Princess Hannah of the Jade Harem CH 57

Laughter filled the air as five winged forms swept over the trees of Lovewood. Hannah, Quinny, Breanne, Umtha, and Frank soared on leathery wings over a rolling canopy of color. Webster also came along, clinging to Hannah's shoulder as they enjoyed the day. Blackbast was carried in her husband's arms, smiling as he held her tight.

The girls bounced and weaved, their long tails trailing behind as they enjoyed the magical sight. The Lovewood was a beautiful place under the canopy, but above those pillows of leaves was another world. Dominating that world was a single tree that rose like a mountain above all others. Its trunk was as big around as a small strip mall, rising above the forest for a hundred feet before the branches even began. These spread wide like an oak, some branches thick enough to act like roads. The tree was the king of the forest, a place few ever saw from the trails below.

Hannah and her family headed for the tree, laughing and playing as they did. The tree had been grown to be a home for Chandice whose expansive magic shop was built into the trunk. However, the branches above were home to another creature, a tiny dragon named Zillix.

They flew closer, with Quinny and Umtha chasing one another's tails. Hannah loved to see her girls playing and was grateful for the escape from the day's burdens. The strange melting woman and her plan to make copies of them had soured their mood. They needed this reminder that their lives were meant to be lived and enjoyed. Frank had suggested they fly over the forest and then visit the tree. He insisted Blackbast had to come with and would carry her personally.

Breanne flew in close, taking Hannah's hand as the two smiled, the open air making them feel more alive than words could explain and they wanted to share the moment.

“Why don’t we fly more?” Breanne sighed. “I love this.”

“I suppose because we really have no reason to fly,” Hannah replied. “Everything we do is on the ground, and we can use the magic doors to get wherever we are going.”

“We should fly from place to place once in a while,” Breanne said. “Just for the joy of doing it.”

Webster chirped, and Hannah had to translate, saying he thought walking was just fine. Breanne laughed as they held hands and shared a breeze; their wings stretched wide to ride it.

“I am very touched you wanted me to come with,” Blackbast called from Frank’s arms. “This is a sight to behold.”

“You need to come with us,” Frank replied. “You are just as important to this family as any of us.”

“I feel like one too many sometimes,” Blackbast sighed.

“Don't be ridiculous,” Breanne called. You are needed in this family. Someone has to keep this unruly woman in order.”

“Hey,” Hannah said with a glare. “I am perfectly well-behaved.” She frowned when the others laughed and jerked her hand away from Breanne. Breanne used her tail to wrap Hannah's leg as she said she was only teasing.

“I want you with us,” Frank said to Blackbast. “You are my wife.”

Blackbast leaned up and planted a little kiss on his cheek. She looked absolutely happy as he tail curled into a tight ball. Hannah loved to see her family like this and reached for Breanne's hand again. They flew up, soaring higher to reach the upper branches and begin exploring the giant tree.

Hannah was amazed at how dark the world became as they flew under the canopy that created an artificial eclipse. The world of the giant tree was full of light as they discovered glowing mushrooms, mosses, and flowering vines clinging to the thick, woody branches. They landed on a particularly big one and moved about, exploring this strange woody world.

“This is neat,” Quinny said as she and Umtha walked along a branch. You could build a whole castle up here.”

“Zillix’s house is here someplace,” Hannah said as she looked around. “But the place is so big it could take us days of searching to find it.”

“He told me it was in the lower branches,” Frank replied as Blackbast walked beside him.

“Do you feel safe?” Hannah asked the only member of their family that didn’t have wings.

“I am a cat,” Blackbast replied with a smirk. “I am in no danger of suddenly falling off. Besides, my race can fall significant distances without harm.”

“Really?” Hannah said as she wondered how that worked. Blackbast pulled open her interface and showed Hannah a racial ability called feline grace. It allowed her to always land on her feet gracefully. She could fall fifteen feet plus five per level of her race without suffering harm. She could fall twice that distance with a sixty percent reduction in damage. Anything beyond that did eighty percent of what it would have, meaning she never took full damage in a fall.

“Hmm, that's a handy skill, but I think this is still high enough to be dangerous,” Hannah said. Webster chirped that he could bite her, then she would have his spider ability to stick to the trunk. “I don't think she needs you to bite her,” Hannah said as he scurried beside her feet.

Blackbast took Hannah's hand as the two walked down a thick branch, staring into the strange canopy. It was amazing to see the tangle of branches leading to clumps of leaves, creating a world of bridges and islands. Butterflies flew in clouds, creating pockets of dancing color, and scented flowers bloomed among the branches, sweetening the air.

“I will never tire of this forest,” Hannah said as Blackbast leaned on her shoulder.

“Thank you,” Blackbast said said softly.

Hannah turned to regard her and saw tears in her eyes.

“Blackbast? What did I do that moved you to tears?” Hannah asked.

“You let me be a part of this,” Blackbast said, gesturing to the world around them. “This is your life, your family, and Frank was very much your husband, but you let all of us in with open arms.”

