Part Four: The Temptress

Chapter Thirty

"There you are," Demeter smiled warmly at me. Munkustrap was seated beside her, his head resting adoringly in her lap.

"Oh please," I spoke to Munku. "Could you cut back on the whole lovey-dovey act?"

He sat up with a laugh, "You're just angry because Tugger rejected your advances."

I rolled my eyes. "That cat needs to be tamed."

"Funny," Munku couldn't resist, a grin spreading across his face. "That's exactly what he says about you."

"Bugger off, Munku," I replied tartly. He and Dem just smiled. They knew Tugger had become a sore subject with me. After a mild silence, I added, "I mean, what's his problem? He's been acting strange for weeks now."

"You threw him for a loop, apparently," Munkustrap commented dryly. I turned to look at him in disbelief. The Rum Tum Tugger did not get thrown for loops. Munku shrugged at my obvious incredulity, "Look, all he told me was that you two kissed—"

"He told you that?!"

"He is my brother," Munku commented wryly. I shook my head, "I can't believe him."

"What?" Demeter sat up. "You told me."

"That was different."

Munkustrap gave a laugh. He quickly stopped when he saw my threatening look. He cleared his throat and continued hurriedly, "So, are you doing the mating dance this year?"

That was the wrong question to ask. He realized this as soon as he said it. Demeter cuffed him upside his head, "Geez, Munku, are you retarded?! Don't ever ask a queen that!"

"Especially one who just got dropped on her arse in front of the entire tribe," I added dryly. Seeing Munku being beat about the head by a queen half his size greatly improved my mood.

All the sudden, a loud crash rang out across the junkyard.

"Macavity!" Demeter hissed, the hair on her back standing straight on end. I ran to grab her, pushing Munkustrap out of the way. He may be protector of the tribe, but Demeter was my closest friend. Nothing could keep me from defending her.

Demeter shook like a leaf in the wind, her wide eyes darting about wildly. Munkustrap quickly hid Jemima in a nearby crate and crouched down, waiting for Macavity to appear. Several of the toms moved about, searching for the cause of the disturbance.

Finally, Alonzo returned, rolling his eyes, "It was just Mungo and Teaser."

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Those two cats were hardly a threat. Although I couldn't help but replay the odd look on Rumpleteaser's face when Grizabella appeared. She seemed to be the only one who wasn't shocked by the Glamour Cat's appearance. I decided to find her and see exactly what that deviant little munchkin was up to.

~*~

"Hello, Teaser," I smiled warmly, sitting beside her.

"Wotsa problem?" Teaser came up to me, a defiant look on her face. I sat back, thrown off by her attitude, "N-nothing. I don't have a problem. What are you talking about?"

"Dohn't like ya mutha?" She gave a sneer.

"I don't know who my mother is," I replied simply. She looked at me, "Didnya recognize'er? Gory, tha two of ya's look jus aloike."

I stared at her. Rumpleteaser was capable of playing some really good tricks, but calling the Glamour Cat my mother was just plain cruel.

"Rumpleteaser," I scolded. "What an awful thing to say!"

"Issa truth," she replied. I gave her a disapproving look, "How would you know?"

"Oi…just…do." She said, an odd look on her kittenish features. I stood up and left, casting one last look of disbelief in her direction. Still, I could not shake the eerie feeling that she just might be right.

~*~

"You will never believe what Teaser just said to me," I sat down next to Dem, who was preening atop the car.

"What?" She asked distractedly, smoothing the white patch of fur on her chest.

"She said that Grizabella was my mother!" I replied with a forced laugh, smoothing my fur with a careless air, even though it was really bothering me.

"Well, you do look alike," Demeter commented. For a cat who was supposed to be my best friend, Dem's casual comments always seemed to strike me to the core, inflicting the most damage. Had anyone else said it, I probably would have been offended, but not hurt. Dem turned around, and noting the expression on my face, added, "Oh, Bombie, I didn't mean it like that."

I nodded, forcing a smile, "Of course not, Dem. You never do."

I slid off the car and made my way into the darkness.

~*~

Pouncival found me sitting alone in a deserted corner of the junkyard, "Hey, Bombie, I've been looking all over for you."

"I bet you have," I commented wryly. He looked back at me innocently, "What do you mean?"

I shot him a knowing look. I wasn't in the mood for games. His face fell, "I'm not like that, Bombie."

"Sure," I gave a bitter laugh. All toms were like that. They all assumed I was a quick fix, an easy ticket. Quite frankly, I was sick of it.

