Disclaimer: I do not own Cats or any of the characters save the ones I create for the purpose of this story. I gain nothing from the writing of this; it is simply for my own pleasure and the pleasure of those who read it.
A/N: First I apologize for taking so long to get this chapter up. Life has been hectic. Second, this one is a little shorter than my usual but you'll see why once you start reading it. At least, I think you will. Anywho, hope you enjoy.
Solstice awoke to pain. Not only did the cuts from his claws hurt but other parts of her hurt as well. She'd all but forgotten just how rough he was. She tried to shift her position, felt weight pressing against her, and for a moment she panicked. She forced herself to calm down and felt a paw sliding along her side.
Nightshade had awakened before her and had sent for something for them to eat. Then he watched her sleep. When he realized she was awake he moved closer to her. "Good morning pet," he growled before playfully nipping her ear.
Had it been Tumble caressing her and nipping at her she would have smiled and nuzzled him. "Is it?" she muttered coldly. She might be his prisoner but she didn't have to be polite to him.
He chuckled harshly at her response. "Mm, in time you'll learn to like what I'm doing to you," he growled. "Are you hungry?" he asked, picking up a piece of fish and waving it under her nose.
"No," she hissed but her stomach betrayed her by growling.
"Oh really? Your stomach says otherwise," he replied with a smirk. "Suit yourself, I'll just eat it all."
Since she'd not had anything to eat since breakfast the day before she really was pretty hungry. She swallowed and her gaze followed the piece of fish as he lifted it and popped it in his mouth.
He purred a bit before moving to shift off the bed, taking the plate with him. The bed was really pillows piled near a series of poles, one of which had the other end of the chain attached to it.
"Wait," Solstice said. She went to follow him and found she couldn't go very far.
"Wait what?" he replied darkly.
"Wait, please...," she had to swallow the bile that rose into her throat before continuing, "Master. I would like some of the fish please."
"Mm, much better pet." He carried the dish back to her and set it down. "Enjoy your surroundings Solstice. The only time you will leave this room is if I take you out." With that he smirked and left, leaving her to her thoughts.
Once she was done eating she began the careful and tedious task of cleaning herself. She disliked the taste of blood, dried or otherwise, but she disliked being dirty even more. There was one nasty mark across her shoulders that she couldn't quite reach with her tongue and had to use her paw, which actually caused it to bleed more. Eventually she gave up on trying to clean it and let it clot over again.
After a while she turned her attention to the lock that was attached to the chain. She didn't think it would do any good but she tried to pick it with a claw anyway. All she got in return was a broken claw.
Finally, feeling dejected, she curled up on the pillows and buried her face against her arms. She missed her family and friends, she was worried about Tumble and Pyrros, and she was terrified that something horrible had happened to Seraphim. Her fur was soon matted by her tears as she cried herself to sleep.
After leaving the room Nightshade went to take care of business. He was slowly taking over more and more of Macavity's territory, much to the ginger tom's annoyance. For years now Macavity had been the 'top cat' in London and he'd allowed his ego to swell to the point where he was too cocky for his own good. He wrongfully assumed that no one could ever best him. Nightshade was proving that theory wrong.
"How did the raid go last night?" he asked one of his henchcats. They'd raided one of Macavity's fisheries and the Napoleon of Crime was short a good bit of profit.
"As smooth as expected boss," the brown tom replied. "They didn' even know what hit 'em."
"Good. You have your orders for today?" he asked idly.
"Aye sir."
"Then get to it." He watched the tom go with a smirk. He'd worked with Nightshade under Macavity but had transferred loyalties because he was offered a more senior position.
It was late evening before he returned to their room. When he arrived he had a bowl of cream and a large rat for her. "Good evening pet. I hope you weren't too bored cooped up in here by yourself all day. If you're good I'll bring you some things to entertain yourself with."
She was dozing when she heard the door open and she tensed. Again he did something she wasn't expecting; he was being almost pleasant with her. "What game are you playing Nightshade?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. She didn't trust him in the least.
"Game? No game pet. Let's just say I've... broadened my horizons a bit, hm? Are you hungry?" he growled, carrying the food to her.
She watched him warily. "A little," she admitted. When he set the food down she ate the rat quickly but was hesitant to eat the cream.
Nightshade laughed harshly at her. You think I've put something in it? I don't want you docile pet, I like it when you fight remember?" When she still wouldn't touch it he growled. "Oh for the love of Bast." He took the bowl and lapped up some of the cream himself. "See? Nothing in it," he hissed.
Solstice swallowed at the angry hiss. She didn't know why he was trying to be nice to her but... well it was better than hurting her. She took the bowl back and lapped it up gratefully. The fish he'd brought her that morning was small and as such it wasn't very filling.
He watched her through hooded eyes. He'd not taken the time to really study her the night before since his thoughts were on other things and before that he'd had to watch her at a distance. Now he indulged. She'd filled out and taken on a more mature appearance. The curves that were only hinted at a year and a half ago were now well defined; giving birth had probably helped with that. He'd thought she was beautiful before but now she was breathtakingly so. "I understand why he wanted you," he murmured. "You're breathtaking pet. You remember my warning don't you?" he added at the look she gave him.
