Author's Notes: It's that time again… dun dun dun… time for me to THANK THE REVIEWERS! *loud cheers*
lozzypop ~ I'm so glad you're enjoying this story! ^_^ I really had no idea when I started this what I was getting myself into. It's turning into a monster! (64 pages!)
Jessie ~ Except some major Misto-pain in the next few chapters… I mean major… even more major than being knocked unconscious for two days!
JestaAriadne ~ Glad you like how I portray Electra! She's another fun one to write. ^_^
willow ~ Everyone can thank willow for this chapter, seeing as she is the one who inspired me to keep going. I was seriously ready to give up on this story when I decided to check my email and, lo and behold! There was her review, saying how much she liked my story and that I should be a professional (!) writer. Hopefully, someday, I will. Thanks again, willow!
And now, Chapter Seven.
Chapter Seven: Where Loyalties Lie
"Attention all the members of the Jellicle Tribe," said Old Deuteronomy. "Cassandra, the Siamese cat, is no longer a member of the Jellicles. She has been deemed life-threatening. Every adult cat that can is to set out as soon as possible and search for her. Kittens are to stay indoors and with an adult at all times. No one is ever to be unaccompanied by another Jellicle."
Old Deuteronomy stepped down from the tire on which he had stood to give his speech. "Mistoffelees, you are to stay indoors. Electra, stay with him. Jennyanydots, I would like it very much if you would watch the kittens. Bustopher, Asparagus, if you would be ever so kind as to step inside the car for a few moments, I'll explain to you what's going on…"
"Come on, Misto," whispered Electra into her mate's ear as the Junkyard quickly emptied. "Let's go with Jenny."
"I'm not a kitten," said Mistoffelees.
"Well, I am!" cried Electra. "And I'd feel a lot safer with Jennyanydots!"
"What, aren't I strong enough for you?" yelled Mistoffelees angrily. "Isn't it enough for me to have rescued Old Deuteronomy from Macavity, defeat Cassandra, and save Munkustrap?"
"Misto, I didn't mean it like that…"
"Oh really? Because that's certainly the way it sounded."
"Misto, where are you going?"
"Out to search for my sister."
"No, you heard Deuteronomy… Misto…"
"I'm not going to stand by and watch her escape!" yelled Mistoffelees. "I know where she is, and she's not about to let these stupid 'search parties' find her. You can go with Jennyanydots if you like, but I'm not, and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"
"Misto, wait!" yelled Electra, but it was too late. The tuxedo cat had snapped his fingers, and was gone.
*~*
"Old Deuteronomy! Deuteronomy, where are you?" called Jellylorum frantically.
"Jellylorum, what is it?" said the Jellicle leader, poking his head out from the car. "Are you alone? I said that no one was supposed to go anywhere alone…"
"I'm not alone," said Jellylorum. "Alonzo's here."
"Hello, Deuteronomy," said Alonzo weakly.
Old Deuteronomy looked from one cat to another. "Why don't you two step inside?"
Inside the car, Bustopher Jones and Gus the Theatre Cat were seated with worried looks on their faces. Jellylorum hobbled inside, followed closely by Alonzo.
"Old Deuteronomy," began Jellylorum. "I saw something, in the woods, and…" she stopped. The sound of muffled sobs had interrupted her. Just then, Alonzo and Jellylorum noticed in the back of the car, Electra was seated, tears streaming down her face.
"Alonzo, why don't you take Electra over to Jennyanydots and the rest of the kittens?" said Old Deuteronomy. "Stay there and give old Jenny an extra paw or two, eh? I'm sure she could use it right about now." He smiled kindly at Alonzo, who led Electra out of the car and towards the Gumbie Cat's house.
"Now, Jellylorum," said Old Deuteronomy, rubbing his paws together. "What were you saying?"
"It's about Mistoffelees," said Jellylorum in barely a whisper.
"What about him?" asked Deuteronomy frantically. "Do you know where he is? He suddenly disappeared, we've been so worried…"
"Actually, I do know where he is," said Jellylorum darkly. "He's with his sister. And lets just say that at the moment his 'family loyalties' are more important to him than the Jellicles."
*~*
Electra sat in a corner, all alone. She watched Etcetera bounce around, giggling hysterically at every joke Tumblebrutus told. She watched Pouncival leap and tumble all around the room, and she watched Jemima applaud enthusiastically. She watched Plato obnoxiously flirt with Victoria, who didn't seem to mind one bit. She watched Jennyanydots cleaning up water from a vase which Pouncival had knocked over. She watched Alonzo exit the room in search of paper towels.
