A New Novel, Part 270 I Have No Current Claim Against the Countess

1 July 2011, A New Novel, Part 270 I Have No Current Claim Against the Countess 

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 is on trial in Wien, Austria.  The presiding judge decided to try Aksinya's fraud case first.  He Noe calls the next witness...

Judge Richter pursed his lips and looked down the witness list, “Bring in the next witness.  That is Herr Frump.  He holds the next greatest claim against the defendant.”

Herr Frump entered the courtroom and took the witness chair.  He was a jovial man with a little too much weight.  He wore a stained apron under his suit coat and held his butcher’s hat in his hands.

The Judge began at a little faster clip that before, “Herr Frump, please give us your full name and occupation.”

Herr Frump grinned, “I am Vladimir Frump, a butcher for the Sacré Coeur district in Wien.  But I am not certain why I am here, Your Honor.”

“Why is that Herr Frump?”

“I have no current claim against the Countess.”

“How is that?”

“After the courts disbursement from the sale of goods in the house, a priest came by my shop and settled the bill.”

Judge Richter pawed through the papers before him.  He turned to the junior Lay Judge, “Lay Judge Amsel, are any of the monetary claims against the defendant still outstanding?”

“No, Judge Richter, they have all been settled.”

Judge Richter laid down his papers, “In that case, there can be no criminal liability against Princess Aksinya.  Therefore, is there any reason to continue to question these witnesses?  Prosecutor?  Defense?”

Father Dobrushin put up his hand, “Presiding Judge, before you release the witnesses, I’d like to ask each a single question.”

The next witness is the butcher, Herr Frump.  I give you a short description of him that almost immediately shows you that he is a butcher.  I don't need to tell you he wears a butcher's hat, but for clarity, I do tell you that.

We find that Herr Frump has the next greatest claim.  There was a lot of meat in Aksinya's house and meat is very expensive in war torn Austria.  Herr Frump begins with the fact that he has no claim against Aksinya.  A priest came to Herr Frump and paid off the remainder of Aksinya's debt.  Who might that priest be?  This information makes the judge look through the rest of his papers.  Do you see how this situation was created.  I give you a revelation through conversation and through the events within the courtroom.  I don't tell you about any of it--I show it all to you.

Because there is no longer any claim against Aksinya's accounts, there is no criminal liability--her debts were paid by a priest.  Now, you can guess who paid off Aksinya's debts, to metaphor is perfect to this point.  Without Aksinya asking, all her physical debts were paid.  We guess that we know who did it too.  The end is that Aksinya is not guilty of fraud if the bills are all paid.  The judge prepares to end this part of the trial, but Father Dobrushin has another point he wishes to make.

A New Novel, Part 217 I Have a Warrant for Your Arrest

9 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 217 I Have a Warrant for Your Arrest

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 is in the street before her house.  Willi, the man who went around the dray to check on the horses returns...

Willi came back around the dray. He had a large grin on his face. He smirked, “Done and done, Helmut. Is it really her?”

“Don’t know. I didn’t think she would be so ugly or look like a drudge.”

Aksinya balled her fists and swung back toward them, “What’s done?”

Willi called around the dray, “She’s over here, officers.”

Two senior police officers came around the dray on the street side. They glanced first at the other carriage. Aksinya followed their eyes. She shuffled her feet to warm them a little. She wasn’t very successful. A familiar voice caused her to turn toward Sacré Coeur again.

At the entrance to the school, Frau Drescher stood just inside the door. She pointed toward Aksinya. When the priests began to walk toward Aksinya, Frau Drescher turned and yanked the heavy door shut again.

The policemen stepped up to Aksinya. They both frowned at Helmut and Willi. The two repossessors ducked their heads and walked back toward the house. They both stopped before they moved out of earshot and turned to hear what the officers had to say to Aksinya.

The policemen were both well groomed and handsomely uniformed. Aksinya wasn’t certain about their ranks, but she had the impression they were both high ranking. The older policemen didn’t nod he simply addressed Aksinya, “Are you the alleged Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna.”

