My cats take me to the next world book 3 by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

The rise of the three

That baby miracle, the triple changer is now twenty two. Almost the age that his father was when he woke up in this new world. His cohort Justin is twenty one as is their sister Ellenore.

You would think, they way they act as a well oiled machine that they were of one mind.

In fact, they are. I feel that the Watcher has many abilities that she passes on without telling anyone about them.

When each were children, she would often use the excuse that she did not like to ride.

She would stay home and watch the children. Every time, the children would ask if she would be the one that watched them.

“She does wonderful things with us but we always need to remind her that she cannot disappear during hide and seek. We only found her once.”

To me, it would be almost wrong to accuse her of not giving each something special. As I have said before, every child is ours regardless of the birth mother. Blood or servant.

They are ours.

Those servants are our family also. They have, for a long time, been active members of the Clan of Martin. There is no one that is slave bound. Some servants have moved on but most stay, knowing that they have a home for life.

The three have now come of age. I see the Watcher disappear more often than usual.

Something is up, so it was not really a surprise when the entire Clan of the Dragon started to come here. Leading them was their King, King Draco.

In a royal voice that I have not heard in years he announces, as the Watcher stands next to him.

“Draco, my grandson, Justin, my grandson and Ellenore, my granddaughter. I require you to stand before me. The remainder of the Clan of Martin. Stand in my presence.

We all assemble. He addresses the gathering.

“You three are required to come to the dragon palace. You two Justin and Ellenore will be carried by us. Draco, you will be required to fly with me in your full dragon form. You, their parents, are required to come to the palace. The goblin leader Gartok you are also required. All others can come if you want. We will need you to be there is three days.

You will have a dragon escort the entire way.”

With that the dragons, along with the Watcher take off. It still is a thrill to all to see my son transform into a majestic dragon and fly off.

There is a scramble, word has gone out to the other manors asking that the leaders come if they can. We have also sent word to the chief of Beall. inviting him. The word was that we would be moving by noon.

It was decided that the children’s army would come. The last of the aunts had passed peacefully months ago. Finally at peace so this will be the children’s first adventure.

Most of the mansion staff choose to stay behind.

I had my suspicions on what was going to happen but it was wonderful to have my wives on a camping trip. We had pulled out the old tent only to find that the mice had gotten to it. There was no time to replace it so it was decided to camp in the open much to the dismay of the wives but this was a quick departure.

When we made it to the palace, it was obvious that something important is happening.

We were welcomed by our three. They were very formally dressed. they usher both my wives and myself into a private room. There they sat next to the king and the Watcher.

The Watcher stands and addresses us.

“King Draco has ruled the Clan of the Dragon for almost eight hundred years. He has decided that it is time to step down. He had asked me to confirm this for him. I have assured him that it is time.”

Then she sat down. The king talked to us.

“I’m tired. It has been a tremendous burden these past years since we took over the rule of this world. I am now stepping down. There is going to be a change. There will be a co rule from this point on. The burden will be shared. Both Draco and Justin have agreed that they would be those rulers. It was going to be all three but Ellenore wanted to be in the role of advisor. To use her words, she needed to be behind them just in case that she had to jack them up so they did not chase squirrels. She will be their Chamberlin.”

With that we were told that in two days, the king would step down, retire and appoint those roles as his last act. Now that it has been told to us, I saw something that I never wanted to see. I saw my close friend look very old and very tired.

How long had he held a façade of being strong? All I could do was to go over to him and hug him. I whispered in his ear.

“Just because I’m hugging you, it does not mean I’m in love.”

The effect was exactly what I wanted. He broke into a very hardy laugh.

“That’s the person I know. Draco, you are always welcome to stay with us at the manor if you want.”

“Thank you for the offer but I think I would like to stay in Beall. They have been very welcoming to me each time I have visited.”

The euphoria lasted only for a moment. He looked at me.

