Grizabella didn't just hate Macavity.
She hated herself, too.
She hated herself for letting him get to her. For being so weak minded that he actually made her think that the whole situation was okay. That Astyanax's body was best off rotting in a dumpster.
Attentively, she'd listened as he described what would happen to Rumpleteazer. The kitten would become a henchqueen, and with her mystic ability, Macavity would teach her the tricks of the trade.
It had sounded like a lovely plan…until Macavity left the room.
Grizabella was snapped out of her trance and her good feelings were replaced with the horror and outrage, her blood boiling. She wanted to go after the tom, but he was long gone, again. Like magic.
She hissed to think that it was a valid excuse.
She stormed away, shooting daggers at anyone who passed her, until she reached Demeter's room.
"Grizabella!" Demeter exclaimed, before stopping in her tracks before she launched herself at the queen, "I- Is everything okay…?"
Grizabella couldn't even speak, tail twitching violently as she paced. The other queens in the room avoided her with wide eyes. Anger radiated from her, and nobody wanted to get caught in the crossfire.
Demeter sank to her belly, watching Grizabella move around the room, her head whipping around to follow her until she grew dizzy.
"Grizabella?" the kitten finally said softly, ducking her head a little.
The queen whipped around to face Demeter, and the kitten recoiled. After seeing her reaction, Grizabella took a deep breath in.
"Sorry, Demeter…" she sighed softly, circling the kitten and laying down next to her.
"You smell funny," Demeter murmured, nuzzling her gently and gazing up at her inquisitively. "Like… like someone I know…" she breathed, burrowing herself into Grizabella's fur and inhaling deeply. On all of Grizabella's trips to see Astyanax, she was careful not to touch her – not wanting to remind Demeter of her mother.
It hadn't been ideal, but it had been Astyanax's wishes that the kitten not think that her mother was somewhere in the same lair. Driven to escape to find her, Astyanax worried for her kitten's safety.
Grizabella frowned, sighing softly, "Oh… Demeter…" she breathed, "I…" she let out a soft breath, nuzzling the kitten. Astyanax's wishes seemed futile now.
"Who is it?" Demeter asked, frowning thoughtfully.
"Your mother…" Grizabella said slowly.
Demeter's ears perked slightly, her eyes lighting up, "Mother?" she whispered excitedly, "Is she here? Did you see her?"
Grizabella's ears flattened and she sighed softly, "She didn't make it, Demeter…"
"…I don't understand…" the kitten frowned, rising and glancing towards the door, "I want to see her."
"She died, Demeter…"
"No…" Demeter said quietly, "No, she… she couldn't have, I haven't seen her yet…"
"I visited her this morning…" Grizabella said quietly. She gave up all pretence. Demeter deserved to know, "Demeter, it was your sister…"
Demeter's eyes widened, her whole body vibrating, despite the tears that were forming in her eyes, "My sister?"
Grizabella nodded slowly, "She's safe… one of the other queens has her, but she's safe. She got to meet your mother before she died, if only for a moment…"
Demeter's mind had jumped straight to Bombalurina, unaware that Grizabella could be talking about another sister…
Grizabella watched the girl go from excited to sad again – probably still thinking about her mother.
"Can I see her?" Demeter asked softly, "My sister?"
Grizabella winced a little. Maybe this hadn't been the best idea, "I don't think so…"
Demeter's ears flattened, "I want to see her."
"Macavity won't let you,"
"I will see her…" Demeter growled, her tail swishing in determination, "I don't care what Macavity says. I want to see my sister."
Grizabella sighed softly, "Okay,' she murmured quietly, "You'll need to ask him then,"
Demeter started to give her a pleading look, before it turned into a frown, "Okay. I will. When we go out later today."
Grizabella's eyes widened a little, wanting to tell her not to. But… maybe it would be good for the kitten. Macavity couldn't really hurt her, right?
Demeter had been following Macavity for an hour now.
The journey today was long, and Demeter was growing tired.
She usually learnt a lot on these outings about the world, about people – how to avoid them and how to get by on her own. Most of it, Macavity hadn't actually taught her, more she had just picked up as they went. But today Macavity was irritable from the beginning, intent on walking until his paws dropped off.
"Sir?" Demeter asked softly, worried about upsetting him further.
"What is it?" Macavity asked without turning.
"I can't walk any more…" she called quietly, letting out a tiny mewl.
Macavity growled softly, "Bit further."
Demeter sighed quietly, her head drooping as she soldiered on, paws dragging.
