Cinderfella

Story: Cinderfella 2: A New Life

Chapter: 17 Len Na

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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They know who their fighting, and more about how, but now to tell everyone. A'Dore, Royal Valley and all of Blethos and Cried.

Len Na

We returned to the manor just in time for dinner, even though Garth and Bent invited us to stay....that was nice, but they had three children! If they hadn't planned for four extra mouths to feed...no, we wouldn't do that. Both Seth and I told them, leaving home at first light was fine, but don't arrive that early and expect we'll be awake.

Kitty had gotten a clean bill of health from Garth, and we rode back home. Toby and Dennis were feeling much better now.

Seth chuckled suddenly as we rode.

I grinned at Seth looking with curiosity. "What?"

Seth thumbed at Kitty. "I just imagined Grace's reaction to Kitty. That will be something to see."

Seth was right. Once home we came in through the kitchen. It would soon be dinner time and she was working to get things ready.

"Grace," I began. "...tomorrow Garth, Bent and their family are going to be here for breakfast." I said to her back. "So, there will be five additional guests to eat."

Grace sighed and her shoulders sagged. "Sure, why not?"

"You have Delta to help, do we need more?" Seth asked. "We don't want to overwork you. You've taken on a lot."

Grace turned with a smile. "That might not be a bad idea. I'm cooking not only for you four and your two guests from Creid. I'm also cooking for the additional guards, so add five more per meal..." but her eyes grew. She pointed to the satchel as Kitty poked his head out to see where he was and what he was smelling! "Is that...."

I pulled Kitty out of the satchel. "This is Dennis and Toby's new little friend Kitty." I held up the little black cat who began purring.

"It's a black cat!" Grace said not understanding why I was having no problem with that fact.

I frowned at her. "Is there going to be a problem? Surely an intelligent woman like you doesn't believe those silly superstitions. There is nothing evil about Kitty. He's a very friendly cat." I walked closer to Grace. "And Dennis loves him."

That fact seemed to make more impact and made Grace think a moment. "He's staying in the house."

I looked at Seth and then we both nodded. "At least we won't have to worry about mice." I said happily.

Grace's eye grew and her eyebrows lowered. "We don't have mice!"

Seth chuckled. "And we won't get them with Kitty here."

Grace's eyes narrowed. "Fine, but I'm not cleaning up after him."

I chuckled sensing her surrender. What Dennis and Toby loved couldn't be bad. "Not a problem. We'll ask someone to come and help with the cooking. Or we can ask Delta if she can cook. You'll, of course, be in charge." Then I touched her shoulder. "But tomorrow, when we have Garth and Bent, you'll need to be here and be told what's going on as we tell them. Okay?"

All the fun and casual confrontations went away. Grace stated seriously, "It's serious, isn't it?"

Seth nodded. "Deadly." He admitted softly.

It was the next morning we came down and saw Grace working hard but being helped by Delta. Delta seemed pleased to being needed more and Grace watched her and soon took her eyes off Delta. The guards were once again there as their shifts changed. Yannick came down as well greeting everyone, but especially Delta and Ryan came down next. It was a good thing our kitchen and dining area was there and big as there were a lot of people here and then I heard a wagon arrive. Five more were just getting here. Garth and Bent came in with three young people with them.

Garth smiled putting his hand on his only son as they entered the dining area. "Seth, Erik, you remember Ely, my son?"

Seth and I nodded shaking the boy's hand who was now grown into the beginnings of a handsome manhood.

"This is Rebecca, my eldest daughter." Garth motioned to the young girl about ten. "And Scarlet our youngest." He said to the girl about seven. All of Garth's children had the sandy colored hair of their father. The girls were going to be beautiful. "You all know Seth and Erik." He said to his children.

Rebecca did a little curtsy. "Thank you for having us."

"Your fathers and we have been good friends." I told her. "You're all welcome in our home."

It was after breakfast, I got Garth, Bent and Grace in my office I had converted a little in to a work space for Ryan, Yannick, Seth, and I. All were staring at the new equipment with amazement, and we told Garth, Bent and Grace what we knew was happening.

"So, this Len Na is launching an attack...using something no one can see?" Grace repeated.

Seth gave a nod. "Well, yes...but we can see them now." He motioned to a Seer. "These are not the little creatures that Len Na will be using, but you will see that there is a threat and Len Na will use new little creatures to attack mankind. If you care to look..."

The three did as everyone always did, look, check, and look again. The truth of what we said was clear.

"And these little warriors you want to give us are the only chance for us to survive?" Bent asked for clarification.

"The only chance." I nodded.

