Quaxo's Secret Tale
By: Brittglamorra
Part 14
Macavity's Not There Part 2
Warning: Swearing, violence, reference to…errrm….stuff…Anywho! On with the Mac memories!
Macavity's lithe and tall ginger form stalked through the dark allies as rain fell on him and a storm raged overhead. The black kittens wails died away behind him and after a few more moments Macavity froze, his eyes widening with horror…What had he just done?! Something snapped inside him…The solid wall of hatred and anger faltered, and regret, pain, grief, even love came flooding over him…He spun on his paws like lightning and raced back along the dark and abandoned streets and allies. Soon he spotted the area where he had left the kitten and he padded up, looking around with horror. The kitten wasn't there….A memory suddenly came back to him from his youth when he had just become mates with Likia.
*flashback within a flashback*
They were leaning against one another beneath a large old oak in the park and Likia and he were purring happily, young and invested in life…Likia sighed happily as she saw a pair of birds swooping about overhead. There was a nest in the tree and tiny innocent chirps emanated from it.
"Will we ever have kits?" The young black queen asked. Macavity looked at her, with warm eyes, and a smile.
"I hope so." He purred. Likia sighed happily and nuzzled his ears.
"Me too…I have always wanted a daughter…I would call her Graciette." Likia purred lovingly. Macavity sighed happily.
"I have always wanted a son. I would name him Quaxo." He purred. Likia looked at him and nuzzled his cheek.
"That's a wonderful name." She purred. "Where did you get it?" Macavity tilted his head, memories flashing through his eyes.
"I heard it in a dream once a long, long time ago." He murmured. Likia smiled warmly.
"Well Quaxo would be perfect." She purred lovingly….Then suddenly the memory ended abruptly, as though it had been broken…
Macavity blinked in confusion and looked at his paws…He couldn't remember what had happened after that…The next memory he had after that was walking into the Junkyard with Likia, happy and relaxed. The large ginger tom sighed, wondering where his kit had gone…The anger and hatred fought to overtake his worry and regret, but he pushed it away and took a shuddering breath.
"I'm sorry Likia…I'm sorry Quaxo…" He whispered… The large ginger tom turned around and walked away, vanishing into the night…
It was only a few days later when Macavity found out the Spanish Lord, Vinlint had been captured and arrested, thrown into prison…He left immediately to go and 'visit'. In the last few days his anger had grown immense…Once more his hatred had overcome him, and he had developed a plot in his head. The only cat who had stuck by him and understood him was dead, along with their kits, and most likely the tiny tux tom with emerald green eyes.
And so he ventured there, walking with confidence. Lucky he had connections on the inside…Pricey connections, but connections none the less. He had no problem walking into a prison. They had nothing on him, no evidence, and no witness. He stepped into the building and with a dark smile smirked at the guards.
The dark red fur of the tom twitched about him as he strode purposefully down the hall. His insane bright ice-blue eyes glared confidently at each of the prison guards that he passed. Not an ounce of proof had ever proven him guilty of all the crimes he was supposed to have committed so he dared show his face. And the guards involuntarily shrank away from him. It had been costly, thirty pheasants and one of his best young queens, but perhaps it would be worth it. He entered the visiting room and halted taking in the tom who sat before him, hunched over a table, fading cold green eyes glowing with the ever present bitterness and interest at the young figure whom stood before him.
The tom was a very dark dusky brown and was large and well-muscled, even in his older age. He flicked his long mottled tail at the chair across the narrow table. The red tom obliged and strode to the cat-sized table to sit. The old tom simply studied him for a time, eyes taking in the young tom who was supposedly showing up his years of work in only about two years.
"Macavity. Welcome. What brings you here today?" The old tom growled, not sounding welcoming at all.
"I have a proposition for you, Vinlint." He meowed smoothly.
"And what would that be kit?" He growled. Macavity simply looked amused.
"I wish to unite our forces." He said.
"Our forces?"
"Yes. Join forces." He growled. Macavity had a very large force but so did the Spanish Lord.
"My son once asked me that. Before you murdered him. What do I owe you?" Vinlint snarled.
"Nothing." Responded Macavity dangerously.
"Do you expect me to be intimidated by you little kit. You're young and foolish. A façade." Vinlint snarled. "I am a deadly and influential power, and have years under my belt. You have the foolishness of youth, your only goal in life revenge on the Jellicle's. Revenge gets you nowhere, and you often fail in the process." He snarled.
"Oh really now? My mother used to tell me that, but she is dead now. You know nothing. I have many secrets. Would you like to hear one?" Macavity asked, something dark gleaming in his cold blue eyes. Little did Vinlint know that when he responded he would be answering something hidden and crucial…
"Lay it on me kid." He snarled.
Macavity grinned insanely and lent forwards. He whispered in the other tom's ear and gradually Vinlint's eyes widened. He gasped as Macavity ran his claws quickly and deeply across his throat. The tom let out a blood curdling yowl, and collapsed twitching, eyes staring sightlessly at Macavity. Blood slowly pooled under him.
"Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead." Macavity said in a sing-song voice.
…..
Guards ran down the hall, paws thumping heavily across the floor. They burst into the room and looked around in wild horror. Vinlint's body lay torn apart on the floor. He lay in a pool of his own blood. The head-guard turned to the one who peeked around the door in shock.
"Who came in here?" he demanded.
