Bound By Blood Part Two

Bound By Blood - Part Two

There were no words to describe the expression that crossed Demeter's innocent face that moment. All movement seemed to stop...hearts...breath...thought... Macavity went on, his baritone voice deep and regal.

"Listen, Demeter. I didn't bring you here to hurt you. I wanted you to know. The Jellicles...all that they've told you...it isn't true. You believe me?"

In her shock, the Jellicle queen could find only one thing to say. "No..."

Macavity found it suddenly hard for him to breathe. The young gold-furred queen stood before him, staring up with her green eyes, silent and defiant. Macavity had hoped his daughter would be more welcoming to her father, but the thoughts the other Jellicles had planted in her mind blurred her vision of him, making him appear to her as no more than a heartless monster.

"Demeter, please," Macavity spoke softly as he could. "Listen to me." He surprised her-and himself-when he held out his paw, gently, without menace. "All I ask is that you listen."

Demeter's eyes roved over Macavity, slowly taking in his battered, scruffy features, down his battle-scarred chest, and following his sinewy arm to finally come to rest on his offered palm. But what she saw there was different. She saw the hand of a killer, a murderer, whose claws forever remained unsheathed; claws which were covered in the blood of countless Jellicles and other cats he'd harmed and killed. Her green eyes rose again to meet his. Soft and gentle, but she could see behind their caring mask. Those eyes held the look of a thousand lies, deceptions, and thefts. Demeter took a stumbling step back as another small "no" passed her lips. She stared at him in hatred. If this was indeed her father, Heaviside forbid, there was nothing to be proud of. Macavity's ears stood forward in alarm as Demeter retreated a few steps from him and raised her claws.

"No," she said again, her voice raising aggressively. "I don't care if you are my father. You're evil. You've hurt other cats: Munkustrap, the Jellicles...I hate you!" She kept backing away from him, as if his evilness and cruelty would taint her if she remained too close. Her voice rose to a shriek. "I hate you! Get away from me!"

Macavity's demeanor flared in anger. Someone continually refusing him tapped the deep rage that burned inside. With an angry snarl, he lunged forward and grabbed Demeter by her mane, forcing her to her knees with her head back, his lethal claws laid across her throat.

"Hear this, you Jellicle filth!" he hissed in her face, their whiskers brushing. "I've put up with you for this long...don't press my patience! If I didn't think I had the chance to bring you back I'd have killed you long ago! Don't think I'll refrain from it much longer!" He roughly threw her to the ground and whirled on his heel, sweeping angrily to the doorway of the small room. Even after the metal door slammed shut behind him, Demeter's muffled voice could be heard as she pounded her fists against the wall.

"I hate you, Macavity! Let me out of here! I hate you! It doesn't matter if you kill me! I'll die hating you! Macavityyyyyyyy!!!!"

Alonzo cursed. It must have been his scent carried on the wind that gave away his position hidden among the garbage lining the alley. Or maybe he'd stepped on something and made a rustling noise. Whatever it was, the guards posted around Macavity's lair were immediately surrounding him. The leader of the half-dozen: a scrawny, sorry excuse for a guard colored a mangy yellow tabby with brown stripes, stood forward, dwarfed by the enormous brutes at his flanks.

"We know you're in there, cat!" he snarled, which was but a high-pitched squeak. It took all Alonzo had to keep from laughing. "Come out peacefully or suffer the consequences!"

"An' what consequences would that be?" he snapped back, remaining frozen where he crouched. His eyes peered at them through a gap in a metal grate, and the sound of his voice allowed them to pinpoint where he was.

"No cat defies the word of Macavity," the tabby went on, bristling which did him little good to increase his size. "Come out!"

"Alright, alright," Alonzo muttered as he climbed out, emphasizing its difficulty. "Don't get your tail in a knot." He stood full height before the Goon Squad, arms crossed over his broad chest. "What'cha want, cats?"

