Chapter Three: The Addiction
A/N: I apologize now for the lack of 'story' in the beginning of this chapter. I purposely left out the details because they have been written so often that I did not want to repeat old themes. But the rest of the story, in my opinion, is rather new and original.
Why don't you see for yourself? =D
Weeks passed and things were going swell for Macavity and Demeter. With each day that went by, they learned a little more about one another. They formed a bond that they thought would prove to be indestructible and resilient.
However, Demeter had still not told Macavity that she was a Jellicle, or that the reason she fled from her home was because she felt as though she didn't belong there.
But part of her felt that some things were better kept a secret.
~OoOoO~
It was late when Macavity left to go to the club for a few games and alcoholic beverages. He planned to get completely wasted for no apparent reason other then the feeling that followed behind gulping down three shots of Tequila under 15 seconds.
Demeter knew of his passion for the wild sensation discovered by felines who desire the quenching taste of alcohol and the thrill of a game of cards. She could never understand the need for the certain 'buzz' that had several toms living most of their lives at local pubs. But if it was good enough for Macavity, then it was good enough for the rest of the world.
You see, in Demeter's innocent eyes, Macavity could do no wrong. Whatever he said were like the words of the Everlasting Cat. She worshiped him to no end.
But that was a fatal error in her grand scheme. And she would learn it . . . harshly.
~OoOoO~
The door swung open and slammed against the wall, causing Demeter to practically jump out of her fur. She turned and saw Macavity swaying in the entrance. He looked as though he were about to pass out.
His exterior had never looked this way before. There were plenty of times he would come home and be totally 'gone', but by the morning, he would be normal; as if the previous events of the night had never happened. And it wasn't every night he went out; only when he felt it was 'necessary'.
She noticed how red his eyes were, that his fur was tousled in strange places, and that he wore an irritated expression on his face.
Perhaps he lost at cards or something. It must have been a bad night for him. He'll be better when the morning comes. Demeter thought to herself.
Macavity stumbled forwards. He hiccupped repeatedly. "You are sup-supposed t-to be be slee-sleeping." He stuttered; emancipating the scent of alcohol from his dry mouth.
Demeter waved a paw in front of her nose at the stench. "Let's get you to bed, honey." Demeter offered her paw to the staggering tom but he slapped it.
"NO!" he shouted. "I d-don't want to g-go to bed!"
"Well you didn't have to SLAP me!" she pouted while rubbing her stinging paw.
"I take you in from the streets, I keep you company, I even hesitate to bother you, and this is how you repay me for my courtesy?" he hollered; frightening Demeter.
"You know, Mac, you're rather intoxicated right now. I think you should settle down before you hurt yourself."
"And there you go, telling me what to do!" he pointed a quivering finger at Demeter who was now trembling.
Demeter cowered from him. He followed her into the corner she was crouched in and was about to hit her when he fell to ground in a smelly heap. His body had finally shut down.
After spending a few minutes to breathe deeply and recompose herself, Demeter dragged Macavity to their bed. She nestled him tightly beneath the covers so he would stay warm through-out the night without her next to him. She decided to sleep on the couch tonight . . . for her own safety.
The next morning, Macavity rose from his slumber with a slight ache in his head.
He turned to where he expected to find a sleeping golden-ebony queen, but found nothing but an empty space. Fearing the worst, he leapt from the bed and rushed out into the living room where he was suddenly relieved at the sight of Demeter. She was curled into a firm ball and seemed to be resting comfortably. Although relieved, he was curious as to the reason why she was sleeping on the couch and not in the same bed as he?
"Did something happen last night?" he questioned aloud to nobody in particular. He desperately tried to remember, but the only memories that surfaced to his mind at the moment were how much he had to drink and how lousy he had lost to a group of buddies.
"Demeter? Sweetheart? Can you hear me?" He shook her gently on the shoulder.
She finally got up but was startled to see Macavity so close to her. "How are you feeling? Are you OK?" he questioned with concern.
"It's me who should be giving you that exact same question. You were pretty blitzed last night." She sat up and stretched casually as a yawn crept up on her.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" he was instantly serious.
"No!" She exclaimed. "Well . . . not exactly. But you almost did." She confessed.
"I'm sorry, baby. It won't happen again." He promised.
~OoOoO~
His addiction to alcohol had proved victorious over keeping his promise to Demeter. For when he returned home three nights later, he seemed to be even more violent than the first time.
Objects were flying across the rooms, furniture being tipped over furiously, and shouting echoing off the walls . . .
"MAC! STOP THIS!" Demeter yelled. But his random fit of rage did not appear to be ending any time soon.
"Why Demeter? Are you scared of me?" he bellowed while trapping her against the door of there bedroom. "Well are you?" he rumbled while increasing his volume and forcing the scent of alcohol in her face. She cringed at the strength of the intense fumes. It tingled in her nose; causing her to wriggle it in discomfort.
"Answer me!"
Her voice was quiet enough to be considered a whisper; barely audible. "Yes … you're scaring me."
He shoved her to the ground and let out a vile laugh that made Demeter's stomach churn.
"NOBODY CAN TAME ME! I AM INVINCIBLE!" he declared. He then left to fetch another bottle of booze. It was at that moment that Demeter knew she had to escape from him before things got more dangerous.
As he rummaged through the 'fridge for another dose of alcohol, Demeter appeared behind him; writhing her paws in anticipation and fear. "Listen, Mac, I think I'll just leave now." The refrigerator door shut as he turned to face her. Demeter visibly decreased in size when his eyes burned down on her. "I don't feel too safe around you anymore. The alcohol corrupts you into this stranger that I don't feel entirely comfortable with. Sorry if-"
He interrupted her. "So you want to leave, is that it? You think you can just waltz on out of here like nothing ever happened between us? Well guess what darling, you thought wrong, because you're mine forever. And there's nothing you can do about it." He finished in a raspy voice that made Demeter's fur prickle.
She carefully stepped backwards from the deranged tom in an effort to escape. But when he crept towards her with outstretched arms prepared to grab her, she turned and darted for the exit. Just as she gripped the doorknob, she was snatched from behind and thrown to the ground.
She landed on something jagged.
She looked down and noticed a small shard of glass protruding from her side; probably from the mirror Macavity had shattered into a million pieces in the midst of his rampage.
She grimaced at the throbbing sensation within her flesh. The blood started dripping down her fur. She glared at Macavity with a livid expression. "How can you treat me so horridly? What have I done to deserve this cruel punishment?"
He simply grinned maliciously; ignoring her demand for answers. "You're sleeping with me tonight."
~OoOoO~
Macavity had his paws wrapped possessively around Demeter's waist while he slept; his arms painfully close to her crusty wound. She gently pried his fingers apart and left him snoring thunderously to himself; slipping into the night, hungry for freedom.
The further she went, the more her wound would twinge. She felt the warm liquid begin to seep down her body as the wrenching increased. Demeter pressed a golden paw to her side to try and clog the flowing blood. She was determined to find the Junkyard; her home.
~OoOoO~
Macavity rolled over; expecting to snuggle his nose into Demeter's neck. But when his nose came in contact with nothing but cold sheets, he was immediately alert and alarmed. He grew suspicious when Demeter could be found nowhere in the den.
"Where could she be?" he whispered with his paw positioned on his chin in a thoughtful manner.
A breeze flittered the tattered curtains of an opened window. He smiled at her incapability to be clever. For when you attempt to escape from the clutches of an evil tom, you should never leave a trail.