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

Deleted Scenes: Three (Draft 2.5)

"What else would it be?" Morpheus asked.

Julien shrugged. He had a floral tattoo behind his left shoulder that continued onto his neck. "Destiny?"

"Somehow I don't think it was her," Morpheus whispered.

"Might be best not to know."

"Why?"

Julien turned his head and stared at Morpheus a couple seconds. "It was a commercial passenger jet, Murph."

Morpheus nodded. He was unsure what else to say. Those souls on board still existed, somewhere, but their Human lives were ended.

Julien signaled Hepburn to bring the pitcher of rinse water for his hair.

Morpheus looked away. "I've never met a Vampyre before," he said, "they call you alghuls or bhutas around here."

"Ha," Julien said, "I live in Karachi."

Morpheus looked up, a little surprised by that.

Julien combed his fingers through his damp, blond hair. "But, yes, I'm from Long Island."

"It sounds like it," Morpheus said. "I went there, once, to Manhattan."

"I lived in the city, too." Julien turned and folded both his arms along one side of the tub. "Murph. Will you tell me now you've never been kissed?"

Why?" Morpheus asked. But, he didn't really need an answer; he could see Julien was teasing him. "I haven't."

"Not anyone? Not some visitor here?"

"They don't even see me in my own body," Morpheus said, "There was someone who said my own body was beautiful. But, I wasn't ready, and he's dead now. So...."

"Mika?"

Morpheus didn't recognize the name. "Hyacinth."

Julien nodded. "When we first met," he said, "When I first met you, you came up to me and asked if I would kiss you. Just like that. You told me no one else had ever done it."

"But, not that I had never been kissed."

"You were always clever," said Julien.

"Do you mind if we?" Morpheus started. "I mean, would it be OK to kiss you?"

"Of course," Julien said quickly. Then as if having a second thought, he lifted his right index finger. "But, you can shift to your usual body, if that's more comfortable."

"I don't dislike this one."

Julien shrugged. "Whichever."

Morpheus leaned towards the tub, rising onto his knees. Their cheeks touched; Julien's skin was cool, with the slightest tickle of stubble. Morpheus began to rethink his decision not to shift. Here someone was offering to be close to him just as he was. Wasn't that what he wanted?

He shifted. Gauzy clothes became the most basic black jeans and tee. The tattoo and piercings were absorbed. He lost height. But, Morpheus wasn't ready to give up the sensation of feeling male. His other guests rarely gave him the chance, and he just liked the gravity of it.

A tilt of his head and Morpheus caught Julien's lips in his.

Morpheus closed his eyes.

Julien broke their kiss with the light scrape of fangs along Morpheus' lower lip.

Morpheus shivered. "You taste sweet."

"It the cloves. I'm guessing smoking's not a deal breaker?"