(author's note) Don't ya'll just love these wonderful notes? :-) Just kidding. Okay, there is one swear word in this chapter. Well, depending on how you look at it. I don't consider it a swear word, but someone else might. Anyway, just wanted to mention that. And now I'll be quiet so that you can actually read! Don't forget to enjoy! =^.".^=
Mistoffelees stood alone in his clearing. His eyes were closed. He was rubbing his paws together very hard. So hard in fact, that they began to burn. He ignored the feeling and kept rubbing. After a few seconds, his black paws began to glow with a golden light. He did not see it, as his eyes were still closed, but he knew that it was happening. The light grew brighter and brighter and brighter. It would have been blinding to look at. He raised his glowing paws above his head and clapped. The light flew from his paws and formed a bright circle above his head. A sound like music filled the air. Only then did he open his eyes. He looked at the circle and smiled.
"Presto."
The magical cat shaped the golden ring into a star. With a wave of his paw, the star began to spin. It spun faster and faster and grew bigger and bigger. The music became louder and more beautiful than ever. Misto closed his eyes and listened to it. His paws held high above his head.
There was something he loved about inventing a new feat of magic. Like performing a dance perfectly for the first time. The feeling of being on top of the world. As though he could to anything. A huge smile came to his face. The beautiful feeling. The beautiful music. The beautiful light.
"Not a bad trick," said a voice from behind him.
Mistoffelees recognized it immediately and it sent chills up his spine. His smile vanished. He opened his eyes and let his arms drop. The glowing star disappeared. The music ceased. All was as it was before. Misto turned.
"What do you want?" he hissed to the guard cats.
"Aw, Mistoffelees," answered Vor, taking a step forward. "Don't be like that."
The tuxedo did not answer. Vor continued.
"I don't know if you've heard, but we're going on a little vacation with our human."
"Really," came Misto's bland reply.
The head guard cat nodded.
"And when you weren't with the others, we thought we'd pay you a quick visit to say goodbye."
"Goodbye then."
"Wait Mistoffelees, we also wanted to talk to you."
"I'm busy."
The magical tom turned away from the guard cats.
"You have time," answered Vor.
Suddenly his voice wasn't so friendly.
"Believe me, you have time."
Misto froze in his tracks. He watched as the brown toms gathered around him. Slowly, he turned and again faced Vor who had a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Well? I'm listening."
"What's the rush Mistoffelees?" said the leader, turning his back to the magical cat.
"Take a seat and I'll tell you."
Misto turned his head to see that one of them had placed an upside down paint can a few feet behind him. He looked at Vor.
"We can talk, standing up," he said.
He spoke slowly, trying his best not to sound nervous. His heart was pounding and his pulse raced, but he stared at the leader without the slightest hint of fear.
"Sit down!" roared the head guard cat.
Mistoffelees felt his heart leap into his throat when four strong paws grabbed his arms and pulled him back. He struggled but could not get free before he fell back onto the paint can. The guard cats, who he saw were Tak and Kent, twisted his arms way up behind his back. He flinched and gritted his teeth, but said nothing.
"That's better," said the leader. "You have been a lot of trouble Mistoffelees. You do not seem to understand that. . ."
As he spoke, Vor looked back at the magical cat and rolled his eyes.
"Pollicle Heavyside, let it go."
"I'm afraid we can't do that Vor," said Tak.
The leader looked at him blankly.
"And why not?"
"We don't know about you, but we remember what it was like to be on the receiving end of it's lightning. We're not going to let that happen again."
Vor walked toward them.
"It won't electrocute us again," he said.
He bent down and looked at the black cat. Their faces only inches apart.
"Will you Mistoffelees?"
Misto didn't answer.
"That's not very reassuring," said Kent.
Vor straightened to his full height.
"Fine, make it sit on it's paws if you're so worried."
With that he turned and walked a few feet away. Misto felt Tak and Kent release him. He briefly glared up at them and started to massage his sore arms.
"You heard what he said," hissed Tak. "Do it."
Misto ignored him. The guard cat extended his long claws and held them menacingly in front of Misto's face.
"Do it."
The magical cat's eyes grew wide and his breath quickened as he stared at the claws, but he did not move.
"Do it!"
Misto caught his breath as Tak held his claws to his throat. Not knowing what else to do, the magical cat obeyed the command. Tak slowly removed his claws, but he kept them held where Misto could see them.
"As I was saying Mistoffelees," continued Vor, as if nothing had happened. "You do not seem to understand that you have no right to be here."
Misto had not yet recovered from the previous scare that Tak had given him. Vor's speech hit him very hard. He took a deep breath.
"Neither do you," he said, hoping that his voice did not shake.
"Actually, we do. This is our junkyard and you are trespassing."
"You made a deal with us that if you could stay, we could stay."
"Correction," Vor answered blandly. "We made a deal with the jellicle tribe, not with you."