“I thank you for being such a good friend. In my eight hundred year rule, only these past years have been the best. With you and the Watcher, I have had a true direction, With my grandsons and daughters I was able to see a time that I could finally let go. I really am so very, very tired. I have been alone for too long. I enjoy my daughters visits but it is no longer her home. Her mother, my wife, has been gone so long that most of the time, I can’t remember what she sounded like.”

The Watcher comes over to him and takes him into the side room. In there she was able to help him.

“What I am going to tell you must stay here.”

They come out of that room. He still seems very tired but the sadness has been lessened. I do know that one thing that you don’t ask is what is said by the Watcher in private. I do not ask.

All the preparations have been made. The hall has been decorated. The one thing is that there are now three thrones. Two up front and one behind them in the gap between them.

The music starts and the Matriarch Gabor is the first followed by the Watcher. They go to the front and then the king enters and stands in front of the two. facing them. Then the three enter.

I can barely contain myself. My wives are crying tears of joy at the sight of the three in very regal attire, looking so serious. They proceed to the front and the king, along with the two, part to let them through to stand in a row facing the gathering.

“I, King Draco, do hereby abdicate the throne of the Clan of the Dragon and as my last act, declare that there will be co-rulers with a Chamberlin. I name both Draco Martin and Justion Martin Jr. as those co-rulers and Ellenore Martin as their Chamberlin.”

With that he turns to them bows and goes out of the hall.

The matriarch Gabor then asks Draco

“Do you Draco Martin accept that co-ruler position and swear to protect the peace of the world?”

He answers “I do.”

“Then sit in the left front throne.”

“Do you Justin Martin Jr. accept that co-ruler position and swear to protect the peace of the world?”

“I do”

“Then sit in the right front throne.”

Now the Watcher addresses Ellenore,

“Do you Ellenore Martin accept the position of Chamberlin. Do you promise to guide them to the true path? And do you promise to anchor them?”

“I do”

“Please take your chair behind them but between them”

Crowns are now presented before the two and placed on them. The coronation is finished.

Both rulers stand and take off those crowns. Draco is first to talk.

“We take off these crowns. These are representations of superiority.”

Justin then says,

“We feel that we are not your superiors, we are your servants.”

Ellenore says,

“We are here to guide. These two are here to serve the best interests of the world. It is our goal not to be Clan of the Dragons, not to be the Clan of Martins but to be the Clan of the world.”

Draco takes over

“To that end, we now say that, in no meaning to disrespect our parents, our last name will be dropped. We will take the name People as our last name because our hope is that we all are thought of as people.”

I stand and applaud. As I do their mothers stand and do the same. Something we did not know was that they talked with a group.

The doors opened and in marched a small army of all races. It is the combination of both the mansion and the dragon children’s army. Goblins, felids, canids, humans dragons and all the others in the same armor and sashes. They line both sides of the aisle.

Draco now says

“This is our future. These children are not individual species. They are people.”

Now the matriarch Gabor and the Watcher start up the aisle followed by the three. As they start up the aisle, the children form in front of them until they are being led by all of the army.

Each one of those children have a serious look, not the jovial look that they usually have. They know that this is a turning point for the world. Again, I am so proud of them.

The assembly was told to follow and we went out to the parade ground. We were greeted with an assembly of all the armies. There was the children’s but now there was the regular army. They were led by their generals, Rachael and Mazet. They both have children in that children’s army.

There was a parade for the new rulers.

By the very need to pass the torch, we old guard are stepping back into the shadows.

This is how it should be. It is their time.

I must say that I do feel the same as, now retired Draco, I’m getting tired. My wives are feeling it also. I have begun worrying especially for Beez. She has slowed down. Same for Missy. We need to now start tending those gardens and let the new ones take charge.

I have decided that it is time for me to do the same. I have now appointed our son Wendel as the head of our organization. The leader of all the teams. As a side note, he was the one that first spotted Sophia. There was a friendship that developed into love.

