Part Four: The Temptress

Chapter Thirty-one

* Author's Note: Special thanks to Alphoscapsy-cola for reminding me that not everyone can read my mind, haha. The term "bast", which is used frequently, is a reference to the Egyptian goddess Bast (also known as Bastet or Ubasti). She is usually depicted as a woman's body with a cat's head; the cat was her sacred animal, which is why cats were so revered in Ancient Egypt. The Jellicles refer to her as we would God, Allah, Buddah, etc.*

"Wait…what?" I turned fully to Rumpleteaser, trying to understand all that she had just said to me. I looked at her, shaking my head slowly, "No, that can't be. Because if you're her daughter, and I'm her daughter, then…"

"We're sisters," Teaser finished hopefully. I stood up, "I don't believe this. This is some prank, right? You and Mungo worked this up, didn't you? What an awful thing to do, Teaser—what an awful thing to say! How could you be so cruel?"

I looked at her, my chest heaving under the flurry of emotions that now plagued me. Teaser looked down—whether out of shame or anger, I do not know. She quietly began to quote facts to me, "You were born by the sea. You were left at the Jellicle Junkyard before your eyes were opened. You were taken to Marbry Street. You lived with Macavity, had kits with him. The kits were killed. You left Macavity and lived on the streets. You met Dem—"

"Enough," I said harshly, turning away. Some of those things she could have learned from Jellyorum, but other parts…no one but I knew that I was born near the sea. I turned to her, my voice a shocked whisper, "How do you know all this?"

"Mother kept up with you," Teaser replied, looking at me with a small sense of hope once more. "She knew all about you and your going-ons. She used to be so proud. She'd tell me 'Your sister is the Red Queen now! Everyone adores her.' And then she'd sigh, and remember a time when she was like that. When she was the Glamour Cat."

"Why…why…why…" I couldn't find the words. Teaser gave a helpful smile, "Why did she abandon you?"

I nodded, staring blankly at the cat who was now my little sister. Teaser sighed, "She knew that you could never join the Jellicles if you were the kitten of an exile—especially her. She said you wouldn't have had a chance. So she left you in front of the junkyard, knowing the Jellicles would take you in. She thought it would be better for you that way."

"Well, she was wrong, wasn't she?" I gave a contemptuous snort. Teaser looked up at me, her big eyes wide with disbelief, "She wasn't the one who got you kicked out. That was your fault."

I sighed. She was right. I looked at her, "So why did Grizabella decide to keep you?"

Teaser shrugged, "She was older. She was alone. And, she said every day how much she regretted letting you go."

"How charming," I gave a sarcastic smile. "That just makes up for spending my whole life without a mother."

Teaser gave me an indignant look. She rose to her feet angrily, "Look, she made some bad choices, alright? She's dealt with her mistakes, why can't you just forgive her? It's not like you've always made the right choice!"

"I haven't even met the cat!" I shouted back. "How could I forgive a total stranger?"

"It's easy," Teaser said quietly. "You just do."

I shook my head, "I don't think I can do that."

Teaser's kitten-face seemed to crumple into tears. She shook her head, and in the softest of voices, spoke, "I knew you wouldn't. I told her that. I told her you were too proud to be seen next to her."

"I didn't say that," I defended myself hotly. "It has nothing to do with pride."

Teaser gave a smirk, "Bombalurina, if it involves you, then it has everything to do with pride."

"You don't even know me."

"Whose fault is that?" Teaser leaned forward, her eyes wide with expectancy. She knew she was right.

"Your mother's," I replied tartly, turning to leave. I was not going to endure any more of this guilt trip—as if it wasn't my mother who abandoned me!

"She's your mother, too!" Rumpleteaser called after me. I did not stop to reply.

~*~

I saw Pouncival sitting near the tire, looking somewhat depressed. The poor thing—he had missed me! I made my way to him, taking particular delight in seeing his face light up once he saw me. I heard the music change; I turned to see Victoria at the center of the dance floor, the moonlight reflecting eerily off her white coat. She seemed magical, as if she was one with the moon, a moonbeam in feline form.

I turned to Misto expectantly, thinking he would approach her. He did not. I saw the terrified look in his eyes. He was not confident enough to go to her. But Plato was. I turned back to Pouncival, taking his paw in mine slowly. I didn't speak. I didn't have to.

