Forever Until Now
Chapter 31;; Gold or Green?
"Don't do this," she whispered. Her eyes were stinging. The place where the glass was stuck in her side throbbed in time to her pounding heart.
Jennyanydots scolding Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. Tugger and Bombalurina making out in a corner. Munkustrap standing tall, Demeter at his side.
The Junkyard was the same as always, it seemed.
But Victoria had changed.
She sighed and leant back, tipping her face back to look at the sky. Would things ever be normal again? The Jellicles were the same, but she had changed. They looked at her differently now. They looked at her with wary eyes, seeing a queen that was supposed to be dead. Was she dead? She hardly knew. Had she ever been dead? What a question…
Sighing, she made her way down to the middle of the Junkyard. Cats began to crowd around, murmuring to themselves. It was just like the old days – that was the point. The Jellicles wanted to make everything normal again, so Victoria had to dance for them.
The throng of cats watched with quiet appreciation as the weary, white queen slowly slid into the splits, doing it with such a look of exhaustion that any outsider would believe that it was an extremely complex movement. It was, but it shouldn't have been – the white queen had perfected it long ago and had practiced it many times over. As she stood up, slumping slightly, to indicate that she was finished, her audience broke into polite applause, and she dipped her head so that she could hide her blank expression.
"Marry me Victoria!" yelled one of the more boisterous toms, making her turn away, smiling sadly. The cats all started at his outburst and glanced at him as if he were crazy.
"Victoria." The oldest cat, who had been sitting higher up than the rest, stood up. Munkustrap, a tall, dark grey tom who had been sitting with him, gingerly helped him up. "Victoria…it's good to have you back."
"Thank you," Victoria replied softly, that same sad smile still on her lips. "Thank you, Old Deuteronomy." The Jellicles all noticed that she didn't give any indication of being pleased that she was back.
Old Deuteronomy simply nodded. "My pleasure, Victoria."
At this the cats all began to disperse, some wandering off, others staying behind to speak to the young queen. Her friends, Jemima, Etcetera and Electra slipped away to do their own thing – they still weren't comfortable around each other. Jellylorum, who was Victoria's mother, nuzzled her daughter comfortingly. Her father, Asparagus watched on, standing tall with a small frown. Munkustrap told her, "Well done," before padding over to where Demeter was waiting for him.
Victoria took all the sympathetic comments with the same, sad smile, but her eyes kept lingering to images within her own head – to Macavity. Ever since the time she'd 'died', she'd found it hard to stop thinking of the tom. She never told anyone, no matter how much anyone pestered her about it.
She didn't think she would ever have the courage to tell another.
Electra stared out at where Victoria had just danced, expression blank.
She'd failed.
With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and clasped her paws together. Restless, she pulled them apart and juggled a purple spark between them. Never would she see lightning flowing out of them. Never.
She saw the tuxedo tom walk out towards Victoria and wrap a comforting arm around her. She lowered her face. Her sigh was audible even from where Electra was sitting. The Jellicles were the same, and so was Electra.
But oh, how she wished she were different.
"Electra."
"What?" Electra snapped.
"You can't keep moping around like this. The Jellicle Ball is fast approaching! We have to practice-"
"No, you know what? I'm not coming." Electra turned to him. Plato. He raised an eyebrow.
"Not coming? Oh, come on. Jellicles can't choose not to go to the Jellicle Ball."
"Too bad!" Electra grimaced at him. "What difference will it make? I sing quietly so as not to ruin the music, I dance in the background so that I don't trip anyone up or something utterly stupid like that… you perfect Jellicles would be better off without me."
Plato sighed. "Why do you talk about us Jellicles like you're not a part of us?"
Electra's eyes grew distant. "I don't feel like a part of 'us'," she answered softly. "Never have…never will."
"Don't say that!" Plato bit his lip. "You're the only Jellicle I feel I can trust," he whispered.
Electra's lips twisted into a half-smile. "Thanks," she said. "Same goes for you."
They fell into silence, eyes drifting to where Misto was talking quietly to Victoria.
"So, who're you going to the Ball with?" Electra questioned, smiling wryly.
Plato's face hardened. "I'm going alone," he said.
"Surely not? A handsome tom like you?" Electra said teasingly, nudging him with her elbow. He sighed.
"I want to go with Etcetera, but…" he frowned. "I'm not sure she wants that. And after what she did before – throwing glass at you! I'm not sure what to think. Is she on our side? Macavity's? Who really knows."
