Princess Hannah of the Jade Harem CH 54

Hannah sat alone in the gardens of Blackbast’s temple, looking out over the flowers. She was troubled by a jumble of thoughts that defied any logical means of putting them together. For hours now, she had sat alone on a swing, listening to the forest and wishing Gisley were singing. Her moment of isolation was finally disturbed when Frank came down the path and joined her on the swing.

“Do you want to tell me what is the matter?” he asked with an arm around her. “Is it the temple?”

Hannah laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder before assuring him she was fine with what was happening in the temple. Her problem was in the timing of events and the roles people played.

“What do you mean?” Frank asked as he pushed off, setting the swing in motion.

“It's Blackbast's timing of events,” Hannah said. “Alright, so we know from Umtha that the goblins were gathering in some kind of desert stronghold where they were building this machine to fix what was broken.”

“Right?” Frank said to encourage her on.

“And we know from Rajeen and Blackbast that they had both been a part of this empire, even becoming princesses,” Hannah continued. “So, it makes sense that the ruler of this empire would aid the goblins and order Rajeen and Blackbast to hold off Kevin. We can assume he knew Hathlisora and was trying to help her.”

“So what doesn’t make sense about that?” Frank asked.

“The part where Blackbast says I wanted her to teach me the collar's power,” Hannah replied. “She said I needed it to open a door and get at the broken thing, but think about that. Why were people trying to delay Kevin from getting to the goblins? We know there was a machine there that could fix the broken thing, but I didn't have it. I was instructing Blackbast on how to train me so I could recover it, which means not only did I not have it, but I wasn't even remotely close to getting it. So why did all those people fight a terrible, bloody war to delay an enemy from destroying the machine when I could never have used it in the first place?”

“I see what you mean,” Frank nodded as they swung. “What good is a delaying action when there is nothing to gain by delaying the enemy.”

“Exactly,” Hannah said. “All of that was pointless. I was planning to die, lose my memories, then follow the path back before maybe recovering the object, and then, finally, going to the machine. Were they planning to delay Kevin for years? Did this ruler of the desert really throw away all he had built and dreamed of to delay Kevin for nothing?”

“Now you have me suspicious,” Frank agreed.

“I don’t want you to be suspicious,” Hannah insisted. “I just want it to make sense. A lot of people paid a terrible price to protect something I had no intention of using.”

“Have you asked Blackbast about this?” Frank asked.

“No,” Hannah replied with a sigh. “I wasn't sure I should.” She dropped her head as her tail curled tight as if trying to hug herself for safety. Frank pulled her closer, promising that there was a logical explanation for the illogical series of events.

Hannah knew there had to be, but she couldn't get it to make sense. Why had so many people been willing to fight, die, and even be reset to protect her mad plan? Maybe if she knew what her mad plan was, it would make more sense, but that, too, was a mystery.

“I should get back to the temple,” Hannah sighed. “It’s pointless to keep trying to figure this out.”

“No,” Frank urged as he rubbed her back. “Why don't we go for a walk in the Lovewood? You and I can see if Chandice is in her shop.”

“Her shop is on the far side of the forest,” Hannah laughed. “It would take hours to walk there.”

“So?” Frank pressed. “You need some time to think.”

Hannah agreed and wanted to go, but Frank was an integral part of the temple now. He was the perfect man to serve in a temple, offering comfort to the women who sought a man. Blackbast would have to turn them away if Frank was off with her, and she didn't want to draw Blackbast's ire. She explained it to Frank, who nodded but insisted they should go. He wanted to spend time with her alone and be a couple.

Hannah thought the idea was wonderful and relented to the walk but wanted to bring her wives, including Blackbast. Frank didn't think she could get away from the temple, but Hannah felt otherwise. The harem was running the temple now, and everything from the lounge to the bedrooms was controlled by girls who knew exactly what to do.

Frank offered to try, and they returned to the temple to confront Blackbast. To Hannah's surprise, she readily agreed and collected the others gathering on the temple's steps. Minutes later, four succubi, one feline priestess, and a devilish man stood on the steps together. Hannah used her telepathy to call for her spider, who joined them and was now slung over her arm.

“So this is just a walk?” Quinny asked as Frank took the lead, taking them to the trail that would lead down into the forest.

“This is family time,” Hannah replied. “I want us to enjoy the forest together and discuss what's happened.”

“And what if the druid decides he wants your attention?” Breanne pressed with a playful smile.

“That only takes like twenty minutes,” Hannah said with a wide smile. “I am sure you guys can wait.” That brought giggles from Quinny and Umtha

“He has been told to leave her be unless she is alone in the forest,” Blackabast corrected as they reached a pair of harem guards watching the steps down to the forest. “She will be perfectly safe so long as she is with us.”