"Jellicle," a large black-brown cat behind the tabby hissed. At the familiar word the cats bared their fangs. "Macavity has ordered any outsiders found on his territory to be brought directly to him for sentencing," the tabby growled. "I'm Seriah. You'll be coming with us now, and unfortunate for you Macavity has a strong distaste for Jellicles."

Alonzo's ears rose, grinning recklessly under his whiskers. "Does he now? Well, guess we learn new stuff every day."

"You will pay for your impudence," Seriah growled, looking pathetically hilarious as he tried to stand up to the fighting tom. "Surrender now! Or be taken by force!"

Alonzo laughed harshly, spitting into the cat's face. "Bring it on, flea bag!"

There was no end to Macavity's persistence. Demeter didn't know how long she was locked in that dark, damp cell, crouched and shivering, before a ray of light fell onto the floor as the door creaked open. A sleek tom stood in the doorway, his face darkened in silhouette.

"Macavity requests your presence," he said, deep and purring. Demeter glared at him from where she sat, knees drawn close to her chest.

"Why didn't he come himself?"

"I do not question his orders."

Demeter didn't know why, but she went peacefully. Stepping into the brighter-lit corridor, she saw the tom to be a tall Abysinnian with fur of rust. His sleek brown paws took hold of her arm gently and walked her along, no hints of menace or hurry. His scent was mild, but radiated Macavity. She hoped he was tomless. He took her to an enormous main room, where a manner of cats lounged, bickering, eating, gambling. Settling easily on a raised platform was an overstuffed, filthy chair. On it lay Macavity, sprawled prone to the world, his head back over one arm, eyes closed, with his feet draped over the other end. His ears and whiskers were still, his breathing deep as Demeter and the Abysinnian approached.

"Macavity, sir," the Abysinnian said quietly. He repeated it louder before Macavity rolled his head to look at them. "Here she is."

Macavity waved his claws, and the cat backed away. Demeter watched Macavity pull himself up, rubbing his forehead, only to turn in slight surprise as the same slim tom grabbed her wrist. She thought she saw tears in his slanted eyes.

"I'm sorry," was all he said before turning and dashing from the room. As though a sudden chill entered the room, Demeter shivered at the cat's words and turned back to Macavity.

"You don't look so good," she flatly observed, hugging her arms.

"I had a bit to drink," he mumbled, shaking his furry mane.

"What do you want?"

The hungover tom pushed himself into a sitting position. "Are you hungry?"

"No," she said stiffly, seeing any resistance towards him a necessity. "What would it matter if I was? I'm your prisoner."

He glared at her, eyes dull. "You're my daughter. It matters." His speech was slurred, a strange scent carried in it. "For your time here I want you to at least not be miserable."

"You took away my freedom. You kidnap me. You keep my from my friends and mate. Why shouldn't I be miserable?"

"I want you to stay."

"Why don't you keep me here yourself," she said, quietly but in defiance. "Lock me up in chains and your cells. Post guards at every corner. Not one could rescue me then."

Macavity nodded, lapping a bit of water from a silver cup set near. It seemed to do wonders to his mood. "Indeed, I could. But I know my enemies. Should I force you to stay, I'd have to fight them constantly to keep you. If you stay willingly, it makes things much easier on everyone." He spread his paws wide when the goblet was finished. "So you see why I'm trying to get the truth to you."

"Is that why you kidnapped me? To show me the truth?" Her voice was now biting sarcasm, and was equally returned.

"How else could I get you to listen? The lies the Jellicles have told you had convinced you I'm nothing but evil. You expect me to pad up to you and have you hear me out?"

Demeter hated herself for admitting he was right. All the Jellicles had told her painted a picture of Macavity as a heartless villain who would kill a cat so much as look at them. But, slowly realization came, he had done no such thing to put to truth what they'd always said about him. Could all of them...the Jellicles?...Munkustrap?...have been lying to her?

