If I was ever told I'd be writing something like this, I would have laughed and said that it was crazy…and that's just what it is! Totally, absolutely and fantastically crazy.
Maybe I should just tell you the story. Let you judge for yourself and you are allowed to think I'm insane. I certainly think I am.
My name is Demi Terre, I'm 24 years old and – up until six weeks ago – I was certified sane. I would say I'm a decent-looking girl, but I have the weirdest colouring. My hair has always been a bizarre mixture of black and golden-blonde, which seemed even weirder with my bone-white skin and amber coloured eyes.
I'm used to having people stare at me. That's why I prefer working with animals. They don't stare half as much. I'm a vet/animal psychologist, so I spend my life surrounded by animals, which I like.
Of all the animals I work with, cats have always been my favourite. I seem to have an affinity for felines and I have about eight at home…maybe that's why what happened, happened the way it did.
I was working in the surgery as usual, all those short weeks ago, when a tomcat was brought in for a check up. His owner said he'd been listless and had just been moping around the house for days, even if the sun happened to be shining bright…but on other days, he'd hurtle around the house wrecking anything that got in the way.
He was in a carry case and I was used to working with felines, but what I didn't expect was the feeling that hit me when that stunning silver tabby was lifted out of the basket. I can't explain it. It felt like I had seen him before, but I knew that was impossible.
His owner said his name was Ziggy, but he only looked disdainful when she called him and tried to cajole him into playing. He just lay there, as I leaned over to examine him.
"Careful," His owner cautioned, "He's a bit vicious with strangers. He tends to scratch and bite quite a bit."
As if he was listening, the tom lazily rolled over and stared up at me out of clear, curious green eyes. I gently stroked his tummy, never taking my eyes from his and I smiled as he purred, rubbing against my hand.
"Well, I never did!" The woman exclaimed.
"I have a knack with cats." I murmured, unable to tear my eyes away from those green ones. I'd never seen eyes that bright before. I moved my hand slowly up and rubbed behind his ears, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your hands are cold." The voice was a soft, rich tenor. I looked up at the woman, but she was staring down at her cat.
"Pardon?" I said.
"I didn't say a word." She frowned, looking at me with a funny expression in her eyes. I had a feeling that she was messing about. Playing some kind of ventriloquism trick on me, so I decided the best thing to do would be ignore it.
I started checking the cat over, tearing my eyes away from his. The way he had been acting was common with toms that needed a mate and I explained this to his owner, relieved that she hadn't done her ventriloquism trick again.
"Do you want him to mate?" I enquired.
"Yes please!" That tenor voice replied, gleefully.
"No, I'd rather not have a lot of kittens from this terror." She shook her head, "I have a older female at home, but I definitely don't want any kittens from them."
"That dame?" The tenor voice murmured again, "Wouldn't touch her with a barge pole!"
I glanced down at the cat, who looked back up at me and I could have sworn I saw a glimmer of laughter in his eyes.
"Do you want him sterilised?" I asked.
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
"When could that be done?" The woman looked down at the tomcat, who stared up at her blankly.
"I have no appointments this afternoon, so I could do it then." I stroked the cat's fur gently, "And you could come and get him tomorrow if that is all right for you."
"Hey! Wait!" The soft voice had taken on a pleading note, "Can't we talk about this? I wasn't that bad! Please? I want to have kittens! I want to be a daddy! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease?"
I stared down at the cat again, who was leaning against me, backing away from its owner. It couldn't be that, could it?
"I'm sure that would be fine." She smiled pleasantly at me. "I think it'll do him good."
"WHAT??? This is my tom-hood you want to take away! And you think it'll do me good? What will the guys say?"
"Make an appointment at the reception and I'll see you tomorrow." I reached down and picked the large tom up, watching as the woman made her way to the door, waving back to the cat.
"Be good, kitty, and mummy will be back tomorrow for you when you're all better."
"Call yourself a mother?" The voice yelled, "Would you cut off your son's reproductive organs? You stupid pollicle!"
I shook my head, as the door closed, shifting the cat in my arms. It was going a bit too far and it wasn't even that funny, I thought.
