Forever Until Now

Chapter 25;; She's Home

"But… there's still hope for her."She lifted her green eyes to his and her lips twitched into a last, lopsided smile. "Unlike for me, I guess."

"Have you found her yet?" he questioned, even though he knew that she had not.

"No. She is hidden from our eyes," she returned heavily.

The psychics sat in their den, the entrance covered by an old curtain so that no one could pry. It was night, so no there was no sunlight to slink in and peep either. Tantomile and Coricopat both gritted their teeth and increased their concentration. They let their minds weave together, let them bind into one. Together, they soared across the land, searching for her.

Searching for Victoria.

This is no use, Tantomile gasped through their connection. She is dead, Coricopat. We will find her in the air, treading the clouds. If anywhere, she will be rejoicing with the Everlasting Cat.

I believe you are wrong. She would not have deserted us forever, Coricopat snapped.

Then, tell me, oh wise brother, where is she? Tantomile hissed.

I have a feeling, sister. As a psychic, I have learned to rely on such feelings. He let his feeling seep through their connection, and Tantomile tasted it with her mind.

Fine, she said reluctantly. Your claims have some merit. Let us think.

There has to be some sort of answer. Something that we have overlooked.

Wait! Could it be? Tantomile showed her brother what she was thinking of. Do you remember our vision?

The frozen prison!

At once, a new image materialized before their eyes. It was Victoria, hunched in the snow, knees drawn up to her chest. She was shivering from the cold and her lips were blue. Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut in an effort to block the whiteness out.

And then the twins were thrown back into reality, both breathing heavily.

"Coricopat…" Tantomile whispered. "Will she be trapped for all eternity?"

Coricopat frowned. "She trapped herself. As long as she cannot save herself, she will be stuck."

"What if… someone else were to save her?"

Coricopat shook his head, eyes sad. "How can anyone help a dead cat?"

Macavity struggled on through the night, though his eyes kept drooping and his paws trailed across the rough concrete, grazed from hours upon hours of walking. He had a slight limp from stepping on a sharp stone – his foot was bleeding as a result. His legs wobbled, but he kept on walking.

He couldn't afford to stop.

Eventually, he came to a halt just past a nightclub where music pounded deafeningly, shaking the ground that he stood upon. Grimacing, he moved ahead to where the sound faded and collapsed to the ground. He kept the white bundle safe within the protection of his red arms.

"Forgive me, Victoria… I'm far too tired to go on much longer," he whispered, eyes blearily glancing down at her smile. Sighing heavily, he worked up some magic and let it spread through his body, let the energy slide through his veins. It wasn't very effective, but it was enough to raise Macavity to his feet once more and it was enough to take another few steps.

Step by step, he would make it.

Chantelle led Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer into the midst of a crowd of white cats, all of which stepped back to avoid contact with the outsiders. She came to a halt before a pair of very old cats and bowed deeply before standing back.

"You must bow also," she hissed under her breath, and so they imitated her gesture. But it didn't stop there.

"Outsiders. On the ground," one of the old cats – a male – ordered in a deep rumble of a voice. Glancing uneasily at each other, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer crouched on the ground, heads lowered.

"Names?" the old cat questioned.

"Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazah, sir," Mungojerrie said hastily.

"Your business here?"

"We're Macavity's messengers, sir."

"Ahh… Macavity. It has been rather a long time since I have heard that name uttered in this place." Contemplatively, the old cat stroked his chin. "And what, pray tell, does he need from the Chardirs?"

"He says he's comin' sir. With a friend, or somethin' like that." Mungojerrie was careful to keep his eyes on the ground. He knew how to be cautious if required of him.

"I see, I see… very good. I assume you are Jellicles?"

"Yes sir, we are."

"I see. Then rise, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer of the Jellicles."

Relieved, the two cats stood at the full height. They were careful to keep their eyes low and their hands clasped together in front of them. They were intimidated by the old cat to be sure.

"Right," the old cat barked. "Chantelle! You are to gather the scouts and head off to welcome Macavity. Meiyina, come to me, little one."

As Chantelle bowed deeply once more and hurried off, a group of cats in tow. A white cat who had barely passed the stages of kitten-hood stepped forward.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were surprised by the young queen. The very way she held herself was regal, as if she knew she was better than everyone around her. She held her head high, lifted her paws daintily and had a severe edge in her glowing amber eyes. Although she still had the soft look of a kitten – fluffy fur, chubby cheeks – there was no mistaking that she was a learned cat and had was definitely not the childish type.