Grace grimaced but rolled up her sleeve. "There's no discussion. Do it."

There were the expected tears from the children.

Yannick told Delta, who brought Tommy in, and we did the same for her and her son and Tommy didn't understand a lot of it, but the look he gave his mother was one of absolute trust.

Keith Davidson, the mayor was next. Zeke, Gabe, Curt, Daryl and more of the town was told. What made me smile was that not one said NO. Seth and I were trusted. Ryan, Yannick, Seth, and I trained others what to do and how to do it. More blood liquids was being taken. The warriors, Yannick, Ryan, Seth, and I had these little warriors in our systems, so we added to the liquid and more batches of these warriors were made and given.

Seth grinned as the town of Royal Valley was responding without question. There were some less...cooperative hearing what we said but persuaded by others to comply. Seth looked at me. "Now, Blethos Capital."

I nodded. "It will be slower with a wagon, but we'll need some of our equipment to show and start creating the little warriors. We'll need to bring some little warriors with us." I grinned as Dennis played with Kitty on the office floor. "And we'll need to bring the boys and of course, Kitty."

My fear was that as we did this, Len Na would know and see what we were doing and begin the attack. We needed an escort by our guards, but we got things together to do that. The carriage Lukus had provided for us for the honeymoon and trip before was very handy. Toby, Dennis, and Kitty could ride comfortably as we went. Yannick had insisted that he be one of the guards that escorted us, if for no other reason than to meet Sam. If Sam was like everyone else, the Creid reputation had to be dealt with. Ryan stayed to work with the people of Royal Valley and went every day to A'Dore to work with Dr. Warren as they were doing the same in A'Dore. Toby and Dennis had never been to Blethos Capital or any other town in Blethos and was fascinated by the trip.

When we arrived in Blethos' palace, Toby and Dennis just stared. It was a big place. Toby was in awe at all the people and buildings. The palace was huge!

He signed to me. Uncle Sam and Aunt Terry live here?

I nodded. "Uncle Sam is the king of all of Blethos. Aunt Terry is queen."

Toby thought a moment. He's king of all this? He's in charge of all this? How big is Blethos?

I motioned all around. "He's king of everything we've seen from Royal Valley to here and much, much more."

We had sent notification about our coming, so Sam and Terry were there when we got there in the throne room.

Yannick was with us but appeared in his leather armor and everyone knew what he was. Even the guards there in the throne room were ready for the trouble Yannick's appearance suggested, even though he'd done nothing.

I raised my hand to them all, looking at Sam. "Sam, this is the Crowned Prince Yannick of Creid. You can trust me. He's a good man." Then I grinned at Yannick who had at least removed his leather helmet that had the bear image shaped on his head. But the black did make him look menacing. "In spite of what you see, he's proven he can be trusted."

Seth nodded. "Trusted by me as well, so trust me, Sam." Seth urged. "He is a good man."

Sam looked at his brother and then back to Yannick. It was a few minutes before he nodded.

"In fact, without his help and a few others from Creid, we would lose this conflict before we even start. Their knowledge was key to coming up with a way of fighting Len Na and the little creatures."

It was Terry that had the questions once everyone relaxed.

"Sam told me about what he'd done." Terry said quietly. "About these....creatures so small that nearly killed Christian. Now there are more coming?"

I nodded. "There are, but we have something to help combat these new creatures. We have these little warriors that will help protect us. Christian was the first, then Seth and me. All of Royal Valley is getting ready. Now, we come to share it with Blethos as a whole. Starting with the two of you and Michael and Kristine. Our two boys have already had them inserted."

Seth walked to Terry. "You're smart and the people of Blethos will trust you. We came to show you what we're talking about."

To give more importance to how important ties with Creid was needed, I let Yannick explain as we went to a little room I'd prepared.

"Prince Erik and Prince Seth discovered little creatures and devised a way to see them." Yannick began. "We had a man of science who devised a way of transferring what makes a man immune to another man without that man getting the illness or disease." He began as we set things up for Sam and Terry. "A special something was given by Prince Erik to his brother to save his life. That something was the source of the little warriors. They kill pretty much everything that can attack a person inside. As a result, for the next ten to twenty years Prince Erik, Seth and I will not get so much as a cold. And here they are." He waved at the Seer I'd set up. "See for yourself."

Once Sam and Terry saw some little creatures, we showed them the little warriors. We introduced some other little creatures that were causes of illness. They watched the little warriors attack the little creatures.

Terry nodded having seen the warriors work. "And how do we get them inside our bodies?"

I frowned. "It isn't without some pain." I showed her the Pusher and its needle.

