Back to the Present 1

»Phew, back in our time, we would have done the trip in one day!«

It had taken the little group some three weeks to get from Pescara to Chioggia, a small town that was on the mainland, but politically belonged to the Republic of Venice. Venice itself was still some 20 miles away, but during their trip, they had decided to make a first stop here.

The journey had been a bit strenuous, but without any major difficulties and without dangers, so, it could have been refreshing, but somehow, Tabea still hadn`t fully recovered from their latest adventure. One even could say that the three weeks of peace had made things worse.

It had been the first time since their unwilling travel back in time that Tabea had found some time to reflect what had happened and somehow, this had not the least helped her to regain her former strength and confidence.

Tabea had survived the various abductions and even the attempt to burn her alive physically unharmed, but she had had to experience a helplessness that still had effects on her. There had been the days when the nuns had kept her tied to the wooden cross, gagged for the whole time, spanked repeatedly and further humiliated by a daily enema. Then, some soldiers had taken her with her and decided to rape her – and though Tabea had managed to escape, she still shuddered about how helpless she had felt.

In addition, her feelings about Androsch had become insecure. It had been a clear thing that she would go to Venice, trying to find him, but the more she thought about him, the less sure she was about spending her life with him. Of course, he had saved her life, he was charming and also was good in bed, but somehow, this wasn`t all Tabea wanted. She hadn`t told the others so far, but a part of her even hoped that Androsch had given up waiting for her and left Venice.

Tabea had spoken with Jelena about her suffering from her captivity, but so far not mentioned her feelings about Androsch, for she knew that Jelena perhaps was thinking similarly about Goran and she didn`t want to push her into something. It had shown that, whilst Tabea`s confidence was shaken, Jelena had grown stronger from having survived all their ordeals.

»Tonight, we may sleep in a real bed for a change!«

During their trip, they had found a disguise that was convincing enough as long as nobody asked too many questions: they had sold the horses they had taken from Pater Michele and his henchmen and bought a small cart drawn by a mule. together with clothes that allowed Janika to pretend she was a salesman`s widow on her way to Venice, together with her coachman and her two maids. It was unusual that they didn`t have an armed escort – unusual, but not too unusual and so, their disguise had worked so far, though Bela had found it hard that when they stayed at a hostel, his disguise meant that he was not allowed to spend the night with Janika.

However, most of the nights, they had spent in their cart. It had soon turned out that bigger cities were more secure for them: in a city, a black maid was not common, but just slightly exotic, whilst in the villages, both children and adults wanted to have a look at Tabea. Not only was it embarrassing, but it also drew attention and since they had no idea whether the Inquisition was behind them, they didn`t want to be part of the daily talk.

Now, in Chioggia, it seemed that they would be able to go into hiding. The small harbor city was crowded with people from all the Levant and their only problem was that the hotel where they decided to stay cost quite a sum.

»So, do you insist on playing Mistress and Maids or shall we draw sticks who will get the bed?«, Jelena asked when they were alone in their room whilst Bela was looking after the mule. As a »coachman«, he would have to sleep in a common room, but the room offered a broad bed and also two bunks for the »maids«. Janika stretched her body and smiled:

»Before we do so, you will have to act as my maids one last time!«

As on keyword, there was a knock at the door and two servants brought in a large wooden washtub. They withdrew after Janika had given them a few small coins and then, she said:

»I ordered them to also put some water on the oven. So, if you would be so kind and fetch the water, we all can have a bath!«

It was a nice thought, but since it meant that they would have to bathe one by one and Janika insisted to be the first since it had been her idea, both Tabea and Jelena opted for a trip through the streets of Chioggia instead. At the harbor, Jelena looked at the sea. From here, Venice could not be seen, but they knew that they could reach it within a day, even by a slow boat.

»Do you think they are still there?«, Tabea asked, referring to Androsch and Goran. Jelena shrugged.