"Macavity." Said the guard. The guards spread out and combed the room…but it was no use. There was not a single hair or pawprint of evidence…
Though two blue eyes glared with amusement and victory from seemingly nowhere, Macavity wasn't there.
He walked into his warehouse, blood soaking his fur. His eyes were wild and there was a furious smirk on his face. The Hench-cats were gathered in the main hall, awaiting his return. He looked grim and the room was tense and silent, until a broad and sadistic grin spread on the ginger fiends face. The room erupted into cheers and furious yowls of joy and anger. Macavity flicked his tail and led his cats from the Warehouse. They poured out and followed the blood soaked ginger tom. Humans stopped and stared in shock. Pollicles and cats alike fled. London seemed to freeze as the mass of cats raced across London towards the old industrial area...
Macavity burst into a huge Warehouse four times the size of his own. There had to be at least a hundred cats in there, and they froze and stared in shock as the Hidden Paw's army burst in. Macavity smirked as they hesitated in attacking him…They could smell their Lord's blood on him, and see it plain as day, soaking his fur scarlet. Macavity stood tall and spoke, low and deadly.
"Vinlint is dead. And I am the ruler of your army now!" He snarled loudly. "Any cat who defies me will be killed."
They might have attacked him. They might have, had they not been so shocked that he had killed their leader. They might have attacked him had they not been so terrified that he had done so in the most secure prison in the world, and escaped unscathed. They might have attacked him…had they not respected him for it… Slowly, as one they began to bow…They bowed low until their ears brushed the floor. Some shivered, some whimpered, some smirked sadistically, for they bore the minds of sick and twisted criminals. And some privately plotted their revenge…After a few moments a beautiful completely almost metallic silver queen with one brown heart shaped patch over one eye, brown stripes on her tail and four brown paws cut off perfectly just above each paw. Her eyes were vivid golden-brown and seemed to gleam with a whole new light…Inside she felt wrath, for she was Vinlint's mate. The same mate he had killed Aeron's mother to win. But Macavity could not feel another's emotions as his son, at the time unbeknownst to him, could. So she smiled sweetly, and waver her long plumy tail.
"Greetings Lord Macavity. Welcome to your new warehouse. I am called Jazzmina. Congratulations on your recent victory. It is a pleasure to meet the Napoleon of Crime at last. We have heard much about you." She purred in a sweet and seductive tone, swaying her hips slightly as she approached him. Her voice had a thick Spanish accent and Macavity raised one eyebrow curiously. This was the famed Jazz? Vinlint's second in command and mate? She didn't look like much but Macavity knew better than to judge based on something as simple as size or appearance. After all. He had been born a runt.
"Jazzmina. The pleasure is all mine." He purred in his deep nearing baritone voice. He raised one eyebrow. "I have heard a great deal of you as well. I think I will enjoy my new status of Lord of the Spanish Army." He purred audaciously.
"Indeed. Perhaps I can show you around and introduce you to some of our best…how you say? Hench-cats." She purred, through lidded eyes. Macavity smiled and followed the young queen towards the stairs. Griddlebone audibly growled, but he didn't seem to notice. The Hench-cats of the Napoleon of Crime melted into the ranks of the Spanish Army, and friendships were made, bonds were forged, alliances set…and enemies made.
When Macavity made his way down the stairs again, a very long time later he knew what he would find, and was therefore not surprised. Several Hench-cats lay dead, mostly from the Spanish Army's ranks, only one or two from his own. His fur was clean and wild yet sleek once more, no trace of blood remaining…somehow he seemed even more dangerous and threatening. He stood tall on the stairs and addressed them.
"Now that you have finished with your petty squabbles. I have formulated a plan to destroy the Jellicle tribe. We need to break them at their heart. We need to break Munkustrap, and I have decided that the best way to do that is to capture him and torture him instead of those around him. We in one moons time. For now feast and celebrate our strength. And get these bodies cleared away immediately." Macavity ordered. He smiled and cheers swelled from within the Warehouse. The tom nodded his head once and turned padding back up the stairs. "Griddlebone! Come on!" He called over his shoulder. The white queen slipped from the crowd, someone else's blood staining her pristine white fur, and not a scratch on her. Macavity smirked and led her up the stairs. She sashayed after him like she owned the place, and a few Spanish toms glared after her while Mac's Hench-cats smirked knowingly. No cat ever tried to have his way with Griddlebone.
Macavity gave her, her own room, and she slept a few doors down from Jazz, who Macavity noticed Griddle loathed with a passion. Macavity eventually invited Jazz into his bed and she accepted gladly stating she had been waiting forever. Macavity had replied that he was allowed to make others wait for whatever he wanted. But she lacked the finesse that Likia or even Demeter had possessed. Macavity remembered Demeter. He had lost his innocence to her, and her him. And he had kitnapped her several times early in his reign. She had not pleased him like Likia, but had still given him more than Jazz. In response to poor results Macavity grew bitter, beginning the hurt her and make her squirm and cry out with his force and anger. One night half a month later she vanished and neither Macavity, nor any of his new army could find her. And the ginger fiend never saw her again. Like Macavity so often, she wasn't there.
Finally the month passed and Macavity launched his attack on the yard…Macavity appeared in a fiery, blinding flash and a crack like thunder, over the tire. He realized immediately that is was occupied and Demeter and a black tom bristled, thrown away from the tire by his invisible force... Even before they hit the ground there were low hisses throughout the clearing.
