The Chosen.

Rose.

"This is it." I stop in front of the gigantic castle like mansion. I study the house intensely, my eyes trailing over every corner and balcony railing. 

"Mmm. Subtle." Sloane points to the water fountain in the front yard. 

"God, I just knew he would be some ostentatious prick. I was hoping it wasn't true." I sigh looking between my two best friends Sloane and Mia. 

"It's okay June. We got your back, no matter what." She squeezes my hand, then Sloane's next. 

I walk up to the front door, slowly and tentatively. My heart slams around in my chest as i approach the entrance. Time seems to be moving slower, my anxiety making itself evident in the pit of my stomach. 

I notice lights shining through the small windows next to the door, evidence of someone being home. I knock three times. 

"Come in!" Shouts a mans voice from inside the home. I turn around bewildered and look at my friends. Zeke shrugs his shoulders. 

"Just go." Nods Gustav.

I shrug my shoulders and open the door. 

I am enveloped by the smell of roasted chicken and rosemary. I peer to my left to an empty living area. 

My head snaps forward at the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen directly in front of me. I keep walking slowly, unsure if i am really intruding on someones dinner.

I turn the corner and see a man looking down at the marble counter. He diligently cuts a stack of potatoes, not even aware of my presence. 

James Parker looks up from the cutting board to see me standing in his kitchen doorway. His jaw drops as he stares at me in shock.

He picks up a cup towel off the counter and wipes his hands while walking towards me.

"You're not who i thought you were." He stands in front of me, studying my facial features.

I find myself not able to say anything. I don't think i'm too scared, i think it's that i have yet to figure out what to say to this man.

"I knew you'd find me eventually." He says softly. I nod.

"Why are you here, Juniper." He says bluntly. His words weren't aggressive or frustrated, they were just so... matter of fact.

"I need the coin, James." I say his name the way he said mine, but it somehow felt wrong to call him James.

He sighs and rubs the side of his temple. "I don't think i can do that." He rustles his beard before walking back over to the counter to finish cutting his potatoes. 

"It's the least you can do for her." Sloane says abrasively as she rounds the corner of the kitchen. 

"You brought a friend." He looks up at her briefly before his eyes avert once again to the cutting board. 

"We brought a few actually, hope thats okay." She scoffs as the rest of my friends appear behind us. 

James Parker looks up surprised at the eight strangers in his kitchen staring at him. 

"Might have to make some more food. Don't think i have enough here." He throws the potatoes onto a pan.

"Can you cut the shit and give me the coin." I demand, putting my hand on my hip. James smiles brightly, watching me.

"Inherited your mothers attitude i see." He points at the hand hugging my hip. I drop the hand and straighten my posture.

"Not that i would know." I spit back at the stranger who is my father.