9. Mysterious Labouring Location

"Sahib, are you ready to leave tomorrow?" It was Karim. And where were they going!? I pressed my ear against the door and listened. I almost missed Mr. Ambrose's response.

"...And I do not know how long I will be staying there. It all depends on how fast the labourers are working." What? What labourers? Who was he working with? Or forcing to work!? What was going on???

"And if they are not doing it as fast as you want them to, Sahib?"

"I will probably end up having to stay there longer than I intended to. You are obviously coming with me. There is no point leaving here with no one around. I could be gone for a month and you would be stuck here, doing nothing other than checking on the Empire. It would be a waste of time."

"Yes Sahib. As you wish Sahib. And I have one question too Sahib."

"And that is...?"

"What about the Ifrit?" I looked at the door in surprise. Surely he couldn't... I pressed my ear against the door again.

"What about her?"

"Have you found out about her Sahib? Do you know if the Ifrit is still alive?" He did mean me! I thought he would have forgotten about me after two years! I guess not.

There was no answer. Hey! Say something! You had seen me last night hadn't you!? And hugged me too! Why are you keeping your mouth shut?! Talk, damn you! I thought out of nowhere. I blinked, shook my head and realized that I had missed most of Mr. Ambrose's answer.

"...will be no need of her around here. She knows of some... things, but I refuse to let her come with us. If you happen to see her, and she tries to get information out of you, refrain from it. Am I clear?"

"Yes Sahib. It shall be as you command." Oh he was most definitely clear. As if I'd get anything from that huge mammoth of a man! Not a chance!

"Adequate." I heard footsteps and quickly backed away from the door, my mind in a flurry. Plink!

Mr. Linton,

Bring me file S37XI238.

Rikkard Ambrose.

And here we go again.

* * *

It was late. That was all I knew. I didn't know the time, nor much of anything else. All I knew was that Mr. Ambrose had worked me past my usual time. And while that had happened, I decided to confront him about this oh-so-secret place where he had labourers. In the midst of asking for files, he started asking for boxes instead, just like he had before. What's this? Is he planning something big again? Like he had with the file?

As before, the door connecting our offices remained open, and he vocally asked me to give him the necessary boxes. Only a few times did he ever command me to walk faster. And when he did, I didn't feel a surge of anger run through me. Rather, I felt blank and emotionless. I was so occupied with my upcoming marriage and his leaving tomorrow, and the fact that I had not met up with the girls today to talk about what I should do to aforementioned marriage, that I didn't hear Mr. Ambrose call out my name. I had been waiting around in his office, near my own office door, staring fixedly out the far window, hands clenched into fists. I was infuriated with Lord Dalgliesh and his schemes. I was regretting the fact that I did not show up at Green Park and meet Eve, Flora and Patsy. And I was curious as to where Mr. Ambrose was going off to. I felt utterly conflicted and then also felt... something else.

What's happening to my arms? Why are they being clenched together like this? What going on?!

"Mr. Linton!" I yelped and by instinct... My foot flew up. "What in the name of Her Majesty are you doing!?" I looked away from the window and found Mr. Ambrose standing there, right leg up and clutched in his hands. He was glaring at me and I could see his jaw muscles working. Oops. I unclenched my fists.

"W-what just happened?"

"Why don't you tell me that Mr. Linton? I had been calling your name for the past," He let go of his leg and pulled out his pocket watch. "Seven minutes and eighteen seconds!" He snapped the pocket watch close and I caught a glimpse of the crest - the very same one I had seen so long ago.

"Um.. I'm sorry sir. I'll just.. Er.." I internally screamed for my legs to start moving, but they were stuck on the floor like glue. I bent my head and glared at my feet. Hey! Blockhead! Now would probably be a reasonable time to ask him about where's he's going tomorrow! Do it now before he tries to get you to do something else! Should I do it...? Ah forget it. "Uhh.." I looked up. "Can I ask you something sir?" He didn't say anything, just folded his arms across his muscular chest and continued glaring at me. I swallowed and brought myself up to my full height. But I didn't make eye contact. Instead, I stared fixedly at the wall. "Well, I'll take that as a yes. I err.. Earlier, I could not help to listen in on your conversation with Karim." I risked a quick glance. No reaction. But I saw a hair on his eyebrow threaten to raise. I looked away and continued. "I listened to little bits and pieces of it. I am just curious, sir. But where are you going tomorrow?"

Silence. I didn't dare look at him this time. I waited, letting the seconds tick by. After a while I decided to rephrase my question. "Is the place you are going to a place that I know, or at least of heard of before?" Still nothing. I waited some more, before sighing. "Alright fine then. If you really don't want to tell me..." I turned towards my office and was in the process of shutting it when he finally spoke.

"Africa." was all he said. I froze. I looked partially over my shoulder, in his direction.

"That's where you're going?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"And you can't come."

"I wasn't going to ask." I snapped, and turned away from him.

"What?"

"I said," I turned around, fists clenched again. "I wasn't going to ask."

"And why not?"

"I have... important things to attend to." I waved my left hand in front of him.

"You have things to do with your hand?"

"Wha-?" I looked at it and then realized that the ring was missing.

"Where is it!?" I ran back into my office and started opening and closing drawers, checking them in between. I walked quickly over to the safe, opened it and went inside. With the minimal light coming from my office, I scrounged the ground for the ring. Maybe I dropped it... But where? I stopped looking, stared off into space, while my mind worked on thinking back to where I had put away that ring. And a couple minutes later, I slapped my forehead. "Ah! Of course! I left it at home, oh thank goodness. She'd've killed me had I lost it..." I muttered and then started to saunter out of the safe, when I crashed into a towering Mr. Ambrose standing in the doorway. "Ow! Hey couldn't you have just said something?! Blast you!" I exclaimed, rubbing my forehead. "Do you mind moving now? Have you not stood here long enough?" I tried pushing him aside but he didn't budge.

I poked his stomach, and would have broken my finger because of how hard his abdomen was. Probably made of granite. He finally spoke and it was a simple, innecessant question. "Have you found the ring?"

"Yes and no. I remember where I put it, and that place is at home. Though I should have chucked it out the window at the soonest ooportunity." I said the last sentence is a quiet voice, so he wouldn't hear me. But the damned man did anyway.

"Then why didn't you?"

Caught slightly off guard, I answered him "Because my aunt would have chastised me miserably and possibly locked me up in my roo- What? Why do you want to know?"

"She locks you up in your room? What point is there in that?"

"I don't know! She just does it! And she's even locked the window once! I hate it!" I stomped my foot for emphasis before crossing my arms. "Forcing me to go to balls, trying to find me a suitor, teaching me how to properly hold a fan as if I didn't know already, locking me in my room and most of all, always complaining about how I can't be like all my damned sisters! Especially the bloody twins!" Anger coursed through me and I wanted to punch something - anything! - but I didn't. I refrained, closed my eyes and counted to twenty.

"Why cannot you just run away?" He asked and I kept my eyes closed while answering.

"I have no place to go. I'm stuck here unless I get married, which I will be in the upcoming events." I sighed and opened my eyes, falling into my chair. I closed my eyes again and leaned my head back. Neither of us spoke for a long moment of time.

"Then come with me. Come with me to Africa." My eyes shot open.

"What!?"

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HYAHHHH YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY IT'S A KARIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D

I hope you liked this chapter! I'm gonna keep this short as it's well past my bedtime rn. >.>

Anybells, PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS!!! THANK YOUUUUUUU~

I will...

See you later!

P.S. RIP Alan Rickman. You played the role of Severus Snape excellently and everyone will remember you. You will remain in our hearts. Always. </3...