A New Novel, Part 234 She May Be Dying

26 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 234 She May Be Dying


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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Aksinya knows Asmodeus will return to torment her.  Unless she can put crosses on her dress and blankets, he will take them from her.  She uses her own blood to draw crosses on them.  Unfortunately, she can't stop the blood once she started it...

Frau Mauer screamed and jumped up.  Aksinya’s eyes closed and she slowly lay on the bench.  The release of the pressure on her vein let the drip become a slow stream.  Frau Mauer screamed again and ran toward the kitchen. 

Frau Mauer grabbed Frau Becker’s arm, “The sorceress has committed suicide.  She is bleeding everywhere.”

Frau Becker’s face clouded and her eye twitched, “Get the Secretary, immediately.”

“What will you do?”

“Just get the secretary.”

Frau Mauer nodded vigorously and ran off. 

Frau Becker grabbed the kitchen axe from the wood pile and ran to the corridor that held Aksinya’s cell.  The guards didn’t attempt to stop her.  She glanced at Aksinya and the growing pool of blood and chopped at the lock on the door.  The old wood splintered satisfactorily under the axe and the door swung open.  Frau Mauer grabbed Aksinya’s wrist and immediately the flow of blood stopped.

Secretary Schwab followed by Otto stopped at the entrance to the cell.  Frau Mauer didn’t wait for them to say anything, she yelled at them, “Get the doctor now.  I’ve stopped the blood, but she may be dying.”

They almost trampled Frau Mauer as she hobbled down the corridor toward them.

This scene is very straightforward.  The results of Aksinya's experiment are not good.  She achieved the markings she wanted, but she couldn't stop the flow of blood.  The demon couldn't imagine this result--could he.  Whether he did or not, the result will be the same.  It appears that Aksinya has tried to commit suicide.  Although Frau Becker stopped the blood, what will the result be for Aksinya.  It seems that she is slowly falling deeper and deeper in to a place that is impossible to recover from.  Sad since she had the spiritual strength to face down the demon and pronounce her freedom from him.  We see that she is not free from the demon.  She has placed her trust in the right place, but Aksinya's problem is like all of ours.  Do you remember Paul's great cry of dismay?  "I do those things I don't wish to do and not those I know I should do."  Still, can there be hope for Aksinya.  If there is hope for her, perhaps there is hope for any of us.  Tomorrow, she wakes. 

A New Novel, Part 233 I Might Need Some Help

25 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 233 I Might Need Some Help

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Last night, Aksinya almost died of exposure because the demon took her dress.  Now, she is back in her cell with warm blankets, but unless she can mark them with crosses, the demon could take them away...

Aksinya sat back and pouted.  She felt much better, but she knew that wouldn’t last long if the demon returned and took her dress and the blankets from her again.  She only knew one way to fight Asmodeus.  She thought for a while about how she might put crosses on her clothing and the wonderfully warm blankets.  After a long time, there was only one thing she thought she could use.  Under the cover of the blankets, she began to prick at her hand with a sharp point of her rosary.  After a few minutes she drew some blood and made a couple of satisfactory crosses on the hem of her dress.  At that point, she couldn’t get much more blood without going deeper into her hand than she wanted to.  She thought for a while then began to prick at the large vein at the side of her wrist. 

She cut through and gave a slight gasp.  She glanced up to see if Frau Mauer heard her.  The old woman didn’t stop sewing.  Aksinya was surprised at the amount of blood the little nick drew.  With blood, she marked the collar and sleeves of her dress.  Then quickly put crosses at the corners of the woolen blankets.  When she was finished, she held the place on her wrist she nicked, but it wouldn’t stop bleeding.  She had nothing to use as a bandage, and she was becoming a little faint.

Since she had marked everything, she thought it was safe to say something to the Frau.  Aksinya cleared her throat and tried to speak.  She couldn’t say anything at first and her sight began to dim.  Finally, she forced out, “Frau Mauer.”

The old woman didn’t turn, “I’ll not give you any thread or a needle.  You needn’t ask again.”

