It was a cold night & the rain had thankfully stopped as Mungojerrie walked as fast as he could to his boss' lair. His leg throbbed in pain each time he walked on it, but he didn't care. He couldn't get the scarlet queen off his mind. I 'ad to leave her, you're doin' the roight fing .. you're not, you shouldn't 'ave left her. His head began to ache from thinking to much, but it was too late to go back to Bombalurina's house. He had reached the lair & he could practically feel the fury of his boss. He crawled into the lair, his heart pounding in fear. He reached a dark room & was greeted by the ginger cat himself.
'I've been expecting you, Mungojerrie.'
Mungojerrie bowed in shame. 'I know, I'm terribly sorry, oh great one.'
The cat dipped a filthy, razor-sharp claw into a cup of cream & licked it off, before turning to stare at Mungojerrie.
'You know I don't like to be kept waiting, don't you, Mungojerrie?'
'I do, sir.'
The large tom stood up & placed his paws on the table, the light catching onto his hideous face. He bared a set of unkempt, yellow fangs & growled. 'Well why did you let me stand in that alleyway to wait for you then, you vile little imbecile?!' He released his claws & slashed them smoothly across Mungojerrie's face. Mungojerrie yelped & curled into a ball on the floor, blood gushing from his face. 'Well?! Why?!' He circled Mungojerrie, watching him suffer. 'I-I lost track of time, Macavity sir, I'm sorry.' Mungojerrie whispered, terrified of what could happen to him. Macavity threw his head back & cackled loudly. 'Lost track of time? You should know better than to 'lose track of time' with me, Mungojerrie.' He brought his claws back down on Mungojerrie, across his thigh. Tears began to drip from Mungojerrie's face & he bit his lip at the excruciating pain he felt in his thigh. Macavity returned to sitting on a tatty cushion & stared at Mungojerrie coldly, feeling no resent for what he had just done. 'Sit up, boy.' he spat. Mungojerrie did as he ordered & wiped the tears from his eyes, his own blood staining his paws. 'Where were you?' Mungojerrie stared at the floor, avoiding eye contact with the notorious Napoleon of Crime. 'I was wiv' a queen.' he whispered, his bottom lip quivering. He knew not to lie to Macavity, as he would eventually discover the truth & that would result in even bigger consequences. A smirk spread across Macavity's face. 'A queen you say? Mungojerrie, I didn't think you had it in you.' He escaped a wicked laugh & stared at Mungojerrie, an indescribable glint in his eye, he was of course, Macavity the mystery cat. 'How was she then? Did you show her a good time?' Macavity scoffed at the thought of Mungojerrie showing anyone a good time & did not wait for an answer as he knew he wouldn't receive one, dirty liar. 'What was her name?' he asked, picking up the cup of cream from the table.
'Bombalurina.'
Macavity's eyes widened & he spat the mouthful of cream onto the floor & slowly began to get to his feet. 'You shut your dirty trap, you rotten little liar, or i'll shut it for you!' Mungojerrie stared at Macavity, 'I'm not lyin'!' Macavity stormed towards Mungojerrie & slammed him against the wall by his neck. 'A beautiful queen like her would never approach a brainless snake like you. Now get out of my sight you little runt.' He hissed, throwing Mungojerrie to the ground & walking into the darkness. Mungojerrie lay on the floor, panting. He ran out of the room & banged into Griddlebone, a Persian queen who also worked for Macavity, but shared none of his cruelty. 'Mungojerrie! Your face!' she gasped. 'Come with me, I'll clean you up.' She grabbed Mungojerrie's paw & dragged him into a small room & began raiding a cupboard for antiseptic & bandages. Mungojerrie was like a son to Griddlebone, she'd brought him up & raised him as her own after his mother had abandoned him. She hated Macavity for hurting him, but she didn't dare tell him to protect herself. 'Now you sit yourself down here. You're poor face, you know not to anger him, Jerrie!' she said sternly, dabbing his face with a cloth. Mungojerrie winced & gritted his teeth. 'I know Griddlebone, but he asked me where I was & I told him.' he replied, innocently. '& Where were you?' she asked, looking at him suspiciously. 'With a queen.' he whispered, staring at the floor. 'Oh Jerrie!' she clapped, but began to whisper when Mungojerrie made a face at her meaning 'Quiet down!' & she realised that people could hear her. 'Who is she then?' she asked quietly, excited for her adopted son. 'Her name's Bombalurina.' he replied, smiling as he whispered her name, remembering her beautiful face. Griddlebone's face turned from excitement to horror & she gazed at Mungojerrie. 'No, it can't be.' she said, turning away from him & covering her mouth with her paw. Mungojerrie stood up from the chair & put his hand on her shoulder. 'But it is, what's wrong wiv' her?' Griddlebone spun round to face Mungojerrie & stared at him with a concerned expression on her face. 'It's a long story Jerrie, but you cannot see this queen, do you understand?' Mungojerrie's face dropped. 'Wh-whaddya mean? Can't see her?'
'I mean you do not go near this queen!'
'B-but why? I 'ave to go near her Griddlebone, I think I love her!' he whispered desperately, shaking Griddlebone by her shoulders. His eyes filled with tears, 'You 'ave to tell me Griddlebone, please?!' he cried, a tear falling down his face. 'Keep your voice down!' She whispered sternly. Griddlebone sighed & sat down on a cushion in the room. She couldn't bare Macavity to hurt her son physically & mentally, she couldn't keep this from Mungojerrie.
Oooh exciting stuff! :D What can't Griddlebone keep from Mungojerrie? All will be revealed in chapter 5!