They were all so happy, all the kittens, at least. None of them seemed to realize the graveness of the situation. None of them knew what Electra was going through: them with their happy, carefree lifestyle. They were being allowed to act their age, and it made Electra incredibly jealous.
Why was she the one whose mate was the one going through so many problems? Why couldn't she be like Jemima, whose mate Pouncival's only problem was what he was going to say to Jennyanydots when she discovered that he not only broke the vase but the china plate as well? Or Etcetera, whose life revolved around screaming about the Rum Tum Tugger (who was really a heartless jerk) and joking around with Jemima, Tumblebrutus, and Pouncival? But no, she had to be Electra. Electra, who was overlooked by nearly everyone. And those that didn't overlook her needed her support more than she new how to supply.
Mistoffelees. She really did love him, no matter how many times she pushed him away, or he pushed her away, or whatever happened. She knew she would be willing to die for him. She and Mistoffelees had a much mature relationship than Jemima and Pouncival. Electra knew her friend would break up and get back together with Pouncival a hundred thousand times before finally deciding that he was the one. But Electra, she was different. She had a special bond with her mate that she couldn't explain.
Yet, there was the little voice in the back of her head that told her once again things were about to change for the worse…
*~*
Cassandra was here somewhere. He could sense her aura a thousand miles away, that's how familiar it was to him. He knew she was in here.
Of course she would be in the barn. She knew that the place where they had spent most of their kitten-hood would be the first place her brother would look for her. Of course, the two couldn't hide from each other for very long: they could sense each other easily, but she wanted something done and she wanted it done in the least amount of time possible.
The question is, thought Mistoffelees, what does she want?
The first thought that came to his mind was power. Of course she wanted power. There were very few that didn't. But yet, he could sense that she wanted something more than that. She wanted revenge.
Revenge against the Jellicles. Revenge against me. Why me? I never did anything to her…
But he knew he was lying. He had sensed her need for power early on, and instead of helping her get through it, he had separated himself from her. Instead of helping the others accept her, he let them accept him and leave her alone. And why? Because he was afraid. Afraid that if he spent too long with his sister, the darkness that was slowly eating her up would eventually conquer him too…
Well, I'm not afraid anymore, Cassandra, he thought, gritting his teeth. I'm not going to let you get away… If you, the most powerful magical cat I know, falls to the darkness… what will become of me?
So he set off into the barn, with every intention of using every force in him to bring his sister out of the darkness. He would stop at nothing. He was determined to save her.
And then, suddenly, it felt as if a huge weight was dropped upon him as he realized just what his sister was going to do.
"Jellylorum!" he gasped, and then suddenly he knew. Cassandra wasn't here, she had tricked him. Jellylorum would now be talking to Old Deuteronomy, under Cassandra's influence. She would tell Deuteronomy that I have betrayed the Jellicles. Soon all the Jellicles would race towards the barn looking for me, for Cassandra will know that I am here and pass that information to Deuteronomy through Jellylorum. I will be kicked out. All ties to the Jellicle Tribe cut…
Electra.
She would believe him, believe that he was innocent. She would go searching for him-
Mistoffelees choked suddenly, and his eyes widened with the full realization of Cassandra's plan. I have to find some way to stop her, he thought frantically, thinking not of Cassandra but of Electra. He nearly cried out to think of his mate wandering the streets alone, calling out his name – and then being brutally captured and used as ransom by Cassandra. Then he realized what had to be done.
I'm sorry, Electra. I still love you, was his last thought before snapping his fingers and going instantly to the Junkyard.
*~*
There was suddenly a paw on her mouth. She did not know where it came from, or how it got there – but there it was. She wanted to scream, but she had a very good feeling that the paw was there to keep her from doing just that.
Another paw appeared on her shoulder and jerked her suddenly around to face the owner of the paws. She was ever so relieved to discover it was Mistoffelees.
The magician lifted his paw off of Electra's shoulder and pressed it to his lips, telling her to be quiet. She nodded. He took away his other paw from her mouth and motioned for her to follow him. She did so.
"Electra, I'm going to say this now, because I may not get another chance. Ever," said Mistoffelees gravely. They were alone in the junkyard. The only sound was the sound of muffled voices coming from inside the car. "Electra, I really do care for you – a whole lot," said the tuxedo cat. "More than you can ever imagine. And I'm sorry for everything I've been putting you through. You don't deserve it."
