A/N: Thank you to Getsemone, my lovely reviewer ^^ And, as I believe I stated to you in a message, I just may do Exotica's POV, but you'll just have to wait and see :D
Viewpoint: Demeter
The Jellicle Ball was fantastic. I was dancing and singing with my best friend, Bombalurina, and we were having an amazing time. I was trying to work up the nerve to dance with my favorite tom, Munkustrap. I heard a crash, and I panicked. "MACAVITY!" I shouted instinctively. My mind flashed back to the time I had spent working for him.
I would lie, waiting in my quarters, until one of the henchcats would come to fetch me. Occasionally, the henchcat would attempt to have his way with me, but I would have none of it. I was easily stronger than they were, and I wasn't afraid to show it. The henchcat would escort me up through the winding corridors to Macavity's quarters, and then the evening would begin. I guess you could call us mates, but it wasn't much of a formality. I was his best spy, and we were in love. One day, I discovered I was pregnant. We hadn't planned on this being a possibility, since I was barely out of my teen years. I decided to tell him, hoping desperately he wouldn't be angry.
"Macavity, before I receive my assignment, there's something you should know…" I began, hoping to avoid a lashing.
"What is it?" he demanded.
"I'm pregnant, and it's yours…" I said, quietly. Please, oh please, let him not be angry…
"WHAT?!" he yelled, his eyes blazing.
"I'm expecting your kittens, Macavity…" I repeated.
"YOU LITTLE WHORE!" he bellowed. He lunged at me, and the beating began. He raked his claws down my side, ripping my flesh. He used his magic to sling me all over the room, cracking a rib or two. I mentally screamed in pain as the torture continued, but no sound escaped my lips. Finally, he let me down, and I shakily rose to my feet, tearless. Macavity always told me that showing pain is a sign of weakness. I am not weak.
"What do we do now?" I asked.
"Just, go. Leave here and don't ever come back," he replied, curtly.
"What? Why?" I asked, baffled.
"I don't need a litter of kittens. It would ruin my entire business, Demeter! Now leave or I may just change my mind and kill you," he said, angrily.
I ran out of the room, as fast as I could go. I didn't know where I was going, or how far I had gone, or even if I would make it there alive, but I knew I had to keep running. I finally reached a place that smelled strongly of felines. I crept slowly to the source of the scent, as Macavity had taught me to do, and I saw a large Junkyard. A silver and black Tabby tom jumped out and scared me half to death.
"Hello, there, I'm Munkustrap! Who are you?" the tom asked.
"Demeter," I replied, stoically. 'Never, ever show a potential enemy a sign of weakness. They'll exploit any weakness they find, and then it's the end of you,' Macavity told me.
"Well, Demeter, you look hurt. Shall I accompany you into the Junkyard and get your injuries assessed by our medical cats?" he asked, politely.
"I can look after myself, thank you," I replied in the same emotionless tone.
"Please, just come with me. You need help, Demeter," he said, almost pleading. I figured, why not? If they prove to be of bad intentions, I'll just run away.
"Alright, but don't expect me to stay long," I told him. He led me through the fence and to an old, rusty car with a license plate that said "TSE 1". A maternal looking, orange Queen lay inside.
"Jenny, I have a visitor who needs medical attention," Munkustrap said to the Queen.
"Well what are you waiting for? Bring them in," she responded. He took me inside, and the medical cat examined me. "My my, Miss Demeter, you certainly took a beating. How did this happen?"
I shook my head, signaling my unwillingness to speak of the incident.
"Alright then. I have much more pertinent news, however. You're expecting kittens," she said, hoping to elicit some kind of surprise from me.
"I know," was my response.
"Oh. Well, I'm not sure how many you had been expecting, but I'm sure that with the beating you've endured, you can only expect one now," she told me.
"I see. Well, I thank you for examining me, but I really must be on my way," I said, emotionlessly. I didn't want to be viewed by these strangers as weak.
"I insist that you stay, at least until your injuries have healed," the older Queen said to me.
"Well, alright. But after I'm healed and my kitten is born, I'm leaving…" I said, with finality. She nodded in understanding.
I stayed there for who knows how long, and Munkustrap came to visit me every day. I took a liking to him, and I eventually fell in love with him. When the day came for my kitten to arrive, it was a beautiful little queen. She had a lot of her father's coloring. She had beautiful, big brown eyes. I named her Jemima. I never told anyone about my past, Jemima's father, any of it. I knew they'd never accept me if I did, but worse, they wouldn't accept Jemima. I could handle life on the streets, but I didn't want that life for my daughter.