Misto took another deep breath.
"I'm in the jellicle tribe."
The head guard cat shook his head.
"Someone needs reminding of the conditions of our deal. The jellicles could stay in the junkyard if we could stay without any harm done to us."
The magical tom's eyes widened. He knew where Vor was going with this.
"You broke that deal when you hit us with your lightning a few days ago."
"You broke that deal when you attacked me."
"The deal was no harm done to us Mistoffelees. We didn't say anything about you."
Vor smiled and looked down at the magical cat.
"We've tried to get you to understand that you must leave Mistoffelees. We've even personally escorted you from the junkyard. And yet, you don't seem to understand."
His smile faded and his expression became cold and threatening.
"You're kind does not belong here."
Misto's breath quickened. He hoped that the brown toms did not notice.
"And where does my kind belong?" he asked defiantly.
"Hell," hissed Vor.
The magical cat's blood ran cold. He stared up at the head guard cat. His eyes wide with fear. Vor held him with an evil gaze and continued.
"Somewhere where no one will be infected by your disgusting existence."
"Poor Jemima," voiced Golb, his voice as icy as his leader's. "Having something like that for a mate."
"Poor Victoria," added Layf. "Forced to have that for a relative."
Misto closed his eyes and bowed his head, trying to block out their dagger-like words.
"Munkustrap must've been insane to accept a disease like that into his tribe," said Kent.
"And it's up to us to cure it for him," answered Vor.
He turned his focus back to Mistoffelees.
"Look at me magical cat!" he roared.
Misto's head shot up and he stared at the leader with wide eyes.
"You have two choices. One, you can do all of your jellicle friends the biggest favor you'll ever do them, and leave this town forever. Or two, you can torture them further by staying. But, I warn you Mistoffelees, if you're still here when we return, then it's our responsibility to rescue the innocent jellicles from your fowl existence. For good."
Misto drew in a quick breath. His eyes shot from one guard cat's face to the next. Then he looked back at Vor.
"Don't worry," said the leader. "You will not be missed. A pollicle never misses it's fleas."
The magical tom bowed his head.
"Personally," continued the leader. "I hope that you are still here when we return. It would be much better for everyone. The world would be a healthier and more sanitary place to live in without a raging mass of toxic bacteria infecting it's surface."
Vor smiled as he looked down at the tuxedo.
"We'll leave you to decide," he said.
He turned and started out of the clearing with the rest of his gang behind him. Just before they left, the leader turned and gave Misto a counterfeit friendly smile.
"Good bye, Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. Hope to see ya when we get back!"
With that, the guard cats left the clearing.
Mistoffelees stood alone in his clearing. His eyes were closed. He was rubbing his paws together very hard. So hard in fact, that they began to burn. He ignored the feeling and kept rubbing. After a few seconds, his black paws began to glow with a golden light. He did not see it, as his eyes were still closed, but he knew that it was happening. The light grew brighter and brighter and brighter. It would have been blinding to look at. He raised his glowing paws above his head and clapped. The light flew from his paws and formed a bright circle above his head. A sound like music filled the air. Only then did he open his eyes. He looked at the circle and smiled.
"Presto."
The magical cat shaped the golden ring into a star. With a wave of his paw, the star began to spin. It spun faster and faster and grew bigger and bigger. The music became louder and more beautiful than ever. Misto closed his eyes and listened to it. His paws held high above his head.
There was something he loved about inventing a new feat of magic. Like performing a dance perfectly for the first time. The feeling of being on top of the world. As though he could to anything. A huge smile came to his face. The beautiful feeling. The beautiful music. The beautiful light.
"Not a bad trick," said a voice from behind him.
Mistoffelees recognized it immediately and it sent chills up his spine. His smile vanished. He opened his eyes and let his arms drop. The glowing star disappeared. The music ceased. All was as it was before. Misto turned.
"What do you want?" he hissed to the guard cats.
"Aw, Mistoffelees," answered Vor, taking a step forward. "Don't be like that."
The tuxedo did not answer. Vor continued.
"I don't know if you've heard, but we're going on a little vacation with our human."
"Really," came Misto's bland reply.
The head guard cat nodded.
"And when you weren't with the others, we thought we'd pay you a quick visit to say goodbye."
"Goodbye then."
"Wait Mistoffelees, we also wanted to talk to you."
"I'm busy."
The magical tom turned away from the guard cats.
"You have time," answered Vor.
Suddenly his voice wasn't so friendly.
"Believe me, you have time."
Misto froze in his tracks. He watched as the brown toms gathered around him. Slowly, he turned and again faced Vor who had a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Well? I'm listening."
"What's the rush Mistoffelees?" said the leader, turning his back to the magical cat.
"Take a seat and I'll tell you."
Misto turned his head to see that one of them had placed an upside down paint can a few feet behind him. He looked at Vor.
"We can talk, standing up," he said.
