Cirque De Sem'ya

Chapter 6 - Promises

"Well aren't you a popular bloke, Rafferty," Officer Carson sneered as he tossed a slip of parchment onto the Irishman's desk.

The man snapped up with a cold glare, "Oh shove off, will yah, you tosser."

And indignant scoff from the colleague was all the Irishman received, but chose to ignore. It did seem to be out of the ordinary for this many messages for visitors coming for him. Part of him worried for the safety of himself as an immigrant , the other part hoped for it to be a key on the CIRQUE DE SEM'YA, and there was a sliver of hope that it was a message from the Ambassador.

Officer Sean Clyde Rafferty --
You are cordially invited to join Master and Mistress Christian Auburdaine in the Astor House at seven o'clock this night for supper. Your presence would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Christian and Sophia Auburdaine

The cursive writing was detailed and precise, screaming wealth and power to his lack thereof. Auburdaine, their name, rung faintly through his memory, but anchored itself to nothing substantial. The Irishman checked his pocket watch, a simple device gifted to him by his mother, Margaret, before he made the journey across the Atlantic. The clock face read almost a half past six, giving him comfort that he would able trek the journey from the Headquarters to the Astor House by seven. He slung his tattered trench coat over his shoulders and slipping through the front door, making sure he bade Miss. Katherine farewell before leaving.

The streets bustled with people going about their daily lives as the Irishman continued with his brisk pace through the crowds. A hotel such as the Astor House was simply something that he never fathomed he'd have the pleasure of being inside, let alone for supper. With the letter tight in his grip, the Irishman approached the fashionably dressed Maitre'd.

"Yeah, um...I-"

"We know who you are, Officer Rafferty, if you would follow me please," The stiff Maitre'd interrupted, motioning with a swift movement of his arm.

Caught by surprise, the Irishman trailed behind the man until they came to a windowed room with a single cream colored table looking over the world beyond. A man with short pale slicked blonde hair and a perfectly tailored suit sat next to a woman that looked to be made of glass, with matching blonde hair and skin as pale as the room around them.

"Ah, Officer Rafferty, welcome! Please, sit." The man stood and held a hand to the Irishman. "Christian Auberdine, and this my Sophia. We're so pleased that we could find you."

The Irishman shook the man's hand, trying to hide his confusion, and kissed Sophia's hand before taking a seat opposite of his hosts.

"Please, the pleasure is all mine. I would hate for you view me ungrateful, but, what do you mean by 'found me'? I do not believe our paths have ever crossed before."

"No, we have never met. But we came as soon as we came as soon as we found out you had taken the CIRQUE DE SEM'YA case. You see, I think we could prove useful to each other," Christian explained with a tight smile.

Adjacent to him, Sophia place a photograph on the lace tablecloth for the Irishman to see. He could recognize Christian and Sophia, but a young woman sat beside them. She couldn't have grown out of her youth, a teenager at best, and looked so much like her mother.

"Our daughter, Mirra. This was the last photo we have of her. We...we lost her when the CIRQUE DE SEM'YA came into our town," Sophia lamented and faltered with tears welling in her crystalline eyes. Christian comfortingly took his wife's hand as she dabbed away the tears with a handkerchief.

"A beautiful girl, my condolences. Did the Circus kill her, if I may ask?" The Irishman stumbled for his words, regretting as soon as he spoke.

"No, the Ringmaster didn't kill our dear girl. He stole her from us! They came one day to our town and she vanished from her bed chambers that night. He even took one our slaves while he was at it. It was positively dreadful. We enlisted the help of every able man to find our Mirra but to no avail. It has been three painful years without our little girl. We were hoping you could help us find her. The CIRQUE DE SEM'YA must pay for their crimes."

The Irishman had to think over the proposition for a few moments. His search for the circus had proved to be fruitless up to this point to say the least. All he had to the name was a handful of testimonies of experiences and clippings of aging Posts. To break the news of the difficulty, the near impossibility would shatter their hearts. There was a chance if he proved successful, the payment could settle his family for months, even provide them a chance to come to the States. He knew the toll loss could take on a person, on their hearts, if there was any chance of healing their pain, he would do it.

"You have my word. I will do whatever in my power to find your daughter."

"Oh bless you, bless you." Tears pooled in Sophia's eyes once again, not of sorrow, but of joy. "We will keep in communications, Officer Rafferty. You could be a very wealthy man if you prove successful."

"Thank you. Simply knowing about Mirra sends me a step ahead of knowing the CIRQUE DE SEM'YA." After studying Mirra in the photograph, he returned it delicately to the Auburdaines. The Irishman knew how important a photograph could be; he always kept his own with him. "I hate to turn away from your hospitality, but all of this has proven to be a breakthrough. I apologize, but I best be off."

The Irishman bade the Auburdaines farewell and made his way outside of the hotel for a sliver of freedom. The meeting itself, regardless of the riches that more or less fell into his lap, began to feel suffocating. It would be awful to accuse the Auburdaine family of any form of malicious intent, but there was a piece of them that the Irishman couldn't ignore. A childish worry that should be the least of his concerns or prevent him from doing his duty. He had made a vow when he joined the Police Force to protect and uphold the peace. Mirra Auburdaine needed him. The Irishman knew he had to relay a message to the Ambassador, in hopes that knowing one of their names could bring forth new information.

His world began to turn on a whole new axis of confusion and uncertainty as the case added theft and kidnapping to the crimes of the CIRQUE DE SEM'YA. Shadows began to encircle him as he traveled through the city streets; his life seemed to be surrounded once he began the case. Even as a child, the Irishman never feared the darkness, but now, he was beginning to rethink the fears within his mind and soul.