Pouncival gently laid me down and I instinctively felt someone's eyes on me. I turned around, expecting to see Tugger. To my surprise, it was Munkustrap. His eyes met mine. He was watching me with a mild look of horror on his fine features. I'm sure he was shocked by my choice. Pouncival was very young, but he was definitely willing. My eyes never left Munkustrap's face. I didn't smile; I didn't give my usually wink. I didn't have to. Munku was already transfixed. Pouncival rolled over, pushing me forward. Munkustrap watched the whole thing.

~*~

Coricopat and Tantomile sat up suddenly, jostling Pouncival and shaking me from sleep.

"What is it?" Pounce asked groggily. Misto sat up, "Someone's here."

"Who?" I sat up curiously. Misto turned to the darkness, and whispered in a reverent voice, "Grizabella."

I turned to see my mother, standing at a distance. Her eyes met mine, she gave a small smile. I did not smile back. I simply stared, my mind replaying all that Rumpleteaser had said. I had not decided whether or not I hated her.

I felt something that I hadn't felt in a long time—that odd sensation in my brain. It took me a minute to recognize the feeling; I was struck by an uneasy wave of nostalgia. I whirled around to see Coricopat staring intently at me. I shot him a defiant stare and focused all my attention on shutting him out. Coricopat sat back suddenly, as if a door had been slammed in his face. The odd sensation disappeared. Coricopat looked at me, a mix of shock and sorrow in his dark eyes.

Oh, Bast, how much did he see?

~*~

A soft murmur rippled through the crowd. I turned to see Jellyorum leading Gus through the throng of cats. He had been deteriorating rapidly; his paws shook constantly and he had begun to forget things. He did not recognize Old Deuteronomy or some of the younger cats. I was just glad that he did not call me Grizabella again.

I watched as Jellyorum lovingly patted her mate's paw. She wore a soft smile—one of adoration and pain. Adoration for the tom she loved; pain for what he had become and what was lost. She still remembered his greatness—the time he was the star of the stage, when they were young and in love. I shuddered to think of growing old. Then I thought of growing old and alone. Spending my days like Grizabella rather than like Jellyorum, who had spent her life surrounded by her family and friends.

Family…it suddenly hit me. If Grizabella was my mother, then Jellyorum was my aunt…and Demeter was my cousin. I turned to Dem with a newfound sense of elation. We had always been close; I had always thought of her as my sister. But now to know that the same blood ran in our veins—oh wonderful thought! We really were family.

I turned back to Jellyorum, my mind now pursuing a curious trail. Surely Jellyorum knew who I was. She probably knew from the start. Why else would she visit me? Why else would she get so defensive when Jenny compared me to the Glamour Cat? Suddenly I knew why Grizabella had left me. She knew her sister would care for me. She knew I would be in good paws.

Suddenly, I knew I could forgive her. I could forgive my mother.

~*~

Skimbleshanks sang next; I wisely chose not to join the chorus. I did not want to provoke Jenny—at least not tonight. I sat beside Dem, watching with mild disinterest. Suddenly, I felt Dem shift uneasily. I turned to her curiously, "Are you OK?"

She looked at me, her eyes wide and fearful, like the eyes of a hunted animal. In a voice as hoarse and haunting as a ghost, she whispered, "He's here."

~*~

Lightning cracked and thunder rumbled, shaking the pipes that we were sitting on. Macavity appeared in a blaze of glory, taking Old Deuteronomy with him, and disappeared as quickly as he had come. Demeter quivered with a mixture of fear and pure hatred; I clutched her in an attempt to calm her nerves. The other cats seemed to disappear.

Dem took a deep breath to steady herself. She turned her fearful eyes up to mine, whispering, "What do we do now?"

I looked around, swallowing nervously. Macavity was still lurking in the darkness somewhere; I knew he was. I may not have been as perceptive as Demeter, but even I could not ignore the electricity that still shot through my veins. I suddenly had an idea. I gave a coy smile, leaning over to whisper in her ear, "We lure him out."

My sudden surge of confidence seemed to infect Demeter. She gave me a sly look, "Live bait, eh?"

I nodded. She gave a smile, and then shrugged carelessly, moving to the center of the floor. I smiled wickedly. I loved it when I brought out the bad kitty in Dem. It always showed itself at the oddest times—I guess it was a defense mechanism of sorts. Whenever the usually meek and mild Demeter could not handle the stress of a situation, naughty Dem would rear her head, assuming a confident persona that would come through the fire unscathed.

And we were surely playing with fire.

~*~

"Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity," Demeter rolled her hips, her voice echoing through the dark junkyard. She moved so confidently…so sexily. I smiled to myself, hoping that Munku was watching. I bet he'd never seen his queen like this.

