The Crown of The Claws
"The Crown Of The Claws"
I would like to thank my friend Nicker for helping me with writing this story.
-Chapter 01-
I was coming home from long day of work. I got of my car and went to the front door, and found a letter in the mailbox. I took the letter out of the box and unlocked the door. I got my shoes and coat off, and looked at the letter. I was wondering who it was from because I had no bills to pay, or friends that lived very far. So I opened it and read what was inside. It said 'We need you to help us!' it sounded like some kind of thing to join the war. I can tell you right now I was not going to join. So I just threw it in the trash, and went to get a nice shower and get ready for bed. I got out of the shower and got a pair of boxers out of my dresser and went straight to bed.
When I woke up I looked at the clock. It was 9:30am. I got off my bed, put on some pants and went out on the porch to say good morning to those who walked by. When I got out I noticed another letter in the mailbox. But the post offices are closed on Sundays. So I took it in and read it. It said the same damn thing. So I did the same to this one as I did the last one.
It was going on about 11:00 and I was getting tired of eating cereals that my mother was bringing almost every day. I decided to go to Mike's cafe and eat something there. So I got in my car and drove to the cafe. When I got back home I saw that damn letter in the mailbox again. This time I got very pissed. I just took the letter and threw it in the trash, along with the others. For the rest of the day I watched TV. I must have fallen asleep while watching it.
I looked at the clock and it was showing 4:20. Two hours and ten minutes till I have to go to work.
At work was strange because Dirick came in my office and said that I must have been having some fun with some ladies because there was someone on the phone.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"I don't know, it's some girl asking for you Brad. I think you have been holding out on me with the Ladies, haven't you."
"No I have not held anything from you." I said
"Well ok I guess, but she is waiting for you."
I went and picked up the phone at the front desk and in the earphone I heard a soft voice. "Is this Mr. Anderson?" the voice asked.
"Yes this is he, may I ask who is calling and how can I help you me'am?" I asked
"I just wanted to know have you thought about coming to help us?"
"Help you, with what? Wait, have you been putting...?"
"The letters in that thing you call a mailbox? Yes." she interrupted.
"Well what is it that you need me for?"
"We need your help... well... I can't talk right now, because someone may be eavesdropping us. I'll meet you at your house."
"Hey wait!" [click] I looked at Dirick. "She hung up on me and I didn't even get her name."
"You've been going out with someone and you don't know her name? What kind of boyfriend are you?" Dirick shouted
"I have not gone out with anyone." I told him
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"What did she want?"
"All she said was 'we need your help'." "I don't know what that means." I looked at the clock. It was 4:45pm. Then I looked around the shop to see if there is still someone in. I didn't see no-one so I went home. I told Dirick, I'll see him tomorrow. I got in my car and drove home.
When I got home I noticed the front door were opened so I got out of my car and run inside to find the robber. When I got in there I went to the living room and saw that nothing was moved. So I sat down on the couch for a moment until I herd that same cute and soft voice. "So this is the mighty Mr. Anderson."
I shot up and turned around to find two figures standing in front of me. "Who are you?" I demanded and the shape walk out of the shadow. I saw two cat like creatures standing before me. One that look like a leopard and the other looked like a lion and cheetah in one. He told me to bow before his majesty.
Thinking that my friends were playing a joke, I did as I was told and said "It's a little to early for Halloween, is it not?"
The lion-cheetah asked "What is this Halloween you are talking about?"
"So you're playing along" I thought "Well, Halloween is when kids and some adults dress up as ghosts, goblins and other kind of things like that, and they go to someone's house that has the lights on. They have big bags with them so when the the house owner opens, he can give them candies. Then they go to another house to get more candies."
"Candies?" asked the leopard.
I got up, went to candy jar, got one gob-stopper to give her.
She was about to reach for it but the lion-cheetah said "Your highness, you should not try it. It might be poisoned or cursed."
Then she said something that I did not understand. "He is the one that can change everything in our world. Also someone like he would never hurt me or anyone in my kingdom."
"Yes, your highness, I understand." and he lowered his head with respect. "Although as your personal guard I'm going to look after you one way or another no matter the costs."
I looked at the leopard. "So, are you a queen?" I asked a bit ironically while giving her the gob-stopper.
"No, I'm a princess. My name is princess Rhu." and I gave her the candy.
The leopard princess put the gob-stopper in her mouth. I told her not to sallow, but just let it set in her mouth and it will melt away. I went back and got another one to give it the lion-cheetah, but he looked at me like was about to cut off my head.
"So, you are her guard or something?" I asked looking at him
"Yes, I am the guard of princess Rhu." he said with an irritated voice.
After that I know that these were not my friends, but someone other then them, so I got kind of scared. I tried to not let them notice that, but it was kind of hard.
Finally the princess finished her candy and said that it was good. Then she asked me if she may have another one?
As she pleased I gave her the one that was destined for her guard. After she was done, she asked if I was ready to go.
"Ready to go where?" I asked.
"To our world of course." princess Rhu answered.
"To your world? How are we suppose to get there?" I asked
"Through a tunnel that is just right behind your house."
"Your highness..." the guard interrupted. "... We must be going now. The tunnel is going to close soon, so you will have to talk on the other side ok."
"Very well then." the leopard answered. "Come with us to our word Mr. Anderson."