"Sir!" A sharp cry drew their attention to a group of mangy cats led by a small yellow tabby. Between two of the biggest was a beaten and battered brown tomcat. "We found this Jellicle sneaking about your lair, sir."

Demeter gasped. "Alonzo..."

The tom grinned, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. "Hiya, Dem. Guess I shouldn't have tried t' take 'em all on myself, eh?"

"Alonzo," Macavity hissed, rising from his seat to saunter toward the Jellicle. "A name known even by the likes of me."

"I'm flattered," the Jellicle laughed. "You try so hard t' kill all of us Jellicles yet you care enough to learn our names."

"I know you only as a Jellicle and a great fighter," Macavity went on, at his signal the henchcats throwing Alonzo to the ground at his feet. "I suspect you came back to retrieve your ward?"

"Smart, maybe," Alonzo scoffed as he looked up. "But a genius...?"

There was little response in the fiery tom's face. "I hate to disappoint you, but there will be little chance of you leaving here alive."

"Well, that puts a damper on things, don't it?"

"I admire bravery," Macavity spat. "Stupidity and insolence are another matter."

"Guess y'wouldn't know much from standing there talkin'."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Tom enough to accept it?"

"Alonzo! No!" Demeter rushed forward, only to be caught by the arm and thrown to the side, where she landed on the floor.

"Don't try me, Jellicle. Turn around, go back to your junkyard, forget about all of this and I'll spare your life."

"Sorry, Cav. Can't do that. Guess I'm gonna have to fight our way out."

Macavity waved his claws, and in obedient response the guard cats backed away a respectful distance. "No one touches this cat," he ordered. "Except me."

Alonzo spat a bit of red from his mouth as he pushed himself to his feet, wiping the rest from his cheek onto the back of his paw. "What an honor," he scoffed.

"Enough of your back-talking," Macavity broke the monotony of his voice with a scathing snarl, ears pressed flat against his scruffy mane. "She's mine!"

"Not on yer life!"

The two went at it like savage beasts. Macavity had underestimated Alonzo's strength, and the momentum of his attack barreled him backwards. Alonzo's ears were pressed flat to his head and his black lips pulled back wide over his fangs as he clawed viscously at Macavity's face. The fiery tom was dumb with shock and drink a moment before he retaliated. His claws, much longer and more lethal than the Jellicle's from more fights, raked across Alonzo's side, taking with it a large patch of fur and flesh. Alonzo roared and swiped, dragging his claws savagely across Macavity's face again.

With a well-aimed thrust, Macavity sank his claws into the already gaping wound covering Alonzo's side. The Jellicle cried out, doubling over, as Macavity leaped for his throat. Alonzo grabbed hold of Macavity's wrists as his back slammed into the ground, struggling to keep the Mystery Cat's fangs and claws from finding his vulnerable throat.

Macavity bared his fangs in Alonzo's face. "Yes, fight. I want you to fight, so that Demeter can watch you go down, little by little, and die slow and long. Your blood will stain this floor, and she will be here to watch it all." He laughed deep in his throat. "You've lied to her for too long."

"Heaviside," the fighting tom gasped, feeling his burly arms waver in their restraining of Macavity's claws. "You're a monster!"

"I know who I am, Alonzo," he hissed in reply. "Do you?"

Alonzo couldn't help but laugh in the face of danger, out of contempt or to cover his fear was uncertain. "I know enough about me t' know the difference between us. I care about Demeter...you don't!" With a powerful kick he threw Macavity off of him, leaping to his own feet in one clean movement. He started forward, bristling, glaring at the red and black cat who lay where he'd landed against the foot of his throne, the overstuffed chair.

"Get up," he growled, flexing his claws, ignoring the stinging throb in his side. "You said you wanted t' fight, well: get up!"

Macavity got up. Slowly, grunting, he pulled himself to his feet from the chair's arm, and stood leaning against it, panting with a calm exterior. He fixed Alonzo's eyes steadily. "Take her," he growled. "Take her with you and get out. Return her to your junkyard and your lies."

