AURORA

Chapter 15: Part II

             Mr. Vonson is cleaning some more glasses and doesn't notice us sitting. I believe his hearing is bad too, because we struggled getting on the stools and he didn't even flinch. No doubt that this was due to his age. Helena play coughs to get his attention. 

         "Ah um, um Mr. Vonson?" He spins around and smiles. "Ahh my apologies ladies. Would you like anything to drink?" Cara speaks up quick. "Ah yes, a root beer for me please." "I'll have one too." I look at Helena and then brace myself to talk. "I was actually wondering if you could answer some questions that we have Mr. Vonson." "Questions eh? What kind of questions?" He shakes up the root beer and pours it into two mugs. The beer bubbles and he adds cream to the top of both and hands them over. Helena says, "Thank you." "Thank you." I proceed to answer him. "I need to find a woman named Amoura. I was wondering if she had ever come in here. Maybe for a bite to eat or to meet someone?" He stands back and folds his arms. "Hmm. Amoura you say?" He mumbles. "No that was another woman. Do you have a description of her?" "No, sorry I wasn't given any description." "Interesting. That name does ring a bell. I just don't know how I know of her."

            He grabs a thought and slowly looks up at me with his glasses slightly below his eyes. "Ahh yes, I do believe I remember. She came in here about three months ago. She was very distressed. She was ranting on about how something happened. She said she warned someone about doing something. She wouldn't tell me anything else. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. She was very upset and distraught. She had several beers and left. It was a strange meeting come to think of it. She had bright red hair. Her eyes unusually matched the color of her hair as well. She was a very beautiful, but strange woman. I haven't seen her since.

            I believe she was married to one of those guys who was in here drunk earlier. They married one day when they were drunk. As quick as they said I do, they split. It was one of those in the heat of the moment type things. If you want more information, I suggest you find that fellow. He lives down the street. When you come out of here, take a right. Head back to the front and take another right. Go all the way down the walkway and you'll see an apartment building. He lives there, but I don't know which suite in particular. I'm not gone ask why you two want to find that woman, because I don't stick my nose in other folks business. It's probably best that I don't know anyways. I do hope I've been of some help to you ladies."

              "Thank you so much Mr. Vonson. You have been of more help than you can imagine." "Helena, we need to go find this man." "Yes, we do. If we go now, we should be able to get ahead of the foot traffic before it that play at the tavern begins. Let's go." We hop off the stools and make our way back to the streets. People in more fancy wear line the streets. They must be going to that play. We pick up pace and head to the right to reach the front where Mr. Vonson said to go. We take the last right and no one is on this walkway. They all left and converged to where we just left from. It's gotten a bit darker outside. Street lamps have come on, yet the shops and walkways looks so clean and beautiful.

              We arrive at the apartment building. A sign above says, "Brookshire." When I think of Brookshire, I think of fancy and expensive. Before we walk in, a man wearing an all-black suit and fedora exits the building. "Well hello ladies. Aren't you two going to the play?" "Umm no, we're actually looking for someone." "Well I could possibly help. Can you give me details?" "We were told that a man who was married to a woman named Amoura lives here. Do you know of whom we speak?" "Ahh yes, you're talking about Mr. Mendeci." He's a drunk, but all the same a man. If you head up the first three flights of steps, his door will be the fourth to the left of the corridor, room # 103. There you will find Mr. Mendeci no doubt passed out. If you should ever need anything else ladies, my name is Mr. Cairro. Now if you excuse me, I must bid you two goodnight, the play at The Tavern is about to start and I'm already late." "Thank you so much Mr. Cairro." He bows and goes about his business.

             Helena opens the door and says, "Well let's go find this Mr. Mendeci." We walked through the glass door and a vanilla smell filled my nose. The walls are cream and the floorboards are made out of fine cherry wood. The ceiling is a triple trey ceiling with a mid-sized golden chandelier sitting in view. The floor is sturdy and didn't creak. The bottoms of the walls has a beautiful cream molding. Mr. Mendeci may be a drunk, but he's a drunk living the life. We proceed to take the first flights of steps and the walk was mild.

           A blue rug runs down the steps, welcoming us to the top. Lanterns light the tops of the walls and provide life for the room. At the top is a painting of Avero. It looks surreal and depicts just about everything I saw. The realism of the picture made me want to jump straight in it. We take the next flight of steps. Helena looks down at me and says, "Are you nervous?" "Not at all. I'm more interested in seeing if we can actually get something out of him. So far, my journey has been quite interesting." "From what you've told me, I can almost say the same." We made it to the last staircase.