»My ex always scolded me for being late occasionally, but I think one month is tough anyway!«

Tabea frowned. It sounded as if Jelena also could think of something else than becoming the future Mrs. Goran! She took a deep breath and asked:

»Nelly – what do you think about – well, staying here?«

Jelena knew that Tabea didn`t mean Chioggia, but the 16th century. She thought about her answer for a few seconds before she replied:

»Well, the best solution would be if Bela found a way of sending men through time, too!«

Tabea gasped. Bela had told them that, if he found some books in Venice, he might again make it possible to send them back to the 21st century. However, for some reason he couldn`t explain, the time travel only worked for females. But the way Jelena had put it-

»So, you also don`t want to grow old here, not even on Goran`s side?«

Jelena looked up to her.

»Well – no. It was a nice experience, but maybe, it was just because he was the most gentle of our abductors! Perhaps, I should set the stake higher than just take someone who didn`t rape me if he had the opportunity.«

Tabea knew that she was a bit unfair towards Goran, but at the same time, she felt relieved. Jelena would also prefer to get back! She hugged her friend and Jelena sighed.

»I knew that you were not only suffering what these thugs did to you, Tabby! But why didn`t you tell me earlier?«

Now, Tabea felt a bit silly and when she hugged Jelena again, she felt tears come up in her eyes. Wiping over them, she said:

»Tomorrow, we will go to Venice and then, we will see if they are still there – and how we will react if they are. But this evening, we should take a break and collect some strength!«

»If you are thinking about some wine and food, I`m in!«, Jelena replied.

The two girls walked along, not noticing the man in the corner watching them. He had kept some distance, but these two fit the description: a tallish black woman and a small Gypsy, both pretty and busty. He had nearly forgotten about the time he had heard about them last, but he was quite sure that these were the two women someone he knew would pay quite a sum for. So, he followed the two women to see where they were going.

***

»Perhaps, you should have decided for taking a bath, too«, Janika mocked the next morning when they met for breakfast. Indeed, the blonde looked by far the most presentable of the three women, for she had not only bathed, but also had had her clothes cleaned. Tabea, however, was suffering from a bad headache and the fact that, though they were in Italy, it would take some centuries before she could order a double Espresso. Her hair was disheveled and she had to force herself to eat a little bread whilst Jelena, whose face looked pale just sipped on some water and had to keep her head from sinking to the table.

Bela also looked a bit shabby with his sparse three-day beard and the rings under his eyes, but at least, he had spent the night trying to get a good price for their cart and mule. He had been successful and now, they had enough money for both the passage to Venice and for living quite comfortable for some three or four weeks.

Since they were in public, he could not get too close to Janika and so, he joined in her mocking Tabea and Jelena because of their hangover. After breakfast, they walked over to the harbor to find an affordable boat to get them to Venice, though both Tabea and Jelena definitely weren`t too keen to get aboard a ship.

It turned out that not many boats were left, since most fishermen had already left the harbor. When they looked around, suddenly, a loud voice barked:

»There! There they are!«

Tabea spun around and saw three men approaching them. She had none of them ever seen before, but they looked like bailiffs, one of them carrying a rusty pike whilst the others held clubs. Janika frowned.

»Have you beaten the bill yesterday?«

»How should I know?«, Tabea answered, forcing herself to concentrate on the three men. The first one now lowered his pike so it pointed at them and shouted:

»You better come with us immediately!«

»But why?«, Bela insisted, stepping one step forward, his hand on his purse. He was sure that this situation could be cleared by some bribery. However, the man with the pike grunted:

»You and the blonde Lady may go! We are only behind these two!«

Tabea tried to remember whether she or Jelena had done something wrong the last night. All she could remember was that they had shared a last bottle in front of the hotel. Bela now said:

»Listen, if they owe you money, I sure can-«

»Shut up!«, the bailiff shouted and stepped forward, threatening Bela with his pike. Tabea acted reflexively. She jumped forward, blocked the pike`s shaft and hit the man`s face with the edge of her left. With a grunt, he stumbled backwards, but then, he tightened his grip on his weapon and his henchmen also approached Tabea.