Her eyes grew. "And you did this to your children?"

Seth walked toward her. "There is a choice to make here. Don't hurt your children a little and they will die. If you do, they will live. There wasn't a lot of choice."

Like Ella, Terry considered what she'd seen and what we had told her. "A lot of people in Blethos aren't that sophisticated. They won't understand. We can't show this to everyone."

I nodded. "If they don't..."

Terry nodded. "I know. Parents...mostly mothers don't want to hurt their children. Many will not want to."

Seth nodded. "And we will tell them what will happen if they don't. We can tell them their children and they won't get so much as a cold for ten to twenty years." Seth's eyebrows bounced when he said that.

"If they don't their children will die!" Terry said in horror.

I nodded. "And we can't do anything about it. We can't make them protect their children like this."

Terry shook her head. "If a person raises a knife to kill, we stop them. If parents simply don't understand, isn't that the same as raising a knife?"

I shrugged a nod. "It is, but how do you enforce that? Sam can't make a law to force parents. That would be much worse. We cause more to turn away not trusting us." I smiled. "Ella had the same reaction as you did."

"Ella? Is she here?" Terry asked looking for some support as a mother and queen.

"No," Sam said quietly putting his hand on her arm. "I've spoken to Christian and Ella. They're reactions were the same."

Terry shook her head. "You went to Royal Valley a few days; you couldn't have seen Christian or Ella unless they were here."

Sam nodded. "But I did. I spoke with and even touched both Christian and Ella. Please believe me. There are things in this world that are pretty hard to believe, but I traveled to from Royal Valley and A'Dore and then back from A'Dore to Royal Valley in less than a day. In seconds!" He took a deep breath. "Ella's story of the Fairy Godmother is true."

Terry's eyes widened. "Sam! Have you lost your mind!?"

Sam grinned waving at her as he looked at me and Seth. "See!? What did I tell you? She's ready to lock me away now! I said she would!"

"I had Fairy Godfather." I smiled. "Demetrius, who Sam has met...only he's not my godfather now."

Terry looked from Sam to Seth and then me. All of us was nodding. "That's just so...."

"Insane?" Sam asked.

"Crazy." Seth nodded.

"But it's true!" I smiled leaning toward her. "In fact, my godfather is how Seth and I got together. He was the one that told us about Len Na."

Terry nodded. "And told you about these things?" She waved at the Seer.

Sam frowned. "Terry! We don't have time for this!" He said loud and firm making his wife jump a little. "I've never lied about something this serious. I've seen him. You know and have seen Seth is no longer that scarred man. There are things we can't understand. You have to believe me. I wasn't hallucinating, I seen this man and I know he's real."

Terry was wrestling with the facts and at last sat down.

"Don't blame the lady too much." Demetrius said coming out of a wall with his usual casual way on the opposite side of the room where there was no door or way in. He hadn't been there and now he was. Terry's eyes grew. "Queen Theresa is a practical woman and tales of fairies and magic are not logical."

Terry got up suddenly her eyes widening as everyone's did at first.

I walked over to Demetrius, "And as usual, your timing is perfect." I grinned hugging Demetrius then turning to Terry. "This is my...or rather was Seth's and my godfather Demetrius."

"But we're still friends," Demetrius nodded looking at Terry. "And here we go again. So, I'll save you the questions by answering beforehand, I'm not a demon or angel, I'm a man who can access magic. I'm not good or bad, I just am, but I'm here to warn you all...Len Na knows, and she has things in works that will be a problem." He said seriously. "Right now, in A'Dore there is a growing movement among people, influenced by Len Na, not to get these little warriors, as you call them." He pointed to the Seer. "The people siding with her are raising questions and demanding King Christian to stop spreading lies."

"Christian has never spread lies!" I protested.

Seth shook his head. "What lies? We have proof!" He said nodding to the Seer.

"They are saying its dark powers and from the depths of Hell," Demetrius said quietly.

Sam nodded. "I'll bet they will say the same here."

Demetrius nodded. "Most certainly."

Terry's shock lessened. "You expect us to believe you're not because you say so?" She asked suspiciously.

"No," Seth shook his head. "You're trusting my knowledge of him over the years and what he's helped us gain, my marriage to Erik, our two boys. He's what he says he is and on our side." He said putting his arm around Demetrius who just smiled with a short nod to Terry.

"Well, we've got a lot to do, Terry." Sam said to his wife.

She thought a minute and then shrugged. "So, what do we do to get them in me?"

After Terry's acceptance and her seeing Demetrius, we then told their palace's doctor who was older as was Dr. Warren in A'Dore, but age didn't mean wisdom. He didn't believe it.

