Time Stealers: Royal Stain

By P. Clauss and Stephanie Clauss

As the pandemic grips the world, Charlotte and Grant discover another threat that affects not only mankind but also the Time Wraiths. The Royals, ruling family of the wraiths from their previous home, are not quietly locked up in their basement.

Obsessed with revenge and the need to reestablish his power as the ultimate ruler

• Language: English
• Publisher: P. Clauss Scriptor
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985341348

P. Clauss

P. Clauss, writer of published poetry, Christian devotionals, Children's books, and Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels, is the wife of a wonderful husband, the mother of two amazing children, a servant to several cats, and a small animal veterinarian. She lives in the Dallas, Texas, area, has a weekly Christian blog on Facebook page P. Clauss, webpage authorpclass.com, is on social media, and has many more stories to tell...

Book preview

Image 1Image 2

Time Keeper’s Chronicles 3

BY

P. CLAUSS

Image 3Image 4Image 5Image 6Image 7Image 8Image 9Image 10Image 11Image 12Image 13Image 14Image 15Image 16Image 17Image 18Image 19

Time Stealers: Royal Stain

P. Clauss

Copyright © 2022 P. Clauss.

All rights reserved.

Without the author’s explicit permission, no portion of this book may be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way.

Published by P. Clauss Scriptor

ISBN: 979-8-9853413-4-8

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, any site addresses or links included in this book may have changed or become invalid since publication.

Cover Design by Stephanie Clauss

All rights reserved

DEDICATION

To everyone who enjoys clockwork clocks and wants to share the passion with others. These stories are written not only to entertain but also to facilitate the introduction of this fascinating world of working history to those who are not aware.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I appreciate all the readers who have embraced these books and have encouraged me with their interest in them. I especially thank those who have been directly responsible by urging me to develop this world and kept encouraging me to continue.

I especially appreciate my family’s support. David, my husband, thank you for sharing the world of antique clocks with me, for being my technical advisor, and my sounding board on ideas and characters I’ve written in these books!

Stephanie, our daughter who shares our enthusiasm for antique clocks, thank you for your immediate positive response to the early concept of this series, encouraging me to pursue it, and showing me how it could succeed in the young adult reader’s market. Also, I thank you for designing the awesome cover art for this book! And to Joshua, our son, who’s not into the antique clock world and thinks we’re a bit crazy, thank you for your support of my writing in your own quiet way.

Pat Holloway, thank you! You are an extraordinary person!

Even with your deep involvement with NAWCC various chapters, you helped me out with the initial editing of the first book and advising on the others! I appreciate the time you took away from your other many responsibilities to do that as well as your constant encouragement throughout! I thank you so much!!

Mike and Norma Ciskowski, I appreciate both of you so much! Mike, I am so grateful you picked up the first book years ago and risked reading it! And then sharing it with Norma! Thank you for spreading the news of these stories with other readers! You both have been superfans and so very helpful and encouraging during every step of the Time Stealers saga!

!

Debbie Robinson, I am so glad you won one of the books and dove into it! I remember when you came by to purchase the second one and have been anticipating this one! Your enjoyment of this series has encouraged me more than you know!

Tim Glanzman, thank you for allowing me to donate my books as door prizes at the Texas All Chapter regional meeting for the past several years. And for presenting them to the winners with positive words, encouraging them to check out what the books are about!

To other fans within the NAWCC in general and the local chapters, I may not know your names but I remember you!

Thank you for your encouragement and passing on the word to others! I appreciate all of you!

Thank you for the fans outside of the NAWCC organization! I especially thank Melanie and Bethany Dunn; your enthusiasm, comments, and suggestions are very much appreciated!

To my boss, Kevin Shurtleff, thank you! Not only for reading the stories, honestly commenting on them, and offering encouragement, but also helping me with my work schedule so I have more time to write!

And, although I’ve thanked her time and time before, my amazing editor, Kathy Locatelli. Thanks again for polishing up another manuscript! With your amazing talent, you give me confidence to share my stories with the world!

For the additional technical and information support from the NAWCC message boards, Shaun Clarke on antique pocket watches, and Rick from the Olden Year Museum in Duncanville, Texas, on antique music boxes, I extend my thanks to you all!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

BOOKS BY P. CLAUSS

AUTHOR BIO

PROLOGUE

He happily hummed to himself while he worked with the big, yellow happy face latch hook rug. Because of his therapy, he discovered that he enjoyed working with his hands. As his fingers manipulated the hook to work the short pieces of brightly colored yarn to loop into the stiff rug hooking mesh, the tactile sensation relaxed him and freed his thoughts. On this day, he was filled with gratitude that the doctor had finally convinced him that the huge, black, smoky-looking alien he thought he had seen was a figment of his imagination and that when he had been sure that he had been possessed by an evil entity, it was simply a bad dream. Whatever, he wasn’t worried about it anymore. When he remembered Carlos and his mysterious network with his plan to rule the world, he smiled and laughed as he thought, Just fantasy! Wild thoughts!