"I like you ma'am, but I'd be grateful if you took your hand off my di…"
"Okay, stop it!" I yelled, cutting off its words, looking around angrily, "It's not even funny!"
"Of course its not bloomin' funny!" The voice shouted back, equally angry, "You're squashing my special bits with your cold hands! I can't see how it would ever be funny!"
"Who…what are you?" It was starting to unnerve me a lot.
"Look down." I did and met the cat's eyes again, "Hello gorgeous." He winked at me! I couldn't believe it! If I could believe my eyes, a cat was flirting with me!
"Are you talking…to me?" I asked hesitantly, feeling kind of stupid asking a cat that kind of question.
"Can you see anyone else?" His voice asked silkily, those bright green eyes twinkling merrily.
"How can I understand…hear you?"
"You must be a re-born Jellicle." He replied, wriggling slightly to move my hand from its rather precarious position on his anatomy. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinising me carefully. Finally, he whispered, "Demi?"
"H…how did you know my name?"
"You…um…you were my mate in one of your previous lives." He answered, looking away, as if overcome with emotion. "You and I were meant to be together permanently, but Macavity murdered you and something went wrong in the Heaviside Layer…you're spirit ended up in an already-living human who was similar in nature to you."
"Wait a minute…I'm meant to be your mate?" I shook my head in confusion, "What do you mean? Who's this Macavity? Why would I be murdered? What's the Heaviside Layer?"
"You don't remember?" His eyes filled with tears, "Oh, Demi, I loved you so much and you can't even remember me!"
"I…I remember seeing you before, but you seemed bigger…somehow." I was so certain that it was all some weird dream that I didn't even think about arguing.
"Well, you were a cat." He replied gently, nestling against my chest. Suddenly he looked up at me, a naughty gleam in his eyes, "But I do like your new, in-built pillows."
"Most guys seem to like them." I said with a grin.
"You know," He became serious," You are as beautiful as a human as you were as a cat…I just wish I could be the same species as you. Even for just one night. I lived to just hold you at night…just to touch you, to stroke your fur…to love you."
"Oh, Munkustrap." I murmured, then frowned, "Munkustrap? What does that mean?"
"You remember!" He shouted triumphantly. "That's my name! You remember me!"
I remembered love. I remembered loving him…but it wasn't him…just as it wasn't me. It seemed like it was so long ago. Like some half-forgotten dream.
"I wish I could remember it all, Munkustrap." I murmured unhappily. He was the reason I'd stayed alone for so long. I had never been interested in any man, because they never lived up to the image he had left imprinted in my mind. He had meant everything to me.
"I know, beautiful." He nuzzled me kindly, his eyes understanding.
"What happened to me, Munkustrap? Who is Macavity?" Even though it was bizarre, I had to know who I was. What I was. "Please? I need to understand…to know."
"He wanted you and thought he could get you through violence." Lowering his face, he hoarsely whispered, "He kidnapped you…raped you…and when you wouldn't give in to him, he beat you…you died just after we found you …in my arms."
I felt tears of anger welling up in my eyes, wanting to tear apart the evil cat who ruined both our lives. Pressing me eyes shut, I felt memories surging over me…
"NO!" I screamed, dropping Munkustrap, falling to my knees, trembling. It was the face that had haunted my nightmares. I remembered fighting, scratching, biting, anything to escape those cruel paws. I remembered my shame…my pain…my fury…and that laughing, mocking, ginger-furred monster. I could never forget him.
Covering my face with my shaking hands, I curled up helplessly on the cold floor, sobbing, as the memories continued to pummel me mercilessly. Now I knew why I had forgotten.
"Dem." I jumped, as a gentle paw touched me. "Dem, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you."
Looking up, I found Munkustrap gazing sorrowfully down at me and I could see the torment my agonies and death had caused him. Tentatively, he rubbed his face against my cheek, drying the tears that glittered there.
"I…I knew." I finally whispered, wrapping my arms around him, burying my face in his thick fur, "That's why I had tried to forget." Shuddering, I swallowed a sob and shook my head. "Oh, Munk, why do things have to be so difficult?"
"I wish I knew…" He paused, a cheeky glint returning to his eyes, "One reason could be that you promised the boss-lady that you would cut off my pride and joy!"
