Onyx the Tabaxi: Part Three (special preview)

Once in a while, Reverence will receive a large crate from friends who are outside the village. It’s usually filled with all sorts of things, ranging from basic supplies, to special fabrics, ceramics, and sometimes jewelry. But more than often, it has a small collection of books inside. It prompted Reverence to build a small library sometime ago and set it up in the family portion of the village.

I often take the kids there whenever Rings and Ebert are both busy. It’s a nice way to get out of the house, and the kids seem to enjoy it. Not only that, I’ve found a love for reading I didn’t realize I had. I even started taking books home with me to read before bed.

“Is that a new one?”

I looked up from the pages at Ebert standing in my doorway. I nodded, gently closing the book over my thumb to show off the cover to him. “It’s a series I found at the library. I’m really engrossed with it.”

He came into my room, and while my thumb still kept the page he looked over the cover and title. “Alyssa’s Service,” her murmured.

“It’s about this maid who travels around,” I replied a bit shyly. “Helping the people in their large homes.” My tail twitched, giving myself away to Ebert.

He chuckled, sitting down beside me. “Helping them how?” He said teasingly. He leaned upon his elbow, a sort of smug smile on his handsome face.

I pouted a bit, tail still twitching. “Well, at first she’s hired to do special work in the homes. Like deep cleaning kitchens, or impressing visiting royals. But yes,” I huffed, “the books are all lewd in one form or another.”

Ebert’s smile grew and he laughed again. “I love how you’re still a bit shy in some ways.” He pet my cheek, smoothing back my fur a bit. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your stories though.”

I opened the book back up and looked inside. “I really like Alyssa. She’s not just a maid, it’s like she’s some sort of magical creature who knows when people need…help. She reminds me of Reverence. Or well, maybe Rev when she was a lot younger.”

A sudden burst of laughter erupted from Ebert and he had to sit up or risk falling down. He held his stomach, glancing at me while I stared at him incredulously.

“What?” I scoffed.

“Nothing. Nothing,” he wheezed as he tried to catch his breath. “I just uhm…how old do you think Rev is?”

“I dunno? Anywhere from thirty to a thousand. I can never get a good read.” I looked over the words on the page. “Is she young or something?”

Ebert leaned back again, cuddling up beside me. “It’s not important.” He sighed as he leaned back. “How many books are in this Alyssa’s series?” He asked.

I think for a moment, trying to picture the aisle and the shelf the books are on. The spines are all dark red with silver filigree, and I can almost see them sitting there, waiting to be cracked open.

“Six I think. At least that’s how many I saw in the library. This is the third one, and I am almost done with it.” I said this with a bit of pride.

“Oh wow! You’re a quick reader, huh?” Ebert rubbed my thigh with his big, strong hand. “Maybe I can try and order you your own set for your birthday.”

My whole body grew warm in several ways. I would so enjoy my own copies of the book, but that had to be horrendously expensive, and I didn’t want anyone, let alone Ebert, spending that kind of cash on me. Second, I was coming up on a milestone birthday, and I already knew there were whisperings and plannings amongst the village as to what to do about it. I was fairly new to the village, compared to some who had been here most of their lives, but still, they seemed to go all out for people, even people like me.

“A whole set would be a lot! And I can borrow from the library,” I said, trying to cover.

Ebert smiled and my heart skipped a beat. “I want to do something special. So we’ll see.” He looked into the open book and his smirk grew. “Good part?”

I pulled the book up and hid the filthy words against my chest. “Perhaps.”