Back to the Present 8

»We better should go now!«

Janika looked at the other women who seemed nervous and determined at the same time. It would be some six hours more before it would be midnight, but they had to get a boat, row over to San Michele and prepare a few things there. In addition, Janika`s plan was to be there before Gritti would arrive.

She had thought about talking to Bela, too, but decided against it. She didn`t trust any messenger and by going herself, she would have risked that someone who knew who she was would see her. No, it would be better if they freed Tabea and made their escape to Giudecca immediately afterwards. Perhaps, Gritti would even pay the money they had demanded in their blackmailing letter.

Janika was sure that the Doge would try something and therefore, she had decided to get to the island before he would arrive. Then, if they saw Gritti approach with more than one man, they still could retreat and start another attempt of freeing Tabea.

***

Gritti had managed to get through the meeting of the Grand Counsel, though some nobles had mentioned the insulting joke done to him. He had laughed, as if he did not take such things serious, but whilst he had listened to them discussing the relationship with France, he had developed his plan of how he could outsmart these blackmailers – of whom one was most likely his former Mistress.

He had to admit that Aurora had a right to be angry about the way he had tried to get her disposed of, but after all, she had helped Jelena to escape before that. However, Gritti also knew that he had allowed his feelings – or rather his lust – to take possession of him. Tabea fascinated him and he was sure that she wasn`t just beautiful, but also intelligent and brave. But could he really trust her?

Finally, the meeting was over and Gritti quickly went for the torture chamber where Lorenzo and Luigi quickly got dressed when he entered whilst Fiamma and Ornella tried to cover their bareness with their blankets. Obviously, the four had enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh.

»In front of the eyes of our guest, I must say!«, Gritti said with a smile that showed just enough contempt to make his henchmen bow their heads whilst the two maids blushed all over. Gritti approached the back of the chair to which Tabea was tied. Since her head was fixed to the backrest by two tight belts, she could not turn her head towards him, but she soon felt his fingers caress her neck, causing her to shudder.

»I am back, Dear!«

Tabea moaned. Gritti had moved the rocking chair slightly and even that little movement made the agonizing crotch strap send a wave of pain through her loins. Gritti recognized it and also saw the tears in her still defiant eyes. He reached down and unhooked the strap from her waist belt.

»Uuuuhhhmmmmm!«

It made her cringe when he removed the strap and soon, she felt an almost unbearable throbbing and tingling down there. Then, there was Gritti`s hand, massaging her with surprising tenderness as he looked into her eyes.

»Your friends are now trying to free you by blackmailing me!«

He hadn`t placed his hand at her most intimate part to seduce Tabea, nor to ease her pain. Also, his intention hadn`t been to humiliate her. But the mentioning of Tabea`s friends made her twitch in a way that told him it mattered to her, even before she widened her eyes and let out a moan. Gritti continued is massage and told her:

»They want you in exchange for keeping some secrets they know about me to themselves!«

»Mhhmm!«

Again, he could feel how Tabea involuntarily tightened her muscles. She felt some hope and maybe, also fear for her friends, but there was no real, devoted response to his fingers. Gritti made a decision.

This girl would never be loyal to him. Sure, he could force himself upon her and maybe, he could even make her climax against her will, as he had done before. But sooner or later, she would try to run away or even try to harm him.

He withdrew his hand from Tabea`s pubic mound and bent forward, till his eyes were only inches apart from hers.

»So, what would you do to protect them, Tabea?«

He loosened the two belts that pressed her head against the chair`s backrest. Tabea`s head sank forward, but she forced herself to look at Gritti again.

»Would you dedicate yourself to me if I promise to save their lives?«

He could see the cloth over her nose billow as she panted before she nodded slightly. He smiled and again, he pushed his hand between the girl`s legs. Tabea closed her eyes for a moment, but then, she again looked at him and she didn`t mew or squirm as he again massaged her middle.