Electra winced and touched her hip tenderly. There was scar there, aflame with red. The swelling still hadn't gone down. The glass had gone in deep, and it had been a messy affair removing it. "I don't know what she is anymore. A kitten? Or has she grown up at last?"
Plato shifted uncomfortably. "I never liked to think of her as a kitten. There was always more to her than a screaming fangirl," he said quietly, just as the cat herself stepped out into the Junkyard. Etcetera glanced around, saw Victoria, saw Plato and Electra together, then turned away, lips pressed together. She broke into a run towards Tugger, who had shaken Bombalurina off.
"Tugger," she squealed.
"Hey, kitten," he purred.
Plato and Electra glanced at each other uneasily. "I thought she'd grown out of it," Electra said. "So why, as soon as we get back, does she start throwing herself on him again?"
Plato shook his head helplessly. "I don't get her – I really don't. But I care about her."
"And what about Victoria?" Electra prompted.
Victoria was staring at Etcetera with open discomfort on her face, as if she wanted to speak to her sister, but couldn't work up the courage. Misto touched her shoulder gently.
"Victoria…? I…" Plato fixed his gaze upon the white queen, eyes filling with sadness. "I don't know anymore. I wonder what she thinks of me…"
"She hasn't talked to any of us except Misto since… you know." Electra paused. "Though that's probably our fault."
"I think she's frightened. But… she confuses me as much as Etcetera does. She's dead, Electra. Dead."
"No she's not," Electra said matter-of-factly, pointing at the obviously alive Victoria.
Plato made a frustrated noise. "We saw her die! How can she be alive?"
"Magic," Electra whispered, eyes burning. "Don't you get it, Plato? If she died… there's only one thing that could've reversed it. Even then, she couldn't have been properly dead."
"What are you on about?" Plato stared at Electra as if she'd gone mad.
"Oh, come on. You're a magic cat – didn't you listen to Deuteronomy's lessons?" Electra raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"And you did?" Plato snorted. "The practical stuff was good, but those lectures… ugh."
"They included interesting tidbits. If you'd listened, you would've known this: those who die can never return. Under special circumstances, however, magic can bring them back."
"Straight out of Deuteronomy's own mouth, I bet," Plato muttered. "Well? What special circumstances would these be?"
"That magic was the cause of their death in the first place," Electra answered, indeed sounding as if she was reciting Deuteronomy's exact words. "So, either Victoria was never dead, or a wonder occurred to bring her back to life." Electra's brow crinkled. "Come to think of it, having your throat slit isn't a magical death, is it?"
"I'm so confused," Plato mumbled. "So what, did she even die in the first place?"
Electra chuckled. "We'll have to ask her about that, won't we?"
Jemima broke apart from Pouncival when she heard the noise of a tom clearing his throat. Her blush only deepened when she realized who it was.
"A-alonzo," she stammered, cringing inwardly. Pouncival laughed and wrapped an arm around Jemima's shoulders.
"Hey, 'Zo," he chuckled.
"Morning," Alonzo smirked, tipping his head to one side. "It's a fine day to be shoving your tongues down each other's throats, isn't it?"
"I'm glad to have a lovely queen like Jemi all to myself," Pouncival said, grin broadening. "I make the most of her."
Alonzo looked as if he could hardly contain his laughter. "So lucky," he purred. "Well, I must be off. I'll see you later?" He directed his last comment to Jemima, who said nothing, before turning on his heel and trotting away.
"Slimy jerk," Pouncival said, sticking his tongue out. "You'da thought he'd just give us some privacy, but no, he has to interrupt. Hey, is it just me or does he give you certain looks?"
"It's just you," Jemima said straight away, face heating even more. "Don't be stupid, Pounce."
"But weren't you two together before…?" Pouncival asked, looking thoughtful.
Panicking a little inside, Jemima brought her lips to his. After that, Pouncival spoke nothing more of Alonzo.
Jemima was safe, for now.
Later, when Pouncival left to go hunting with Tumblebrutus, Alonzo appeared once again.
"I knew it was safer to keep you in the Junkyard," he whispered, causing Jemima to start and glance at him.
"Alonzo…" she murmured. "Pouncival only just left – you should've waited before coming back! And why did you interrupt us before?"
"I didn't like seeing him with you," Alonzo said fervently. "It… makes me sad to see a tom like him with a lovely queen like you. He doesn't deserve you."
