Before she could even open her eyes, Demeter could hear the painfully familiar sounds of prisoners moaning and crying throughout the cell block, while the pungent odor of sewage filler her nostrils. When she did open her eyes she pushed herself to sit up and looked around at her surroundings. She was in the same cell her and Bombalurina were in years before, only this time there were no other queens in the cell with them. Just then, Demeter remembered everything that had happened the night prior and she frantically looked around for the kittens. When she spotted them curled up together in a corner right behind her she let out a sigh of relief. She quickly scooted her body to them and gently shook Jemima awake.
"Jemmie please wake up!" She pleaded quietly, careful not to alert Macavity or any of his guards that she was awake.
"Mummy!" Jemima cried when she woke and saw her mother. She flung herself on to her. Demeter wrapped her arms around her kitten, held her tightly and rocked on the cold, cement floor.
"Oh Jemmie, Jemmie, Jemmie!" Demeter sobbed, as she held and caressed her precious daughter.
"Mummy I'm so scared!" Jemima whimpered into the crook of Demeter's neck.
"I know my love, I know ! It'll be ok." Demeter said, moving Jemima's head from her neck and into her paws so that
they could look each other in the eyes.
"Daddy and Uncle Alonzo and Skimble and Asparagus and all the other Toms will find us ok? We will get out of here. You just need to trust mummy alright?"
Jemima looked into her mother's tear filled eyes and nodded.
In the absence of Jemima's body heat, Amolia stirred and quickly woke. Demeter notice this and observed the kitten take in her surroundings. It was clear how frightened she was upon seeing that she was back in the cells in Macavity's lair.
"Molli?" Demeter said softly.
Amolia looked at the gold and black queen and immediately broke down into sobs.
"Come here darling" Demeter urged softly, holding out her free paw.
Amolia crawled to her and curled up against her while Demeter wrapped her arm around her and stroked her back and shoulder. Demeter shifted Jemima in her arms so that she could hold both Amolia and her. Amolia clung to Demeter and sobbed into her fur.
"It's alright sweetheart I'm here. I've got you."
She cradled both kittens in her arms and tried comforting them the best she could. The last time she was held captive here, she had Bomba and the other queens in their cell to protect and comfort her. Now she had to be the one to be strong and protect. She began softly singing a lullaby to try and lull the kittens back to sleep. Just as they were both nodding off, the cell door swung open and Macavity stood in its place, staring with a menacing grin.
Back at the Junkyard:
Most of the Jellicles were huddled in Jenny, Skimble, Jelly and Asparagus's den, trying to figure out how to get Demeter and the kits back. Immediately following the ambush, Coricopat and Tantomile were asked to try and use their psychic senses to see if they could get any idea of where the three cats could be. The only information they were able to gather, was that Demeter had been picked up too when she tried to go after them, and that all three were in a cell together. Everything else Macavity had used his own telepathic powers to block the twins from sensing.
"Do you have any recollection at all of where you were when he had you dear?"
Jenny asked Bombalurina gently, afraid of setting her adopted daughter off into another fit of hysterics. Bomba pressed her head into her paws and thought as hard as she could. She was so worn and broken down from all that had happened that night and her head felt fuzzy.
"It was definitely somewhere in the sewage by the river." She began.
"But I can't exactly remember where. Besides he switches locations a lot. They could easily be somewhere entirely different." Bomba looked up and around at all of the cats staring and listening to her. A lump once again formed in her throat, and she broke back down into anguished sobs.
"I'm so sorry. I'm no help at all." She wailed.
Jellyorum scooted her chair closer to her and pulled the queen into her arms so that Bomba could cry into her shoulder.
"No darling, you're trying your hardest. Don't blame yourself." She said softly, as she ran a comforting paw up and down her back.
What Jelly was doing with her was exactly what Bombalurina wanted to be doing with Amolia right now. She was probably so scared to be back there, especially without her mother. Bomba of course was terrified for her sister and niece, but this was a whole new level of torture for Amolia. Bombalurina did however take comfort in knowing, and was honestly surprised that the three weren't separated. She was sure that the hidden paw would have split them up in separate locations throughout his hideout, to make this even more horrible for them.
"What about that sewage entrance by the spot where we used to play?" Alonzo suggested. "Do you think we could get to his hideout through there?"
Bomba looked up at him. "You could try that. But like I said, he switches locations. I'd be surprised if he was still in that same spot."
"Well if it's our only guess, then that's where we need to look first." Munkustrap replied. He, much like Bomba, was in a very bad way. The fur on his face was matted and wet from crying and purple bags hung under his eyes.
"Let's go now boys." He commanded.
"Cori you're coming too, just in case you can get any kind of leads on our way."
After he said this he turned towards the door and began to leave.
"Munk you are in no shape to be running about, especially not in this weather." Jenny protested.
Munkustrap whipped himself around and glared at the gumbie cat.
"Jenny, my mate, my daughter and an innocent orphan that we have taken in and vowed to protect, are being held captive by the most evil and vile being I have ever known, not to mention is our tribe's number one enemy. Please forgive me, but I don't give a fuck if I am injured. I am going to find them." Munkustrap turned back to the toms.
"Now, let's go."