Gritti now knew what he wanted to know: Tabea would let him do whatever he wanted, just for saving her friends. She would even fake that she loved it, but her loyalty would not be for him. He could feel it, though he couldn`t say what told him he was right. But whenever he had been intimate with a woman – and there had been quite a lot of them –, he had been able to tell whether they were willingly because they loved him or because they followed their own agenda. Again, he withdrew his hand.

»That`s all I wanted to know!«

»Mmhhmm?«

»Your friends want to meet with me at midnight – or rather you and me, accompanied by just one man. And I think I will follow that order so far!«

»But, Your Highness-«

It was Lorenzo who had taken the opportunity to get properly dressed and wash his face whilst Gritti had spoken to Tabea. The Doge turned towards him and asked:

»What do you want to say, Lorenzo? That this is a trap and that I will risk my life?«

»Well – yes, Your Highness!«

Gritti nodded slowly.

»You are absolutely right about that, Lorenzo. So, what would you do if you were me?«

Lorenzo cleared his throat. He knew that he was brighter than Luigi and Gritti seemed to trust him, but sometimes, the old man showed him that he would never be able to think as fast and complex as the Doge.

»Well, I would send someone dressed up like you – or at least hide some men below deck!«

Gritti smiled – rather friendly than presumptuous. Lorenzo`s ideas hadn`t been foolish, they just were too obvious.

»Maybe, you want to listen to my idea, too?«

***

Since they still had quite some money left, it hadn`t been difficult to get a small row boat. San Michele was just a few hundred yards away from the main islands of Venice and so, rowing towards the Cemetery Island had also been an easy task. Janika had steered for a remote place, out of sight from the main mooring. Her goal was a very small bay, just some ten yards in length. It was enough to land their boat where they would be hidden and could also look at the water for any approaching boat.

»Time to get prepared, Aurora!«

The former Mistress nodded and took off her cloak. She then also removed her shoes and with the help of Jelena, she slipped out of her dress, leaving her in just a camisole. Aurora had agreed upon partially undressing to look more like a victim of real blackmailers, but she had pleaded to keep at least the flimsy garment.

Jelena now tied her hands behind her back and slung the rope around her torso, fixing her arms to her upper body. She pulled the knots tight to let the tie look convincing, but spared Aurora brutal things like forcing her elbows together or applying a crotch rope on her.

Aurora writhed and then, she whispered:

»It`s not as tight as these bastards tied me, but still feels convincing. Now, you should also gag me!«

Again, Jelena tried to find a compromise between cruelty and showing this was a fake. She balled up a handkerchief and shoved it into Aurora`s mouth. She then tied a knot into a cloth and forced it between the other`s lips before tying it off at her nape. Jelena finished tying Aurora up by adding a blindfold before she draped the cloak over her captive`s shoulders again.

»Is that a spider on your shoulder, Aurora?«

»Mmhrrrmmmm!«

Aurora squirmed and Jelena put her hands on her shoulders.

»I just wanted to test if your gag is tight enough!«

»Just be glad we didn`t twist your nipples«, Janika added and Aurora snorted angrily through her nose. Then, aided by Jelena, she sat down on the boat`s bench whilst Janika had stepped on land and had went for a good lookout.

»At least, the moon is full«, she thought. Indeed, she could make out any boat that would approach the island. Once or twice, she thought it could be Gritti, but it was only after some three hours of tedious waiting that she once again spotted a small boat that slowly came closer to the mooring.

It was a small row boat, just like their own, and Janika could only spot one man at the oars and a fat man, obviously Gritti, sitting in the stern. There was no sign of Tabea.

»Is he trying something?«, she thought. At least, it looked as if Gritti hadn`t brought any additional men with him. Janika told Jelena that they should follow her and slowly, they approached the mooring. Jelena had tied a rope around Aurora`s neck, but as long as they were out of sight, she led the blindfolded woman by her arm.