"Macavity!"
Macavity basked in the moment of fear an anger and observed without really paying attention as the black tom landed nimbly on his paws and spun on the spot, to face the Fiend, but Demeter tumbled and fell. Macavity almost laughed out loud and smirked a sadistic smile. Macavity focused on Deme then, narrowing his eyes, and not even noticing the black tom. He did not even glance at Quaxo at first, but looked around the Jellicle's.
"I come for Munkustrap!" Mac snarled after a moment of observing and not spotting the silver tabby.
"You cannot have him!" Spat a bitter voice. Demeter had risen and spoken. As soon as Macavity's surprisingly fiery ice-blue eyes landed on her, they chilled. He narrowed his eyes and blinked. Then a wide and twisted smile curled onto his face.
"Ah Demeter..." He crooned menacingly. He leaped down and brushed her chin with his long erratic tail. He ignored the nervous and panicked energy coming from the black tom and focused on Deme. Perhaps if he could not take Munk to break him then he could break him by beating the tom senseless then perhaps could tear him apart by taking the queen he knew his brother loved.
"If you want so badly to save my useless brother than perhaps you could go in his place?" Macavity growled smoothly, his eyes dark and hungry for her. Macavity leaned closer to her, eyes deep and intense. Demeter dipped her head submissively. Macavity felt a rush of triumph.
"I will go with you." She whispered in a broken, fearful and defeated tone. Macavity smiled, his face close to hers, and a darkness in his eyes… But then very suddenly the small black tom leaped in front of her, and shoved the huge ginger tom away. Macavity stumbled but regained his footing quickly. He growled. No kitten should possess that much strength.
"No!" The black tom snarled in fury, glaring at the ginger tom. Macavity's eyes were momentarily filled with rage and he felt as though he would burst with it and they shot to the tom, but then they narrowed considerably and then they widened, cold amusement lighting in them. The tom before him was a small black tuxedo tom, with brilliant green eyes…The same eyes that had stared blearily into his all those months ago… He couldn't believe it…So many emotions ran through him but hatred overpowered them all…A voice seemed to whisper in his ear. 'They stole him from you…He is one of them, good for nothing, he cannot be trusted'. Macavity snarled, silently agreeing.
"You! I thought I left you for dead!" He growled with mild curiosity. His sweet whiskey breath billowed in the young toms face. The black tom kit snarled.
"I don't know you! I have lived here my entire life." He snarled.
"Oh but you haven't…I would not expect you to remember either. I had trekked for hours looking for your filthy run-away mother, and when I found her she was dead, and so where the other three kittens…but you. You were barely alive. I left you in the street in the storm, and I never came back. I assumed you died runt." The ginger tom growled. It pained him to say these words. He didn't mean it but the anger wouldn't go away. He blinked with curiousity when the kit suddenly zoned out, his eyes distant and haunted…He was remembering.
Macavity felt cold amusement when the young black tom stumbled a tiny bit back as he snapped out of it. He stared furiously up at Macavity who glared back, a smirk on his muzzle.
"You lie!" He wailed in fury. The ginger tom smirked.
"Foolish kit. I do no such thing. I did not need you. You were useless, and I was not about to waste my time trying to raise a son I never wanted in the first place…" He paused as the toms eyes widened. Cold satisfaction and bitterness rushed through him. "That's right kit! I am your father!" Gasps rang out through the clearing and the tom kit snarled in fury.
"Liar!" He yowled…Macavity noticed the two strange mystics back away and confusion rushed through him
Then suddenly a bolt of blue lightning shot from his body and hit the big ginger tom square in the chest. Cats gasped as the Macavity stumbled and fell. He glared up at the Jellicals, and the tux with fire. The tux snarled, a new confidence found and bound towards the ice-eyed tom cat. Macavity snarled and vanished into the darkening evening without a trace, anger and hatred burning through him as strong as the immense pain that raced through him at that moment. A collective whisper echoed throughout the clearing, and as he always did Macavity heard their voices murmur the familiar phrase.
"Macavity's not there." They breathed.
Macavity was angry, furious at his failed plan…His stomach burned with pain. He was burned but thankfully it was not bad…this time. Needless to say a few Hench-cats never saw the light of day again. Macavity fled the Warehouse in a furious storm, blindly racing through the streets…He didn't know where his paws were carrying him until he stopped, standing beside the garbage bin…The garbage bin Likia had died in? With grief suddenly overcoming his heart he slunk beneath the bin, and curled into a tight ball…For the first time since he was a tiny kitten, Macavity sobbed…
He went back there every few days…For a long time…It was two days before the Jellicle ball when he returned…He had not been there forever and he slipped beneath the bin…Only to come nose to nose with a ragged old shabby queen…Instantly he recognized her, and seizing the startled and weak queen by the throat he drug her out from under the bin and pressed her against the wall.
"YOU! You traitorous bitch! You terrible mother! What the hell are you doing here?!" She struggled and squirmed feebly in his paws, gagging loudly and he glared into her eyes.
Suddenly the little black tom rounded the corner, and his eyes widened in shock. Macavity nearly roared in fury and shock…but without hesitating the tom dropped a rabbit he was carrying and leaped at Macavity, his fur fluffed out. Macavity gasped as he slammed into him and he dropped Grizabella, and slid a few feet away.
