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HTN 5-22 A friend with open arms
🕑 Added 2021-04-20 20:13:59 +0000 UTCThe crab walked sideways, easily climbing dunes and scuttling down the other side. The only difficulty was keeping their balance, as the beast didn't understand the commands to be careful. They had to stand to one side as the other was bitten wide open by the worm, exposing the crab's innards in a gory display.
“What made you think of using the crab?” Quinny asked as she tried to keep her balance.
Heather leaned on her scythe to maintain her balance and answered with a smile. “We lost the palanquin, and I don’t want to walk: especially since we need to go over the dunes.”
“Good thinking,” Frank replied as he dug his claws into the shell.
Breanne floated over it in her banshee form, the only one of them who appeared to be comfortable with the means of transportation. “I would like to know how you managed to animate something so large.”
Heather waved the staff as she explained channeling the animate dead through the weapon.
“I thought we discussed that,” Breanne remarked. “We don't know how safe it is to use that power or how much power it has.”
“No, we asked Legeis to look at it, and he suggested it might operate like a battery,” Heather replied. “He doesn’t have the right tools to know for sure, and we don’t know anyone who does. The only way we’re going to find out is if we test it.”
“I understand your point of view, but I worry you might need that power later. I would hate for you to need it and not have it.”
Heather nodded but looked ahead as they crossed another dune. “I did need it, and we don't know if it will run out of power. It might slowly recharge or never run out at all.”
Breanne floated closer, moving around Heather's side to look her in the face. “Or it might be draining you, using whatever that essence power is to fuel the effect.”
Heather ran her hand along the handle, small arcs of electricity tickling her skin as it passed. “Everything I do has a risk attached to it. I can’t even use my true powers in the open without risking bringing bounty hunters down on my head.” She paused as Webster arrived at her feet and bent down to pick him up before continuing. “But this is getting out of control, and our inability to travel quickly is hampering us. Hathlisora was clearly heavily involved in a lot of things, either directly or indirectly. Her friends left markers all over the land and hints that there is more to find. If I am going to be painted as her second coming, then I want to know who she was and what she was doing. She wants me to know. She left the staff for me specifically.”
“That’s because you were working with her,” Quinny reminded.
“Yes,” Heather replied and looked ahead as her hair blew in the wind. “So she says, but I have no memory of being here before my recent arrival. I can even tell you what I was doing that day before I went to bed.”
“I know we have talked about this before but do you think they could have reset your memory?” Quinny asked. “Like maybe they abducted you before, and you did get involved with Hathlisora. Then whatever you did made them wipe your memories to stop you, so you think you just arrived again.”
Heather stumbled a bit as the crab crested a dune and held Webster tight until they were balanced again.
“Have you ever heard of that happening before?” she asked, looking back to the others.
Frank shook his head as Quinny voiced a solid no. Legeis scratched at his head and said the idea made sense, but he, too, had never heard of it happening before. Breanne was more constructive, pointing out that many of the necromancers did display a certain measure of detachment after being reset. She also pointed out something disturbing, that many of them vanished and nobody knows where they are.
“So we have to accept it’s a possibility, but we have no precedent to base it on,” Heather surmised. “It would answer a lot of questions, but there is one that still stands out.”
“What is that?” Frank asked as Heather’s gaze fell on Umtha.
They all read her thoughts as Umtha looked around, confused. It was the one mystery that made no sense but kept coming up again and again. Heather looked exactly like Hathlisora, and the goblins were convinced she was her. The statue they had just viewed was a stark reminder that Heather and Hathlisora were so similar they could be twins.
“Wait a minute!” Quinny cried excitedly and turned to Umtha. “Didn't you say Hathlisora had a friend you referred to her as her sister?”
“The one she called the other,” Breanne added as she remembered the conversation.
“Her name Issicara,” Umtha said. “She and Hathlisora look same. We call her sister to Hathlisora.”
“See!” Quinny said excitedly. “Maybe that’s you.”