"Oh dear!" I had to give him a rye grin. "How can I get out of that one?"
Looking around conspiratorially, he beckoned me closer and sneakily whispered, "Charge her and I swear I'll never touch that ugly old queen she's got at home."
"You little con-artist!" I had to laugh at his mock-innocent expression, all the wild emotions of the previous moments hastily forgotten. "You'd better not touch that dame!"
"There's always only been one cat for me." He replied softly, licking my cheek lightly. I knew it was absurd, but I blushed, feeling that little gesture was more intimate than anything a human would do.
"But how can I let you go again, now that I know all this?" Life had suddenly got a lot more complicated. For one, I'd found out I was in love with a cat! That is a bit of a complication for any girl!
"It'll work out somehow." He looked as dazed as I felt, "At least now I know how to find you. I know what to do if I ever want to get attention from you."
"Let me guess," I smiled, "You act sick and con the boss-lady into bringing you back here."
"Got it in one." He winked mischievously, "But I'll have to talk to my dad, to see if there's anything we can do so I can be with you again."
"Is it possible?" I needed that tiny speck of hope. Something to cling to. Proof that I wasn't meant to be alone all my life.
"I think there could be a way." He replied absently, as if his mind was somewhere else. "It might not seem like a good idea, but it could work." Raising those stunning eyes to me, he smiled, "We'd be together. That's the important thing, right?"
I nodded, then realised that I had spent a heck of a lot of time with one little customer. He made several naughty remarks as I told him I was going to lock him up for the night, but smiled and said he understood.
All I heard for the next two hours was that cheerful tenor voice loudly singing a bizarre medley of music, with the lyrics changed to graphic and naughty lines. I suppose I would have seemed pretty crazy when people walked in and found me rolling on the floor in hysterics, listening to a singer that no one else could hear! Still, it cheered me up.
I sneaked him home that night, which I found even stranger, and we spent the night lying on my massive bed just talking quietly about life. All my memories of home – both good and bad – came back to me and more than once I ended up in tears.
Kinda makes me wonder how I coped when I had to give him back to his owner. I think his "And you said I was a con!" jibe as I accepted her cheque for his 'snip' helped me.
He came back at least once a week after that, feigning all manner of illness and playing up to symptoms I described to him from veterinary medical journals.
His arrival certainly brightened up my life and I couldn't imagine not knowing him. Every week, I'd eagerly await his arrival, suffering from some mystery ailment, just so I could talk to him again.
And, every week without fail, he'd arrive, acting up to the symptoms perfectly. If this was the only way we could be together, I was willing to stick with it.
* * *
I couldn't believe it, when the Boss-Lady took me into the Vet's a few weeks ago and she was there! My Dem! I had searched for her everywhere, since she had died and then I just dropped into her lap!
I didn't realise it was her at first, but then, looking at her, she was exactly what Dem would have been like, if she had been a human all the time. She was the most beautiful cat I had ever known…and seeing this vet was the first time I could say I had found a human to equal her.
My last memory of Demeter, in feline form, was after we – the Jellicles – had stormed Macavity's lair and found her there. Bleeding. Battered. Dying. Her dazzling gold and black fur stained with crimson blood, her face barely recognizable, her body torn and defiled.
I had touched her gently, but she backed away, screaming. I could only begin to imagine what that malevolent brute had done to her beyond the visible evidence.
It had taken a lot of coaxing to persuade her that it really was me. That I meant her no harm. Holding her in my arms, I had felt the life ebbing from her. Even if she had survived his brutality, the lively spirit we had all known so well had been callously murdered.
It took her several hours to fall asleep, her restless consciousness, haunted by terrifying waking nightmares, hallucinations and sheer terror. I knew there was no chance of her survival. It tore me apart to sit there, holding her, unable to do anything.
Finally, she opened her golden eyes and smiled at me. Her final words were, "I love you, Munk. I'll see you in the morning." Then she had nestled close to me and shut her eyes for the last time, her last breath as quiet as the one before.
After her death, everything changed. My life seemed pointless. We were meant to be together forever, but no. Fate had taken her away. I thought that would be it. That she was gone. That I'd have to live without her…but Old Deuteronomy called me to him one day.