The boat had reached the mooring and the man who had rowed jumped off and towed it to a stake whilst Gritti rose from his seat and, with the help of the other man, also left the boat. Janika pulled the hood of her cloak deep into her face and, covered by the shadow of a tree, she yelled:

»Is that you, Polpetto?«

If the nickname bothered Gritti, he didn`t show it. Instead, he answered:

»Have you brought what you are offering me?«

»Sure«, Janika replied, »but have you?«

Gritti whispered something to his companion and the man bent into the boat, gathering a heavy tarpaulin. The pale moonlight fell on the body of a hooded woman. Janika could see that she was black, for she was stark naked. Also, she could tell from her memory that this was indeed Tabea and not just any black woman. The woman moved slightly and now, Janika could see she had been wrapped in iron chains.

»All right, free her and send her over to us! Then, you will get Aurora in exchange!«

She looked around if there was any sign of a trap, but it seemed that Gritti had kept his word. The Doge now said:

»I also brought the 1000 golden Scudi with me! They are in the boat, too! But before I get them, show me you stand to your word, too!«

Janika took a deep breath. She had expected this scene and yet, it made her nervous. With a gesture, she made Jelena step forward, pulling Aurora with her. The former Mistress staggered and let out a moan, but Janika could only think that this would make her predicament look even more realistic.

»Now, get Tabea out of the boat, free her and give her the money! Then, send her over and we will let Aurora go, too!«

Jelena removed Aurora`s blindfold and whispered:

»Once you have reached Tabea, you turn around and run back to us!«

Aurora didn`t nod, for Gritti could have seen it, but it was the way their plan worked. She would take small steps to ensure that Tabea would be some yards away from the boat, allowing them to run into the darkness before Gritti and his henchman could react.

To their surprise, the Doge`s man now lit a lamp and placed it on the landing stage whilst Gritti produced a sack the size of a small pumpkin. Was this the promised money?

»How about you trying to get Tabea?«

Janika saw that the man loosened the rope from the stake, threw it into the boat and pushed it from the mooring. Meanwhile, Gritti held the sack to the candle inside the lamp and a second later, Janika could hear a characteristic hiss: the burning of a fuse!

Gritti threw the sack inside the boat and yelled:

»I guess you have the time of three Pater Noster!«

The Lord`s Prayer, or Pater Noster, lasted some 30 to 40 seconds, depending on the speed of the praying person. So, the bomb would explode within two minutes. Janika still considered whether this was a bluff when she heard a scream and a second later, Jelena quickly undid her dress, ran for the mooring and jumped into the water.

»No, Nelly! It`s a trap!«

She stepped towards Gritti, but now, his companion drew a sword and he looked as if he knew how to use it. The Doge said:

»You must be the blonde Amazon Marco told me about! But where is your companion?«

Janika, who had with one eye been watching Jelena swim towards the boat, stopped in motion. So, Gritti knew about her and Bela! She answered quickly:

»He`s right behind me, aiming at your fat belly!«

»And he would dare to endanger you by shooting at me?«

Either, Gritti was braver than she had thought or he just knew that she was lying. She looked at the boat that had drifted away a few yards. Inside, Tabea obviously was squirming in her bonds and Jelena had just reached the side, trying to climb up.

»It seems she won`t make it in time!«, Gritti said calmly. Janika couldn`t believe it: if the bomb exploded, he and his henchman would die, too. Then, whilst Jelena finally got aboard, she understood: the bomb had been a fake.

POP!

At that very moment, there was an explosion, but it was that of a fire cracker that had been wrapped inside some rags. The sound wasn`t loud and the sparks that showed up were harmless. Motionless, the dripping and panting Jelena watched the unimpressive explosion whilst Gritti laughed.

»Your whole plan had one weakness: it would only work if I still cared about Aurora and what damage she could do to me! It also depended on me being still interested in Tabea becoming my new Mistress!«

Janika looked a bit puzzled. Gritti hadn`t improved the slightest! Once Jelena had recovered from her scare, she could take the oars and row the boat away whilst she retreated together with Aurora. They would have no gold, but the Doge would be stranded on San Michele until the next morning, without a boat.