After talking with all of us and agreeing that there was no blood relation, they were married with all of our enthusiastic approval. They since have had children who are now in the children’s army.

It has taken another decade for the last vestiges of the old rule to fall. The old prejudices have faded into old people’s mumblings. Those are dismissed.

With all considered people, true cooperation was established. Now the envy of others has become the helping of others to achieve goals. Above all is the consideration that all the children deserve a chance.

The network established by Martha and her three daughters has become the norm. No questions asked. You cannot take care of the children you have, you can get the network to adopt them out. The penalties for just abandoning them have proved so severe that no one has been charged in years.

There are plenty of people out there that cannot have them, so the want is greater than the need to give them up.

Now all my wives have no need to go out, not that any of us really can. Time is catching up with us.

Time always catches you no matter how fast you think you can run.

Justin’s final rest

It’s been a long road for Justin. Seventy three years in the old world and now almost eighty in this world. He knows that he will not make it to the eightieth. He thinks that it is enough. He’s tired. This life was full. He is especially proud of all his children. They all achieved greatness and a hailed as the founders of the next era. It is how it should be.

These last years have been tough on him. Even though he did not have to go it alone this time, he had fooled himself all these new world years.

His trusted companion and one time butler, Chip had the accumulation of the wear on his body and time batter him down. He finally took to his bed. His wife Abigail never left his side over their married life. One evening, their daughter came to bring them some soup. She found the couple. Chip was dead in the bed. Holding his hand but now slumped with her head on the bed, was Abigail. It seems that they passed with in minutes of each other. Inseparable in life, inseparable in death.

Justin’s first harem loss was Beez, his wonderful Beez. She was beautiful in his old eyes as she was in those young eyes so long ago. She lived a very long life and one morning we woke up to find that she had passed during the night. As per her wish, she was buried in the goblin cemetery. They have set aside plots for all of my wives and myself. Chip and Abigail are already there. They asked us to honor them because we gave them the chance to become what they are, respected members of this world.

It hurt to see her go in. I found that it was just a precursor.

That impudent, frisky, felid Missy was next. She had become infirmed and was being tended by Christine’s wonders but you still cannot escape age. They were only able to ease her pain. She passed with all the family with her. She went next to Beez.

Hilda went then Christine. Old age is the indiscriminate killer.

I knew that I was next. I tried to ease the mood by telling the family that I have lived a total of one hundred and forty six years. It was a good life. My children and grand children did not like it but knew I was right.

A few nights before I knew it was time, I asked to be alone with Rae.

“I’m sorry for those years in the old life where I was mad at you for leaving me alone. I’m sorry for leaving you alone this time.”

“It’s okay, I know that you did not mean to be mad. It was the being alone but as you have found out, the loss is still greatly felt. As far as you leaving me. Don’t worry, at my age, I won’t be here too much longer.”

“I really worry about Sorra and Martha. They can live for a thousand years longer.”

She did not say anything.

The thing I did not realize that they had a discussion about just that.

Sorra and Martha are with the Watcher talking about the emanate departure of their beloved husband, Justin. The Watcher says she is going to be the next but there is something wonderful awaiting her, a new life where the others are waiting. That life is the forever life. It is the world of no. No sickness, no death, no hurt. No sad departures Knowing that their lives can span thousands of years, Sorra, in despair says.

“I don’t want to be left for another year let alone for a thousand. Is there any way I can go along with you. I know that I could kill myself but I don’t want the children to remember me that way.”

Martha voices the same sentiments. She also does not want to go on.

“I ask you, the Watcher, not Rae the sister. I know that anything is possible with your powers. Take us with you to that next world. Please we beg you. Don’t leave us alone.”

“What we need to do is gather the children together today and have them say their good byes to Justin. Then we will have a meeting with them. Make your case to them. I will take you with me on the next week after he passes. If they understand and I feel that they will, we will wrap up the loose ends. Then after that week we will just go to sleep.”

