For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.
Natalya somehow procured Aksinya's book of sorcery and the book of sorcery Ernst owned. Aksinya was tempted by them and spent the night reading the new book...
In the morning, when Natalya entered Aksinya’s bedroom, she had to immediately cover her eyes. The room was filled with brilliance. Aksinya sprawled naked across her bed, and a rod of light lay on her open palm. The bedclothes all were on the floor, and a large and strange magic circle encompassed the bedroom.
Natalya carefully crossed the circle and moved to Aksinya’s bed. She held her hand in front of her face and squinted between her fingers at the bright light. Natalya knelt at the edge of the bed and smiled a great and wonderful smile. It filled her entire face and the sparkle in her eyes vied with the light of the rod. Natalya reached out her hand and touched Aksinya’s lengthening hair. She stroked it and gently clasped it. Her eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, “I knew you would make something beautiful with the book. I longed with all my heart to see it.” She gave a great sigh, “I love you so much, mistress. I would do anything for you.” Her mouth trembled, “What I gave for these books was worth every moment of agony.” She buried her face as though in prayer for a moment then raised her head. She couldn’t take her eyes from the piece of light that lay so easily on Aksinya’s palm.
A knock came to the door. Sister Margarethe’s voice came clearly to Natalya, “Lady Natalya, Countess, you will be late for chapel and class.”
Natalya didn’t want to take her eyes off Aksinya. She replied without turning her head, “The Countess was up late studying. I don’t wish to wake her yet.”
Aksinya has used the sorcery in the Book of Heka to do an enchantment. The Book of Heka is a book of sorcery concerning light. Aksinya has made a rod of pure light. She lies naked across her bed. I don't tell you anything about her evening or her actions, but I do obviously invite you to guess at her actions and activities. Natalya knows immediately. The evidence of Aksinya's activities fill the room from the circle on the floor, to her state of undress, to the rod of light in her hand.
Natalya understands about magic. She carefully crosses the circle to reach Aksinya. Natalya is happy because she knows Aksinya is happy. Aksinya gave into temptation; look at Natalya's response. She kneels and smiles a wonderful smile. The symbolism here is obvious. She is worshiping Aksinya. If that wasn't enough: Natalya touches Aksinya's lengthening hair. I won't ever let you forget about the hair and that it is lengthening. This is her tie to the demon. Natalya strokes and clasps it. She wants what Aksinya has. Then Natalya's confession: “I knew you would make something beautiful with the book. I longed with all my heart to see it.” She gave a great sigh, “I love you so much, mistress. I would do anything for you.” She would do anything for Aksinya--indeed she may have.
Then we learn more. I can't do more than repeat it: “What I gave for these books was worth every moment of agony.” Natalya went through some degree of suffering for the books. I don't tell you and you don't know. You might guess. If you imagine what Natalya was already ready to give--then you'll have it. Then she does worship. She buries her face as though in prayer. If it is a prayer, we know that prayer was to Aksinya. The reference to the light again is intended to draw you r attention back to it and show you another image of this worship scene. The rod of light lays like a scepter on Aksinya's palm.
The Sister Margarethe interrupts Natalya. This is an image too--it is a metaphor for the actions of the spiritual interjecting itself in the lives of Natalya and Aksinya. Natalya will not take her eyes off the object of her worship. Natalya doesn't lie exactly, but it is an equivocation. Tomorrow, Aksinya wakes.
No comments:
Post a Comment