»I have to admit that your plan was quite good! You only made one little mistake – by choosing San Michele for the meeting!«

Now, Janika heard a sound from behind her and when she spun around, she saw a group of men in black habits approach. Gritti laughed:

»The island is only inhabited by the dead – and, of course, by the monks who say the prayers for them and do all the funeral rites!«

Janika looked at Aurora who also seemed puzzled. It had been the former Mistress who had chosen the Cemetery Island for the meeting and she had told them that at midnight, the monks would be either asleep or busy praying inside the chapel and therefore, they would be undisturbed. But now, she counted no less than eight men approaching and each was carrying a stick and some coiled rope.

Gritti now looked directly at Aurora and said:

»Have you really forgotten that the Prior of this little monastery is Pater Giuseppe, my illegitimate fourth son?«

The groan Aurora made told Janika that she just hadn`t known it. Or, at least, had thought that Gritti would be unable to ask his son for help. But now, they were trapped. Desperately, Janika fired her last arrow:

»Nelly! Row away! At least, you two can make it!«

»Just remember that Luigi is waiting for you at the other side!«, Gritti added. »In addition: if you come back now, I will grant you your lives! That, I swear to God and Aurora can assure you that I never broke an oath in my life! After all, I am witnessed by several monks and standing on sacred ground!«

Jelena hesitated for a few seconds, but then, she took an oar and steered the boat back to the mooring. A minute later, she stood side by side with Janika and the still bound and gagged Aurora, guarded by Lorenzo and five of the monks whilst the three others heaved Tabea from the boat. When they quite unceremoniously dumped her on the landing stage, Jelena could see that, though the bomb might have been a fake, the chains weren`t: in addition to iron shackles around her wrists, ankles and elbows, some 100 feet of chain had been wrapped tightly all over her body. Tabea squirmed weakly and a faint groan escaped from underneath her tight black hood. With horror, Jelena noticed that one chain had been pulled between Tabea`s legs, bisecting her crotch. She shivered in her wet camisole that now was transparent, allowing the monks to watch her as if she was naked. Blushing, she tried to cover herself with her arms.

Aurora didn`t have that luxury, but at least, her camisole still was opaque whilst Janika was the only one unrestrained and decently dressed. Gritti let his eyes wander over their bodies before he spoke.

»As you have to admit, I didn`t bring more than one man with me. However, you didn`t say anything about the men already here!«

He chuckled and showed them a small mirror with which he let a spot of light wander over the women`s bodies.

»That`s all it took me to contact my son, the Prior of this monastery. He knows that he owes me a favor for his soon promotion to become the Abbot of Santa Clara.«

Jelena had no idea what Santa Clara was, but obviously, it was outranking being the Prior of some ten monks at a Cemetery Island. And also obviously, it was a promotion the Doge of Venice could decide about.

»Y-you promised us our lives«, she croaked and Gritti now smiled again.

»I did – and this promise, I am going to keep. However, it seems that sending you to the – establishment where I sent Aurora to yesterday isn`t the best idea. You might escape and continue to spread lies about me.«

Gritti now stepped closer to one of the monks who distinguished himself from his brothers by a golden cross he wore around his neck. Obviously, this was the Prior, Pater Giuseppe – Gritti`s illegitimate son.

None of the girls could understand the whispered negotiations, but since after a while, Gritti bent a knee and Pater Giuseppe blessed him a bit reluctantly, it seemed that they had come to an agreement. The Doge now announced:

»The Prior has agreed upon helping me with the problems you four caused. But before we go-«

He took the lamp and waved it three times.