“Alleged. I’ve heard that twice already. I am the Countess Golitsyna.”

“If that is true, then Fraulein Golitsyna, I have a warrant for your arrest.”

“Under what charge?”

It is not so unusual today that the poor and the workers look forward to the righteous punishment of the wealthy and the affluent.  In this period, the nobility entered into that group of those who might face censure. 

What surprises both Helmut and Willi is that Aksinya looks like them.  She looks like a drudge.  You'd think they would have some compassion for her--but that wasn't to be.  Then we see what Willi did--he brought the police who were looking for Aksinya. 

If you remember, there is another carriage blocking the street.  This one came from the south.  The policemen came from the north.  Aksinya is cold.  She follows the gaze of the policemen and notes that Frau Drescher is directing a couple of priests.  Do you remember the dark figure who left the school to go south? 

So Aksinya is surrounded.  Up the street are two policemen and down the street are two priests.  Would you like to guess what they are all after? 

First, I give you a short description of the policemen.  The older one doesn't acknowledge Aksinya's potential rank--he just addresses her.  Look at his address: “Are you the alleged Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna.”  I told you already the demon would take everything from Aksinya--we can see he is trying to take her title from her.  Aksinya will literally have nothing, but it will get worse--don't worry. 

Aksinya asks about the charges for her arrest--we shall see tomorrow.

A New Novel, Part 215 The Bills Must all Be Paid

7 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 215 The Bills Must all Be 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. Two men are taking the furniture out of her house.  She is speaking to them.  One of them has gone to check on the horses...

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


Aksinya reached for the paper.

Helmut pulled it back. His frown deepened, “Please don’t touch it. It is an official document.”

Aksinya moved a little closer to the paper. Under her breath, she read the document, “There is a list of litigants and claimants.” Her voice filled with dismay, “The list is very long. It says, that because the alleged Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna is in arrears for…,” she gasped.

“Is there something wrong?”

“The amount is so large.”

The man made a loud huff under his breath, “That is why the directive tells us to take everything from the house. It still won’t be enough to pay for it all.”

Aksinya wailed, “You will take everything I own, and it still won’t be enough.”

Helmut’s nose twitched, “It won’t be enough at all.”

“What about my jewelry?”

“We haven’t seen any jewelry. Perhaps the previous repossessors removed it.”

Aksinya’s eyes widened, “But my father’s money.”

The man’s face twitched again, “I heard it was all Russian. It isn’t worth the paper it is printed on any more.”

“But I have nothing else.”

“I understand there were loans too. They must all be paid.”

“What will I do?”

The man did smile at that, “You? Who are you?”

Aksinya is speaking with Helmut one of the men moving the furniture from her house.  Helmut shows Aksinya a directive that gives him authority to remove the furniture.  Aksinya reads the paper and discovers that it claims she owes a very large amount.  Helmut tells her all the furniture in the house won't be enough to pay the bills.  Aksinya's cry: “You will take everything I own, and it still won’t be enough.”  For a person who was driven by luxuria, this is an exquisite torture.  Aksinya will have nothing left at all.  Aksinya asks about her jewelry, and her father's money--it is all gone.  Aksinya has nothing left and yet, the man tells her there will be more to pay. 

At the end, the man asks who she is.  He guesses, but do you remember what Aksinya appears like?  She looks like a cleaning woman.  Tomorrow, who are you?

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.

A New Novel, Part 175 The Bills Have Been Paid--Have They Not?

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.

We learned that Aksinya has given up any pretense she had before.  The world has changed for her, and she is in a new mode we have only seen small glimpses of in the past.  There are more revelations afoot...

That evening before dinner, Sister Margarethe helped Aksinya and Natalya prepare to travel to Grossbock for the weekend. Aksinya was dressed in finery and Natalya not less than a degree below that. Aksinya held the book of Heka wrapped in brown paper in her lap. She wouldn’t let anyone else carry it. While they waited together in the parlor for Aunt Brunhilda to arrive, Aksinya lounged and Natalya sat in the large overstuffed chairs. Sister Margarethe stood and held their cloaks. Sister Margarethe cleared her throat.


