Escape from Bramholt (Part 1)

Jenny woke up on the lap of a Demoness who was gently stroking her hair. It had been three days since the fight with the Inquisitors. Or better put, three days since she failed to assassinate her father. She accomplished nothing, and now the city was on lockdown and Iskaldor, the capital of Hochwalden, decided to send reinforcements to secure the city and purge all heretics. She had heard so from Klaus, who was constantly complaining.

What's more? According to Konrad, the Chauffeur disappeared a day ago. Thankfully, he shouldn't know anything useful. But Jenny still felt bad for him. It was her fault he was caught up in all of this. She also felt a little regretful that she had given Dravisha part of her name to save someone who was going to die anyway.

"Good," came Dravisha's soft purr, interrupting Jenny's thoughts. "You're awake. You look surprisingly well for someone who was teetering on the edge of death just three days ago." Her amber eyes gleamed with amusement as she reached over to a steaming cup of pureed soup. "Say 'ahhh,'" she said playfully, guiding the spoon toward Jenny's lips.

Jenny hesitated, her pride bristling, before awkwardly opening her mouth and accepting the spoonful. She swallowed quickly, avoiding eye contact. "I don't need to be babied," she muttered. "I'm recovered enough to feed myself."

"Oh, sure you are," Dravisha replied with a sly chuckle, circling another spoonful in front of Jenny's face. "But I find this method far more entertaining."

Jenny sighed, exasperated but too weary to argue. She opened her mouth reluctantly, letting the demoness continue feeding her. For the past few days, she had kept teasing her about knowing a new part of her name. Each time Davisha called her Nyxandra, it felt like a hook tore into her heart. 

Klaus disrupted their weirdly intimate moment as he entered the room. Dravisha quietly groaned, displeased, but then kept a neutral expression.

"I found a way to get you two out of the city discreetly. But you need to do exactly what I say, understood?" He looked at Dravisha specifically with narrowed eyes. "Understood?" He repeated.

Dravisha arched an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Understood," she drawled, her voice laced with mock compliance. "Why so distrustful? I've done nothing but assist you thus far." She threw up her hands theatrically, as if offended.

Klaus shook his head, clearly unimpressed by her antics. "I've bribed a guard to guide you through the aqueducts and sewers. He doesn't know he's aiding fugitives or that you're the ones the Inquisitors are hunting. Keep it that way."

Dravisha nodded, "Smart. When can we set out?"

"Soon," Klaus said. He indicated for Dravisha to follow him.

The Demoness picked up the limp witch, cradling her against her chest. For Dravisha, there were few things better than casually holding a cute girl in her arms. Especially one she had so much control over now. There was something thrilling about the fact that she was now so close to completely owning the witch. Of course, she enjoyed the slight resistance the witch offered. Perhaps the hunt was more fun than the catch. But she was going to savour the catch nonetheless.

She followed Klaus out of the mansion. It was noon, the sun glared sharply through the clouds and spires, and the streets were busy, though there was an eerie atmosphere hanging over the people that wasn't there when they first arrived. Inquisitors and guards dressed in black moved through the streets like vultures. Their eyes checked the civilians for anything unusual. 

Dravisha lowered Jenny to the ground, and the witch groaned quietly as she stood upright for the first time in three days. The beating she had taken still made it painful to stand, let alone walk.

"Can you walk?" Dravisha murmured, her voice low and smooth, laced with both concern and mockery. "We can't afford to draw unnecessary attention."

Jenny nodded with gritted teeth. "I'll manage."

Klaus approached them, pressing an envelope into Jenny's hand. "This contains everything you need to get out of the city undetected," he said, his tone clipped but urgent. He quickly outlined a route through narrow alleys and shadowy side streets, directing them toward a rendezvous point where the bribed guard awaited. "Follow these instructions exactly. If anything goes wrong, don't come back here. You are on your own now." 

Before turning away, Klaus hesitated, then wrapped his arms around Jenny in a tight embrace. She returned the hug, her throat tightening as she realized this might be the last time she saw him. "We likely won't see each other again," he whispered gruffly, his grip lingering for a moment longer before he finally let go.

Jenny clenched her fist at her side as she watched him go back to the mansion, concealing her turmoil as she watched him leave. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and began limping across the intersection, Dravisha close behind. They slipped into a narrow alleyway, the dim light casting jagged shadows on the damp stone walls. Every few steps, Jenny had to stop and lean heavily against the wall, her side burning with fresh waves of pain. The impact from hitting the cobblestones days earlier was taking its toll, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could endure it.

Dravisha stopped and looked impatiently at the witch. "You know," she purred, tilting her head with a smirk, "it might be better if I carried you after all. You'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?"

Jenny shot her a glare, though part of her couldn't deny the appeal of being spared the agony of walking. But she knew drawing attention was the last thing they needed. Swallowing her discomfort, she pushed herself off the wall and forced herself onward, ignoring the sharp protests from her body. Each step sent jolts of pain radiating through her ribs, but she refused to give in 

The alleyway eventually opened up into a bustling plaza filled with small shops and crisscrossing intersections. Pedestrians milled about, their hurried footsteps echoing off the cobblestones. Jenny and Dravisha navigated carefully, sticking to the edges of the crowd as they made their way toward a quieter side street. At the end of the street stood a small arched bridge spanning a narrow canal. A single guard leaned casually against the railing, his posture relaxed but alert.

Jenny and Dravisha walked up to him. He had a medium grey stubble and pale blue eyes. His salt and pepper hair peeked out beneath his guard helmet. He wore a black uniform and had a musket slung over his shoulder.

"Ya lookin' fer somethin', girls?" he drawled, his tone indifferent yet tinged with suspicion. "Or just passin' through?"

Jenny stepped forward, clutching the envelope tightly in her hand. "We're here to meet someone," she said with a steady voice.

The guard gestured toward the envelope with a nod. "Aye, let me see. Ya came to the right place."

She handed him the envelope, watching as he tore it open with the tip of a dagger. He unfolded the paper inside, scanning its contents quickly before nodding. "Follow me."

He led them to a small canoe tied to the edge of the canal. The vessel rocked precariously as Jenny attempted to climb in, nearly tipping herself into the murky water below. At the last moment, Dravisha's hand shot out, catching her wrist and steadying her. Jenny glanced up at the demoness, embarrassment colouring her cheeks, but Dravisha merely smirked, her amber eyes glinting with amusement.