"I love you too, Misto," whispered Electra, snuggling a little closer to her mate. She was shocked and little hurt when he pushed her away.
"Electra, I'm really sorry, but I don't think we should be mates any more," said Mistoffelees sadly.
Electra's eyes widened in shock. "What… how… huh?" she stammered.
"In fact, I think it would be a good idea if we never even spoke to each other again," mumbled Mistoffelees.
"Why are you saying this?" said Electra loudly.
"Shhh!" said Mistoffelees urgently. "You have to trust me on this one, Electra – if I leave you alone, and you leave me alone, we'll both be a lot better off. Trust me."
Electra was trying to fight back her tears, but not doing a good job of it. How could such a great romance end so quickly? She always thought they would be together forever… why was he doing this? Didn't he like her anymore? What had she done wrong?
She didn't want to fight back her tears any longer. If he was going to do this to her, he could at least feel guilty about it.
"Electra, I don't want to do this," said Mistoffelees with pleading eyes.
"Then why are you?" said Electra, not bothering to keep her voice down, not bothering to wipe away her tears.
"I promise you, you'll understand someday," whispered Mistoffelees.
Electra could not come up with a response. Oh, she wanted to say so many things - so many things that Jennyanydots would smack her for saying, if she heard them – but they would not come out. She didn't want to show him how much she was grieving, she wanted to show him that she was strong and didn't need him, but she did! Oh, how she did…
"Just promise me one thing, Electra," whispered Mistoffelees gently. "No matter what happens, you won't come looking for me."
"Why would I want to come looking for you, anyway?" shot Electra. "You're a cold heartless jerk, and you treat me worse than Tugger treats Bomba-"
"Promise me!" cried Mistoffelees urgently, grabbing her shoulders.
"Alright!" yelled Electra. "Get off of me! I promise!"
Mistoffelees let go of her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Electra," he whispered in her ear, before he snapped his fingers and was gone.
Poor Electra had nothing to do but go back inside, with Jennyanydots and the other kittens, and be even more alone than she was before.
*~*
"I saw him," insisted Jellylorum. "I swear to the Everlasting Cat I did. He was talking with Cassandra."
"Did you happen to hear what was said?" asked Old Deuteronomy patiently.
"Mistoffelees was talking about some sort of meeting last night," said Jellylorum frantically. "He said that they were going to kick Cassandra out of the tribe, and that someone suggested the death sentence, but Mistoffelees told Cassandra that he told the tribe that that wasn't an option. Cassandra said 'thank you', and Mistoffelees said 'you're welcome,' and then he asked what their next move was, and Cassandra said that they're going to attack the Jellicles and that Mistoffelees should break up with Electra so he wouldn't feel guilty killing her."
Old Deuteronomy blinked. "Jellylorum, you know that I trust you… but are you absolutely positive it was Mistoffelees?"
"I'm positive," said Jellylorum. "It's hard to mistake him."
Old Deuteronomy nodded. He understood what Jellylorum meant: the magician was pretty unique in his small size and glistening fur. However, something inside of him said that this wasn't right…
"Where were they, Jellylorum?" he asked the calico.
"In an old deserted barn about three miles from here," said Jellylorum. "They're probably still there. Before we left to come tell you what happened, Mistoffelees was going to go break up with Electra and Cassandra said she'd wait for him there."
Old Deuteronomy sighed. "Well, I suppose we have no other choice then to try and find them… we need to talk to Mistoffelees and if Cassandra's there…"
"Excuse me, Old Deuteronomy," said Bustopher Jones.
"Yes, Bustopher?" asked Deuteronomy, trying not to sound frustrated.
"The young queen… Electra," began Bustopher. "Is she the one who we sent with Alonzo to Jennyanydots?"
"Yes, Bustopher," sighed Old Deuteronomy.
"Well, if Mistoffelees went to break up with her, wouldn't he be there right now?" inquired Bustopher Jones patiently.
This suddenly clicked in Old Deuteronomy's mind. "Come on, Jellylorum," cried Old Deuteronomy, grabbing the calico's paw and hurrying towards the Gumbie cat's house.
*~*
"Jennyanydots!" cried Old Deuteronomy frantically, rushing into the house with Jellylorum at his heels. Pouncival and Jemima immediately stopped jumping, Etcetera stopped giggling, and Tumblebrutus quickly hid the china plate he'd nicked behind his back. Alonzo quickly grabbed the plate and put it back on the shelf. Plato and Victoria stopped talking and looked at the Jellicle leader.
