Mistoffelees: The Original Conjuring Cat
By Quaxo'
A/N: HI! Took a little longer than planned to get the second half done, but I've been doing so many other things. Shoulda' known, really, seeing as how the first half took me about a year, But I've put all other projects aside and am ready to give you the conclusion to Mistoffelees: The Original Conjuring Cat. Remember to Review!
"We need to talk." Bombalurina cast a wary eye towards the rejoicing Jellicles. Mistoffelees looked over his shoulder for Munkustrap, should the silver tabby decide it to be far to generous to let the black and white tom even talk that evening.
"You want to talk? What about."
"You know very well what about," the scarlet queen sneered.
"If you mean last night, I'm afraid I can't discuss that now." The ruby Bombalurina grabbed Mistoffelees' bad arm and squeezed… hard. It was all the little tom could do to not cry out.
"You'll discuss it when I say you'll discuss it!"
You'll speak when I say you'll speak…
Mistoffelees' eyes grew wide. This was all to familiar. The pain, the menacing glare; it was just like when he was young, and Munkustrap was 'taking care' of him. These memories scared him. More so than anything he had ever experienced, including the ruthless burning of his parents.
"Is everything all right, Bombalurina?"
"No, you little worm! Everything is not all right." The tone of her voice, it reminded him so much of Munkustrap.
Rotten worm… Useless… What he doesn't know…
Mistoffelees tried to shrink away from the fiery queen, paying no heed to that fact that she was squeezing his injured arm so hard, she was in danger of breaking it right off.
"You shouldn't be here. You don't deserve to be here."
Don't deserve to live…
"You should have been burned as well!"
Burned alive… Burned to death…
Mistoffelees clenched his hands. What had he done to make his sweet little queen so angry with him?
He closed his eyes tight, trying vainly to hold the tears in. He could feel the electricity flowing through his body and knew that if he didn't calm down, his secret would be exposed and he would be punished severely.
A yellow stripped paw came to his rescue.
"There, there, Miss. Ye donna want to be hurtin' him, now, do ye?" A thick Scottish accent gave the identity of his savior. Mistoffelees looked up and saw that Skimblshanks had already managed to pry Bombalurina's hand off of Mistoffelees' injured arm, and it was quite clear that the crimson queen was not happy with the way things were turning out. But of course, she wouldn't let it show.
"Now, Miss Bombalurina, ye won't mind if I barrow young Stoff for a wee minute, would ye?" Bombalurina smiled sweetly.
"Of course not, my dear station master." Skimblshanks grinned gratefully, and led an ever thankful Mistoffelees away from the cherry colored queen.
Skimblshanks threw a disapproving glare Bombalurina's way.
"Auck, queens. Ye should know better than to get mixed up with them. At least, not that one. Belonged to Macavity his self. Word has it she was outcast from his tribe do to some… questionable acts. It'd be a bad idea to get involved with that lass." The old stationmaster swerved Mistoffelees around to face the other queen, Demeter.
"Now her sister, well, that's a completely diff'rent tale. Innocent as a newborn kit."
After making sure that the young tom was well out of harm's way, Skimblshanks left Mistoffelees to search for his mate. Belladova, a wiry young queen from a town in the south, lurked up behind the little tom and threw her thin arms around his shoulders.
"Do you know what day it is?" she breathed into his ear. Mistoffelees swallowed visibly. It was a custom in their tribe for a queen to choose a mate on the eve of her sixteenth year. Belladova was a blessed child, for she had the good fortune of being born on the day of the Jellicle celebration, and this was her year.
Mistoffelees sighed, knowing full well what the smoky colored queen wanted.
"You promised you would help. You can't break a promise."
"Yes, I remember." Belladova wanted him to help her find a mate.
^-,-^
"How about Plato?"
"Plato? Are you serious?"
"What's wrong with him?"
"Well, for one thing, he's terribly boring. Last time I tried to have a conversation with him, he went on and on about the mating habit of the bumblebee!"
"Well then, what about the new guy?" Mistoffelees pointed to the Rum Tum Tugger, who was, at the moment, basking in the admiration of the younger queens. Belladova sighed deeply.
"Because of his being horribly adorable, I'm afraid I'd never be able to touch him with much less than a ten foot pole."