"Yes, your highness?" she asked in a high, almost tinkling voice, curtseying with a dramatic sweep of her paw.

"I request that you watch over the outsiders, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer of the Jellicles. Find them a place to stay – perhaps they would like a tour of our lovely home? See to their needs and remember to uphold the dignity of a Chardir."

"Of course, my king. I will do as you request," she said with another curtsey.

"Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer of the Jellicles, I introduce you to my daughter, Meiyina, Princess of the Chardirs. I ask that you treat her with utter respect, just as she will treat you with courtesy. Do you understand?"

"Of course," Mungojerrie said hastily.

"Then let us be going," Meiyina said to them, eyeing them with her sharp gaze. She pushed through the crowd of cats, still walking with that dainty prance in her step. Docilely, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer followed her.

"My father is the King of the Chardirs," Meiyina explained as they walked. "He is a very noble cat of great heritage. The cat beside him is his mate, the Queen of the Chardirs. She is also of impeccable bloodlines – though all Chardirs are, of course," she added, her nose high in the air. "I am their daughter, as you may have gathered. I am to someday take my father's place."

"Wow, that's amazin'," Rumpleteazer said, though she wasn't very interested. Meiyina seemed way too stuck up for her liking.

"I have no need for your biting sarcasm," Meiyina threw over her shoulder. "If you are not interested, then do not comment. I am merely providing you with useful information you may want to know in order to stay out of trouble."

"Oh, ah, thanks, Meiyina."

"That's Princess Meiyina to those inferior to me," Meiyina said coldly.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer glanced hopelessly at each other.

"So, ah, Princess Meiyina, 'ow old are yah anyway?"

"Older than I look," Meiyina replied, seemingly pleased to have the opportunity to talk about herself. "It is a trait that runs in the Chardir blood, it seems. Kitten traits linger much longer than is normal, as you can see by my appearance. It is a very endearing trait, is it not?"

"Oh yes, it sure is-"

"No need to comment, Rumpleteazer of the Jellicles. You obviously do not agree," Meiyina interrupted in clipped tones.

Rumpleteazer just sighed.

"So, you are the messengers of Macavity? I am most intrigued, if I am to be honest. I met Macavity once, when I was much younger. He is a cat of certain interest." Meiyina stared at the two Jellicles, her eyes betraying more interest than her calm voice.

"Oh, yes, he's a strange one. Very mysterious." Mungojerrie scratched his head.

"We of the Chardirs speak highly of him – he has incredible powers that have been, ah… useful to us." A smug smile rose to her lips. "However, certain sources have told that outside of our beautiful home, he is not so respected as he is here. Is this true?"

Rumpleteazer's head was beginning to hurt – the way Meiyina spoke muddled and confused her. "Ah, ah…yeah. No one likes 'im much. 'E's a right nasty cat. We all think so – Oi do, too, and Jer."

"Yet, you still work for him?" Meiyina clasped her paws together. "I am sorry, but you are beginning to confuse me slightly. Please explain?"

We're confusing YOU? Mungojerrie thought to himself. "Ah, well, 'e rewards us, yah see."

"But of course." Meiyina gave a light laugh. "I should have realized. So… how is his situation back at home?"

"'E's in exile," Rumpleteazer said coldly. "And 'e deserves it, too!"

"Oh…? Why do you speak with such hot passion, Rumpleteazer of the Jellicles?" Meiyina kept the level of interest in her voice mild, but curiosity blazed in her eyes.

"'E killed our Victoria." Rumpleteazer clenched her fists. "Slit 'er throat with a knife and let the blood soak into 'er lovely, white fur." Uneasily, she glanced at Meiyina. "She looks a lot like you… like you Chardirs."

Meiyina blinked. "Victoria? Did you say Victoria was her name?"

"Well, yeah…"

"And am I correct in saying she was white and resembled us closely?"

"Yup, that's wot I said."

"Dammit!" Meiyina snarled, suddenly losing her cool, collected attitude. "What the hell is he trying to do?" With that, she sent Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer one last, enraged glare before stalking away and leaving them alone and lost.

"Anyone seen him?"

"Got his scent?"

The scouts bounded through the cobblestone paths of their home, eyes wide with excitement. The babbled loudly amongst themselves.

"Be quiet and listen!"

