Cinderfella 2: A New Life - 50. Chapter 50

We would be working harder on making more of Christian’s little warriors. They thrived in a person’s body, but how long would they live outside the body? Then again, they had lived for countless years in a glass jar! We would be busy a while and I paint things as being intense, and it was, but things were not always rosy at home. Toby was growing up quickly and turned three, growing so fast it was hard to keep him in clothes and he attended the new school we had started for children that were deaf, if for no other reason than to show him that he was not the only one. There were three in Royal Valley now, including Owen’s nephew Tommy. And there was another thing, Dennis. I had been there when Thomas, Ada and Ana was about two years old and became….well…little beasts. Being as advanced as Dennis was, he didn’t wait to turn two. At eighteen months he became that little beast, but Doris, who had deal with her own before and knew what happened with children was almost at her wits end! Dennis was now talking more, but the one word he knew and used very often, was NO. I was thankful Toby had skipped this, but Dennis was doing enough for Toby and him!

“You need to get dressed.” Doris said to Dennis who was sitting naked on the bed. She held some clothes he was to wear.

“No!” Dennis declared folding his arms over his little chest.

“Then you won’t be going down for breakfast.” Doris sighed. “You can’t go naked.”

“No!” Dennis repeated.

I had been passing by and heard the whole thing I looked in, I looked at Dennis. “Why are you saying no?” I asked Dennis.

“I don’t want to.” Dennis said flatly.

I shrugged. “I guess you don’t want to eat. Or have some juice.” I said knowing how much he loved grape juice.

Dennis looked at me. “Why?”

“Because we all dress to go down to eat.” I reasoned. “Your Daddy and I dress, Toby dresses and you will dress, or do without.”

Doris smiled at me. “He’s just at that age, but I’m surprised it’s as early as it is. I’ve dealt with it before. You just need a lot of patience.” I thanked God for Doris.

I nodded. “My nieces and nephew did this. It nearly drove Ella insane and Christian said he’d rather negotiate with foreign dignitaries than negotiate with his children.”

Doris laughed. “At this point, they’re pretty much the same as foreign dignitaries.” She waved me off. “I’ve got this. He won’t win.” She said firmly looking at Dennis.

I frowned. “I hate putting this is on you.”

Doris nodded. “That’s my job.” She smiled. “I can’t do a lot of things, but raising children I can do.” She said confidently.

I looked over at Toby who was waiting patiently to go down for breakfast. “So, we’ll go and eat what Dennis doesn’t want to dress for.” I grinned at my son lifting him. I groaned. “Maybe we should skip a meal, you’re getting heavy.”

Toby grinned and signed. I’m getting big! Then he looked at his brother and signed. Get dressed, Dennis, stop being stubborn.

“No!” Dennis shot at his brother showing his brother wasn’t immune to Dennis’ fury.

I shrugged. “Suit yourself. If you don’t dress, no breakfast or juice.” I smiled at Doris and went down the stairs as I heard Dennis let his rage out very loud in a cry that was almost feral! I sent a prayer of thanks again for having Doris to deal with this, but I felt guilty giving it to her, even though she was paid to care for Seth’s and my sons. I wondered how parents dealt with it when they had no choices. Seth and I would be lost without her or Grace.

Seth grinned as we entered the kitchen, but frowned as he looked at me and saw my face. “Is something wrong?”

“Dennis is going through that part of life where the answer to everything is no and he refuses to do anything instructed to do, like simply get dressed.” I answered as Seth greeted Toby with a kiss on the cheek.

Seth shook his head. “Toby didn’t go through that.”

I shrugged. “Dennis is advanced for his age as we all know. It was bound to happen. With Dennis, it’s early like everything else. Toby just doesn’t seem to have it in him, but he could later.”

“Coffee’s ready.” Grace said to no one and everyone. “Eggs are cooking and ham coming.” She turned from the stove and waved to us. “Sit.” She commanded.

“Yes, Mother.” Seth and I said sitting as I put Toby in his chair.

“Can I at least get my coffee?” Seth asked carefully to Grace.

“I said it was ready.” Grace said pointing to the coffee. “Will we be back for lunch?”

Yannick came in stretching as he came. “That smells wonderful!”

“Sorry, Grace.” I shook my head. “We’ll be working most of the day. We won’t be here for lunch.” I looked at Grace who was moving quickly. “Grace, should I hire help for you? You’re doing a lot. Fixing breakfast for us, the guards and our two guests…”

Grace spun, her eyes wide. “No!” She said sharply and then sighed. “No, please don’t. They’ll just be in my way.” She smiled. “I’m just…” she looked at Yannick. “Things are just a little chaotic right now.” She still wasn’t sure that these Creid were not what she’d believed them to be, but evidence was showing her otherwise. “If you want, someone to help with the housework, that would be fine. It seems now all I do is cook!”