He told me that she was still alive. In a way. He said that our love was so special that she hadn't made it all the way to the Heaviside Layer. That she was lingering somewhere…that she could still be alive.
I had never imagined that she would have found a human that she could live with and as. But that's what happened. She found Demi Terre and they became one person.
In a way, that made things harder for both of us. We could remember each other, but we were so different now, in form, if not anything else. There was no way we could have stayed like that. That's why I'm doing what I think is right for both of us.
Looking up the road, I can see the car coming. Swallowing hard, I step down off the pavement, hidden by a parked van. The vehicle is speeding and I know there was no way for it to stop. I have to do it for her, if not myself.
So, without looking back, I run out onto the road…
* * *
Then it happened. It seemed like my worst nightmare, even though he was only a cat. 'Only a cat'. I have to keep telling myself that, even if it hurts. Nothing could have come of our old lives. Still, it didn't help when he was brought in yesterday. Dying.
It was late and I was about to close the surgery. Practically everyone else had headed off home and I was clearing up when there was a frantic battering at the door.
It was the woman I had come to know as the Boss-lady and cradled in her arms was an unconscious, bloody Munkustrap.
"Please! Help me!" She cried, staring pleadingly at me as I fumbled with the locks and hurriedly led her through to the main surgery, laying him down on the smooth surface.
Running my hands over him, I felt him wince. Jagged, cracked bones protruded from his chest and his breath was bubbling and hissing in his lungs, that I could guess had been punctured.
"What happened?" I asked, while trying to do what I could.
"He…he ran in front of a car…" She tearfully stared down at him. "It seemed almost deliberate…he waited til he saw a car coming and ran onto the road."
"Maybe you should wait outside." I suggested quietly, noticing one of his eyes starting to flicker open. She nodded and went silently through to reception.
"Hi Dem." His voice was lower than a whisper, filled with pain.
"Munk, what did you do this for?" I asked, half-angry, half-terrified that I'd lose him.
"For you, Dem." He breathed weakly, "It's the only way…I can't let you waste your life on me…I'm not the same species…it can't work."
"Oh Munk…" I was crying freely, my hands trembling, as I tried to help him. "You silly, silly cat!"
"Dem," He knocked my hands away feebly, "I had to know…if it would happen again…I made a deal…a vow…let me die…it's the only way…I can't live like this any more…without you to hold…to love."
"What are you talking about?" I sobbed furiously, wishing I could pick him up and give him a shake.
"I wanted to see if I could do the same as you, Dem." He whispered, his head sinking back, his eyes closing with the effort, "To see if I could become a human too." A tear ran slowly down his cheek, "I…I wanted to be with you…I thought…if I died, I could be again."
I felt hot tears splashing down my cheeks and ran my hand over his head, finding no words. He rubbed his head against my palm and whispered, "If I can, I will come back."
"And if you can't?" My voice rose to a shrill hysterical sob, "Munk? What if you can't?"
"I guess you'll…find someone else." He opened his eyes and gazed lingeringly up at me, but I could see the pain saying those words caused him. "There are a lot of good men out there."
He was weakening, even if he was trying to hide it and nothing I could do would be able to save him. I knew that. I wish I didn't but I did. Slowly, I sat up on the surface with him and carefully lifted him up, cradling him tenderly in my arms.
"Please, don't leave me, Munk…" I pressed my face against the blood-matted ruff of fur around his throat, feeling his heart beating against my hot cheek, "I can't live without you."
"I love you, Dem." He mustered enough strength to whisper, "And I will come back for you."
Then it stopped. Just like that. That steady heartbeat. Gone. That voice. Those bright eyes. Everything. I felt his crushed body growing limp and heavy in my arms, but didn't want to move.
This could be the last time I had to hold him. Ever. Sitting in the dim room, I wept, running my fingers through his fur, rocking back and forth, low animalistic whimpers tearing me apart, salty tears burning my eyes and streaming down my cheeks.
Finally, I stood up and carefully laid him down on the smooth worktop, caressing his wild fur again. Wiping away my tears, I started to clean the blood off his marvelous silver and black fur, closing those beautiful once-bright green eyes.
The Boss-lady was still waiting. I let her come in and see her beautiful cat one last time, noticing the tears in her eyes too.
