~Author's note: Hi everyone, thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far,
here's the next installment, hope you all enjoy it, please please please
review and let me know what you think.
****************************************************************************
Entering the junkyard again was like returning home after many years away. Those Jellicles who hadn't been on the rescue mission swarmed around all of us, and the rescued kits found themselves the center of attention for all the motherly queens, who were no doubt horrified at how thin and bedraggled the kits were.
Making sure all was well I turned to leave, trying to avoid Jenny and Jelly. It's not that I didn't love the two queens dearly, it was just that all I wanted was to go home and I couldn't handle being fussed over, having the wound stitched up, my temperature checked and all the other 'tortures' they had inflicted on me in the past. I could easily stitch the wound myself when I got back, I'd had a lot of practise, fourteen years of it to be exact.
"Munkustrap," a voice cut through the air, "Old Deuteronomy wishes to speak with you."
It was Coricopat who stood behind me, no doubt with Tantomile, the pair was inseparable. Even before they were mated it was difficult to see one without the other, now it was more like downright impossible. I turned slowly, attempting not to draw their attention to the wound in my side. It didn't work,
"You're hurt," Tantomile stepped forwards, so gracefully, that for a moment I had thought she was floating in mid-air. I had known the twins so long, that even that illusion wouldn't have surprised me.
"I'm fine, really, and where is Deuteronomy?"
"At his residence in the vicarage," Coricopat replied.
"You should get that cut looked at," a third voice chimed in. Jemima, the psychic 'twins' teenaged daughter stepped out of the shadows and made her way towards me.
"How did it happen?"
In answer to Jemima's question I held up my blood-covered stake.
"I thought you were aware that you were supposed to stick that into the vampires?" Jemima tilted her head to the side with a slight smile.
"Jemima..." Coricopat said in a warning tone, and normally he'd be right in warning her. I had never appreciated people questioning my abilities even in jest. But this time, I don't know whether it was the dull ache in my gut distracting me, or whether it was the young queens' innocent yet mischievous expression, I just didn't react.
"The vampire had other ideas," I explained.
The young queen looked up at me all wide-eyed, and serious all of a sudden. As much as she liked a joke and a laugh she also cared deeply about everyone who was involved in her life. She was wise beyond her years that little one.
"Are you going to be ok?"
"I'll be fine," I reassured her while turning to leave.
"Be careful Munkustrap," Tantomile said.
"There are a lot of creatures out there that would travel to the four corners of the earth for the chance to remove a Lutador from this world, and you're wounded, it makes you vulnerable," Coricopat chimed in.
"I'll be fine," I repeated through gritted teeth. I knew they were just looking out for me, but vulnerable was not a word I had ever identified myself with, and I didn't care to do so now.
I didn't have to get far for me to realise they had put a protection spell on me. Any demon or vampire who intended to do harm couldn't come within ten feet of me, as the Morax demon that charged towards me found out. However, he obviously wasn't the brightest crayon in the box and eventually knocked himself out on the protection shield. Stupid creature.
I managed to reach the vicarage without any further attacks from dim-witted demons, and let myself in using the key under the mat. Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder if Deuteronomy was far too trusting in the matter of where he left that key. In this town, burglaries were rare, but then again burglars were the least of your worries, as long as demons roamed the streets.
Deuteronomy was in his study as usual. He was a creature of habit and it was a rare night when he didn't follow his ritual of sitting in front of the television with a cup of tea in his paw, (watching soap operas, of all things!) before reading up on all matters demon-like in his study.
"You can cross Adrastos off your most-wanted list, Deuteronomy," I said, announcing my presence, "He now goes by the name of 'Mr. Big-pile-of- dust'."
"Is that a family name?" Deuteronomy chuckled, not even turning around, "Was he much trouble?"
"You could say he left his mark," I remarked dryly, "Got a first aid kit lying around?"
That got him to look round, and also go somewhat pale.
"Good lord Munkustrap, what did he do to you?"
I took a seat while Deuteronomy dug out his trusty Lutador repair kit.
"Well for the first time in my life I got on the wrong side of the pointy end of my stake."
"You should have that checked out, there's no telling how deep it goes, or indeed if it's punctured anything besides skin."
