Part Four: The Temptress

Chapter Twenty-one

"Would you like to explain yourself?" Tugger asked nonchalantly as I left the club. I stopped, whirling around quickly in surprise, "Bast, Tugger, you scared me. I forgot you were waiting."

"You expected me to just leave you here alone with Macavity?" Tugger looked at me in disdain.

"We weren't alone. There was a club full of cats."

"So how do you know him?"

I shrugged, "Just in the usual way. You know, we've played cards a coupla times."

"Sounds like that wasn't the only game you two have played," Tugger remarked dryly. I cuffed him upside his head, "What's the matter with you? Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

"My mother died," Tugger shot back. "Remember? That's why Old Deuteronomy took Tyro—you know, the one you killed?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. I had heard a lot of biting comments over the past two years, but never had anyone accused me of murder. I looked at him in disbelief, "You really are something, you know that? I can't believe you—prancing into my life, telling me what's what. You don't even know me, Rum Tum Tugger."

There was an awkward silence. I really wasn't that angry at him; I just tired and cranky--and curious. I wanted to see how he would react. Tugger took a deep breath, "I'm sorry. I didn't think before I spoke."

"You never do," I commented wryly.

"I'm trying to apologize, OK?!"

"Apology accepted," I couldn't help but grin at Tugger's obvious frustration. We walked along in silence. Finally, Tugger asked the question that had been on his mind all evening, "So…you and Macavity, eh?"

"Please," I rolled my eyes, hoping that my acting skills were good enough to cover the fear I felt—the fear of discovery. "What gave you that idea?"

"The way he looked at you."

"All toms look at me like that," I smiled coyly. I was moving the conversation into less dangerous territory. "You look at me like that, too."

He guffawed at this. Like me, Tugger could never admit to such a thing—it was like admitting defeat. He stopped walking and gently turned me to face him. With his claw, he raised my chin to meet his, "Listen, little darling, Tugger likes all the queens. It's gonna take a whole lot more than a pretty face to tie me down."

"I wouldn't want to tie you down, Tugger," I said innocently. "Besides, I go after the more experienced toms—you know, the ones who don't have to rely on a pack of kittens for self-confidence."

There was a flash in Tugger's eyes, followed by his usual suave grin. He liked this new game. He leaned forward, "If you haven't noticed, quite a few full grown queens gather round, too."

"Yes," I replied breathily, watching his face shine with smug satisfaction. "The same queens who gather round to watch the monkey on a leash dance down the street for money."

"Oh, oh, oh," Tugger shook his head, laughing. He took another step in, "You think you're so smooth, don't you?"

"Just a little," I whispered, taking a step in. Tugger gave a wry grin, his claw gently circling my face, his voice a whispered sing-song, "But I know something you don't know…"

"What's that?" I asked lazily. His eyes sparked maliciously, "I am the winner this time. Would you like to know why?"

"Pray tell," I replied. He smiled, "Because, once the Jellicles find out that you're in cahoots with Macavity, they'll throw you out so fast, your head'll spin."

"You wouldn't—"

"Oh, trust me," Tugger's voice took on a low, seductive tone. "I would."

I took a step back, shocked by this sudden turn of events. I quickly regained my cool, "What can you prove? That Macavity and I know each other? Fine. He knows all of the Jellicles by name."

"I think he may know you just a little more…intimately," Tugger replied. I shot him a dark look, "You disgust me."

He laughed. "You're just mad because I have the upper hand."

I shrugged, "I don't care. Tell Munkustrap; tell Old Deuteronomy—tell the whole world! I have nothing to hide."

He shook his head, a wry grin on his now irritatingly-handsome face, "Bombie, Bombie, Bombie, you just don't know me, do you? I'm not going to give that information away for free. I'm going to wait until the right moment to drop this little tidbit in Munku's ear."

I rolled my eyes at this; I couldn't believe it—caught by this laughable cat! And not only that, he was taunting me with it! Tugger circled me slowly, "Which means you'll have to be on your best behavior. One slip, and it all comes tumbling down."

"Oh, please, Tugger," I laughed in disdain. "I knew you were looking for a way to sleep with me, but I didn't think you'd go this far."

Tugger gave a wry chuckle, "If that's all I wanted, I wouldn't have to work this hard."