"Then look for yourself and see it with your own eyes, damn it!!" Sam shouted pointing at the Seer.

"All I see are these things..."

"We don't have time for this!" Sam said softly as he held his own head in his hands.

"Sam." Seth said softly touching his brother's shoulder.

"No!" Sam shouted again shaking his head and looking at the doctor angrily. "He still believes in that barbaric therapeutic bloodletting!" He pointed at the Seer and shouted at the doctor, "It's right there in front of you! Believe or don't believe. Don't believe and die, or believe, accept what we're saying is true, help us and live, otherwise, I have no place for you here!!

The doctor looked surprised at Sam's rage. The man looked again in the Seer and looked. He took a bit longer, looking and then looked at what he was looking at without the Seer, then again all the while pondering what it means. Then he looked at us with distrust. "This is a trick."

"A trick? How? Why?" I asked. "What would we gain?"

Sam frowned having lost any patience. "Get out!!" He said loudly to the doctor.

"This can't be real!" The doctor repeated. "How can anything this small hurt anyone?"

"GET OUT!! Leave the palace, get out and don't come back!" Sam shouted and pointed to the door. "We don't have time for this. People are going to die!" Sam rolled up his sleeve. "I did what I had to." He pointed to the injection site. "It's real and I don't need you to not believe! Get OUT!!" He pointed to the door again. Even Seth and I moved back a little. "The ignorant will die and that includes you and your family!"

The man didn't know what to say, but when the king ordered you to leave. You leave!

I looked at Sam worried about his anger and really about how red he looked right now. "Sam," I said quietly adding my touch to his shoulder with Seth's touch. "It is hard to believe. He just needs more time maybe."

Sam nodded. "Which we don't have!"

Seth grabbed his brother and hugged the man. "I know. It's going to be fine."

I nodded. "Just calm yourself a little. You'll get sick if you remain this tense."

Yannick came over to us. "Is there someone else you trust medically here?" He chuckled. "Maybe a little more open minded and doesn't believe in therapeutic bloodletting." He laughed lightly and then his eyebrows waggled. "Even we savage Creid gave that up a while ago."

I grinned at Yannick. "That's because you guys are sensible."

Yannick shrugged. "If it doesn't work, fix it so it does!" He said simply.

Then Sam looked up with a smile. "Julian!"

"Julian?" Seth asked.

Sam nodded as he paced a little. "A smart man that worked with that ignorant man I just fired. Julian was quick and was always berated by that buffoon." He went into the hall and was gone a while. When he came back he was smiling. "He's coming, he left with the doctor. I know he will see what's going on."

It wasn't long before a man entered where we were. Not unattractive, but he was apparently known for his intellect, not his brawn or looks. He had kind of a dirty blond look of hair he must often forget to comb and a thin face. And skinny! He might have been in his mid-thirties, but his nose told us he'd have a hooked nose as he got older.

"You wanted me to come back, Sire?" Julian asked.

Sam grinned at the man. "I did!" He came over and brought him close to the Seer. "Could you look through this glass and tell me what you see."

And again, he looked, raised his eyebrows, and looked at what he was looking at and back again. "Wow." Julian said in amazement. "This is blood!?"

"Yes!" Sam said happily and he asked Julian if he knew of King Christian's aliment that he'd recovered from.

"Sure." Julian nodded.

I changed what was under the Seer. "Now look."

Julian looked again. "Oh, my heavens, what is THAT!?"

Seth grinned. "That is a cold." Seth explained.

"It's alive!" Then he looked again at the source without the Seer. "But it's so small!" Then he did the examination of the Seer. "This is amazing!"

Sam nodded. "But you believe it?"

Julian looked at him in disbelief. "How could I not believe it? I see it right here!" Then he was shocked when Sam hugged him.

"I knew you were smart!" Sam said happily.

Then we told Julian about what was happening or going to happen. We told him about Len Na and what we believed she was going to do and what we were doing to save as many people as possible.

"Will you help us?" I asked. "I've had the little warriors put in me, so has Seth, King Samuel, Queen Theresa our children. You need to know how we make more and get them in as many people as we can."

Julian nodded. "Of course!"

Seth turned Julian to Yannick. "This is Prince Yannick of Creid."

And of course, Julian's eyes grew. "Creid!?"

"Stop!" Sam said calmly putting a hand on Julian's arm. "He's a good man and it was the Creid that came up with a way to reproduce the little warriors and how to get them in people."

Yannick approached Julian with his hand extended, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Julian."

And there it began. We showed Julian how to get the little warriors and spin down blood to get the blood liquid and insert them in people.