I watched Demeter with an odd sense of fascination. Although our stories with Macavity ended on the same note, the rest was quite different. Demeter had known Macavity for a few days; she retained a strange fascination for him—the same fascinating fear that a bird holds for the snake who hypnotizes it. She was entranced by the power of him, by his smooth looks and even smoother touch. She was caught on the dangerous wire between fear and obsession.

What I held for Macavity was much deeper. I could never forgive him for hurting Demeter, and for awhile, I had truly hated him. But I could not help but remember the old Macavity with a slight fondness. The love that once united us, once a beautiful thing, was now a horrid, ugly, mangled mess; but that did not mean that all of the passion had perished. A small part of me still missed his touch—in the dark of the night I still wished to feel him curled up beside me, his arm wrapped protectively around my waist. Sometimes I was struck with a memory of him—the way his eyes danced mischievously or how he laughed at my wry remarks or the tenderness with which he card for our kits—a memory so strong that I would stop in my tracks, helplessly drowning in the wave of emotions that followed.

But the Macavity that I remembered did not exist anymore. I had loved that one, but the Macavity that remained bore the brunt of my anger.

I turned my attention back to Dem, who was telling of Macavity's misdeeds. I rose to my feet. It was my turn to speak. It was my turn to tell the tale of the Hidden Paw.

~*~

"He's outwardly respectable," Demeter's voice dropped a few notes. I smirked, "I know he cheats at cards."

We gave each other knowing smiles. Long ago, I had told her the story of my card games with Macavity. It was our own little inside joke.

A few cats had reappeared, watching us with odd fascination. By the end of the song, everyone had returned. We struck our pose and turned to each other with bright faces.

That's when Old Deuteronomy reappeared.

~*~

Demeter gave a hiss and backed away. I turned to her in confusion, "Dem?"

I reached to comfort her, unsure of what was wrong; but she pushed me away. I stepped back, thrown off by her bizarre behavior. Munkustrap appeared beside me, watching his queen with a troubled expression. He looked to me. I shrugged.

"This is all your fault!" Munku hissed. I looked at him in disbelief, "All my fault? How is this my fault?"

"You getting her to dance like that," Munku said hatefully. "Making her…making her romanticize her relationship with Macavity! I used to think that he was the monster—but you, taking something like that and making it a thing to be proud of—you're the monster!"

I stepped back, shocked by his sudden attack. My fur bristled, "I did nothing of the sort! And how dare you imply that I would! Just because Demeter is confident and sexy doesn't mean she's suddenly a bad cat."

"I don't want her to end up like you," Munku spat the last word. I felt my jaw drop in shock, but I quickly recovered, pulling myself in closer to him, "Would it really be such a tragedy if little Dem were a little more like me? If my memory serves me correctly, there was a time when you quite enjoyed my—"

"Enough!" Munku said brusquely, shaking his head as if he were trying to stop the endless flashes of memories from our night together. I opened my mouth to reply, but the screams of the crowd stopped me. Munku and I whirled around to see Macavity standing defiantly before the Jellicles. Demeter had landed in front of us in a heap; she turned to me with wide eyes, "I tried to tell you it was him!"

Macavity rushed towards her with a cry of rage, dragging her off. I lunged for her, trying to wrestle her back. Munku lashed out at me, making me lose my grip, and grabbed Dem's feet in an attempt to pull her from Macavity's grasp.

Suddenly, Alonzo swooped in, grabbing Demeter from the clutches of the fighting toms. He quickly deposited her beside me, "Keep an eye on her, Bomba."

I nodded, rising up to my full height and extending my paws like a protective wall. Demeter wrapped her arms around my torso, nestling her face into my back. I could feel her body wracking with skitterish sobs of fear and relief. I wished I could wrap her in my arms, tell her that it was OK, that the evil had passed, but I was still in fight-mode. The danger had not passed and I could not afford to let Macavity out of my sight for a single moment—even when he was fighting Munkustrap or Alonzo.

Munkustrap was tossed aside; several of the cats ran to him with a cry of despair. Alonzo fought Macavity for as long as he could, but Macavity soon overpowered him and threw him aside. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Misto and Jemima cowering fearfully in one of the pipes. I took Demeter by the shoulders and set her beside them, stepping forward boldly into the fray. Cassandra lashed out at Macavity; he easily ducked her move. I lashed out as well, throwing all of my strength into it. I caught him on the shoulder; he turned around quickly to face his attacker. When he saw it was me, he snarled viciously and sent a blue bolt straight through my body.