“No,” Umtha insisted. “Issicara is queen of Abbadon.”
“Which is one of the hells,” Frank said before nearly falling as the crab crested another dune. “Heather couldn't be from there.”
Quinny stumbled a bit and turned to glare at him as if his statement made no sense.
“Why not? Maybe she originally picked an infernal as her race,” she insisted.
“But infernal players start in the main world,” Frank said. “They have to travel to hells if they want to get there. Not to mention, didn't you say Abbadon was supposed to be a prison?”
“Well, that's what I heard,” Quinny replied and looked away. “I read about it too, something about it being a one-way trip.”
Heather laughed as she thought back to the conversation from weeks ago when she found the crown. “I seem to recall Umtha said Hathlisora opened a portal to this place for the necromancers, but they never came back; this Issicara did. She is also the one who gave Hathlisora the crown.”
“Yes!” Umtha insisted. “Payment for helping the necromancers.”
“So Hathlisor found a way to open a portal into a prison on hell allowing its queen to step through and present her a gift,” Heather surmised.
“Wait, this is where that strange crown comes from?” Legeis asked as he listened to the confusing conversation.
Breanne looked back at him with a firm nod. “Yes, and when she puts it on, somebody else takes control. The crown is a curse more than a reward.”
“It didn’t do anything the time I used it in the mountain,” Heather insisted. “And I have a way to take it off now.”
“That leaves you unconscious,” Frank reminded. “I don't like that crown or what happens to you when we try to take it off. That voice that screamed out insisted it was there to help you, but I don't trust it.”
“It also said Heather agreed to let it help,” Breanne pointed out.
“All of that sounds super creepy,” Legeis commented as he leaned forward in his suite. “I take it you got rid of it.”
All eyes turned to Heather as she smiled slightly and leaned to the side as the crab started up another dune.
“She left it in the magical vault,” Breanne said.
“Umm, not exactly,” Heather interjected as Breanne frowned at her.
“Please tell me you didn't bring it with you,” she insisted.
Heather wobbled for a moment and turned to face them all as she clutched Webster in one arm.
“I thought we might need it,” she replied. “It’s inside my backpack in the chest.”
“We won’t ever need it. You should have left it at home,” Frank insisted.
“I can probably melt that thing down and use the metal for something more useful,” Legeis offered as Heather looked to him with narrow eyes.
“No, this is important to this crazy nonsense going on. I am not turning away from these things anymore,” she added and held up the scythe to draw attention to the staff. “This was left specifically for me, and it was already attuned, so nobody else could use it. There is no point in pretending this is a coincidence; we all know the truth. I am meant to do this. Why? I have no idea, but I am not running from it anymore. I am going to research and test everything she left behind until I understand why. Then I am going to put it all to good use. Honestly, I have been thinking of putting the crown on and asking the voice for help.”
“Absolutely not,” Breanne insisted. “I have always firmly believed you were meant to do something related to the necromancer kings. However, once that thing is on your head, anything could happen, and we have a very narrow window to take it off. She could escape and run miles away with your body before long before we could do anything about it.”
“Breanne, no offense, but this is my decision, not yours. I appreciate the concern you all have for me, but we're running blind and going in circles. The voice in that crown probably knows more about what is going on than we will learn in the next ten years. It might know what the ring is for, or the mirror doorways, or why this egg is so important.” She felt her anger rising as Breanne looked back at her shaking her head. Heather was about to argue more when a hand came to her shoulder, and she turned to look into Frank's eyes.
“I would rather travel the length of the world trying to help you than see you put that crown on again,” he said. “I will give up my lair and all my points to get you where you need to go and find answers.”
Heather’s jaw fell as emotions swirled inside. “Oh, Frank!” she cried. “Why are you so nice to me? I am a terrible person. I don’t deserve it.”
