11. What's an Empire? A Ship

The ride to the docks had been fairly silent. Karim was in a separate chaise behind us, since there wasn't much room on ours. When he caught sight of me, he was surprised to say the very least. But he didn't question it, and neither did I. He didn't really need to know what actually happened.

For most of the ride to the docks, I stared out the window, excitement bubbling in my stomach. I tried my very hardest not to show that excitement, but I couldn't help it. I'd randomly grin on occasion and then, for some peculiar reason, my ears would start to burn.

When we finally arrived, I found myself staring at a massive ship. The entirety of its exterior was made up of a dark metal, one I couldn't recognise. On the hull was one simple word, written in white. Empire. That was it. Any other person who didn't know the truth would have thought that the owner of the ship was just full of themselves. But not in Mr. Ambrose's case.

"Quit wasting time gaping at the ship like an idiot and get on, Mr. Linton." Mr. Ambrose snapped.

"Wh-? Oh, sorry sir." I replied sheepishly. "It's just that the ship is..." Pretty? Dark? Cold? Distant? Massive? "It's massive."

"It is supposed to be, especially when I came on this ship with my entire empire."

"E-entire empire?" I squeaked. I then remembered something told to me eons ago. "Landed out of the blue... Port of Dover... Biggest ship they've ever seen... Army of servants... Armed guards..." I remembered Anne and Maria telling me this. And now I was looking at the real thing.

"Yes. An empire that came from the colonies. Do you have any more time-wasting questions Mr. Linton?"

"N-no sir."

"Good. Now get on the ship." He walked towards the ship and tapped it with his cane. A ladder was brought down carefully and then Mr. Ambrose started going up the ladder, moving as agile and graceful as before.

"How the bloody hell does he do it!?" I muttered to myself and started to make my way up as well. Behind, or rather... underneath me, as I was still going up the ladder, Karim was following me. I may have been wearing Uncle Bufford's clothes, but that didn't mean that my derrière was out of sight. It was most certainly slightly less... Generous than before, that I did not deny. But either way...

My worries immediately vanished when I finally reached the main deck of the ship. Mr. Ambrose was nowhere in sight but I saw a pair of double doors across from me and I had a feeling that he had gone that way. I walked across the deck and my hand clasped the dark metal doorknob, starting to turn it when Karim called out from behind me.

"What are you doing Ifrit?" he asked.

"I'm going inside. What else do you think I'm doing?"

"I do not know. But be careful. Most of the items inside are not allowed to be touched by anyone, let alone a vi.. person like you." I turned, hand still on the knob, narrowing my eyes at him.

"You need not warn me of anything. I'm more careful than you, a mammoth of a man who might as well break something you brush upon. I am surprised that hasn't happened yet." My eyes shifted to the floor underneath him and he sucked in a breath. He was about to respond but I didn't let him. I turned the doorknob and entered, closing it shut behind me.

The interior of this ship was huge, though obviously not as big as the exterior. There was a bannister nearby that was actually made out of wood rather than metal, and it led down... Somewhere. Across from me, around five or more feet away was a closed door. I walked over to it and tried the knob. Locked. I turned back around and then decided to go down the stairs, and hope that I'd find Mr. Ambrose there.

No sign of him, yet the little hallway I was in was somewhat interesting to look at. There was one lone and simple chandelier that dimly lit up the room. Using the light, I saw a thin and plain carpet in front of a doorway with no door. The carpet seem to be a dark blue with a thin golden edge around it. Well that's as fancy as he could ever possibly get without wasting to much money. I thought. Why doesn't he look like a skinflint though? I mean if he were to look like one, then maybe my heart wouldn't be beating erratically right this minute! Damn him! But maybe it isn't even him, but rather the fact that I am on my way to an entirely different continent! That had to be it.

I went through the doorway with no door and started walking along the corridor. And then the floor gave a huge lurch. I stumbled and somehow managed to grab onto the wall. Were we moving out away from the docks? I had a feeling that we were.