"Just hand me the stuff, trust me, it only needs disinfecting, a few stitches and maybe a dressing," I clenched my teeth as I poured alcohol on the wound. Hell, that stung!
"Here, let me do that, you just lie down so I can do this right," Deuteronomy took the needle away from me and began stitching up my wound in, surprisingly, a much gentler fashion than I was used to with Jenny and Jelly.
"What did you call me for?" I asked, wincing in pain every so often, "I'm sure it wasn't so you could play doctor."
Deuteronomy nodded,
"Just hold still a moment, I'm almost done here," he took a step back and admired his handiwork, "You'll do. Now get a dressing on it."
"So, what's going on?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Deuteronomy silently handed me a bandage, looking oddly sympathetic.
"Oh come on, you can't just summon me here and then not tell me," I was getting impatient and Deuteronomy's expression was doing nothing to ease my nerves.
Deuteronomy sighed and stood before me,
"It's Macavity."
At the mere mention of that monster's name I sat bolt upright. Pain shot through my stitched side, but I ignored it, Deuteronomy had my full attention.
"He's kidnapped two young queens and has them in his lair, we don't know what for but our sources suggest that they're not there to become Macavity's next meal."
"S...so what does that mean?" I had intended to keep my voice steady and so I cringed at the slight stammer, the one thing betraying what I felt, and that was absolute terror.
Deuteronomy sighed and scratched his head,
"We don't know Munk, but this is big. They are definitely involved in something important. We must rescue them."
He was right, this had to be done, and I just had to keep myself together until the queens were safe. Then I could fall to pieces as many times as I wished. It just wasn't fair that Macavity still lived after what happened, after what he.
"I'll get a few toms together, Mistoffelees, Alonzo, Plato," I said immediately removing myself from my train of thought.
"Tugger?"
At the sound of that annoying, puffed up, self-centred excuse for a Tom's name my brain went into overdrive trying to think up something. Right at that moment I would have rather jumped into a shark tank than spend the rest of the night on a rescue mission with Tugger, but of course I couldn't tell Deuteronomy that.
"Tugger? Erm I don't think he'd..."
"Don't think I'd what?"
There he was, the tom himself leaning in the doorway, complete with an annoying, smug, self-satisfied smirk.
"Please continue Trap, I'm all ears," he grinned, seeing my discomfort, "Hey Dad, so we've got another situation on our paws then?"
"We have to rescue two young queens from Macavity's lair," Deuteronomy explained.
I saw a brief flash of sympathy in Tugger's eyes, no doubt on my behalf. His usual expression quickly returned, had you blinked you would have missed the whole thing.
"We don't really need Ol' Munky for that, he's injured and it's just a quick in-out operation, he'll only get in the way with those stitches."
I could hardly believe what I was hearing, Tugger, in his own ham-handed way was trying to cover for me.
"Tugger, this is very unorthodox. We need everyone we can possibly gather together to make this mission as safe as possible, going without a Lutador would be madness."
Only a moment ago I would have gladly taken Tugger up on his offer, but I had to do this, no matter how much I didn't want to. This was my life, caught in an eternal battle between frustration for my calling, and my sense of duty. You could almost guarantee that duty would always win out in the end
"Deuteronomy's right Tugsy," I couldn't resist using his much resented childhood nickname. What? Did you think I was just going to let that "Ol' Munky" comment slide?
"You watch it," Tugger warned me before facing his father, "Surely you can't be serious Dad. I saw him when we got back to the junkyard, before the spook family caught up with him he was on his way home to get some sleep, he's dead on his feet!"
My mouth practically dropped open, he was watching me at the junkyard? He thought I was exhausted? Well, I did have problems sleeping at night sometimes, I mean who doesn't. You can still function; it's not a major problem. Doesn't mean that there's anything wrong.
"Tugger," I said firmly, "I'm going. If Macavity doesn't see me there then he's going to get suspicious, he might feel obliged to make a house call and I really don't want that monster anywhere near my house. Like you said it's a quick in-out operation," I put on my resolved face, "Come on, we're going to have to rush to catch anyone still at the 'yard."
********************************************************************* Author's note: Hi me again, with my usual pleas for reviews, *gets down on hands and knees* pretty please with sugar on top.
