“So who are you looking for again, exactly?” The owner of the tavern asked. Her hair was long, black, and curly, and she flashed a smile that charmed anyone who saw it. “We get a lot of folks coming through here. If they were distinct enough I might be able to help you out.”

The girl sitting at the bar sighed and swirled the drink in her glass. “How'd you know I was looking for someone?” She asked, not bothering to look up.

“You've been staring at the same glass for the last fifteen minutes without bothering to finish it. Usually means either a breakup or a missing person. And given I've seen you talk to about a half dozen people tonight before making your way over here, I'm guessing you have a missing man.”

That got Sandra to look up at the owner. She picked up the glass, finished what was left in it, and set it back down on the counter with a thud. “Missing girl.”

“Well, that's a start.” The owner turned around, grabbing another glass from the shelf and mixing something new. “Now does this girl have anything helpful, like an appearance, a name maybe?”

“She's…” Sandra started, then stopped. She took a breath. “Yeah, sorry. Don't mean to take this out on you.” She put both of her elbows on the counter, then put her chin in her hands. “Her name is Emma. Brown hair, on the shorter side, green eyes. Cutest laugh you've ever heard.”

The owner made an interested noise but didn't turn back around. “Okay. And how long has she been gone?”

“Sixteen days. Long enough that I couldn't wait for someone else to do something about it.”

“You say that as if she's important.”

“She's important to me,” Sandra said quietly. She shifted in her chair. “Yes, she's important. Her family is desperate to find her.”

The owner turned back around, a drink in a tall glass in her hand. She looked at Sandra's empty glass and poured half of her own in. Sandra raised an eyebrow. “It's on me,” the bartender said. “Would hate to have you leave thirsty if I don't end up having any good information for you. So is she some kind of royalty then?”

Sandra looked at the glass. She didn't know of any drink that was that particular shade of blue, but she was thirsty and turning down a free drink wasn't her style. “Yeah, thanks.” She sipped it. If it was alcoholic, she couldn't tell. There was a sweetness to it that overrode everything else, but didn't leave an aftertaste. She licked her lips. “What is that?”

“Sorry, house secret. Can't just go telling everyone about it!” The owner flashed that smile again. “I asked you a question first, too.”

“God, right, yeah.” Sandra took another sip. “She's not royalty really. Could have been if her family had played their cards better, but hey, I'm not the one who makes those decisions. She's a noble. She ran away from her family a year ago. They didn't care then.”

“Huh. So your Emma is a runaway, but the running away isn't why you're looking for her.” The owner picked up her glass. “That's a real brain teaser. Any idea where she might have gone?”

“Well, I don't think she went too far from the city. The people I've talked to who saw her last saw her walking around very casually around these parts, actually. Which is why I'm here.” Sandra took another drink. It left a pleasant tingle on her lips and tongue, and that tingle was starting to make its way to her head, too. “You know, I feel like a jerk for only asking now, but what's your name?”

The owner smiled at her. “Henrietta, but friends call me Henny. And don't worry about it. You're not the first person to be sad at my bar.” She leaned back against the shelves behind her. “So why are you looking for her? I get she's important to you, but this is a job for a professional, isn't it?”

“Well the professionals are just going to turn her over to her family,” Sandra growled. She was surprised at how much emotion had slipped into her voice. Henrietta's eyebrows were raised. “Err– I just don't think they're the right people for this. Does it matter?”

“Doesn't matter necessarily, no. Just a professional curiosity. A lot of bounty hunters come through here, and honey? You don't look like a bounty hunter.”

Sandra scoffed and took another drink. Her glass was about half empty. “Yeah, well, I've been protecting her for a long time. You're technically right. I'm not a bounty hunter. I mostly fight monsters, not people.”

“I see.” Henrietta put a hand to her chin. “So you're in love with her then?”

Sandra blushed and looked away, finishing the rest of her drink to try and compose herself. She set the glass back down on the counter and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Yes. Is it that obvious?”

