The Jade Harem 1-15

The hardest part of the meeting was when mighty Frank sat down and put his head in his hands. Nobody could deny that the woman in the crown was the most likely suspect to have spied on Hannah and Lord Dugal. She would have been in the room to witness every word spoken in secret. Hannah had unwittingly carried the spy in with her and was directly responsible for the state of Lord Dugal's lands. Now, Frank was overcome by the burden of what this would do to Hannah when she found out.

“Frank,” Blackbast said as she tried to comfort him. “We will find a way.”

“To do what?” Frank asked in a tired voice. “I keep doing my best to make things better, but it's impossible. No matter how hard we try, we will always be surrounded by people who will do anything to hurt us. We agreed the only way to stand up to this threat was to level as fast as possible. If that woman is the spy, then the only way to stop her is to take the crown off. If Hannah does that, we lose the huge experience gain it gave us. Not to mention, it will destroy Hannah emotionally if she learns she is the spy who ruined Lord Dugal's land. I don't ever want to see her cry again.”

“We can't be sure that woman was to blame,” Blackbast insisted. “Hannah is supposed to be protected from the woman. She wears the ring, after all.”

“Do you really believe that woman told us the truth about the ring?” Frank asked.

Jaina felt the tension as they argued about a blue crystal ring found in a place of darkness between worlds. Hannah had seen a vision of that ring and the moment the woman known as Hathlisora had lost it. Its rediscovery prompted the woman in the crown to explain that the ring belonged to Hannah as it was her previous panel. With it, Hannah would have full control of the crown, but only if the woman inside it was telling the truth.

“Is there no way to be sure about this ring?” Roric asked.

“I can try to identify it or put it in the goblin machine to get more,” Chandice suggested. “But we only have that woman's word that it gives Hannah control of the crown. I don't want to create alarm, but I have my concerns about the whole story of this ring. From what I have been told, this woman had the ability to dominate Hannah whenever she wanted. She had all the power and control, so why would she beg Hannah to take that power away from her? It doesn't make sense unless she has an ulterior motive for Hannah to wear that ring. And, I have to point this out as well, but the ring can't work the way she says, because if it did, then how is the woman blocking Hannah's memories of Umtha?

“She is the reason Hannah didn’t remember me?” Umtha asked as tears ran down her cheeks.

“Oh, love, please don't cry,” Jaina begged. “Hezzrigozza hinted at the possibility and says we should ask her why.”

“He sounded like he was sure to me,” Evalynn countered.

“So that evil woman is intentionally interfering with Hannah's memories,” Breanne said as she pulled Umtha into her arms. “And I, for one, will give up the succubus class if it frees Hannah from the burden of that crown.”

“I will, too,” Quinny said. Umtha only raised a hand to indicate she would as well, but Blackbast insisted they were being hasty. She reminded them that the woman was questioned with a truth spell and proven honest. She also pointed out that the woman hadn't taken control of Hannah even once after the ring was put on.

“How can we be sure?” Frank asked as he looked up. “You told us back then that even your truth spell could be cheated if the woman was powerful enough. That damned inquisition of Hannah proved that it was possible to lie even under intense scrutiny. We fooled a room full of people at our level and much higher while they used spells and a truth stone to test us. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but your spell doesn't prove anything.”

His words hit like a bulldozer as everyone was forced to face the fact that they could be fooled. There was no way to be sure the woman wasn't lying and secretly manipulating Hannah. Blackbast looked broken as she shook her head and wished she could assure him. She wished she could take away some of his terrible burdens, but she had no idea how.

“So we really believe this woman is the spy?” Breanna asked.

“I hate to say it, but it makes perfect sense that she is the one who turned Lord Dugal in,” Chandice said. “She was the only person outside our circle of confidence that knew.”

“No, that isn’t true,” Jaina cut in as another thought dawned on her. She almost regretted speaking up, but thinking about this spy had made her question her beliefs. Now, all eyes turned to her, and she had to explain herself despite the repercussions. “We discussed it several times in the harem in front of dozens of girls.”

“Are you suggesting one of the girls could be the spy?” Evalynn asked.

“None of them would betray us,” Quinny insisted.

