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

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

"As human."

Pam nodded several times.

"I'm mixed. So, I am part. Human."

Pam sighed then whispered, "But you really are something else?"

"I need to ask you something before I answer: Do you acknowledge that you aided me when I was on the street and that though we shared expenses, you received no payment or favor in exchange for aiding me?"

"This doesn't involve signing in blood?"

Morpheus laughed aloud. "No. Just a gentlemen's agreement."

"OK, sure. I thought you could use some help."

"Then I am in your debt and you may make a request of me."

"Like wishes or pots of gold— is that offensive?"

Morpheus bobbled. "Not to me."

Pam leaned away, toward the arm of their sofa, and squinted at Morpheus. "I'm sensing this could be a liability issue for you."

"It is," Morpheus admitted. "I could tell you everything, but if someone else finds out, they'll find me a terrible assignment and ease away some of your memories. If there's debt and you request, it's proper, and no one can really do anything about it."

"Lethe water," River said.

Pam rapidly sat upright. "Morpheus, I request you tell me the truth."

"River only looks like a lizard. My father's people are supernatural beings from another realm. Lulu's family are Vampyres. I'm pretty sure they've turned Julien by now."

Pam extended a hand to touch Morpheus on his shoulder. "We should talk about that, but there's something else I should tell you, first."

Morpheus reached for his teacup.

"I met someone."

"That's—"

"No, I should start before that," Pam said. "You remember you had mentioned a while back that you wanted to go to an art gallery?"

"Valois. In SoHo." He took a sip of tea.

"Then you changed your volunteer schedule. But, I went. I thought it was going to be like that scene in Pretty Woman."

"That's a movie."

Pam made a circling moving-on gesture with one hand. "I thought the gallery people might be mean, but I went anyway, alone, and it was cool. So, I talked with a girl there."

"Your someone?" Morpheus set down his teacup.

"No. But she was flirty and helpful." Pam moved some magazines and papers atop the chest. "She gave me all these catalogues from old shows." One of the gallery booklets had Cary Merisi's name on it. "And this is how I know there's more than one thing you weren't honest about."

Morpheus nodded as he took the catalogues. "Julien." There was a painting of him in the background of a Photo of Merisi.

"What is he to you? Ty— Murphy, what's going on?"

"What about your someone?"

"Answer me first."

Morpheus flipped through a catalogue. "You won't believe me."

"Really? Now? I won't believe you?"

Morpheus glanced up. "Time travel is involved."

Pam laughed.

"I told you."

Pam gulped his tea then placed the cup heavily on the chest. "OK. Time Travel."

"A future version of him, who will be a Vampyre in that time, visited me in my past and accidentally revealed that we — me and him in his time — are in a relationship."