Secret Novel Chapter 38: Dinner and Reconciliation (Patreon)

Madeline tried her best to ignore the tail lying to her side and hanging off of the chair she was sitting in. It was so long and fluffy that she couldn’t sit down in her chair without it pressing against her, or even curling into her lap. If it went into her lap she couldn’t help but touch and pet it. But she knew that would put a smile on Victor’s face and she wasn’t going to do that. He had given this to her and she was going to make her displeasure with it known. Even if it was cuddly and warm. Especially when she went to bed last night after the party and she cuddled it to her chest almost instinctively. It was really soft, much like the fur on her ears, so cuddling it was actually really enjoyable. She would never tell Victor that.

Yesterday after gaining the tail and changing into clothes that would show it off, the celebration had went on. More food was brought out, including food from her home for the guests to try. More games were played and the celebration went on for hours. By the end of the night Madeline was exhausted. She hadn’t had that much social interaction since she left Lexford, and that had only been for a handful of minutes. Still it was an amazing time, even if she didn’t understand all the social norms they had. She had gone to bed late and slept in far longer than she normally would have. Thankfully Victor and his siblings were more than happy to clean up after themselves.

Now she and Victor sat in their chairs with the gateleg table fully open between them. A good chunk of her clothes had been piled on one side as the pair worked at the other end. Victor had honored Madeline’s command to help her with alterations to her clothes. He wasn’t just doing the alterations to help with the tail, either, but also general alterations to fit her in general. Despite his millennial existence he wasn’t as good as she was with tailoring. But he was passable with her constant inspections.

“Eda had far too many clothes,” Victor said while working on a dress.

“Really? I think I’ve seen you in far more outfits than what she had.”

“Yes, but mine are all silks and small. Nothing that would take up nearly as much space as her’s do.”

“Well, I’m not going to complain. I have spent nearly all of my life wearing clothes that never made me feel good, and I am going to wear all that I can now.” She finished some stitching on a pair of pants. Thankfully Victor had been more than happy to share with her how to make clothes work with tails.

“Hmm, well I suppose not all of these are bad. Maybe next birthday I’ll let the family bring you clothes they think they should wear,” he said with a mischievous smile.

“I do not have enough room in my home for that,” Madeline said with a chuckle. “Even if I get rid of some of these that I find I don’t like.” She paused thoughtfully. “I don’t know if I would like what Eliza would get me. Or Lucy. And maybe a few other of you sisters.”

“What?” He looked up at her puzzled. “Why not?”

She looked up at him. “Lucy’s top was fully sheer. Everyone could see everything. Eliza’s top was just shoulders and arms, everything was out.”

“What’s wrong with that? My tops never hide my chest.” The top he was currently wearing probably couldn’t even be considered a top.

“But you don’t have breasts,” Madeline said.

“Why would having breasts mean you have to hide them?”

Madeline went to answer but stopped. Did she really have an answer? “Do beyonder’s not see breasts as sexual?”

“What? Why would they be sexual? Their breasts. Granted they can be enjoyed in sexual manners but that doesn’t mean you should hide them.” He looked at her confused.

“Humans see them as sexual things. Men typically lust over them.”

His eyes went wide. “That’s strange. Sure they can be fun and attractive but not something that should be hidden away.” He looked at her clothes. “Do all of your clothes cover them?” He picked up a dress. “Surely you must see a decent amount in this.”

Madeline blushed. She admittedly had always dreamed of having cleavage to show off and now she definitely had that. Though Victor would be the person to most likely see it. “Cleavage is meant to lure and look attractive.”

“You humans. One minute I think you’re horribly sexually repressed by nature and then I find out you're doing it to yourselves willingly. Well, we can fix that,” he said before getting back to work.

The witch didn’t really understand what he meant by that, but it still made her blush even if his intentions were pure and just about sexual education. Either way she went back to work as well. There was a lot to be done. After some time the pair fell back into conversation. Mostly about Victor’s family and such, and it was very pleasant to talk about that with him. He really did love his family and she could see that clearly. Eventually dinnertime rolled around and Madeline went about making it.