He was nearing the end of a row and was preparing to go to the next, piece of yarn in one hand, the hook in the other, and the sturdy woven base on his lap, when a large shadow blocked his light. He looked up to see why and saw a mountain of a man with deeply tanned skin, black thatch of hair, and thick-boned features.

Hello! I’m Dirk, the new orderly. The newcomer stuck out his big, beefy hand as he greeted him.

Automatically, Curtis put down the hook and reached out to shake the offered hand. Hello, he said timidly, not sure what to think about this direct approach.

All the other orderlies left him alone unless he needed to take meds or be escorted to see a doctor. I’m Curtis.

I thought so, the large man said as he dropped his voice to a sinister whisper. We have been looking for you.

Sudden fear stabbed at his heart as Curtis leapt up to scuttle away from this stranger. He sensed danger as this newcomer’s presence threatened to open the deep recesses of his psyche to release deeply buried and disturbing memories. No! he shook his head emphatically. No one is looking for me. I promise! As he vigorously backpedaled out of his usually safe haven in the corner of the common area, he crashed into the games table. Fortunately, no one was using it at the time.

The stranger was determined to follow him, a lion stalking his prey. With frantic, quick movements of his head, Curtis looked around for help. His heart sank when he saw that no one noticed or cared that this new orderly tracked him. As suddenly as a gazelle fleeing from a predator, he spun on his sock-covered toes and sprinted through the common room, down one of the hallways, and into his room.

After slamming his door shut, he found to his horror that he couldn’t lock it. They could lock him in, but he couldn’t lock them out! He tried to move his bed to block it, but it was bolted down. He tried to move the single, simple wooden chair that was in the room, but it, too, was bolted down. When he saw the doorknob turn, desperate to hide somewhere, he slid under the bed. Scrunching up as small as he could in the narrow, dark space, he was tortured with brilliant flashes of visions showing shadowy aliens and his sister shining bright as the sun. "No! No!

No!" he muttered emphatically but hopelessly.

His begging and hiding were to no avail. No one came to his rescue as a meaty arm reached under the bed and pulled him out as easily as pulling lint from a piece of clothing. Curtis screwed his eyes closed, not wanting to see the man, not wanting to see the danger he represented. He stayed curled up on the floor, wishing over and over that the man would go away and never come back.

Curtis, Curtis, Curtis, the man’s deep voice spoke tenderly into the quiet of the room.

Curtis slowly opened an eye and saw that the door was closed, and the stranger was sitting on the chair.

I thought you would be anxious to fulfill your destiny, the man said as he saw Curtis looking around.

He spread his large hands out in front of him, palms up, a gesture to invite trust.

What destiny? Curtis squeaked in reply as he opened his other eye but still stayed curled on the floor.

Now he felt like a mouse being watched by a hungry cat.

To his ears, he sounded like one.

Have you forgotten? Dirk asked quietly as he shook his head and tsk-tsked at him. Well, I have something to remind you… He reached inside his uniform pants pocket and took out a pocket watch.

Curtis could tell it was not a typical pocket watch; it was large and rounded like an onion. He slowly uncurled as curiosity won over fear. What is that? he asked as he scooted over on all fours to look at it more closely. He had to admit it was a very old watch and very pretty.

Would you like to hold it? Dirk asked as he held it out, balancing it on his open hand.

Can I? Curtis asked like a child who expected to be denied.

Of course, the large man boomed with a chuckle.

I brought it just for you. So you could reconnect with your destiny.

Destiny? Curtis asked as he looked up into the man’s dark eyes. I have no destiny.

Here. Dirk put the pocket watch into Curtis’s upraised hand.

Feeling the weight as the timepiece filled his palm, Curtis grasped the watch protectively, not wanting to drop it. When he did, his brow furrowed as he sensed something familiar about it. There was an echo of a presence that he had known and another he did not. At first, he was repelled by it and wanted to throw it down when the feelings of danger heightened in intensity. Then he was entranced as the many voices in his head, those he had been trying to ignore for years, consolidated into one very distinct and very real voice.