“Really?” Jaina asked. “To quote what Frank just said, how can we be sure? We keep making assumptions that come to bite us in the ass, and I think we are making one right now. We can't assume the harem is safe. We have been assuming this spy is a man, but what if it's a woman? What if that woman is in the harem? For that matter, there could be a dozen spies scattered about our kingdom. Some of them are probably very close to us, and we don’t even realize it.”

“She’s right,” Breanne agreed. “Hannah and Lord Dugal may have forged their alliance in secret, but we spoke about it later in less secure settings.”

“The palace is heavily protected,” Roric insisted.

“Which means the spy could be a girl in one of Rajeen’s collars,” Jaina said. “We can’t afford to be blind anymore. What if one or more of the girls is a spy?”

“Well, that's easy to discover,” Blackbast replied. “All Rajeen has to do is ask every girl if they are spying on us for another party. They can lie all they want, but if they are wearing one of Rajeen's collars, she will know.”

“I don’t like the idea of suggesting a harem girl might be a spy,” Quinny said.

“Nor do I,” Roric agreed. “But let's be honest. Rajeen is a collector of rare and exotic girls. She isn't exactly picking them for their commitment or loyalty to her cause. They don't owe her anything, and, more importantly, they may believe the North is right about us. They may see monster players just like Kevin does.”

“This is true,” Blackbast agreed. “It would be foolish of us to assume they all believe in our cause and are prepared to guard our secrets.”

“And we have been sending them out of the city on missions, making it child’s play for a spy to relay a message or report,” Chandice agreed.

“Then Rajeen has to be told about our suspicions,” Roric insisted.

“I can’t go to Rajeen and tell her I think one of her girls is a spy,” Frank insisted. “She’s still angry at me over what happened to Jaina.”

“I will go,” Blackbast said as she stood. “She and I can have this conversation. I am sure it will make her unhappy, but she will see the logic in our suspicions.”

“But the woman in the crown is still the most likely suspect,” Frank insisted.

“I will tell her of that too,” Blackbast assured him as her ears twitched. “I promise you, my husband, I will make her understand we are just trying to cover all possibilities.”

“One of us should wake Gisley and prepare her to bring Hannah out of the dream,” Jaina said as she winced.

“Let her stay in the dream as long as she wants,” Frank said as he got up. “Zillix, we can’t travel without Blackbast. How long can you keep us hidden?”

The tiny dragon looked down from the top of the coach, where he was perched beside Idris.

“I made us appear to be a big rock,” he replied. “It's a simple illusion that doesn't move or change, so I can hold it for hours if needed. But don't wander outside the effect.”

“At least we are safe, for now,” Roric sighed, but his lashing tail betrayed his tension.

“I can’t believe how quickly things went wrong,” Jaina said. “We are barely a day’s journey from our homes.”

“This was just poor timing,” Roric insisted. “The attack on Lord Dugal and the revelations about the spy would have happened even if we had been at home.”

“We should not overlook the fact that the dragon said he only suspected the spy was in our lands,” Chandice reminded. “He couldn’t say he was sure. There is still a chance this spy isn't here, and these problems have another cause.”

“Or it might not be this elite spy but a handful of others we never considered,” Roric replied. “It might be a harem girl hiding in plain sight while relaying all she learns.”

“Actually, that makes me feel better,” Jaina said. “I would rather it was a spy we were too blind to see and not some super deadly assassin toying with us.”

“So, do we keep going?” Quinny asked. “I mean, after the hand.”

“Yes,” Frank said in a voice that shook with a dark anger. “I am not wasting another second on these delays.”

“Why did you say it like that?” Breanne asked as they noted the harshness in his voice.

“I didn't mean for it to sound like I was angry at any of you,” Frank said as he waved a hand. “But I am beginning to wonder if the things that keep happening to us are all part of the plan. What if somebody is trying to keep us bogged down with these incidents? What if they want us hiding in the harem, trying to figure out what is happening instead of going after Hannah's past and getting real answers? What if the attack on Jaina was just a random choice, made to cause confusion that kept us tied up?”

“You mean the attack on me might just have been a red herring?” Jaina asked.

“That would make more sense than most of our other suggestions,” Evalynn agreed. “If they had gone for Hannah, we would have brushed it off as more of her past. But by going after Jaina, they took us completely by surprise and forced us to ask questions.”

“Well, if that was the plan, it worked amazingly well,” Chandice added. “It caused us to go into hiding in the harem and set back our plans for this trip for weeks.”

