Princess Hannah of the Jade Harem CH 58

Magical sparkles filled the air as Zillix fluttered down to land on the lip of the large nest. Quinny was close enough to lean over and pet him before gently kissing his head. Hannah remarked that his home was beautiful and had no idea it would be like this.

“I admit I was expecting something more like a bird's nest,” Hannah said.

“Oh, it would be more like that if not for Idris,” Zillix admitted. “She showed me how the lair tools work and then spent hours helping me design this.”

“She’s really good at building adventures,” Frank agreed. “I love how she scales her undead attack to the players and how it can have random events. She loves undead themes as well. You should see the graveyard around her tower.”

“I still have no idea why he hasn’t asked her to marry him,” Breanne quipped, getting a giggle out of Hannah.

“I was just saying she’s good at it,” Frank countered.

“Frank, she's a female copy of you,” Hannah replied. “Honestly, she is ten times more compatible with you than I am. I am the one who insists on there being flowers in the graveyard.”

“Yeah, Idris and Frank are super alike,” Quinny agreed. “And we are already married to Zillix, so if she marries us, she becomes married to him.”

“Do you think she would do that?” Zillix asked as he stood on the lip of his nest.

“I don't see why she would say no,” Hannah replied with a rub of her chin. “I mean, she's already having sex with us all. What will a ring change other than to say she's a wife?”

“The essence,” Breanne warned. “She will need to be trained not to use it.”

“Oh, right, that,” Hannah agreed with a shrug.

“So what are all the tunnels down the main shaft for?” Quinny asked as she picked him up and cradled him between her breasts.

“Those lead to the branches,” Zillix replied. “I am building little hidden places on them. Idris calls them ornaments and insists they need to be pretty.”

“Ha, she’s decorating the tree with ornaments,” Quinny laughed.

“She really is imaginative,” Hannah said. “Does Chandice know you have built this much?”

Zillix said she knew his home was much larger than anticipated but had already expressed that she didn't care. Chandice even suggested a hidden stair or magical means to travel from the shop to his home above. He planned to invite everybody up once he had most of it done but hadn't started on the ornaments.

“If I can ask, what is the big white flower that hangs upside down under this room?” Hannah questioned.

“Oh, that's from my world,” Zillix replied. “It's called a white trillium and has magical properties.” He waved a hand, and the pool in the center of the room began to glow. He explained that the flower's roots made up the walls of the pool, and the water was blessed by its magic. It allowed him to work Illusions without strain as he drew on the pool for power, not his own mana. If he was depleted of mana, he could drink from the pool, and it would recover in minutes instead of hours. The last feature he showed them by having Quinny bring him to the pool. He waved a hand, and the water shimmered, becoming a window to another place. They could see the forest around the giant tree and an odd magical shimmer to one side.

“What is that?” Hannah asked as she looked closer.

“The door to the druid's grove,” Zillix explained. “I can see for one mile around the pool, and it reveals the presence of magic, even hidden magic like the portal. Sometimes his door is where I can see it, and sometimes it’s beyond my range.”

“Is there any way to extend the range?” Hannah asked as her mind began to see possibilities.

“Not that I am aware of,” Zillix said. “But who knows what can be done with it.”

Hannah was fascinated by that idea as it opened so many possibilities. She wished he could see further to other places where she was sure a magical residue remained. As she looked over the water, the image shifted and showed her a place she was familiar with.

“Is that the mirror in Legeis's workshop?” Frank asked.

“It is,” Breanne said as the mirror began to glow with magical symbols. “But that’s miles away.”

“Why did it suddenly show us that?” Hannah asked as she stared at the image, drawing closer and closer to the mirror. “Am I doing this?”

“She’s taken control of my pool,” Zillix said in surprise. “And is somehow making it stronger.”

“How are you doing that?” Umtha asked as she leaned over Hannah’s shoulder.

“I, I don’t know,” Hannah replied as she stared at the image. “I just thought it would be amazing if we could use this to study things like the mirror. It might show us elements we can’t normally see.”

“But how are you using my pool?” Zillix asked. “It only responds to me.”

“I don't know,” Hannah replied, looking down to see her hand glowing blue and realizing the truth. “My essence,” she whispered, waving her hand over the water, turning the image about the room. “I didn’t even realize I was using it.”

“It has to be the essence,” Breanne confirmed. “We have no idea what limits that power has.”

“But that boosts power she already has,” Quinny interjected. “It doesn’t allow her to steal control of other people’s things.”

“I bet it has more to do with the fact that they are married,” Frank countered. “By default, she has access to things like this.”

“She can do this because we are married?” Zillix asked as he watched the image.

“You got her essence power because you married her,” Frank explained. “She must have something of your power in return.”

“Like she got abilities from us,” Quinny agreed.

