Most of the gentlemen members at the Tomb would be horrified to know about the back rooms that offered any number of sins and entertainment. Some, of course, were enthusiastic patrons and Macavity's role models.
This time, though, he had surpassed them all. No act could be as scintillating as what he and his cronies were enjoying. Bombalurina and the sleek Cassandra moved over each other like molten medals—limber bronze and liquid copper that twisted and writhed with the slow siren call of the reedy music from the rooms above them.
"What's her initiation ta be?" asked Griddlebones, winking with a ribald grin.
Lounging in his dominant position on a large, feathery pillow procured from the street, Macavity returned the grin.
"She's doing it now," he said, concentrating his gaze on Bomba. The low light from the rooms above them shifted with the people's movements and created a soft strobe over her and her partner as they continued their catta bolero.
Bones snickered. "And what about the other one?" he asked, turning his head to Demeter, curled up in a self-protective ball on the other side of the room's dirt floor.
Macavity looked over the heads of the other cats in attendance to smile at her. She buried her face in her front paws.
"I have something special in mind for her," he said, returning to the mutton received from Mungojerrie and his pretty little tam.
Griddlebones growled softly, his greying muzzle stern. He was the only creature permitted to look at Macavity that way. "I won't let you hurt her," he told him, with the authority of one who had taught the young mastermind and his old compatriots everything they knew.
Macavity raised his head, licking rice pudding from his whiskers. "You worry too much," he drawled lazily, pushing over the meat for his old mentor to share. "Hurting her would defeat my purpose."
Bones gave him a sidelong look and opened his mouth to say more, when bundles of orange, white and black suddenly bounded into the middle of the party.
"She did it!" Mungojerrie crowed, as Rumpleteazer strutted over to their host and dropped the shiny pin in front of him, then sat, grinning widely with her accomplishment.
All eyes turned to her; all faces smiled, except for one.
Bombalurina's auburn hair stood on end as she stalked toward the young molly. Teazer's button nose twitched as as stood to meet her, also with hackles raised.
This might be better than the dance, Macavity said to himself, mentally rubbing his paws together in anticipation. His gang and guests created a circle around the combative she-cats. He glanced at Mungo, who looked worried, even as his slowly-swiping tail showed he was also excited. That's my boy.
Bomba snarled as her eyes fixed on the pearls around Teazer's neck, glowing milky white against the riot of color in her striped coat. She stretched out a paw to bat the large nacre pendant. Teazer hissed and swatted her away.
The music from the secret rooms seemed to sense the mood of the cats' lair, replacing the breathy woodwinds with faster brass and drums, suggesting a war dance. The overhead lighting also cooperated, receding from other parts of the room and concentrating on the center of the cats' circle, placing the two in a spotlight.
Bomba was arched like a rusty bow as she approached again, intoxicated with the music and attention, and thinking that she should have whatever she wanted, just as Macavity had intimated.
Rumpleteazer bared her small, white teeth. Even though the pearls were heavy and slowed her down when she ran with Mungojerrie, she was determined that no one was taking anything from her.
"Mac..." Bones growled. Macavity nodded in agreement and bunted against the circle, which opened up for him. He stepped between the feisty foes and, with a wink at Teazer, dropped the glittering hat pin that she'd presented to him in front of Bombalurina.
She looked down at it, then raised her coffee eyes to ask, "For me?"
Macavity grinned and moved closer to her in answer, signalling for Mungo. The young tom entered the circle and, taking the cue from his Fagin, sidled next to Rumpleteazer, allorubbing with her until they dropped to the floor together.
Griddlebones, sensing the change in the atmosphere, creaked over to Demeter's corner and lay like an aging sentry between her and the rest of the cats.
Macavity eased Bomba down and the ambient music became a whispering string, inviting all to relax and follow their nature. Tabby, manx, tiger and Jellicle all succumbed, amassing in furry indolence, as the light from above grew dim.
For those perturbed by the sensuousness of the cats, I invite you to view this link for my inspiration
watch?v=i5YqfRdjFn8