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

Seventeen

"So, really: two knives are better."

Joy nodded.

Julien returned to the kitchen alone. "I'm going to go out through the ballroom and get Troy in from the stables."

"Julien! Don't you remember what happened in The Lost Boys? As soon as they went out for the dog the Vampyres came!"

"Good thing we're not in a movie, then," Julien said, rolling his eyes.

"I'll go with."

Morpheus started cleaning his place at the table.

"I'll clean up," Ardor offered.

"Yeah?" Morpheus asked.

She nodded. "You and Steven both made dinner, and I think I can remember how to do dishes."

"It's mostly loading the machine," Steven said, "Compost, recycle, and incinerate bins are the other side of the sink.

"Thanks," Morpheus said.

"No problem," Ardor said, as she stood. "I know how to deck someone if they come at me," She made a fist and mimed a quick jab. Ardor laughed, as she then raised her hands, "But unless Julien wants me to blog about inter-bloodline Vampyre drama, I'm not going to be much use in a fight."

"I could use a blogger, though," Steven said. Morpheus saw him glance at Spider, as Ardor began to collect the plates. "Athen and I have been talking about pulling together a street team to promote positive representations of non-humans."

"Sure. Ganymede is really good at image sets. I didn't know as much as he did, at first. I guess that saying was true: if you want to know something about the Internet, ask a thirteen-year-old. We've both tried to keep up with advances. It's frustrating sometimes to adapt to a technology that doesn't catch on. All the 3D and shadow function."

As Steven and Ardor moved away, to the central part of the kitchen, Julien returned through the connecting door between dining room and kitchen. He held the door as Joy came in, a large, silvery wolf at her heel, and a long-haired, gray cat in her arms. River climbed onto Morpheus' head, seeing the cat.

"Troy!" Steven called happily. The man bent, and the wolf padded over to him and licked at his throat, as Steven rubbed the animal's neck. "Ardor," he whispered, have you met?"

"No. Angel only told me of him."

"This is Ardor," Steven said, "Ardor is family. Friend." He held onto Troy's collar as Ardor bent to offer a hand, which the wolf sniffed, and then licked.

Steven turned, "What about you two?"

"We met, briefly, in the Necropolis. Troy doesn't like the spiders."

"We've not formally met," Morpheus said. He walked over and stooped to greet Troy.

"Morpheus is our friend, too. Friend," Steven said.

Troy sniffed at Morpheus' hand, then sneezed and tossed his head.

"Probably the sleep on me."

"Troy taught me to drive," Steven said, rumpling the fur at Troy's neck.

"No!" Morpheus laughed.

Steven smiled, "It's not 100% a lie."

"Let's try not to be alone," Julien said, "I'm going to go upstairs to check some messages, see if Athen and Shade have landed, yet." He walked towards the door to the hall, then turned and looked back.

Morpheus looked to his sides, and it did seem Julien was looking at him in particular, though no telepathy or word was given in invitation. There was just expectancy. "I'll go with him," Morpheus whispered to Joy.