Grizabella… the Glamour cat.
Demeter had only met her once, when she was tiny. The regal queen exuded confidence and flair. She was beautiful, black and grey like her kitten, Munkustrap. The tribe loved her – listening to her stories and loving the trinkets she brought back with her – awards and strange thingamabobs that entertained the kittens for hours.
She had been so beautiful. Her ears and eyes were almost too big for her face, even as an adult, and it gave her an innocent air about her.
But now…
Demeter didn't recognise her. In fact, she wouldn't have even remembered Grizabella had Beylandella not greeted her.
The queen was still regal, still beautiful… but even in the short time since Demeter had last seen her, it seemed she had aged a few lives.
"Grizabella…" Beylandella called in surprise when the queen strolled into their room.
Demeter's ears perked up, taking in the familiar scent as the other queens gathered around her as well. Ayamico gave the new arrival a fleeting look, before returning to her gossip with one of the other queens.
"Where have you been, sweet thing?" Beylandella nuzzled her happily, taking in her sorry appearance, "Yeesh. You're a sight."
"I… made a terrible mistake…" Grizabella whispered, all but collapsing into Beylandella's arms.
Demeter crawled forward, delighted to see someone from the warehouse. Grizabella hadn't been there at the time of the attack, and despite knowing that, Demeter always just assumed that she herself was the only one left.
"Grizabella?" Demeter asked tentatively, moving closer to the old queen.
"You know this kit, Griz?" Beylandella asked in surprise.
Grizabella took in the small kitten, frowning in thought, "You're… Demeter?" Grizabella mused, her voice dropping to a whisper, "From the tribe?"
Demeter nodded slowly, "Have you been there?" she whispered, "Do you know what happened?"
Grizabella's eyes flooded with tears, pulling the kitten into her arms. Demeter squeaked softly, struggling for a moment, before letting the queen hug her. It felt nice – she hadn't been hugged like this in a long time.
"I know what happened…" she said slowly, "I'm so sorry..."
Beylandella's eyes narrowed, "Griz…" she warned, "What did you do? What mistake did you make?"
There was a tense silence, but Grizabella did not reveal her crime, instead putting Demeter down.
"Have you been back there?" the young kitten asked again, desperately staring up at Grizabella.
It took a moment, but Grizabella finally nodded, "There is…not much left, I'm afraid. But I caught the scent of some of your Jellicles… but I lost them in the woods…"
Demeter's ears twitched excitedly. Some were still alive! "Did you- Is my mother? Or my sister there? Did you smell them?"
Grizabella shook her head, "I don't know..." she said, deliberately being vague.
Beylandella was still watching Grizabella suspiciously, but the queen would say no more.
Demeter purred happily, nuzzling into Grizabella. The queen stared down at her, confused.
"So you're in 'Cavity's good graces now?" Beylandella asked with a cock of her head, frowning slightly.
Grizabella gave her a pained look, pleading her to drop it, "I'm allowed to roam because he trusts me…"
Beylandella chuckled softly, "Are you…" she glanced down at Demeter, censoring herself, "Helping him out?"
Grizabella beared her teeth, "No," she hissed, "How dare you."
Beylandella fixed Grizabella with a smug grin, padding away knowingly.
Demeter's tail flickered anxiously, feeling the agitation radiating from Grizabella.
"Grizabella…" she whispered again, trying to get her attention.
Grizabella stared down at the kitten who was purring and nuzzling into her legs. She supposed it was the faint reminder of home that drove her to be so affectionate.
"What is it?" she asked, not unkindly.
Demeter glanced up at Grizabella, "Do you think you could get me out of here?"
Grizabella gave her a sharp look, "No."
"Oh…" she said, shoulders hunching, "I just… thought that maybe Macavity liked you, and would let you take me back to my family?"
Grizabella let out a long sigh, "I don't know where your family are… and I doubt Macavity would let me take you."
"Absolutely right,"
Demeter shivered at the sound of the tom, but suddenly she felt weak, collapsing at Grizabella's feet.
"What did you do?" Grizabella asked quietly, staring down at the limp body with mild concern. She knew the kitten wasn't dead – Macavity liked to play with his toys before he let them die. She was more concerned about the dreadful tom in the room. She had come to his lair to see Beylandella – and hadn't reported in to him yet.
"Put her to sleep, so we could have a chat. Thought you'd sneak in without me knowing?" Macavity sneered, stalking around Grizabella, "I have eyes and ears everywhere, you know?"
The queen kept her keen eyes on him, never letting the sneaky tom from her sight. He was a great deal younger than she was, and she wasn't about to fall for more of his tricks.
"You're cheap, Macavity," she spat, "You're scum. You tricked me."
Macavity laughed, "Come for a walk, Grizabella… let us discuss this elsewhere…"
"What, so nobody else finds out what you did?"
Another laugh, "Not for that reason. I just thought you'd prefer it if nobody found out what you did…"
Grizabella's ears flattened and she hissed at him, "You tricked me!" she claimed again.
"You knew what you were doing. I barely had to use my magic, and you still managed to let me into their little world…"
Grizabella hissed again in frustration. It was true. At the warehouse, the ten or so mystic cats had put a protection on the dwelling – only those invited could enter. Macavity had been taken off the guest list when he'd banished himself, much to his frustration.
The place was impenetrable. The power of ten mystics greatly surpassed his own, especially while he was still learning the full extent of his powers.
