Part Two: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

After The Jellicle Ball

Author Warning: This chapter contains a small scenes dealing with rape, and violence.

Chapter Fifteen: The Path of Thorns

Through the years I've grown to love you
Though your commitment to most would offend
But I stuck by you holding on with my foolish pride
Waiting for you to give in...
You never really tried or so it seems
I've had more than myself to blame
I've had enough of trying everything
And this time it is the end...

She led him diligently, her pains and aches fading, or perhaps her anger, her betrayal simply blinded her from it all. She wasn't sure, but this was not a time to think about herself for once, this was a time to for once paint away the yellow stripe that has called her spine home for many years, but hopefully no one expected this sudden change of heart to last… because it would not.

Taking a moment to glance behind her, Griddlebone beheld a look in the Tabby's eyes that was familiar. Both of them had striking blue eyes, but Munkustrap's were kinder, even full of anger and rage as they were now, they were still soft and gentle, " Don't worry dahlin. We're almost there. I promise." And for once it was a true promise.

He believed her. Despite all the bad things he knew and has heard, he truly believed her. Perhaps it was the tone she was using, or the fact she also seemed afraid and yet… somehow fearless, but she gave him hope, " I can't help it… I love her." He verbally admitted to a cat he didn't really even know.

She smiled, she knew this just by his vigor to find Demeter, she knew this tom truly loved the tortured queen and it made her sad inside… why couldn't Macavity just forget the petite golden cat and love her instead… for Griddle assumed she loved him in some twisted way, but she realized how obvious it was… the Hidden Paw didn't know what love actually was. To him love was sex, obsession, power and lust, and on realizing this, Griddlebone began to actually fear for her sister's very life and the life of the kit as well.

--------------------------------------- ------------- -------------------- ------------------

If only she could tear her eyes from the scene before her… but it was as if a pair of invisible hand were keeping her head from turning and her eyes from closing. And so she sat there, the box which had been growing smaller which each movement she made or breath she took now returned to a comfortable size, she curled in a corner of it, as it swung above her mother and the insane ginger cat who was doing disgusting things to her beloved mother and all she could do was watch… no sound would leave her lips, for even if she tried she could not make a sound, it was as if her body had ceased working, except all she could do was breathe.

She watched, eyes wide as he pressed harder against her mother, squeezing the gold and black furred queen more against the wall. By now she had noticed that her mother's eyes had fluttered shut and she had fallen limp against Macavity… her father. Was she dead? Jemima's heart prayed to the Everlasting Cat that someone… anyone would save her Mother and herself soon… before he did kill her or perhaps even both of them.

----------- -------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------

Bombalurina was growing ever frantic. Macavity's lair had more twists and turns than his last had. But still on she pressed, her body screaming at her to stop, take a break. But she ignored any and all protests and began to run faster, not even glancing behind her to see if Tugger was keeping up… which he was but barely.

They turned a corner, and the red queen found herself screeching to a halt, her body colliding still with a fluffy white Persian, " Out of my wa—Munkus?" She eyed the tall silver tabby just to the left of the white queen she had ran into, " Who the hell is this ?" Bomba motioned to the Persian as they both picked themselves up, the white queen slower at the process.

" I'm Griddlebone." She answered smartly for herself, " I'm helping your Sentinel to find his Queen."

Bombalurina had opened her mouth to sling an insult, but quickly shut it and looked to Tugger who was bent over huffing and puffing, " Well then we'll just join your little brigade. Won't we."

" Tell ya what I'll keep watch and make sure none of Mac's goons bother your bunch and I'll keep an eye for the other three." Tugger almost too quickly offered, for he was getting tired of trying to keep up with the red queen.

In light of the situation, Munkustrap had to snicker at his younger brother, " You sure you want to officially be mated to her? She might kill you in bed." Of course this got a the childish reaction of Tugger sticking his tongue out at the Silver Tabby.

" Enough. We need to hurry… no telling what he's done… or will do to her or the kitten." Griddlebone's words brought seriousness back to the front burner and her, Bomba and Munkus took off down the hallway, leaving Tugger behind to do as he had offered to do.

The turned corner after corner, went down hallway after hallway. The place seemed to go on forever like a labyrinth. The three cats were tiring, but Munkustrap kept pushing himself harder and faster, he almost got a head of Griddlebone, who was leading them in the right direction… he hoped. But somehow he felt she was, somehow he trusted her.

" Here. Inside. Quickly." Griddlebone had stopped their precession, they were now before the door that would let them into Macavity's world of torture. The white queen didn't show it… but she was scared for no sounds were coming from beyond the door and the air smelt to the Heavyside Lair of blood. Her eyes looked to the Tabby and then to the Scarlet Queen who's eyes showed no trust unlike the Tabby's. Moving to the door, the Persian threw her tired and sore frame against it and forced it open, " Quick. I can't keep it open much longer." She waited, her body straining as the two other cats slipped in passed her and then she let the door shut, her body falling to the ground.

"Just stay here… we can find her." Munkustrap gave the fallen queen a look of thanks and headed into the shadowed strange room to find his beloved golden queen, with said queen's sister behind him.

