Chapter 53: On Cervantes' ship

At last.

After one week waiting, Ivy was visited in the inn where she was staying by the sailor who had talked to her about Cervantes' ship. He had come to let her knew that Cervantes' ship had finally come back.

Ivy decided to approach it to investigate, something nobody had never dared to do.

She was terrified when she checked that there were no people on board, despite not having noticed anybody getting off it.

However, she didn't know that boat was crewed by zombies who were able to become invisible to humans, and they were walking around her in that very moment.

She boarded the ship and started inspecting it. At first sight, it seemed an ordinary ship, although there was something sinister in the atmosphere. It gave the impression that something horrible could happen at any moment.

Ivy gathered her courage and headed to the cabins.

Most of them hadn't anything useful, but she discovered something in Cervantes'.

It was a small ledger which was on the bed.

Ivy was about to read it when the cabin's door closed by itself.

Ivy was startled by it and dropped the book.

She looked around, trying to find a reasonable explanation for what had just happened. She didn't manage to do it.

Suddenly, a terrifying voice which seemed to come out from the walls said:

- Who are you and what are you doing on my ship?

Ivy was starting to feel regretful for having entered the ship, but now she couldn't back out.

- My name is Isabella Valentine. – she said. – Who are you?

At that moment, a zombie wearing a luxurious pirate suit appeared in front of her.

- My name is Cervantes de León. – he introduced himself. – And I'm going to kill you.

He took out a gun and aimed at Ivy's head, but before he pulled the trigger she said:

- Wait. Wait, please. I want to show you something.

Cervantes really wanted to kill her, but he felt curiosity:

- What is it? – he asked, still aiming at her.

Ivy took out the baby sling which had the pirate's name on it.

- Why is your name in this baby sling?

Ivy handed it to Cervantes, who looked at it carefully.

- Baby sling? – he grumbled. – This is not a baby sling.

- Then…what is it? – inquired Ivy.

- This is a piece of a suit which belonged to me. I lost it while I was visiting the British Empire.

Ivy didn't understand anything, so she asked:

- Where did you exactly lose it?

- I guess I left it in Joanne Stuart's house. – his tone made Ivy think that he was talking about a long time ago. – Her husband arrived sooner than expected and I had to flee half-naked.

He laughed, almost forgetting what was happening on his ship.

However, Ivy had just realized something. Joanne Stuart's name seemed familiar to her and she knew why: that was the woman she had visited in England, who had also been visited by her father, who had been killed the night of the same day Ivy had visited her and who had a painting depicting Cervantes in her house.

Now, she just had to find out how Cervantes' suit had become a baby sling and, above all, how it had ended up in Valentine's mansion.

She thought about it and found a possible answer when Cervantes said:

- Well, if there aren't any more questions…

He was about to shoot when Ivy yelled:

- No! Don't do it!

- Why wouldn't I? – asked Cervantes, laughing again.

- Because…because I think I…I think I'm your daughter.