A New Novel, Part 214 The Bills Haven't Been Paid

6 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 214 The Bills Haven't Been Paid

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.

Aksinya ran away from the Ecclesia.  She makes her way back to the street where her house and the school are...

The moment Aksinya stepped into the street that served both Sacré Coeur and her house, the fog seemed to rise. She didn’t need to see, she had the stone wall to guide her. Her fingertips were frozen and she couldn’t feel the wall anymore, but she still knew it was there. She continued along it toward her house. As she moved closer, she noticed for the first time a large dray outside it. Some furniture sat at the back of the moving carriage. A few pieces were stacked inside it. Most of it was out in the street. Two men exited her house. They carried one of her chairs. Aksinya recognized it immediately. It was the floral one her father had liked so much. It was very well made and the fabric was Damascus silk. Aksinya removed her hand from the guiding wall and hurried her steps.


Her attention was centered on the men at her house, so she didn’t notice the dark figure who moved from the entrance of Sacré Coeur when she passed and headed back the direction she had come. A wiff of sulfur halted her for a moment then she continued.

Aksinya stopped breathless before the two men. They paused and put down the chair. One was tall and heavy with large features and a swollen nose as though he had been struck there many times. The other was a thin younger man with straggleing greasy hair and protruding teeth. They didn’t smile, but they did wait for a moment to allow Aksinya to catch her breath.

Finally, she forced out, “What are you doing in my house?”

“Your house?” the larger man spoke. His lips rose over his teeth, but he didn’t smile, “We’re removing the goods.”

“But why?”

“The bills haven’t been paid.”

“Not paid? But they were…They were all paid.”

The younger man leaned on the back of the chair. The large man stuck his dirty hand into his coat and brought out an official looking paper. He didn’t give it to Aksinya, but held it up at arms length so she could see it.

The younger man’s voice was slightly high pitched, “Helmut, why are you taking the time to show that to her? We have work to do. She’s just a putzfrau, a cleaning woman.”

“Halt Mal , Willi. Don’t you remember our instructions?” He made a gesture behind his back.

The younger man scratched his head, “You don’t mean.” He glanced meaningfully at Aksinya.

“I’ll let her read the ruling. You check the horses,” he turned around and winked.

“Oh,” Willi nodded, “I’ll check on the horses.”

Helmut’s lips rose over his teeth again. It wasn’t a smile.

Aksinya makes her way back to her house.  The way wasn't so difficult.  When she gets there, a large carriage is there.  A dray is a transport carriage.  They are usually enclosed.  They are used for carrying heavy loads.  Two men are removing the goods from her house.  When Aksinya sees this, she runs the rest of the way to her house to confront the men.  While she is running a dark figure who was hiding at the entrance to the school sneaks the other direction.  I don't leave you to guess who this person is, the whiff of sulfur should make it clear.  Aksinya stops at the smell, but continues.  She doesn't see the figure and can't connect the two events--I want you to connect them.
 
I give you a short description of the men who are carrying the furniture from Aksinya's house.  Then, we find out what is going on.  You should have expected it.  You should have guessed it.  They have been at their work for more than one day.  Aksinya chanced upon them in the middle of their work.  The bills have not been paid on the house, therefore the creditors are taking Aksinya's property.  These are the things of Aksinya's family.  They have belonged to them for generations.  This is the luxuria that Aksinya loves, yet all in a moment, they are gone.  This is the revenge of Asmodeus.  He promised to take away everything important to her.  He has taken Natalya, Ernst, Sister Margaretha, sorcery, the goods and wealth of Aksinya's family, her education.
 
Aksinya looks so different from the past, the younger mover thinks Aksinya is a putzfrau, a cleaning woman.  So far has Aksinya fallen from where she once was.  There is something going on here too.  Helmut signals Willi to check the horses, but there must be more to it than that.  Helmut shows Aksinya an official paper.  Tomorrow, what the paper said.