Chapter 7-Taking Over
Alonzo padded around the borders of the Jellicle Junkyard, yawning. He hadn't had any sleep the night before, and he knew he wasn't going to get any that night either. His night patrol had almost doubled recently. Nobody felt safe any more, not with Macavity on the prowl, and that was really taking it out of the watchcats. It wasn't fair. It was his family that was being hunted, after all. His niece. His sister in law. And now…
Alonzo bit his lip, remembering. Three nights ago, his brother had run away, when he was out on patrol. He had just upped and left one night, vanishing into the darkness of the night, never to be seen again. They didn't even look for him. Alonzo didn't want to. He made his choice, and now he's gone. And left him behind.
To be honest, Alonzo thought he should have left sooner.
Not that he didn't love his brother. He did – loved him to bits. That's why he wanted him to have gone. Munkustrap hadn't been alright the few weeks leading up to Jemima's return, and seeing what Macavity had done to her had just sent him over the edge. He didn't like just sitting around watching her, feeling helpless. Not Jemima. He was heartbroken, just looking at the bubbly little kitten, transformed into a moody, mysterious cat.
He should have left earlier, to save himself. By staying, a little part of him had died inside. Just like Alonzo.
Watching Munk, watching Jemima…it had just made him sad. So sad he didn't really talk to his family any more, just to get away from it. But he could cope. The only problem was, he knew his brother couldn't. That was why he was glad. Not because he hated him, because he loved him.
Although he wasn't even sure about that any more.
He'd left Alonzo with the Protector's job. And it wasn't the easiest job in the world, either. It demanded his whole attention, all the time. He didn't know how his brother had coped!
But never mind him. He was gone now. It was funny really, how only half of his family was left. Not funny as in ha-ha. Funny as in odd. There was just him and Tugger and their father. He couldn't remember their mother – she'd died giving birth to them. Macavity had gone bad. And now Munkustrap had vanished.
It was unfair. He was the youngest, the runt of the litter. Yet he had the most responsibility. Tugger didn't even do anything! And his father couldn't do much, not really. Not any more. He was too old now. Well, they do call him Old Deuteronomy. Alonzo thought wryly.
So, really, it was just him. In charge of all the Jellicle Tribe.
And everyone wondered why he was stressed.
Asparagus Junior, as his second, tried to help, but there wasn't much he could do. The Jellicle Laws prevented it. That, also, was unfair. When he was Leader, he would get rid of all of those stupid Laws that always got in their way.
But, for now, Alonzo was alone. For the first time in his life, he was doing something pretty much on his own. It felt…strange. Different. He wasn't quite sure whether he liked the independence, or resented the rest of the Tribe for leaving him like this. Alone. Vulnerable.
His thoughts were interrupted with a rustle – another cat? – that came from behind him. He whipped round, but he couldn't see anything. Or anyone. Must have been his imagination. Yes. That was it.
But there it was again. Rustle. Rustle. Alonzo glanced over his shoulder, getting more and more paranoid by the second. There wasn't anybody there, right? Or was it just Pouncival, playing his stupid tricks again? He knew it was a bad idea to recruit a kitten, least of all that kitten, but would anyone listen to him? He sighed heavily, turning and yelling into the darkness.
"Pouncival? Is that you?" He turned again, shouting as loud as he could.
"Pouncie! It's not funny, you know. Stop it. Stop it now. Come out!." He sighed again, aware that he sounded more like Jenny every second.
"Pounce?"
Hiding in the darkness, the creature laughed to itself, content in its victory. Those stupid cats. They'd believe anything. It was almost a pity they'd all have to be wiped out.
"Pouncival! Come out now! That is an order, young tom!"
Alonzo was getting scared now, although he wouldn't admit it. If it was actually Pouncival, he'd taken the joke too far. If it wasn't…
Well, he'd cross that particular bridge if he came to it.
"Pounce? Is it you?"
That was it. That was too much already. It didn't seem like Pouncival, and he wouldn't be sticking to find out what it actually was. He was worn out, fed up, and half scared to death. All he wanted to do was run. Run and hide. Wait it out until morning came. Maybe even catch up on his sleep, while he was at it. After all that had happened, he deserved that, at least. The world owed him one for making his life hell.
Alonzo didn't look back once as he ran into the darkness.
Deep in the heart of the Junkyard, a Jellicle tom slept soundly. He had had a very long and exhausting day, and had been glad to collapse into his makeshift bed at the end of the day.
So it was not surprising, then, that he didn't even notice when another cat entered his den. Didn't even bat an eyelid as he was picked up by the scruff of his neck, like a naughty kitten. Didn't stir as he was carefully folded into a carrier bag. Didn't move as he was carried out of the Junkyard, away from his home.
