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

Sixteen

Morpheus listened, as he focused a glass on Shade. He was in his bedroom in the palace, resting on what looked like a narrow, wooden sleigh bed, with Athen sitting up at his side.

"Mr. Jewel. Mazaret told me about him at the Necropolis. He and his family are considered under protection, but Mazzy says, Steven himself has higher protection, like Angelic protection."

Ganymede quizzed at Dolores, maybe not having been told this himself. "Well, they made him immortal or something."

"I still haven't met him, but there are photos and paintings in the Necropolis. Whenever one of us goes out to hunt in New York, someone will say, 'remember about the Jewels.' Mr. Jewel has a great-grandson who's one of those club kids in the city."

"Amadeo Jewel," Morpheus said, making it obvious he was following their conversation. He focused his mirror again, saw Steven speaking with Shio. Absinthe approached, barefoot, as they were talking. "Steven'll be down for breakfast soon."

"Does Amadeo have net presence?" Ganymede took his mobile from his pocket.

Dolores laughed, "Cher, the kids are all into this analog, acoustic trend." She'd dropped the American accent, and though she was speaking English, she sounded like she might be French.

"That's rubbish."

"Maybe, if Athen says it is allowed here, we can go out and find some kids to play with."

"Yeah?" Ganymede asked. "If you want a stunt boyfriend, I am there for you, but I'm not looking to hook up with anyone."

Dolores smiled as she set her glass in the bin. "I knew you didn't mean you were an exceptional fighter pilot, Duckie, though that would be swell. The RAF were my heroes when I was a little girl."

"My family emigrated to London before World War I, so...we lost some in the Blitz or abroad. My grandfather was a POW in the Pacific...died of a disease, too."

"I lost all my family in the war. Where's your family from?"

"We're Armenian."

Dolores nodded. "Hug?"

Ganymede offered his fist.

Dolores bumped it. "Morpheus, what about you? Do you have mortal family?"

"American, I think. Irish, if I took a guess. I've been told it's better I don't know." He shrugged. "Opium's Sidhe, besides, but that's most likely unrelated to the Irish thing. I think Maeve was Queen when Opium was recognized - not that she isn't Queen now, she's just left Jean-Daniel in charge. The rest of my family live in the Night Regions."

"There's been talk in New York of having more organized havens, for all of us. I'm not sure how well we can continue to work together," Dolores touched her necklace, again, "but I'm grateful Julien, Shade, and Joy helped break us out."

"Will probably get along with Julien best if you don't appear to be too close with Athen," Morpheus told her.

Dolores giggled a laugh. "We're not steadies or however you say it. He's fun, and Azyurian strain blood helps me pass. Julien's lucky if he has friends here; he used to have all these dandies about in Paris, models and art students."

"I don't know, Murph is pretty dapper, lately," Ganymede laughed.

"Don't make me explain how that started," Morpheus said, frustratingly certain he had an involuntary blush. At least it was dark.

"Dolly! You want to be in my next photo shoot?"

"How about you tell me about it tonight?"

"See how you feel about it," Ganymede said.