"He's a good tom!" Jemima argued hotly.
"Who would you choose?" Alonzo asked quietly, moving closer to the calico queen. "If you could only choose one of us, which one would you choose?"
Jemima stared at him blankly. "I…"
"Tell me, Jemima," Alonzo crooned. "Tell me that you would choose me."
Jemima lowered her eyes. "Only if you stopped your relationship with Cassandra," she said.
"Well, in that case, shouldn't you drop Pouncival?" Alonzo smirked.
Jemima made a noise of anger. She couldn't do that.
"Anyway, Jemi… I didn't know that you could punch like that." He gave her a dark smile. "You knocked the daylights right outta me – if my fur around my eye wasn't already black, it would've looked nasty. Not good for my reputation, if you get me." He laughed a low, sad laugh.
"I'm sorry, Lonz," Jemima gasped rushing to him and touching the area around his eye tenderly. He winced. "I-I had to. You would've stopped me from leaving. I had to leave."
"I believe you said, 'for Victoria'?" Alonzo narrowed his eyes. "This whole affair is ridiculous. She's dead to our eyes, Jemi – yet now she prances back in, alive as can be! Deuteronomy and Munkustrap won't say a thing. It's tiring for the rest of us."
"I'm not saying anything either, if that's what you want me to," Jemima said sharply.
"Didn't think so." Alonzo stared at the ground for a moment. "Hey, Jemi, does Pouncival know anything about it?"
"No, no he doesn't."
"Would you have punched Pouncival if he'd been in my place?" Alonzo asked this carelessly, but Jemima could see in his eyes that he cared a lot about her answer.
"Of course I would've," she answered grimly.
Alonzo looked satisfied. "Good," he said. "Good."
Victoria left Misto in the Junkyard – he said he needed to stay and talk to someone – when Tantomile and Coricopat beckoned her from the path leading to their den. As soon as she saw them, they seemed to fade away. Victoria headed down the path, glancing around curiously. She'd never been down it before, as the twins liked to keep to themselves and received very few visitors. They'd taken a lot of care in clearing all the rubbish to the sides.
She pushed past the curtain that covered the entrance of their den and looked around. It wasn't a very large den, but it was dark and filled with random objects such as rusty teapots and a bag of glow-in-the-dark stars and moons. They glowed an eerie greenish color. Tantomile and Coricopat were sitting together – as soon as Victoria entered, they smiled and gestured for her to sit down.
"It's good to see you alive again, Victoria," Tantomile said softly, unable to wipe away the tiny smile on her face.
"Indeed, we suspected you were trapped forever," Coricopat added.
"You knew?" Victoria asked, eyes wide.
"The vision," Tantomile said simply.
"Remember? We saw your frozen prison," Coricopat said grimly. "And, at the same time, we saw your broken heart – the place in which you were trapped. We saw you crying there."
"You saw Alyana's death as well!" Victoria realized. "Blood on the fur of a pure white cat… my sister, dead. That was Alyana!"
"Endless white cats – the Chardirs," Tantomile said.
"You know about them, too?" Victoria asked, alarmed.
"All magic Jellicle cats know of them," Coricopat shrugged. "What else did we see? We saw green eyes and gold eyes. I suspect you understand?"
"Of course…" Victoria whispered. "I understand perfectly, now."
"So, what are you going to do now?" Tantomile asked gently. Victoria glanced at her, surprised by the sweet tone of voice.
"I… I really don't know. Have you had another vision?" Victoria asked after some consideration.
The twins both shook their heads. "I'm afraid not," Coricopat said.
"I believe that what you decide next cannot be predicted even by magic," Tantomile said seriously.
Victoria sighed. "What is there for me to do? The Jellicles are suspicious of me after all that's happened – but I can't tell them the truth. Is there any future for me here?"
"Deuteronomy is doing his best to make you a part of the tribe again," Coricopat said.
"But do you want to stay?" Tantomile questioned.
"I don't know," Victoria said helplessly. "I think I should stay, for the sake of Plato and Misto… but…"
Macavity.
"Golden eyes. Terrible, golden eyes," Coricopat quipped.
Victoria stared at the ground. "What's going to happen to him?" she breathed.
"Magic cannot even begin to map out his path," Tantomile said darkly.
Victoria laughed sadly. "No," she said. "I didn't think so."
