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

Seven and a Half (Draft 3) "For a Change"

"It can wait."

"We need to talk."

"Yeah."

Pam swallowed. His right hand shifted to his lap and he tugged at the edge of his robe.

Morpheus shifted his gaze aside.

"I wanna get a shower, but, are you OK?"

Morpheus glanced up at Pam's face and nodded. "Well, not really, but I will be. How 'bout you?"

"I'm gonna need a minute."

"I'm here."

Pam scooted then along the mattress then rose and left for their bathroom.

Morpheus waited half a minute then stood and called through the door, "Hey Pam, should I go get us food?"

Pam's voice called back, "Can you just stay?"

"I can, yeah."

"What?"

Morpheus raised his voice. "Won't fly away. Promise!"

While Pam was in the bathroom, Morpheus went to the window. He pricked his finger on one of Pam's potted cacti then bit at his thumb to get his blood to flow. He could feel the warmth of the Djinn before he could call them.

"Hepburn, Loren, I need you to check Joy's flat for me. See if she's there or if there's some sign she's stopped by."

Loren condensed upon the ceiling in the form of one of Dracula's brides. "Promise!"

Hepburn remained invisible, feeding from his hand, but Morpheus took the flare of heat against his skin as assent. It had the effect of making River flex his small claws.

They left the apartment a short time later looking like Audrey and Sophia in Chanel suits striking poses for each other as they went.

"You want me to make you tea," River asked, smoothing a bit of the exostructure he'd wrinkled.

"Thanks, but I got it."

The kettle was steaming and nearly at a boil when Pam came from the bathroom in jeans and blouse. Morpheus collected two cups and a saucer from the cabinet. He finished preparing the tea tray then joined Pam on the sofa near the window.

Morpheus wasn't sure how to begin their conversation, so he pretended somewhat more occupation with the tea than was necessary.

"Is Tyron really your name?"

Morpheus nodded. "It's not my full name. My first name is Morpheus."

Pam chuckled. "I'd have gone by my second name, too."

Morpheus laughed softly. "I don't mind it. Family often calls me Murph." He moved a cup of tea from the tray and set it on the chest near Pam. "How long have you known?"

"Weeks. But, I wasn't really sure what I'd seen at first. I was afraid to ask."

"Sorry."

"I thought, after that, that you had told me."

Morpheus nodded, then shrugged his right shoulder to tell River his saucer was ready.

"You'd just been vague enough to let me fill in the blanks."

"It doesn't feel right to lie outright."

River ran down his sleeve to the chest cluttered with magazines and tea service.

"I didn't know if it was rude to ask. I know people who take effort to get others to see them the way they see themselves. How do I know if you are in disguise or honestly trying to pass...?"