“Of course I did,” Hannah said as she put an arm around her. “I admit I don’t know why I accepted this kind of life so easily. Maybe it was because I saw how well it worked for Jaina, or maybe it’s some remnant of my past as Hathlisora. She seemed to have no trouble having a dozen lovers.”

“She did seem rather promiscuous,” Blackbast agreed.

“Whatever the case, I did spend some time thinking about it, and I realized that I had one chance to make you all mine, and I didn't want to miss it,” Hannah said.

“What do you mean to make us yours?” Blackbast pressed.

Hannah walked down the branch, the two tightly together as she explained her point of view. It was the battle between Frank and Grumosh that made her first realize how important the others were to her. She had already been flirting with the idea that they were Frank's harem, but that moment made her think. What if Grumosh won and took Breanne away? Would she ever see her again? It made her understand how much Breanne meant to her, and then Umtha and Quinny. If she didn't do something to show her affection soon, they might make other relationships and fade away.

“You felt that way, even back then?” Blackbast asked.

“I don't know why,” Hannah admitted with a shake of her head. “I am attracted to boys, but we felt so much like a family that I didn't want to lose any of you. I wanted you to stay with me and be a part of my life, and that night, you told us to stop pretending. I took that as a sign, and well, I made up my mind that we would be a family.”

“Hmm,” Blackbast said with a pleased smirk. “It was Frank I was targeting with that show, but I am glad it had a positive effect on you as well.”

“Yes, that was very clever of you,” Hannah agreed. “Tricking Frank into admitting how he felt about us.”

“Yes, about you,” Blackbast said. “But I never dreamed he would feel that way about me. I was always the one outside looking in.”

“Oh please,” Hannah laughed as they came to a fork in the branch and looked down through a gap in the leaves. From here they could see miles of forest canopy, a blanket of color and magic that was their home. “You were never outside,” Hannah insisted. “From the moment I put this crazy collar on, I knew you were staying. I wasn't sure why, but now I know you were meant to teach me about it. Do you think it's the power leveling that I was so focused on?”

“That is what Umtha believes,” Blackbast replied as they swayed in a warm breeze. “And it makes sense. You leave yourself a crown that will lead you into a sex-based class while also asking me to collar you. Now, you earn a double reward from intimate encounters and a portion of what your girls earn. I would say that sounds like a woman who wants to level fast.”

“Yeah, it does,” Hannah agreed. But I can't help feeling I have something more important in mind. I keep thinking about this place I need to go.”

“I wish I could tell you more about that,” Blackbast said. “But you and I were not friends. When we did speak, it was only so you could beg for my help and give me instructions. There was little time for us to bond and share like we are now.”

“Well, it’s one more question to ask the necromancer skull,” Hannah said.

“You are still planning to go ahead with that?” Blackbast pressed.

“I have to,” Hannah said as her hand ran down Blackbast’s back. “I can’t keep pretending that part of my life is over. I have to know more, and this melting woman raving about the danger that’s coming only proves it.”

“I am sorry you have to do this,” Blackbast replied as she turned to nestle into Hannah. “But I will stand at your side every step of the way.”

“I know,” Hannah said as they leaned their heads together to silently look over the forest. They shared the moment in silence until Breanne and Frank joined them. They huddled together as a group, smiling while giggles and laughter echoed from the other two. Hannah looked back to see Umtha hanging upside down from a branch, using her tail to hold on. Quinny was holding her hands as they swung with Webster on her head.

“My little dark angels are playing,” Hannah sighed.

“More like flying monkeys,” Breanne quipped, causing Blackbast to laugh.

“Hey guys, look!” Quinny called and pointed to a dark opening in the trunk on a higher branch. It was large enough for two of them to stand side by side and nearly twice her height. Hannah looked at Frank, who shrugged and led the way, sweeping Blackbast into his arms to fly them up.

“I could get used to this carrying,” Blackbast sighed as he landed before the opening.

Hannah arrived beside them to peer into the darkness, her devil sight easily seeing inside. It was a tunnel of wood with a strangely level floor. It was obviously a man-made feature with regular bundles of roots containing a glowing orb spaced down the tunnel.

“This is odd,” Hannah said as Frank led the way into the tunnel.

“Is this Zillix's home?” Umtha asked as they followed, entering the twisting passage.

Hannah wanted to say yes, but she had expected something more like a nest for the little dragon. He described his species as living among the branches of giant trees that scrapped the dense clouds, causing rain to fall among their branches. Umtha was from this world, and her people called these weeping trees because of the streams of water that fell from them. Umtha described them as rainbows created by the water mist that fell even when it wasn't cloudy.

“How far into the tree does this go?” Hannah whispered, feeling the need for caution. For all they knew, this was the lair of one of the forest's dangerous encounters.

“Maybe it is a tunnel to the other side,” Blackbast suggested as they passed through an area of long, narrow mushrooms glowing with a soft white light.

Frank was about to add something when the tunnel opened up, and they all arrived on a ledge to gasp.

“Wow!” Quinny said as they gazed upward to see a world they never knew existed.