“That’s why I am suspicious of these delays now,” Frank said. “Every time I plan to pursue something important, a distraction comes up, and the plans get put on hold.”

“So we decide to march out after the hand, and suddenly disaster strikes all around us,” Breanne agreed. “They might be hoping we run home to deal with the emergencies.”

“But we aren't,” Frank insisted. “We are going on for as long as it takes. If we find more leads along the way, we are going after them, too. If need be, we can split into multiple groups to pursue separate objectives. If it gets too large, I will enlist adventurers from the guild to run missions. But under no circumstances are we going to be stopped.”

Frank spoke like a general preparing his troops for war as he stood tall and looked to the east. There was a light in his eyes as his fists clenched in a display of unshakable determination. No longer were they going to drag their feet or take little steps, waiting for the path to present itself. Frank was tired of waiting for events to unfold; now, he was going to make the events happen. He was taking charge and setting the path they would follow, no matter how the world tried to stop them.

The conversation then became one of worry that Lord Dugal's situation was a double message. Not only was it an example to his neighbors not to get involved with Gwen's kingdom, but a way to send them running home.

It went on for two hours before Gisley appeared from inside the coach to ask what they were talking about. Her presence could only mean that Hannah was awake and right behind her. They went silent as Hannah crawled out, then, with bright eyes, ran to Frank. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, thanking him for being so wonderful.

“This is awkward,” Jaina whispered to Breanne.

“I almost hope they don’t tell her,” Breanne replied.

“They have to,” Quinny said in a hushed voice as Hannah stepped back and turned to them with a big smile.

“So, let's just get it over with,” Hannah said as a green eye appeared on her forehead. She reached up with both hands, pressing her thumbs to the stone and lifting straight up. Instantly, she was the blond woman known as Heather, and a second later, Breanne, Quinny, and Umtha became their original selves. Hannah then held the crown before her face, looking into the stone as if trying to see the woman inside.

“If I find out you are responsible for this, I swear I will never stop hunting you,” Hannah said. “I will find you a thousand times and reset you.”

“You know?” Frank asked in surprise as Hannah lifted her hand while speaking in the magic language. A hole of pure black formed, and she casually tossed the crown inside before dismissing it.

“Oh, Frank,” Hannah said as she turned to face him. “I have been listening to you for over two hours.”

“But you were asleep,” Frank insisted. “Gisley was watching over you.”

He and the others looked to Gisley, who shrugged and said she had done exactly as she had been instructed. Hannah had been asleep the whole time and was engaged in a dream with Lord Dugal.

“Then how on earth do you know?” Jaina asked.

Hannah smiled and turned her head, looking up to the coach where a cat-sized woolly spider sat.

“I have my own super spy,” Hannah said.

“Webster,” Breanne gasped. “You mean you can still look through his eyes and hear what he hears inside the dream?”

“He is my familiar,” Hannah replied, putting her hands on her hips. “Also, he can sense the woman in my thoughts. He can tell you if and when she is in control. He says she hasn't so much as tickled my thoughts since I put on the ring.”

“But what about your memories of Umtha?” Roric asked as he gestured to the teary goblin woman.

“Yes, I have been wondering about that,” Hannah said as she paced and went to hold her tail absentmindedly, only to discover she didn’t have one. “Oh, I really do love having a tail.”

“I am relieved to see you back to your old self,” Jaina said as she took a moment to breathe. “But are you alright?”

“I am fine,” Hannah replied. “Not only did I get to fix my relationship with Lord Dugal, but I learned my husband is the most clever, kind, and loving man in the world. I can bear any burden with him at my side, and I refuse to be upset.” She turned and went back to Frank, stroking the side of his head as her eyes filled with sympathy. “However, I can't stand to see you on the edge of breaking. I will do anything to make this life easier for you. I will throw the crown away and run as far into the wilds as you want. Far enough that even my past can't find us.”

“We both know we can't run,” Frank sighed.

“Then let's throw the crown into a volcano or something,” Hannah offered.

“It was meant for you,” Umtha insisted. “She was supposed to help, not hinder you.”

“So, you do know something about her?” Hannah asked as all eyes turned to Umtha.

“She…” Umtha began as she looked worried.

“Oh, is this something you promised not to tell me?” Hannah asked.

“Yes,” Umtha said as her lower lip trembled and her eyes glistened with tears.