"Perhaps you're wrong," I smiled coyly back. "It'll take a lot more than blackmail to get me to lower my standards enough to let you in."

Tugger took the barb with amazing calm. He just smiled, "Ah, you still don't get it, do you?"

He slowly wrapped an arm around my waist, "I don't have to sleep with you to win this game, Bombalurina. All I have to do is make you feel helpless. You're used to being in control—I can tell by the way you walk, the way you talk—cats usually do exactly what you want. And you don't answer to anybody. Well, now you answer to me. You're stealing my spotlight, and I don't like it. You're sashaying through the junkyard, embarrassing me in the eyes all the toms; you're brushing me off in front of the other queens, making me look like a fool. You're making me look like a second rate kit."

"If the collar fits…" I didn't finish, but rather turned to smile seductively at Tugger. "Tell me, Tugsy, what do you want? What will it take to keep you quiet?"

"I don't want anything," Tugger whispered to me. "I've got you exactly where I want you, and nothing you can do or say will change that."

I fumed inwardly at the taunt; Tugger just laughed and gave me a quick smack on the bottom.

"See ya around, Sweetheart," he called over his shoulder, nonchalantly disappearing into the dark depths of the night.

I watched him go, holding back the thousand different insults that hung on my tongue. Ooh, that cat! He infuriated me! As I replayed our conversation in my head, I suddenly found myself laughing.

Oh, that Rum Tum Tugger. What a naughty boy.

~*~

If Tugger thought he had the upper hand, he was sadly mistaken. If he wanted to play a game of fast and loose, he was doomed to lose. Nobody puts a chain on Bombalurina. Nobody.

All I had to do was find some leverage against him; something equally compromising. Sadly, the Rum Tum Tugger's slate was as clean as a whistle—I could find nothing in his past that would be a source of embarrassment. I was going to have to do it myself—lure Tugger into a trap and then use it against him. Until then, I had to be on my best behavior, and I was. I was the sweetest kitten that you ever did see.

"Good morning, Munku," I said sweetly. He stopped—this time shocked by my seemingly sweet nature.

"Good morning," he said, staring at me strangely, as if I had grown a second head.

I giggled, "What are you staring at?"

"Nothing," he replied, looking away quickly. I batted my eyes, "Have you seen that pompous brother of yours?"

"Tugger hasn't come in this morning," Munku said with a wry grin. I flashed a similar smile. "The party animal is sleeping the morning off?"

Munku gave another wry chuckle. "Probably so."

"So tell me," I stretched out lazily, keeping my tone as nonchalant as possible, "Surely Tugger isn't as pristine and perfect as everyone makes him out to be."

"No," Munkustrap laughed again. "He's not."

I leaned forward, my excitement betraying me, "You must know some very juicy secrets. I bet you've got tons of dirt on him."

Suddenly, Munkustrap became suspicious, "Why do you wanna know?"

"No reason," I shrugged, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"Nice try," Munkustrap smiled. I looked at him curiously, "You bought it for a little while, didn't you?"

"I knew you were being way too nice," he admitted. My coy grin resumed its place, "But it did work atleast for a little while?"

Munku shook his head. I shrugged, "It was worth a shot. Now, honestly, dish the dirt on Tugger."

Munkustrap laughed sheepishly, "Look, Bombalurina, I dunno what twisted game you've got going on with my brother, but I'm not getting involved."

"What makes you think it's twisted?" I asked, sliding forward on the car. If Munku wouldn't give me information, I would at least get the satisfaction of taunting him. "Is it just because I am involved? What kind of cat do you take me for, Munku?"

"I'm just saying…" Munku tried to extricate himself from the situation. "You're an unusual feline; you don't play by the same rules as—"

"What exactly are you saying, Munku?" I slipped off the car hood and stepped up to him. "That I'm a kinky derelict? Is that it, Munku?"

"Not necessarily—"

"But you were thinking it," I countered smoothly. I smiled amusedly, circling Munku like a tiger waiting to pounce, "Is that what you do at night, Munku—lay back and think of all the wondrously strange things I must do in the dark of the night?"

"Now you've gone too far," Munkustrap said sternly. Apparently my line of questioning was hitting a nerve. I shrugged, "They're your fantasies, not mine."