Unfortunately for Etcetera, her one and only distraction shook her off almost straightaway.
"Sorry kitten," Tugger had told her. "But I, uh, got business to do. Songs to compose, y'know?"
"I could help you!" Etcetera had piped up hopefully. But Tugger had shaken his head.
"Sorry," he'd said. "But I wanna do this alone."
So now, Etcetera was forced to wander alone and keep her mind from floating to thoughts that she didn't want to think of. Inside, she was no longer a kitten, but she wanted to cling to that identity for a little longer. She didn't want to deal with the responsibility of being an adult. She didn't want to think about Macavity.
She trusted the red tom – wanted to save him. But what could she do? So she resorted to her little sanctuary of kithood – she wanted to stay a little longer before she left for good.
But she hated the way they looked at her. Plato, Electra – they'd been together, staring at her sadly. They didn't trust her. She didn't like seeing them together. So she turned around and went straight to Tugger, because it was easier that way.
She hadn't realized where she was gone, but quite suddenly, she heard a deep rumble of a voice. Deuteronomy? Oh, of course. Because the Jellicle Ball was so close, he'd moved to a den closer to the Junkyard. What a terrible time to have a Ball…
"Plato, Victoria," he was saying. "I'm glad you both came."
Plato and Victoria…?
"Sorry I'm late," Victoria said softly – so softly Etcetera barely heard her.
"That's quite alright, my dear. Now… I have called you here for a certain reason – you especially, Victoria! As you know, you are now dead to our eyes and you may not feel a true part of the tribe anymore."
"No, Old Deuteronomy – I feel quite apart from the Jellicles."
"As I thought. That is why I have decided that you will perform two special dances during the Jellicle Ball."
"Two?"
Two? Etcetera's mind echoed. Etcetera wanted to wail despairingly.
"Yes – is that alright? You are to perform the Invitation and the Mating Dance."
"Wait… sorry. I understand the invitation, but the Mating Dance?" Victoria's voice quavered slightly. "I don't have any tom to mate, Old Deuteronomy."
"Ah… but this is a special case. It will not truly be a Mating Dance – it will be a dance that re-initiates you into the Jellicles. Is that alright?"
"Oh." Victoria sounded unsure. "Yes, that's fine," she said finally. "But…" she trailed off, and Deuteronomy began to speak again.
"Of course, you must perform the dance with a partner. I believe a good choice is Plato."
There was a long silence. Finally, Victoria spoke, her voice tight. "Why do you say that?" Etcetera could tell it was taking a lot of control for Victoria to keep her voice quiet and respectful.
"Plato is, as we all know, the tallest and most powerful tom your age, Victoria," Deuteronomy explained with a chuckle. "He is an excellent dancer as well."
"Misto's a better dancer," Plato said – it was the first time he'd spoken. He sounded decidedly uncomfortable.
"But Mistoffelees does not have the upper body strength to perform the dance," Deuteronomy said. Etcetera had to admit that he was right.
"Yes, I suppose," Victoria said, sighing.
"If it is not your wish to perform the dance, then I understand," Deuteronomy said gently. "However, I believe it would be best if you did, dear."
"I'm okay with it," Victoria said. "As long as it isn't an actual, binding Mating Dance…"
"No, unless you would like that," Deuteronomy chuckled. "And Plato?"
"I'll do it," he said simply.
Etcetera felt a terrible, sinking sensation in her stomach.
"Good, then that is sorted. Remember to practice!" Deuteronomy said cheerfully. "You may go now."
"Thank you, Deuteronomy."
"Thank you, Deuteronomy."
Etcetera gulped – both Victoria and Plato were coming her way! Before they reached her though, they stopped.
"Are you really fine with it, Plato?" Victoria asked in a low voice so that Deuteronomy wouldn't hear her.
"I said that I'd do it, didn't I?" Plato retorted.
"But do you want to?"
"I do what Deuteronomy says," Plato said tonelessly.
"Damn you, Plato," Victoria snapped. "Give me a straight answer! Oh wait – you're Plato and you don't do that."
Etcetera began to back away slowly. If they found her…
"I'll tell you when you tell me the truth behind your death," Plato said, his tone of voice almost menacing.
There was a long silence. "Just to let you know," Victoria said finally. "I'm only doing this because it'll allow me a place among the Jellicles again."
"Good to know," Plato sneered.
"Thing is," Victoria added in a hiss, "I'm not even sure I want to be here anymore."
