might belong to. I can't think about that right now I have to move, to get away no matter the cost.
"Who wants to know? Show yourself."
Before I can say another word, out of the tree line a Greek god appears. I take a sharp breath in. He isn't really a Greek god but the man who steps out of the dark is devastatingly handsome. Nobody should look that good, but he does. I slowly drink him all in. He must have spent some time in the sun recently because he has that perfect tan that you only get by doing such. This mystery man has dark hair slightly messy in a "needs to be cut" length, rich green eyes that look almost like they sparkle, and full lips. His body is trim but muscular with a hint of ink under his left arm sleeve. The hint of a tattoo is so hot I'm tempted to rip his shirt off and see the whole thing. Where had this Adonis come from? No one lived around here for miles.
"What do you think you are doing?" he repeats.
His voice has a bite to it and it quickly pulls me out of the pre-fantasy scenarios that was starting to form in my head. Opening my mouth to respond, a howling sound comes from the direction I just came. HUNTING DOGS! Panic, fear and anger rush through my body as I recognize the sound. It kicks me into motion to finish crossing the river. Just as I get to the last stepping stone and about to make the final step the young man steps in my way.
Irritated and slightly panicked I hiss, "Please move I have to get as far away from here as I can before they catch me."
"Who and why?"