Hello, Curtis, the deep voice said to him. Curtis looked around and up at the man. Dirk smiled at him, but he hadn’t said anything. Then he realized with a shudder that the voice was in his mind.

Hello? Curtis replied out loud. Where are you?

I, we, are far away right now, the voice answered. I, we, are very glad to have found you.

Why were you looking for me? Curtis asked, still not sure why he was hearing this voice, this very different voice.

Because we need you, the voice said firmly.

Why? Curtis asked fearfully.

We need you to help us take over the world.

Curtis curled up again. The sane part of his personality cried out in his head to throw the watch down, to run, and to pretend this wasn’t happening. But the insane personality, the one that had been beaten into submission, rose up with a vengeance. Yes!! it shouted in Curtis’ mind. Finally!! With that, Curtis stood up in a

sudden, fluid motion, signaled Dirk out of his chair, sat down in it, and demanded, Where should we start?

CHAPTER ONE

Charlotte puttered around the small apartment. She smiled to herself as she thought of the word ‘puttered.’ Her surroundings weren’t as rich and grand as what she had grown up with, but she was so very happy. She felt that her life was full of promise and purpose. Within a few years, she had gone from confusion and being unable to find herself to having a loving husband, an instant family amongst the Time Keepers and general clock people, and an important position as liaison between the Time Keepers and the alien Time Wraiths, and soon a new addition would be added to their family. She smiled as the baby moved and a small lump pushed outward from her belly. As she gently rubbed it, she imagined that it was her baby’s tiny foot. Soon, she thought, very soon.

Planting a fist firmly against the small of her aching back, she used her other hand to hold onto the handrail to make her slow, careful way down the stairs. She wanted to see where Grant was. She not only had helped him manage the clock shop for the past few years but also had encouraged him to start going back to the clock shows and NAWCC regional meetings. She knew that the Time Keepers were an unknown group amongst the organized clock and watch collector organizations world-wide. But since they were gifted with the ability to see and communicate with the Time Wraiths, the Keepers were instrumental in making sure as many mechanical clocks as possible were kept running to not only house the alien race, but also as sources of energy for them. But drawing from her grandfather’s and her own experiences, she felt that there were more people out there who were unknown Keepers like they were. She wanted to make sure to find and reach out to them so they could understand that they were not insane but had a unique gift.

She remembered the intense level of self-uncertainty and the surety that she was insane when she had made her way to Grant’s clock shop that night years ago. To her, it seemed a lifetime ago, but it truly wasn’t.

Once she made it down the two flights of stairs to the ground floor, she peeked into the show room. It was empty of humans but there were a few wraiths, the black, shadowy, skeletal aliens that lived in the mechanical clockworks, who were flitting around outside of their clocks. Gustav, their grey-striped, white-chested cat, was lying on the counter watching the wraiths. When he saw her, he jumped down to rub against her legs. She wanted to reach down and pet him but couldn’t with her huge belly in the way. Sorry, Gustav, when I sit down, I can pet you. He looked up with golden eyes and seemed to understand her as he stood still, watching where she would go.

Turning to her left, she passed over the trapdoor leading to the basement. She stopped when she saw Gustav skitter around the metal-framed, old wood hatch. He seemed wary of it. She wondered if he could sense what she knew was down there. She tried not to think of what was in the basement. That was the only dark spot to her happiness.

She wasn’t sure when it would happen, but she and Becker, the wraith that recognized her for who she was and befriended her, knew that at some point, trouble would break out again amongst the alien Time Wraiths and would affect humanity in some way. How serious it would be, they couldn’t be sure of until it happened.

Entering the workshop part of their building with the cat padding quietly behind her, she saw Grant bent over a grandfather movement in a clock stand. She waited before she said anything. She knew he was listening intently to the beat, the evenness of the tick and tock. If a clock was the least bit out of beat, it would eventually stop.

When he stood up, she cleared her throat to announce her presence. She had learned that if she didn’t,

he would never notice her, as focused as he was when doing his clock work. He heard her and looked in her direction. Hey, honey. His face dropped from a bright smile to an expression of concern. Are you okay?

She smiled to reassure him. Yes, I am fine. She lowered herself into a chair they had put in the workroom for her. I just wanted to see what you were doing. Gustav jumped lightly onto the remnant of her lap that her belly had left, which wasn’t much for the big cat. Using the innate cat ability to maneuver in tight spaces, he stepped gingerly from knee to knee as he gently rubbed back and forth across her belly, then carefully draped himself over her knees. She reached down to gently stroke his fur and rub his ears as his purr vibrated against her belly.

