CHAPTER 6: Telling Demeter
"Well?" Demeter asked. She appeared rather eager, but, in truth, she was actually quite nervous.
Plato sighed and ran his claws through his headfur, then began rubbing the back of his neck. "Wow, this is really awkward," he commented.
Demeter automatically flew into panic mode. "What is?"
"This." He paused. "We've come to an agreement. Not a very nice one, I'm afraid."
"What agreement ever is where blackmail is concerned?" There was a silence. "What is it?"
"Well, it leaves you out of it, so I guess that's good."
"Plato…"
"Okay." Plato sighed. He lowered his voice. "I have to sleep with her."
"WHAT?!" Demeter screeched.
Plato hastened to cover her mouth. "Shush, do you want them to find out without Cassandra telling them?"
Demeter shook her head until Plato removed his paw from across her mouth. "Sorry," she whispered. "What are you going to do?"
"I have to do it," he told her grimly. "I'm sorry, Dem, but if we want it to remain a secret…"
Demeter nodded understandingly. "I comprehend. It's just bad enough that I already have to share you with Victoria, but to share you with Cassandra as well?" She sighed.
"I know." Plato wrapped her smaller frame in a hug. "I know. But I've got to."
Demeter looked up at him. "But so what if she tells, anyway, Plato? She hasn't got any evidence. It would be her word against ours."
"She'd probably induce several of them to lie for her."
"Oh." Demeter sighed and buried her head in Plato's shoulder. "Why does this have to happen to us? I mean, there's probably another couple somewhere in the yard who are having an affair."
"I know." Plato sighed as well and began stroking Demeter's headfur. "I know. But if there is, what's to say that Cassandra hasn't got her claws into them as well?"
"Hmmm…" Demeter closed her eyes and concentrated on Plato's stroking. It was slow and comforting, and soon Demeter felt herself drifting off to sleep…
"I'm just going to have to go through with this. It's going to be tough on both of us, but we'll make it. Won't we, Dem?" No reply. "Dem?" Plato glanced down at the queen and realized that she was no longer awake. "Wake up, Dem. Dem?"
"Huh?" Demeter lifted her head and looked up at him groggily.
"This is no place to go to sleep," Plato told her with a tender smile. "Look, how about we get you back to your den?" He picked her up and carried her to the edge of the forest, talking the entire time to keep Demeter awake. "Sorry, honey, but you're going to have to make it home from here by yourself. Goodnight, Dem." Plato planted a soft but firm kiss on the queen's lips and disappeared into the night.