Macavity looked back at her once, before letting out a frustrated grunt. He turned, plucking her up and tossing her onto his back, resulting in a surprised squeal from the kitten.
"Hush," he murmured, his pace quickening now that he didn't have to wait for her.
Demeter grabbed his fur, not wanting to fall off, and stared down at the tom in wonder. She didn't know how to read him at all. Sometimes if she sneezed, he would get irritated and yell at her…and yet sometimes he'd do things like this. It surprised her even more considering he was already angry in the first place.
They reached an abandoned park next to an industrial sector, and Macavity turned toward an empty building, climbing the stairs inside quickly until they reached the top.
He pulled Demeter off his back without a word, dropping the kitten on the ground as he stared out into the horizon, some of the tension leaving his body as he sniffed at the breeze. Demeter glanced at him hopefully, biting her lip as she tried to decide whether or not to ask about her sister now.
"Sir?" she mewled quietly, lowering herself to the ground and trying to look as small as possible. "Grizabella told me that my sister is here. Can I please see her?"
Macavity growled, glaring down at her and bristling, "Your sister?"
Demeter shrunk slightly, but nodded, "Grizabella told me that my momma died this morning… and that my sister was here…"
Macavity's mouth opened in a soft hiss, but he didn't speak. His tail swished in irritation, and he paced along the edge of the building. Demeter hung her head in silence. There was no way he would allow her to see Bombalurina.
"Where are we?" she tried to soften the blow, moving to the edge of the building and staring out.
The tom stopped pacing, letting out a tiny breath, "My favourite place…" he said quietly, and in that moment, Demeter saw the young adolescent he really was, "It helps me think…"
Demeter gave him a shy smile, "Really?" she whispered.
He nodded once, eyes narrowing and closing, feeling the wind shift his fur.
Demeter felt clear headed, for once. He wasn't using any of his powers, and he seemed so much smaller – as if one of his illusions was to increase his size. It was… nice. She let out a quiet purr, nuzzling into the tom happily.
His eyes widened in surprise, mouth almost dropping open as he glanced down. He hadn't had that kind of contact for a long time. He let her get away with it for a little while longer – perhaps she needed it as well – before lifting his paw and nudging her away.
Demeter blushed, her purr cut short, and she bit her lip, "Sorry…"
Macavity couldn't deny it any longer. He was growing fond of the kitten. Really, this had been the usual routine – he'd raise a female kitten from as close to infancy as he could, make them trust him, and then bringing them into his den as a permanent resident wasn't so hard. But Demeter was…different.
"Come on."
"Ambrosia!"
The queen was at his side in seconds, "Sir!"
"Where's the new kitten?"
"With Cheroot, is there something wrong?"
Macavity glanced down at the kitten by his legs, "Take Demeter to her…"
Ambrosia eyed the kitten with surprise, glancing up at Macavity once before nodding, "Yes Sir…" she murmured, before reaching and grabbing Demeter by the scruff of her neck.
She squealed in protest, and even Macavity looked offended, "She'll follow," he snapped, and Ambrosia ducked her head with an apology.
After shooting a suspicious glare at the kitten, she led her through another room to where a young queen was sleeping, a tiny ball of fuzz curled next to her.
Demeter frowned, confused, "Where's Bombalurina?"
Macavity gave her a sharp look, "Who?" he murmured, the name familiar.
"My sister?"
It took Macavity a moment before he realised, and his eyes widened, before he growled softly. Grizabella had stuffed up and yet she couldn't even get that failure right.
"This is your new sister," he muttered, unimpressed at the turn of events. "Rumpleteazer…"
Demeter swallowed hard, her breathing suddenly harsher, panicky, "No, this isn't my sister. Where's my sister? Where's Bomba? What did you do to her?!"
Macavity stared down at Demeter with mild concern as she burst into tears, all but screaming.
"Bomba! Bomba!" she shrieked, and Macavity snarled softly, glaring at Ambrosia as Rumpleteazer started to stir.
"Shut her up!"
Demeter continued to scream even as Ambrosia wrapped the kitten up in her arms, covering her mouth as best she could. Demeter squirmed and squealed and whined, biting and scratching, until Macavity roared, silencing the kitten with his magic and glaring at her.
Grizabella appeared in the doorway, eyes wide. The entire basement could hear her shrieks, and she recognised Demeter's cries.
"What's going on here?" she asked.
"You!" Macavity turned on the queen, advancing on her.
Grizabella's eyes turned wide and she backed up, ears flat against her head.
"You're coming with me."