Burning Desires of the Amethyst Witch

Jenny had woken up sore, extremely sore, in all places at once. Dravisha had been relentless in riding her. Luckily, this time around, none of her clothes were torn apart. Jenny would not have known what to do without clothes in the middle of the forest; she took it as a small mercy from the demoness. But still, she was not in good shape. She stunk. The sweet musky scent of sex and sweat was all over her; anyone who came within a mile of her would know. She tried to cover herself in a good amount of her favourite Lavender perfume, but it barely did anything. She desperately needed a wash.

 Jenny was riding her horse. Riding a horse while being sore all over was no fun. It made her groggy. The pain between her legs was especially bad. Clinging onto the saddle felt like torture for her. Every second, she wanted to whine, 'Are we there yet?' Of course, she didn't; that'd be childish. But she wanted to. Finally, her muscles gave out. With a muffled cry, she tumbled off the horse and landed sprawled across the forest floor. The ground was cold and hard, but compared to the saddle, it felt heavenly.

 "What are you doing?" Dravisha said.

 "I'm done," Jenny muttered, not bothering to move. "I can't go any further. Just bind my feet and drag me along."

"Oh yes, because being dragged through the dirt sounds infinitely better than horse riding. Get up—we're almost there," Dravisha said in a deadpan voice. She pointed through the trees at the faint silhouette of spires rising above the horizon. "See? That city isn't far."

Jenny briefly glanced up before dropping back down, groaning. "Too far."

"Jenny."

"Dravisha."

"I'm going to count to three."

"You can't do that; you're not my mom," Jenny protested weakly.

"One…"

"Wait, hold on! What are you going to do?" Jenny tensed nervously, trying—and failing—to sit up.

"Two…"

"You didn't say what you'd do!" Jenny cried; her voice tinged with panic. She was too sore to move. "Dravisha, stop!"

"And…" The Demoness dismounted her horse with a predatory grin. Jenny scrambled backward, but it was no use. "Three."

With a wave of her hand, Dravisha bound Jenny in shadowy tendrils, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Before Jenny could protest further, she was tossed over the horse like a burlap sack. Her sore muscles screamed in protest as her stomach pressed against the saddle horn.

"Really?" Jenny muttered, her voice muffled by the horse's side. "Was this necessary?"

Dravisha mounted her own horse, smirking. "Absolutely. Now hold on tight, or don't. Either way, we're getting to that city." With a sharp whistle, she spurred both horses forward, leaving Jenny bouncing awkwardly across the forest trail.

They reached civilization by midday. The sun hung low in the overcast sky, a pale smear against the gray expanse. Farmers paused in their fields to gawk as Jenny bounced along behind Dravisha, shrieking curses loud enough to startle crows from nearby trees.

"Curse you by the nine circles of hell, Dravisha! Let me go already," Jenny spat, her voice hoarse from shouting. "We're almost there, are you really going to drag me into the city like this?"

Dravisha sighed, knowing full well she couldn't bring Jenny into the city bound and screaming, though the idea of humiliating her little witch amused her immensely. Still, subtlety had its place. A short distance from Bramholt's grand entrance, she stopped and untied Jenny's restraints.

When the ropes fell away, Jenny stumbled forward, rubbing her raw wrists. Her legs wobbled beneath her, stiff from hours of being tied up, but she forced herself to straighten as they approached the gates.

The city could be smelled long before it came into view: a noxious blend of sewer, ash, and dung that clung to the air like a damp blanket. As they drew closer, Bramholt revealed itself in all its grim majesty. Its spires clawed at the gray sky, jagged teeth piercing the clouds. Ancient stone walls loomed ahead, cracked and weathered but unyielding. Smoke curled lazily from countless chimneys, mingling with the stench of refuse and industry.

Jenny stared at the towering gates, her chest tightening. She remembered running through these streets as a child, clutching her mother's hand. Back then, the city had seemed magical, alive with possibility. Now, it felt suffocating, a tombstone marking everything she'd lost. Yet despite herself, a flicker of nostalgia stirred within her. For better or worse, this was home.

The portcullis of the city stood wide open, welcoming visitors. Two guards lounged lazily beside the entrance, barely glancing at the carriages, horses, and pedestrians streaming in and out. Their bored expressions mirrored the apathy of the bustling crowd as Dravisha and Jenny passed them.

Inside, the city unfolded like a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and tightly packed buildings. They trotted slowly through busy intersections, weaving past carts laden with goods and vendors shouting to attract customers. Jenny navigated confidently, her knowledge of the area evident despite her long absence. Their destination was Richter's mansion, nestled in the affluent district, a far cry from the squalor of the poorer quarters.

At ground level, shops dominated the landscape. Snake oil peddlers hawked dubious remedies alongside artisans displaying finely crafted wares. Wooden advertisements hung crookedly from nearly every building, competing for attention. Every so often, the sharp stench of urine assaulted their noses, and thick smog choked the air, forcing Jenny to cough repeatedly.