“But how far can she go with this?” Breanne asked. “She's bending the pool's limitations well beyond what Zillix said they can do. It’s like she can alter the rules to suit her needs.”

“I wonder if I can open it,” Hannah said as she waved a hand over the pool. They held their breath as magical symbols began to glow as if in response to her gestures. A moment later, the mirror became transparent, revealing the swirling blackness beyond.

“Good God!” Breanne gasped as Hannah began to glow blue. “She’s channeling her power through the pool.”

“And affecting things on the other side,” Umtha said. “How can anyone do this?”

“Hannah, what are you doing?” Frank asked as the vision of the pool was suddenly on the other side, staring into the rolling darkness of the world beyond.

“I want to see the other path,” Hannah replied as the vision began to race down the only trail in the blackness.

“What is this horrible place?” Zillix asked as he recoiled from the image.

“Another world,” Frank explained. He told Zillix all about the mirrors and the nightmare world beyond them. The tiny dragon wasn't happy with the image, but he watched as Hannah forced the pool to a point where she paused.

“There,” Hannah said as she pointed to the water.

They all looked to see what she wanted. The only safe path was created by magical pillars that produced a periodic flash of light. They stretched out in a meandering line, forcing the darkness back. However, at one point in the trail, they could see distant pillars but had no way to reach them. Now, Hannah pointed the image at one of those pillars as it flashed in the darkness.

“I want to see where it goes,” Hannah said, waving her hand. The image moved into the darkness, and instantly, they regretted it. The image became a scene of writhing blackness with fleeting images that seemed like teeth or claws. It was in a constant chaotic motion that prevented them from distinguishing any one part, but what they saw was horrifying.

“What is this terrible darkness?” Breanne asked as it slid by like bugs off a windshield.

“I had no idea a place like this existed,” Zillix said as he clung to Quinny’s chest.

“I see something,” Hannah noted, turning her vision to look down. It was hard to see, but they kept catching glimpses of something in the gray sand that made up the waste. Hannah tried in vain to clear the darkness away, but it rolled about her vision like thick oil, obscuring what she wanted to see.

“Just get out of my way!” Hannah shouted as she flared with blue light. On the other side of the mirror was a pulse of power as her essence exploded on the other side. The darkness was driven back, leaving a sphere of shaped opening where everything could be seen clearly. Every voice in the room was stuck as they finally saw the object in the sand.

“It’s a skeleton,” Zillix said.

It was indeed a skeleton and clearly a woman based on the black armor plates it once wore. It had clawed fingers, trails of bones that might once have been wings, and halo-like horns on its head. There was a broken sword beside it and some other debris that might once have been clothing. Oddly, one hand seemed detached, some of the fingers missing. In the cold darkness of that alien world, Hannah looked at the remains of the woman she couldn’t remember.

“It’s Hathlisora,” Hannah said in a voice empty of emotion.

“It can’t be,” Frank said.

“It is,” Hannah stated. “Remember the vision I had about fighting paladins in the shadow world? I killed myself to stop them by breaking a pillar and allowing the darkness to swallow us. This was why my bone champion found my ring here. The body is even missing the finger it would have been on. It has to be me.”

“I don’t want to believe it,” Breanne said. “But it would explain why this portion of the trail is broken. It probably used to connect to the other road.”

“Until Hannah broke it to stop them from following it,” Quinny said.

“I wonder where it goes,” Frank said as the vision faded.

“It’s hurting,” Hannah groaned and suddenly jerked back as the pool went black.

“Hannah?” Umthat cried as she held the stricken woman up. “Are you alright?”

“I'm fine,” Hannah said as she rubbed the side of her head. She didn't want to alarm her family, but something felt like it was reaching back over her link and striking out at her. One second, she was fine; the next, there was pain like a mental attack. She wanted more time to think about what she had seen and how the pool could be used, but for now, one thing was certain.

“I want that skull,” Hannah stated in no uncertain terms.

“You want Hathlisora’s skull?” Breanne scoffed.

“Yes,” Hannah said firmly. “I have some questions to ask.”

The room was silent except for Zillix, who didn't understand the significance of what Hannah had just said. She looked Frank firmly in the eyes and stated she wanted to make an attempt to recover it. She would use her skull in a speak with the dead spell and ask it the questions only she could answer.

“That's crazy,” Breanne interjected.

“Hannah, please don’t!” Umtha begged. “You might learn something you shouldn’t know.”

“I can’t pass up an opportunity like this,” Hannah balked. “My own skull from the life I can’t remmember. Imagine what I could learn.”

“How would that even work?” Quinny asked. “You’re alive again.”

“The book indicated the spell summons an NPC spirit with the player's memories, not the original player,” Hannah said. “So, assuming it works I will be able to stare myself in the eyes and get real answers for a change.”

