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

"Twenty-seven" (Draft 2)

Toni came in first. He studied Amadeo, they argued. Julien had called, after being missing so long—they had all thought he died in the plane crash, or went into the sand and fell asleep—he was in the IndianDesert. But Steven had called while Julien was on the other line and said that Tanya had seen a ghost in Caroline's room. Athen said he would go get Faye, she was at the hotel. Obviously Faye and he were speaking again. They would go fetch Julien, maybe he could snap Joy out of it. But Amadeo had to go to New York.

"Daniel," Morpheus said, "The ghost: it's just Joy's son."

He turned and stomped across the floor, walked back.

Angel had come into the room. The others were not far behind. She was asking who could have possibly outrun four Vampyres. Who would want to hurt Joy. No one knew. Angel kept saying that there was a case to be solved. She told Amadeo they would go out and find this person.

Athen said Amadeo had to go to New York. He told the others about the ghost and about Julien.

Athen left in a hurry to get Faye.

The others went back upstairs and moved Joy to a bedroom.

Amadeo went to his room and slouched down in a chair next to the small table his notebook was on. He sighed, and then began typing. Angel came in and stood leaning against his bedpost staring at him. "Don't flip out on me, Angel," Amadeo said without looking away from his notebook.

Raven came into the room. "Are you going to New York like they say?"

"I guess I have to. Ganymede was going to go back anyway. I think he should take Thierry back with him. I'll go later. I don't feel like it's safe here. Do you want to go with Thierry?"

"I will stay with you," Raven said.

Thierry came into the room and then behind him Ganymede slunk in wearing a neat black suit. He stopped just in the doorway. "Are we going somewhere Papa? Because Joy is not right?"

Amadeo turned away from his keys. "I want you to go to New York with Ganymede. You remember Grandma, and Grandpa, and Steven, don't you. You'll stay with them. And then I'll come after you when I know if Joy will be all right."

"I remember, and my sister, you forgot my sister, and Malik, he's my cousin, and Teri who takes care of the babies for them, and Theo, and his baby Prince Phillip, and Prince's mama that is not married to Theo, what's her name, the one with the funny colored glasses?"

Amadeo laughed. "Kim. Yes, I should have said all of them. And don't forget Caroline's mama, and your Aunt Amber and Uncle Trey. Now kiss Mama goodbye and ask Ganymede if he will help you pack."

Thierry walked across the room and reached up. Raven bent and kissed his lips. "You go with Ganymede," she said.

Thierry looked up curiously at Ganymede who still stood in the door. "Don't you worry," Ganymede said, "I had brothers and sisters younger than me, I know all about kids."

Thierry started toward Ganymede.

"What are you going to do, Maddy? Athen and Julien aren't here, think you can get Joy to tell us anything?" Angel asked.

"Well, I'll try," Amadeo said. "But just let me finish this, I've been writing down everything that happens."

Amadeo turned away from his keys. "I want you to go to NewYork with Ganymede. You remember Grandma, and Grandpa, and Steven, don't you. You'll stay with them. And then I'll come after you when I know if Joy will be all right."