"Yeah, but I don't go around voicing them—"

"So you do admit to having them," I pointed out. Munku stepped back, shaking his head in confusion and frustration, "No! I'm just…Bast, Bombalurina, this is not appropriate conversation for the Protector and a subordinate Jellicle. What if someone were to overhear? Do you know how badly this would reflect on me?"

"And how do you think this would reflect on me?" I asked in an amused tone.

"Well, with you, it's expected."

I stopped at this. It was like a sucker punch to the stomach. I took a deep breath to steady myself, "Wow, Munkustrap. You fight dirty. I didn't know you had it in you."

"It is the truth," Munku said simply. "I pride myself on being honest."

"I don't know if you should be too proud about that," I said in a low tone, brushing quickly past him. I made my way back to my human house, where Demeter was just waking.

"Where ya been?" She arched her back and extended her front legs in a stretch.

"Out," I said, my tone implying that I didn't want to hear anymore questions. Dem sensed this; she sat up, her tone slightly hurt, "Oh."

She was quiet, allowing me to wallow in my self-pity for a few moments. Finally, I could not stand it anymore, "What is his problem, anyway?"

"Who?"

"Munkustrap. The Perfect Protector."

"Oh," Demeter said, blushing a little. I continued my rant, "I mean, he comes up to me, and he's just so….argh! One minute, he's polite and friendly; the next he says this thing…and it just…he just makes me so angry!"

"What did he say?" Demeter asked lazily, rolling over on the couch cushion. She blinked in the bright sunlight that filtered through the window panes.

"He called me a slut."

"Munku did?" Demeter sat up. I shrugged, "Well, he basically did."

"Basically?"

"Well, he implied it."

"I don't follow."

"That's not important," I waved the thought away in an irritated manner. "The point is he thinks I'm a whore. A total and complete slut."

"Surely not," Demeter chided me gently. "Munkustrap is a good cat; he would never be so cruel."

"Oh, he didn't call it cruelty," I gave an ugly laugh. "He simply said he was being honest—as if that made it any better!"

Demeter sat up, obviously unsettled by this. She wasn't sure what to say; she tucked her tail around herself nervously, "Well, Bombie, I'm sure he didn't mean it."

"Sure," I gave a contemptuous snort. I straightened up, assuming an air of indifference, "I don't wanna talk about it anymore. Tell me, do you know any good dirt on the Rum Tum Tugger."

Dem shook her head sadly, "None that I can think of." Suddenly, it hit her. She leaned forward with girlish excitement, "Why? Are you plotting some kind of devious revenge? Ooh, can I help?"

I turned to her, my eyes dancing mischievously once more. "Actually, I think you can."

Demeter looked at me, her face lit up with an uncharacteristic glee. But once she saw my wicked grin, her features began to show concern once more, "Bombie, what exactly are you planning?"

~*~

"Do you remember what you're supposed to do?" I looked expectantly at Demeter. She nodded, her big green eyes wide with fear. In a stage whisper, she asked, "Bombie, are you sure about this? What if it—"

"It'll work," I assured her. I gave her a push in the right direction, "Now, go!"

Tugger was walking down the street—part of his afternoon patrol. I sauntered up to him, trying to keep my devious smile in check.

"Good afternoon, sir," I said sweetly. He smiled triumphantly, "Good afternoon, miss. It's nice to see that you have agreed to my terms. You're behaving quite nicely today. Very low key. I like it."

"Oh, but Tugger," I said breathlessly. "I thought you liked lots of action."

I smiled. And waited. That was Demeter's cue, but she didn't appear.

Tugger smiled seductively, pulling me into him, "I do, babydoll."

I smiled blankly back at him, unsure of what to say next. Where in Heaviside was Demeter?

Tugger was now leaning forward, his dark eyes gleaming. Uh-oh. I knew that look. If Dem didn't show up soon, Tugger and I would be caught in a very—ahem—compromising position, foiling my plan once more. The Rum Tum Tugger was bringing his mouth closer to mine. I was helpless to resist, at the risk of ruining my plan. Demeter, I'm gonna kill yo—

As if on cue, Demeter rounded the corner, skittering towards us at lightning speed. Tugger pulled me up quickly, "What the—"

Two Pollicles rounded the corner in hot pursuit.

"Sorry, Bomb!" Demeter cried as she darted past.

I held back a grin.

Oh, this was even better than my plan.