“No, never say that about yourself,” he replied. “You're not a terrible person. We all know how you got here and how much you hate the circumstances that are driving you. You feel like a pawn in some greater game, and you hate being a pawn. Besides, we have all seen how much you care about your friends. You even care about the regular players, wishing there was a way to stop the higher-level bullies.”
She smiled and nodded with a stumble as the crab descended a dune. Frank was too nice a friend, and more importantly, he was genuine. Many of her friendships in the real world were superficial and fake, with less depth than a rain puddle. Her so-called friends would turn on her if it meant they gained an advantage, and she knew it. Now that she thought about it, this was exactly the problem with the players in New Eden. Everyone was seeking a rapid rise and playing the role of a friend so long as it provided them with an advantage. When it was more advantageous to step on that friend, they did, always trying to climb higher at any cost.
“Heather?” Frank asked, reminding her they were all waiting for her reaction.
“Frank, thank you for being you. Thank you for teaching me what a real friend is.” She leaned over the set Webster down and then used her free hand to take his. “Thank you for being my rock in a world of crazy.”
“It isn't so crazy if you want to play, but you don't.”
She looked down and let out a sigh as the crab started up another dune. “Listen, you make this world fun for me, and I am honestly starting to enjoy it. I wish this Hathlisora nonsense weren't happening, but it is, and I am going to figure out why. Now getting back to the crown discussion, if you all think it's a bad idea, I will promise not to put it on.”
“It is a bad idea,” Breanne said sternly,
“I think it is, too,” Frank agreed as Heather looked to Quinny.
“What am I supposed to say?” Quinny asked. “I think you’re right. The person in the crown might have all the answers. She said she was trying to help you.”
“You had to take the other side?” Breanne accused and turned on Quinny.
Quinny stood her ground and faced Breanne down, her featureless mask revealing nothing by glaring eyes.
“All I am saying is Heather might be right about getting quick answers. I don’t like the idea of the person in the crown taking over either, but maybe we can find a way to talk to the crown without putting it on.”
Heather blinked as she realized that thought had never occurred to her. “I wonder if we can?”
“It would make it much safer,” Frank agreed. “You could get your answers without the risk, but how would we do it?”
“I don’t know,” Heather said as she wobbled. “But I am going to find out.”
They spent the next hour going over all the ideas that had come up. They revisited the idea that Heather might be this Queen of Abbadon but once again had no evidence. It was a good point to keep in mind, but it would have to wait in the background until they knew more. She also listed off the things that needed exploring, including the blue ring. Even as she tossed over that idea, she suddenly remembered something she forgot. With a low growl, she explained the black stone ring she found in the necromancer's circle. It was somehow hidden like the book had been, but she used a spectral hand spell to pluck it from the bronze dish. However, the ring was intangible to her physical hand, so she put it back to worry about it later. In the chaos of what followed, she forgot all about it, and it has been sitting there ever since.
Frank admonished her, insisting she had too much going on and couldn't blame herself for forgetting. Heather wasn't so sure and made a list of things that needed to be addressed, the first of which was reading the letters Endril left behind. She had to remain outside to steer the crab for now, but first chance they had to rest, she was going to pour over them. She also wanted Breanne to explore what was on the other side of the walls, convinced there were hidden rooms.
Hours later, she was pleased by how far they had come, as the sunset and strange lights began to appear in the distance. None of the lights ever came near, but they were pretty certain they were undead of some kind. Other monsters appeared, all of which fled in at the approach of the crab, leaving them to travel in peace. Heather insisted on continuing, yawning as she navigated and drove the dead crab.
As the moon raced across the sky to indicate midnight, they finally saw something that looked like a building. It was a domed temple made of sandstone with high square walls decorated in bands of yellow and blue. Stained glass windows lined the walls and glowed with soft light from sources inside.
“Does that mean we found the road?” Quinny asked.
“I hope so,” Heather said with a yawn. “This crab really does walk fast.”
“It was a brilliant idea to use it,” Breanne remarked as she floated higher to get a better view. “But what do you plan to do with it now?”