Hannah smiled as they passed the two women, who smiled back and informed them that the trail had been quiet all day. They started down the steps that wind down a mountain cliff to the forest floor. Umtha was the first to speak and ask if they were here to discuss what had happened with Blackbast.  Hannah replied that she wanted to spend time with her family, but yes, they should talk a little more about that.

“I have harmed us, haven’t I?” Blackbast asked as she turned to Hannah. “Please tell me you don’t resent me.”

“Of course, I don't,” Hannah said before throwing her arms around the upset woman. “Blackbast, we love you and changed our lives to accommodate your requirements. That you are part of the plan that keeps driving me forward was a shock, but in some way, not unexpected.”

Hannah assured her that she held the woman with no ill will, but then she faced Blackbast and spelled out her concern for the timeline. Blackbast was taken aback as her tail twisted nervously. She agreed it wouldn't make sense to fight a war of delays when there was no chance Hannah could use the machine anyway. She admitted she had no explanation for the chain of events or why they would be dying for a cause they knew was lost. But she did reiterate how Hathlisora pleaded with her to get Hannah to wear the collar and learn of its power.

“I wonder why the collar was so important to her,” Breanne mused. “Could it be for the levels?”

“I think that’s it,” Umtha agreed. “She’s really smart. She knew her enemies were going to get too far ahead. She needed a way to catch up if she was going to face them.”

“I know that makes sense,” Blackbast replied. “But she told me she needed it to open the door. I honestly have no idea what they mean.”

“Could it be the door to home?” Frank questions causing them all to pause on the steps.

“Why would I need the collar to open a door to another world?” Hannah asked with a shake of her head. “That doesn’t seem to make any sense.”

“I wish I could tell you more,” Blackbast insisted. “I am not protecting you like Umtha is. I have honestly told you everything I know about it.”

Hannah saw the nervous way Blackbast wrapped her arms around herself and realized she was upset. She felt she had betrayed them by keeping this secret, and the inconsistent timing of events had thrown suspicion on her. Hannah didn't feel that way at all but understood why Blackbast would. With a sigh, she put  Webster down and used her Lilim strength to sweep Blackbast into her arms, telling the woman she would carry her from here.

“You're a good wife,” Frank said as Blackbast laid a tearful face on Hannah's shoulder.

“Honestly, I blame myself. All these layers of protection I had people promise to create is making them miserable,” Hannah said. “Poor Umtha shatters every time I ask her a question.” She looked to the goblin woman with a smile to see her nod that Hannah's words were accurate.

“She knows more than anybody else,” Frank said as they rounded a bend to another series of steps. “And she wants to tell you.”

“I wish I could tell you everything,” Umtha agreed as Quinny put an arm around her for support.

“Hey, we know you can’t,” Quinny said. “You are doing a good thing by being so strong for her.”

“But it hurts,” Umtha said. “She thinks things that are wrong and I could fix it, but I promised not to.”

“See, this is what I mean. I feel terrible that I did this to her,” Hannah said as they passed under a vine-covered stone arch. “She is dying inside to know she could answer my questions, but I made her promise not to. What kind of monster am I?”

“You are not a monster,” Blackbast insisted. “You were a woman caught in a situation you could not escape and were destined to lose. All you could do was try to leave yourself a trail to follow so you could recover some of what you were.”

“I appreciate that, but look at you now,” Hannah said, pulling her close. “You are worried that your promise in the past has damaged your relationship now. I put you in this situation, and I made this problem.”

“Alright, I admit I am upset,” Blackbast said as she wiped her eyes. “But you had a gun to your head. There were thousands of players moving against you, and you had asked every ally you had to fight and die to buy you time. People you cared about were suffering for your sake, and it was taking a terrible toll on you. You were very unstable when we spoke, and your eyes were always wet. I am terrified that pain will return with your memories.”

Hannah hoped that wouldn't be the case, but more and more, she realized that Hathlisora's final days had been dark. She was a woman being hunted by the most powerful players in the land while her friends sacrificed their homes and lives to buy her a little more time. If the memories did return, would that same pain come with it? If it did, would she be able to handle it?

They changed the topic to the forest around them, avoiding a discussion about something they couldn't know. Ten minutes later, they reached the forest floor, standing under tall trees whose leaves were impossible colors. The air was filled with magic and the scent of exotic flowers as rays of sunlight danced through the thick leaves above. Despite the dense canopy, the forest had a warm brightness, and color was everywhere. From the leaves to the flowers to luminous mushrooms that grew in the few shadows, the forest was a vibrant place.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Breanne said with a sigh. “I could wander these paths for years.”

“You should,” Frank said. “You all should.”

“We can’t,” Quinny said. “People have expectations for girls who wander this forest. Imagine what they will think if they encounter a succubus here?”

“I don't care what you do in the forest,” Frank said as he smiled at Quinny. “I know if you do anything, you will always be grateful that I said you could and will love me for it.”