Julian then brought others he trusted and showed them what to do. The whole process took a couple of weeks and then Blethos began putting the little warriors in people, starting with staff and guards of the palace. The military needed it to ensure there would be a military.

It came time for Seth and me to return to Royal Valley and then back to A'Dore. Getting our boys together with Kitty, we headed back to Royal Valley with our guards to keep us safe.

When we were back Yannick said he needed to go back to Creid, and they needed to do the same with the little warriors there.

Ryan grinned. "We'll go back." He said looking at Darrin. "He wants to come with us."

Darrin nodded. "Well, what I said was, I wanted to go back with you, but...yes, I'm going back with all of you." He came over taking Ryan's hand. "I've already told Quaid; he's getting a replacement for me to guard you all."

I chuckled. "I guess you did find someone to spend time with after all, didn't you, Darrin?"

Being fair skinned and blond he turned pink pretty quickly as he nodded. "Yeah, I did." He leaned closer to me and whispered. "I love his red hair." He looked back at Ryan and then back to me, "And he's red all over!"

I chuckled at that.

Seth grinned. "King Mordor will be more motivated to change those laws not allowing for you guys to marry. He'd hate to lose you, Ryan."

Ryan chuckled. "He might." He bumped Darrin in the side of Darrin's body. "I think after we begin and get things going in Creid, we will return here." He grinned at Seth and me. "I really like it here in Royal Valley. That is, if you don't mind a Creid as a new citizen in Royal Valley."

I hugged Ryan. "We'll just be richer if you do that. You'll be more than welcome."

Yannick nodded and shrugged. "It's a fair exchange." He grinned. "I'm thinking of taking a couple of citizens from Blethos to Creid."

I chuckled. "I didn't need any magic to see that coming."

Yannick nodded. "But I'll be back! You and Seth are my friends." He assured. "And our countries are allies now! And I love Grace's cooking!"

Then next morning, Seth and I returned to A'Dore, but when we got there, we were not prepared for what we saw. Now there were dozens of men working. The space we had put aside in the palace of A'Dore was now crowded with workers.

I walked up behind Dr. Warren who was busy looking in a Seer and writing some things down. Everyone else was too busy to notice our arrival.

"Dr. Warren?" I said making the older man jump.

"Oh! Prince Erik." He said holding his chest to calm his heart as he had been startled. "I forgot about..." he pointed to the little room we'd come from "...the way you travel."

I smiled. "Sorry to scare you."

"What's going on?" Seth asked as men went around quickly on various tasks.

Dr. Warren made a weary sigh and motioned for us to follow. Taking us to a part of the palace that overlooked the courtyard he pointed. Hundreds of people were there and all too ready to get the little warriors inserted. "It's started. There have been some deaths in the past few days and it's beginning to panic many of the citizens of A'Dore." He said sadly and he looked at us. "But it has started. We're trying to make as many of the little warriors as possible and get them to the people, but we run out so quickly. My people here are working almost all day and night."

I looked as people below were trying to get the little warriors as quickly as possible and guards were being used to keep order by stopping people from hurting people to get to the warriors. "God in heaven." I said in prayer.

Dr. Warren nodded. "We could certainly use His help."

"Have you seen these new little creatures? The new enemy? What are they?" I asked.

Dr. Warren shook his head throwing his hands up in frustration. "No!" He seemed to be trying to understand it as he thought. "Whatever Len Na is using leaves nothing behind! The deaths occur so quickly, we can't get someone sick in here quickly enough to see what they've got. After they're dead, there's no trace! It's comes quickly, kills, and goes away! If the person has the little warriors, I assume they attack this new threat as soon as it attacks. But no one with the little warriors has died."

"Thank God for that at least." Seth said watching the crowd below.

Dr. Warren nodded. "Your brother is dealing with some governing nobles about it now." He said to me.

Going to the throne room, Christian was speaking with men there. The men were mayors and governors from the various parts of A'Dore.

"....and I assure you, we will tell your doctors and anyone with knowledge of science what to do and how to get these warriors to the people." Christian assured waving his hands for them to be patient.

"But citizens are dying here now!" A man said more than a little panic in his voice.

"And we're getting things ready as quickly as possible." Christian said. "There are things we can't help. We have the means to deal with the illness, but it takes a while to make the medicine. That can't be sped up. We'll teach your men what and how to do it on their own. I promise you." Christian looked up over the heads of the men and he looked tired, but so happy to see us. Relieved was more what he seemed. "Excuse me, gentlemen. I'll be back in a moment." He said as he came quickly over to Seth and me. He quickly hugged both Seth and me. "I'd say welcome back, but as you've seen, it's pretty intense now in A'Dore."