Heather finished her yawn and tapped the upper shell with her staff. She ordered the crab to burrow until it was level with the sand, and they climbed off. She then told it to return to where she found it, and they watched as the crab scuttled away, heading into the night to stand in one place forever.
Legeis took the magical door frame and carried it as they walked the rest of the way across the sand, heading for the building.
“It looks nice,” Quinny remarked as they noted the ornamental trees and decorative plants placed around the building. There was a square pond with a fountain out front surrounded by a lovely walkway lined with stone benches. Every bench had a flowering tree of pink or white offering shade and carpeting the ground in colorful petals.
“I like this place,” Heather said as they arrived on the path and headed for the doors.
The doors were flanked by two blue pillars, inlaid with white images of women standing in sultry poses.
“And now I don't like it,” Heather remarked as they arrived at a tall wooden door barred with metal bands. It was wide enough to allow a car to pass through if opened fully and arrived at a sharp point in an arch on top. Heather leaned forward to knock before noticing a sign embedded in the door itself. It read, come in, all are welcome.
“I guess we just go in?” she said and looked to Frank, who reached out and pulled the door open.
Inside they were greeted with a sight that tantalized from every direction. The floors were a mosaic of blues, greens, and white, with sandstone pillars rising along the walls. Green plants grew in round planters along all the walls, intermixed with more benches that were topped by plump pillows. There were tables right inside the door with a sign encouraging them to put down their burdens. Further in was a great round room on the right side of which was a steaming pool of water being fed by a fountain of a naked woman pouring water from a jug. The walls were one continuous planter with dark green palm fronds growing thickly along the edge.
The other side of the room had a plush rug decorated in elaborate lines and colors. The outer ring of which was a mass of pillows and cushions. A low table at the very center held three bowls of mixed fruits and two silver pitchers, and a dozen metal cups stood at each end. The light came from glowing glass balls hung by chains from the ceiling, giving the room a soft yellow glow. Incense carried on the air coming from some hidden source as they moved closer to the middle and took in the luxury.
“What is this place?” Heather said in shock.
“It's a day spa,” Quinny laughed. “Why don't we have one of these?”
“I don't have the option to build one,” Heather grumbled as she sincerely wished they had one too.
“Where are the people who care for this place?” Breanne asked as she looked around, noting the only place left to check was an ornate archway in the very back.
“Her name was supposed to be Blackbast,” Frank said and paused to think about it. “What did Iskathet mean by not being bothered by her?”
Heather wasn't listening as she carried Webster and made her way to the table with the fruit. She set him down on a pillow as he made a high pitch yawning noise then settled in herself to pick at the grapes.
“Should we make ourselves at home?” Breanne asked as Quinny dipped a hand in the pool.
“The water is so warm,” she said. “I want to take a dip.”
“Go right ahead,” a sultry voice said as a dark form arrived in the archway. She had well-defined hips and a generous chest hanging over a slender waist. She wore a golden belt that suspended slips of cloth that hung down to cover her front and rear. Her chest was clad in the same material but pulled so tightly it left little to the imagination. She had a slender neck and vibrant green eyes, a golden tiara hanging on her head, studded with small green stones. What as perhaps her most striking feature was the black fur that covered her body. Her face was round and cat-like, with pointed ears sticking out of the top of her head. It was here they noticed the long tail, swishing behind those slender legs that ended in soft paws.
“She’s a cat,” Frank said as his eyes fell on her.
“I am,” the woman replied. “My name is Blackbast. Please, you are welcome in my temple. Take off that heavy armor and give me your clothes. I will hang them in my magical wardrobes, and all will be clean and mended by morning.”
“Then what will we wear?” Quinny asked.
“Must you have something to wear?’ Blackbast said with a slight smile. “Surely, you would be more comfortable free of such entanglements.”
“And now Iskathet’s warning makes sense,” Heather groaned. “Sorry, I don’t run around naked.”