"Wait, can I bring some of my things?"
"Yes you may, but hurry please." the princess looked at me.
"Alright." so I took my overcoat and for some reason three set of clothes and a NAVY one that had some more stuff in it. Then I went with the princess not even locking the door. I had no idea what the whole thing was about, but hell... it was about to be an adventure and getting away from work for a while.
***
We went out behind my house and a little in the woods, and then we came to a little round mirror that had some kind of jelly stuff in it and I saw a field.
"Is this where we go?" I asked.
"Yes, this is the portal." the princess answered.
The guard told me to go first. I was kind of scared because I did not know what might happen when I go through.
"What, do I just walk through it?" I asked.
"Yes." the princess answered.
So I walked through I felt kind of strange, because there was a lot of pressure on my body. When I got to the other side it stopped. Then the princess and the guard came through next. I looked around the meadow.
"So how far is your castle from here?" I looked at the leopard.
"It's just over that hill and you will see it." she said.
So we walked to the hill and something just came to me.
"Princess, how did you put those letters in my mailbox with off being seen?" I asked.
"This is how." she answered.
She showed me a necklace that had a bluish-purple marble on it.
"This is called an appearance bead, there are others but this one is every rare." she said.
"An appearance bead? What does it do?" I asked
"Well it will change the way you look. All you have to do is put it on and you can change in to simple things like a human into us felines or some other thing like that."
"So if I put one on and want to change in to a dragon I could?"
"No, it won't let any big changes like that just little thing."
"So what did you change in to?" I asked.
"Me? Well I just changed into a female human and Brom changed..."
She stopped and started to laugh.
"...He changed in to a baby in a carriage." she laughed.
"Brom? Who is that." I asked.
The princess pointed to the guard that was leading us. I then asked her something and her answer just ripped me apart.
"So when would I be able to go back?" I asked her.
"I'm sorry but you can't go back, because the portal is closed." Rhu said
I then looked behind us to see the portal was gone.
"Will it open again?" I asked with a worried voice.
"No, not for next 40 to 60 years, I did not want to tell you before because I was afraid that you would not come with us. I'm very sorry Brad." she said.
And she walked ahead with her guard. I was beginning to cry, because I would not see all my friends and my mother never ever again.
"Stop crying. We don't want do embarrass the princess. Her father sent her to get the mighty Mr. Anderson not some bawling kitten." the guard said angrily
"I'm sorry but it's just..." I said while crying.
"Brom let him be, he's just crying because he will never see anyone from his world." Rhu told the guard
"Yes your highness." the guard answered.
When we got to the top of the hill I looked down and I saw the biggest castle I have ever seen. For real it was the only one I've ever seen. It looked like one that was from Rome. We walked down the hill and half way down I saw two lion boies, I guess that not older then six, wrestling in the grass. One of the boys saw us, stood up, turned and ran to the castle yelling "They're back! They're back!"
When we finally came to the castle gate and Brom went up to it and gave two big bangs, a second later a little window opened on the door, I could not see what it was because Brom was blocking my view.
"Princess, you're back! Quick open the doors and let them in!" said the voice behind the door.
We went through the gate.
"My lady it's good to have you back safe and sound." said a fat small tiger.
"Thank you Randal." Rhu answered.
"So is this the one?" the tiger asked.
"Yes, this is Mr. Brad Anderson."
Then a small leopard boy, I'd say about 12 years old, came up to us, told the princess something and ran off.
"Princess may I ask who was that?"
"That little one? He is my brother."
"May I ask what is his name?"
"His name is Dalan, he..."
"Your majesty, we need to find your father." Brom said while looking at me.
"Alright."
Brom led us in the main hall of the castle and in front of us was a little flight of stairs that ended with what I guess was the king.
"Get on your knees boy." Brom whispered to me.
"Boy?" I thought. Because I didn't want to be rude I got on one knee.
Rhu went up to the big leopard and he said he was glad to see her beautiful face again.
"So I suppose this is him?" he said looking at Rhu.
"Yes, he is the one. Father."
"Good. Later we'll make a feast in his honor, but until then I think he may want to rest for a while so, Rhu my dear take him to his room."
"Yes father." she said while walking down to me.
I got up and fallowed her and Brom. We were walking trough a long corridor and then we approached a fight of stairs. We went up and we walked across a balcony that looked over a beautiful forest; plain and I saw a lake that was reddish from the setting sun.
"If you want I can show you that lake tomorrow." Rhu said when she noticed that I was looking at it.
"I would love to."
Then shortly after, we came to a door, the princess turned around and told me that I get some rest and she will come and get me when it's time to eat. Then she and Brom left. I went in to the room and I felt like the king myself. It saw a big bed, a beautiful blue marble flooring, and on the wall I saw a picture of the princess, I guess when she was very young, I'd say about the same age her brother is now. She looked very beautiful in her white dress. I sat down on the bed and looked at all the stuff I brought. I found my CD player and head phones and sixteen batteries to it. I also brought a pack of baseball cards which I collected when I was a kid. The last thing I took out really broke me into tears, I found a photo of my dad when he was in the air force standing by an AV-8 HARRIER; his favorite model out of all the fighter jets. With my eyes full of tears I laid on the bed and fallen asleep.
-End of Chapter 01-