Seth got up and got his coffee. “We’ll be happy to do that, Grace. You’re a blessing to have. You shouldn’t carry to whole thing alone.” He grinned at Yannick holding the coffee up. “Coffee?”

Yannick smiled nodding. “Please?”

That’s when someone knocked on the door to the kitchen. The guards didn’t knock anymore. Answering the door, I saw a young woman with a child about five years old. Her hair was dark, not black but very dark brown. Her eyes were brown as well and she was very pretty.

“I told Doris I would come by and pick up Toby for school.” The woman smiled. “I’m Delta, Owen’s sister.” She ran a hand over the dark haired boy’s head. “This is Tommy.”

I smiled as I put my hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Delta.” I knelt down in front of Thomas. “Hello, Thomas.” I held my hand out to him. He took it and allowed me to shake his hand.

“He’s learning civility.” Delta said. “The common courtesies are a little foreign to him yet.”

I stood back up. “But he’s learning. I’m Erik.”

Her face fell a little as she instantly bowed. “I’m sorry, Your Highness…”

I quickly held my hand up to stop her. “I’m sure Owen told you. We don’t go by those protocols here. I’m just Erik.” I waved to Seth and Yannick. “The one on the left is Seth, my husband. To the right is Prince Yannick of Creid.”

Now, to Delta’s credit, she didn’t react hearing Yannick was Creid, but she looked at me. “Do I say Your Highness to Prince Yannick?”

I looked at Yannick, but he was staring at Delta. Delta was in her mid to late twenties. Yannick may have had sex with men in the past and perhaps with a few women, but I knew interest when I saw it. As far as I knew, Yannick viewed sex as sex, but was he interested in Delta? Why not?

“Yannick?” I said to Yannick, breaking his thoughts as he became aware he was addressed.

“What?” Yannick asked and then shook his head. “Just Yannick is fine. It seems that titles are not really used here. It will be nice to just be Yannick for a change.” He said smiling at Delta. “Can I call you Delta?”

Okay, she was smiling, too. “Of course. It is my name.” She looked at Toby who was getting his breakfast. “It seems I’m early. Do you mind if I come in until Toby’s ready?”

I grinned at Seth who merely shrugged as we both saw Yannick’s and Delta’s reactions. “Sure.” I waved her in. “Tell me. Have you found work here yet?”

Delta shook her head. “I’ve been getting Tommy in school, but I haven’t yet. We just moved to Royal Valley.”

“Can you do housework?” I asked.

Delta looked surprised. “Every woman knows how to do that.”

Seth looked at Yannick and then back at Delta. “Could you do it here?”

Delta smiled. “Work here at the manor? I’d be delighted to. This is a grand house!”

I pointed to Grace. “This is Grace, she’s so demanded and she can’t do it all. She will be the one in charge if you take the job.”

Delta nodded. “I would love to work in the manor! I hope I do well. I’ll take Thomas and Toby to school and come right back.”

Yannick stepped forward. “I’ll come with you.” He said a little hurried and then looked at Seth and me. “We are here to protect Toby and Dennis as well….and that other thing, right? I can at least walk them to school. Is there a guard posted at the school?”

“Of course.” Seth chuckled at the obvious interest. “But an escort would be great….for Toby.” Seth smiled, knowing it wasn’t Toby getting the escort necessarily, but Delta.

Yannick took the coffee from Seth. “Coffee, Delta?”

Delta smiled nodding. “If it’s no trouble.”

Seth walked over to me. “She’s not a virgin!” He whispered to me pointing at Tommy.

I shrugged. “And neither is he. Let’s let things progress as they will naturally. I know King Mordor wouldn’t care as long as he picks someone and we don’t know they will click. We’ll just have to see. Let’s not marry them off until we know.”

Yannick swore to be back soon as he escorted Delta, Tommy and Toby to school.

When Ryan got down, he was…happy.

I smiled at Ryan. “I take it all went well last night?”

Ryan nodded as he drank some coffee. “Very well.” Then he shook his head. “I still can’t believe how no one looked at us strangely. And there were two other couples at Royal Gardens like us. One was female!”

I chuckled. “It’s no longer against the law. Having seen Seth and me together sort of eased any discomfort there was.”

Ryan nodded with a smile. “I’m seeing Darrin again tonight.”

I patted him on the back. “I’m happy for you!”

Ryan looked at me. “But I don’t think King Mordor will ever allow men to marry men.”

“You never know, he might in time.” I said hopefully.

