Chapter 3

Just like he assumed, Macavity was able to stockpile on food before any of the new coming humans could know what was going on. The family was now going to be well fed for quite some time now, and it made life for Bombalurina much easier. A few days had passed, and Mac was still being wanted in the better shopping areas, so he was staying home, lying low until things cooled down. He was now napping, and Bombi was sitting by the window, nursing Jendangen, who was gently purring. Because the weather showed hints of rain, Sophline was ordered to stay near the shack, so she was playing around their home, chasing bugs and a few blowing leaves. A sudden shout from her broke a gentle silence.

"Mommy! Someone's coming our way!"

The red queen put Jendangen in his padded box and walked outside. Mac, who still was a light sleeper, woke up from his daughter's shout and followed his mate outside. As soon as Bombi saw who it was, she gasped and staggered back a few steps. Who it was, was someone she had seen in years, and had never thought of seeing again.

"Demeter?"

The black and gold queen looked up at her sister, trembling, her eyes red, "Bombalurina? Bombi, please help! I…" She ran out of breath and collapsed on the ground. Bombi quickly ran to her sister and held her for a moment, tears lightly flowing out. Mackey quickly came to her and picked up Demi, carrying her to their home. Sophline, seeing the sober faces of her parents, quietly held the door open, and then backed away. Demeter regained her senses, and was quiet as Mac gently set her down on a seat. She gasped for a moment then finally spoke up.

"Bombi, I… I need help! Someone…someone has taken…over the tribe! He n-nearly killed Munku, and he's…torturing the toms and…oh Heaviside, he's raping the QUEENS! Even some of the kittens! I…I ran and hid…and he…he…"

"What, Demeter? What did he do?" Bombi pressed for an answer from her sister.

"He…he killed Plato! Sliced his throat open! And then… sob he made Misto…carry away the body and…oh Heaviside, Bombi! He made Victoria lick up the blood!"

The red queen was too stunned at first to respond, and then she gently embraced her sister, and let Demeter cry on her shoulder. Mac stood silently by the door. He had ushered Sophline out, so that she couldn't hear what was going on. It took awhile, but Demi was able to calm down slightly. As soon as she did, Macavity pressed for more information.

"Who was this cat that took over?"

Her eyes red with more tears, the black and gold queen responded quietly, "He's a black and grey tom. Strong and sturdy, yet…slim, almost like a steel wire. He calls himself, Rubanton."

"Never heard of the name. Did you say black and grey?" she nodded. Mackey's eyes lighted up, "Does he have a burn mark on his left paw?"

"I…I don't know. But his eyes were…a sinister yellow...almost like…"

"Lightning!" Mac was now standing tall, his eyes alight, "I knew it! I always heard he would do this, but I never believed it!"

Bombi looked at her mate with amazement, "Mackey, who are you talking about?"

"That cat is not known as Rubanton, but by a different name: Draconic."

"Draconic? I've heard of that name, but have never seen him," Bombalurina stated, still staring at him. Demeter was now sitting upright, also staring at the ginger tom. It shouldn't have been a surprise to either one of them that Macavity knew who Rubanton, or actually, Draconic, was. He probably knew all about the other criminal cats that wandered around the town.

"He's never been in the area of the Jellicles. Any criminal knows that messing with the tribe is just like playing Chicken in a jam-packed roundabout. Anyways, he's been known to overtake tribes, play around with them, and then hand them over to a weakling before leaving. He doesn't give a rat's fart about humans, only other cats."

"If he's never been in the area of the Jellicles, then how come he attacked them this time?" Bombi asked.

Mac shrugged, "That's what gets me. He's smart enough to know everything about the tribe. If he was able to beat Munkustrap, then he must've gotten better skilled," He once again glanced at Demi, "What did he do when he fought Munkustrap?"

His question brought back for Demeter the agony of seeing her mate being beaten to a pulp, and it took a moment for her to respond, "He…did a few quick moves…like he had trained for a long time. But the worst part…he…he…le-levitated. And he threw Munku across the junkyard…like he was a piece of trash!"

Her words caused all the color to drain from Macavity's face, and he leaned against the wall, barely standing up, "It's not possible…He…oh, no…"

"Mackey, what is it?"

The ginger tom glanced at Bombi and spoke in a stunned tone, "He knows the Dark Magic."

The red queen's face also drained, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. It's one of the sure signs, one of the first skills you achieve when you learn it. No other magician cats would attempt to levitate, because it can't be used for good in any way."

"Then how can he be beaten?" There seemed to be a touch of hopelessness in Bombalurina's voice.

"The only he can be beaten, is by another cat that knows the Dark Magic. It's so powerful; any other kind of magic can't beat it." Mac sullenly turned away and looked outside the window. Bombi knew that he was debating with himself on whether or not he would use the Dark Magic he learned so long ago (see Flames Within and Macavity Chronicles for more reference) to save the tribe.

"Do you think…you could…?"

Her mate turned back towards her with a stern look, "No! I will not use it again! I was controlled by it, and I will not let it use me again!"

"But Mackey! The tribe is in danger, and who knows what more he could do!"

Macavity seemed dead set against it, "I made a vow to myself to never use it again, especially after we began our life together. It's locked away now, Bombi, never to return!" With that, he walked outside, and stood quietly, looking at the sky, which was darkening with more threatening clouds.

Demeter looked at her sister with worried eyes. Bombalurina just sighed and shrugged, "I'll try talking to him, but…" Changing the subject, the red queen showed her sister their children, and they talked about how things had been in the last three years. Meanwhile, Macavity paced in a nearby alley arguing with himself.

"I can't do this! I won't!" he kept sternly talking to himself. A sudden deeper voice broke through his mind.

You have to, if you want to save this tribe.

"That's not true!" he shouted, as if the one talking to him was right there with him, "It isn't even my tribe anymore!"

It doesn't even matter. You still want to use it again, I know you do. You can't resist using your powers again.

"You shut the hell up!" Mac's anger was now rising to a bad point, "I know this is the Dark Magic talking, and I don't have to, and I won't, listen to you again!"

Wonderful. Your anger is rising; your powers are starting to return. Yes, you will finally regain your abilities and together, we can finally rule the tribe as we say fit.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" With that Macavity suddenly went into a hard focus. In his mind, he started fighting against his Dark Magic self.

What in the world are you doing?

"You are going to listen to ME now!" The fight lasted for some time. Mac's common sense versus the Dark Magic. Anyone who would've seen Mac would've seen him sitting in an alley in a state of meditation, muttering, "Listen to me! Listen to me!" Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mac had corralled his evil self.

All right! All right! I give!

The ginger tom panted loudly from exertion, "Good. Now, if I do choose to use you, will you promise to obey my orders?"

Yes, yes, I will obey you. I am under your control.

With a sigh of relief, Macavity collapsed in the alley, satisfied. He had finally achieved control of his own demons. As he caught his breath, he knew now what to do. It was going to be his chance to redeem himself for everything he had done before, and get one last redemption into the tribe. He was going to use his Dark Magic to defeat Draconic. It was the only way the tyrant could be defeated.

Well, finally I have gotten a new chapter out. I have 3 performances left: Today (Friday), Saturday, and Sunday. After that, I will be writing up a storm. Plus, we are finally getting a new computer, so now I will be able to have more time to type!

I'm just glad to have this chapter finished, and will have the next one out sometime this upcoming week. Hope you all enjoy!