"Did he suffer much?" She asked, touching his face lightly.
I shook my head, unable to think of anything to say. Lowering my head, I stood silently, rubbing my trembling hands, a lump forming in my throat.
"Do…do you want me to take care of him?" I finally mumbled, fighting back another wave of tears.
"Oh…yes, I think I would prefer that." I reached over and squeezed her hand gently. "How…how much do I owe you?" She asked, biting her lip, struggling to fight back her own tears.
"It's alright. I couldn't do anything for him." I replied, feeling absolutely useless, "I don't want to take anything from you for doing nothing."
We must have stood there for almost half an hour, just gazing down at the stunning feline, but finally she turned to me, whispered her thanks and quietly left.
I was drained. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally. But, I still had one more thing I had to do.
Kneeling in my massive back garden, I slowly lowered Munkustrap's body into a small grave I had dug. I had got to know him so much that I almost expected him to jump up and shout "Surprise!" but he just lay there.
Filling in the grave, I covered it over, kneeling there for a little longer, just remembering his mischievous sense of humour that kept me laughing when I wasn't meant to.
Knowing there was nothing else for me to do, I returned into the house and flopped down on the sofa and cried. As far as I could see my life was over.
* * *
A year later.
Rina glanced around the door, grinning naughtily at Demi. "What would you say, if I told you I'd arranged a little surprise for you?" She enquired.
"Oh no!" Demi rolled her eyes, "Not another blind date!"
"Hey! I didn't say it was a blind date!" Rina laughed, tossing her long red braid back over her shoulder. "C'mon, sis, its your birthday present! Do you want a surprise?"
"That depends." Demi replied absently, sweeping her hair back from her face, concentrating on fixing tiny cannons onto her model ship.
"On what?"
"What the surprise is." Demi chewed on her lip, carefully lowering the miniscule cannon in place, "If it involves dancing with a stripper…again, then no."
"But he was cute!"
"It's not him again, is it?" Demi raised her golden eyes to meet her sister's brown ones.
"Its not!" Rina giggled, leaning over Demi's shoulder to eye the ship, "I promise it won't be the slightest bit degrading for you, this time."
"It won't?" She raised a cynical golden eyebrow, "Well, there has to be a catch, if its not degrading for me."
"There's no catch, I promise." Rina crossed her hand over her heart and tilted her head. "Just say you'll come with me." Pouting, she widened her eyes innocently, "Pwease."
"Will it shut you up?" Demi grinned at her sister.
"Yep." The red-haired twenty-year-old batted her eyes and did her best angelic expression, "So? Will you?"
"I guess so." Demi nodded absently, lowering the model ship and standing up, brushing tiny bits of plastic off her clothes.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going to go and get ready?" Rina grinned engagingly, "We've got to be there in two hours…and counting."
"And what would you have done if I said no?" Demi allowed herself to be ferried up the stairs to her room.
"I would have taken you hostage." Rina replied. "We'd be going to this, whether you wanted to or not!"
* * *
"So, will I do?" Demi made a small twirl at the top of the stairs.
"Oh brother!" Rina groaned. "And I don't even have time to make you get changed now!"
Demi grinned, winding the scrunchie once more around the end of her braid. "I thought it looked quite good." She said teasingly, tightening the belt around her waist.
"You were meant to get dressed up, Dem." Rina retorted, opening the front door. "You weren't meant to put on your oldest black jeans…or that tatty shirt!"
"You didn't tell me that." Demi argued, racing out to the jeep and leaping into the passenger seat. "C'mon, lets get this show on the road."
"As you wish, my lady." Rina retorted, turning to grin at the young next-door neighbour, winking at him.
"Rina! Leave the poor boy alone!"
"You're really going to love tonight!" Rina slid into the driver's seat, glancing at the young neighbour again with a pout. "You're lucky I could get a night off!"
"So, where are we going?" Demi enquired, as they roared off down the road, towards the station.
"Just wait and see." Rina grinned naughtily. "Wait and see."
* * *
"Here we are!" The pair of them stepped out of the cab, onto the bustling pavement and gazed up at the building. "This is where I work."