“You will drive yourself mad,” Umtha insisted. “Please, you made me promise not to tell you about your past. This is the same as commanding me to answer you.”

“Frank, what do you think?” Breanne asked, desperate for his support.

Frank didn't want to weigh in on a matter so important to Hannah, but he couldn't avoid it now. Deep down, he didn't want her to pursue this path out of fear of what she might learn. On the other hand, he would support any decision she made and do his best to help her. He was about to answer as delicately as he could when a voice that had been silent this whole time finally spoke up.

“I believe she must recover that skull,” Blackbast said as she stood behind them. “We all understand the danger, but she has every right to want answers. All I ask is you don't rush to ask your questions. Let's recover the skull and lock it away while you take a good long time to consider what it is you want to know.”

Hannah nodded while Breanne rolled her eyes in disgust. Umtha implored Hannah to leave the skull where it was while Quinny took Frank's hand, unwilling to weigh in one way or the other.

“Well, this took a dark turn,” Breanne sighed and gestured to the space around them. “We were all having such a good time exploring this magical place.”

“Yeah, it was fun while it lasted,” Quinny said sadly.

Hannah could feel the change of mood in the room and suddenly felt guilty. She hadn't intended to make such a dark discovery or even use the pool. She was just curious if it could be used, and when it started to respond, she just lost herself. In fact, she felt compelled to look as if that dark world were calling her. Did she have a subconscious memory of where she died, and was she somehow eager to return to the scene of the crime? She realized her need was unnatural, a craving from some deeper part of her soul. Her eyes met Umtha's to see tears and pain as the goblin woman looked about to shatter. It was as if somebody slapped her out of it and she saw clearly once more.

“Why don’t we leave it where it is,” Hannah said, turning heads. She walked to Umtha and wrapped the woman in a hug.

“Thank you,” Umtha sobbed as Hannah pulled her in tight.

“You can’t just leave it,” Blackbast insisted.

“Yes, I can,” Hannah replied before kissing Umtha's head. “My sweet protector said to leave it alone, so we will.” She was rewarded with additional arms as Quinny joined the hug, firmly tucking in.

“You’re wonderful,” Quinny said.

Hannah wasn't sure she deserved that compliment, but she wasn't about to sour her hug. She loved her dark angels dearly, and somehow that love had brought her back from….”

“My madness,” Hannah said aloud.

“What?” Breanne asked as she put a hand to Hannah’s back.

Hannah shook her head and tried to explain how she felt like she had just awakened from a dream. She did her best to describe how seeing the pool and wondering if she could use it had consumed her thoughts. It became a need to press into the darkness, going down that exact route and then spotting a nearly hidden object. Now that she thought about it, the whole thing made no sense. She was consumed by what she could only call a madness to get to that skull and have her answers.

“It was Umtha’s pain that brought me back,” Hannah said as she held her wife out to look into her eyes. “Now I see why I chose her to be the keeper of my secrets. Frank is my guardian against the world, but Umtha is the one who protects me from myself.”

“Now I feel terrible for insisting you collect the skull,” Blackbast said.

“Oh, don't,” Hannah urged as she turned to face her. “I know you are only looking out for my best interests, and it was brave of you to agree with me when everybody else was against the idea.”

“But it was a bad decision,” Blackbast insisted. “I was pushing you to pursue this.”

“No, this is good,” Hannah said as she stepped aside to think. “I finally see how and why I am so impulsive. It's my memories crying out for me to find a way to call them back. I feel like there is a clock ticking, and I have to walk a fine line between learning too much too fast and running out of time. This whole thing has made me realize that I jump at things my subconscious mind thinks might lead me back to my memories. It's like I have a split personality.”

“If I may tell you the truth,” Umtha said as she took Hannah’s hand. “You were always like this.”

“Great, so I was always insane,” Hannah laughed.

“No, not insane, impulsive. Eager to find answers and delve into places other people feared to go to get them,” Umtha said. “You were reckless, but only with yourself. You loved people, and you deeply regretted it when some impulsive action caused anyone harm. You did harm people, but always by accident, and then you went out of your way to make it up to them. You were loved by more people than hated you.”

Hannah wanted to kiss the woman for her kind words as she sat on the edge of Zillix's nest. This was an important lesson, and knowing where her skull was would be enough information for now. It could remain in its alien grave until she truly needed answers.

“Well, can we please go back to having fun and exploring Zillix's home,” Hannah suggested.

“You really want to let this go?” Frank asked.

Hannah nodded and assured him that this needed to be let go. She was more interested in understanding this drive that came over her whenever a clue to her past surfaced. She felt like an intense need took her over, and until she had control, she feared to feed that beast. She turned them back to the beautiful home around them and suggested Zillix tell them more about it. She wanted to know what elements were traditional and which were Idris's ideas.