»The fake bomb was meant to signal Luigi that everything went according to plan. Now, he knows that I was successful!«

Janika would have laughed to kick the smile from Gritti`s face, but now, one of the monks stepped behind her and grabbed her wrists. She fumed, but he tied her hands behind her back whilst another one tied Jelena`s  wrists. Then, ropes were tied around their necks and each girl got a knotted cloth stuffed between her lips and knotted at her nape.

Escorted by the other monks with the sticks, they were escorted towards a building beside the actual monastery. There was some rattling of chains and a faint moan, telling them that two monks had taken care of Tabea and were carrying her.

The building looked like a barn, but was made of stone and inside, it was quite cold, causing Aurora and Jelena who were both barefoot to shiver. The monks pushed them inside a small chamber and locked the door behind them. Tabea, however, did not join them.

It took Janika some two minutes to free herself and the others. The room had no window, but some light came through the crevices in the door of their tiny prison. Janika pressed her eye on one of the gaps.

The main room had been lit by several chandeliers now, allowing her to see all but the still dark corners. In the middle, she could see a large stone table. It looked like an altar – or a sacrificial stone. Janika shuddered and she had some doubts about what Gritti had told them about sparing their lives.

They had placed Tabea on the table and two of the monks had put on leather aprons over their habits. Janika could also see Gritti, Lorenzo and Pater Giuseppe, but obviously, the other monks had left.

»It will be just for one or two days«, the Doge said to his son. The Prior still seemed unhappy about whatever Gritti wanted from him, but obviously, the promotion was something he really desired.

»The day after tomorrow«, Gritti continued, »you and the other brothers may have their old routine back – including your preparation room!«

Preparation room! Janika shuddered. Now, she understood: the stone table was usually meant to place corpses on it, to balm them or whatever these monks did to the dead before they were buried. Beside her, Jelena asked with a trembling voice:

»D-do they want t-to b-bury us alive?«

»He promised us our lives!«, Aurora whispered, but she was less confident than she tried to sound. If they buried them alive, it would technically not be Gritti who killed them. However, though she didn`t know the Prior, she doubted that a man of God would take part in such things.

Janika had to distort her neck to see what was going on. One of the monks with the aprons had lit a small oven and was boiling a pot with water whilst the other brought two more buckets that also seemed to contain nothing but water. She had once seen a documentary about how Egyptian mummies had been embalmed and she shuddered from the memory of procedures like removing the brain through the nose. None of the monks was handling with iron hooks so far, but she feared for the worst as she continued watching.

»We better do that outside!«, Pater Giuseppe now ordered, obviously still not happy with what he had to do for his natural father`s benevolence. Gritti patted the Prior`s shoulder and said:

»I understand that you don`t like it, but the alternatives would be to either kill them or spread the vice of lust throughout the city. Just consider it as a kind of exorcism!«

Pater Giuseppe scoffed.

»May God have mercy to your soul!«

»Oh, I am sure he will forgive a poor sinner like me. After all, the new Abbott of Santa Clara will pray for my soul in the years to come, as will the discreet monks of the monastery here. A monastery that really needs a new roof and an annual donation by the Doge of Venice.«

Aurora gulped. So, Gritti had ensured that none of his helpers would talk about whatever he had in mind with her and the others. She shivered in her thin camisole, though she sweated at the same time.

Lorenzo now handed a key to the monks and they removed the chains from Tabea`s legs, including the one that bisected her crotch. The girl squirmed weakly and let out a groan. Now, the two monks grabbed her arms and helped her to stagger outside on wobbly legs. Lorenzo took a large metal syringe and filled it with a mixture of warm and cold water before he followed the others, showing a sardonic grin.

Janika fought down the urge to hammer against the door and to shout at their captors. Again, the memories of the documentary haunted her and she feared that they would insert something terrible into Tabea`s body. However, no oppressed scream came from outside and after some minutes, all came back. Tabea, still hooded and chained above her waist, seemed physically unharmed, but obviously, the two monks now rather carried her than she was walking on her own.