I nodded putting my arm around his shoulder. "We saw." We walked to a more quiet room. "How many deaths have there been?"

"Thirty-two, so far." Christian sighed rubbing his hands across his tired face. "There probably is more happening right now!" He said helplessly.

"From what Dr. Warren told us, this new threat is fast and leaves nothing to see behind." Seth said.

Christian nodded. "And that is another problem. We can't see them, but they are attacking! And there will be a lot more panic."

"If the people aren't sick now, they don't have this new enemy yet." I said logically.

"But no one wants to get this enemy either." Christian nodded. "We'll have people peddling cures that aren't real cures, but people will buy what they are selling thinking that's the cure and who will prosecute the ones that do it? The person who gets sick after buying the fake cure is dead!"

I pulled Christian to a chair. "Okay, big brother. Sit here a while and we'll deal with this." I said rubbing the back of his neck. "Easy. You'll do no one favors if you overtax yourself." I smiled. "I don't think these little warriors will protect you if you kill yourself from exhaustion. You're doing all you can."

Christian nodded and said mournfully. "It's not enough!" Christian was about to rise from the chair.

Seth held Christian down. "Everything humanly possible is being done as fast as possible. You're getting word out about what we're against and how to deal with it. You can't help that it takes time."

"Innocent people are dying, Seth!" Christian moaned.

Seth nodded. "Not to be callous, but that happens all the time! All that can be done is being done."

"This has to be the worst crisis A'Dore has ever faced." Christian said sadly.

I nodded. "And if we don't get this done, it will be for the entire world."

Things were not just tense in A'Dore, they were practically coming to blows! There were rumors as well as fact. People were reporting deaths and that fueled more intensity and panic. Now the line in front of the palace was getting crowded. No one wanted to become sick, and that fear was adding even more panic. Supplies for the little warriors were falling short. The blood liquids were growing less and as we tried to make more. There just weren't enough men or women willing to give the blood liquid to make more. I knew there would be violence. The same would be true in Blethos, but this was the starting place. Why? Was A'Dore more important? According to whom?

We worked side by side with those that worked to produce more of the little warriors ready. Christian, me, Seth, Ella all made our blood available, but we could only give so much. The process was tedious and slow, but it was getting done. We taught many that came from other towns and provinces how to do it. How to make the Seers, Spinners, and needles. It was happening quickly, yet still agonizingly slow. Storage for what we had was limited and the containers to put the blood liquids was also hard to come up with. Carelessness cost some batches that went bad because someone forgot the ice in the cooler to keep the new batches cold. Tempers were becoming short and often men came close to fighting even among us in the work room that were trying to help.

Seth and I returned to Royal Valley exhausted as we were too tired to do anything but collapse on the bed.

I felt Seth roll over encompassing me in his arms. "I almost wish she'd attack and be done with it."

I nodded. "We've stopped the worst she could do." I said logically. "Enough people have the little warriors now, there will be survivors. Enough people will survive if necessary to repopulate," I smiled. "Maybe she will see that her plan has failed and give up."

Seth sighed as he drew me closer his breath on the side of my face. "I hope so, but I don't think she'll be satisfied with that. She's worked too hard to give up." He sat up and lifted an arm to sniff himself. "I need a bath."

I chuckled. "Do you have enough energy?"

Seth smiled. "Cleanliness and Godliness." He reminded. "We'll sleep better." He got up with a groan. "I'll light the tank."

It did relax us even further, but Seth was right. It did help us sleep better.

Royal Valley was coping far better than the capitals of both kingdoms. We had men and women who had been given the little warriors and were happy to add their blood liquids to make more batches, but then other people from the outer towns and areas were coming in. They were the problem. The guards assigned to us to protect Seth, Toby, Dennis, and I were busy enough, but now were having to try to keep this new influx of people under control. As the days progressed, the death tolls were growing higher. The panic was increasing and there was a movement where people were claiming both Christian and Samuel were overstepping their authority. To which both Christian and Samuel said the choice was the peoples. If they didn't want to die, then get the little warriors, if they didn't; that was their decisions. Then the was the claim that Christian and Samuel wasn't doing enough.

The carrier pigeons we finally got going proved the best way to communicating with Samuel.

It was during one visit with Christian in A'Dore that things became much clearer. While Seth and I worked to make more of the little warriors with the Dr. Warren and others that there was a great wind through the work area. All the candles were blown out and the sky outside got dark with clouds that seemed to roll in from nowhere. Thunder clapped outside as well.