Etcetera kept on backing away, but as usual, she stuffed up. She stepped on an empty chip wrapper, wincing at the loud and very obvious crackling sound it made.
"Who's there?" Plato said sharply.
Etcetera groaned. She couldn't run now. Victoria and Plato both appeared, eyes widening as they saw her.
"I didn't know you were one to spy, Etcetera," Victoria said coldly.
"I wasn't!" Etcetera protested. "I was just walking when-"
"You saw us and decided to listen into our conversation?" Victoria narrowed her eyes. Etcetera stayed silent. She had nothing more to say.
"I'm sorry, Etcetera," Plato said softly.
"Oh, right." Victoria rounded on him, eyes blazing. "Because you two are a cute little couple now, right? Who cares about Victoria? Who cares that Plato completely destroyed my entire life?" Victoria glared at him with open hatred. "It's why I sorta wish I'd never come back."
Plato sighed. "It wasn't my fault," he said. "Macavity made me."
Victoria laughed mockingly. "Oh yeah? But you can resist him, because you just happen to have the same magic that he does!"
"Wrong," Plato said. "His is more powerful. He got into my mind – ordered me to get rid of you and go after Etcetera."
Etcetera stifled a gasp of horror. "So what?" she whispered. "You don't actually care about me?"
"I do…" Plato said softly, his green eyes completely honest.
Etcetera shook her head. "How can I believe you? I can't, can I?" Choking a little, she ran. Tugger. Tugger's the only one I need…
Victoria kept staring at Plato. "Is it true? It was all Macavity's fault?" she whispered, feeling her heart wrenching.
"Yes," he said. "I promise you, Victoria – that's the truth!"
Victoria shook her head furiously. "It can't be." He was the one that saved her! And he cared about her… right?
"So what?" Plato said contemptuously. "You on his side or something? You really do disgust me these days." Spitting on the ground, he went in the same direction Etcetera had.
Victoria stared at the ground for a long time.
Gold…or green…? Which do I trust?
Misto was sure that he'd seen her only minutes ago. In fact, it seemed impossible that she wasn't there anymore. He sighed and concentrated on her image – there she was. She was moving quickly through a completely uninhabited part of the Junkyard, so quickly that it seemed as if she was running away. Misto hurried after her, breaking into a run so that he wouldn't lose her.
"There you are!" he called out upon finding her. Electra twisted round and glared at him.
"Don't follow me!" she snapped. "I try to be alone and suddenly, you try to follow me…"
"I'm sorry," Misto frowned. "I didn't realize that you wanted to be alone."
Electra snorted. "You don't realize a lot of things, Misto."
"Electra…" Misto sighed before continuing. "Electra, why did you even start being angry at me anyway?"
Electra opened her mouth to answer, but then paused. "I don't even know anymore," she admitted.
"Then don't," Misto said imploringly. "Don't be angry at me!" He shivered slightly. "Please."
Electra stared at him for a long time. "Alright," she said stiffly.
Misto smiled wryly. "Yet, you still glare at me the same way you did two seconds ago."
"Look, I'm sorry," Electra said. "I'm just… not in a very friendly mood. I suppose I'm not really a very friendly cat in general." She turned her back on him. "It'd probably be best for you if you just stayed away from me, Misto."
"Why would I want to do that?" Misto asked, his voice a little sharper than he had expected it to come out. "Is this about… your magic?" he asked after a slight hesitation.
"It always is," Electra replied simply. "Always about my magic. Before I can truly live, I need it back. Unfortunately for me, I don't think it'll be returned anytime soon."
"I'll help you!" Misto said. "We can get it back together."
"Are you stupid or something?" Electra sighed. "My magic is too dangerous or whatever. Remember what Macavity said?"
"He might've been lying…" Misto said, sounding doubtful.
"Yeah, right."
"But…he's been using your magic for ages now, right?"
"Yeah, he doesn't have much of it – that's what he said." Electra bit her lip. "I believe him about that."
"So why don't we-"
"Just stop it. It's impossible to get it back from Macavity – it's his magic now. And the rest of my magic? If we believe what Macavity said, it's too well guarded. So go away, Misto. I don't want to hear it anymore."
She spoke with such finality that Misto just sighed and turned away. There was nothing more he could do or say.
"Hey, girlie."
Chantelle snapped up from where she'd been taking a nap and glanced around, breathing heavily. She could've sworn that she'd just heard Alyana's voice and chiming laugh right there in her ear. The familiarity of it made tears well up in her eyes.