“Most people don't spend their nights personally conducting an investigation into the disappearance of a random noble.”

“I…I guess that's true, yeah,” Sandra said. “We've been together for some time, but her family found out, and that's when she separated herself from them. And now…”

“Hey, it's okay. I understand. God knows I haven't been able to keep myself away from pretty girls like that, especially when it's a bad idea.” Henrietta said. “So you're just hoping you can find her and get back to living a happy life?”

“Mmmmhmm,” Sandra hummed.

“And what about you? Your family hate you too?” She poured the rest of her glass into Sandra's and gestured for her to continue.

Sandra laughed softly. “Well if they do, they're not around to tell me anymore. Parents passed away a long time ago. Haven't talked to my sister since. She was much more like them than she ever wanted to admit. Definitely hated that I was only interested in girls. As if it made any difference in her life,” Sandra said, venom leaking into her voice. “Don't know why I'm telling you all this anyway. Doesn't much matter.”

“Don't be so hard on yourself! It matters plenty. Have another drink.”

Sandra nodded quietly and put the glass to her lips. “God, that's good. You sure you can't tell me what it is?”

“Sorry hon, it's a secret.” Henrietta smiled and sat down on a stool behind the counter. “So how long have you been looking for her?”

“Uhh… I started looking myself three days ago. Wanted to see if she'd just come back, she usually does. It's not too crazy for her to be gone for a day or two. But now it's been over, uh… two weeks.” Sandra shook her head. That pleasant tingle had spread from her lips to her tongue, then her head, and now it was creeping down into her stomach. “And she was seen around here the other night. So I thought I'd come take a look myself, ask a few people in the area if they know her.”

“Which brings you to me.” Henrietta crossed her legs on the stool and Sandra did her best not to stare. She could feel Henrietta's eyes on her. “You know, it's very possible that she came through here. We're a very popular establishment. Is there anything else you can tell me about her?”

“Yeah, of course. Her name's Emma, like I said. She's my age? Was in here a couple of days ago if I heard right. She likes bright colors and as far as I know she's still wearing the yellow dress I bought for her a few months ago?” Sandra racked her brain for anything else to offer.

“Hmm… Let me think. Why don't you take another drink while I do.” Henrietta turned around and started humming. Sandra took another drink, finishing the glass in front of her. The tingling was going from her stomach down between her legs. She stared at Henrietta's back, eyes tracing the curve of her body up and down. “She much of a drinker?”

“Huh?” Sandra blinked again. “Oh, uh, no, I don't think so?”

“You don't think so? You don't know?”

“It's not– I mean, on occasion we'd go out for a drink, sure. She doesn't keep a bar at home as far as I know.”

“As far as you know.” Henrietta turned, a fresh glass of whatever it was that Sandra was drinking in her hand. “Here, looks like you're empty.”

“Ah, actually, I don't know if… I mean if you can't remember seeing her, I think I should maybe move on to my next lead? Or something. I think I should go,” Sandra said, trying to shift herself to stand back up. She put a hand on the counter and tried to take a step back and slipped, knocking her empty glass behind the counter where it shattered. “Ohmygod I am so sorry let me–”

“You want to make it up to me? Be a good girl, sit down, and take another drink.” Henrietta said. Sandra felt her cheeks burning, but arguing with Henrietta seemed like a bad idea. She sat again and took a drink. The glass shattering had left an odd silence in its place. Sandra looked behind her. There was no one left in the tavern.

“Sorry, Henrietta, uh… What time is it now, exactly?”

“Quiet.”

Sandra squeaked in reply. She must have lost track of time at some point, because there were definitely people in here before she started talking to Henrietta. And that was…

How long ago was that?

Sandra shook her head again to try and clear it. “I-I r-really am sorry about the glass, I can… I c-can pay for it if uh.. If you need me to,” she stammered. Something was wrong.

But Henrietta had told her to stay.

