Chapter Fourteen: Clever Enchantress

A/N: So that second paragraph down there of regular text is something new. Not just to you who has yet to read it, but even to me, for it is written in a kind of prose that I have never done before (either that or it's been so long that I can't remember). Let me know what you think of it. Is it too out of place, or does it work somehow? Thanks in advance!

Demeter doesn't know how long she's been in the dungeon with Illythia and Fillany. She knows only that the number of times she's gone in and out of consciousness has completely skewed her conception of time. She can't tell if she's hungry; her stomach is in too much pain from Macavity's last round of beating. Her ribs ache, causing it to be painful to inhale and exhale. Her wrist remains in terrible shape having been stomped on by the crimson beast. She was a mess, to put it simply.

Demeter was exhausted, in pain and on a mission.

On a mission? Yep, that's right. On a mission. Or have you forgotten? Our little Demeter promised her friends Illythia and Fillany that she'd see to their escape. And that's just what Demeter was going to set out to do. After that? She didn't know and frankly neither do I, but I'm sure it'll come to me as we go along. Shall we continue with the story? Yes, let's…

"I do hope my dearest accomplice has come to her senses by now. What a shame it would be for us both if she hasn't yet done so." Macavity stated this out loud while stepping down the narrow staircase to the cellar. He arrived at the doorway and grinned delightfully at the figure of Demeter standing before him. "You look better." He raised his brow at this realization, slinking an arm behind Demeter's back and pulling her closer. Demeter truthfully was not better at all, but Everlasting Cat was she a superb actress, at least she liked to think so.

Demeter nodded playfully. She placed a still chained paw on Macavity's chest and allowed the careful paw to snake through the fur on his chest, eliciting a groan of pleasure from the scarlet tom.

"Follow me, my sweet. Let us go to the bed chamber where the vial's potion awaits your lips."

"Couldn't we stay just a little longer? Don't you like seeing me this way? Don't I appeal to you within my bindings?" Demeter shimmied, causing the chains to rattle. Macavity's eyes grew wide as his lust for this queen overpowered him. He pushed himself onto her, but she immediately resisted.

"What is the meaning of this? Why do you insist on teasing me so?"

"It's all a part of my fun." She petted his wild bangs to the side and smiled at him. "Now, if you truly want to have some fun, go on up to the bed chamber and bring down that potion. We'll have some fun alright." Demeter sinfully looked over to Illythia and Fillany who were bewildered by Demeter's behavior as well as her awful and frightening suggestion.

"Trust me, Mac. We'll have the time of our life… as soon as you leave… to get me that potion." Demeter spoke sensually, enchanting Macavity in a whirl of lust, bliss, and wonder. She didn't know if this plan would even work, but so far it had, and she wasn't complaining. Macavity left in a trance, climbing the spiral staircase to retrieve the potion his queen had desired.

Demeter estimated that she had about twelve minutes before Macavity returned. As soon as Macavity was out of sight, she began fidgeting with something metal, something shiny, something jingly.

"Demeter? Is everything okay?" Illythia asked cautiously.

"Everything's fine. Don't worry." Demeter paused to look at her forgiving friend and noticed the utterly confused expression plastered on her face. "Oh, that's right. You've no idea what I'm doing." Demeter thought herself silly, mentally smacking a paw to her forehead at being so forgetful.

"I've had this plan since last night, the plan to free all of us from this place. While Macavity and I were standing just now, I snatched away the keys from his chest without him noticing."

"So… you're going to get us out of here?" Fillany sounded revived.

"I said I would, didn't I?" Demeter grinned before a frown yanked the friendly gesture off the stage and took its place. "I'm sorry for putting you on this roller coaster and dragging you both into this mayhem. Neither of you deserve it."

"Don't worry about it, we understand. We've been to hell and this for us is merely a pit stop on the fiery path." Illythia exclaimed without a hint of remorse.

"You know, as much as you love the streets, I'm sure the Jellicles wouldn't mind taking you in. It's a wonderful place. I can't imagine why I ever left. You might like it there, despite your preference of the gutter."

"I don't know, dear." Illythia looked down at Fillany who didn't seem fond of the offer. "We appreciate the gesture, but the two of us are as stray as stray can be. The streets are our home; anything else would be disappointing for us."

Demeter shrugged and continued to fuss with the lock on her chains. She knew she was running out of time. Macavity would return and she wanted to be long gone by the time realization had set in for the ruby puss. Finally, the lock clicked and the shackles fell to the ground in a jingling heap. Demeter turned to her friends, beaming a brilliant smile.

"Hold still." Demeter set her friends free in an instant. Each feline rubbed their tender wrists. "Listen, there isn't much time. You can vanish, can't you?"

"Well yes, but how will you get out of here?" Illythia asked, thoroughly concerned.