"Old Deuteronomy, if I could control kittens like that I'd be seven years younger!" exclaimed Jennyanydots. "How do you do it?"
"That's not important," said Old Deuteronomy. "Where's Electra?"
Jennyanydots looked around. "Well, I don't know… she's been awfully quiet…"
Jellylorum heard Old Deuteronomy curse quietly under his breath.
"There she is!" cried Jennyanydots, spotting the brown queen in the corner of the room.
"Oh, good," said Old Deuteronomy. "As you were."
Immediately, Pouncival started prancing around, immediately followed by Jemima and Tumblebrutus, while Etcetera giggled madly and occasionally did a flip or two. Plato started flirting with Victoria, who began batting her eyelashes so fast it almost made Electra sick. She would never bat her eyelashes at a tom… never…
"Electra," said Old Deuteronomy seriously, "we need to talk about Mistoffelees."
"Don't wanna," said Electra stubbornly.
"We have to," stressed Deuteronomy. "Electra, when was the last time you saw him?"
"He was here," mumbled Electra. "Just a few minutes ago. Then he left."
"What did he say to you, child? Did he say anything?" asked Jellylorum frantically.
"Said a whole lot of stuff I don't care to repeat," said Electra angrily, folding her arms.
"Electra," began the Jellicle leader kindly, "it is very important to the whole Jellicle tribe that you tell me what Mistoffelees said to you. Very important."
Electra sighed heavily. "He told me we can't be mates anymore. There! Happy?"
Old Deuteronomy and Jellylorum looked at each other with wide, knowing eyes. "Jellylorum, run like the wind to that barn. Take Jenny with you. I'll find Munkustrap, Skimple, and maybe Bomba and Demeter, and we'll go with Alonzo to the barn."
"Who'll watch the kittens?" asked Jellylorum.
Old Deuteronomy sighed. "Electra, I'm putting you in charge here. Whatever you do, don't leave."
Electra didn't say anything, but Old Deuteronomy didn't have time to maker her promise anything. "Go, Jelly," he said, turning to the calico queen. Jellylorum nodded, grabbed Jennyanydots, and left quickly.
"Alonzo, come with me," said Old Deuteronomy, straightening up. "We need to find Munkustrap and Skimpleshanks as quickly as possible. Come on, hurry."
Once the other kittens noticed that the room had been rid of all adults, chaos erupted from every corner except one. Electra just sat, staring at nothing in particular…
…you have to trust me on this one, Electra – if I leave you alone, and you leave me alone, we'll both be a lot better off. Trust me…
*~*
"Took you long enough," said a familiar voice. He immediately wheeled around to face its owner.
"I know your plan, Cassandra," he said. "Let me just say this: kicking me out of the Jellicle tribe isn't going to do any good for you. If anything, it turns things in my favor."
"Oh really?" asked Cassandra.
"Yes," said Mistoffelees. "This is between you and me, and it'll be better without any of the tribe involved."
"Oh, Mistoffelees, but the tribe is going to be involved," said Cassandra with a smirk. "Do you really think your friends are going to abandon you like that? Do you really think your girlfriend is going to abandon you?"
"Yes," said Mistoffelees simply. "I broke up with Electra, she's horribly mad at me. I doubt she's going to want to get involved in any of my affairs now."
"Mister Mistoffelees, you may be one the greatest magicians in the metropolis," snarled Cassandra, "but you are still naïve. Do you really think Electra is going to let you die out here, all alone, simply because you broke up with her? Do you really think she's dumb enough to throw away a friendship just because you pitched the romance? Mark my words, Mistoffelees, she will come for you. We just have to wait."
"You leave her alone!" cried Mistoffelees. "Promise, or I'll kill you right now, I swear to the Everlasting Cat I will."
"No you won't," said Cassandra, her blue eyes glinting. "You are bound to your word. How could you kill me after dear Aletta told you not to?"
"I don't care about Aletta!" he cried, but they both knew he was lying.
"Face it, Mistoffelees, you won't break your promise to her… so I'm not going to make any promises to you," said Cassandra with a smirk. "Members of the Jellicle Tribe are coming for you. They will kick you out. I will take you in. I will take care of you, Mistoffelees, forgetting all the times you ignored me, forgetting everything you said, and, of course, forgetting the time you knocked me unconscious."
Mistoffelees said nothing. He knew what was coming.
"I might, however," snarled Cassandra, "suddenly remember, if you do not agree to my terms."
"And what are your terms?" asked Mistoffelees.