He spoke slowly, trying his best not to sound nervous. His heart was pounding and his pulse raced, but he stared at the leader without the slightest hint of fear.
"Sit down!" roared the head guard cat.
Mistoffelees felt his heart leap into his throat when four strong paws grabbed his arms and pulled him back. He struggled but could not get free before he fell back onto the paint can. The guard cats, who he saw were Tak and Kent, twisted his arms way up behind his back. He flinched and gritted his teeth, but said nothing.
"That's better," said the leader. "You have been a lot of trouble Mistoffelees. You do not seem to understand that. . ."
As he spoke, Vor looked back at the magical cat and rolled his eyes.
"Pollicle Heavyside, let it go."
"I'm afraid we can't do that Vor," said Tak.
The leader looked at him blankly.
"And why not?"
"We don't know about you, but we remember what it was like to be on the receiving end of it's lightning. We're not going to let that happen again."
Vor walked toward them.
"It won't electrocute us again," he said.
He bent down and looked at the black cat. Their faces only inches apart.
"Will you Mistoffelees?"
Misto didn't answer.
"That's not very reassuring," said Kent.
Vor straightened to his full height.
"Fine, make it sit on it's paws if you're so worried."
With that he turned and walked a few feet away. Misto felt Tak and Kent release him. He briefly glared up at them and started to massage his sore arms.
"You heard what he said," hissed Tak. "Do it."
Misto ignored him. The guard cat extended his long claws and held them menacingly in front of Misto's face.
"Do it."
The magical cat's eyes grew wide and his breath quickened as he stared at the claws, but he did not move.
"Do it!"
Misto caught his breath as Tak held his claws to his throat. Not knowing what else to do, the magical cat obeyed the command. Tak slowly removed his claws, but he kept them held where Misto could see them.
"As I was saying Mistoffelees," continued Vor, as if nothing had happened. "You do not seem to understand that you have no right to be here."
Misto had not yet recovered from the previous scare that Tak had given him. Vor's speech hit him very hard. He took a deep breath.
"Neither do you," he said, hoping that his voice did not shake.
"Actually, we do. This is our junkyard and you are trespassing."
"You made a deal with us that if you could stay, we could stay."
"Correction," Vor answered blandly. "We made a deal with the jellicle tribe, not with you."
Misto took another deep breath.
"I'm in the jellicle tribe."
The head guard cat shook his head.
"Someone needs reminding of the conditions of our deal. The jellicles could stay in the junkyard if we could stay without any harm done to us."
The magical tom's eyes widened. He knew where Vor was going with this.
"You broke that deal when you hit us with your lightning a few days ago."
"You broke that deal when you attacked me."
"The deal was no harm done to us Mistoffelees. We didn't say anything about you."
Vor smiled and looked down at the magical cat.
"We've tried to get you to understand that you must leave Mistoffelees. We've even personally escorted you from the junkyard. And yet, you don't seem to understand."
His smile faded and his expression became cold and threatening.
"You're kind does not belong here."
Misto's breath quickened. He hoped that the brown toms did not notice.
"And where does my kind belong?" he asked defiantly.
"Hell," hissed Vor.
The magical cat's blood ran cold. He stared up at the head guard cat. His eyes wide with fear. Vor held him with an evil gaze and continued.
"Somewhere where no one will be infected by your disgusting existence."
"Poor Jemima," voiced Golb, his voice as icy as his leader's. "Having something like that for a mate."
"Poor Victoria," added Layf. "Forced to have that for a relative."
Misto closed his eyes and bowed his head, trying to block out their dagger-like words.
"Munkustrap must've been insane to accept a disease like that into his tribe," said Kent.
"And it's up to us to cure it for him," answered Vor.
He turned his focus back to Mistoffelees.
"Look at me magical cat!" he roared.
Misto's head shot up and he stared at the leader with wide eyes.
"You have two choices. One, you can do all of your jellicle friends the biggest favor you'll ever do them, and leave this town forever. Or two, you can torture them further by staying. But, I warn you Mistoffelees, if you're still here when we return, then it's our responsibility to rescue the innocent jellicles from your fowl existence. For good."
Misto drew in a quick breath. His eyes shot from one guard cat's face to the next. Then he looked back at Vor.
"Don't worry," said the leader. "You will not be missed. A pollicle never misses it's fleas."
The magical tom bowed his head.
"Personally," continued the leader. "I hope that you are still here when we return. It would be much better for everyone. The world would be a healthier and more sanitary place to live in without a raging mass of toxic bacteria infecting it's surface."
Vor smiled as he looked down at the tuxedo.
"We'll leave you to decide," he said.
He turned and started out of the clearing with the rest of his gang behind him. Just before they left, the leader turned and gave Misto a counterfeit friendly smile.
"Good bye, Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. Hope to see ya when we get back!"
With that, the guard cats left the clearing.