"I'm not," Pouncival stood a little straighter, his voice taking on a defensive edge. I shot him a doubtful look. He felt the need to explain himself, "Look, I know I try to imitate Tugger; that I idolize him—but it's not why you think! I don't do it in hopes that some of the other girls will notice me. I do it so that you'll notice me."

"Notice you?" I looked at him, bewildered. Pounce gave a sheepish smile, "Tugger seems to be the only tom that can catch your attention—and keep it. I thought if I learned to act like him—"

"Then you could catch my attention," I finished softly, my tone full of wonder. He nodded, "I just wanted to…I dunno what I wanted."

He sat beside me, taking a deep breath to steady him, "I guess I just wanted a chance. A chance to show you that I could be there for you."

I smiled at him—this funny little kit! I felt slightly awful. I had been the object of his affection, the center of all his desires, and I had shot him down. I extended my paw daintily, "Let's dance."

He looked up at me, "Really?"

"Really," I flashed a charming grin. He led me back to the dance floor with a proud grin. I glanced across the room at Tugger, who was with Jennyanydots, my sworn enemy. What a tramp!

I just flashed a smile and wrapped a suggestive arm around Pouncival. I seemed to be throwing it in Tugger's face. Look what I've got…

~*~

The band started up again. Alonzo stepped out, beginning the first solo of the Jellicle Song. The music grew and we all began to dance. Once the music hit the sultry notes of the horn, I took center stage, performing every step flawlessly. I had worked on my dance for weeks; I had made sure that every move was perfect. Cassandra and Demeter joined me, laughing with delight as we gave our high kicks.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the toms advancing. It wasn't long before I felt the comforting presence of Tugger's body behind me, moving with me to the music. He lifted me effortlessly and moved to the side, allowing the next line of dancers to perform.

His paws moved up my torso as he lowered me to the ground, lingering just a second longer than necessary.

"Thanks, Tugsy," I smiled and turned to leave. He pulled me into him, his voice low and barely audible over the music, "Kiss me, Bomba."

"You first," I challenged playfully.

"I did last time," he replied. I looked around, "In front of everyone?"

"Yes," he grinned wickedly. I smiled. I was not going to give him the satisfaction of everyone seeing us lock lips—and everyone seeing that I was the one who made the first move. I leaned forward, almost meeting his expectant, smiling mouth, "Perhaps you should have thought about that before you dropped me."

I turned away with a smug smile. Now we were even.

"MACAVITY!" Demeter shrieked again—and this time she was right. We could see his hateful face looming over us, only to disappear into the darkness.

"Oh, saints preserve us!" Teaser cried out. Mungo crouched down, ready to defend her. Demeter and I were both placing bets that those two become mates.

The toms rushed after him, but to no avail—Macavity wasn't there.

Suddenly, it hit me. I turned to Teaser, "Hey, you lost your accent!"

"Wot? No Oi di'int," she replied, her eyes wide with fury.

"Yes you did," I pointed an accusing finger at her. Teaser just giggled in her usual flighty manner, "Oi think yore imaginin' things, Bombsy!"

"O' per'aps Ole Mac jus scared tha cockney roight outta'er!" Mungo added gleefully, at which they both laughed hysterically. It didn't take much to make them laugh. But I was still convinced. Once they had finished laughing, I grabbed the little striped queen roughly and dragged her away from the others.

"Oi! Wotsa big oidea?" She whined.

"Something's up and we're not going anywhere until you tell me exactly what is going on," I said threateningly. She pulled away, her face set in defiance, "Ses 'oo?"

"Ses me," I growled, rising to my full height. Her adorable fact contorted in anger, "I hate you, ya know that? I do—I hate you!"

"So you can speak without that infernal accent," I commented wryly. I sat down, patting the space beside me. She didn't sit, but she didn't run, either. She crossed her arms in a huff, "Alright, ya caught me. The accent's just a way to seem—"

"Innocent?" I guessed. "Unobtrusive?"

"Not like you," she replied, her eyes setting on my face. I didn't understand. She gave a great sigh, "Oh, c'mon, Bombie, do I hafta spell it out?"

"Apparently so," I remarked dryly, not exactly thrilled at being called stupid by a cat who was a renowned clown.

She sat next to me timidly, unsure of how to express her feelings, "Look, how do you think I knew Grizabella was coming?"

"I don't know."

"She told me."

"Ok…"

"How do you think I knew she was your mother?"

"She told you?" I guessed. Teaser nodded. She leaned forward, her eyes bright with fear and excitement as she asked her next question, "Now, why do you think she told me all this?"

I didn't have an answer. Teaser took a deep breath.

"Because I'm her daughter."