Page 24 of Hidden Empire
It wasn’t so bad. The plane was spacious and comfortable, with plush leather seats and a bathroom that wasn’t too small. The landing was not my favorite. I’m pretty sure I scarred Apollo’s forearm from holding on to it so tight during that horrible process. I’m glad I’ve got months to prepare for doing it again.
We aren’t the only ones who had to fly in to get here. The airport was extremely busy, but luckily, it wasn’t a far drive to the dock. And this dock is huge. The boat is frighteningly large, like a small cruise ship, and Armani is practically glued to me as we make our way to the boarding area.
One last time, I look back to see Apollo still standing where we left him while Dad and Uncle Cesar walk back to the rental cars. Lifting a hand, I wave and send him a smile. It feels like my first day of school, only with a lot less fear and a lot more love.
To my surprise, Apollo lifts a hand and waves in return, giving me a nod.
“Last chance to go running back,” Matteo warns, flashing a cheeky grin.
“Can’t get rid of me now,” I tease in return, poking his ribs.
He chuckles and passes me my boat ticket. “Armani and I are going to walk you through the checkpoint. Remo and Nico will go ahead to find our reserved space.”
“Okay.” I nod along, nervously looking at the large men checking tickets nearby.
“They’re not scary,” he tells me, nodding in that direction. “They verify identities and nothing more. Even if you weren’t supposed to be here, they wouldn’t touch you. They just wouldn’t let you through.”
“Not scary,” I repeat, attempting to convince myself that it’s a fact.
“Exactly,” Matteo says, playfully tapping the tip of my nose. “Besides, if they even look at you in a way Armani doesn’t like, he’ll tie them to the ship propellers and simply wait while they drown or get sucked in and obliterated by the blades.”
“You know you don’t need to come up with creative, hypothetical ways to threaten death upon everyone who makes me a little bit nervous, right?”
“Don’t need to?” he scoffs, leading me toward the men. “It’s one of the many joys given to me as a brother.”
Armani puts a firm hand on my shoulder before passing his ticket to a large man with a detailed skull tattooed on the side of his neck. The man eyes the ticket and looks at Armani’s face before nodding. I hand him mine next, and he does the same thing, then once more to Matteo.
“The rest of the Morettis,” he says, returning the tickets. “You’re approved.”
His big frame shifts to the side, allowing us to pass. He pulls an index card from his suit pocket and stretches it out for me to take.
Matteo nods that it’s okay, and I accept it, making sure not to let our fingers touch. “All first-years get one,” my brother says. “Liability reasons. No one can claim ignorance if we’re all informed.”
Nodding while they guide me onto the ship, I study the card, reading over the rules my family has already drilled into my head.
Empire Rules and Regulations
Murder is strictly forbidden and punishable by death.
Staff may not have relationships with students unless under a marriage contract.
Leaving before the semester ends is allowed with the penalty of suspension until the next term. There are two exceptions to this rule.
Leaving and returning to the island before the semester’s end is not allowed unless express permission is granted via the Lord. Or, if the leaver is undetected on their trip.
Letters and email are the only allowed forms of outside contact.
The ocean air scent from the dock drowns out the further we go into the ship, being replaced by notes of warm wood and various colognes. Armani and Matteo quietly show me points on the ship to familiarize myself with before taking me up three floors on an elevator to where we need to be.
When we find them, Remo and Nico have already found our space and dug their perspective entertainment out of our shared backpack. A magazine for Nico and a pack of cards for Remo. The rest of our bags are all being transported under the boat and apparently they’re guarded.
Dante pays three men to make sure none of our stuff is compromised. Non-students and staff aren’t allowed to be lingering on campus, so they don’t get to stay. They’ll return home with the boat after dropping us off with our things.
The boat is set up sort of like a cruise might be, if movies are any evidence to that. Only we aren’t all cramming into tiny dorm-sized rooms with little beds and portholes. Instead, larger rooms have been carved out with living room-type setups. In our reserved room, there are two couches, a mini fridge with snacks, a flatscreen, and some pillows and blankets in a storage basket.
Matteo explains that larger mafia families typically own reserved rooms they bought way back when the school started. Smaller families can schedule the use of small rooms on the ship, too, as anyone admitted to Empire Academy is entitled to a seat on the ship. It’s the only way on and off the Island, after all.
Well, sort of. Apparently, planes can land there as well, but it’s frowned upon without reason and can result in fines if it’s done too often without cause.