The tux crouched over the queen and met Macavity's furious gaze. Macavity hated himself when he spoke, for his voice wavered.
"What are YOU doing here?!" Macavity spat furiously, his eyes bright with distress…Sadness tore its cruel claws through his heart and he panted furiously, fighting tears. What was wrong with him?! The tux narrowed his eyes.
"Oh I don't know, rescuing the old, injured and starving queen you just tried to strangle!" He spat. Macavity blinked at the Grizabella.
"This is my turf. She is not supposed to be here." He snarled feebly, not giving a hint that he knew her. The tux narrowed his eyes.
"Maybe if you came around here more often, she wouldn't think it was unclaimed…And besides. I know where your 'turf' is. And this is not part of it…Your just mad that she was sleeping where mom died!" The tiny tux spat. Macavity winced, pain searing his heart and he snarled. Macavity glared at him, with an unfathomable abhorrence. The tux met his gaze, and ice blue eyes locked with blazing green. There was something…understanding in them.
"You don't know anything about your mother, kit!" Macavity spat after a time. Tux moved towards Macavity, till he was near nose to nose with him and Macavity stiffened.
"I know that you abused her badly before she gave birth, and that is the reason she lost my sisters. I know she begged you to protect me on her dying breath, and you didn't. I know who her family was. I know she used to be your best friend when you were kits, along with Griddlebone, I know her favorite food was rabbit, I know she believed the white ones were good luck, I know you used to play in the old park with the pond and the big oak. I know she died under this very garbage bin, and I know that after you used to come here and stare at nothing for a long time. I know she never did anything to you except love you, yet you hurt her…" He paused and looked into his father's eyes, his voice growing soft. "And I know that even though you hurt her she still always loved you…she still left the junkyard with you, she still stayed with you…If she had not have been pregnant she would not have decided to return to her home…And I know that somewhere deep down in that icy heart of yours you loved her too…and you still do." He meowed. Macavity gazed at the cat before him with wide eyes…the anger was fading, his resolve was faltering. A great sadness entered the ginger cat's eyes. Macavity was struggling to hold back tears, and the anger faltered, allowing the other emotions through once more.
"I cannot control what I am. I have no choice." He said in a faltering and anguished voice after a long pause. Tux blinked and touched his small white paw to the big tom's chest, where there was a healing vivid scar…The Tux had done that…Macavity stiffened. Why did this kit give a damn?
"There is always a choice." Tux said softly. Macavity pulled away from Tux, his eyes darkening. The anger was coming back, but it mixed bitterly with the pain and grief. He snarled and he stared directly at Tux, his eyes narrowing to two icy shards.
"There is never a choice." Macavity growled. Then he vanished without a trace. Macavity was not there…
Macavity furiously stormed through the allies, passing bars…But as he neared his home he stumbled, as a queen suddenly appeared in front of him…She was dark ginger and black with a calico tail and silver eyes. He recognized her immediately as Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's mother. She blinked at him in shock as he stopped, and fear lit in her eyes. Quick as lightning, right there on the street he lunged for her. Her paws flung up in defense but he was faster. He sliced her throat and she collapsed, jaws gaping in a blood-curdling scream…then it died away. Macavity touched her body and both of them vanished…When he was no where near others he bent towards the queen…His anger was controlling him again and he felt no remorse as he carved words into her flank.
'No choice'.
He waited until darkness fell before he transported the body into the clearing, then made his own quick exit. He knew this would shake the cats, and that is exactly what he wanted…
The Jellicle ball finally arrived. Macavity had a plan, and he would NOT be stopped this time. With a snarl as dusk began to fall over London Macavity surged out of his warehouse with a choice few Hench-cats, all black so they would blend into the shadows, and he headed for the yard…He arrived just in time and peered from the shadows as they sang and danced…And strangely he felt a sharp pang of longing…He could be happy, he could be with them singing his heart out and dancing till his paws burned…Bast knows he loved dancing and singing…like any other Jellicle he longed for it even…And his jealousy and sadness only burned brighter and hotter on this night…He felt the sting when the mating dance proceeded…Throughout the ball he had let out the odd bolt of lightning to frighten them and it worked. And finally near the end of Skimbleshanks song he decided it was time.
Macavity waved his paws and there was a deafening crack, and the air split with electricity. Macavity vanished and reappeared, laughing and cackling menacingly. The Jellicle's scrambled about like ants. Then he appeared on the Tire. He laughed, and threw his paws up in the air, as the cats hissed at him. He waved his paws again and hypnotised the entire tribe. He flicked his tail. He did not see the Tux, nor Tugger, but he knew they would be affected too. So his minions leaped from the shadows and attacked Deut, throwing a net over the old cat and dragging him away. The tribe's beloved leader was as good as gone. The old tom struggled as they drug him away. Macavity cackled and knocked all the Jellicle's over as he darted after his Hench-cats.
Macavity fled the clearing and raced after his Hench-cats. He outpaced the tribe by miles. He was the fastest cat. Or so he thought. After a bit Macavity was cackling in triumph when he glanced over his shoulder and his eyes widened in rage and shock. The tux was gaining…fast! He tried to run faster, but he was no match for the young slender tom.
Macavity snarled as Tux threw himself through the air and landed on Macavity's back. Macavity hissed and tumbled head over tail with the young black tom. The Hench-cats hesitated but kept running, not looking back, as Macavity gave them orders.
