The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

Deleted Scenes: Three (Draft 2.5)

The water was real, gathered by his Djinn from the clouds and collected in a barrel. It was useful. Most visitors liked to wash when they came in from the desert. It made sleeping next to them more tolerable.

It never bothered Morpheus much when guest expected him to sleep with them, nor when they asked him to have sex.

He hadn't actually done that part.

He could have if he'd wanted. It wasn't as if he'd been sung into being yesterday. He no longer needed chaperones or anyone's permission to visit the Empty World.

But he hadn't, because it was easy to provide their minds with the illusion that he had entwined his flesh with theirs.

Maybe, Morpheus thought, he should try it for real. But, how could anyone truly make love to him, if his body shifted to the form they most desired?

Morpheus was still wondering when the next visitor touched the perimeter of the mirage.

Morpheus felt the most desired form come over him and, in that instant, panicked. He had barely changed. Skin the color of cave flora: yes. Midnight-blue hair: yes. Wings: yes, and they were still feathery and black!

There were a few minor differences. Some gauzy clothing he'd never think to wear. A tattoo of a black orchid on the small of his back. A few piercings.

There was just the one major difference. Morpheus was male. Not an androgyne who leaned toward a preference for 'he'. This body, so close to his natural form, was physically and pretty substantially male in sex.

"What's going on?" Morpheus whispered.

"Morpheus?" his Djinn hissed.

Morpheus listened for the thoughts from his guest. There were so few, as if this mind was trying to hide its secrets.

He struggled just to find welcome shapes for his Djinn. Morpheus barely believed the words as they came from his mouth. "Audrey Hepburn and Sofia Loren in kitschy disco-pink harem pants and vests."

He liked their look more than he had expected.

"Go greet him, I can't do it."

The two Djinn hobbled out onto the carpet that lay under the canopy, fell to their knees, and spoke in high-pitched voices, "Hello, Master!"

The visitor entered the tent.

Morpheus felt so strange looking at him. He wasn't perfect. Maybe a little too skinny. The stubble on his face was too sparse to look intentional. He was wearing damaged clothing that might have once been a suit. Yet, he was pretty.

"My heartstrings are snapping," Morpheus whispered.

"Morpheus?"

The guest knew his name! It was not someone who looked like Morpheus this one most wished to see, it was Morpheus. Yet Morpheus had never met him before.

His mind which had been guarded was suddenly open.

"Julien," Morpheus said. That was his name. "Come in. I'm sure you want to take a bath."

"What's wrong, honey?" asked Julien. When he pronounced the term of endearment, his fangs were clearly visible.

Morpheus swallowed.

Morpheus couldn't stop staring. Julien was a Vampyre. A Vampyre with years of memories involving Morpheus. He knew exactly who and what Morpheus was.