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

Twenty-Two

Morpheus arrived in the office with the sound of wings, hugging jacket, bouquet, and pack shielding River in its pocket. He sucked in a breath as he spread his wings. His mobile started chirping and whistling as it automatically connected to a local network. He found Steven standing behind a desk and staring at him.

"You'd think it would make a big sound when you pop in, like in super-hero movies, but it's more like a broken disc drive. It's like you unfold into the space."

Morpheus shrugged, "Some people think it sounds like shuffling cards." He sat down in the nearest chair, his wings were positioned high enough to clear the padded arms of the chair. Morpheus unzipped the front pocket of the backpack on his lap, so that River could climb free. "Right time and place?" His mobile was still chirping and chirping....

"It's been a while," Steven said, as he sat the other side of the desk. Morpheus had focused on Steven and the way he looked, scrying with him from this office, to inform his flight between worlds. The office looked the same as in the mirror. "I should tell you there's a power of attorney in use, so Opium could make some decisions about your music."

"Oh." Why mother hadn't just called or appeared Morpheus didn't fully understand. It didn't seem her style to listen to Shade, even if she encouraged others to do so, especially considering Morpheus was her own son.

"Your plants are in the kitchen window."

"OK." None of this seemed what was important. "You said there was trouble?"

"Julien wants to tell you," Steven said, letting out a deep sigh as he said it. "But he wants me to tell you..." Steven lifted a hand to his brow.

Morpheus nodded, getting the idea, even if not the full message. "It's not personal, right? He wants someone else to tell me, before I even see him, that it's not for him I'm here."

Steven nodded. "Do you need to leave again, afterward?"

"No. I was planning to return when I got your call." Morpheus saw Steven smile at this answer, but continued, "I left my guitar behind, but I can pop back for it."

Steven nodded several times. "Good. That's good. I feel you've been missed. Only Shade and Julien seemed to know why you'd gone. You didn't actually tell Opium, did you?"

That was what it was! She was mad he hadn't found her to say goodbye or explained why he was going. "No," he said, managing a lopsided smile. "She was probably mad, huh? It wasn't like I was hiding from her. I mean, I was having family dinners with Maya! I had tea with her dad!" But he hadn't gone to the tower. "I wasn't avoiding her house because of her!"

Steven chuckled. He stood. "It'll be fine. Just tell her that. But, go see Julien first. He said to meet in his sitting room."

"Thank you." Morpheus stood, setting his things on the chair. He and gave a thought to his attire. Didn't matter if Julien said it wasn't personal. Morpheus wasn't going to see the resident fashion designer after a long absence without calculating his look. Black boots and bondage pants. Pale blue dress shirt. Gray double-breasted vest. Black necktie. He glanced up at Steven.

He made a pinching gesture with thumb and forefinger. "Take it in until it looks almost a size too small."

Morpheus laughed and made the adjustment. He saw Steven's thumbs-up.

"You coming with me, Riv?"

"We know what happened last you were here and went to see Julien without me."

Morpheus extended his arm so River could climb up to his shoulder. He also knew that Jibril had scolded him for not enabling River to be as helpful as possible. "Just checking."