Demeter's eyes flickered open and she found herself facing a wall.
It was dark, and it smelt of mildew…but she wasn't hurt.
A tiny mewl escaped her lips and there was a startled hiss to her right.
"Don't frighten the poor thing. She's barely the size of your head," an older voice said, and Demeter shied into wall, crying out again.
"Now you've done it."
"Everyone just be quiet."
Demeter trembled, and a young Burmese female approached her tentatively, giving the tiny kitten a warm smile.
"You're okay, little one. You're with us now…"
Demeter lifted her head, but remained silent, eyeing the other cat with a mix of curiosity and fear.
"You're probably wondering where you are, aren't you?" she smiled, "We're down in an abandoned basement, but that's about all I know. There's so many rooms here… and you can get lost in them if you aren't careful. Not that we're allowed out much, that is…"
Demeter was almost starting to relax, pulling out of her tight curl to listen closer – entranced by the way the Burmese spoke.
"The boss will be back soon, and you'll be able to meet him properly. He's got a soft spot for girls like you, won't treat you too badly," she continued. "My name's Ayamico."
The young queen chatted on and on, and Demeter slowly started to stretch her sore limbs, convinced that as long as she stared at Ayamico, she would be safe.
"There we go, look at that. You're fine…" Ayamico smiled when she noticed the movement. "Do you have a name, pretty one?"
Demeter stared up at her, before nodding. "Demeter," she whispered, which prompted the cooing of several of the cats around her.
Having forgotten they were even there, Demeter jumped in fright, hissing pitifully and scampering behind Ayamico for protection.
"You don't have to be frightened, honey," a Maine Coon with a Texan drawl soothed, "Not with a name like that. Nobody in this room is gonna hurt ya."
Demeter poked her head out to study the other cats. They were of all ages – some frail and old, others lithe and glamourous, and some even younger than herself! She wondered why they were there – how they came to be in that dark little room.
All she remembered was screaming – terror, trying to get to her sister, and then… nothing.
Tears filled her eyes as she thought of Bombalurina, of the Jellicles in the warehouse. Why had this happened?
"No need to cry, little one…" Ayamico cooed, despite knowing her name.
"What have we here, Ayami?"
The voice belonged to an older tom who had swaggered into the room unannounced. Demeter cowered behind Ayamico, peering up at the red, brown and yellow cat with her wide green eyes. The Burmese stiffened, her ears flat against her skull as her tail twitched. She showed her teeth to the tom.
"Back off, Ruesso," she snarled, eyes narrowed, forming a protective curl around Demeter.
The other older females moved slowly – no sudden movements, of course – to face Ruesso in a line. He watched them move, eyeing them off, and he chuckled.
"You think you can pull that when the boss gets here?" he asked, gazing down at Demeter with a sinister smirk, "He'll have fun with that one."
"Don't mean you or your gang get to come here and harass her until he does," the Maine Coon sneered.
Hearing the commotion, two other toms entered the room – a tabby and another mixed breed.
"Ruesso…" the tabby chuckled, "Unsatisfied with your own female so you go after 'Cavity's?"
After hearing the name, Demeter let out a fearful mewl, and Ayamico tried to shush her quietly. It was useless – Ruesso heard and howled with laughter.
"Did you hear that?" he chortled, eyes alight with mirth. "Scared of Macavity, are we?"
"Lay off, Ruesso…" Ayamico warned again. "Tamachin, please…" she addressed the tabby, and he rolled his eyes, but relented.
"Come on, Rues…" he said, stalking forward and walking between Ruesso and Ayamico. "'Cavity will be back soon anyway, and we want his new pet as well rested as possible…"
Ruesso huffed quietly, glaring at Ayamico before turning sharply and following Tamachin out. Demeter watched, only just noticing that her prison had an exit. When she was sure they were gone, she curled further into Ayamico, nuzzling her soft fur and trying to pretend it was her own mother.
"Who were they?" she asked softly, gazing up with her bright eyes. "Why did they talk about Macavity?"
Ayamico sighed quietly, speaking reluctantly, "Because we're in his lair, sweetness…" she said quietly, "'Cause he wants you for his own…"
"His pet?" Demeter recalled.
Ayamico wrinkled her nose in distain, compromising, "His companion…"
"That's a bit fancy for the likes of us…" one of the elder females chuckled softly, and Ayamico shot her a dirty look.
"Look, lovey-"
"Ah, so the new arrival is awake…"
Macavity was bigger in real life than in the stories told about him.
Old Deuteronomy and the Protectors of the Jellicles spoke of his cowardice, of his evil ploys that he only got away with by lying and stealing. They made him out to be ugly and coarse… but Demeter was stunned by how differently she had imagined him.
His ginger coat was dusty, his eyes dark pits. They were filled with malice and mirth, but laced with excitement and wisdom beyond his years. Demeter knew the tom was barely old enough to hunt if he had lived with the rest of the tribe – however he seemed so much older than that. So much more…imposing.
His eyes caught hers and she wanted to look away, but couldn't.
She couldn't.
Her breath left her as he held her gaze, brow creased slightly in concentration.
She wanted Ayamico to step in, to tell him to stop like she did with Ruesso and Tamachin, but the queen was silent and stiff around her.
Demeter felt herself drawn to him, taking tentative steps towards him. She didn't want to, but she couldn't help it.
"Sweet thing…" he purred quietly. When Ayamico had said it, it was sweet, and comforting. When Macavity said it, it sent shivers down Demeter's spine.
"Leave me alone…" she whispered quietly, and Macavity chuckled.
Suddenly his hold over her was gone, and she stumbled forward into his paws, screeching and scampering away.
He watched her go, "As you wish, my young Princess…"
She skirted around Ayamico again, hissing quietly at the larger tom.
"Look after her, ladies. She'll grow up soon enough."