Aksinya sat up, “Yes, Sister Margarethe, you wish my attention?”

“Yes, Countess. The novice sisters told me this afternoon that they saw a strange man remove your post.”

Aksinya made a frown, “Ah, that must be my courtier, Asmodeus.”

“Your courtier?”

“Yes, perhaps you have not met him.”

“Then he has been intercepting the post?”

“I expect the bills and any official communications. There were no letters today for me?”

“No, not today, or at least I don’t think there were. So he has been allowing your personal correspondence to go through?”

“Yes, I expect so.”

“They thought they saw him take what looked like personal letters from the box.”

Aksinya froze.

Natalya turned her head away.

Aksinya stuttered, “They were likely letters concerning my business.”

“So your courtier takes care of all your bills and business. You should introduce me to him.”

Aksinya’s voice was suddenly very weak, “The bills…the bills, they have all been paid—have they not?”

“Oh yes, every one. I have heard no complaints and the larder continues to be filled.”

Aksinya’s voice shook with relief, “That is good. It is as it should be.”

“Your courtier must be very efficient and a careful steward. Everything seems to be in perfect order. Everything comes on time and is of the very best quality. He must choose your goods very carefully, and he must tip very well.”

“Yes. I’m certain he does.”

Natalya turned Aksinya a strange look that Sister Margarethe and Aksinya both did not see.

Aksinya and Natalya are both dressed to the hilt.  They are preparing to go to Grossbock.  This is a reminder of Aksinya's love of luxuria.  Sister Margarethe is helping them prepare.  Note that Aksinya holds her new book covetously.  She will not let it out of her hands.  Aksinya lounges and Natalya sits properly in the fine chairs in the parlor.  This isn't odd, but it is odd that they are using the parlor.  In this culture the parlor is used, not for waiting, but for receiving. 

Sister Margarethe brings up a strange topic.  The novice sisters saw a strange man remove Aksinya's post.  I use this archaic term for mail intentionally here--for the historical significance and to bring the readers attention to it.  Remember, Aksinya has not seen Asmodeus for a long while.  Asmodeus bought the house for Aksinya.  She has been assuming that he has taken care of the bills and the official communications.  She has not thought about this subject for a while.

Aksinya assumes Asmodeus has been taking care of her mail and bills.  The personal correspondence he has let through because she received and sent letters to Ernst.  In this case, the novice sisters thought they saw Asmodeus take personal letters from the post as well as the bills.  Aksinya has a sudden thought--that is about the bills.  She asks if they have been paid--note, in her concern over the bills, she  forgets about the personal correspondence.

Sister Margarethe reassures Aksinya that the larder continues to be filled--therefore the bills seemed to be paid on time and with a little extra because they receive such high quality foods and goods.  Sister Margarethe doesn't really answer the question, but Aksinya is reassured. 

Natalya's response is odd.  She turns both the Sister and Aksinya a strange look they both do not notice.  We could assume this is a reference to the bills, but it could equally be a reference to the personal correspondence.  We are led to believe that Natalya knows more about this circumstance than either Aksinya or Sister Margarethe.  We have already guessed that Natalya has been working or speaking with the demon behind Aksinya's back.

Here is a hint and a revelation both.  I won't explain it more than this, but Aksinya does not have the energy to worry about this topic--she should.  We know she should.  Austria has come out of a terrible war.  The people have little food or anything else, but her larders are filled; her house is very fine and filled with wealth.  Did you ask yourself how Aksinya can continue to live as she does--it is all completely in the hands of the demon.  This is what this little scene is supposed to remind you.  With these hints, you might be able to guess what could happen.  You will not see the fruition of this short conversation for a while, but it has dire consequences for Aksinya.  Tomorrow, Sister Margarethe has more she wishes to know.