She'd not realized he was watching her groom herself after eating although she really should have. When he spoke she flinched and glared but it faded quickly. "I remember," she whispered.
"Very good," he growled. He reached out and grasped her chin before he kissed her hard. "As long as you don't forget you won't have to watch them die."
She shook, both from the kiss and from his words. He'd given her nightmares of seeing her family slaughtered while she was chained and unable to save them. She would do everything in her power to see that those nightmares did not come true.
He broke the kiss and nipped at her. "You'll learn to enjoy the things I do to you. In time you will welcome me with welcome arms and beg me to touch you," he growled.
"That will never happen," she said softly. No matter how long she was with him she would never accept him as her mate. It would always be forced sex, never consensual.
"We'll see about that," he growled before pouncing her. He kissed her hard before his paws started caressing her body. He'd learned a few things in the last year and a half. She could say she didn't want him, she could deny arousal all she wanted, but he knew how to make her body betray her.
Solstice lay there with him stroking her body and tried to not respond. He repulsed her, it should be easy to not enjoy what he was doing to her... so why was her body responding to his touch? She swallowed the bile that rose to her throat as her body arched slightly.
Nightshade watched her with a satisfied smirk. She was trying so hard to not respond to him but he knew she was losing the battle. He continued caressing her until a soft whimper escaped her. "I thought you said you would never enjoy it. Your body says otherwise pet." He shifted then and took her body with a snarl.
Solstice squeezed her eyes shut to try and block out the triumphant look in his eyes. She felt ill at the way her body arched into his caresses. She didn't want him, didn't desire him, but he'd touched her in a way that she couldn't ignore. It was a purely physical reaction and it did more damage to her psyche than anything he'd done to her thus far.
The following morning she awoke again to the feel of a paw caressing her. She shuddered involuntarily and felt more than heard him chuckle. She knew that, even though her eyes were closed, he knew she was awake.
"Good morning pet. Did you sleep well?" he asked, nuzzling her a bit. "I know you're awake," he added in a growl when she ignored him.
Solstice sighed and opened her eyes. "Not particularly, no. How am I supposed to sleep well when I'm being held against my will, I'm essentially chained to the bed, and I have been raped twice?"
His black eyes narrowed and he snarled. "Watch your mouth pet. You've had it rather easy but I can make things very unpleasant for you."
She swallowed and hunched up a bit. "I'm sorry... forgive me," she choked out.
"What was that pet?"
"I'm sorry, please forgive me Master."
He smirked. "You're learning." He stroked her side. "If you're good maybe I'll even let you out of the room. Would you like that pet?"
She swallowed. "Yes Master." She hated herself for saying it but if it kept him from hitting her, so be it.
"Very good," he growled before leaning in and nipping at her. He nuzzled her and caressed her until her body responded to him the way he wanted. He took her again, claws digging into her flesh to make her scream. Once he was spent he gave her some moments to herself then unlocked the other end of the chain and led her from the room.
Her eyes adjusted quickly to the difference in lighting and she gazed around the cavernous room. She'd not really had much time to look at it the night she'd come of her own free will in order to protect her daughter.. The walls were worn and bare beams criss-crossed overhead, supporting the peaked roof of the warehouse.
She felt eyes on her and realized that they weren't alone. Several henchcats were there and she felt very self-conscious being on the end of a leash like a pollicle. It was an insult to be led around in such a way.
When they reached his 'throne' he attached the free end of the chain to it and sat, motioning to the cushion on the floor beside him. She bit back a retort and knelt with her head down. From the corner of her ye she watched as a calico tom slowly approached.
Nightshade led her into his throne room with such pride and arrogance. He knew she was beautiful and he knew more than one of his henchcats would be envious of him for having her. He saw the look on her face when he motioned to the cushion and narrowed his eyes. If she refused to sit where expected, with his henchcats present, he would have to punish her. He couldn't let them think he was weak. When she lowered herself to the cushion he smirked and leaned close to whisper, "Good girl."
His attention was drawn to the henchcat approaching and he gave the calico a hard look. "Ah, Kantu, anything yet?"
"No sir, nuthin'. Are ya sure they're gonna show?"
He grinned evilly. "Oh yes, they'll show, trust me. He won't let this go without a fight. Keep me informed and let me know the instant there is any sign of them."
"Yes sir," the henchcat replied before leaving.
Solstice listened to their conversation and tensed. She knew who they were talking about. They were talking about the Jellicles but Tumblebrutus more specifically. Part of her wished he would just let her go and stay away but she knew that wasn't going to happen. She knew that he was going to come for her and she knew that, in order to save him and their kits, she was going to have to break his heart. If it wasn't for the fact she knew it would cause Nightshade great pleasure to see her hurting she would curl up where she was and give herself over to the grief.