Later in the day, they surprise me. All my children come to see me. There were quite a few tearful requests for me to say hello to their mothers that already passed. I told them all that it is my time.

“Don’t greave too much. I have led two full lives. But this one was the best. You all are here. But now it is time to step out of your parent’s shadow. I await my reunion with my first two companions, Chip and Missy. I won’t be alone and so will all of you. You are all family. You will never be alone. You will be sad but there is still our young army for comfort.”

I smile at them because I see that they are here in my bed with me. My wives and those adult children, around my bed, know that I am seeing them as children as I talk to Mazet about the paper and straighten the sash on a few others The kittens of Abigails, Beez’s firsts and all the others all very young again, they are telling me that it will be okay. Their mommies and their aunts are waiting for me. All I need is to sleep. They are all curled up around me and I drift off with my babies around me.

After Justin left, the family gathers and Draco says to his mothers.

“We have talked about this amongst ourselves. We have a feeling that you want to go with father. I ask for all of us, not as mother Rae but as the Watcher. Is there a next life?”

The Watcher stands and goes over to Draco and sits next to him. Holding his hands she says,.

“Yes, there is one more life. It is the final one, the forever one. Your father will wake up in that morning and think the he had the wildest dream. Yes there is life after this.”

Now son looks at his mother

“Mom, I cannot say that I will like it but I will hate to see you pining away for untold years. Watcher would you take my mother with you to that world.”

Sophia now talks to Martha.

“I too will miss you mom but not being a dragon, I don’t have the same long life that you have. Please don’t worry about us. Watcher, please also take my mom with you.”

“What do you say to the three of us leave in a weeks’ time. All the arrangements will be made so you don’t have any worries. Your mother’s had approached me about this very thing. I told them that if you agreed, I would take them. What do you say?”

With tears all around they tell us that there will be a celebration of the community. It will be a sending off party.

“We would like it to be in the great hall. At a time of your choosing, you would go into the side room and depart. Is that possible Watcher?”

“It will be done.”

After everyone has left, the three of us say our final goodbyes to our husband but then we all changes it to see you soon.

The next morning Justin was buried and we made it known to the goblins that in a week we would be joining him of our own free will. It was a practice amongst the goblins that a wife could follow her husband so they did not question.

We had the party. It was great. There was one surprise guest. The old king Draco. He came over to us. He asked if there was room for one more on the trip. He said he was very tired and did not want to be left behind. The Watcher took his hand as we entered the room and closed the door.

“Your wife has waited long enough. You will wake up in her house. Come see us after you get reacquainted.”

I wake up and find I am thirty again and stretch as Beez, Hilda, Christine and Missy come in to wake me up. Outside I hear a woman’s voice as a big black dog jumps through the window. The couple come to the window and she says

“Hero come out of there. Sorry, he likes to greet the new ones. Welcome. Tonight, your other three wives will make their jump here but you will not be able to wake them.

Tomorrow morning, they will be waking up, Hero will probably come back. He loves everyone. Ladies make sure he has a good breakfast before you tackle him. You have forever you know.”

The aunts come over to our house mid morning. They told me that they selected that life during their captivity was wiped from their memories but the gratitude they felt towards me needed to be expressed. They hoped it would be a very long time but they wanted to hug each and every one of those children and tell them to their face what it meant to them to be called their aunts. In this life they kept their names.

Aunt Iris, Aunt Daisy, Aunt Violet and Aunt Rose. The warmth they felt will last them until time itself stops.

The next day the full team is reunited. Chip, Abigail, Draco and his wife came over.

Sorra, Martha and Rae woke up. With no need for the watcher anymore, the title and all that went with it was passed by mutual agreement on to Sophia the second after the four left their old world.

Hero came as predicted. The woman suggested that we all should go with them and explore our new world.

We all decide to go on that adventure.

I thank you for reading these three tales. I think that I’m going to end it here. I leave it to all of you to let yourself imagine the further tales of the children and their children but that is up to you and to the fates.

D.A.Sanford