"There isn't a way you can make me vanish too, is there?" Demeter questioned, knowing the answer before it had been given.

"I'm afraid not, dear." Illythia replied sadly. Excitement washed over Fillany's face as she pointed enthusiastically behind Illiythia and Demeter. "Look!"

She pointed to a small hole in the ground where the floor and wall joined. A previous prisoner had apparently tried to escape, but the hole was unfinished, no doubt signifying that whoever had started this ditch had not been successful and was most likely caught before he or she could finish the job. "She's right. It shouldn't take you too long to finish digging your way through. We can stay to-" Illythia was interrupted.

"Absolutely not. I'll finish it. You two need to go now before Macavity comes." Demeter stated adamently with her paws on Illythia's shoulders. Her eyes were staring directly into Illythia's, deliberately stern.

"Ok, we will do as you please." Illythia took Demeter into an embrace. "Good luck, dear, and thank you."

"No, thank you." Seconds after Illythia and Demeter broke apart, Fillany rushed into Demeter, almost completely disappearing into Demeter's golden-ebony fur.

"Everlasting Cat, you're a tight hugger." Demeter giggled. She gently pried Fillany's arms from round her waist and knelt down to face the young feline.

"You listen to me, now." Demeter wiped the tears that were starting to trickle from Fillany's glistening eyes. "You're going to be a strong girl for your Aunt and an even stronger one for me, understand? Please don't cry." They hugged once more.

"Will we ever see each other again?" Fillany asked through the sobs that shook her kittenish voice.

"I hope so, honey. I hope so." Taking a moment to hold on to the small cat, Demeter pushed her off gingerly. "Go now."

Fillany returned to her Aunt's side. "I'll miss you." Demeter called out as they were beginning to fade. Illythia smiled her reply and Fillany waved in an almost frantic manner.

Demeter dried her own tears before remembering the predicament she was currently stuck in.

The hole!

Demeter rushed over to the space and began digging furiously. Dirt flew in the air and Demeter gave her best effort to keep the Earth particles from entering her eyes and mouth. Soon there was light. The sight of freedom, the fresh air coming through the tiny opening, the rays of sunlight illuminating the dungeon all worked to motivate Demeter to dig faster. She could feel the dirt building up beneath her claws, something that usually peeved her, but now there was no time to waste. She forbade herself from thinking about anything else but escaping. Her paws were tiring, as were her arms. Even if she escaped in time, would she be able to make it to the Junkyard before Macavity would catch up to her? Could she run that far or that fast having already made herself so tired? Demeter didn't think about that. She couldn't.

Just a bit more…

Almost there…

Yes!

Done!

Free!

Demeter was brimming with joy. She brushed away some of the dirt surrounding the crater she had dug and began her triumphant escape out of the dungeon. She had gotten halfway out when something tugged on her throat. She propelled herself forward, but she had gotten stuck somehow. The more she pulled, the tighter the constriction on her throat became. Something was obviously caught, but what?

Demeter knew exactly what it was. The realization hit her like a ton of fish paste. The collar!

Demeter was incredulous. The collar Macavity had given her had gotten caught, she didn't know on what or how, but she knew it was hitched on something. Oh, the irony of this moment. The collar bearing the name "Demitra", resembling the evil that had occupied Demeter's being, was preventing her from moving forward.

She pulled, almost to the point of snapping her own neck, She wiggled, she squirmed, she pleaded with the Everlasting Cat for some assistance. Her energy at this point was depleting rapidly. She stopped pushing herself forward and collapsed on the ground. She wanted so much to take a nap, to pass out, to give up. She took in one enormous breath of air and with all her might she pushed. She grimaced, her teeth gritting together and a frustrated growl vibrating in her throat. Suddenly, the collar tore and Demeter was free. She tumbled forwards a bit before coming to a seated hault. She rubbed her aching neck and exhaustedly stood from the ground. Taking in her surroundings, she noticed the blue sky above, the bleached white puffs of clouds, the beautifully green blades of grass beneath her paws and the chirping birds in the brush close by. She'd never experienced anything so miraculous in all her lives. Freedom never felt so good.

Like a chalk painting being washed out by a sudden rainstorm, Demeter's elation had melted. Macavity had returned. She could hear his footsteps, even from outside the dungeon.

He gazed around the room… no prisoners. No Demeter. His eyes fell upon an antique group of keys which were lying on the ground by a pile of shackles and chains. Macavity tapped his chest where his keys should have been. Alas, there was none.

His stupor had evaporated and now he was beyond furious. Enraged by this cunning yet devastating trickery, he gave a deafening howl. At this, Demeter bolted.

Macavity peeped his head through the hole in the ground and caught a glimpse of a golden-ebony tail disappearing into the woods.