»Hey!«

Now, Janika gathered her skirts and when the man next to her gazed on her legs, she landed a front kick at his chest. She then distracted the leader of the group long enough so Tabea could concentrate on the third. Obviously, these three men were no battle-hardened soldiers or just were too perplexed by the two women`s ability to fight, but after a short brawl, they withdrew, one of them limping and the other holding his broken nose.

»Phew, that helped to get rid of my hangover!«, Tabea panted, wiping sweat from her forehead. Like Janika, she still kept fighting position and looked around. Some people had witnessed the fight and whist some seemed rather amused, others looked less friendly.

»We better find a boat very quickly!«, Jelena whispered when suddenly, she heard steps beside her. Tabea nearly had hit the man that had approached. Defensively, he raised his hand and smiled.

»Easy, girl! I just wanted to tell you that my ship is about to set sails! If you can afford 25 Scudi, you could come with us!«

Quickly, Janika and Bela exchanged looks and the Blonde nodded. So, they followed the man to a small vessel where two more men were waiting. When Bela wanted to step aboard, the man stopped him and held up his hand.

Meanwhile, the three bailiffs had found some people who were listening to them. Tabea could see they were gesturing and pointing towards them. Bela counted some silver coins when the sailor said with a grin:

»Oh, it`s 25 for each of you, of course!«

»What?«

25 Scudi already were quite a sum for the short trip, but that was sheer usury! With a broad smile, the sailor said:

»Of course, it´s on you, Messere! You are free to find a cheaper boat!«

He made a gesture towards the three men that now obviously had persuaded a dozen of others to join them in another attempt to get Tabea and Jelena in their hands. The sailor was in the better position for haggling and he knew it.

»Highwayman!«, Bela hissed and paid the demanded sum. With a mocking bow, the sailor let them pass whilst his comrades loosened the tows. Quickly, they shoved off and staked the boat to the sea. When the crowd reached the shore, they had already brought some ten yards between themselves and the quay and so, the bailiffs couldn`t do more than shout and throw a few badly aimed stones. The sailors answered by raising their middle fingers and though it didn`t fit their disguise, both Tabea and Janika did the same.

»We better don`t get back here too soon!«, the boat`s Captain laughed before he manned the tiller handle whilst his comrades hoisted the only sail. He was indeed happy, for his plan had worked quite well. As a bonus, the Black and the Blonde had kicked the asses of these three men. It had cost him 30 Scudi in advance to do their fake arrest, but now, it seemed that they had earned their money the hard way. In addition, he now had the money from the man who accompanied the three women.

»The only problem is that these two are all but fair, weak women!«, he thought. With a mixture of amusement and fascination, he had watched how the two girls had beaten up three grown men. However, they would no longer have the element of surprise if he and his men attacked.

Tabea meanwhile observed the vanishing city, but obviously, no ship was sent after them. She felt relief: whoever these three men had been, they were not working for the Inquisition! Otherwise, they would have been able to get some support from Chioggia`s authorities.

»I wonder who they were then?«

»Who taught you to fight like that?«

It was the ship`s Captain, though this title maybe was a bit exaggerating, given the fact the vessel had some 25 feet and was sailed by three men. Tabea saw that they had now reached the open water and were sailing north, following the coastline of the narrow islands that separated the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic. The sea was quiet and so, the Captain and his two crew members had little to do and also seemed to be interested in their story.

Since none of the four friends spoke more than average Italian, the conversation was a bit difficult, but they managed to tell the men a more or less plausible story about why they had been attacked and how they had learned to fight. The sailors seemed more amused than impressed, for they repeatedly spoke in their Venetian dialect Tabea could not understand, followed by some laughter.

However, this could not be called a problem. The boat moved quite steadily and Tabea guessed that they would reach Venice within three or four hours. There were other boas around, but none of them came close to them and she began to relax, only puzzled by the thought she might see Androsch later that day.

Both Tabea and Jelena miraculously felt better since they had entered the boat, but now, they grew a bit tired and were about to doze off. They hardly noticed when the sailors trimmed the sail from time to time and so, when one of them sat beside Jelena, she didn`t even stir.