Mistoffelees put his head in his hands, exasperated.
"Dova, you have turned down nearly every one of my suggestions. Maybe you're not ready to choose a mate."
"Oh, but I am!"
"Then who do you want?" The slim queen blushed deeply. She leaned close to Mistoffelees, wringing her hands nervously.
"Well, to be honest, I've always rather liked…" she broke off there, muttering something that sounded like "Shmumble Robust", but he knew what she meant. Smiling, he gave her a gentle yet encouraging push in the direction of her crush. Catching his drift, Belladova pushed Mistoffelees away, wanting to greet the object of her affection on her own terms. Mistoffelees sent a wink in her direction, and headed towards the great bonfire. The Jellicle Roast needed to be prepared!
^-,-^
Alonzo, head chef of the village, gave Mistoffelees a hearty blow on the back upon arrival. It was meant to be friendly, but with the younger cat's bad arm, it hurt more than intended. Grimacing slightly, Mistoffelees resorted to the one thing he could do with one arm the easiest; tenderizing meat. All he had to do was whack it with the mallet.
"Are we enjoying the celebration so far Mistoffelees?" Alonzo shouted over the noise.
"Yes, very much so."
"Have you met the new arrivals yet?"
"Yes, I greeted them at the train."
"That one there," the chef said, indicating Bombalurina with a carving knife. "She seems to have adjusted quite well." The queen in question had really cut loose, and was strutting her stuff for whatever tom would watch, which was, in fact, quite a number. Mistoffelees snarled slightly, his arm becoming more apparent every second. It still baffled him how the queen who told him she loved him just last night was hurting him like this now.
Mistoffelees was so overcome with a mix of rage and confusion, he didn't notice that Alonzo had spoken to him again.
"I'm sorry?"
"I said ease up on that hammer, son. At the rate you're going, you're likely to punch a hole in that meat." Mistoffelees allowed him self to laugh with the older tom, but the light moment was cut short by a piercing scream from one of the older queens.
"Belladova! My baby!" Alonzo and Mistoffelees hurried to where a crown was forming around the queen Adlemain. The elderly female was slumped on the ground holding close the now lifeless body of Belladova.
Adlemain pointed and accusing finger at the crowd.
"Which one of you did this?" she screamed. "Which one of you killed my baby gem?" Munkustrap stepped towards the raging queen and 'inspected' the body. He then stood, and with an odd glint in his eyes, he pointed towards Mistoffelees.
"You did it." The homicidal calm in his voice sent chills up the young tom's back.
"I didn't."
"You were the last one with her," a voice called from the crowd. "I saw you."
"But I couldn't!"
"Why couldn't you? Why not use your mag-ik?" The normally jovial Rum Tum Tugger had lost the cheer in his voice. The chilling atmosphere made Mistoffelees back away from the group.
"He's trying to get away!" some random cat shouted. Bombalurina stepped forward, and pointed a clawed finger at the frightened tom.
"Murderer," she whispered, almost giddy. Shouts rang up from all around Mistoffelees, but one in particular reached his ears the fastest.
"One more innocent life lost to your family's name!" Mistoffelees looked for the owner of the accusation, and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw it was Bombalurina. How could she have known…?
There was no time for thinking now. The mob was closing in and there was no sign of mercy in their eyes.
"Stay back," Mistoffelees warned. The crowd paid no heed.
"I'm warning you," he shouted with a bit more confidence. He could feel the familiar tingle of electricity pumping through his body. "STAY BACK!" He could contain himself no longer, and felt the blue streaks of electricity bolt from his fingertips. A random cat cried in pain as a lightning bolt his him square in the chest. A clap of thunder echoed from above.
Munkustrap grinned at Mistoffelees, and lighting flashed above them all, giving the tabby a demonic appearance.
"And yet another falls to your evil." The silver and black tom raised his hand, preparing to slash the young tom across the throat.
STOP
Both Munkustrap and Mistoffelees looked to the heavens, where the voice apparently came from. That dark storm clouds that had gathered parted, but instead of pouring down rain, sheets of blinding light streamed down on the cats below.
And then everything went white.
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Well? What da ya think? Good? Bad? Finish? Don't finish? What, what, what? I need the reviews!
-Quaxo