'Keep going. I will deal with this little runt!'
Suddenly Macavity felt the young toms mind penetrate his own easily and he flinched in shock, and tried to force him out…but he didn't...he couldn't. Tux was going deep and he could feel the young cat breaching his memories.
'I think you'll find this 'runt' is a little harder to deal with than you think!' Tux hissed in his head. Macavity blinked…no one could hear his thoughts! No one on the outside. He blocked his mind to everybody but those he was speaking directly to! They finally rolled to a halt, and Tux was on top of Macavity, his claws curled around the ginger cat's throat. The icy blue eyes stared up at him and Macavity felt something stir deep within him…
'I am powerful. More powerful than you thought. A matter as trivial as thoughts do not faze me. Tux thought with uncanny confidence. Macavity began prodding the tux's mind, trying to get in, and he felt Tux reinforce the protective walls. Macavity hissed in frustration and stared up at the tom.
Macavity suddenly lashed his hefty paw and sent Tux tumbling a short distance away. Tux hissed in fury….Macavity could hear the Jellicle toms far off yowling. He blinked as suddenly a new light entered the tux's eyes and he began fighting with natural skills. Tux squared off as Macavity circled him, tail twitching.
"You cannot beat me in a fight kit." He growled.
"Oh but I believe I can." Tux growled back. Macavity laughed cruelly.
"Oh you are so stupid, just like your mother. She defied me too and now she is in the dirt!" He spat. Macavity cringed inside as he said this, and Tux snarled. He was mad, but Macavity was too. Tux narrowed his eyes.
"What happened to you Macavity? You used to be good. You loved my mother…You were Plato." He suddenly growled. Macavity winced at his own name, terrible memories rushing in.
"I am not Plato! I am Macavity! It was my given magical name! I am not that weak excuse of a runt I was before!" Macavity snarled bitterly. Tux blinked.
"Your only weakness no matter what size you are, is whether you believe you are or not. Everyone has their weakness's…but everyone has their strengths too. Size doesn't matter." The tux said quietly. Macavity snarled and glared at him.
"Don't try and preach to me you runt!" He snarled. "You know nothing!" He snarled. "You don't truly know of sorrow, or power, or the name that comes with it, or being the small one!" Macavity snarled. Tux narrowed his eyes and Macavity blinked.
"Don't I Macavity? Or should I call you father who never loved me? You abandoned the tribe even though your brothers and your father were still there for you! I lost my mother too Macavity. I lost my father along with her. I have felt the pain for you terrorizing those that I love. I know power…sometimes I am so afraid that it will change me or overpower me. And I know of the name. Mine is Mistoffelees. And it IS taking over me. Most cats call me that, and believe that I am some Everlasting Cat. But I am not. I am just a normal teenaged cat with feelings. I am Quaxo. And seriously? I am one of the smallest cats in the tribe though I should be bigger than Munk by now. So how can you say my life is different than yours?" Tux hissed, walking slowly towards him till he was nose to nose. Macavity's eyes widened and he took a step back. Quaxo? How…how had this happened?! Where had the name come from?! WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING TO HIM?! His sons name was what he had always wanted…Likia had never spoken to her kit, so how could he have heard this name?! It was impossible! He felt sadness rush over him suddenly. After a long pause he spoke.
"But you're happy." Macavity said bitterly and quietly.
"That's because I haven't let my past take over my life. I have not let bitterness rule my heart. You did and it made you miserable in the end. It is nobody's fault but your own…and besides. I am not happy…not all the time. The kittens are bigger than me, my magic is why people notice me. They don't see me for who I am. The queen I love does not love me back…and you are constantly bringing grief to my tribe, my family. That is what makes me unhappy Macavity." He stepped forwards and his nose was less than an inch from Macavity's as he glared into his eyes. "That my family has to live in constant fear that you will kitnap or kill one of them." He growled. Macavity's eyes narrowed, as emotions ran through him. Quaxo pushed back into his mind, but Macavity's eyes grew wide.
'NO! Not there!'
Before Quaxo could listen to his thoughts again Macavity leaped at him, and forced him to the ground. As he dropped onto Quaxo, the young tom rolled onto his back, and thrust his hind-legs into Macavity's stomach, throwing him over his head. Macavity scrambled on his side, and Quaxo leaped up, and leaped onto the toms back, digging his claws into the tender flesh. The ginger tom felt pain tear through him. Macavity rolled, trying to throw him off but Quaxo clung on like a burr. He snarled and lashed his claws over Macavity's shoulders. Macavity snarled in fury and shook himself violently…but still Quaxo held on. Suddenly there was loud yelling. The rest of the toms were nearly upon them. Macavity and Quaxo still rolled, growling and biting and hissing. Munk and Tugger's eyes widened, and they leaped for the two cats, but Macavity rolled to his paws and leaped into the air, vanishing completely…and taking his little black burr with him.
Macavity felt a strange sensation as he carried the tux along his magic stream. They reappeared in an alley. Macavity flailed about as his paws touched the ground again. Then he twisted precariously and sank his fangs into Quaxo's scruff. Quaxo snarled, as he was torn from Macavity's back and flung against the garbage bin. His head hit hard and he sagged to the ground, glaring blearily at Macavity. The big ginger tom glared down at him. The rage was taking over again.