I was brought back from my flashback by my former "mate" laughing his trademark, maniacal laugh. He appeared in a corner of the Junkyard. Some of his henchcats, who I didn't recognize, came from seemingly nowhere, and kidnapped the leader of the Jellicle Tribe, Old Deuteronomy. The maniacal laughter faded, and everyone scattered to various niches in the junk piles. I made my way to the center of the Yard, to weave a tale of Macavity.
"Macavity's a mystery cat. He's called the Hidden Paw, for he's the master criminal who can defy the law. He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair, for when they reach the scene of crime, Macavity's not there!" I sang. "Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity! He's broken every human law; he breaks the law of gravity. His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare, and when you reach the scene of crime, Macavity's not there! You may seek him in the basement; you may look up in the air, but I tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!"
"Macavity's a ginger cat; he's very tall and thin. You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in. His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed. His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed," Bombalurina joined into the song. I wondered how she knew about Macavity. "He sways his head from side to side with movements, like a snake. And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake! Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity, for he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity. You may meet him in a by-street; you may see him in the square, but when a crime's discovered then Macavity's not there!"
"He's outwardly respectable…" I sang, almost quietly.
"I know, he cheats at cards," Bombalurina said.
"And his footprints are not found in any files of Scotland Yard's," I sang.
"And when the larder's looted," Bomba sang.
"Or the jewel cases rifled," I added.
"Or when the milk is missing," she put in.
"Or another Peke's been stifled," I sang, increasing my volume.
"Or the greenhouse glass is broken," she sang, her volume increasing as well.
"And the trellis past repair," I sang, bringing the volume back down
"There's the wonder of the thing: Macavity's not there!" we sang together. "Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity! There never was a cat of such deceitfulness and suavity. He always has an alibi, and one or two to spare. Whatever time the deed took place, Macavity wasn't there! And they say that all the cats whose wicked deeds are widely known,"
"I might mention Mungojerrie," I sang.
"I might mention Griddlebone," she added.
"Are nothing more than agents for the cat, who all the time, just controls the operations: the Napoleon of Crime! Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity! He's a fiend in feline shape; a monster of depravity. You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square. But when a crime's discovered then Macavity's not there!" we finished.
Munkustrap ran to me and began to mutter comforting words to me. I didn't realize how scared I was of the criminal. Just then, his maniacal laughter was heard penetrating the air. He appeared, and gestured to the very back corner, where his henchcats were bringing Old Deuteronomy back in. All the other cats ran up to him, and started embracing him. I smelled not the beloved Jellicle leader and my mate's father, but a far more sinister cat. My fur stood on end, and I was on the attack. I could never, in all my life, forget that scent. I ran toward all the cats, scattering them away from the imposter. I saw an Abyssinian named Cassandra clutching Munkustrap's arm, I ran at her to scare her off. I turned my attention to the cat in disguise, and launched myself onto his back. He spun me around until both his costume and I flew off.
"MACAVITY!" all the cats in the Junkyard screamed.
Macavity ran around madly, searching for something. He stopped completely when his eyes rested on me. He came at me and grabbed my forearms. "I've missed you, Demeter," he evilly cooed, so only I could hear. I almost gave up my will to fight, because deep down, I missed him too.
I suddenly felt a strong pull on my back legs, and I looked to see Munkustrap. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. They pulled, back and forth, until I felt another pair of strong arms lift me away from the two fighting toms. I didn't know who it was, but I was grateful to them for taking me from the fight. The strong cat set me down next to Bombalurina, who pulled me into a protective hug, facing away from the fight. I broke down into tears, ignoring my instinct to remain strong, and paying no attention to what was happening. I heard a large thud, and I whipped around to find Munkustrap, lying bloody and weak, next to a bunch of Queens who were licking his wounds. I struggled against Bomba's hold on me, but I couldn't get to him.
"Let them handle it, Deme. If you go to him, Macavity may come after you again," she said, forcefully. I obeyed. I saw Alonzo going to continue the fight, but Macavity threw him off with ease. A number of other cats lunged at him, raking at him with their claws. I cringed. He finally wised up and jumped away from the group. He looked at me and mouthed, "I'll be back for you, Dems." He grabbed some power cords and shoved them together, causing a power surge. A small light appeared, and he was gone.
"Macavity's not there!" the Tribe of cats noticed. I crawled to the center of the clearing, and Munkustrap joined me, nuzzling me to offer comfort. I nuzzled him back. The group of Jellicles sang out quietly, "We have to find Old Deuteronomy."
A/N: I'm sorry the whole flashback scene is kind of long and takes up space, but I feel it's necessary to include a background story for Demeter as to why she's terrified of Macavity. This chapter's longer than the two so far, and I hope you enjoy it. This has been my favorite chapter in the story to write so far. :D