Chapter 1

The morning light of a new sunrise shone through the piece of cloth Caroline had put up before she'd gone to bed. Caroline found herself blinking, trying to wake herself up. It was bright, but the air in the small room she shared with her little sisters was frigid. Caroline pulled the blanket closer as she sat up. Her little sisters, Margaret and Maria, were already up and about. She could hear their voices echoing through the thin walls of the house her father had built for them. She smiled as she sat up and stretched her arms over her head. Her room was small, barely big enough to hold the cot and the make-shift dresser that she and her sisters used. The walls were a bland color, but she didn't mind. At least she had a place to stay.

Caroline pulled off her sleeping clothes and put on the clothing of a new day of work. She had slept in too late. Her mother was sure the gripe about it. A lady must always awaken early if she is to achieve what must be done on time, she could see her mother, Elizabeth, say for hundredth time. Caroline rolled her eyes, and caught herself. Rolling her eyes was rude, but it was something she couldn't help but do when something she thought or heard was ridiculous.

"Caroline!" she heard her mom yell through the house. Caroline knew she couldn't stall the day any longer. With her clothing on and her long, curly blonde hair tied securely, she walked out of her little room. She passed a little mirror that hung on the wall leading to the room that held her family. She took in her blue eyes and her high cheekbones. She sighed as she saw a small smudge of black on her forehead. She pressed her hand and rubbed to cause the black to disappear. The smile returned to her lips, and she walked into the room in which her family was gathered. Her little sisters were wrestling on the ground with each other whilst her dog, Charlie, sat on the ground watching with disinterest. Her father was already out and about, God only knew where. Her mother sat on a small cot in the center of the room, smiling at the sight of her daughter.

"Good morning, my sleepy child. I have news for you," her mother said as she stood to kiss Caroline once on the cheek. "Margaret, Maria, please stop fighting each other. Sit down and act like respectable young ladies or today shall be the day I teach you to clean clothing!"

Margaret and Maria instantly knew that their mother wasn't kidding when she threatened to teach them how to clean clothing, which was a very long and tedious task. Caroline couldn't help but remember the days when she was so young and foolish. She had two older siblings that would scorn her for such activities. Her older brother, William, was married and had been so for almost two years. Her older sister, Samantha had suffered a fate that Caroline knew meant death. She had been summoned to the house upon the hill.

Caroline's thoughts turned dark as she thought about the town's so called 'rulers'. Caroline had never seen one of them. They didn't fancy the life of those they 'ruled' over. However, every now and again, the masters would call upon a person from the town to their lavishly large and beautiful home on top of the hill. Those who left never came back. The town stood in fear. Once a person saw the inside of the House, some said, they were turned to stone. Others claimed that the family upon the hill simply used them as servants until they were too old to do such work. Caroline shuttered at the thought of her beautiful sister, Samantha, suffering either of those fates.

"Caroline," her mother said, pulling her from her thoughts. Caroline rearranged her features to look as though no such thought had crossed her mind.

"Yes, mother?" Caroline asked pleasantly.

"I have the most splendid news for you. A suitor has come forward seeking your hand," Elizabeth said as she smiled.

Caroline let her mind accept the news. Within a short period of time, she would no longer be her own person. She would no longer live with the family she loved. She would no longer have any form of independence. She would be the property of a man. Sixteen was a little old for marriage, most women were married at thirteen and fourteen, but Caroline knew the day would come eventually.

"You know the man, Tyler Lockwood, do you not?" Caroline's mother asked her, jarring her from her inner thoughts.

"Yes, mother," Caroline said. She was neither happy nor sad at the news. Caroline at least knew this man. She had seen him around the town's middle. He was a well-educated man in his early twenties. He had good social status, although some whispered that his family was in communication with the house upon the hill. Because most of the town feared those who lived upon the hill, any conspirators were shunned. Many women had been forced to leave their homes to go to the house. When one was on friendly terms with those that resided there, the townspeople had someone to blame.

"Well, my dear girl, what do you think?" her mother asked her happily. Elizabeth was visibly excited that her daughter was finally going to be a lady in someone else's home. Caroline put on a smile before she responded.

