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

Eight (Draft 3 WIP) "Possessions"

The waiter stepped to their table to ask if the new arrivals wished to order. Splendor ordered a cappuccino, Laudy a decaf latte, and Absinthe tea.

"Then you have another job, too, Splendor? You're not only a chauffeur?" Pam asked.

Splendor tipped xir head. "I encourage others to follow their bliss."

Pam looked about to speak, but only nodded.

"You remind me of my father."

"I do?"

"He favors leopard skins."

Pam touched the front of his coat. "It's faux."

[Still WIP]

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[Temporary Author's Note: This chapter is still WIP. I got the new material written for the scenes above, but now I still need to greatly edit/rewrite this previously-existing scene below. I need to incorporate that Morpheus now lives at Hotel Seventeen, on what basis Evangelista has agreed to work with them, that Pam is present for some part of the meeting, and possibly how some characters know what Julien has been doing. There's also the information Splendor is still intended to reveal about what xe's learned about xir parent's motivations and possibly what happened to Psyche.  ]

Splendor lamented over a large cappuccino. Morpheus and Laudanum listened quietly; Absinthe was draped across the table top twining the daisies from the vase into a wreath. People were staring from the other tables; it seemed to be all the colorful hair.

"I feel pulled in so many directions," said Splendor, "I wonder if this is the way real Angels feel just before they split, or fall." Xe looked up and took Morpheus' hand from the table. "And how terrible for you, to know that it's my father's arrows directly that have made Athen desire Julien...it must offer little consolation to know Tristopher had no choice but to inspire Julien to truly love the Vampyre."

This was news to Morpheus. He held Splendor's hand tightly, stared at the frightened Halfangel. "And which of those in The Palace crashes the plane?"

Splendor's violet eyes grew large and bright. "Absidus. How else was she to fix things?"

"Julien and I suffering years and years of pain - just fallout - because Eros was jealous Psyche preferred Athen?"

Splendor nodded.

Morpheus dropped its hand, when Absinthe sat up and touched his arm. "Be at peace," she whispered. "Laudy, tell him to calm down."

Morpheus shook his head. "I'm fine, Laudy," he said quietly, knowing it was within his bother's abilities to induce calm. "Splendor?"

"Yes?"

Morpheus sighed as he was distracted by the view out the window. The other three corners of this intersection had cafes at then as well, Julien was walking past the one hung with musical instruments, a pale, thin, fine-boned human man under his arm.

Morpheus knew Julien was a Vampyre, it didn't seem too bad a thing to feed Julien. It didn't seem any worse than feeding his flowers or Djinn. Yet, it made him feel sick and sad knowing Julien would lead that pretty boy away to some secluded place and bleed his life away. He didn't do it on purpose, but Morpheus had a good idea that Julien was choosing victims who were not only in beauty but desperation the reflection of himself. "Opium will feel bad when she realizes...."

Laudanum nodded. "Some of those boys want to die as badly as Julien ever did, at least Death will be happy about it."

"Splendor, is Eros as mad as Psyche?" Morpheus asked.