Then, the man suddenly slung an arm around her throat and before she could utter a sound, Jelena felt something cold touch her throat.

»No false move, or your friend gets killed!«

Tabea startled and saw that the other sailor also had drawn a long dagger. The Captain still sat by the tiller, but he also seemed alert, though he spoke calm. Jelena squirmed and panted, but the man held her in his vice grip. Janika and Bela stared at the men, also surprised by the sudden attack. The Captain now spoke again:

»You«, he addressed Bela, »can you swim?«

Janika gasped and Bela tried to remain calm, but after a few seconds, he nodded.

»Good! It`s some half a mile to the shore, so, since the sea is quiet, you sure will make it without problems. Leave your purse here, please. Everything else, you may take with you – however, it might be difficult to swim fully dressed!«

Bela looked around and both Janika and Tabea also waited for an opportunity to attack, but the man holding Jelena held the blade to her neck and would kill her before they had reached him. So, Bela took the purse from his belt and threw it to the planks. Then, he removed his boots and socks, followed by his coat and vest. After some hesitating, he also took off his shirt, but kept his belt with the knife. Then, he looked apologetically at Janika, kissed her on her lips and jumped overboard. The Captain said:

»You may follow him, if you like! We only need the other two!«

Now, Tabea felt her heart miss a beat. This was not an attempted rape, but a planned attack! Janika looked at the sea where Bela was swimming. After a deep breath, Tabea whispered:

»Follow him! Whatever they do to us, our chances are better if you and Bela can try to find help!«

Janika nodded and began to work on the bands of her dress. She was quite a good swimmer, but she had seen that Bela wasn`t and would perhaps need her help. In addition, the dress would soak and pull her below the surface and so, she had to undress before. Under the men`s prying eyes, she removed her dress and the underskirts, followed by her bootees and gartered stockings. With nothing but her linen slip, Janika jumped into the water. Now, the Captain looked at Tabea. She expected him to order her to strip, too, but instead, the sailor who did not hold Jelena now took a rope and tied her hands behind her back. She felt him pull the ropes very tight and she let out a sharp breath when he tied off the knots.

The man was far from being finished, for he now also tied her elbows together. Tabea had chosen a wide white blouse to her colored skirt, but even now, her thrust out ample breasts made the material feel tight on her boobs and her shoulders hurt from the tie. The man now slung the rope around her upper body a few times, securing her arms to her back. Then, he stepped in front of her and pulled her skirt and underskirt up her legs. Tabea gasped, but though he let his hands wander over her shapely legs, he just tied them above and below her knees and at her ankles.

Helplessly, Tabea watched as now, Jelena was tied up the same way. Then, the man produced some rags and handed half of them to his comrade. Her head was yanked backwards and he stuffed a giant wad between her lips, securing it with a second cloth he tied tightly between her teeth so it cut into the corners of her mouth. Above, a third cloth was tied whilst the last was bound over Tabea`s eyes. Some rustling and moaning told her that Jelena was gagged and blindfolded the same way. Then, she felt the man sit behind her and pull her towards him, so her head rested against his belly and she sat between his open legs.

»The Signore told us he needs them well and alive – and untouched. However, before we reach the city, you might have at least a little fun with our passengers!«

Tabea heard a laugh and a second later, she felt two rough hands on her breasts, kneading and fondling them.

»Uuuhhmmph! Nnnngggg!«

»I know you like it!«, was the remark of her tormentor, followed by some chuckling and an even tighter grip on her boobs.

***

About half an hour after the thugs had forced them to leave the boat, an exhausted Bela and a still quite fresh, but seriously pissed Janika reached the shore of the Lido. Though he was still panting, Bela offered his hand to Janika and she hugged and kissed him before they both sank to the ground.

»They will pay for that!«

Though they both were unharmed, they were in not a good position to do so, however. Janika only had her sleeveless linen slip and though the material still was opaque, it clung to her wet skin and emphasized her firm large boobs rather than concealing them. Bela was little better off, though he at least still had his knife. He now opened his belt and lowered his trousers.