"And you brought me here to see what you actually do?" Demi turned to stare at her sister.
"Well, kinda."
"So, what are you? A box-office-type person?" Demi suddenly realised she had no idea what her little sister did for a living.
"Nope." Rina grinned, grabbing her sister's hand. "I'm in the show."
Demi felt like she could have been knocked down with a feather. "But you don't have the energy to do a show like that…its really fast and energetic, I've heard."
"Why do you think I never have any energy?" Rina grinned again, pulling her sister into the building, flashing a pair of tickets. "I persuaded them to let me have one night off to bring you to see the show…" She glanced around conspiratorially. "I've never actually seen it from out front!"
Weaving her way skillfully and gracefully between the other patrons, Rina lead the way up to the front row seats and proudly grinned at her shell-shocked big sister.
"If you don't mind me asking," Demi remarked, "Who do you play?"
"Oh, you'll know." Rina laughed. "You just have to see the character and you'll know."
Settling in their seats, Demi realised they had just arrived in time, as the lights dimmed and the overture started, cats eyes flickering on all over the theatre.
As the cast began to emerge, Demi felt a tingle run up her spine. The second cat crept out and immediately locked eyes with her. Biting her lip, she shifted in her seat.
She couldn't say what it was, but she couldn't take her eyes off him…until a wild, red, flirtatious female came out and she had to laugh, glancing at her sister, who shrugged helplessly.
Still, she still found her eyes wandering to the first tomcat she had seen. There was something about him. Something infinitely sensual and feline rang through his every motion. If she hadn't read the cast list, she could have believed that he was a cat.
Tilting his head at her, as if noticing her scrutiny, he slowly crawled towards her, raising himself on his knees to gaze at her, holding out his 'paw' to touch her hand.
* * *
I couldn't breathe. I forced myself to remember that he was just an actor, playing the same part he played every night…but it was insanely hard when he ran his fingers down mine. It was like electricity.
Swallowing hard, I forced myself back in my seat, trembling from head to toe. Never before had one gentle little touch left me gasping for breath like I was then.
Dropping down on my bed, I just lay there thinking back to the show. I couldn't believe how much I was drawn to that 'cat' and after the whole spectacular show had finished, I had got the shock of my life.
Asking Rina the name of the big silver tabby, she replied 'Munkustrap.' I almost collapsed there and then. No wonder I had gone weak. He reminded me of what Munkustrap was like. And, to make things ten times worse, as we made our way back down the aisle, while Rina stopped to sign a few autographs for faithful fans, I glanced back to see 'Munkustrap' scanning the leaving audience.
Suddenly, he leapt off the stage and raced down, jumping over empty chairs and crawling between people's feet, towards Rina and I. Nudging her, I stepped behind her, expecting him to talk to her…but he side-stepped around her and grinned at me.
Reaching into my pocket, I stood up and went through to the bathroom, sitting down on the edge of the running bath, pulling out the crumpled note that he had sneakily pressed into my palm.
"Happy birthday, Dem." He'd said, loudly enough for anyone nearby to hear, reaching up to loosen my hair and rubbing his silver and black wig against my now-wild mane, squeezing my paw…um…hand, with a cheeky grin. Then he'd scampered back up to the deserted stage and glanced back once more, before disappearing into a pipe.
It was only after we got out of the theatre that I actually realised that he had slipped something into my hand…but, so Rina didn't get the wrong end of the stick, I crumpled it and hastily hid it in my pocket.
Now, in the privacy of my bathroom, I slowly unfold the note and hesitantly read it. My eyes widen with disbelief and I feel tears brimming in my eyes.
How dare he! How could he use the identity of my late-mate to try and get a date with me? Suddenly, I have to laugh. Of course, he doesn't know that …but asking me if I want a date with a silver tabby, must be a very 'original' chat up line for him.
Shrugging, I lazily deposit my clothes in a heap on the floor and toss the note into the bin, sliding under the hot water in the bath. I would have to be crazy to agree to meet the guy, I tell myself.
* * *
"Demi!" Rina bellowed from downstairs, "Get your butt down here!"
"Wha…?" Demi stumbled down the stairs, sleepily rubbing her eyes with one hand, tying the dressing-gown cord with the other. "Wassa matter?"
