His mother forced him to wear a black suit with a plain red tie while she wore a matching black dress that contrasted her white skin. Her jet-black hair was tied back into a neat bun. As Jon opened the door expecting to greet one of the guests he found it was Alec. "Do you have any idea how many houses I have knocked on? This is the 23rd house but, don't worry, I have plenty of time to waste," he panted.

Jon checked the time on his watch and it was only 6, he's 3 hours early.

"Aren't you a bit early?"

"As I said, I have time to kill, can't a person visit his new friend's house?" Alec grinned.

"Who is it, Jon?" His mother asked as she walked up to them, "hello there!" She said, startled.

"Won't you introduce me to your friend here?" She was now looking at Jon.

"This is Alec Sterling, my friend from school. I'm sorry, come in Alec," Jonathan smiled as he stepped aside.

"You never told me you had a sister," Alec smirked as he kissed her hand.

"Oh," she laughed, "I'm his mom."

"Hey mom, can Alec join our meeting? I think it will be better to have a friendly face around." Jon suggested.

"Sterling, you say? Your father is William Sterling? I am sorry, but I'm afraid they might suspect he's spying on us. Make yourself at home, Alec," she said as she looked at Alec "would you like to eat something? I have baked some cookies and there are leftovers from lunch if you want."

"I will have a cookie. Thank you." He smiled.

"C'mon let me show you around," Jon led him up the stairs.

His room was upstairs at the end of the hallway to the right. The hallway was full of unemptied boxes that rested on the brown parquet floor, the walls were beige and decorated with lamps. Jon's room was, as always, immaculate; representing the organized person he is who despised any sign of chaos. He gossiped with Alec for a bit of time before heading downstairs when he heard the doorbell again knowing that these are his expected guests, leaving Alec with his cookie.

It was exactly 8 pm as Jon opened the door, he shook his guests' hands as they entered. There were three of them: Charles Montgomery, son of Allen Montgomery, the family's lawyer, he was about 1 year older than Jon; however much skinnier and a tad bit taller than him with blond hair and green eyes that scanned Jon as soon as he stepped in. Ronald Jefferson who was the oldest of the People of The Forest, a grumpy fat old man. He walked proudly with his nose high despite his age, wearing a brown hat that covered his bald head. Lastly, Sabrina Stanley, the team captain of the guards of the Forest, she looked younger than Jon's 40-year-old mother, with blond hair that curled around her ears and gleaming green eyes.

"Rose," Jefferson tipped his hat.

"I am so sorry for your loss, Jon, Ms. Pierre," Allen and Sabrina offered their condolences which Jon was sick of at this point.

He always felt they were fake and none of them actually understood how he was feeling. He was furious at his mother for refusing to let him live with his father. He couldn't help but think that perhaps if he was there, he could've saved him. Jon was always reluctant to accept the fact that his father has ended his own life. He knew his father and he was sure that he'd never do such a thing, 'he's no coward'.

He partially blamed Sabrina for it, she was supposed to be there to protect his father. He has known Sabrina ever since he was a little kid. She loved the Pierre's. Jon tried his best to get over his father's demise, and his mother has always been very understanding, but he was an angry teenager, and he did what teenagers do best, rebel. Locking himself up and losing his temper at the silliest of matters. Until he eventually realized that he was being purely selfish. He was not the only one who has lost a member of his family. His mother has lost the love of her life, and instead of sticking by her side for support, he made her life a living hell.

"So? What's the reason behind this 'urgent meeting'?" Asked Jon.

"You didn't tell him?" Ronald exclaimed looking at Rose.

"We need a leader," said Charles, "this is your birth right, you are the son of Anthony Pierre and the grandson of Arthur Pierre, both of them were our leaders and now you will be."

"He's too young to lead," murmured Ronald, "this is complete bullshit"

"And who do you suggest ought to be our leader?" Sabrina said eyeing him with mockery.

"I, at least temporarily, until the kid is fit to rule," smiled Ronald smugly exposing his yellow crooked teeth. Jon looked at his mom as she carefully listened. She always does that, like her son, she is not exactly the very talkative type and so Jon did the same, waiting for the right moment to fire a comeback.

All three of them filled the void living room with arguing and cursing as their voices fought in a battle where, apparently, the loudest wins. The dispute kept on for what seemed like hours until old Ronald said "how do you expect a coward to be a leader? He'll lead us into a war he cannot withstand. The next thing we know the little coward is overwhelmed with responsibility and kills himself like his failure of a father did. Pathetic," old Ronald spat out raising a red flag.

"I thought old men were supposed to be polite," Jon retorted calmly, on the other hand, his eyes radiated with fury, "so you say my father was a coward? It seems, old man, that your mind has followed the path of your decayed body. I heard you were my grandfather's friend, that you were the only one with him when he died at the hands of mundanes. So tell me, you old piece of shit, where were you when they killed my grandfather? How come you came out untouched and yet he was deceased? Get the hell out of my house." His face was red and he felt his blood boiling underneath his skin, as he threw the old man's hat and coat out.

"Does anyone have anything to say to our new leader?" His mother was beaming with pride, they were all smiling.

"Nice to have you, chief," Charles said as he hugged Jon.

"That's the boy I know!" Sabrina hugged him too, "I've got to go. My shift starts now, please if you want anything don't hesitate to call me."

"I almost forgot, as you know our fathers used to be friends and my father is technically your lawyer, so these are the things your father left for you." He gave him an authentic silver Rolex watch, a piece of paper that seemed to be a letter, and his father's glasses.

"As for you, Mrs. Pierre, your husband left you these." He gave her another letter, some accessories and a photo of the three of them. "I am truly sorry for your loss, I am. I will call you when the ascending process is ready."

"What's that?" Asked Jonathan innocently.

His mother raised an eyebrow, "that's the process you have to go through in order to ascend, and by ascend we mean become the chief, the leader of the People of The Forest."

Jonathan shrugged and after 10 minutes, Charles left.

"I am proud of you." His mother told him, "Although I should punish you for swearing at a man who is 5 times older than you, but I am proud. That son of a bitch deserved it." She smiled, "go see your friend."

Jonathan heard voices coming out from his room as he went upstairs and when he entered his room he found out that Alec was unpacking the boxes in Jon's room, "what are you doing?"

"I got bored, man. So, I decided to make myself useful. Ready to go?" He was getting out a painting of the Eiffel tower, "man you really love Paris, don't you? I heard you shouting downstairs, I hate this Jefferson, he is nothing but a snake that lives in the forest, beware of him because he will not let this go easily."

"I have lived in Paris for my entire life, I wanted to make the place homier, besides I am not scared of him. I am ready to go let me just read that."

As he read the paper, his eyes started glowing again and when he finished he handed it to Alec. He sat on Jon's bed and his face instantly changed as he laid eyes upon the words, "that's not a letter from a man who was planning to kill himself."

"He was murdered,' continued Jon.