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

Eight (Draft 3 WIP) "Possessions"

Morpheus shook his head. "Not when I see him." He shifted back to his root form.

Lip pouting and brows raised Hepburn then fanned a hand at the side of the head, as if showing a wing.

"Father," Morpheus said, making the sign aside his head.

"I'm going to have to report to mine," Mother said then.

"OK."

"He has ways of watching, but I know he expects it."

"Like father like daughter."

Mother smiled. "I realize these last couple days have been bad. Elle and I will see to Joy, but right now, honestly, she seems to have little memory of Athen and is totally focused on fabulous and awesome Julien is."

Morpheus attempted a smile. "He's kinda a cool person. I know you don't see it yet."

"We'll see. For now though, if you need a break...."

"No, but, I do need to look for a new place to live." He continued before Mother could question, "Things are still good with Pam, but it's just better if we live apart and stay friends."

"Oh." She sounded sorry.

"It's fine. So, you'll tell Jibril everything?"

"Anything else I should tell him?"

"No."

"It's unclear how Joy lost her memory and how­—"

"Except," Morpheus added, "It must have happened during or after the fire. She looked troubled. I didn't go in, but at that point, I did scry on them. Joy looked hurt when Julien led her away."

"You did it because it seemed necessary."

Morpheus nodded. "And, Jibril probably knows, but I also cast one dream into Julien's mind to suggest he see Joy to a safe place."

"Yeah, thanks for leading a Vampyre to my house."

Morpheus grimaced. As Shade and Blade had met Mother on Halloween and Julien had now encountered her as a Vampyre, it seemed likely they might realize she wasn't Human. It was possible Athen or Shade had noticed Tyron wasn't as Human as he looked. Now, Joy made them all a degree closer.

⁂

Morpheus saw Pam as he approached the café on Bleeker, gloved hands holding closed the collar of his faux fur. He gave a start when Morpheus called his name.

"It's you." Pam sighed. "You changed your look."

"Yeah. Were you waiting outside?"

Pam smiled, but it didn't match the way his eyes looked aside. "Just got here, but I had this feeling someone was on my tail."

Not waiting; checking reflections. Morpheus didn't notice anyone looking toward them at the moment, but there was something. Like a pull not quite there, yet in a specific direction.

He shivered. "Let's go inside."

They found a table along one wall. Pam took a seat on the banquette and set the shopping bag he'd been carrying beside him.

Morpheus took the chair opposite. He reached inside the blue raincoat he'd formed to offer River a hand.

"We expect someone else?"

Morpheus set River on the table. "Yeah. Later. I thought it would be OK for us to talk first. Haven't seen you since the storm."

Pam smiled; his eyes crinkled. "It's been a minute. You look good."