“Any requests, since you won’t be making my dinners?” she asked with a little playful displeasure. Her tail gave a small wag so that he could see it as she stood up.

“No, thank you,” he said with a smile, his eyes glancing down at her tail.

Madeline made them a simple, but flavorful dinner. One that she found in her books. Victor had been kind enough to leave her some meat from last night to make today so kimph meat it was. She wasn’t sure what a kimph looked like but it tasted like sweet pork. Combined with a few vegetables and spices the meal was good and enjoyable. Not quite up to Victor’s cooking yet, but she had a long life to try and catch up. Halfway through the meal they were chatting as usual, but suddenly Victor’s smile faded.

“Madeline.”

“Yes?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Are we going to talk about our fight?”

Madeline felt her tail stop its gentle sway that had built up in the meal. She placed her fork down and didn’t meet his eyes. She knew they would have to talk about it at some point. It might have honestly been the biggest fight they had in their two months of knowing one another. “I’m not killing Mages, Victor.” She said quietly.

“I know,” he replied. She looked up at him in surprise. “It was… It was not right of me to force my views on you like that. While I still might feel that way, I will respect that you do not feel the same as me. I am sorry.”

She studied his eyes. He had never lied to her and she never expected him to. Even now, he was purely honest. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“You are welcome,” he gave her a gentle smile then bit his lip. She hadn’t seen him do that before. “I would like to keep helping you learn to defend yourself.”

“I would like that,” she admitted. She really did have so much to learn.

“But…” She looked at him worried now. “I do feel like you need to learn how to attack back, Madeline.”

“I’m not k—” She started forcefully but the beyonder cut her off.

“I am not saying kill them. Attacking back does not have to mean killing them. There are non-lethal spells and attacks you can learn. Spells that I believe you should learn.” He looked at her seriously. “They are going to try and kill you once they realize you have magic, too. They might try and kill you before that just for surviving in the Maze when they think you shouldn’t. Attacking back can help you get away safely.” He took a deep breath. “You might even have to hurt them in some way to get away, but you do not have to kill. I am sorry if that upsets you, but that is what I honestly believe.”

It was rare to see Victor with such a serious expression. Most of the time he was amused and jovial, or angry and yelling at her. Not that she wouldn’t also be angry and yelling back. He really meant what he said. She knew that of course, but now it hit her differently that they weren’t screaming at each other. He believed she might have to hurt mages if she wanted to survive an encounter. The sad part was that she believed it, too, as much as she didn’t want to. She had seen how the mages treated and thought of people that weren’t them. She knew that life didn’t mean anything to them…

“I know…” She said so quietly that she barely even heard it. “I don’t want to hurt anyone again…” Memories flooded her mind. Marcus’ face as he died filled her mind's vision. “I don’t want to, but I know that I might have to if I want to live here safely…”

“Before the mages took over, witches lived happily and, for the most part, safely in here. Of course the Maze always has creatures looking for food to hunt down, but witches were as native here as the groundskeepers are. It is a shame that peace is not an option for you. It is a shame that it never was.”

Madeline nodded. Mage’s saw the Maze as the home they conquered, not the home that allowed them to live here. “I wish things were different. But if they were I might not have ever gotten magic. Or finally have the right body.”

“Or had the pleasure of meeting me,” the beyonder said with a big smile. Madeline rolled her eyes at him. She couldn’t help but smile though. She wondered what her friends back in Lexford would say to her having a ‘demon’ as an almost permanent guest in her home, and, at this point, an honest friend. What would they say to her having his entire family over for her birthday celebration? What would they say to her heaving fox ears, nose, tail, and fangs? She could only imagine the fit Sophie might have when telling her about altering all of her clothes to fit a tail into the mix. “You’re smiling, so I’m assuming that means you do actually enjoy my company.”

She pursed her lips playfully. “I’m thinking about how my friend Sophie would lose her mind at how much altering I’m having to do to wear clothes. Who would have thought my tailoring skills would come in handy in the Maze?” Victor chuckled. Madeline liked seeing him chuckle.

[We are now in the home stretch guys. The next chapter will be the start of the final act. I hope you guys have enjoyed this story so far.]