Alonzo wavered with uncertainty a moment, eyes studying the Mystery Cat and his followers beyond. The Goon Squad twitched and shifted anxiously, ready to pounce at a moment's notice from their leader. But no signal came. Striding quickly, Alonzo risked everything by putting his back to Macavity and limped toward Demeter. Gently he took her shoulders and began to lead her away, after a moment taking it upon himself to lift her into his arms and carry her the rest of the way, concealing his wince. At the entrance to the room, he stopped at the sound of Macavity's voice, glancing back.

"Be warned, Jellicle," the evil tom hissed, staggering as he tried to stand tall. "It doesn't end here. I'll return when you think it's safe and take back what's mine. And it will be your blood, cat."

Alonzo snorted, flicking his tail in contempt. "I'll be waitin' for ya." Then they left.

"Mrrowwrr!" Alonzo bellowed, biting down on the stick between his teeth with all his might. Munkustrap pinned his shoulders down, looking gravely at Jennyanydots as she administered a stinging salve to Alonzo's wound. She hushed him dutifully.

"Stop your bawling, you kitten. You'll wake up Demeter."

Alonzo tossed the stick away, lifting his arm reluctantly to allow Jenny to attach a clean white towel over his wound. "Kitten nothing, that hurt!"

"Relax," Munkustrap said as he backed away, helping Alonzo to carefully sit up. "If those claws went any deeper you wouldn't be here."

"It was an accident," he snarled. "Nothin' serious."

"An accident?" Jenny huffed from where she rung a blood-laden rag into a bowl of water. "My son getting beaten within an inch of his life is not an accident. You're not to leave this junkyard until that heals, and I won't hear of you fighting anymore! I won't have you ending up like your father."

Alonzo growled a curse under his breath as she bustled out. "I ain't a kitten..."

Deuteronomy laughed warmly. "Do not fret, Alonzo. You did a very brave thing."

"Yeah," he casually brushed a lock of fur from his face. "It wasn't nothin'. How's she?"

Three pairs of eyes turned to the sleeping form of Demeter where she lay curled in a tight ball of fur in the darkest corner of the junkyard den. At the mention of her Munkustrap rose to his feet, gliding across to kneel beside her and gently brush her golden mane. Deuteronomy's voice drew the hero of the hour's ears towards him.

"She has had a great ordeal. She will be well in time. Let her rest."

Alonzo was far from energetic himself, and with a grateful sigh leaned back against the worn blankets he lay on. "Aye. I'll second that."

"Why?" Munkustrap's voice was quiet from where he crouched. "Why would Macavity do this? He's never payed her any attention before."

"Who knows what goes on in the minds of criminals, my son. Do not try to decipher Macavity's actions. Let us just be grateful everyone is back here, safe."

"I should have been there..."

"I dunno," Alonzo ventured on. "I don't like it. Why'd he let us just walk out after goin' through all that trouble? And when she ran forward...he didn't strike her down like he usually does. He jus' pushed her aside..." He shook his head. "An' the way she looked at him. I didn't understand."

"Demeter is full of anger and hate," Deuteronomy said deeply. "It's hidden by a mask of fear, but it is there."

"What can we do t' help her?" Alonzo's face was pure concern.

"All we can do," Deuteronomy glanced across at the sleeping queen, "is be here for her whenever she needs us. Be her friends and her supportive family. That's all we can do."

"No, that's not all," Munkustrap growled, rising and turning on his heel towards the den entrance. "Macavity's gonna pay for this!"

Alonzo and Deuteronomy cast a glance at each other, then after an approving nod Alonzo rose painfully and clamped a sturdy brown paw on Munkustrap's shoulder. "Hold it, hero. You can't go stormin' off like that. Fightin' Macavity's suicide."

Munkustrap shook him off, turning to glare at him with his fangs slightly bared. "Why? I can take him!" Alonzo only frowned.

"He's twice yer age, twice yer size, and twice yer experience. You wouldn't stand a chance."