Hannah went to her and swept her into a hug, stroking her head as she told Umtha it was all right. Frank breathed a sigh of relief and joined them, asking Hannah if she had any idea what to do next.

“Yes,” she said and looked Umtha in the eyes. “I am getting my memories of Umtha back.”

“How?” Chandice asked as the group found it odd that Hannah could speak so confidently about it.

“Simple,” Hannah replied. “I am going to let our friend know that I will never put that crown on again unless she allows me to have them.”

“Do you plan to put it back in the goblin machine to force her to appear again?” Roric asked.

“No, I have a theory of how we can do it more easily,” Hannah said before turning to Jaina. “Your dragon gave me the idea.”

“Wait, how much of what happened, do you know?” Jaina asked.

“Ha, we really are careless with our words,” Chandice said. “We have been talking about what happened for hours while Hannah listened through Webster.”

“He's a good spider,” Hannah said with a smile, then reached for her tail again, only to growl in frustration. “Anyway, the important part is the dragon was able to manifest in the dream because of his link to you. So, if he can manifest in the dream, why can't she?”

The group was once again struck silent and turned to Chandice as if she had the answer.

“Don't look at me,” Chandice said. “I would love to be able to tell you how that works, but the magic system for enchanted items is a mess. It's impossible to know what can be done by an enchanter twice my level or higher. However, I can tell you that this woman isn't inside the crown. More than likely, she has a similar crown or some other device she uses to connect to it. She could be anywhere in the world or even beyond it.”

“She claims to be trapped in Abbadon,” Hannah said. “She has admitted that she needs me to get out.”

“So maybe she doesn’t want to hinder you,” Jaina suggested.

“I still think her mad desire to have Hannah put on the ring is suspicious,” Chandice insisted.

“I agree,” Hannah said with a nod. “She was insistent I put it on immediately as if every second I didn't wear it was courting disaster.”

“So we are clear, the ring is Hathlisora's panel?” Roric asked. Hannah confirmed that, as far as she knew, it was. Just possessing it had given Hannah full control of the mountain base that belonged to Hathlisora. Frank added that Hannah’s ability to use it proved that the ring was hers. He had tried to use Hannah’s panel in the past and couldn’t make any real changes because he wasn’t the owner. The only way she could use that ring was if she was Hathlisora, but if she was reset, then why wasn’t her panel? Why did Hannah spawn with a second panel? If she reset again, would she have three?

“I don’t even know how to begin answering that,” Chandice said. “The rules don’t seem to apply to her.”

“You have been debating all this for hours,” Hannah said. “I think Frank is right. We are being tied down to our kingdom and kept under close observation. Somebody knows what we are going to do even before we do. It makes sense it's the woman in the crown, but the harem girl idea is just as strong a possibility. All we can do is ignore the snares and keep pushing. If they react this hard to our trying to get answers, it can only mean we are doing something meaningful.”

“I agree,” Frank said. “They wouldn’t be trying so hard if this was a waste of time.”

“So, let's do something else that isn't a waste of time,” Hannah said, turning to Gisley. “Can you force somebody to stay in a dream?”

“I can keep the dream stable,” Gisley said. “But I can’t force anybody to stay asleep, or like the dragon, to stay in a dream they don’t want to be in. If they realize it’s a dream, they can act against it.”

“Alright, but if she flees the dream, can you follow her?” Hannah pressed.

“If she stays in the dream state, sure,” Gisley said.

“She is going to stay,” Hannah said as she turned to her girls. “I am going to make you three succubi again. You are going to dream walk into my dream and use your powers to confine her.”

“Why would you need that?” Breanne asked.

“Because she's a Lilim,” Hannah said. “I don't know how I know that, but I do. She is a Lilim and can easily try to influence the dream. Gisley will keep the dream stable while you three gang up on her and ensure she doesn't play any games.”

“And what do you hope to gain from this?” Roric asked.

“I want my memories of Umtha back just as I was meant to have them,” Hannah said. “And I want some better reason to believe she isn’t messing with my mind. If she can’t offer me a good reason to keep wearing that crown, I will throw it back into the abyss I found it in.”

“So, when do we start?” Gisley asked.

“Tonight, when we camp,” Hannah said. “I want extra goblin guards brought over to watch us while we all sleep.”

“I will get them,” Umtha said with a nod.