Ryan grinned. “Of course, it could just be from a great evening yesterday, but I think those little warriors are causing…almost a state of euphoria. I feel great!”

I had felt it, too. “These little warriors are pretty powerful, and it worked on Christian. We’ll be doing some work on these warriors today. I feel better than I have in a while.”

Once Yannick got back, Seth, Yannick, Ryan and me walked through to A’Dore only to have Dr. Warren standing there watching.

The elderly doctor just shook his head having seen the doorway work. “Marvelous.” He almost whispered. “Simply marvelous! It’s a pity we don’t know how this works, we might could make more!”

I walked over to Dr. Warren and pulled him into the light to see his face clearer. The man was almost seventy! “Doctor, how do you feel right now?”

The doctor smiled. “Better than I’ve felt in years! Better than I have in decades! I slept like I haven’t in quite a while. Why?”

Seth walked toward us. “Because you look a little younger.”

The doctor touched his face. “Do I?”

“It seems these little warriors do a lot more than help the body heal.” I said cautiously.

Yannick nodded. “I feel better than I have in while.”

“That’s because you are feeling the juice of the Forbidden Fruit.” Demetrius said at the entrance of the room. He had enough sense not to just appear.

Dr. Warren’s eyes widened at a stranger to him. “Who are you? How’d you get in here?” He demanded. “There are guards posted!”

I touched the doctor gently. “Relax, this is Demetrius. He’s one of the good guys.”

Seth let out a grunt at that. “He’s friendly, at least.”

Demetrius growled. “I am one of the good guys, damn it.” He shook his head. “Granted, you had a bad experience with what happened. I don’t blame you, but I am a good guy. Can’t you see that?” Demetrius said to Seth.

Seth nodded. “You are.” Seth admitted. “But Len Na and Lukus…” He narrowed his eyes. “He said it was fun when Arthur killed my mother. He says he said interesting, but he said fun! I’m still not sure about him.”

“It was a poor choice of words.” Lukus’ voice said as he stepped from a wall. Seth and I had seen this before, but the others had not and were backing up immediately. “Fun was not the word to use, I meant interesting. Hell, being scared is fun if you’re not hurt. What happened with your mother, father and brother was not my doing.”

“Then how was it fun?” Seth shouted. “I was hurt! My mother was killed! How was it fun? It wasn’t for me or my mother!” Seth walked forward to Lukus and it was all coming out at last. “But you showed Arthur how!”

Lukus gave a shrugging nod. “If not by what I showed him, it would have been done some other way, but you survived! Your brother is king!”

Seth shook his head angrily. “I don’t care! My God! You’re not going to take any responsibility even now?” Seth shouted as anger came to the surface. “I know, it was all Arthur’s choice! He could have changed his mind, you said, but there was a point of no return before that…whatever exploded! Why didn’t you stop it then? My mother died! I was scarred! For two decades I believed I was cursed!”

“Arthur could have told your mother and gotten her, your brother and you out!” Lukus defended. “He made a choice!”

Demetrius held his hands up knowing this could escalate. “But for right now, we are all on the same side.”

“Are we?” Seth challenged Demetrius. “Those warriors in our systems are from the very fruit that condemned mankind to a life of sin according to the scriptures. Now they are floating free in our systems and how do I know it’s not for something even worse?”

Demetrius turned Seth away from Lukus and looked him in the eye. “Because I say it’s not.” He hugged Seth who was shaking. “I love you. I never want to hurt you. I wouldn’t let something like that happen to you. You have got to trust me, Seth or this is lost before we start!” Demetrius forced Seth to look at him. “Do you believe I love you? You’re my son! I would never, ever hurt you or Erik.”

Yannick had been watching in disbelief finally found his voice. “What the HELL!!??” He asked me pointing at Demetrius and Lukus. “You said they were real, but…”

I nodded going to Seth. “Now you’ve seen it for yourself, Yannick. Lukus was the one that gave us the doorway.” I said absently as I touched Seth arm, which Seth grabbed my hand again and was squeezing it, out of pain he felt? Or just to make contact. “Are you okay, Seth?”

“No!” Seth shouted. “I’m far from okay, these creatures…whatever they are, have played with mankind since the dawn of man! Whether it be because they’re bored or just for amusement…”

“Look!” Lukus shouted back not backing down. “Let’s get it straight! You descended from Adam and Eve, they both fell when they ate the forbidden fruit! You were born from parents after that sin! We were in the garden before Adam even ate the fruit. Our parents are those that lived in the garden and having never touched the damned fruit! Why were we thrown out?”

“Which even Demetrius admits is legend to even you!!” Seth shouted. “There’s no proof this ever happened!”