"Everyone you love is going to die kit." He snarled, his ice blue eyes flashing, fire. Quaxo weakly lifted his head and stared blearily at his father.
"You may still have mothers love…but she would be so disappointed in you." He said in a trembling voice. Macavity's eyes widened and with a snarl he vanished once more.
The huge ginger tom reappeared in the Junkyard, hearing the last note of his song…
"Macavity!" Demeter yowled out suddenly. Though he knew they couldn't see him.
Macavity appeared as the toms arrived with a dark and menacing laugh, and cats hissed. But he raised his paws as though in surrender and gestured to the Hench-cats releasing an old ragged pile of tabby fur. As the last pair of eyes left him Macavity suddenly wasn't there…then was. It was Old Deuteronomy…only it wasn't. But the cats swarmed him. Macavity sauntered in imitating his father in disguise and as he had hoped, cats swarmed about him and clung to him…But then suddenly Demeter began to hiss. She raced at the other cats, driving them away from him and he stared with wide eyes, rage beginning to burn within him…then she leaped on his back, and he spun round and round, trying to throw her off. She dug in her claws, and the illusion vanished. Macavity appeared and the cats all shrieked.
"Macavity!" Said tom hissed in fury and snatchd Demeter and began to drag her away. Then Munk raced up and grabbed the golden and black queen trying to get her away. Macavity knew he could easily win this battle of strength but rage flamed when Alonzo raced in and took Deme, and began to run. Macavity chased him, but Munk cut him off with a sharp swipe of his claws…Macavity snarled as pain seared through his face. A dark and intricate dance began to play out. A dance to seemingly the death. They leaped, and scratched, and threw one another about, hissing and snarling in fury. But then…Munk leaped at Macavity, and the bigger tom caught him, and threw his brother away. He tumbled across the clearing into a few cats, who sniffed him anxiously, and hissed at Macavity, who simply glared back. The look of agony on Munk's face stung Macavity inside but he shook it off and faced Alonzo who sprang at him. Macavity's eyes widened in recognition and he snarled furiously.
"You! You will not get in my way anymore!" He hissed. He lifted the Jellicle Protector's apprentice and prepared to throw Alonzo into a sharp pole sticking from the junkyard pile, but and ear splitting yowl echoed all over London, heard in the Jellicle ball, by those who were paying attention.
Macavity was about to move when searing and agonizing pain tore through him. He looked up to see Quaxo. He swallowed and blinked, as blood gushed from the burned flesh. A bolt of the young magician's magic had hit his stomach. Macavity flinched in agony, and dropped Alonzo, who rolled away from him, and leaped into a crouch. Macavity's eyes briefly met Quaxo's, and he blinked, in fury. Quaxo's eyes flashed a familiar and remarkable pale blue, and Macavity took a few steps back, his heart pounding, his stomach burning. The Jellicle's suddenly began to advance as one, driving him back. He darted away from them, stumbling over the TSE-1 and tore some electrical cables from a post. He tore them apart, then touched them together. There was a blinding flash, and a strange electric sound and the lights flashed out, as blue lightning flashed over the toms ginger pelt. Everything went black and still suddenly…then Alonzo lit a spotlight and cast it around where Macavity had been. He was not there…
"Macavity's not there." The tribe breathed as one. Macavity heard it…but he was near the entrance of the Junkyard, just outside the gate now, panting heavily, blood oozing from his stomach.
Macavity slowly began to walk away, his tail dragging in the dirt, his head hanging low, and his paws dragging in the dust. Blood dripped from the singed wound on his stomach. He could hear the tribe beginning to sing to his son with the adoration and respect he had never known…He knew then Deuteronomy would not be there when he returned…Macavity padded miserably away from the junkyard…he felt utterly defeated and in pain…and then he vanished with magic, leaving a little pool of blood behind…It took a lot…
For days Macavity lay in his own bed…Nothing the Healer's had done, nor his own magic, could do anything to heal the wound and it was festering. It was completely black and had a rank odor. It was so painful Macavity could hardly stand it…He was in agony, and he knew he would die…and the thought of death was welcoming…It was a few days later, he was laying, drifting in and out of consciousness when there was a quiet and timid knock on the door.
"Boss?" someone called tentatively. Macavity let out a loud snarl.
"What the hell do you want?!" Macavity spat in a savage tone. "I told you all I wanted no one to bother me!" He roared. His voice may have been full of hatred but it was also strained and fading.
"Um…Its me, Wilaric. I….errr…." He meowed then hesitated. Macavity grew irritated and roared in fury.
"What is it Wil?!" He snarled furiously. "Don't waste my time!"
"Umm….there is a cat here to see you." Came the trembling reply. Macavity snarled in annoyance and fury.
"I told you I would see nobody anymore!" he hissed furiously. There was a pause.
"But….this cat says he is your son, and he has magic." He meowed. Macavity paused. He was silent for a long time, and curiosity and anger burned through him. He let out a silent sigh.
"What does he look like?" Macavity snarled bitterly.
"A black tuxedo tom with green eyes." Wilaric meowed. Macavity growled low in his throat.