Grant left his workbench to kiss her and place a hand gently on her huge belly. She felt the baby kick. His brilliant smile at the baby’s response warmed her heart. Before they were married, he had confessed to her that because he had lived so long, several centuries in fact because of the extended life granted by the wraith-created clockworks room, he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to father children.

Even with all that time in his life, he had never been married before. He had explained to her that before she emerged as the first female Time Keeper, the all-male group of Keepers usually didn’t marry. They didn’t want to suffer the heartbreak of losing their wives while they lived on.

He knows you’re there and that you are his father,

she said knowingly.

He shook his head at her. You don’t really know that, he said as he walked back to his workbench. He or she probably reacts to anyone putting pressure on your belly. It’s getting pretty tight in there!

She shook her head at him. No, it’s just you. She moved in her chair to get more comfortable. Gustav readjusted his position in response. "It’s so annoying that

everyone seems to want to touch pregnant women’s bellies."

She grimaced as she felt a spasm. I guess it’s okay if it’s someone you know, but complete strangers?! Really! She threw up her hands to emphasize her complaint.

Grant shook his head as he sat down and picked up another grandfather clock movement. At least there still seems to be chivalry in this world. People still open doors and make way for a pregnant lady. She had to agree. She had seen unexpected courtesy from the unlikeliest of people.

She sat back to watch her husband work while the workroom atmosphere filled with the ticking of the many clockworks in their test stands. Relaxing into the bless of contentment, she was about to doze off when she heard a bell sound.

Someone had come through the front door into the showroom. Gustav was the first to respond as he jumped down to investigate who it was. Grant turned away from the workbench and started to get up to see to it when she lifted her hand for him to wait. I’ll get it. I need to move around a bit. She started to heave herself out of the chair when she felt him help her up. After she stood, he wrapped his arms around her in a warm, gentle hug.

You know, you are so beautiful, he murmured in her hair. I know you must be so uncomfortable, but you are glowing!

She moved enough to look up at him and smiled.

You are so kind, but what a line! She knew that she was far from glowing and beautiful. Not only because of her big, bulky body and waddling walk, she knew she looked rough thanks to many bathroom breaks and perpetual discomfort that kept her from being able to sleep through the night. Last time she looked in a mirror, she felt raccoons would be jealous of the dark rings under her eyes. She quirked a smile and then gave him a quick kiss on his lips. But thank you!

After he released her, she made her way into the showroom. She scanned the large clock-filled space and saw a middle-aged couple looking at the tall case clocks, commonly known as grandfather clocks. She expected that Gustav would be watching the customers from some high vantage point, but she didn’t see him anywhere in the room.

As she made her way to the counter along one side of the room, she figured the cat had gone into the break room or upstairs. Moving around the counter, she placed the high stool against the wall. After settling on the black cushion on the wooden stool, she leaned against the smooth, firm surface of the ‘not for sale’ wall for the needed back support.

When she sensed a presence stir in the dark wood Becker wall clock hanging near her, she whispered, Hello, Becker.

Hello, replied the black, shadowy, skeletal being as she emerged from her clock home to hover beside Charlotte.

They didn’t communicate as they watched the couple look over several clocks. They looked to the door as its bell rang again. More people came in to look at the clocks. As the day wore on, more lookers, some buyers, and a few repairs came in. Comfortable with being in each other’s company, they silently watched the activity of business together when Charlotte wasn’t helping any customers. Eventually, Grant joined them and was talking with the customers about repairs as Charlotte watched the lookers to see if they appeared to have questions. Neither one of them was concerned about Becker being out of her clock. They knew that if anyone saw her, they would need to take them aside to talk with them.

The rhythm of watching business was suddenly interrupted when several wraiths flew in through the big window at the front of the showroom. Charlotte watched as they sped over to hover with Becker. The event, in itself, was not unusual; they had messengers come in from all over the world to consult with Becker and often with her and Grant about things going on in the world of the Keepers and Time Wraiths. But this time, the messengers were obviously agitated.

Uh, oh, she thought, something is brewing! She sighed as she waited for whatever news that was going to be relayed to her. She looked away from the small clump of wraiths when the couple who had been the first customers to come into the shop that morning walked toward the counter.

Hi! She smiled brightly as she sat up. How may I help you?

The man returned her smile, then got to the point. Do you deliver the grandfather clocks and set them up? At the same time, his wife cooed, Ooooo, you look so close! When are you due? she said as she reached over the counter to touch her belly.

Charlotte smiled at them both, then answered the husband