“It helps that he has more girls in the temple than we will ever have men in the forest,” Hannah laughed.

“That helps, too,” Frank agreed with a smirk.

“There are a lot of girls coming to the temple,” Blackbast agreed. “Many have let me know they wish to work there as well. I had no idea it would be this easy to gather more girls to serve.”

“I could have told you that,” Quinny giggled. “What girl doesn't want the job of laying around a garden paradise while being cared for by a motherly priestess? All you have to do is make love all day to grateful men and women while wearing a collar that makes the sex ten times better than normal.”

“That does seem like a tempting job description,” Hannah agreed. “Maybe I should apply for it.”

“Are you still upset I am not sending you men?” Blackbast sighed.

“I am just teasing you,” Hannah said as she shook the woman in her arms. “I know you are keeping us aside for Rajeen’s sake.”

“I wish I could talk her out of it,” Frank sighed. “But in a way, I like how she sees you. You are all great treasures to her, and she wants to hoard you jealously.”

“Like a fictional dragon,” Breanne laughed.

“Well, I like being thought of as a great treasure,” Hannah said as Blackbast snuggled into her shoulder. “And, as crazy as this sounds, I like caring for my girls.”

“You are becoming somewhat motherly,” Breanne agreed.

Frank took them down a path made of wide, smooth stones that came within arms reach of a gentle stream. They discussed how Hannah had grown fond of treating her succubi as her children, so much so that even Breanne enjoyed it. Blackbast asked if this being carried was her attempt to mother her as well and insisted Hannah put her down. She was going to mother Hannah, not the other way around, and Hannah would just have to get used to it.

Oh, look how pretty,” Umtha said as she pointed into a particularly dark patch of the forest ahead. There was still a dim light, but that only added to the mysteriousness of the area. Slender flowers with translucent blue petals and softly glowing centers grew in clumps. Smaller pink ones were dotted about, with bell-shaped flowers emitting a soft light. The tiny stream trickled around a bend as golden lights the size of a firefly danced in the branches above their head.

“We really need to come here more often,” Hannah said as she spun around with her arms wide. “It’s so beautiful.”

“It is,” Blackbast agreed as she stood beside Hannah. “I never dreamed a place could be so magical.”

“Look,” Quinny said and pointed as three blue butterflies came through the trees trailing a magical glitter. They made a faint sound like wind chimes as they passed, leaving the group in silence.

“The air smells of flowers, the breeze is like a gentle kiss, and I swear I hear distant singing,” Blackbast sighed.

“That is singing,” Breanne added. “The elves in the central village sing quite a bit. If they aren't singing, they often play flutes or other instruments that you can vaguely hear.”

“I am glad you are with us,” Hannah said as she took Blackbast’s hand. “You don’t get to spend as much time with us as you should.”

“Honestly, this new way of running the temple has opened my eyes,” Blackbast replied as she leaned her head against Hannah. “With the harem girls to help me run things, I don't have to be present all the time. I could wander the forest with my family and make love in a secluded glade.”

“I vote we do that,” Quinny said.

“I do, too,” Umtha added.

“Don’t you little gremlins get enough of that in the temple?” Hannah grumbled but couldn’t hide her smile.

“I get plenty, but it's more special with my family,” Quinny replied.

“I have an idea,” Frank offered and stepped aside. He reached into his pocket, and in a flash of light, he was the towering ghoul they knew and loved. He then went to the gnarled and moss-covered trunk of a nearby tree, sitting beside the stream with his arms open.

The girls took the hint and gathered in his arms, snuggling in as they listened to the stream, the wind, and the distant voices. Webster settled in Hannah's lap as they closed their eyes to be still and enjoy the magic of their home.

“This is what really matters,” Frank said. “That we are here together to be still and relax.”

“I love you,” Hannah whispered as she traced his cheek. “In this form or any you choose to wear.”

Frank wrapped his arms around his harem of beautiful women and took a deep breath. Hannah knew that grateful heart must be breaking as he hugged his harem and enjoyed the stillness of the forest. Frank was the most wonderful man she had ever met, putting up with her chaos at every turn. He had also worked diligently to help her get home even though he secretly loved her and would die if she left. She supposed it was no surprise that Frank had been at her side before, serving as her protector, lover, and best friend.

She leaned to kiss his cheek and let out a contented sigh. This world was very strange, and the harem was something Hannah still couldn't believe she had embraced. Maybe it was the collar, or Jaina, or any of a dozen things, but in the end, she had come to love it. Frank was her anchor in everything, and so long as he was her master, she could face anything. For now, her master wanted to rest beside a stream in a dark part of the magical forest while they huddled together and listened to the singing. This was heaven as far as Hannah was concerned, and no matter what came in the future, nobody was going to take this away from them.