“I want more than that,” Frank said as he considered the options. “We will set up camp and increase the guard, but we sleep in the harem surrounded by only the girls Rajeen trusts most. Nobody is going to stop us this time.”

“Good,” Hannah said as she turned and went to his arms. “And I can’t tell you how much what you did means to me.”

“I just wanted to make you happy,” he replied.

“Frank, I don’t know how I ever was happy before I met you,” Hannah laughed.

They smiled and decided that somebody needed to go and see what happened to Blackbast. Roric went to find her and returned ten minutes later to find out that Rajeen had been disturbed by the idea but hadn't dismissed it. Rajeen called for Gwen and a truth stone so every girl could be questioned by both sources. Frank asked why she wanted Gwen present, and Blackbast said that Rajeen was suspicious that any girl who would risk wearing a collar to act as a spy might have a means of hiding the truth from it.

“So what happened?” Jaina asked.

“Two girls are now locked up in Gwen’s dungeon,” Blackbast said as her eyes narrowed. “There were spies sleeping in our very beds!”

The group was shocked as Blackbast revealed that one was a girl named Silvee, a sweet flower of a girl who loved to dance in the gardens. Once the truth was revealed, she laughed at Rajeen and said they had no idea how much trouble they were in.

“I liked her,” Gisley said in shock.

“So, we burned Lord Dugal’s lands by being so careless,” Evalynn said.

“We have no idea who they were spying for or what they told them,” Blackbast said. “But there is a good chance that one of them revealed our special alliance.'

“Well, at least we have some reason to believe the woman in the crown isn’t all bad,” Jaina said.

“I will be the judge of that,” Hannah said as she looked annoyed. “As for our two spies, I would like to question them myself. If I do, I want somebody to come with me because I can't guarantee I will be kind.”

“That is why they are in Gwen’s dungeon,” Blackbast said. “Gwen had to tear Rajeen’s claws off the woman’s throat. She was afraid the woman would die and escape by respawning in an unknown location.”

Hannah suggested they pack up and get moving, as she didn't want their enemies to cost them another minute. Frank agreed, and Blackbast climbed onto his shoulders to take her place. Everyone else got into or on to the coach, and they were off, with Frank running as fast as his ghoul legs would carry him.

By the time the sun set, they were miles further east, passing through an area of dense trees and winding gullies. The difficult terrain forced them to use roads and bridges, but the two times they encountered players, Zillix disguised who they were.

Hannah sat in the front seat between Roric and Chandice while Webster purred in her lap. She explained how Lord Dugal wanted them to provide a good place for his players to level up. He intended to publicly be against them while secretly ensuring his players took full advantage of what their land had to offer.

When it came time to camp, they hid in the dense trees with an illusion to increase security. Umtha had gone through the gate hours earlier and returned with nearly fifty goblins in heavy armor. They took positions around the camp bolstered by a pack of zombies, some hunting hyenas, Idris's zombies, and a few ghouls Frank spawned. Gwen's guards and some of Frank's zombie knights were closer to the tents to ensure nobody discovered they were empty.

If anyone attacked the camp they were going to find it heavily defended. Idris and Zillix would stay behind to help hide what was going on. If trouble did occur Idris would use the magic door to rush back and report it to Gwen to get more reinforcements.

Then they made their way into the harem where Rajeen was waiting. She looked tense as she seethed with anger over having been such a fool. Blackbast assured her it wasn’t her fault, but Rajeen insisted she should have seen the danger.

They moved to a secure chamber where twelve harem girls waited. These had proven to be faithfully loyal to Rajeen and the harem. They were its champions of a sort and they would watch over the group while they slept. Gwen was there as well, with a dozen of her best guards to ensure no one would disturb them.

Hannah had summoned the crown and put it back on before they returned. She had restored her girls to their succubi forms, and as they agreed, nobody spoke a single word about what they were doing. All the harem girls were told was that Hannah and her immediate family were going to have a special dream.

Webster would sit beside Gwen and tap her arm if he detected trouble in Hannah's mind. Gwen would force them awake and, if needs be, restrain Hannah should the woman inside assume control.

They settled in and snuggled up with Hannah in Frank's arms with Umtha in hers. Glitter was spread over everyone, and spells to aid in sleeping were cast. One by one, they slipped away until Gisley finally closed her eyes, and it began.

They stood in a large, empty room with no doors or windows. Hannah was at the center, looking unhappy, as she reached up and took the crown off.