"Send him in." he growled. Wilaric opened the door, and pushed Quaxo in before closing the door behind him. The retreating toms pawsteps echoed down the hall quickly, and Macavity observed the small cat take in the room. The tux was quiet for a few moments. Macavity's ice blue eyes glared from on the bed. He knew the tux would be able to smell sickness in the air. It was a rank rotten smell, of burnt flesh and blood, rotting. Quaxo blinked at him and Macavity remained still, wondering what the young cat could possibly want to have come and sought him out.
"What do you want? Realized your Jellicle's are pathetic. Do you lust for the power I own?" He growled in a rasp. Quaxo blinked and something entered his eyes. The Napoleon of Crime knew that the tux knew he was dying.
"No. I would like to speak with one of your Hench-cats." He meowed. Macavity growled. Curiosity and confusion shot through him as well as suspicion and anger.
"Who?" He asked.
"Griddlebone." Quaxo replied. Macavity was silent for a long moment before he spoke again. What did the tom want with her?
"Why?" He growled darkly.
"I would rather keep that between her and I. But I promise you it does not affect you." He meowed calmly. Macavity groaned as he shifted. He was not pleased.
"Get out Quaxo." He snarled. Quaxo blinked and instead padded closer to the tom. Macavity stiffed, and breathed unevenly as he clenched his wound and pain shot through him. But still he hid it.
"What is wrong with you?" Quaxo asked quietly. Macavity growled, but then he sighed, his eyes narrowed. Too late to care now.
"You got your wish. You have killed me." He growled.
"But you still breathe." Quaxo meowed. He seemed uncomfortable and Macavity wondered if the tom regretted harming him…no. He couldn't.
"It is running out runt. You shot a hole through me." Macavity growled.
"Why has it not healed? Magicians can heal their wounds." Quaxo asked cautiously.
"I don't know…" Macavity paused. He hated himself for what he said next. "Perhaps your magic is too powerful, or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we share the same magic blood." He admitted reluctantly and grudgingly. Quaxo blinked. "Perhaps I can heal it…if you allow me to talk to Griddlebone." Quaxo suggested quietly.
"Don't try and blackmail me runt! I don't need your help…" He paused as he moved, and grunted gritting his teeth. He stalked down from his bed and limped across the floor, trailing thick foul black blood. Quaxo narrowed his eyes.
"Everyone needs someone else's help sometimes." Quaxo spat calmly. Macavity blinked at the kit, his eyes dark and furious. But the pain that tore through him was unbearable. Macavity could taste the bitter-sweet whiskey on his own breath but drinking did NOTHING to ease the pain. It only seemed to bring some light headed sensation that faded away in minuets, and left the fiery pain unbearable and without relief. He faltered….Macavity had longed for death so many times, but know that it was near, he found himself struggling to fight for life. He was the Hidden Paw! He would not bow! He had a whole army of cats to lead, and many operations yet to accomplish. He considered the kits offer. He doubted Griddlebone would ever betray him. Not after he had saved her from Growltiger's ship many years ago. He knew he had her in his paws. So what harm could there be to let the wretched tux speak to her? Macavity snarled, and snorted angrily.
"Fine." He growled. The tux hesitated for a while before he reacted. With a swallow he walked slowly up to Macavity, who stood stiff as a board, staring at the tom while he approached. He had not been so close to any cat without them either dying in his claws or satisfying his needs since he was young. Quaxo blinked, inspecting the lean ginger tom, then blinked.
"Lay down." He ordered after a moment.
Macavity did not move for some time, reluctant to take orders from anyone let alone this vile little beast. But then he crouched with a grunt and rolled onto his flank. Quaxo blinked in shock. Macavity knew what he saw. There was a deep wound in Macavity's stomach, black burned skin crusted around the edges with pus, and dark and evil black blood that smelled of rot-food dribbling from the wound…it did not seem to want to heal, even naturally. Quaxo wrinkled his nose with a cringe, and crouched behind his father, at his back. Macavity was stiff, but staring at the young tom with guarded curiosity. If Quaxo could heal him then he would know the true meaning of power. Few cats could heal another with their powers…when they did so the magic cat absorbed the wound, and suffered from it momentarily...If the magic cat was not careful, or if they were too weak, then they could die from the absorption. Quaxo lay behind his father and pressed close, his own body tense. He rested the tip of his tail on the wound gently, and Macavity winced, but noticed that the tail no longer had a white tip, but was sparkling black.
"Finally dropped your stupid magic word?" Macavity muttered bitterly. Quaxo narrowed his eyes.
"Presto." He growled, and there was a blue glow from his body…the pupils vanished from his eyes and left two glowing green orbs. The blue glow slowly spread over Macavity, and it brought Macavity's powers to the surface. The blue glow mingled with Macavity's golden glow, and white light came from Macavity's wound. Macavity knew Quaxo could feel the fire begin to spread through his stomach…Macavity slowly began to feel the fire ease away and he felt a sense of awe…Then the magic began to die down and Quaxo slumped, panting. Macavity instantly jerked away from him, and stood tall, glaring at the panting tux…yes he was a tux once more, stars no longer dusting his pelt. Quaxo stared up at him as he panted, weariness in his eyes. Macavity gave no thanks. But he hesitated…he could kill him right now…but then again…He hissed.