****************************************************************************
Entering the junkyard again was like returning home after many years away. Those Jellicles who hadn't been on the rescue mission swarmed around all of us, and the rescued kits found themselves the center of attention for all the motherly queens, who were no doubt horrified at how thin and bedraggled the kits were.
Making sure all was well I turned to leave, trying to avoid Jenny and Jelly. It's not that I didn't love the two queens dearly, it was just that all I wanted was to go home and I couldn't handle being fussed over, having the wound stitched up, my temperature checked and all the other 'tortures' they had inflicted on me in the past. I could easily stitch the wound myself when I got back, I'd had a lot of practise, fourteen years of it to be exact.
"Munkustrap," a voice cut through the air, "Old Deuteronomy wishes to speak with you."
It was Coricopat who stood behind me, no doubt with Tantomile, the pair was inseparable. Even before they were mated it was difficult to see one without the other, now it was more like downright impossible. I turned slowly, attempting not to draw their attention to the wound in my side. It didn't work,
"You're hurt," Tantomile stepped forwards, so gracefully, that for a moment I had thought she was floating in mid-air. I had known the twins so long, that even that illusion wouldn't have surprised me.
"I'm fine, really, and where is Deuteronomy?"
"At his residence in the vicarage," Coricopat replied.
"You should get that cut looked at," a third voice chimed in. Jemima, the psychic 'twins' teenaged daughter stepped out of the shadows and made her way towards me.
"How did it happen?"
In answer to Jemima's question I held up my blood-covered stake.
"I thought you were aware that you were supposed to stick that into the vampires?" Jemima tilted her head to the side with a slight smile.
"Jemima..." Coricopat said in a warning tone, and normally he'd be right in warning her. I had never appreciated people questioning my abilities even in jest. But this time, I don't know whether it was the dull ache in my gut distracting me, or whether it was the young queens' innocent yet mischievous expression, I just didn't react.
"The vampire had other ideas," I explained.
The young queen looked up at me all wide-eyed, and serious all of a sudden. As much as she liked a joke and a laugh she also cared deeply about everyone who was involved in her life. She was wise beyond her years that little one.
"Are you going to be ok?"
"I'll be fine," I reassured her while turning to leave.
"Be careful Munkustrap," Tantomile said.
"There are a lot of creatures out there that would travel to the four corners of the earth for the chance to remove a Lutador from this world, and you're wounded, it makes you vulnerable," Coricopat chimed in.
"I'll be fine," I repeated through gritted teeth. I knew they were just looking out for me, but vulnerable was not a word I had ever identified myself with, and I didn't care to do so now.
I didn't have to get far for me to realise they had put a protection spell on me. Any demon or vampire who intended to do harm couldn't come within ten feet of me, as the Morax demon that charged towards me found out. However, he obviously wasn't the brightest crayon in the box and eventually knocked himself out on the protection shield. Stupid creature.
I managed to reach the vicarage without any further attacks from dim-witted demons, and let myself in using the key under the mat. Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder if Deuteronomy was far too trusting in the matter of where he left that key. In this town, burglaries were rare, but then again burglars were the least of your worries, as long as demons roamed the streets.
Deuteronomy was in his study as usual. He was a creature of habit and it was a rare night when he didn't follow his ritual of sitting in front of the television with a cup of tea in his paw, (watching soap operas, of all things!) before reading up on all matters demon-like in his study.
"You can cross Adrastos off your most-wanted list, Deuteronomy," I said, announcing my presence, "He now goes by the name of 'Mr. Big-pile-of- dust'."
"Is that a family name?" Deuteronomy chuckled, not even turning around, "Was he much trouble?"
"You could say he left his mark," I remarked dryly, "Got a first aid kit lying around?"
That got him to look round, and also go somewhat pale.
"Good lord Munkustrap, what did he do to you?"
I took a seat while Deuteronomy dug out his trusty Lutador repair kit.
"Well for the first time in my life I got on the wrong side of the pointy end of my stake."
"You should have that checked out, there's no telling how deep it goes, or indeed if it's punctured anything besides skin."