“Ohhh,” the woman said, her voice more of a purr. She began to step forward, her hips swaying as her tail lashed gently about her legs. She fixated on Heather, those green eyes burning with an inner light as she approached. “Surely you will allow me to offer you my comforts. I am very skilled at easing the strain of the road away from men or women.”
“Are you for real?” Heather asked, unable to believe how forward the woman was being.
“Aww, you’re not here to play,” Blackbast replied with a sad expression. “I have not sunk my claws into a morsel in far too long. Four pretty girls, a hulk of a man, and healthy one such a terrible thing to miss.”
“Frank, nows your chance,” Quinny whispered.
“My chance for what?” he choked as Quinny giggled.
Heather turned to give Quinny a firm stare before turning back to Blackbast, who was now only a few steps away. Those green eyes seemed almost hypnotic as they stared back with desire.
“We just need a place to stay for the night,” she croaked, her voice breaking.
“Of course, I will see to it you are very comfortable,” the cat-woman said as she arrived directly before Heather. “Tell me, are you travelers of the desert road?”
Heather felt strangely uncomfortable to have another woman so strongly stalking her. She thought of Quinny's words in the pyramid, and a sense of indignation washed over her. With a smile, she leaned forward as if challenging the bold woman to continue.
“We were sent here by Iskathet. We need shelter for the night, and she said you knew about an old library lost somewhere nearby.”
“So, Iskathet sent you to me. She must have known I was bored and needed some company to satisfy my needs.”
“We are not here to satisfy your needs,” Heather growled back with folded arms.
“Oh, you refuse to play, but you need something from me. Ah yes, the library, it is a dangerous journey, and few have reason to go there. Surely you would find a stay at my temple more pleasurable. I have such a pretty collar you could wear.”
Heather’s face flushed pink, then red, then near purple as Quinny started to laugh out loud.
“We are looking for the library,” Heather reiterated with a clearing of her throat. “Could you possibly be a little less forward?”
Blackbast smiled, her eyes watching them as her tail swayed gracefully. “Why play the games of cat and mouse?” she cooed. “Let us be honest with our desires and share in the reward such honestly brings.”
“A cat race was a perfect pick for her,” Quinny said.
“I thought so,” Blackbast replied. “But this is a gift of my goddess. If it loosens your belts, I can take a more human appearance.”
“You don’t need to go out of your way for us,” Heather said in a dry tone. “Do you know where the library is or not?”
“And now we are getting rude. Since you do not wish to play, I have no need of you,” the woman replied with a slight smile. “You may stay the night, but you must leave first thing in the morning.”
Heather felt frustration and anger building as she looked to the others for support.
“What game do you want to play?” Quinny asked.
“Isn’t that obvious?” Blackbast purred. “One night is all I ask. Look around you and see, this place was made for comfort and relaxation. A place to share in all one has to offer without regret or concern. Come, let me show you how wonderful a night here can be. You will be eager to come back, I assure you.”
“What is wrong with the players in this world?” Heather said as she put a palm over her face.
“I did try to tell you that a lot of players didn't see it quite the way you did,” Breanne replied and stepped up beside Heather to put an arm around her waist. “Do give us a moment to discuss your offer,” she said to Blackbast, who bowed deeply, arching her back seductively and giving Frank a wink.
Breanne shook her head and steered Heather away, taking her to some pillows along the far wall.
“She is just playing her role,” Breanne said. “You don’t need to be rude.”
Heather held her head with one hand as she let out a tired sigh. “Listen, it's late, I am exhausted, and all I want to do is eat a few grapes and go to bed. I don't need another predator stalking my friends or me.”
“I understand that, but would it hurt to be nicer?” Breanne asked.
“Are you interested in her offer?” Heather quipped, looking up into Breanne's eyes. “I doubt she is picky. Why don't you go and enjoy her comfort.”
Breanne took on a stern gaze as Heather smiled victoriously. “Not so easy when the shoe is on the other foot?”
