After dinner, the magister made a signal. Moments later, a servant brought a stringed instrument to the magister. He dismissed his staff, then strode over to his lovely guests. He arranged himself into a serenading position, then started playing. The sound was captivating.

Is that a mandolin? Vedrana wondered. Maybe this magister isn’t so bad after all.

The performance lasted for what seemed like an eternity. Vedrana glanced at Eva, who had a blank expression. After the performance, the magister bowed, and the girls applauded. The magister finished his drink, then stumbled a little as he led them into his sitting room.

He’s drunk . . . good. Now I just need to slip him the nectar.

The magister turned, then kissed Vedrana. She could smell the alcohol—almost taste it—on his breath. His tongue darted around in her mouth like a fish out of water. She repressed the wave of revulsion, pushing it far away. The mission was the only thing that mattered.

Vedrana smiled and unbuttoned the top portion of her dress, revealing her bra. The magister’s breath changed and sweat beaded on his brow.

Eva tripped and spilled a drink on the magister. For a moment, his expression changed to what looked like anger, but after a moment he laughed.

“Here, let me freshen your drink,” Vedrana said.

“Please do,” the magister said while removing his shirt.

Vedrana took his empty glass, then sauntered to the nearby bar built into one of the many furnishings. Eva kissed the magister while Vedrana prepared his special drink. The middle-aged man pawed at Eva’s breasts, and she gave him a light slap.

“I don’t like to rush, take your time,” Eva scolded.

The magistrate gave Eva a cool look.

“Have another drink while we get ready,” Vedrana said, handing the drink to the already drunk man.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He gulped the drink. “Take off your clothes, now!” he demanded.

He’s a mean drunk—he will be sorry.

Vedrana removed her dress. The magister gaped at the young naked body. He patted his lap, signaling for her to join him; but by the time Vedrana got close, the magister was out. Moments later, the magister dropped the empty glass. He was out faster than she thought possible.

“He was pawing at me for far too long. I thought you would never fix that drink,” Eva said.

Vedrana dressed as Eva pulled the fake flash drive from her bosom.

Eva hurried to the magister’s desk. After a moment of searching the messy desk, she found the safe.

“Biometric lock. We need to get him over to the safe,” Eva said.

With some effort, Vedrana and Eva dragged the man to the safe. They tried each finger. The safe wouldn’t open. The magister stirred. Eva shoved the magister’s fingers, one by one, on the biometric sensor. It still wouldn’t open.

“What are we going to do now?” Eva said.

Vedrana remembered her lessons from Dahlia and others. Sometimes biometric sensors collected grime and oils from repeated use. She took a napkin and glass of water from the table, moistened it, and then wiped the sensor and his right index finger. Being careful to apply even pressure, she placed the finger over the sensor. Then a distinctive popping sound resonated in the quiet room for a moment as the safe opened.

Eva flung open the door and emptied the contents of the safe.

“It’s not here,” Eva said in a panicked voice.

The magister opened his eyes and pulled on Vedrana’s arm. “I’m going to slit your throats for what you have done,” he snarled.

She pulled back. Then he slumped over without another word.

What the hell was that? A side effect from the drug? Vedrana thought.

“Look for it again Eva,” she said. “The flash drive is small. You must have missed it.”

Eva rechecked the safe, then shook her head.

“Let me try.”

Vedrana checked the interior of the safe. At first glance it was empty, but her fingers danced over the soft material covering the safe’s bottom portion. She was about to give up when she came in contact with a string. Vedrana tugged; the strand gave slightly. She pulled harder until the fabric gave way. A tiny red metal flash drive was lying in an indentation in the safe. She snatched it and gave it to Eva.

“Whaat . . . are youz doing?” the magister slurred.

“He’s waking up?” Eva said in a panicked voice.

“Let’s clean this mess up, and then put him back in the chair,” Vedrana replied.

“He saw what we were doing though . . .?”

Vedrana thought for a moment. “He won’t remember. Hurry, we don’t have a lot of time—”

She trailed off as a man entered the room; Vedrana recognized him as one of the magister’s guards. He reached for something in his coat pocket. She acted without thinking, and before she could think about the consequences, the man was on the ground, passed out—or possibly dead.

“You took him out before I could react. The madam trained you well,” Eva said.

Vedrana nodded in response.

The girls hurried out of the villa, looking for an exit.