"Just hand me the stuff, trust me, it only needs disinfecting, a few stitches and maybe a dressing," I clenched my teeth as I poured alcohol on the wound. Hell, that stung!
"Here, let me do that, you just lie down so I can do this right," Deuteronomy took the needle away from me and began stitching up my wound in, surprisingly, a much gentler fashion than I was used to with Jenny and Jelly.
"What did you call me for?" I asked, wincing in pain every so often, "I'm sure it wasn't so you could play doctor."
Deuteronomy nodded,
"Just hold still a moment, I'm almost done here," he took a step back and admired his handiwork, "You'll do. Now get a dressing on it."
"So, what's going on?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Deuteronomy silently handed me a bandage, looking oddly sympathetic.
"Oh come on, you can't just summon me here and then not tell me," I was getting impatient and Deuteronomy's expression was doing nothing to ease my nerves.
Deuteronomy sighed and stood before me,
"It's Macavity."
At the mere mention of that monster's name I sat bolt upright. Pain shot through my stitched side, but I ignored it, Deuteronomy had my full attention.
"He's kidnapped two young queens and has them in his lair, we don't know what for but our sources suggest that they're not there to become Macavity's next meal."
"S...so what does that mean?" I had intended to keep my voice steady and so I cringed at the slight stammer, the one thing betraying what I felt, and that was absolute terror.
Deuteronomy sighed and scratched his head,
"We don't know Munk, but this is big. They are definitely involved in something important. We must rescue them."
He was right, this had to be done, and I just had to keep myself together until the queens were safe. Then I could fall to pieces as many times as I wished. It just wasn't fair that Macavity still lived after what happened, after what he.
"I'll get a few toms together, Mistoffelees, Alonzo, Plato," I said immediately removing myself from my train of thought.
"Tugger?"
At the sound of that annoying, puffed up, self-centred excuse for a Tom's name my brain went into overdrive trying to think up something. Right at that moment I would have rather jumped into a shark tank than spend the rest of the night on a rescue mission with Tugger, but of course I couldn't tell Deuteronomy that.
"Tugger? Erm I don't think he'd..."
"Don't think I'd what?"
There he was, the tom himself leaning in the doorway, complete with an annoying, smug, self-satisfied smirk.
"Please continue Trap, I'm all ears," he grinned, seeing my discomfort, "Hey Dad, so we've got another situation on our paws then?"
"We have to rescue two young queens from Macavity's lair," Deuteronomy explained.
I saw a brief flash of sympathy in Tugger's eyes, no doubt on my behalf. His usual expression quickly returned, had you blinked you would have missed the whole thing.
"We don't really need Ol' Munky for that, he's injured and it's just a quick in-out operation, he'll only get in the way with those stitches."
I could hardly believe what I was hearing, Tugger, in his own ham-handed way was trying to cover for me.
"Tugger, this is very unorthodox. We need everyone we can possibly gather together to make this mission as safe as possible, going without a Lutador would be madness."
Only a moment ago I would have gladly taken Tugger up on his offer, but I had to do this, no matter how much I didn't want to. This was my life, caught in an eternal battle between frustration for my calling, and my sense of duty. You could almost guarantee that duty would always win out in the end
"Deuteronomy's right Tugsy," I couldn't resist using his much resented childhood nickname. What? Did you think I was just going to let that "Ol' Munky" comment slide?
"You watch it," Tugger warned me before facing his father, "Surely you can't be serious Dad. I saw him when we got back to the junkyard, before the spook family caught up with him he was on his way home to get some sleep, he's dead on his feet!"
My mouth practically dropped open, he was watching me at the junkyard? He thought I was exhausted? Well, I did have problems sleeping at night sometimes, I mean who doesn't. You can still function; it's not a major problem. Doesn't mean that there's anything wrong.
"Tugger," I said firmly, "I'm going. If Macavity doesn't see me there then he's going to get suspicious, he might feel obliged to make a house call and I really don't want that monster anywhere near my house. Like you said it's a quick in-out operation," I put on my resolved face, "Come on, we're going to have to rush to catch anyone still at the 'yard."
********************************************************************* Author's note: Hi me again, with my usual pleas for reviews, *gets down on hands and knees* pretty please with sugar on top.