"Griddlebone's room is on the floor below this one, your first door on the right." He growled. With a flick of his tail all mess and rotten smell vanished, replaced by cedar wood and whiskey. He stalked back over to his bed and leaped up, settling into the now clean blankets, and glaring at Quaxo. Quaxo had stopped panting and glared back at him, before he turned and stalked from the room, closing the door silently behind him. Macavity stared after him with a loathing passion, before sleep began to overtake him. His wound had prevented him from sleeping at all. And he was beyond exhausted. At that moment he didn't even care that the tux was roaming his hideout somewhere and keeping secrets.
Weeks passed and the Hidden Paw was debating giving up his torment on the Jellicle tribe. It was late in the evening when suddenly he heard a grief filled yowl…It was distant yet loud and seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. His head snapped up and he knew exactly whose cry that was…Quaxo. The ginger tom teleported to the yard and gazed at the kit with round eyes, taking it in. Mungojerrie was dead…Macavity smirked sadistically as hatred and bitterness overtook any emotion he had left in him, burying his common sense.
He would take the small calico queen that meant so much to Quaxo too. He would take away the friendships he never wanted Quaxo to have. If both twins were dead then Quaxo would be nothing more than a hollow shell, perfect to crush beneath his paw. Without waiting to watch anymore, he vanished.
It was a few days later when Macavity made his move. He went to the twins den in an old tree and grabbed Teazer roughly…She tried to scream but his huge paw muffled it and he rubbed himself against things, leaving his scent. Leaving his signature. Then with a wave of one paw, Macavity wasn't there…he didn't notice her twin alive and well in the den…
For the entire night Macavity tortured the queen ruthlessly. He took everything from her and left her in a bad state, before he threw her in the cat carrier near his desk…It was shortly after dawn when her heard the yowls. They were in his place. He appeared downstairs and launched himself into the fight, not realizing that Quaxo was not there, and instead heading straight for Munk. He didn't know how long he had been fighting when a sharp yowl made the fighting stop. He looked up to see Quaxo, ordering him to let Munk go, and he did so because he wanted the black kit. He wanted his sons blood on his paws.
Macavity's rage took over, blotting out all common sense, and he did not remember much of what went on…He remember the Jellicle's getting away…his Hench-cats thrown into a war among themselves, killing his father and brother and feeling regret, dancing and singing with the tribe once more...And then time slowed down. All he could see was blue energy, ivory claws and teeth and enraged blazing green eyes, flying towards him…The tux's claws sunk into his throat, and pain ripped through him. He could feel weakness drag at his body, and fear began easing the flames of his anger and hatred. Regret began to overcome him...
Before Quaxo could pull away from the dying cat he reached a solid barrier in his mind…It appeared to have been made by someone else with extraordinary powers. Quaxo blinked and hesitantly probed…he could feel it crumble beneath his own power…and suddenly one final memory came forth…
Macavity was leaning against a tree in a park with Likia. They dashed separate ways, Macavity keen on hiding, and Likia and counting and seeking. Macavity was still very young, but this was the rest of the memory from earlier! Macavity darted around a corner and crashed into a tall Smokey grey and brown tom cat….The cat snatched his scruff, and observed him as Macavity struggled feebly. It was Aeron.
"Let me go!" he shrieked in fear and anger. Aeron smirked.
"Nah. I think I will stir up some trouble in your tribe…" with that dark blue almost black magic radiated from the tom and flowed into the young kit…Macavity wailed in fear and pain, and this went on for a long time…Finally Macavity looked spent, and weak, his eyes dark and void of the light that had been in them moments before…
"There you go kid. Now the anger and hate will take over and make you do things just like me. I think you might be my prodigy, foolish kitten. Now run along home." Aeron let out a loud and echoing cackle…Macavity fled, no light left inside him…
The memories ended and Quaxo blinked in shock, pulling his claws from his fathers throat. Blood gushed out after and Quaxo winced, feeling sick. Horror shone in the young toms eyes. Macavity stared up at the horror struck kit. He had seen the memory too and he suddenly understood…and the rage faded away replaced with love and regret.
"..It's ok. I…I'm s…sorry….Quaxo…" He gagged. Blood bubbled at his lips, and poured from his mouth before he managed a weak smile…
"I forgive you. And I love you…no matter what you did…I always did." Quaxo whispered, his eyes tearing up. Macavity smiled weakly.
"I picked that name...Quaxo." He mused softly with a gentle chuckle, that cake out as more of a gag. The light somehow sparked in Macavity's eyes again before the tom went still, his heart stopped beating, his lungs stopped breathing, and his veins stopped bleeding. He went still, a tiny smile forever pasted to his face. Suddenly Quaxo felt a great force and energy filling his body. Quaxo shuddered in confusion and grief, and closed the ginger eyes, before he drew back, shock and terror on his face…Three bloody bodies lay around them in the clearing, a father, his eldest son, and his youngest son…Quaxo shivered violently, horrified at this day's events and suddenly raced towards Tugger…He crouched over the tom whom had raised him, and touched his paws to his chest.
"Tugger? Tugger! DAD?!" Quaxo yowled. Blood gushed from the toms throat, and his mane was terribly messed up. But Quaxo could feel the life energy in the tom. Warm blue eyes very briefly fluttered open before closing again.
"JENNY!" Quaxo shrieked loudly. "He's alive! Jenny save him!" Quaxo cried. Instantly the queen raced forwards and crouched over the tom. And almost instantly her face fell grim.
"Quaxo…" She breathed.
HolySHIT! Macavity is finally dead! He did sort of change in his last moments. Hope that made all you Mac fans happy.