------------ ------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------

Suddenly Macavity grew still. His fur bristled and he pulled himself away from the bloodied and unconscious Demeter, letting her body fall into a crumpled heap to the floor. The three of them were no longer alone, he could sense it, he could smell their scents and he grinned a grin that would make even the devil himself cower in fright. His eyes lifted, his cold blue irises finding the soft hazel ones of his daughter, and he smiled, " We have some guests it seems. Now watch your mother dearest while I give them a proper greeting." He turned and slinked into the shadows, leaving Demeter half dead and her daughter forever scarred.

Jemima looked at the small form of her mother laying there on the cold ground, her blood slowly trickling from various wounds along her broken body. So they had guests, and the little princess struggled to find her voice, finally managing a soft mew, slowly it became louder until she was able to cry out, " Help Me… Us… Help!" Her throat screamed at her, she choked and began to sputter and cough almost uncontrollably when suddenly she felt herself begin to lower and with wild eyes looked down, a sigh of relief crossing her youthful face.

Bombalurina had heard the kitten's cry for help and moved swiftly to where she was being held in a strange see-through box high above the ground. Once Jemima had spotted her, the red lady cat gave her niece a signal to keep quiet as she lowered her prison and set her free, grabbing the Jemima as she almost collapsed, " Ssh. It's okay gal. Now where is your Momma?"

Slowly Jemima pulled away and pointed behind her aunt, " There." Was all she could say before sobs over took her and she fell to her knees in shock.

Slowly Bomba turned around, almost afraid to look… her breath caught in her throat at the sight she beheld, and slowly she moved towards her sister's body, broken and battered on the floor, " Deme…" She slowly placed a paw on the feline's shoulder, almost afraid to touch her… afraid she would break, " Deme… answer me hun. Come on… please…" She didn't fight the tears for she knew and could instantly tell what the bastard had done to her and without thinking, the Scarlet furred cat called out, " Munkustrap! Oh Heavyside Munk hurry please! I found her…. Oh Everlasting Cat help her."

----------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------------------

He watched from the shadows as Bombalurina lowered the kit and set her free, he watched the red form fall to her knees at her sister's side and call for his damnable half-brother and all the while he grinned enjoying every moment for not only had this broken Demeter, but it was breaking everyone who loved her, who cared about her and from this Macavity felt a surge of power and with their backs turned from his place of hiding he slowly stalked from the shadows ready to strike.

" Look out!" Griddlebone had regained some strength, enough to get herself into the same area of the room everyone else was in and just in time to warn them of Macavity about to attack.

Munkustrap reacted quickly, his body turning and his paws, claws out coming into swift contact with his half-brother, but in the momentum Macavity's attack struck as well, his own claws gripping into the Tabby's arms. Both toms sneered in pain and backed slowly away and began to circle, claws still at the ready.

Seeing Macavity was distracted by the fight, Griddlebone moved swiftly across the room and collected her niece who had curled into a ball in her fragile state, " Come on m'dear you got to get out of the way." She got the kitten to stand and to walk slowly over to where her mother and other aunt was, a safer place than where Jemima had been.

Bomba was still desperately trying to revive her younger sister, but it seemed futile in effort, " I can't find a pulse… I don't know if she's just unconscious… or… something worse." She exclaimed to Griddlebone, who it seemed was just as concerned about Demeter… which the sultry queen found odd. However soon the fight drew her attentions along with Jemi's and Griddlebone's.

The two large toms were all over each other, scratching, biting, clawing, kicking and tearing. Munkustrap was bleeding profusely from his arms and chest, and Macavity from his face, legs and abdomen. However Munkustrap was beginning to tire, he wasn't pacing himself and slowly his elder half-brother began to over take him and dealt a blow went sent the Silver tom across the floor where he stopped and gave a groan holding his side which was now gushing crimson.

Macavity's eyes gleamed, his blood letting lust strong and powering him as he stalked proudly to tour over his brother's fallen form, " You fought well, I'm surprised, but not well eno---" Suddenly Macavity reared back, a small black and red form hanging from his neck where she, Jemima had lunged and bitten her Father, " You annoying little bitch!" And with that the ginger tom threw her body down to lay next to Munkustrap, " Now you will both die."

Griddlebone was now holding her conscious half-sister back, " Stay here. He'll kill you too." The scarlet cat was strong and finally the Persian threw her back and lept forward, throwing herself into Macavity's claws as he brought them down with the intention of killing Munkustrap and his own Daughter.

First she felt pain… and then hardly anything at all. The room had grown quiet, save for Macavity's pants and Jemima's sudden return of sobs. Griddlebone felt herself slipping, her body telling her to close her eyes which were now staring around frantically. She could feel air leaving her throat in an odd manner for Macavity had torn it wide open from her chest to her chin, and she found quickly she could not speak and she could barely even move.

He stood very still, so still it was hard to tell if he was breathing or not. There before him covered in blood was a very familiar white Persian queen, her blue eyes bloodshot and confused. Behind him he heard a groan of pain, obviously from Demeter's lips as he heard her sister hush her. Everything was still, all eyes moved between him and the savagely torn Griddlebone. Slowly he bent and picked her up, her blood staining his fur, melding with it's color perfectly, he saw her trying to speak, her lips moving but no sound would ever leave them again. Then just as she slipped away, he thought he heard her breathe " I loved you."

End of Chapter Fifteen