I hit the ground, unable to move. I could hear the fight continue around me; I could see the cats moving about wildly, throwing odd, distorted shadows all around the yard. I could hear my heart pounding, steady and even in my ears. Why couldn't I move?

"Bombie?" I heard Cassandra's hysterical voice. I was being rolled onto my back; I saw her terrified face above me, "Bombie, can you hear me?"

I tried to nod, to speak, to let her know that I could hear her, but nothing happened. I saw Alonzo's black and white face looming over mine. His voice echoed in my ears, "What happened?"

"Macavity put some magic on her—a spell, I don't know." I could hear Cassandra's voice, but I could no longer see her. Then I heard a voice that could only belong to Mungojerrie.

"Oi! Wots wrong?"

Cassandra repeated her story. Suddenly, Mungo's face appeared, he flashed a reassuring smile, "Dohn' worry, Bombsy. Ol' Mac 'it me wif one of those before. It'll wear off inna minute or two. Jus keep breavin', it'll be alroight."

I could see his paw from the corner of my eye; apparently he was stroking the side of my head, although I couldn't feel it. He just smiled at me, telling me that everything was going to be OK. I believed him, and my panic subsided. Rumpleteaser's anxious face appeared beside him, "She gonna be Ok, Jerrie?"

"She'll be roight as rain inna bit," he replied warmly. Teaser nodded, biting her lip in a worried manner. She looked down at me, "Look, Boms, Oi di'int mean to be so 'ard on ya earlier."

"Wot you talkin about?" Mungo turned to her. Teaser gave a furtive glance, "Nuffin, dear."

I smiled at this. Apparently Teaser had decided to keep the accent.

"Oi, look!" Teaser pointed out joyously. "She smoiled!"

"Wottya know?" Mungo gave a wry grin. "Oi tol' ya she'd be alroight!"

I could feel the warm tingling returning to my paws, slowly seeping back into my body. Alonzo slowly helped me to my feet. I looked around for Misto. He was still sitting in the pipe, watching me with fearful eyes. I smiled at him and he gave a small smile in return. Demeter was caring for Munku's wounds.

"We have to find Old Deuteronomy."

~*~

Tugger stepped forward boldly. I hadn't seen him during the fray, but the fresh scratches on his chest attested that he had been involved. He motioned to Mistoffelees. "Why not ask him? He's a conjuring cat, just like Macavity."

I held my breath, silently praying to all the cats in Heaviside that no one took that comparison any further. If anyone realized that Misto was Mac's son, he would surely be dead now.

Apparently no one did. Everyone was so desperate to find Old Deuteronomy that they didn't question Misto or his abilities. He stepped forward, looking towards me with a mixture of hope and fear on his young face. I smiled. I knew he could do it.

After a few moments of quiet discussion with Munku, Alonzo, and Tugger, Misto approached me, "I'm going after him, Boms. I'm going to get Old Deuteronomy back."

I felt my face cringe with fear and uncertainty. I took him by the shoulders, my tone implying the seriousness of the situation, "Son, you cannot go there. Send someone else. Use your powers to bring him back—I don't care. But you cannot face Macavity."

He nodded, silently understanding my meaning. In a way, I think he always knew. He gave a small smile. He turned back to face the crowd of expectant Jellicles, "So, who would like to assist me?"

~*~

Old Deuteronomy was returned to us, with the help of Cassandra, who was overjoyed at being the heroine. Once everyone had rejoiced over our leader's return, Old Deuteronomy held up his large paws to quiet us. It was time for the Jellicle Choice.

"I have chosen," he took a deep breath. "Grizabella."

We all sat in stunned silence. As if on cue, the Glamour Cat slowly appeared from the shadows. We all turned away—most of them out of spite or fear, but I had a different reason. I did not think I could stand to look at my mother again. True, I had chosen to forgive her, but that did not change the fact that there were so many questions left unanswered—questions that I desperately wanted to ask, but was too afraid to voice. I knew my face would hold my tumultuous feelings, betraying me to the others. I could not risk it.

Suddenly, her voice pierced the cool night air.

"Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again…"

I felt a soft smile creep onto my face. I too, could smile at the old days, when I was young and carefree. I was still beautiful, and I had known great happiness. I didn't need to know where I came from or where I was going. All I knew was that I was happy—I had a beautiful son, a loving friend, a newfound sister. What more did I need?

"Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is…"

I felt a pang of sorrow for Grizabella. I turned to Rumpleteaser, who was smiling through her tears. She looked at me, her face telling me that she had known all along. I gave a reassuring smile and turned back to watch my mother sing her last solo.