“I know you can hear me,” Hannah said to the crown. “I have reason to believe that you are spying on me, and I know you are tampering with my memories. I am aware that you are blocking the ones the goblin crown should have restored to me. If you don’t show yourself and explain your actions, I swear here and now I will destroy this crown.”

They held their breath as Hannah turned the dream version of the crown over in her hands. She then smiled and cast it to the floor before folding her arms. “Play your game if you want, but the crown will be destroyed before sunrise.”

“What do you want from me?” a voice called as a spectral form of a woman appeared. It was the devil woman from before as she floated over the crown, eyes blazing with anger.

“All this time, you could have spoken to me like this,” Hannah said as she pointed an accusatory finger. “You are playing a game, and it ends now.”

“No, you are playing the game,” the woman shouted back. “It was my job to ensure you didn’t break the rules like you always do.”

“I am not going down your rabbit holes,” Hannah said with a dismissive wave. “I am also not interested in what your role is. You are going to stop blocking the goblin crown, and you are going to explain to me why you wanted me to put on the ring so badly. If you fail to do either, I will never wear that crown again.”

“Do you have any idea what you are saying?” the woman hissed. “That crown is the only way you will ever achieve your mission.”

“What mission?” Hannah asked.

The woman threw her head back and growled in absolute frustration. Her hands shook as she struggled to gain control of her emotions, then turned a hateful glare on Hannah.

“Why are you always so difficult?” she yelled. “I am here to help you, but every time we do this, you and I become adversaries.”

“Because you are in my head, messing with my mind,” Hannah argued. “And you won't answer any questions!”

“I am not allowed to!” the woman shouted, and for a moment, her image flashed. “You have no idea how many people are counting on you to find the answers without going insane this time. You have no idea how many sacrifices have been made to help you along the way.”

“I am sick of your help,” Hannah shot back. “Why is the ring so important to you?”

“Because it's yours!” the woman shouted. “It's a portion of your power, and with it, you have a better chance of doing what we need you to do, what I need you to do.”

“Which is?” Frank asked.

“Open the bloody door!” the woman shouted.

“Which door?” Blackbast asked.

“To Abbadon, of course,” the woman said. “We have been trapped here for longer than you think. Trapped when Hathlisora was tricked into closing the door on us.”

“Who is us?” Jaina asked.

The woman sighed and shook her head. “You are going in the right direction. Find the hand, and you will be one step closer to understanding.”

“See, that’s not an answer,” Hannah accused.

“Should I just tell you everything?” the woman asked. “Should I tell you what I know will shatter your reality and drive you insane? Maybe I will have better luck with the clueless girl who respawns to replace you.”

“I want you to give her the memories of me!” Umtha shouted as she ran forward to be stopped by Hannah. “You are a monster!”

“No, I am keeping the monster at bay,” the woman argued. “Remembering you is only going to create more holes in her past. It's going to drive her to seek answers too soon. I should know; we have done this before!”

“Alright,” Chandice said as she stepped forward. “Let’s focus. How many times have you and Hannah done this?”

“Five,” the woman said. “There have been five incarnations of her after Hathlisora. Three of which she put on the goblin crown, learned too much, and started seeking more too quickly.”

“We have been reset and lost our memories five times?” Frank asked.

“If it helps, many of those didn’t last as long as this incarnation has,” the woman said. “You aren’t missing much.”

“Who are you to say that?” Frank growled.

“Please,” Chandice called with a hand up. “Alright, now let's go back to the ring. We have a trust issue with you. Your need for Hannah to put on the ring has made us nervous. Especially in light of the fact that we suspect Kevin has sent some kind of super spy into our lands.”

“What do you want from me?” the woman asked. “Proof of my intentions? I want the door opened so I can get out; that’s my intention. If I could take over her body and make her do what I needed, I would just do it. I can't take over for longer than ten minutes, and then I have to wait twenty-four hours. I can't take over if she is actively resisting me, and I can't do anything while she is wearing the ring unless she is rendered unconscious. Not to mention, she has become a Lilim and is nearly immune to mind-influencing and control spells.”

“So the duration isn’t long enough to be useful,” Chandice asked.