“I'm sure you'll find some way to make it up for me, don't worry.” Henrietta swept the last of the glass away, then turned back to Sandra. “I think I've seen your Emma. About yea tall?” She asked, holding a hand up to about her own shoulder level.

“Yes! Wait, when did you see her?”

“Drink,” Henrietta ordered. Sandra did. “Good. She was in here two nights ago. Didn't say what she was doing or where she was going. Kind of seemed like she had a falling out with someone.”

Sandra looked up into Henrietta's eyes. “A falling out…?”

“Mhm,” Henrietta said. She leaned over the bar now, looming over Sandra. “Not sure who with. Don't think she meant you, but I guess I don't know for sure.” Henrietta put a palm on Sandra's cheek. Sandra whined but didn't move. “You must be worried sick about her.”

Sandra didn't know when she'd started breathing so heavily. “I– I am. It's been an awful few weeks.”

“You poor thing.” Henrietta took her hand off of Sandra's cheek and started petting her hair instead. “Don't you worry about it, okay? We're going to find your Emma.” Henrietta stood back up, then looked at the glass. “Oh, honey, I told you to drink that.”

“I– I took a drink already,” Sandra whined. She wanted to tell Henrietta to fuck off, but arguing with her felt impossible. This was about all she could muster. Her limbs were tingling, and she'd started to slump onto the counter.

“You did, but it's rude not to finish what you start.” Henrietta stared at her, eyes hard. “So finish.”

“B-b-but. I'm already…” Sandra trailed off, embarrassed. “Already wasted,” she muttered.

“I don't think you understand, honey.” Henrietta grabbed Sandra's jaw, pulling her up off the counter to stare up into her eyes. “I told you to finish your drink. You're done arguing with me about it.”

“I. I. Uh. Okay,” she nodded, though she couldn't tell if she was nodding or if Henrietta was making her. It didn't matter either way. She took the drink and brought it to her lips. Henrietta let go of her chin, and Sandra drank the rest of it. Her head was swimming and that tingle between her legs had only grown more and more insistent. She felt rabid. “Um, Henrietta, I, I think I should–”

“See, I think that’s your problem. You’re thinking way too much. You’re thinking like a girl who knows anything. But you don’t, do you?” Henrietta put her hand back under Sandra’s chin, locking eyes again. “You just don’t know anything. You don’t even know how to finish a fucking drink.”

“Wh– I just did!” Sandra said, looking up at Henrietta. She couldn’t pull her head out of Henrietta’s hand, even though Sandra knew she must be stronger than the other woman. “What are you ta–”

Out of the corner of Sandra’s eye, she saw it. A full glass, right in front of her, right where she could have sworn she had left the empty one seconds ago. “Wait. No, I… I did what you told me to, I thoug– I finished–”

“Awww, see, there you go again. Caught yourself though, huh?” Henrietta smiled at her. “You thought you finished your drink. But you don’t know anything.”

Sandra sputtered, trying to regain her footing. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, desperate to be touched, skin aching for someone else's skin. She looked up, eyes scanning behind the counter. “H-H-Henr–”

“Awww, is that name too big for you all of a sudden?” Henrietta taunted. Her voice was coming from behind Sandra, not from behind the bar. She tried to turn to find other woman, but her body wouldn't cooperate. “It's okay sweetie. Just call me Henny, or maybe just Miss. I've found that it's easier for simple girls like you.”

Suddenly, hands were on Sandra, caressing her neck, grabbing a breast greedily over her clothes. Sandra all but howled, mouth open wide. Just as suddenly, Henrietta's fingers were in her mouth, holding it open. She felt the glass touch her lips. Henrietta tilted it into Sandra's mouth. Sandra swallowed greedily, reveling in the tingling sensation throughout her body, feeling so hot. Henrietta set the empty glass back on the counter. “How many drinks was that, Sandy?”

