7.

Munkustrap led his team down one street and up another. There was no trace of Admetus, and Tantomile and Coricopat were getting tired, which didn’t help them. The gray tabby was frantic. He didn’t know where to look, or even what to look for.

“Munkustrap.” A rich bass voice resounded behind the cats. The Jellicles froze; they knew to whom the voice belonged. Munkustrap slowly turned to meet the cat.

“Macavity,” the tabby said. Alonzo crouched into a fighting stance while the twins stared daggers at the Persian.

“Look, I know we haven’t exactly gotten along-“

“You can say that again.”

Macavity ran a paw through his headfur. “I’m here on account of one of your Jellicles. A young one.”

Munkustrap shoved Macavity against the grimy brick. “What do you know about Admetus?” he shouted. Alonzo and Coricopat pulled him off Macavity.

The ginger feline brushed himself off. “I don’t like you and you don’t like me, but I don’t like her even more.”

“Who?” Alonzo asked.

“Her name is Asille. She and her sister partake in sick rituals involving toms, and now she has Admetus. I’ve never seen any of their acts, but I’ve heard the screams coming from their warehouse.”

Tantomile and Coricopat looked thoughtful. “You wouldn’t happen to know the name of Asille’s sister, would you?” the queen asked, half wanting Macavity to say yes, the other half wanting him to say no.

“Dersoun.”

The twins gasped. “Where’s their hideout?” Tantomile demanded.

“This way.” Macavity took off.

“What are you three talking about?” Munkustrap wanted to know.

“We’ll explain on the way. Come on, or Admetus will suffer a fate worse than death.”

The five cats ran like the blazes toward the run down section of the city as Tantomile and Coricopat filled them in with the details of Asille and Dersoun. The two were sisters, Asille being the oldest, and both possessed magical capabilities. Dersoun was far more powerful than any cat alive, but she was greedy, like most powerful beings are. She contacted a feline medium, which channeled the spirit of the most evil and magically powerful cat ever: Kyppomardis. The force of the evil was too much for the medium, who died, but Dersoun, who was evil to begin with, could stand being in his presence. Naturally, she wanted power, and Kyppomardis gave it to her at a terrible cost. Dersoun lost her soul and physical beauty. She now looked old enough to be Asille’s great-grandmother, and her frail body was not able to support the magic. This is where Asille entered the big picture. Dersoun could transfer bits of power to Asille for rituals and spells, who then performed the necessary deed. The mystic Jellicle twins knew about certain rituals involving the murder and torture of cats, but they didn’t know the specifics.

Macavity remained silent throughout the explanation given by the twins. They knew facts: he knew what went on in the dark rooms after the sun set. He knew how Asille, the younger-looking queen, attracted toms with her alluring voice and enchanting eyes. He knew how she possessed the ability to cast a spell on a cat, binding him to her will, leaving the poor victim powerless to stop and with no memory of what occurred during the duration of the spell. Macavity knew of the dark shadows gathering together to form a massive shape of pure evil and, with Asille and Dersoun watching from the background feeding it with their power, envelop the chosen cat and- Macavity shook his head. He didn’t know what happened after that. He wasn’t able to stick around and watch…

“Macavity!” Alonzo’s voice pierced through the ginger cat’s thoughts. “Are you going to show us where Admetus is, or are you going to lead us on a wild goose chase?”

“Oh, sorry,” Macavity muttered. “We’re almost there. See that old factory down there?” Munkustrap and Alonzo nodded. Tantomile and Coricopat began gathering their energy. “That’s where they normally are, and I’d give my right paw if they weren’t there now. Let’s go.”

Admetus stretched, flexed, and pulled, but nothing worked. The shackled remained tightly fastened around his wrists. Late afternoon sunlight streamed through a small window near the ceiling of the basement. Asille busied herself around the room, oddly pleasant.

“Almost sunset,” she chirruped. “Then Dersoun will be ready, and we’ll be ready, and Kyppomardis will return!” She spun around gleefully, reminding Admetus of a nipped Etcetera.

“Who-who’s Kyppomardis?” Admetus dared to ask.

Asille froze mid-spin. “Kyppomardis is the most powerful being in the known universe, possibly the unknown as well. Tonight he may return to the land of the living, but there’s a catch.”

Admetus vaguely remembered hearing that sort of legend before, although it involved humans, costumes, and a day they called “Halloween.”

Asille’s face grew as dark as the room. “You’re supposed to ask ‘What’s the catch.’”

“I don’t think I want to know…”

“Well.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to tell you anyway. In order for Kyppomardis to remain on this plane, he needs a vessel in which to house his spirit.”

“Let me guess- I’m the vessel?” Admetus let his paws hang to his sides.

“Good for you!” Asille acted more like a happy kitten than an adult queen, which she was. “I didn’t think the sex of the vessel mattered, but apparently, it does. Dersoun said a tom.”

The room was darkening by the minute. Asille’s face lit up while Admetus’s fell. If the other Jellicles didn’t find out what happened to him soon, he didn’t know what would happen to him.

“Soon, Admetus, soon,” Asille said as the sun continued to set.