But… he knew of Grizabella – the queen had stayed in the junkyard from Munkustrap's birth to his weaning. She was naïve, even as an adult. Macavity knew he could crawl under her skin, and with only a slight nudge to her mind, he managed to score the invite.
And the havoc he had caused…
He laughed again, swiping at her with his claws sheathed, "Oh come on, Griz… we had fun, didn't we?"
She swiped back at him - claws out, but he darted back and slowed her down with his magic. It took most of his concentration, considering how absolutely furious she was, and the other magic he was performing.
"Now, now…" he purred, walking past her claws and bumping her side with his own, chuckling softly, "This won't do. Let's face it… at least your little Jellicles don't know the truth…"
Grizabella couldn't respond, instead watching as Macavity left the room. It was almost five minutes before she was able to move again, knowing she wouldn't be able to catch the tom now. She bristled in frustration, so angry she wanted to cry.
"Grizabella?" a tiny voice whimpered, and the queen realised that Macavity's powers had faded on the kitten too.
"Come here, Demeter…" Ayamico called, finally moving forward now that Macavity's power had finally drained from the room.
Ayamico hated him. He had hit adulthood and his powers were only growing. When speaking to Grizabella, it was like a blanket had been thrown over the gathering, and she had heard nothing that passed between them. But… by the agitated flicking of Grizabella's tail, she suspected it was nothing good.
Demeter gazed up at Grizabella, recognising the signs that she quite clearly was angry, and scampered towards her friend, curling up with her.
"Grizabella… something tells me we need to talk…" Beylandella sauntered to the queen, ignoring her rage.
"No," she snapped, but Beylandella glared back.
"Talk to me, Griz…" she purred, sidling up beside her and nuzzling her briefly, "What are we if we can't talk?"
Grizabella huffed, but her resolve was waning. All she wanted was to relieve herself of the burden, and so she slowly nodded, padding into a secluded corner of the room. Beylandella followed, hissing at any curious ears that slanted their way.
"Now… catch me up. Last I'd heard, you was down Tottenham Court, living the highlife…"
Grizabella sighed softly, "The production team replaced me with a … younger cat," she sniffed, letting out a deep breath. "With my stint over, I searched for a few roles – minor ones, here and there. But no luck. So I thought maybe I'd return to my old tribe…"
"The ones down near Sewardstone?" she asked, and at Grizabella's nod, she continued, "I thought they didn't want you back since you had that kit?"
Grizabella sighed, lowering herself to the floor and stretching out her sore limbs, "Deuteronomy said I was welcome at any time…" she shrugged, "Of course, I would've felt guilty for dropping in… but Macavity intercepted. He told me his story… about this poor kit he'd killed…" she breathed, her claws starting to shake, "And I just wanted him to right everything. He… he told me that he'd been banished, and he had been treated unfairly and he just wanted to make it right. I thought I was doing the right thing, Beyla… I didn't know he'd… I didn't know what had happened, didn't know about his Henchtoms…"
She burst into tears, crying into Beylandella's soft fur.
The queen stroked Grizabella's headfur gently, not sure if she should sympathize or reprimand her. It was awful… she could only imagine what Macavity had done to the Jellicles. Or how the remaining must feel.
"What happened?" she dared to ask, her voice a little shaky.
It took a long moment. Grizabella collected herself.
"He killed them," she answered, "He killed them and left their bodies strewn over the warehouse floor. Kits and pregnant Queens and Toms, the elderly… he didn't discriminate. He just… he just got them. And he took some…" Grizabella's voice lowered again, as Beylandella just stared in shock, "He's got Demeter's mother – Astyanax - locked up just a few rooms over, and she's expecting his kittens…"
Beylandella's eyes flashed excitedly at the gossip, the horror of the rest of the story escaping her, "'Cavity's kittens?" she giggled, "Owch…" she breathed, "Poor girl. When is she due?"
"Not for a while, of course…" Grizabella closed her eyes, relaxing against her dear friend, "Maybe in the winter…if the kit doesn't come early…"
"A winterborn…in a place like this…" Beylandella tutted, "I'd be surprised if she carries to full term."
"I'd be surprised if Macavity let her…"
Beylandella nodded in agreement. Queens were pregnant often in Macavity's lair, however the rate of kittens born were extremely low. Miscarriage was common, from poor treatment, beatings or malnourishment… and in the winter's case, the cold took both mother and kitten out with one foul swoop. If the kitten lived, the females would go to the Henchtoms, and the males to become new Henchtoms. It was this way that Macavity bred out weakness, until only the best served him.
Beylandella sighed softly, although admittedly she felt excited at the prospect of more gossip to circulate around the rooms.
"So… you've betrayed your tribe..." Beylandella said softly, "What are you going to do next?"
Grizabella closed her eyes, shaking her head.
She didn't know. What could she do? If she returned to the Jelliclies, she faced the truth coming out. Banishment was certain, if not an execution on the spot. If she remained with Macavity, she would surely kill herself. And if she returned to the streets, well…could she live with the guilt?
But…
Her eyes lit up, a new sense of purpose filling the queen who had seemed so hopeless only moments ago.
"I'm going to make sure that kitten is born healthy... And then I'm taking Demeter, Astyanax and the little one back to the Jellicles. And I'll tell them everything…and just hope that maybe…maybe they'll forgive me."