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

Thirteen

Some there asked Julien what Athen had said. Crystal especially pointed out that Athen was known to be one of the non-humans trying to break into the American computer systems. Julien said that he had told Athen he was going to go to America. And Athen had warned him not to try it.

"The Redjackets did discover us while we searched for others in California..." Shade said.

A loud murmuring came up. If they could track even Shade, if Angel would go after him....

"I'm going to New York," Shade said over the noise.

Someone knocked at the door. Mazaret opened it and Sarah's child Raphelle came in. She did not look her usual haughty self but lowered her eyes to Shade. "Someone has just come in from San Francisco...I'm afraid the news has reached us several weeks late...there was a large hunt in Japan...that country had been thought safe..."

Shade already knew what they would tell him. Athen's child Faye and her child Min had been living in Japan.

"It was one of the largest round-ups ever," Raphelle said. "Faye was captured, along with her child, and most of the Spawn of Asbeel."

"England?" Shade asked quietly.

"Angel herself was in England this very week," Mazaret said, "We got news from Human allies in New York. If anyone had friends still hiding there, it can be assumed they're captured."

"Troy..." said Julien, "Oh, Shade, I'm sorry."

Shade held up his hand. "Don't be...this only makes me more determined to go to New York."

"I'll go," said Joy.

"If you like," Shade said, but it seemed to Morpheus, Shade was bothered. Joy was not a strong Vampyre. And they'd captured her before.

No one else volunteered. It was assumed that Julien would go. Morpheus glanced at him from across the room. Julien looked uneasy, he was clutching Joy's hand.

Shade stood up then. "Well that's it then," he said. "We'll leave tonight, if Julien drives through the day we'll be there by tomorrow night. Within two days you'll know if I made the right choice or not."

The room was emptying. "I need to get out of this room," Julien said quietly to Joy. He got up, but Joy didn't follow him. Mother glanced up at Morpheus, quickly, then moved to speak to Joy. She was telling Morpheus what he already knew, he had to follow Julien, because in a couple hours he would be gone, and without Morpheus, Julien might actually die.

He hurried from the room. Going directly to the higher tunnels. Julien was leaning back against an earth and wood wall, not moving, not breathing, just standing with one arm folded over his eyes.

Morpheus called to him, "Julien...."

Julien's didn't look. "Morpheus?"

Morpheus stepped closer, nodding, as Julien lowered his arm and opened his eyes.

"Like the comic book...."

Morpheus forced himself from lecturing, it was true, he had a mother with an odd sense of humor. "Tyron," he said.

"Like Tyrone Power." He saw this was true. "Faye likes him. He was interesting in Lloyds of London, anyway."

"Smith?" Morpheus asked.