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

Six and a Half (Draft 3) "Spirits in the Material World"

"Preaching to the choir, My Child." Father Jerah's hand pat Tyron's shoulder.

"Generally, we." Gabriel gestured to herself-Cherubim, or Angels of the First Triad, or Angels of Revelation. "Help them get it right. But, of course, souls may also ascend without living Humans realizing."

Zerachiel nodded. "When you assume another soul's form, it confuses the matter."

"But-" Morpheus saw their point. "Steven prompted my form. It just happens like that, sometimes involuntarily."

"Was it involuntary? This time?" Gabriel asked.

Morpheus shook his head. "I was off mission."

"And right now?" asked Zerachiel.

Morpheus looked to Gabriel when he answered. "Our House has our ward under observation. I have a team watching her now."

At the edge of his vision, Zerachiel cocked her head then turned to Gabriel, so that it seemed the priest gazed meaningfully at the doctor.

"They have means to contact me," Morpheus continued. "I do see how this might seem improper, but things I've seen recently lead me to believe that so many things are interconnected. It goes back to that time when several Satans of the Malakim went into the Empty World and Lucifer reportedly stole away Julien's sister from her Vampyre husband. Steven's the Human friend, isn't he?"

Father Jerah's index finger touched his lips. "It goes back farther, Child," Zerachiel said, "but it is not your duty to know more unless another pass it to you. Who is your duty?"

Morpheus wanted to say Julien. The name almost rolled off his tongue. Regardless of any future they might have, he wanted to know someone was watching out for that young man who had recently watched a friend bleeding out on a sidewalk.

"I'll go back," Morpheus said, "but is there any way you can tell me if someone's watching Julien? River says he's been using drugs to get through school. It can be a problem for Humans. They don't keep use to medicine and mysteries."

"I can't tell you," Gabriel said quickly. "Go back to your partner and continue your duties. If you need more advice, ask Raziel."

⁂

Morpheus shifted again to his Tyron disguise after the last of the forms he'd used to watch Joy through the night, and walked across town, buying a couple of newspapers and two coffees on his way home. Pam was still asleep, so Morpheus delivered River to the windowsill and set the coffees atop a chest of drawers before gingerly sitting on the bed. Pam stirred but wasn't quite conscious.

Morpheus spread out the papers and leafed through looking for stories about Steven Jewel or the status of the investigation into his attempted murder. There wasn't much, and what was there was vague: "sources", "ongoing", "following all leads". A Detective Daniel Kelly may have been involved, but had refused comment.

The weight on the mattress shifted as Pam rolled over, half-dressed and conscious, and propped himself up on one arm.

"I got you coffee."

"You're the best." Pam extended a hand.

Morpheus took the coffee from the chest and passed it.

"You out all night?" Pam asked, holding the coffee below his nose.

"Yeah, but I'm OK. I can rest before I have to go out again." Morpheus reached for his own coffee and then took a sip.

"The change in hours and all the newspapers: I thought maybe you were seeing someone."