“I grew up in a different time,” Breanne insisted. “Men and women had well-defined roles back then.”
“Defined roles don't seem to matter here,” Heather said and turned to look back at Blackbast, who was now talking with Frank and Quinny. “Sometimes I wish I could just let go and do it.”
“So do I,” Breanne said with a smile. “But I'm an old-fashioned kind of girl. I like there to be a little time to get to know my partner before I jump into bed with them.”
Heather sighed and headed back across the room, walking directly to Blackbast as the cat women turned to her with a smile.
“Are we ready to let me take that anger away?”
“I am not angry,” Heather said in a controlled voice. “I am very tired and need to sleep, preferably alone.”
“Ohh, a warm chest to rest your head on is so soothing,” Blackbast cooed.
“I appreciate your offers, but I really need to sleep and then move on. If you could please tell us where to find this library, I would greatly appreciate it.”
“Hmm,’ the cat-woman said as her eyes narrowed. “I have a bedroom you can use. It has a door you can lock if that is your desire.”
“Thank you,” Heather replied and began to look around the room Until she remembered where she put Webster. “One second,” she said and run to the cushion to sweep him up and carry him back.
“What is this?” Blackbast asked.
“This is Webster,” Heather said. “He’s my familiar.”
Blackbast smiled and shook her head. “And I thought you wanted to sleep alone.”
“I do want to sleep alone,” Heather replied, not sure where the conversation was going.
“Very well, come this way,” the sultry woman said, curling a finger as she headed for the back archway.
Heather stopped before Frank and Quinny with a weak smile on her face. “Don't let me stop you from enjoying yourselves,” she said. “I will see you in the morning.” With that, she headed for the hall and was led to a room that was clearly laid out for purposes other than sleeping. The bed was large enough for six and plush beyond belief. It had four tall posts holding up a silken canopy. There was even a separate tub in this room, large enough for two with a table beside it set with wine and glasses.
“You're always ready to entertain,” Heather observed as she stepped onto a thick rug of red.
“I like to see my guests are comfortable,” she replied with a wink to Heather. “I hope I have not been too forward with you. I only meant to make you feel welcome.”
Heather set Webster down on a pillow before turning to look Blackbast in the eyes. “I do feel welcome, thank you. Maybe we could talk more after I have had some sleep.”
“Of course,” Blackbast said with a dipping bowl. “You have your sleep; I will be waiting for your affections in the morning.” She turned and let herself out, shutting a red paneled door behind her.
Heather flopped back into the bed, grateful to finally be alone. She sank deeply into the layers of blankets and closed her eyes, eager to embrace sleep. Outside her friends were left to fend for themselves, but part of her felt a pang of regret.
As her mind drifted away, she saw a flash on an image of a woman with soft lilac skin and blue lips. She had three green eyes with sharp curving horns on a head of golden hair. “Forget the library; the egg must come first,” the woman said. “Begin the process, and set us free.” There was more but Heather was tired and slipped away letting life’s problems wait until the morning.
Comments
I fixed it, thank you for pointing it out.
matticide FOWD
I think there might have been an error in posting. This looks like it's the first or last chunk of the chapter. Thanks for the chapter though!
Sorry this took so long. I am well aware I am still behind one chapter and I will start writing it today. Hopefully I will be caught up soon. On a side note I had a strange notion while writing this. Heather in some ways want's an excuse to avoid following the trial of Hathlisora. I reached the point where she admits that sometimes she wishes she could just let go. Then I wondered, what if she did? What if she decided to drink a few glasses of wine and throw caution to the wind. Maybe she ends up staying at the temple, helping Blackbast with the visitors who come to rest. Its an excuse to give up, and make a radical change in direction. Something I have seen people do with their lives several times. Of course it derails my story line, but I always wonder, what if Heather took the other path? What if she really embraced the freedom this world had to offer? Then I remember I would have to put a sexual content warning on my story and I change my mind.