A woman's head appeared in the room, like Demetrius had done when defending Seth and me against Candor, the man that was stealing for Arthur Thorne. She was old, from what I could see she looked about seventy or more with long white hair that billowed in the wind that rushed through.

"You think you can stop me!?" She screeched. "You, the sons of Eve will be destroyed! My wrath will not be stopped! You will destroy yourselves. Look at what terror has struck the hearts of the children of Eve."

The men that worked with us were now hurrying to get away out the door, which was being pounded on by guards that had been posted to keep men out! But the door would not open.

Suddenly Demetrius was there facing her. "Stop this, Len Na!" He shouted to her. "You will not harm these men! I will stop you."

Then Dara was there and Lukus and one by one there were others that appeared who I had never seen before until there were at least twelve people I assumed were like Demetrius and Dara.

"We will stop you!" Dara said angrily coming beside her husband.

"You can't!" Len Na said with a laugh. "It's already begun. The children of Eve will die." Then she shook her head. "I never understood your affection for these creatures. It was their kind that got us thrown out of the Garden! Our lives could have been paradise, yet, because of their mother, we were all cast out. They are destroying us; the true mankind that God intended. We should have killed them when we could, but no, you played with their lives for entertainment."

"By what right do you do this, Len Na?" Lukus asked loud to be heard over the wind.

"I do this to save us, Lukus." Len Na said. "Our numbers are almost up, if I don't, we will be gone."

"Maybe that's what God intended." Dara suggested. "Instead of killing our mothers and fathers when Lilith refused Adam as the angels said would happen, we were given a new role in the lives of Eve's children. To guide the Children of Eve to a new position in life."

"By granting wishes!?" Len Na all but spit. "Taking a girl that was nobody and making her Queen!? By making what men of Eve thought was perverse and evil as two men marrying? How is that guiding men?"

Demetrius shook his head. "We've had this discussion before and without a positive result. There's no need to rehash it now. I'm telling you. Leave these men alone. The others, the children of Lilith will do whatever we must, to protect them. You've already broken a most sacred law! Thou shalt not kill! You're bringing this new attack has cost the lives of hundreds of people. We will do whatever we have to, to stop this..." he took a deep breath. "...even if that means killing you!"

Len Na looked shocked at that statement. "You would become like the children of Eve if you did. No man or woman born from Lilith ever killed one of our own. It was a son of Eve that committed the first murder."

"We will not have a choice," Dara said standing closer to Demetrius. "Please." She begged hoping Len Na would at last give in.

"We will kill you." Lukus said firmly. The others there moved closer to each other standing between Len Na and the rest of the men in the room who were listening and watching. "You've given us no other option."

Len Na screamed, and I mean she let out a bellow that shook the very foundation as the giant head slammed into the outside wall, sending stone and debris down into the courtyard, where dozens of people were lining up to get the little warriors. Now, with the gaping hole in the side of the building we saw people below scatter away as they could as this "thing" flew down over them as Len Na screamed rushing above them. Then she was gone. The sky lightened, the wind died and except for the damage to the building, all was as it was.

The door to the work room suddenly opened as the guards who were trying to get in had no more resistance and nearly fell over themselves getting in. Behind them was Christian.

"What the HELL!?" Christian asked us all. He saw Demetrius, Dara, Lukus and the others I didn't know. "What happened?" He shouted.

"That." Demetrius said with a sigh waving to the huge hole in the wall. "Was...Len Na." He smiled sadly at me and Seth.

The men with us were now calming down as the spoke to each other quietly as they were confirming with each other that what they had witnessed had really happened.

I was shaking, but Seth came to me as he hugged me in relief it was over for now.

"You said you would kill her," Seth said also shaky. "Why didn't you do it now?"

Dara frowned. "Because that wasn't her," She explained. "She could have been anywhere on this world, she allowed you to see her for effect."

"We have to have her personally here to do it." Lukus frowned.

Demetrius nodded. "We found out what she used to attack the others of Eve's children. It's the venom from the Serpent that tempted Eve in the garden."

My eyes grew. "More from the Garden of Eden!? That's true, too?"

Demetrius shrugged as he hugged Dara. "Again, I don't know. Just as I didn't know about the source of the little warriors is really from the Forbidden Fruit, but that's what's supposed to be the source of the attack."

"Can we get some?" Seth asked.

"No." Demetrius said. "Where or how she got it, I also don't know. There is no way it will survive outside of the Serpent. It had to be given by the Serpent himself."

"She's in league with Satan!?" Christian asked in disbelief. "How in God's name does she think that's okay? How would working with Lucifer make things right again?"

"She's insane." Lukus admitted sadly.