She was sat upon the table and they tied her ankles to the opposite knees, forcing her into a lotus position. Since her rear was facing the door of the other`s prison, Janika could see something round protruding from her butt, like a knob.

»They must have plugged her rear«, she thought and when she saw Lorenzo clean the syringe with hot water and a rag, she knew what had happened outside: they had given Tabea an enema. Janika shuddered.

The two monks now freed Tabea`s upper body from the chains and shackles. She shook her arms, but was too weakened to put up any resistance as her arms were folded behind her back and her wrists were tied to the opposite elbow. The position was more convenient than the previous, for she no longer had to arch back her shoulders and to thrust out her boobs.

The hood was now pulled from her head and Janika saw the knots of several cloths at the back of the Black`s head. One by one, these were removed and then, no less than four crumpled and sodden stockings were pulled from Tabea`s mouth. She panted and greedily drank from the mug that was held to her mouth. Only when she had already drunk most of the liquid, she realized it wasn`t water but something with a strange, yet not unpleasant taste.

»Wha-what?«

»Just something that makes you feel a little more relaxed, but won`t render you unconscious!«

The girl wanted to protest, but now, a large cloth that had been soaked in the same liquid was forced into her mouth. The wetness allowed it the two men to cram the fabric very dense, silencing her quite effectively. A thin cleave held the packing in place, so Tabea`s full lips were still visible.

The men now sat her on the floor and then, Gritti turned towards the door. Beside him stood Lorenzo, holding in his hand a fire poker he now pushed into the hot oven.

»Now, we will open the door! The one we name will get out and do as we say! If you try to run away or attack us, Tabea will have to suffer! I promised you your lives, but not your good health and your beauty!«

Lorenzo withdrew the poker and the end now was glooming in bright orange. If he would touch Tabea with it, she would be branded. So, when the latch was pulled back and Gritti called for Jelena, the girl obeyed.

»Good! Now, remove your slip!«

With a sigh, Jelena took of the only garment she was wearing. Her arms were tied wrist to opposite elbow and then, the two monks led her outside whilst Lorenzo took the syringe he had cleaned and again filled it with warm water before he followed them.

When she was brought back some minutes later, Jelena`s cheeks were red and she was walking on wobbly legs. Since she was facing Janika, the blonde could not tell if she had been butt plugged, too.

Like Tabea, Jelena was now tied ankle to opposite knee and also given the drink before her mouth was stuffed with a soaked cloth. When she had been cleave-gagged, too, she was sat beside Tabea. Then, it was Janika`s turn.

The former policewoman quickly checked her chances. They were five men against her and though none of them was a soldier, except Lorenzo perhaps, this was just outnumbering her too much. In addition, the Prior could call for more of the monks and of course, Lorenzo still had the red hot poker to make sure she didn`t try anything.

So, Janika obeyed when she was told to strip naked and she did so without even trying to hide anything, just to show these men it would need more to break her. She allowed them to tie her arms like those of her two friends and only when Lorenzo once again cleaned the syringe before filling it with warm water, she felt her self-control vanish. After binge-eating sweets at Halloween as a little girl, she had once been given an enema and she did not want to have this experience for a second time.

However, she had no choice and it turned out that the two monks were both strong men. At least, Lorenzo was no brute and not even mocked her when he used the syringe on her. It didn`t hurt – physically. However, it was humiliating to be treated like that and Janika felt her cheeks burn from sheer embarrassment.

When it was done, she was cleaned with a wet rag and then, she felt that something was pushed inside her rear. Again, Lorenzo was careful not to hurt her, but when she was led back inside, the plug felt very irritating on each step.

Janika was also given the drink that tasted surprisingly good and immediately made her feel a bit more relaxed. She offered no resistance against being gagged like her two friends. Then, her legs were tied into a lotus position, too and she was placed beside Jelena. Gritti smiled:

»I think my former Mistress might deserve a special treatment, don`t you think?«

***