Part Two: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
After The Jellicle Ball
Chapter Thirteen: Vox
Through your eyes the strains of battle like a brooding storm
Your up and down these pristine velvet walls like focus never forms
My wake is getting wider and my eyes are drawn astray
Near you now a vague deception of a dying day…
" So are you going to talk or anything? " Tugger asked impatiently of the petite gold queen, " Or do you enjoy sitting there and glaring at me?"
" Neither." She remarked coolly and marched over to her pile of blankets, " I'm going to get some sleep. This is all taking too long and my nerves are running short." Her tone was angered and hurt.
Tugger nodded slowly, watching as Demeter made herself comfortable within the cocoon of her blankets, " I'll grant ya some privacy and step outside if ya need anythin'." He waited a moment, expecting a response, but got none. Shrugging his shoulders, the maned tom quietly exited the closet home of his so-to-be mate and her sister, his lanky frame slouching against it.
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Meanwhile within Macavity's lair, the Hidden Paw was pacing, afraid he his plan wouldn't work, afraid that all his scheming, all his well thought out moves had been a sheer waste of time. Maybe he should have just napped Demeter herself, but that wouldn't break her enough and this would, he was sure of it.
He knew most would call him cruel, to make his own daughter, his own fur and blood go through an ordeal like this, but they just didn't understand, they never would. He had to have her, she was his and his alone and if he couldn't have her then no one could… not even their children. She would be his and his alone.
Stepping to the door of his "office" Macavity peered out and smiled spotting one of his hench cats, " Paradox."
The black and brown cat looked to his leader and saluted him, " Yes sir?"
" Go and bring Griddlebone to me please. I want a report of progress on the child." Macavity's smile was gone as quick as it came," Get going. Double time." He ordered and Paradox quickly disappeared in a most sneaky manner.
Macavity returned to his pacing once more and waited, which he did not have to do long. The door to his office opened and there stood the white Persian queen, a paw settled on one of her curvaceous hips, " That was quick." He remarked, to which he saw her smirk a bit, " How are you fairing with our young guest?" He stood still, anxious to hear her report.
" It goes well enough sugar. I've got'er believing I'm going to help her escape. Poor dear, so naïve." Griddlebone amused with a purr, " She'll never know until you "catch" us attempting to escape." As she spoke, the fluffy white cat had changed her position in the room to right before her master and lover, " Should I return to the kitten?" She asked, her voice becoming thick and sultry, " Or should I delay my return."
Macavity rolled his eyes and pushed the queen away with a hint of disgust, " Go back and complete your task my pet. We haven't time for fooling around." He sneered as she gave him a pout and brought herself up off the floor.
" Fine. I know I'll be yesterday's news once that bitch gets back in your lair." With that Griddlebone turned to leave, but instead got dragged back into the room and thrown against the wall.
" Don't you ever disgrace her again." His paw came across the perfect white face of the Persian, claws out, " I should kill you for that remark, but I think I'll let you live with the knowledge that you are just…" he grinned darkly, licking her blood from his claws, "second best."
Without a word, Griddlebone stood and left the room, returning to her duty, her mind now torn over doing as originally planned, or actually helping the kitten to escape after all.
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Demeter waited, silent and with eyes closed. She listened to the door open and shut and the small creak of protest as Tugger's frame leaned against the closet outside. Slowly she opened her eyes, his shadow visible through the small cut-out window, his head was bent slightly and she knew he had dozed off. Sighing in relief the golden queen stood and slipped out the secret entrance that only she and Bomba knew about and headed off into the night, towards Macavity's lair.
It didn't take her long, she knew all the shortcuts, and the best ones to take. For a moment she paused, her hazel eyes lifted slowly taking in the abandoned warehouse which had been dubbed the Napoleon of Crime's lair long ago. Squaring her shoulders, the black and gold queen slowly entered the spooky building, her internal fears making her shake.
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" Sir!" Paradox came busting into his Leader's office, almost breathless with anticipation," Sir! She's been spotted! Going in the southern entrance."