"Why did you let him kill you…?"
"He saved me."
Chantelle jerked again, shocked. Was she dreaming? Finally, her eyes came to rest on a hazy figure standing by where a tiny flower had sprouted from a crack in the cobblestone path.
"Alyana… you're real…" Chantelle stumbled towards her friend, choked up and sniffling.
"I have one last thing to do before I permanently retire," Alyana smirked. "I never did get the opportunity to do something to make my father have a heart attack."
"Alyana! Don't say that," Chantelle protested. She couldn't help but smile, though – it was so like Alyana to say something like that.
"So, you gonna help me or not?" Alyana giggled and smiled. "Come on, Tellie…"
"Alright," Chantelle said, giving in. "What do you want me to do…?"
I'm still dying. Slowly, but surely.
Macavity stared blankly at the opposite wall of the empty alley.
And the world – it doesn't want to die. What am I meant to do? Victoria… I need a little more time. Victoria…
He had failed to do something as simple as destroy five kittens. He couldn't really call them kittens though, could he? In his short absence they had all changed. All grown up, even Etcetera. It was strange to think of it.
I have to start small. Then the world will begin to quiver.
First, he had to destroy the Jellicle tribe – no, even he had to start smaller than that. He had to be their Protector. He gave a sigh. After all, it was only taking back what he righteously deserved. How could he begin any smaller than that? But in truth, he really did want it.
And… if he 'protected' the Jellicles, he could be close to Victoria. That way, he could postpone the day when he truly went mad.
If Macavity was right, the Jellicle Ball was fast approaching.
That'll be the day. The Jellicle Ball… I'll make sure to take them then.
I wonder how Victoria's doing?
It's been a while…
"Oh… stop, stop, stop."
They all heard her that time. Misto was already staring at her with huge eyes, but now the rest saw her as well.
"V-Victoria…" Misto repeated, a strange mix of relief and shock in his voice.
Victoria nodded. "Yeah… it's me."
"But… but…" Jemima could hardly force the words from her lips. "But you're dead…"
Victoria looked away and shook her head.
"She's not dead," Electra said, her voice strained.
Macavity's lips twisted into a dark grin. He looked positively sinister, with blood dripping down his face. "Thanks to you," he said, laughing quietly.
Electra's eyes widened. She let out a choked noise and gripped at the place where the glass was embedded in her side. "No! M-my… my magic…"
"Your magic?" Victoria said sharply.
Electra gritted her teeth and said nothing. Spite was evident in her eyes.
"Electra is – was – a magic cat," Plato murmured.
"Where is it?" Electra said suddenly. "Macavity…please. Please just give it back now. I'm so tired…so tired of being what I am."
Macavity stared at her for a moment, then smirked. He blinked a droplet of blood from his eyelids.
"Please," Electra repeated. She moved to stand directly in front of the red cat and fell to her knees before him. It was as if everyone had forgotten Victoria – they only had eyes for what Electra was doing. "Macavity… I'll do anything. Anything."
Macavity stayed silent, prolonging the moment. Electra squeezed her eyes shut. Finally, he spoke. "Can't," he chuckled.
Electra slumped over. "Don't do this," she whispered. Her eyes were stinging. The place where the glass was stuck in her side throbbed in time to her pounding heart.
"You slimy jerk," Misto spat. "Can't you see that she's in pain?"
"I'm not blind," Macavity said nonchalantly. "I can see that her soul is bleeding just as much as my face is."
"Macavity…" Victoria said quietly. His eyes snapped up to gaze into hers. "Don't."
"I didn't say that I won't give the magic back," he sighed. "Don't you kittens listen? I said that I can't."
"But… why?" Misto asked, looking shocked.
"Because the small amount of Electra's magic that I kept for myself is my magic now. It's attached to me with bonds of time and experience – I can't rip it away from myself and give it to her."
"Wait – you don't have it all?" Electra asked, lifting her eyes hopefully.
"Of course not," Macavity snorted. "I'm not a fool. All that magic contained inside me? I'd explode, and that surely wouldn't be pleasant."
"It would," Misto muttered under his breath.
"Then where is it?" Electra said pleadingly, rising to her feet. "Where is my magic?"
Macavity's smirk returned. "It would be too easy if I told you that now, wouldn't it?"