»Bela, Dear, I love you, but-«

Bela chuckled when he reached into his linen underpants. Then, he produced a small leather bag and tossed it over to Janika. Whilst he adjusted his clothes again, she opened the bag and saw some silver coins in it.

»A usual precaution I always do when travelling!«

Quickly, Janika counted the money. It was 20 Scudi, enough for some new clothes and more. She smiled and said:

»I can only repeat that I love the contents of your pants!«

***

To her slight relief, the only defense left to the bound, gagged and blindfolded Tabea worked, though it cost her all remnants of self-control: she endured being groped by the man without squirming or moaning and so, after some time, he lost interest and let her go. Obviously, the orders of not touching her further had been strict enough from taking more advantages.

Again, the men only communicated in their dialect and so, Tabea still had no idea who was behind that abduction. She now was sure that the attack at the harbor had been made up and therefore, it had to be someone with money and influence. But who?

The Inquisition would not play such games, they would have arrested them openly and besides, the church would also have arrested Janika and Bela. She also doubted that these men were working for the Ottomans. There were also the pirates they had escaped from, but could they work out such an elaborate plan in a city?

And yet, the employer of these men, the ominous »Signore« seemed to have been looking exactly for her and Jelena! Tabea nursed her curiosity, for it helped her from giving in to her fears. Being bound and gagged again reminded her of the helplessness in the hands of her former captors, but the girl knew that once she panicked, she would be lost completely.

She could not tell exactly, but it could have been after some two hours when the Captain gave an order that considered her and Jelena:

»We are almost home! Let`s take care they are not seen or heard!«

Tabea was turned onto her belly and felt she was tightly hogtied before she was stowed somewhere near the bilge, for she felt water and smelled salt and mud. Then, something soft pushed against her and she heard a faint moan: Jelena.

The sailors then draped some heavy cloth over them, maybe a tarpaulin. Immediately, the air became very stale and both girls had to concentrate on breathing. Tabea thought of trying to turn around and try to work on Jelena`s bonds, but then, she felt an additional weight on her body. Obviously, the men had lowered the sail and let it fall over them, too. Now, the two girls could hardly move at all.

»I wonder if they get paid if we suffocate!«

Now, they could hear the sounds of a harbor crowded with people, within shouting distance had they not been thoroughly gagged. The boat slowly moved on until the noises ceased again and then, it came to a halt. About a minute later, Tabea felt that the sail and the tarpaulin were removed. Another moan told her that Jelena was alive, too, and Tabea greedily sucked in fresh air when she was grabbed by strong hands.

She felt that someone quite unceremoniously loaded her over his shoulder and carried her away. She moaned and squirmed, but her captor just tightened his grip and continued to get her along what seemed to be a corridor. Tabea noticed that the stairs the man took on two occasions led upwards; whatever her final destination was, it wasn`t a cellar.

After a while, she was dumped on something soft. When she squirmed and tried to shift her position, she felt that she was lying on something smooth – a bed with silk bed sheets.

»Mhm?«

»Uuhmm!«, Jelena responded from nearby. The movement of the mattress indicated Tabea that her friend was close, lying on the same bed. She squirmed and got closer to Jelena, but when she felt the other`s body, a faint cough told her they were not alone.

»Thank you, Marco. You may now retire!«

»Signore!«

This was the voice of the boat`s Captain and Tabea could now hear vanishing steps. So, this was the ominous man who was behind their abduction! From the one sentence she had heard, Tabea was sure that he was an elderly man, someone who was used to give orders. Now, he seemed to step closer to the bed.

»So, you are the famous slave girls my son told me about.«

Gritti! In Serbia, they had been kidnapped by brigands who had intended to sell them off to Ludovico Gritti, a Venetian diplomat and spy who was also a close friend of Sultan Süleyman and his Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasha. Gritti also was the son of Andrea Gritti, Doge of the Republic of Venice.