They stood on a ledge inside the tree that was hallowed out to create a towering space that soared up to a crown of white light that was difficult to see. The space spanned the inside of the trunk and was covered with prismatic mosses, mushrooms, and strange plants. Clusters of these plants grew around blue crystals that seemed to shimmer like rolling water. The smallest were as big as her leg, while the largest were taller than she was. Far above were more tunnels, some linked by narrow bridges of wood. Some sections of the inner tree were carved to resemble draconic imagery. Gems were set into some of the artwork to decorate the image and make it more striking. There were spiraling steps in places, leading to pillared tunnels to mark their significance.

“What is this?” Breanne asked as she leaned over the ledge to see the shaft went down a hundred feet or more to a giant mushroom garden. “This is very unexpected.”

“I love how proper you can be,” Hannah laughed.

“That’s because I grew up when girls when girls were expected to mature and become ladies,” Breanne scoffed.

“Are you saying I am not a lady?” Hannah said in a stunned voice that made Quinny laugh.

“A lady of the night, maybe,” Breanne sniped.

“Oh, you harlot!” Hannah shot back as Breanne hid a smile.

“Girls, do not rile each other up,” Blackbast interjected. “We are here to explore and have fun as a family.”

“She started it,” Hannah said with an accusing finger pointed at Breanne. The two smiled at one another, enjoying the game of being brats. They came together to share a hug as Hannah promised to pay her back for that comment later.

“This has to be his home,” Frank said as he leaned over the ledge. “It looks like we have to fly.”

“He never said anything about building like this,” Quinny said. “He kept making it sound like he had barely started.”

“That's the impression I got, too,” Frank agreed. Webster chirped, asking if he could eat any birds they found inside, and Hannah told him to refrain. Anything they found in here might be placed by Zillix and part of his very unusual home.

“Let’s go up,” Frank said as he swept Blackbast into his arms and spread his wings. Hannah patted her shoulder and Webster jumped up, grumbling in little squeaks that he was hungry.

“I don’t carry spider snacks on me,” Hannah replied. “I still think you need to learn to eat cookies.” He sputtered his disagreement as Hannah took to the air, soaring upward inside the massive trunk. They worked their way up, flying higher and higher until they could see the light that hung above. I was a large flower similar to a water Lilly, hanging upside down with its petals spread wide. It had crystalline stems hanging down that glowed with magical light and produced a soft chime sound. It was big enough to be a bed if one could turn it over and acted as the light for the inner kingdom.

“That is beautiful,” Blackbast said as they flew below it. “I am surprised by the design he has chosen. He must have a lovely heart.”

“He's a sweetheart,” Breanne agreed as she landed on a nearby ledge. “The other day, he used his illusions to dance with me and put a crown of flowers on my head.”

“Oh, he’s never done anything like that for me,” Hannah huffed.

“I like it when we play at the beach,” Quinny said. “He’s the perfect size to be the dragon.”

“That was adorable,” Breanne agreed as the others joined her on the ledge. It was the largest of them all, set so the flower hung just above it. The trunk to either side was carved with a panorama of small dragons at play. The inner tunnel turned to the right and went up, slowly climbing even higher into the trunk.

Hannah was amazed at the detail poured into the tunnel and arched high above. It was as if the entire thing had meticulously been carved from the trunk, creating a seamless piece of art. The passage spiraled around before coming out a final arch to a new space of wonder. It was perfectly flat, with a carpet of grass and flowers acting like a rug. To the left and right were two stained glass windows that went up fifty feet to a domed ceiling. Hannah's voice caught in her throat as the others gazed in wonder at the windows. They depicted scenes of the girls flying through a blue sky in succubus form. They all wore wreaths of flowers and collars but little else. Umtha and Quinny were in one window, while Hannah and Breanne were in the other. The far wall was a towering edifice carved around a bowl-shaped bed. Silk pillows and clothes filled the bowl to create a soft bed that would easily sleep a dozen.

Green and gold banners hung on the wall behind it, depicting the tiger paw of the Jade Harem. A towering statue of wood and gems stood between the banners. It was an image of every master, including Rajeen, Blackbast, Frank, Roric, and even Chandice. Zillix was oddly absent from the image, but then he probably didn’t need to be reminded of himself. Smaller statues of the girl's naked bodies were arranged to the side, holding their hands out in supplication to their masters. These smaller statues included Jaina, Gisley, Evalynn, and Idris, each depicted in highly polished naked beauty.

On the floor around the bowl were small piles of gold coins, gems, and other treasures befitting a dragon hoard. It wasn't a vast pile, but it suited the tiny dragon who had made this his home.

“There's a pool over here,” Quinny said as they fanned out into the room, exploring the amazing space.

“I love this place,” Hannah said before putting Webster down to scurry about. “Why didn’t he tell anyone about this?”

“I wasn't sure you would approve,” came a familiar voice, causing them to look up. High on a ledge behind them was the tiny dragon, looking down with curious eyes. “Welcome to my home,” he said as he flared his wings. “Welcome to the Jade Eyrie.”