At first Macavity had been annoyed at the sudden interruption from his guard, but the news he shared quickly diminished the annoyance as he smiled, " Very good. Give Griddlebone the signal then. " He watched his guard nod and leave, a smile of pure evil and satisfaction lit across his face, " Let the games begin."
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The silver tabby brought the rescue party to a halt. His nose sniffing frantically at the air, it was stale, cold and unwelcoming… and there was a familiar scent mixed in with it, " Bomba. I need you to return to the Junkyard, check on your sister and Tugger. Hurry."
The scarlet queen didn't ask questions, but turned and took off as told, her mind alive with questions of course, but somehow she figured that Demeter had slipped passed Tugger somehow and was now at Macavity's lair, or close to it. Part of her wanted to turn back and go inside the lair and find out for herself, but she knew Munkustrap wouldn't let any harm come to her sister… but still she worried for all of them.
It didn't take her long to reach the Junkyard, and to find that Tugger had drifted off outside of the closet home, " Rum Tum Tugger. You idiot!" Her paw swept across his face, instantly causing the tom to wake and hold his left cheek.
" Wha… what in Heavyside was that for?" He asked, rubbing his sore cheek, " And what are… wait… bugger." Turning he quickly threw open the door of the closet and looked inside, " Demeter? Dems? Deme?" There was no answer, " Um… mebbe she's asleep?"
" I doubt it." Bombalurina remarked coldly and crept to the pile of blankets in the corner, tossing each one aside till nothing but the bare floor was left, " Damnit!"
" She didn't… did she?" Tugger was mad at himself now, mostly for letting himself get tricked like he had.
" She did. Where else would she go?" The red feline exclaimed and grabbed Tugger's much larger paw dragging him with her," We've got to hurry back to his lair. They're going to need all the help they can get now. I just hope… I just hope she doesn't do anything stupid." Bomba held back her tears, her words almost swallowed in a choke of emotion within her throat.
" Don't worry Babe. We'll find'em both and everything will be okay." Tugger tried to assure his queen in a soft tone.
" I hope so. I really hope so."
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She had been given the signal, but still she fought with herself. Go with the plan, or defy it. Her icy gaze drifted to the scared kit huddling in the corner of the cell, her fur which held markings similar to both her parents shaking from fear and the damp coldness. With a sigh Griddlebone stepped over to the princess and gently place a paw on her shoulder, " Come it's time to go m'dear."
Jemima slowly raised her head and with a sniffle nodded, " 'Kay. " She was going to trust this queen who claimed to be another aunt, she would go with her, hoping that she could escape and return to the tribe and to her mother and little brother.
" Now listen carefully. You must do as I say or you will get lost. Understand?" Griddlebone waited for a nod or a timid yes from the girl, after a moment she got both," This is how you get out." She began leading the kit to the door and out it, " Go right from here, keep going right until you reach the machinery room, enter it and there is a window there which is broken, slip out it and you'll be home free." She gave the black and red girl a push in the right direction.
" But… what about you Grid--- Aunt ?" Jemima looked to the queen with shining large eyes.
The Persian sighed heavily, " I can't go with you, someone has to distract your captor y'know love." She smiled sadly, " Plus… your home ain't a place for me. I wouldn't be accepted so well… I'm a bad cat." With that Griddlebone turned and walked in the other direction, " Good luck kid."
For a moment Jemima stood very still and watched until the white cat turned a corner and was out of view, she then bounded off in the direction she was told not knowing that it was all a trap… that her Aunt had chosen to not defile her master after all.
" I'm sorry kid… truly sorry." Griddle whispered to the shadows and walked slowly into Macavity's lair, " It's begun." She spoke with a sadness in her eyes and sat down in a ragged chair which had once been a shoe and waited, thinking of a way to still make this turn out for the better in the end.
"Very good Griddle. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. " His paw came to trail along her side, the action of course getting a purr from the feline who had always turned to clay so easily for him.
End of Chapter 13