After a couple minutes, I steadied myself on the moving ship. Last time I had been on one, I had been laying down in a slightly uncomfortable postition with a slightly heavy lump on top of me. Recalling the events, I blushed remembering that the lump had actually been a man of a hundred and seventy pounds. Definitely not money. Or a sack of potatoes as I had thought.

I made my way down the empty and still dimly lit corridor. There was a locked set of double doors on my right with two windows on either side and to the left another locked door. Why are they all locked!? What possible dangerous artifact could Mr. Rikkard Ambrose have to hide from prying eyes? I checked the windows and saw nothing. Moving away, I continued walking.

I found myself in a sort of parlor, and there was another set of stairs to my far right. There was nothing of interest here so I dashed towards the stairs, went down and found myself in front of another door. How many doors even were here!? Not bothering to ponder about it, I opened the door and found myself in a long narrow corridor. I groaned out loud and wished to know why the ship was like a maze. What point was there in doing so!? To make sure that people could get in, but not out?

I didn't bother walking quickly down the corridor, not when this was all I came to. I finally realized that the entire ship was empty besides Mr. Ambrose, Karim and I. But... There had to be a steerer of the ship, hadn't there? There's no way that Mr. Ambrose could steer a ship as massive as this.

Wait. If there currently were no crew members.. Then who had brought down the ladder? I stopped and turned in a slow circle. Surely this ship wasn't... Haunted?

Nonsense! Why on earth would a moving thing be haunted? Ghosts only took over inanimate objects and places, didn't they? I shook my head and started moving again. When the corridor ended, I looked around the large space. To my right there was a random table with papers stacked upon it neatly. Surely they can't be his files? Would it hurt to check and make sure? Hoping not, I walked over and picked up the stack. But instead of looking files filled with meaningless numbers and images, I came across a newspaper article dated back in 1839. What's this? He has old newsspapers on his ship for just about anyone to read? Did he even read them? There was no chair nearby so I sat down on the lurching floor instead. I set aside the other papers and focused my attention on the one in my hand.

Scandal Around Financial Magnate. The headlines read. What? There had been a scandal? With whom? And why? Intrigued, I continued reading.* And then I heard his icy voice in front of me.

"So. You've found that newspaper article now, have you?" Slowly I looked up to meet the glare of Mr. Rikkard Ambrose. I gulped.

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HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I UPDATEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And unfortunately, this will be the last update of now. For the next ten+ days, this story will not be updated.

Why?

Only one word:

Midterms.

That's right. All of next week I have midterms and both my laptop and iPod won't be in my posession. It'll be remaining at home with my parents and won't be given to me until the end of next week. Or later.

Tomorrow will be the only day that I, after publishing this chapter, will be able to reply to all your comments as I usually do.

I know, this chapter isn't the best, but you shouldn't necessarily blame me. I've been stressed out about midterms (pLEASE DO NOT SING THE TØP SONG. I AM SICK OF IT) since last week, only the stress has proven greater now that it's so near.

I have tried my hardest with this chapter and it admittedly isn't as great as Sir Rob's but I know I did well. Plus, that new chapter was just wowowowow. rIKKARD BOUGHT STUFF FOR LILLYYYYYYYYY. YES, I KNOW THAT IT WAS MMEN'S CLOTHES BUT HEY. IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING XD

he spent his money on her. TWICE (the first time doesn't exactly count though...)

And we finally get to meet Uncle Bufford! Yay! (though you guys kinda did already... in this fanfic...

BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME)

Anybells, I hope you at least liked this chapter. Sorry I didn't skip the boat ride to Africa immediately. The pace of this book is... Random. (Could it even be classified as a book?)

Please, as per usual, leave comments. Even if this chapter sucks. Comments will let me know that. And please, don't say that it was a great chapter just to make me feel better. Give me the cold harsh truth. Swearing is permitted. XD

Take care guys! If you also have midterms next week or the week after, I wish you the best of luck!!! YOU'LL NEED IT c: ;o okay okay I'll go now -.- ik this author's note is looooooooooonnnnngggggggggggg haha.

mY EYES ARE BURNING

And now I will...

See you later!

* = We already know this part from chapter three of ITEOTS, so there's no need to repeat it again. It'd be a waste of time. .-.