"What d'you know?" Munkustrap snarled. "It wasn't your mate he abducted."

"Hey!" Now Alonzo was growing irritated. "She may not be my mate, but she's a friend an' fellow Jellicle all the same."

"I'm going to do everything I can to keep her safe. He went after her to hurt me, don't you see?"

Deuteronomy's bass voice drew both their attention. "No, Munkustrap. He wasn't."

A moment of silence. "What d'you mean?"

"Sit, and I'll tell you."

Munkustrap sat beside Alonzo, staring with acute curiosity at his father's words. The old cat drew a long breath before speaking.

"How do you think Demeter came into this tribe?"

"Easy," Munkustrap said. "She was born here. Her parents died. That's what you've always said."

"My son, even I, sometimes, do not speak the truth."

Munkustrap and Alonzo were openly shocked.

"Demeter was not born into this tribe, as you think. We've refused to give her the identities of her dame and sire because we cannot. It would damage too much. We told her they were dead, and have given her the excuse it is not right to speak of the fallen."

"So you lied to her?" Alonzo snapped, bordering on accusation. "You lied t' all of us?"

"What really went on, Father?"

There was no change in Deuteronomy's kind old face. "You barely had your eyes open, Munkustrap, when we found Demeter."

"Found her?"

"Let me explain."

"Sorry."

"It was Skimble, Gus, and I-when we were younger-who were sought out by a certain cat who worked for Macavity. He had with him a kitten, smuggled out of the Hidden Paw's lair. He gave her to us."

Both toms had already guessed the identity of the kitten, and neither wanted to believe it. "You mean my mate-?!" Munkustrap's voice rose sharply, halted by Alonzo's sturdy paw with a sharp glance at the sleeping Demeter. "Why? Who was the cat?"

"It was a slim tom with fur of rust, but his name he never offered. He said earlier that same night a queen he had once held dear had given birth, but it was not his litter. The litter belonged to Macavity, and he was wise enough to know the fates of both the mother and kittens if he did not do something. He killed the mother and brought the kitten to where she would be safe from Macavity's claws."

Munkustrap was still unable to believe-that, or unwilling. "How could a cat working for Macavity possibly care what happens to Macavity's kittens?"

"Perhaps those kittens should have been his."

Alonzo shook his head. "So Ol' Fire Fur did that t' his mate, but he still went back t' work for him?"

"Perhaps by now he has done the right thing and moved on."

"How d'you know y'could trust his story?"

"The sincerity in his face was undeniable. Though Macavity could have corrupted him, he was young and had a good heart."

"You're missing the point," Munkustrap growled. "Demeter is Macavity's daughter?"

"Yes."

Munkustrap's hate for Macavity and all he stood for was absolute, and at that moment his confusion at Deuteronomy's actions full. "But...why...why did you take her in? She's his daughter!"

"We are Jellicles, Munkustrap. We do not turn away any cat who comes to us in need. We offered shelter to the tom who brought her, but he refused. Demeter is no more responsible for who created her any more than you are responsible for having stripes. Look at her Munkustrap." His enormous, shaggy paw extended towards Demeter. "She is still the queen you mated. Her heritage has not changed her. See that."

Munkustrap tried, but it wasn't easy. He hadn't expected it to be. "Does she know?"

"Perhaps. It will be a hard thing for her to bear if she does. I imagine this abduction was an effort to gain her back into his possession. My guess would be that: yes, he told her." He saw the disgusted, conflicted look on his sturdy son's face and gestured him towards the entrance. "Try to see her as you always did, Munkustrap. She cannot be accused for Macavity's deeds." As the two shuffled out, Deuteronomy cast a glance back at Alonzo, who had remained quiet through much of the narration. "Watch over her until she wakes," he said. "Make sure she is well."

Alonzo nodded, but said nothing.

"Feelin' alright?"

Demeter shook her head lightly, pressing a delicate paw to her brow. "I think so." She sat up, green eyes casting about the junkyard den. "Where's Munkustrap?"