Tabea wasn`t sure whether she should feel fear or relief. It had been the plan of Goran and Androsch to sell them to Gritti, only to free them once they had reached Venice. However, the intervention of the pirates had caused this plan to fail. And now, they were indeed in the hands of the Venetians again.

Whilst they had been on Gritti`s ship, they had been treated well. Goran and Androsch had told them that Gritti needed them well and alive, as insurance against Ibrahim Pasha, for they had been involved in his conspiracy against the Sultan. Now, they were once again pawns in these men`s gamble for power.

Now, Andrea Gritti said something and moments later, the rope tying Tabea`s wrists to her ankles was cut and she was sat up on the bed. Then, her blindfold was removed. She blinked and now, she saw the man standing opposite to her.

Andrea Gritti was an old man. She guessed that he was about 70 and he also was quite overweight. However, despite his excess pounds and the silver stick his right hand rested upon, he also embodied strength. Most of his face was hidden by a huge grey beard, but his eyes were very expressive and she could see that he had been quite handsome in his younger years.

»Ludovico wrote me that you have some information about our – difficult friends, the Turks. Information so valid it might even shake the position of the Sultan`s Grand Vizier. Is that true?«

Tabea and Jelena exchanged a short look. They had indeed some information, but they knew that by telling Gritti, they might severely alter the past. However, they sure had done so from the moment of their unwilling arrival in the year 1525. So, both girls nodded. Gritti smiled, showing surprisingly good teeth for a man of his age in a time where dental hygiene wasn`t a thing. Tabea had to admit Gritti had considerable charisma.

»Of course, it is important that you share this information with me. Deliberately or – after some persuasion.«

Tabea gulped. She and Jelena had been in a torture chamber once which had been once too often. She looked at Gritti, raising her chin to indicate him that she could not tell him anything, even if she wanted, as long as she was gagged.

Gritti now turned towards the window and when looking outside, he spoke:

»When I was a younger man, I spend several years at the Ottoman court at Constantinople. My four sons were born there and I was a close friend of the Grand Vizier. Even the Sultan, the late Bayezid II, visited my house on a few occasions.«

The quite abrupt change of topic amazed the girls who exchanged looks again. As if being carried away by memory, Gritti continued:

»After some time, however, I fell from grace and was imprisoned. Not in a rotten cell, but the Sultan had other ways of reminding me that my life depended on his mercy. It took almost three years before Venice paid and I got released. But since then, I managed to keep a good relation to the Ottomans and Ludovico, my oldest is now in an even better position than I ever was.«

He turned back towards his captives and looked at them.

»So, if the information you have turn out to be helpful to the Republic of Venice, Ludovico`s position and my own, you will be treated well. I can`t let you go, but you will live like Princesses. However, if you refuse to talk or tell lies, well-«

Gritti fell silent, but his look told the girls that he would not hesitate to forcing them to talk or even killing them. Tabea could not help shivering and Jelena also let out a faint moan. Again smiling friendly, Gritti now produced a golden coin. He flipped it and when it landed on the back of his hand, he looked at Tabea:

»I will start with you. It will help me to detect any inconsistencies or lies if I am interrogating you separately.«

He clapped his hands and two maids entered, curtseying and waiting to his right whilst the servant who had freed the captives from their hogties and blindfolds stepped to his left.

»Fiamma and Ornella, you will take care of this girl`s needs, except for letting her leave this room. Don`t worry, there will be two guards posted in front of the door.«

Again, the two maids curtseyed and Gritti turned towards the servant:

»Luigi, you will take the other one to the interrogation room. I will follow you, but of course, you are faster than me.«

The man bowed and then approached Tabea. He grinned when he loaded her over his shoulder and Tabea felt his hand on her butt, groping her buttocks. She slightly squirmed and moaned, but the man just carried her through a side door, followed by Gritti who fell back due to his slight limp and his considerable overweight.

The narrow corridors were sparsely lit and seemed to have no end. Then, finally, Luigi opened an iron door and entered a room that was considerably large, but was filled with various contraptions that send a shiver down Tabea´s spine.

Once again, she had been brought to a torture chamber.

***