Henrietta had a hand on her neck, keeping Sandy's head tilted back. The other had slid under her shirt, groping her, setting off fireworks in her mind. “I– it wassss uh…” Sandy moaned as Henrietta pinched her nipple. She shut her eyes hard and tried to remember. “It… four…I think..?”

“What did I just tell you about thinking, Sandy?” Henrietta's hand stopped touching her and Sandy whimpered. “Be a good girl and try again.”

“I….I….” Sandy's eyes crossed. It shouldn't have been this hard to figure out. But that drink, whatever it was, and Henny's fingers… “I don't know!”

Henrietta slipped her hand under Sandy's waistband, fingers finding her pussy wet and eager. “Do you need Miss Henny to tell you? Are you too dumb to count your own drinks?”

“Please please please please,” was all Sandy could manage. She felt like she was melting. Something was wrong with her head, but it felt too good to stop. She needed this. She needed this so badly.

“Please what? I can't tell what you want, silly girl.” Henrietta's breath was in her ear. “If you can't use your words, why don't I ask you a few questions. You can nod or shake your head, okay?”

Sandy nodded.

“Good.” Henrietta grabbed Sandy and shoved her forward, face down on top of the counter. She yanked her pants and underwear down, exposing her to the empty tavern. She squeezed Sandy's ass, then started running a finger up and down her sex. “Do you know how many drinks you had, Sandy?”

Sandy shook her head.

“Good giiiirl,” Henrietta purred. She teased Sandy's clit for a moment. Sandy moaned, desperate for more. She couldn't move, completely limp on the bar counter while the other woman played with her. “Do you like this, sweetie?”

Sandy nodded quickly and vigorously.

“Of course you do. Which means that you love when I play with you, don't you?”

Sandy nodded again.

“Thats right, honey,” she cooed, slipping two fingers inside of Sandy. Sandy's mouth dropped open, eyes rolling back into her head. Whatever was in that drink made every nerve in her body sing. She couldn't get enough. She needed more. “You need Miss Henny to take care of you, don't you?”

Sandy nodded, slowly at first, but with more enthusiasm the longer the silence went on, the only other sounds in the room being Sandy's breathing and Henrietta's fingers pumping in and out of her cunt.

“You really do. You're a mess. Some monster hunter you are,” Henrietta said. Sandy felt something like pride rise in her for just a moment before it was trampled down by pleasure. She didn't need to be big and strong if Miss Henny was taking care of her. “Do you think?”

Sandy shook her head no.

“There you go. It feels so good to admit you need Miss Henny to think for you, doesn't it?”

Sandy grunted with pleasure as she nodded. She felt like she was going to break apart.

“Good girl. You want to stay here with me from now on, right?”

Sandy nodded enthusiastically. She needed it. Needed Miss Henny to take care of her. Needed her to make her feel good, to think for her, everything. She was panting loudly. She couldn't help herself. She couldn't do anything without Miss Henny.

“That's what I thought. Cum for me, Sandy.”

Sandy's eyes rolled back into her head, mouth wide open as she came. Her whole body trembled and shook with the force of it. Miss Henny kept going, overstimulating her. Sandy couldn't make a sound to protest, her body completely in Henrietta's hands.

After it passed, Sandy felt herself being dragged off the counter by Miss Henny. She was limp in the other woman's arms, completely worn out. They were walking down the hall behind the bar counter, down to a single door at the end. “Guess what, Sandy. I have great news for you.”

Sandy made a quiet noise of acknowledgement.

“Your Emma was here. I decided to keep her. She never did stop talking about you.” Henrietta opened the door. Sandy managed to lean her head so that she could see Emma lying in bed, asleep. She had a faint blue stain around her lips. “Emma, honey? I found your Sandy for you, just like I promised.” Henrietta put Sandy down in bed next to the other girl.

Emma stirred, then gasped in surprise as she saw her partner. “Miss Henny! I can't believe– How did you–”

“No questions. Miss Henny takes care of you, and that's all you need to know.”