“It's useful in battle or when she's being mentally attacked,” the woman replied. “While she wears that crown, I can assist her in resisting all forms of charms, controls, sleep, and influencing spells. It's the main form of attack used on her in the past to keep her at bay, so the decision to link me to the crown was made to protect her. I can also help her avoid memory accidents that might send her over the edge, but no, I can’t take her on her mission. I don’t even know half of it. I am just one small part.”

“If she is a Lillim, as you say, then why does she need you to help protect her mind?” Blackbast asked.

“First of all, this is the first incarnation where she went down this particular path,” the woman replied, turning to Jaina and Roric. “Thank you for showing her and that bone-headed husband what they needed to do.”

“Hey!” Hannah shouted, but Frank urged her not to interrupt.

“Secondly,” the woman continued. “Some of her enemies are strong enough to overcome even that protection until she gains more levels. I am secretly hoping that once her own defenses are strong enough, I might be able to help her break some of the spells placed on her for short periods.”

“Could that work?” Roric asked as he turned to Chandice.

“The ones directly affecting her consciousness, maybe,” Chandice replied. “But if I am right about these spells being maintained by artifacts, she won't be able to break them for long.”

“Good, so you understand,” the devilish woman replied.

“Alright, that makes sense, but let’s ask another question. How are you linked to the crown?” Chandice pressed.

“I have an identical copy,” the woman answered. “So long as I wear it, I am part of her.”

“So you see all the things I am doing?” Hannah asked as she blushed.

“I see, feel, and taste everything,” the woman replied with a wicked smile. “But don’t be ashamed. I have done far worse in my time. You are a novice at being a Lillim.”

“I am not,” Hannah protested angrily, but Frank put a hand on her arm.

“Can you tell us who put those incredibly powerful spells on Hannah?” Frank asked.

“No,” the woman said. “I have my suspicions, but you must understand I wasn't around to witness her early days as Hathlisora. I came about at the end and was added to the crown later. I only know rumors and fragments from her early history or what she has discovered in previous incarnations. The truth is she's never noticed the spells before or tried to figure them out. But you have a possible solution with the crown. I didn't even know it could see magic flows, but now that we do, you should use it. Follow the flows tied to her back to their source, and maybe together, we can figure out what is going on.”

“None of these answers proves I can trust you,” Hannah said.

“Hathlisora, I don’t know how to make you understand that I need you more than you need me,” the woman pleaded. “Please, I haven't tampered with your memories; I only blocked the goblin crown's trigger to protect you. Believe me, I have seen it cripple you before.”

“Well, I want you to stop,” Hannah insisted. “I don't care what the risks are. When I wake up, I am putting the goblin crown on, and if those memories don't come back, I will never put your crown on again.”

“Please, I need you to trust me!” the woman begged.

“Then prove I can by giving me my memories back!” Hannah shouted. “That is the price of my trust.”

The woman vanished, and Hannah looked around as the others sat in stunned silence.

“Do you think she will do it?” Evalynn asked.

“There is only one way to find out,” Hannah replied and closed her eyes, forcing herself out of the dream.

They came awake and sat up, with all eyes turning to Hannah.

“Clear the room,” Hannah commanded. “I want nobody in here but our inner circle.”

“Out,” Rajeen commanded the girls and sent them back to the harem.

“Did you get your answers?” Gwen asked.

“We are about to find out,” Hannah replied and spoke a word of command. The goblin crown appeared in her hand with a flash of light as Umtha began to twist nervously. Hannah then summoned the devil's crown from the void and placed it on her head. She instantly became the red devil, complete with the tail she sorely missed.

“Please let this work,” Jaina begged as Hannah lifted the goblin crown high, then paused.

“Umtha, no matter what happens, I will always love you,” Hannah said.

Umtha nodded, her long ears flapping as Hannah put the crown on her head. She closed her eyes as a green light ran along where the two crowns met. Hannah twitched as her eyes closed, and she looked almost as if she were having a nightmare.

“Hannah?” Frank asked when the silence went on too long.

“Oh,” Hannah said before a tear ran down her cheek. She opened her eyes and looked directly at Umatha. “Bah hathul uth sah Salsilsi.”

Umtha ran to Hannah and practically tackled her as the two women hugged as tight as they could. Umtha was in full tears as Hannah kissed her head and vowed never to leave her again.

“What did she just say?” Jaina whispered.

“It’s goblin,” Frank replied as the two women collapsed in tears. “I remember you, my beloved.”