Alonzo adverted his gaze dubiously. "He's...blowin' off some steam."

Demeter's face darkened, with it the mood about them turning sour. "He knows..." Alonzo nodded. She sighed in despair, losing all hope. She knew as well as anyone Munkustrap's reaction. "I may as well leave now."

"Don't talk like that, Dem," Alonzo growled, sounding impatient. He stood from his pile of blankets, stretching fore and aft. "Munkustrap's not that closed-minded and ya know it."

Demeter silently rose to her feet, taking a few tentative steps forward until she stood at the tunnel entrance and peeked out, blinking against the sunlight. A grunt from Alonzo drew her attention back to him. "Heaviside, you're hurt!" She dashed to his side.

"It's nothin'," Alonzo growled irritably as she examined his bandaged side. "Jenny already took care of it. Don't see why everyone makes such a big deal. It ain't like I've never been hurt before."

"I'm sorry, Alonzo. You shouldn't have come for me."

"Now Dem, don't start that. Y'know even if..." he paused, decided not to say it. "Jellicles are family. We watch out an' protect each other. Anyone else woulda done the same."

Demeter withdrew, her arm remaining suspended from where it had rested on his shoulder. For a long moment she stared at nothing. Alonzo could say all he wanted...her mind was fixed. "Munkustrap won't have anything to do with me now. He hates Macavity...he hates anything related to him..."

The tom pressed his ears forward in concern, and drew Demeter close to put a comforting arm of support around her shoulder. "Don't even start that. He loves you. Yer mates. Nothin's gonna change that."

Surprising them both, Demeter found an unexpected consolation in his embrace and she returned it, snuggling close to his broad chest. "How can you be sure...?"

Alonzo shrugged, chuckling lightly. "Well, why wouldn't he?"

He stroked her mane, offering her what he thought was support and comfort as would any friend. But something went further. A strange feeling surrounded them both. Slowly, almost hypnotically, Demeter's hands rose and caught the tom's sturdy jaw, drawing herself forward to nuzzle his scruffy face. For a moment Alonzo was stunned, only able to involuntarily squeeze Demeter around her back before her sigh brought him back to his senses.

Alonzo pushed her away, holding her at arm's length by her wrists. His heart was racing, breath rapid, having never felt a female like he'd just done. "No, Demeter. We can't do this. If I'm intervenin' with you and Munkustrap, I'll leave. There's plenty of places I can live besides with the Jellicles. I don't wanna cause you two any problems." He tossed her wrists away and turned. He would indeed have stayed true to his word if she hadn't continued.

"Please," she reached after him. "Don't leave."

Alonzo turned back to face her, her paw on his shoulder. Demeter gasped and withdrew her paw sharply, eyeing it like a bad habit before looking back to him. "Alonzo...that time, at Macavity's lair, when you...said...?"

"Dem," Alonzo tried to once again sound stern, tried to avoid meeting her eyes. It was difficult. "Don't bring it up. What happened happened. I did what I had t'."

She stepped closer to him, not seeming to be aware of his obvious discomfort. "But...what you said. Did you mean it?"

Alonzo began to say something, then stopped. There was something wrong here...horribly wrong. He couldn't describe it, and didn't want to try. It began first when she spoke to him in that voice...steadily growing more intense as they moved closer together. Her paw rose again to gently land on his chest, but this time he didn't push it away. He didn't seem to notice. Their eyes met again.

Alonzo didn't know she was in his arms, crushing herself against him with a passion he'd never known before, until he opened his eyes again. The fire that ignited when she nuzzled his neck was nothing like he'd ever felt. He drew back only once with a moment's hesitance. What about Munkustrap? He couldn't do this to his best friend. But the way she looked at him...the way he held her...she was irresistible. He was engulfed in sensations he didn't want to question, and didn't want to think about. The moment was too perfect. He nuzzled her back, surrendering to the feelings he had no control over.