"But, if the venom doesn't last outside of Lucifer himself...he's attacking all these people!?" I tried to reason it out. "This is such a blatant attack."

Demetrius nodded. "Or she could have the help of the fallen angels."

I watched as the others the came with Demetrius, Dara and Lukus vanished.

Dr. Warren was the first to recover enough to speak to us. "I don't believe what I saw, but how can I not? It happened right in front of me." He looked at Christian. "The story about you and Ella are true?"

Christian nodded.

"And about you two?" Dr. Warren asked me and Seth.

"Demetrius here made it possible for Erik and me to meet," Seth grinned. "It's true."

Demetrius smiled as he let go of Dara to hug me and Seth. "We'll talk tonight." He smiled at Christian. "And you. I think we'd better go for now." And with that Dara, Lukus and Demetrius vanished.

Seth and I shared a meal with Christian, Ella, and our children that evening. It was after the meal had begun, Christian smiled at Ella, but it was a sad smile.

"I got word today." Christian said softly. "I don't know how to tell you, but Anastasia is dead."

Ella actually looked a little sad. "Was it this new attack?"

Christian shook his head. "No, she killed herself. It seems she developed a nasty habit with some powerful drugs. She took too much."

Ella nodded. "It's a shame, she wasted her whole life."

Then a chair beside Seth slid out and there she was, like she'd been there the whole time. "But..." Dara said appearing at the table suddenly. Now, because Seth, Ella, Christian, and I had seen them appear like this before, we didn't panic, but Ella's and Christian's children were...not scared, but surprised. Toby was signing to her immediately knowing who she was and even Dennis was excited. Dara waved at Toby and Dennis mouthing hello to Toby and looked to the other children. "Hello." Dara waved to Thomas, Ada, Ana, and Edward. Edward still preferred his Uncle Seth and was sitting beside Seth during the meal. Toby was between me and Seth with Dennis in a highchair next to me. "My name's Dara. I'm your mother's fairy godmother."

Suddenly Demetrius was also at the other end of the table. "And I am Demetrius, Erik's godfather!" He looked over what we had on the table. "That smells wonderful!" He said standing over what was left of the roasted chicken. "Do you mind if I have some?" He asked Christian.

"It's no longer hot..." Christian chuckled waving his hand at the chicken. "But help yourself."

A plate slid across the table making the children Ooh and Ahh. Demetrius used the utensils to serve himself. "Don't worry about it not being hot." And suddenly the roasted chicken was steaming again on his plate.

"Really, husband?" Dara groused. "We came to talk to them, not eat."

Demetrius nodded. "We're talking! I'm eating. I'm doing both! Does that mean I can't eat while we do this?" Dara just rolled her eyes at her husband.

"What's going to happen?" I asked.

Demetrius shrugged. "There will be a lot of trouble until we catch Len Na."

"The danger is that she did break a very sacred law." Dara nodded. "We don't kill, but she has."

Demetrius shrugged again. "Well, technically the Serpent did, but..."

"Demetrius." Dara called her husband down. "It is her plan to destroy these people. Her plan; her kill." She smiled sweetly at Ella. "Your family is fine. You've taken the little warriors and she will not just come in and kill you. She's not that brazen."

I had been thinking about what Demetrius had said in the work room. "You said you were to guide us to a new position in life. What position?"

Demetrius munched as he nodded. "Sure." He sighed as a goblet slid toward him and he took it, drinking without thought that it was Seth's goblet. "When man first was created and began to flourish, they were pretty simple." He held up his hand to stop arguments. "They were simple farmers and shepherds at first, but as man progressed they began a new journey of discovery and logic. Their minds needed developing, so we...others of Lilith's children could keep our ability to tap the magic of the world and help shape your very minds." Using his fork, he pointed to Ella and Christian. "And none more successful that you two. Your story will be known by millions that have yet to be born and for thousands of years." He winked at me and Seth. "And one day, yours will be, too. You have all given young girls and boys something to dream about and shape their thoughts. Your stories, as well as others, will be spread across time and become tales that will be cherished for a long, long time."

"This isn't quite over, but in a way." Dara smiled. "Len Na is helping that come about. Now, people will hear about what she did today and know we're real, at least in story. That's why we came like we did and will for a while yet."

Demetrius shook his head. "Damn, this is good." He munched again making the children giggle.

"Language, Demetrius." Dara warned.

Demetrius looked at the children. "Sorry, but this is very good. What did they add to make it this way?" He proceeded to put more in his mouth and chewed happily making the children laugh at his antics.

Dara sighed. "I can't take him anywhere!"

The attack had begun.