Electra closed her eyes in defeat and slumped back against a wall, her chest heaving. Misto slipped down beside her and murmured something in her ear. She just shook her head.
"It's over," she whispered.
"Think of it like this – would you rather have your magic or Victoria?" Macavity's voice was low, and it had lost all of its mocking edge.
"What, cause it gave her new life?" Electra asked wearily. "Don't ask me that, Macavity – just don't."
Victoria blanched, but said nothing. Obviously, Electra's magic meant a lot to her.
"It did more than that," Macavity said.
"You mean…" Plato's eyes flickered to the ground. "Victoria was bought with Electra's magic?"
"What?" Jemima cried, but no one listened.
"Precisely," Macavity said. "Deuteronomy's orders. Besides, Electra – you can't really give me that look of hatred. I saved you and probably half the world by taking your magic away from you. It's beautiful, but it's deadly."
"I don't care. Even a little of my magic would satisfy me…" Electra shook her head. "But I give up. It's too difficult. I'll just be… me… forever…"
"Don't give up," Etcetera said suddenly. "There's only one thing that lasts forever…being Electra is not one of those things."
Everyone looked at Etcetera and she stared boldly back. Macavity chuckled and shook his head.
"What is this thing that lasts forever?" he asked.
"Death," Etcetera answered quietly.
"You're wrong!" Victoria said. "I died but that didn't last forever!"
"Did you really?" Macavity put in, baring his teeth in a resemblance of a smile.
"You know I did," Victoria snapped.
"I don't know that you died," Macavity said, eyes glinting.
"Death lasts forever," Etcetera repeated stubbornly. "I know it."
"You may be onto something," Macavity nodded.
Victoria hissed and turned her back on the both of them.
"Victoria… you're alive… but how?" Jemima asked in a small voice.
"Ask Macavity," Victoria said flatly. "He seems to be the expert here."
"The main thing is, she's alive," Macavity purred. "I wonder, what's she going to do next?"
"What do you mean?" Jemima cried. "She's coming home!"
"I… I am…" Victoria couldn't say it. "Yes, that's right," she said finally. "To the Jellicles."
Macavity's eyes widened.
"Yeah, we should go," Plato said. "The elders will freak, and to be honest, I really don't enjoy Macavity's company."
"We don't need to kill him," Etcetera added, smiling strangely. "After all, Victoria isn't really dead."
Victoria sighed. "Don't say that like it's all my fault," she said.
"It very well could be," Etcetera shrugged.
"Goodbye, Macavity," Plato smirked. He was the first to leave the den, closely followed by Jemima. Electra sent Macavity one last, hollow-eyed look before stumbling out, supported by Misto. She didn't even seem to care that it was the tuxedo tom who was helping her.
Etcetera and Victoria were the last two remaining.
"Thank you, Alyana," Macavity said. "Good timing, I have to say."
Alyana's vivid eyes blinked from seemingly inside Etcetera's own baby-blue pools. Etcetera smiled wryly and promptly fainted.
"What?" Victoria said, staring at the comatose Etcetera.
"Alyana's been with her the entire time," Macavity said. "It looks to have affected poor Etcetera quite badly."
"Alyana…" Victoria said quietly. "She saved you – if Etcetera hadn't thrown that glass at Electra-"
"I know," Macavity said.
Victoria sighed. "Well, this is goodbye," she said. Why were her eyes burning? Why would she have any reason to cry?
"Yeah," Macavity agreed, though he looked uncomfortable. "Again."
Victoria made to leave the den, but then she stopped. Macavity stared at the back of her head, unsure of what was happening. Then he heard a tiny, but very distinct sob.
Victoria twisted round and ran back to Macavity. She threw herself into his arms and bawled into his chest. Blood trickled down from his face onto the top of her head. He shuddered and planted a final kiss on top of her head.
"You should go," he murmured.
"I take it back," Victoria sniffled. "What I said before… one day… one day you'll truly love." She stepped back and gave him a last look. "Whatever you're going to do next," she said, "I'll see you again sometime."
Macavity simply nodded. As she walked away, she heard his voice – not aloud, but somehow all around her.
"Don't worry – we can keep in touch."
She stopped, lips curling up.
"Just like that last time you were lonely."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"You'll never be alone, Victoria. Never."
A/N: Um, so, yeah. Next is the Jellicle Ball and then… the end. /sniffleface/
On an unrelated note, I injured my back. PITY ME. ;~;