"I believe that it is a marvelous thing mother, to be betrothed. I am honestly very excited to begin my new life," Caroline lied. She didn't want to be tied down in such a manor. She wanted freedom. She wanted her own love, someone she fell for and then married, not someone she had never spoken a word to. She internally sighed as the response settled in with her mother.

"Very good, Caroline. Matthew called for you earlier, why don't you go tell him the good news? I'm sure he'd love to hear it. I believe he's out somewhere with Elena," her mom said, closing the discussion before she walked away to complete some other chore she had to do. Chores that I will soon have to complete, Caroline thought to herself.

She walked out the front door to the small house she shared with her family. Her house was located in the south outskirts of town, almost directly across town from the Hill. There was a little downtrodden dirt path that lead directly to the town's middle. In the middle, there were several carts that sold vegetables. The small buildings were few. There was a small pond in the middle of the courtyard, and that was usually where people would choose to meet. She found Henry and Elena sitting there. Sitting next to them was Bethany Bennett. When Bethany saw her coming, she got up and walked away. Bethany had always liked Mr. Lockwood. So, the news has spread I see, Caroline thought to herself as she approached her friends.

"I hear someone has some big news!" Matthew said excitedly as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Big," Caroline said sadly, "but not welcome."

"But why not? Isn't it every girl's dream to grow up and become a mother?" Matthew asked curiously. Elena took interest and answered for Caroline.

"It may be a dream to become a mother. However, very few find it appealing to run a home, and it is not many who dream about doing it with a man that has a family associated with the House," Elena explained in a whisper.

Caroline nodded her head in agreement.

"Do you both seriously believe what the townspeople have been saying? How could they possible know anything about that?" Matthew scoffed. "I have to get back to work, my father is paying me, and I'll have to propose for a wife as soon as I'm ready. I will talk to you both on the morrow. G'day."

Elena smiled when he mentioned the wife. Caroline said nothing but picked it up none the less. Elena gave her a panicked look and mouthed, Look behind you.

Caroline turned to see the one and only Mr. Lockwood headed her way. Caroline was a tad forgetful on how she was supposed to act, so she decided she would just stick with respectful and quiet, 'like any good wife in this day should be'.

"Miss. Forbes, Miss. Petrova," came the very masculine voice. Mr. Lockwood nodded once at Elena, dismissing her, and turned his attention completely to Caroline. Elena gave Caroline a look and walked away swiftly.

"Hello, Mr. Lockwood," Caroline said softly, trying not to show the anguish and anger in her open blue eyes.

"You look very lovely today. I'm sure you've heard the news of our engagement," he stated. Caroline almost rolled her eyes at his tone of superiority. She held his unwavering gaze in her own.

"Yes, sir. I am most excited for it, indeed," she responded, barely keeping the light tone.

"Yes, well, I must be off. Duty calls. Always a pleasure to see you, my sweet," he dismissed as he kissed her hand. He let her go and walked in the opposite direction he had been heading early. Caroline barely suppressed the urge to follow him. She knew the consequences would be great if she was caught.

Caroline turned around and started walking. She looked at the ground, unwilling to meet the curious gazes all around her. She almost looked up before she ran right into someone.

"I am so sorry, sir," she spoke quickly, flustered. She looked up just in time to see his face before he looked away. He had shoulder length light brown hair. That style on any other man would've been horrendous, but it managed to suit him just fine. In fact, it was very attractive. She could tell that he was having an off day, or maybe he was just an angry person. He was strong and steady. He didn't even falter when she ran right into him.

"It's quite alright, just watch where you are going next time," he said angrily. He seemed angry, until he registered just who he was looking at. When his eyes met hers, they softened slightly. A flash of remorse and shame ran over his eyes before they went blank. "I'm very sorry, Miss, but it seems I haven't gotten your name," he said. Caroline knew she needed to supply an answer.

"My name is Caroline Forbes, sir," she said as she looked down at his feet.

"Well, Miss. Forbes, my dearest apologies in running in to you," he said before he walked away. Caroline's mind was jumbled. She left as though she couldn't speak. When she looked into his piercing light blue eyes, she felt like a mouse cornered by a cat.

Caroline continued back to her house. When she got there, her mom had already set out the clothing that needed to be washed. Elizabeth was already in the kitchen cooking up some of the rabbit her father had managed to get this morning. It wasn't until Caroline was in the middle of her shirt when she realized it. She had never seen that man in the town before.