Zillix was more than happy to be carried around in Quinny’s arms as he described how his kid often built nests. They were bedded with a kind of moss and built into fully enclosed structures. They love to collect shiny objects, stealing them from Umtha’s kind if needed. He told a story of a little statue of something similar to a horse that was made of blue glass.

Hannah crawled into his nest, reclining on the bed of cushions before the others joined her. In no time, the entire family was snuggled together, with Zillix standing at the center. He began to use illusions to show them his home, his powers boosted by the magical pool.

“They build egg-shaped houses,” Quinny said.

“They are like birdhouses,” Breanne agreed.

Zillix then zoomed out, showing them a giant tree dotted with the funny houses. Hannah now understood what Idris was trying to do with her ornaments. She was recreating Zillix's home in a more human style that could be used by others. The giant rain trees scrapped a canopy of dense clouds, causing a drizzling mist. The trees broad leaves collected that water, causing it to pour in dozens of small waterfalls to the distant ground. All around were mountains and valleys, the beautiful home of Umtha and her people. Hannah had to hug her as Umtha teared up and lamented being taken from her home. Frank pointed out how it was odd that the clouds only seemed to form over the trees. Everywhere else was clear, allowing the sun to pour in, creating striking rainbows wherever a waterfall fell.

“It’s beautiful,” Blackbast said as she reclined in Frank’s arms. “What did your kind eat?”

“There are berries that grow in the trees,” Zillix replied, changing the image to show clusters of red fruit that resembled grapes but were as big around as an orange. He then showed them golden bugs that Umtha called Cillipas, which climbed the tree branches, feeding on the moss the dragons used for bedding. They ate those and other small animals, but primarily the fruit because it was so easy to get.

“I happen to like your food a lot,” Zillix admitted as he climbed onto Hannah's stomach. “We never started doing what you call cooking.” Hannah twisted and giggled as his tiny claws prickled her skin with tickles. Thankfully, he lay down, gently rising and falling with her breathing as they continued to talk.

“My people made lots of food,” Umtha interjected. “I miss some of them.”

“Oh, sweetheart, if you can describe them, maybe we can recreate them here,” Hannah offered.

“My people already do our best to recreate them, but it’s hard to get some of them right,” Umtha said.

“Hey, can you make an illusion of a goblin village?” Hannah asked, hoping to show Umtha some of her home. Zillix shook his head and admitted he had never gone into a goblin village or seen one, for that matter. Hannah understood, but she wanted to do something special for Umtha. She settled on taking her into a dream later that night. She would recreate the goblin wedding ceremony, marrying Umtha in the goblin way all over again. It would allow Umtha to see her home and relive the moment they married in her way. She was planning the details when something landed on her head and was reminded that Webster was still there.

“What are you doing?” Hannah asked as the spider flicked his legs at Zillix. “Stop that,” Hannah urged, picking him up. “Nobody cares that he's sitting on my stomach.” He chirped as she set him aside, then shook her head. “Honestly, why is my spider more jealous than my husband?”

“I can sit someplace else,” Zillix offered as Webster made a series of chirps.

“You stay right where you are,” Hannah urged. “You're a master of the harem, and my spider is going to learn that one day.” He chirped again, and Hannah picked him up, holding him in one arm to soothe his nerves.

“He’s really jealous?” Frank asked.

“He’s terrible,” Hannah said. “He treats Zillix like a rival familiar. It’s like you and my bone champion all over again.”

“Oh, that was strange,” Breanne commented as she rolled to her side to pet Zillix. “He hated Frank.”

“He did not,” Frank said defensively. “He just got in the way a lot.”

“Yeah, your way,” Hannah said. “And he did it without being commanded. It was like he felt you were threatening me but wasn’t sure.”

“We did attack you that time to take off the crown,” Quinny reminded.

“Let's not go into that,” Hannah replied, stroking Umtha while Zillix settled on her stomach. She felt oddly content laying in the bowl of the nest with Zillix using her as a pillow. Still, they hadn’t come here to lay in bed and talk so she tried to think of something more to do. She suggested they go back to flying and circle around the tree to see if they could find anything else.

“I have an idea,” Zillix offered, leading them outside onto a branch. He lifted a hand and focused, channeling the power of the nearby pool. Instantly, the air cooled, and water began to fall from a bank of clouds that formed overheard. Hannah heard cries of delight from her girls as rain fell and rainbows formed as the streams became a mist below.

With cries of joy, they took to the air, flying through water sprays and rainbows as they played catch Frank's tail. He darted around branches and through leaves, splashing the girls as they giggled and screamed. Hannah smiled and joined the fun, content to be one of the girls enjoying a magical game in their fantasy world.