"We'll discuss them later," said Cassandra. "Right now I believe you have a date with Old Deuteronomy."
"It's right over here!" the two heard Jellylorum cry from outside.
"I have to go, Mistoffelees…" said Cassandra. "It's going to be a long, silent walk back to the Junkyard. In that time, I suggest you think about where your loyalties lie."
At that precise moment, Jellylorum and Jennyanydots burst into the barn.
"GET HER!" yelled Jellylorum, lunging at Cassandra. The Siamese cat quickly snapped her fingers and was gone. Jellylorum swore loudly, and turned towards Mistoffelees.
"Don't turn your back on him for a second!" she cried, getting up and rushing over towards the magician and Jennyanydots. "We need to tie him up."
"No! We can't tie him up like a prisoner!" said Jennyanydots. "He's a member of the Jellicle Tribe! We don't even know if he's guilty yet…"
"One, I know that he is guilty. Two, he won't be a member of the Jellicle Tribe for long. And three, we can bloody well tie him up, it's the only way we'll know for sure that he'll stay. I mean, you never know with those magicians…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" shot Mistoffelees.
"Just that you can't trust a magical cat," said Jellylorum. "I've said it once, and I'll say it a hundred times more if I have to. Magical cats are dodgy folk, they are, and they aren't to be trusted. I mean, look at Cassandra…"
"Jelly!" exclaimed Jennyanydots.
"Oh, be quiet," said Jellylorum.
"So that means you can trust anyone who isn't a magical cat?" shot Mistoffelees.
"No, it just means that you have to be more careful about trusting magic-"
"You know, it's cats like you who drove Cassandra to madness!" yelled Mistoffelees angrily.
"Are you blaming me for all of this?"
"Yes, I think I am."
"QUIET!" yelled a deep booming voice from the entrance the barn. Jellylorum, Jennyanydots, and Mistoffelees all looked up to see Old Deuteronomy, Alonzo, Munkustrap, and Skimpleshanks at the door. Alonzo was holding a piece of rope.
"Tie him up," said Skimpleshanks to Alonzo.
"Don't you dare," said Jennyanydots. "Not until we know he's guilty."
"I KNOW HE HIS!" shouted Jellylorum.
"Calm down, Jellylorum," said Old Deuteronomy. "I know your side of the story, and Alonzo's as well. Now it's time to let Mistoffelees speak."
"It doesn't matter," said Mistoffelees quietly. "You're going to side with them no matter what I say. I've only been a member of the tribe for, what, seven months? And for six of those I lied to you and said I was someone I wasn't, something I wasn't. It's the word of the assistant of the Jellicle Protector and the word of one of the tribe's lifelong and trusted members against the word of a magical cat with a crazed sister. It doesn't take a genius to tell who's going to win."
"Mistoffelees," began Old Deuteronomy softly, but he was interrupted.
"I understand that you have to kick me out of the tribe," sighed Mistoffelees. "To tell the truth, it's probably for the best. Having me in the tribe puts all of you in danger."
"If your name is cleared, you will be welcomed back with a full apology," said Old Deuteronomy quietly.
"Thanks, but…" Mistoffelees trailed off. He did not want to say that he did not expect to live to see the day when his name was cleared.
"Father, you're not going to do this after he saved my life, are you?" asked Munkustrap incredulously.
"I have no choice. Please understand," said Old Deuteronomy gravely, yet his words were more directed towards Mistoffelees than towards his son.
"There's no sense in taking you back to the Junkyard," said Old Deuteronomy. "So we'll be going now. From this moment on, you are not allowed to come in contact with any of the Jellicles again."
"I can't say I agree to this, Deuteronomy," spat Jennyanydots.
"Neither can I." With that, the Jellicle leader turned and left, closely followed by the rest of the Jellicles.
So that was it. Now he had no Jellicle Tribe to be loyal. It's for the best, Mistoffelees tried to convince himself. You'd only be endangering them if you stayed… you don't want to do that… and besides, he had been kicked out of tribes before. What did one more matter?
But somehow, this one did matter, and Mistoffelees could not convince himself that this was for the best. He'd never be a normal cat; he'd always be the untrustworthy magician, wherever he went…
And it hurt more than a thousand knives.
*~*
Now, I seriously need everyone's opinions: happy ending or sad ending? Or bittersweet ending? I need to know what you guys think! However, keep in mind I might not listen to you… but still, I'd like to know.
Also, I got a new website! www.sparklejem.tk
--jemi gr 21-july-03