Disclaimer: Unfortunatly, I don't own Cats. Andrew Lloyd Webber does. Lucky duck...

Virtual cookie for anyone who can find the quote from Wicked the Musical in this chapter!

It was the day of the Jellicle Ball. This year, Jemimia was going to become a Queen. Not a day went by when Bombalurina didn't look at the almost mature kitten, and think about the disaster with Macavity.

The Hidden Paw had returned to the Junkyard on the night of every Jellicle Paw ever since he had been banished. The previous year, he had nearly succeeding in taking Demeter away. Alonzo, who was to be Munkustrap's successor, had prevented that, but it had been a close call. Even worse, just as Macavity was turning to go, he had turned around, and made eye contact with Bombalurina. For a moment, it seemed as though they were kittens again, and Macavity was just stopping by to say hello. And then, just as suddenly as it had come, the moment passed, and he was gone.

Bombalurina didn't quite understand it. She knew that he would appear again during this year's Jellicle Ball, and the same things would happen. Demeter would scream, Macavity would appear, Macavity would try to steal Demeter away, and would be thwarted. Her question was, would he look at her again? And, as long as she was asking questions, why had he spared her a glance in the first place?

Bombalurina gave a deep sigh, and closed her eyes, waiting for the ball to begin.

"The cat of the railway train!"

Skimbleshank's song ended and a flash of red light lit up the sky. Macavity had decided to arrive at the same time as last year. "Macavity!" Demeter cried.

Understandably, ever since her capture, Demeter had been scared to death of Macavity, and didn't want to be anywhere him. Bombalurina rushed to her sister's side, and gripped her paw tightly, "Deme….Don't be scared…"

Demeter looked up at Bomba with watery eyes. "I'm not…"

There was a sudden crash, and Demeter clung to Bombalurina's side. She pushed Demeter into the nearest den, and, before Demeter could catch her breath, ran off, crying, "Don't follow me!"

She just had to be sure, had to check that Jemimia was not…But she could not allow that thought to form in her head.

Jemimia was fine, safe behind the giant tire with her new mate, Pouncival, standing protectively over her. As Bombalurina hurried back towards where she had left Demeter, a blood curdling scream cut through the silence. "Demeter!" Bomba screamed, "Oh, why did I leave her on her own?!"

Throwing caution to the winds, Bomba tore through the Junkyard, searching frantically for her sister. She didn't have to look long. In a burst of smoke and flame, Macavity suddenly appeared on top of the car hood, holding Demeter in front of him. He raised a claw to the yellow and black Queen's throat. "No one move, and no one make a sound!" The Hidden Paw shouted, "Or I'll rip her throat out!"

Every cat in the Junkyard froze in the middle of their mad rush, and turned themselves slowly to face Macavity. Their eyes were all filled with pure loathing. Munkustrap spoke first, "What do you want?"

Macavity grinned with a wild look in his eyes. "Well, first, I want the entire Junkyard's attention."

"You already have that!" Munkus growled, "Now, for the last time, what do you want?"

Macavity continued to grin his crazy grin. "What do I want? I want what I've wanted ever since the night that banished me from this place and it's not this mangy hunk of fur!" He dropped Demeter to the ground, and put his foot on her head, pressing just hard enough to make her whimper softly. "No…I'm just using Demeter as a sort of persuasion to get to the one that I want. Someone who is closer to her then anyone else in this dump and you can quit gaping Munkustrap, because it's not you…"

A cold hand of fear griped Bombalurina's heart. It couldn't be, it wasn't her…But there was no one else… "Me…" She murmured softly. She hadn't meant for Macavity to hear, but he did all the same.

"Bravo, Bomba…" Macavity purred, "You have more intelligence then I gave you credit for…It's a simple choice, really. Would you like Demeter to live, or die?" He pressed his foot harder onto a petrified Demeter's head.

"No!" Tugger bolted from his hiding spot.

"Aha! Trying for a bit of bravery, Tugger?" Macavity cackled, "How very strange…"

Tugger looked desperately at Bombalurina, "Don't do it, Bomba! Demeter will be okay!"

Bomba turned quietly to Demeter, who gave a hoarse sort of cry, and under Macavity's firm grip. "Take care of her, will you?"

She squeezed Tugger's paw, and took a step closer to the Hidden Paw's waiting arms. "No!" Tugger screamed.

He tried to grab his mate's arm, but Munkus held him back. "Don't. It…It's her choice…"

"Easy for you to say!" Tugger snarled nastily, "You just want to save your mate's neck!"

"Ah, brotherly love." Macavity sighed, "I find it so touching…Come on, Bomba! I can't wait all day, you know. My foot is getting tired." He pressed his foot down harder on Demeter's head.

Bomba gasped, and jumped quickly onto the car hood next to Macavity. He immediately left his foot away from Demeter, and wrapped his arm tightly around Bomba's waist. "No…Bomba! Please…"

Bombalurina smiled sadly down at Demeter. "I'll be fine…I promise…"

Unfortunately, she didn't even believe herself when she said it. "Come on, sweetheart! It's time to go!"

Macavity heaved the Red Queen closer to him, and launched himself into the air. The last thing Bomba remembered before the Junkyard disappeared was Tugger, staring up at her, heartbroken.

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