Chantelle leapt forward and at once, the scouts halted. She stood before them, eyes narrowed. She had to act stern with them, otherwise nothing would ever be accomplished. She didn't like it, though – it wasn't her true nature to act in such a fashion.

"Were you not all specially chosen to perform this duty? You fools! Why choose this moment to forget all you have learned?"

The scouts quavered slightly. They hated it when Chantelle got angry. The leader closed her eyes and spread her arms wide apart, inhaling, tasting the air, listening. They watched closely. There was a reason that she was their leader. She was their best.

"I believe he is not too far off, but I cannot determine his specific location. Spread out in pairs. Remember: stay quiet, stay alert. Macavity is a red Jellicle cat. He should not be difficult to recognize."

The scouts all nodded and paired up. Pair by pair, they left the home of the Chardirs and padded like shadows through the streets. Chantelle waited until they had all left before she herself ventured out. She sighed, despising that the scouts were of an odd number. Being the leader, she took the responsibility of acting alone. She was the only one that could be trusted to do so.

"Chantelle, wait!"

"Hm?" Chantelle glanced back, eyebrow cocked as Meiyina raced after her. "What is it, Princess?"

"I have learned a few…interesting things from the outsiders. I request that I come with you, as you are alone."

Chantelle narrowed her eyes in thought. "You have no experience. Macavity needs to be found as soon as possible – what help will you be to me?"

"It's true that I may hinder you, but as Princess of the Chardirs, I request that I come with you," Meiyina said softly. "Besides, there are other scouts searching – they may find him before you do."

Chantelle snorted. "I highly doubt that. They're a bunch of incompetent fools, the lot of them."

Meiyina couldn't help but smile at that. She placed a hand over her heart and placed the other on Chantelle's shoulder. "It is of dire importance to me that I come, Chantelle."

Chantelle sighed. "Very well. You can come. But stay silent and follow me."

Macavity slumped against a brick wall, eyes flickering shut. He had staggered into an alley just to rest his legs for a short time, but he felt as if he wasn't able to stand again. He'd been walking all day. Night had since fallen and the darkness made Macavity feel even more tired.

"I'll get you home," he promised the limp bundle held in the protection of his arms. As usual, she just smiled.

Just then, Macavity saw – no, he felt – a presence appear before him. Wearily, he opened his eyes to stare.

And his mouth fell open.

"You!" he spat. "What are you doing here? What are you doing alive?"

Alyana blinked at him. And then she gave him a smile identical to the one that Victoria was wearing. "I'm not alive," she said, her voice echoing over and over in Macavity's head.

"Alyana…"

"You saved me. But I'm not quite ready to go." She bent over Macavity, crouching down to his level. "I have to see through… a few errands. The sky awaits me. It'll always be there. I'll be there too, eventually. And then… I'll wait for you, Macavity."

"I don't ask that of you," he said coldly. "I don't want to see you."

She shrugged. "I figured. But I do want to see you." Tentatively, she brushed her glowing white fingers across Macavity's cheek. He didn't pull back, but the feel of her cold touch sent terrible chills down his spine.

"Why are you here?" he snapped.

"In truth? It is not for you. I couldn't appear to you if I tried. No… it's for my little sister that I was allowed to materialize." Fondly, she let her hand drop to stroke Victoria's cheek. "Macavity… you can't rest. You must get to the Chardirs – now!"

"Wh-what…?"

"Victoria isn't in a happy place. She isn't in the sky, frolicking among the clouds. Nor is she allowed to freely wander through cats' minds like me."

"Then where is she? Stop being so bloody cryptic – it isn't like you."

"I'm frightened for her, Macavity. I have no idea where she is. But… there's still hope for her." Alyana lifted her green eyes to Macavity's and her lips twitched into a last, lopsided, ghostly smile. "Unlike for me, I guess."

Macavity watched as her white form evaporated into darkness. Alyana was gone. But her words still stayed clear within Macavity's mind. With a groan, he forced himself to his feet.

"Fine," he said quietly. "I'm on it, Aly."

"Any sign of him, Chantelle?"

Chantelle paused and inhaled deeply. The roguish scent of Jellicle filtered into her nostrils. To be sure, she tasted the air. He was close by.

"I've detected his scent," she said shortly, ears swiveling. There! A rustle, the sound of paws thudding on concrete. "Come on, let's go."

She rushed around a corner and almost smacked straight into the fiery red cat she'd been searching for. Gasping in shock, she stepped back to allow him some space. She hadn't realized he was this close. Meiyina followed close behind, eyes widening at the sight of him.