Yes, Macavity's henchcats and henchrats had done their work, and they had done it well. He would wake up in a cell the next morning, with no recollection of how he got there.
But there was something more important in that den than the sleeping Jellicle. Something that was wanted by their employer – so very much. With a nod the henchcats separated, searching the small space of the den. It wasn't long before one of them found it, cleverly hidden behind a picture of some runes on the wall. The book. The magic book.
The henchcats didn't claim to know what it did, but they knew two things about it. One – it was powerful. And two – it would bring down the high and mighty Jellicle tribe.
And this was all thanks to Jemima, their little Jellicle traitor.
Macavity smiled. All the pieces of his plan were falling into place, as if he had merely set them up on his chess board. And soon, the last move would help him win the game, the move that would kill the Jellicles.
There was a groan from behind him. So, the little tom was awake. He tuned, and looked down at a prone Mistoffelees. The kitten was trying to scramble to his paws, blinking fuzzily at the ginger tom.
"You're alive then. Pity. It would have been much easier if you weren't."
Mistoffelees blinked again, confused. Of course, he didn't know where he was. Oops. Macavity smirked.
"You must be stronger than I thought." He continued. "The amount of times I blasted you with knockout spells, it was ridiculous. Even for such an evil genius as me."
"Wh…what happened?" The magician tried to get up again. Macavity sneered. As if that was going to work. The magical bonds that secured him were seeing to that.
"I just happened to organise a little kidnap operation, thanks to a tip off about this wonderful book I have here."
"How do you know about that? I didn't tell anyone about that!" Mistoffelees' face was a picture of anger. Now he was getting a reaction. Macavity grinned from ear to ear.
"Oh, but you did, little Mistoffelees. Do you want to know which of your stupid little friends told me all about you? Hmm? Do you want to know why you are here, with an evil torturing maniac such as me?" Macavity leaned in to whisper in the kitten's ear.
"Do you want to know who sent you to your death?"
Mistoffelees' white face paled even more. Biting a lip, he nodded slowly.
"My little spy's been busy, Mistoffelees. And, I'm afraid to say, young Jemima knows all of your secrets."
"Jemima?" Misto gasped, scarcely able to believe it. Jemima? How could she do this? He'd been her friend. He'd treated her no worse than his own sister, Electra. How could she do this?
"You bastard." He whispered, trying in vain to get to Macavity, but collapsed to the floor, looking almost like a cartoon character.
Macavity chuckled. Perfect. Entertainment as well? This was even better than the humans' talking boxes! He stalked around the trembling magician, gently smoothing his fur with a paw. Mistoffelees groaned again, dizzily, as Macavity spread his paws across the black cat's back, slowly muttering as he did so the words of power he had learned from the human books.
"Eivg ti ot em, eht cigam fo eht mot. Evig it ot em. Tel em ekat ti. Tel em ekat ti. Tel em ekat ti."
As he said them, he began to notice their effects. Blue electricity crackled up from his paws, and he felt the magic drain from Mistoffelees to his own body. He had never felt so good, so powerful. The ginger cat laughed despite himself. It had been a long time since he had last laughed, he'd almost forgotten what it sounded like. He extended his claws into the kitten's back, pushing all the magic out of Mistoffelees and into himself, every last drop, until he was dead, until he was drained, whatever was going to happen, Macavity didn't care. He just loved this feeling, this power. The best feeling in the world.
In the darkness of the room, it made a spectacular sight – blue magic crackling across the small space, lighting everything in an eerie colour, illuminating the two magicians, one growing limp as the other was strengthened.
After what seemed like an eternity, Macavity broke the connection. It was done. It was finished. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shaft of light – one of the henchcats opening the door, and entering the room hesitantly.
"Ahem…sorry to bovver ya, sir, but Jemima's outside, an' she wants to see ya."
"Let her in, I'll be down in a minute."
Macavity brushed his fur down, noting the sparks of magic that were crackling about his body. Excellent. The transfer had worked. He glanced down at the floor, at the still unconscious kitten. Drained, obviously. He'd have to dispose of the body later, and make sure his young daughter didn't see it. After all, it wouldn't be good if Jemima knew what was really going on, would it?
Author's note-Here I am, with part 7! I just realised, I used one of my ideas for this in When Spells Go Wrong, a completely unrelated oneshot about Misto. Oops =D
But what is Macavity going to do with Mistoffelees' power? What will happen to the Junkyard when he puts his evil plan into play? And will Alonzo ever get a decent night's sleep? Find out in part 8 of Demeter's Struggle, Jemima's Loss - The Battle.
Disclaimer-I do not own Cats, or any of its characters.