"What's this?" Rina held up the note accusingly. "Where and when did you get this?"
Frowning, Demi blinked at her sister. "What do you mean 'where did I get it?'?" She retorted sharply, reaching over to snatch it back "Where did you get it?"
"It was on the table, when I came down!" Rina leapt back, out of reach. "So, spill."
"That Munk actor gave it to me." Demi shambled stiffly after her sister, still trying to snag the note, not even half-awake. "Now, give it back to me."
"Not unless you agree to go!"
"Rina!" Demi groaned, collapsing into the nearest chair, her hair tumbling around her face. "I can't be bothered with this! Give me the note!"
"Agree to see him and I might…if you don't show up, he'll make my life hell!" Rina put her hands on her hips and glared threateningly down at her big sister.
"Okay, okay…I'll go." Demi groaned again, burying her face in her hands, "As long as you shut uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup!"
Demi found herself getting dragged up the stairs at full speed, by the dancing Rina, who broke happily into song as they reached Demi's bedroom.
"Lemme see your wardrobe!" She sang, taking a flying leap onto the tangled heap of bedcovers on the floor. "Impress me with your debonair taste!"
Staggering over, Demi pushed the doors open, then stumbled back over to her bed, curling up sleepily on the bare mattress, noticing – detachedly – that it was half past six in the morning.
"You call that a wardrobe?" Rina squealed, leaping to her feet.
"Ri, its not even 7am…its my day off…go away and wake me up later… say about noon." Demi pulled a pillow over her head and yawned.
"Uh-uh!" Rina yelled, pulling the pillow away and yanking Demi to her feet. "We're getting ready and going shopping in London!"
"Oh no…" Demi allowed herself to be propelled towards the bathroom, a pile of clothes thrust into her hand, "But its too early."
"By the time we're ready and get to the station, it'll almost be 8am and the shops open early this weekend, so we'll get to London at 9am and the shops will be waiting."
"But…" Demi frantically searched for an excuse, "Um…I have no money!"
"But," Rina retorted with a grin, "I have a credit card…now get dressed and ready to go!"
* * *
"Do I have to do this?" Gazing out of the cab, up at the restaurant, Demi bit her lip nervously.
"Yes." Rina smiled fondly. "You can't have me spending all that money then you refuse to go in. You look fantastic…now, go!"
Giving her sister a watery smile, Demi stepped hesitantly out onto the pavement, brushing her new dress down to settle smoothly around her soft curves.
Starting up the steps, she glanced back at her sister, who grinned and waved her on. Sighing nervously, she ran lightly up the steps, pausing to look at her reflection in the window…she really would never have recognised herself at all!
Gazing back at her was a stunning-looking woman clad in a black and gold silk sheath dress, her gold and black hair artistically styled and settling lightly on her slim shoulders. Wide golden eyes were highlighted with skillfully applied make-up and her lips looked smooth and soft.
Grinning, she shook her head with a soft laugh. Trust Rina to make her look just like a professional model. She'd never seen a vet that looked anything like that.
Stepping into the revolving door, she fought the urge to run through at full speed, as she usually did. Instead, she gracefully made her way through and asked for the table that the 'tom' had said he had booked.
* * *
I was twenty minutes early, so I ordered a drink, while looking out of the window at the view of the illuminated Millenium dome on the opposite bank of the Thames.
I found my mind wandering back to the previous night, until I was gently tapped on the shoulder and I spun to find the waiter standing behind me. He politely asked if I wanted another drink – which I declined – and left. I looked at my watch. He was late!
Sighing, I swirled my wine around in my glass. That's it, I decided, if he's more than fifteen minutes late, I'm leaving.
Glancing over at the doors, I saw the doorman was having a bit of trouble with a patron. Something about inappropriate footwear for a restaurant reached my ears.
Shaking my head, I turned back to the window, feeling the minutes trickle by and just as I was about to get to my feet to leave, I heard footfalls behind me and a man slipped into the seat opposite me, with a sigh of mock-relief.
"I thought they'd never let me in." He remarked, with a sheepish grin. "The doorman likes annoying me."