Macavity.

He stared at them, yellow eyes glowing. Then, he spoke. "Long time no see… Chantelle, Meiyina."

"You remembered us," Meiyina said quietly.

Macavity chuckled. "How could I forget such lovely queens?" He hoisted Victoria more comfortably in his arms, and it was then that Meiyina's eyes were drawn down.

"Victoria!" she gasped – though it was more of a choked sound than a gasp.

Chantelle's hands flew to her mouth. "What?"

Macavity smiled wearily at them. "She's coming home."

Meiyina staggered forward so as to get a better look. "So… it is true. What the outsiders told me… you killed her, Macavity." She looked up at him, eyes blazing with fury. "You…you monster!"

"Wait. Listen to me." Macavity kept his voice calm. "I didn't kill her – it was a trick to fool the Jellicles."

"But… but she is dead." Meiyina gestured miserably to Victoria's lifeless body. "Anyone can see that."

"But I didn't kill her." Macavity paused, closing his eyes. "Well, in a way, I suppose I did. It was an overdose of magic that took her life."

Meiyina's teeth clenched. "This is why I was against her leaving! I knew something like this would happen! Victoria should have lived a long, untainted life – a life with her family! You never should have taken her!"

Macavity's eyes remained closed. "I'm sorry."

"This was why… this was why Alyana was meant to go with you! When you came, she let you touch her… she became tainted. We did not need her."

"Don't speak of her like that… she's better than you think. Well, she was, anyway." Macavity frowned, recalling how she'd appeared to him only moments earlier.

"You mean… she is dead as well? Good riddance!" Meiyina sneered.

"Anything to secure your title to the throne, huh, Meiyina?" Macavity tilted his head to one side. "Not even the death of your littermate could destroy that spark in your eyes."

Chantelle watched on, eyes narrowed. "Alyana…" she murmured. Both cats turned to look at her. "How did she die?"

Macavity smirked. "Pretending to be Victoria."

Chantelle's lips parted slightly as the realization hit her. "Then… you killed Alyana in Victoria's stead."

"You could say that."

Chantelle turned away. "That's disgusting."

Meiyina laughed bitterly. "Who cares?"

Chantelle began to walk away, but before she rounded the corner, she halted. "I do." Then, she left.

"Idiot," Meiyina said. "There is no changing her mind."

"Alyana was quite a character," Macavity said. "I suppose that Chantelle is having trouble forgetting her."

"Well, she will have to, or else she will not last much longer among our kind." Meiyina glanced back at Macavity. "Come on. Let's take Victoria home."

Cats whispered and passed rumors as Macavity entered the home of the Chardirs, head held high, Victoria nestled safely in his arms. Meiyina walked beside him, sending cold looks to those who spoke too loudly. Chantelle had arrived just before them. She turned away as they passed by.

Meiyina took Macavity straight to the King. A smile passed over his lips at the sight of the red cat.

"Welcome, Macavity. We have been expecting you."

"Thanks to my message, I assume?" Macavity dipped his head in respect.

"Of course… but what is this? Is this the 'friend' you mentioned in your message?" The King stood and slowly walked down to Macavity. "Victoria?"

"Yes."

The King's mate – the Queen – stood abruptly with a loud gasp. She bolted away, hands over her mouth.

"I had not expected to see her so… lifeless." The King glared at Macavity. "Do tell me, Macavity, what happened to her?"

"She was exposed to some very powerful magic… it stole away her life, in the end." Macavity lowered his eyes to the ground.

"Did you not try to save her?"

"Of course I did! I had a rag brought to me – a rag with many scents lingering upon it. It held the scents of her friends and family. But by that time, she was too weak."

"Tell me the circumstances of the magic she was exposed to." The King still looked suspicious, but less angry.

"I had a fight with another magic cat. She was watching."

"And after this fight, did the magic take any toll on you?"

"Obviously not. Victoria took all the pain into herself – mine and the pain of the cat I was fighting. That's why she died."

"So… her cause of death was due to extreme magic. I understand." The King sighed. "Well, this certainly is unfortunate. What a waste… healers, take her to the Medicinal Den."

Macavity was reluctant to let them take Victoria from him, but he didn't resist. His arms felt empty without her familiar and comfortable weight. "What are you going to do?" he asked.

"We'll see," the King said.

A/N: So, my stepbrother had a question involving Macavity in his test today. ;D Cool, right?