Demetrius came to me and Seth. “Please, both of you. We’re on your side! Len Na is going to attack and the more time we waste…” he looked to me pleading. “Don’t you trust me?”

I smiled to Demetrius and put my arm around his shoulder. “How can I not?” I looked at Lukus. “But you have to admit, what happened to Seth’s family was horrible. It’s hard for him to trust you. You have to understand why!”

Lukus nodded. “I know!” He said loud and then took a calming breath. “Yes, I’m guilty of showing Arthur what to use and how to use it. I will admit that. What do you want from me?” He asked Seth. “I’m sorry!”

Seth’s breath was easing. “That…was is the first time I’ve heard you even admit that.” Seth looked at me. “I met you and married you because of them. I love you. If you trust them…” he shrugged. “I will, too.” But Seth shook his head. “I just….can’t even remember her! I can remember nothing before the fire. I don’t even remember that!”

Lukus stepped forward. “Well…I can help you there, but…when I do….there will be other memories that may not be pleasant.”

Seth was now crying a little. “I can’t remember her face!”

Lukus nodded. “If I can…” he held his hands up.

Seth nodded.

Lukus touched Seth’s temples. Maybe because I still had Seth’s hand, but suddenly I saw….before me, and I was a little boy. I had fallen on a marble floor which I remembered was in the palace in Blethos and then I saw a woman, a very beautiful woman with King Alexander! Only King Alexander was young! Seth had a lot of King Alexander in him. She smiled as she knelt down and picked me, or Seth up. She was pregnant! She was pregnant with Sam!?

“Be careful, honey!” King Alexander said cautiously.

“Be careful picking up my own son? Our son?” She laughed. “He’s heavy, but I’ll always be his mother and can pick him up easily.” She said kissing King Alexander and then she turned to Seth. “It’s alright, you’re not hurt I think, you were just startled.” She smiled kissing Seth. I could see, hear and smell her! She smelled like flowers!

King Alexander smiled touching Seth gently, caressing his head. “You’re always in a hurry. I’ve warned you not to run.” He said patiently.

The woman shook her head. “He’s got a lot places to go and can’t wait to get there.” She chuckled kissing Seth again on the cheek.

King Alexander nodded. “I know.” He grinned at Seth. “Just slow down, Phillip.” He kissed Seth on the cheek as well.

Then it faded.

Seth took a deep breath as his tears were now happier. “That was my mother!”

Lukus nodded. “It was. It’s your memory of her.” He said kindly. "I’ve opened the gate and other memories will come…not all of them will be pleasant like this one was.”

Seth nodded. “But I remember everything! How she looked, sounded, even smelled!” He marveled. Then he looked at Lukus. “Thank you, I just wished….I wish she’d lived.”

Lukus nodded. “I know.”

Demetrius let a breath out in a sigh. “Thank God that’s being healed!” He looked at all of us. “Now, Len Na knows something’s up. We’ve managed to cloud her vision of what’s happening. You all have to be careful. She will use whomever to get what that is. You’ve got to work fast and get things going.” He looked at Ryan.

Ryan had been standing absolutely stunned at what he saw. He gathered himself. “That’s why we’re here. Seth, Erik, Yannick, Dr. Warren and I have those little warriors in us now. We’re planning to let others know and how to do it.”

“Good.” Demetrius nodded. “We won’t hold you up.” Demetrius hugged both of us and then turned to Lukus. “I have a question since you know so much about what life was like in the garden.”

Lukus’ eyebrow rose. “What?”

“Did Adam, Lilith or even Eve have belly buttons? They weren’t born, but created, or did God put them there to create a pattern? And there was the fruit of the Forbidden Fruit, the tree of Knowledge and all that.” Demetrius frowned. “Clothes weren’t developed until the Children of Eve were thrown out of the garden!” Then he grinned. “Was there a shit tree?”

Lukus’ eyebrows rose high on that one. I’m sure mine were as high at the question. “What!?” Lukus asked incredibly.

“Did they even shit back then? I can’t imagine it being a garden with all that human shit just lying around.” Demetrius said lightly in his way. “We do now, so I can’t imagine they didn’t and there must have been thousands of years back in the garden. There had to be hundreds of those trees! What did they use for toileting? There was no clothe yet, and I feel sorry for any leafy bush or tree they used, but they had to go somewhere, so where’d they go? Behind any tree? And there had to be a lot of those trees for as many as I heard there were. Was there a shit tree?”

Seth and I burst out laughing. Even Yannick was laughing, though Ryan was still not sure about them. Dr. Warren just shook his head, but he was smiling!

“Okay!” I kissed Seth. “This has been interesting, but we need to get to work!”