"Um…who are you?" I asked, gazing at him. I didn't really need to ask. I could tell from the way he moved that it was the actor. And he wasn't just a good-looking tom-cat. He was a very good-looking man.
"Oh!" Holding out a hand, he took mine and raised it to his lips, with a smile. "I'm Menke Strepp." He replied, with more than a hint of a South African accent.
"That's an unusual name." I remarked quietly, "Rather appropriate for the character you play."
"Hey." He held up his hands, with a grin that dimpled his cheeks. "You can't blame me! It was my cruel parents!" Running his hand through his jet-black hair – which was oddly-streaked with silver at the temples – he remarked, "Its their fault I'm late."
"Oh really?" I murmured skeptically, raising my eyes to his green ones. "And how would that work?"
"The doorman thinks they spoil me, so he got all strict on the no sneakers policy." He shrugged. "But I called my dad and had to give him a good reason to let me in."
"And it worked?"
"Actually," He leaned forward conspiratorially, "I got down on my knees and begged, but don't tell anyone!"
I half-smiled, but forced myself to keep a straight face. "Why would your dad let you in with a good reason?" I asked.
"He owns the joint." Menke grinned broadly, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"So that's why you wanted me to come here." I cried accusingly, biting back a laugh, "Cos you can get free meals!"
"You figured me out." He laughed, a rueful expression crossing his face, "Normally nobody I bring here knows its dad's place."
"And yet," I breathed, gazing at him, "You felt you could tell me."
Nodding, he tilted his head – in his overpowering feline manner – and gazed penetratingly at me. "You're different." He answered quietly. "You're special."
I felt myself blushing beet-red under his cool and steady gaze and looked shyly away, muttering, "So when do we get this free meal?"
* * *
I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I have never seen a woman look as stunning as the one who sits opposite me now. Everything about her is beautiful: her face, her hair, her body…her voice.
She is so happy and bright, I can't imagine why no one has snapped her up before now. She almost glows with life and beauty. I guess that what makes me even luckier. She agreed to see me and she is such a wonderful person.
Maybe things will develop…but she seems to be haunted by memories. Of what she won't say, but I can see them there, in haunted by memories. Of what she won't say, but I can see them there, in her eyes.
Of a lost love…or something along those lines. Maybe I can help her put the past behind her. I hope I can. She doesn't deserve to spend her life pining for me…I mean, Mun…I mean…oh, forget it.
* * *
Laughing merrily, Demi smiled at her companion, glancing out at dancing couples on the patio.
"That looks like fun." She remarked with a grin. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed as much or enjoyed herself so much.
"You dancin'?" He asked, feigning a bizarre quazi-Scots-cockney accent.
"You askin'?" She gave the 'traditional' reply, raising an eyebrow.
"Ah'm askin'." He answered.
"Then ah'm dancin'!" She laughed, as he held out a hand for hers.
Pulling her to her feet, he slipped an arm around her waist and led her down to the patio, drawing her close, his hand pressing gently at the base of her back.
Draping her arms over his wide shoulders, she laid her face against his strong chest, feeling his heart beating against her cheek. She barely reached his shoulder, as they swayed together to the familiar music, but it felt secure. Safe. Right.
Stroking her soft hair, Menke softly started singing "I will always love you." And she knew he meant every word.
Drawing back a pace, she stared up at him, as the soft lighting played on his features. His suddenly very feline features. She knew. She recognised him. It couldn't be anyone else.
"You came back." She whispered, reaching up to touch his face.
"I promised, didn't I?" He replied, equally softly, pulling her close and kissing her hesitantly on the lips.
Nodding wordlessly, she clung to him, tears streaming down her face. Her fingers ran through his thick dark hair and she gave a laugh of sheer happiness.
Tilting her face up to his, he softly murmured, "Dem, will you do the human thing and marry me?"
"You bet I will." She smiled through her tears. "Just promise me we'll never be apart again."
"I've just found you. I never want to lose you again." He whispered. "And I promise I'll do everything I can to keep it that way." Touching her face reverently, he smiled, gazing deep into her golden eyes. "I love you so much, Demeter." He pulled her even closer, burying his face in her thick, beautiful hair.
"I love you just as much, Munkustrap." She replied, blinking back her tears, "And we're together again. Nothing can change that."