Bombalurina woke with a start the next morning. She felt something warm and tight around her waist, and looked down. Those strong arms around her waist were covered in black and red fur, nothing like Tugger's fur…Suddenly, all of the previous nights events came flooding back to her. She had a sudden, horrible urge to start screaming at the top of her lungs. Last night, she had felt so wonderful and so perfect, but now all she felt was confusion.
At the same time, far away in the Junkyard, Malaro and Gracietta were watching the Rum Tum Tugger and Munkustrap fight…again. Not a day went by when the two brothers didn't quarrel, mostly about Bomba's sudden disappearance. "If you had been doing your job, this wouldn't have happened!" Tugger hissed.
"You're the one who abandoned her in her time of need!" snarled Munkus, as a retort. "You refused the kittens!
"Because they were his!"
"They were Bomba's too!"
Graci sighed softly. "I do wish that they would stop yelling so much."
Malaro nodded and flicked his tail lazily.
Suddenly, Graci felt a sharp claw rest on her shoulder. "Not a word…" She heard a soft voice say.
Graci and Malaro both whirled around. Bonconlo was standing there, a paw extended. "Sorry if I scared you." He said sheepishly, seeing their frightened faces, "I just don't want those two to hear…"
He winked, and gestured to his newly acquired den. Graci and Malaro looked at one another, and then followed Bonconlo into the large trash bin that served as his den. "I'm sorry about the state of the place. I haven't really had much time to get organized…" He gestured around the room, which was littered with junk. "We weren't expected to be neat, as Henchcats. Please, sit down…If you can find a spot…"
The two kittens cleared a space among the clutter, and sat. "Sow, how are you getting along? You know…without your mother…"
Malaro shrugged. "…Fine, I guess. Aunt Demeter is taking care of us now…"
Bonconlo nodded, and, after taking a quick look around, leaned in closer. "Listen, do you two know anything about-"
From outside, there was a crash, and the sound of a scuffle. Bonconlo immediately jumped up and held his paws protectively in front of the kittens. "…Wait here." He whispered.
He jumped out of the den, and into the night. Graci and Malaro exchanged nervous glances.
"All alone…"
The two kittens jumped as they heard a voice coming out of the darkness. "Finally..."
Another voice, a high pitched, Queen's voice, cried, "I thought 'e would NEVER leave!
Suddenly, two completely identical cats appeared in front of Graci and Malaro. Graci had never seen them before. " 'ow long do ya think it'll take 'em to get 'ere?" The first one, obviously a Queen, asked in a strange Cockneyish accent.
"Long enough…" The second, a Tom, answered in the same strange accent.
He flashed a devilish grin as he and his companion began to circle the two kittens. "What…What do you want from us?" Whispered Graci, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
The Tom chuckled. "Scared, princess?" He ran a claw lightly down her chin.
"NO!" Graci cried defiantly.
Both cats laughed. "Feisty one, ain't she?!" The Queen squealed.
"Quiet, Teazer!" The Tom hissed.
"Keep your paws off my sister!" Malaro growled, stepping protectively in front of Graci.
"Ain't 'e just the spittin' image of the boss!?" The Queen, whose name was apparently Teazer, giggled loudly. "Oh, come on, Jerrie!" She cried in a squeaky voice when the Tom shot her a dangerous glare.
"We 'ave to hurry, Teazer, before the other Henches get 'ere!"
"Too late for that." A deep voice said.
Three cats were standing in the entrance to the den, all bearing a long, red scar from their left ear to the point of their chin, the mark of a Henchcat. "We want to join in on the fun!" sneered the blood red Tom on the right.
"What do you want, Zazor?" Mungojerrie said, "We can 'andle this ourselves."
"Not a chance." The black and red Tom that stood in the center of the group said with a twisted grin. "These kittens are that red Queen's weakness, and the red Queen is the boss's weakness. I can't afford to let you mess this up. Cattamier! Zufier!"
The two cats at Macavity's side pushed Teazer and Jerrie against the wall, and went to stand behind the helpless kittens. Zazor approached them. "Hello, little ones." He snarled. "Now, this all will be very easy if you do exactly what I tell you to do."
Both kittens nodded quickly. Graci was trembling from head to foot as Zazor eyed her greedily. "You will follow me out of the Junkyard, and you will not make a sound. You are not to speak to anyone, or to notify anyone that you are in danger. Every time you disobey, you make your siblings' life shorter. Am I clear?
The kittens whimpered, and nodded again. "Good." Zazor chuckled. "Very good…"
Bombalurina crept out from under Macavity's strong grip, and leapt lightly down from the bed. She had no intention of leaving. No, she only needed some time to collect her thoughts. She chose a secluded corner near the door, and settled herself down for a long think.
Macavity was like a dream come true to her. She used to be a shallow flirt, concerned only with catching the Rum Tum Tugger's attention. She had never really considered herself smart or really all that lovable.
She had always been jealous of Demeter. She only had to think about her Munkustrap, and didn't have to worry about his faithfulness wavering. Bombalurina did, because Tugger was always after some pretty new Queen, or even a kitten or two, if his taste was satisfied.
But Macavity was so very different from Tugger. For the first time in Bomba's life, she believed that she had fallen in love with someone who truly loved her back.
OOO! Twists and turns, eh? Will the kittens be saved? If Bomba's faith well placed? Tune in on Tuesday for the next exciting installment in "Wicked Love".