“Frau Mauer, I don’t need them anymore, but I might need some help.”

Frau Mauer leaned over and clucked her tongue.  She turned toward Aksinya.  Aksinya held out her arm.  A bright drip of blood ran down her hand and dropped to the stone floor.  It spattered into a growing puddle of blood on the ground.
Frau Mauer screamed and jumped up.  Aksinya’s eyes closed and she slowly lay on the bench.  The release of the pressure on her vein let the drip become a slow stream.  Frau Mauer screamed again and ran toward the kitchen.

Aksinya moves from one problem to the next.  Do you see how the demon is still driving her even when he isn't present.  There is a great allegory in this.  You do recognize that Aksinya's actions are literally the only thing she can do.  If she does not make crosses, the demon will take her dress again, and she will suffer greatly.  She choses to use her own blood to protect herself.  As a side note, Aksinya is selfish in this, just as all of us are selfish.  She doesn't want pain and suffering.  She doesn't want the demon to take her clothing and blankets.  She doesn't want to be cold.

Unfortunately Aksinya makes a slight error.  In her hurry to find some blood, she pricks too large a vein and she can't stop the flow of blood.  I use some fun advanced writing techniques to show you what is happening.  Plus, I interject a little humor. 

Remember, Aksinya is cold.  She is undernourished.  She has only blankets and thin clothing.  Although she isn't bleeding very much--it is enough to make a difference.  Frau Mauer thinks Aksinya has tried to commit suicide.  Do you imagine this might be part of the demon's plan?  Suicide is an unforgivable sin for the Catholic Church.  Aksinya's actions will appear to be a suicide attempt--or success.  Tomorrow, more help?

A New Novel, Part 232 I Must Put Crosses on my Dress

24 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 232 I Must Put Crosses on my Dress 

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Aksinya almost died of exposure because the demon took her dress.  Now, she is back in her cell with warm blankets, but the demon could take them away...

After Secretary Schwab, Otto, and Frau Becker departed, Frau Mauer took her position again beside the door.  The moment Aksinya finished praying her rosary she felt better, she called to the Frau, “Frau Mauer, may I borrow a needle and thread?”

Frau Mauer took a quick glance at Aksinya.  Aksinya sat on the bench wrapped in the blankets, “Of course you may not have a needle and thread.  What would you want with something like that anyway?”

“I must put crosses on my dress.”

“Crosses on your dress?  You are a strange one.”

“If I don’t he’ll just take it off me again.”

Frau Mauer stared at Aksinya and nervously fumbled her sewing, “Did you lie to the secretary and Frau Becker?  Did some man molest you?”

“The demon took off my clothing to punish me.”

Frau Becker’s eyes widened, “I think Frau Becker is right, you are crazy.”

“I may be crazy, but I need to put crosses on my clothing and on these blankets.”

“You shan’t get any needles or thread from me—not unless the Secretary himself instructs me.”
Aksinya sat back and pouted.  She felt much better, but she knew that wouldn’t last long if the demon returned and took her dress and the blankets from her again.  She only knew one way to fight Asmodeus.  She thought for a while about how she might put crosses on her clothing and the wonderfully warm blankets.  After a long time, there was only one thing she thought she could use.  Under the cover of the blankets, she began to prick at her hand with a sharp point of her rosary.  After a few minutes she drew some blood and made a couple of satisfactory crosses on the hem of her dress.  At that point, she couldn’t get much more blood without going deeper into her hand than she wanted to.  She thought for a while then began to prick at the large vein at the side of her wrist.

Frau Mauer is Aksinya's guard again.  Aksinya asks for a needle and thread, but Frau Mauer won't loan them to her.  Aksinya tells the Frau exactly why she needs the needle and thread.  Do you remember, the effect of the crosses on the demon.  The crosses did prevent Asmodeus from removing Aksinya's clothing.  She knows they can protect her in the cell.

Frau Mauer's thoughts are not pleasant.  She can't imagine anything good about Aksinya.  Do you see that her reaction and the reaction of Frau Becker will be the reaction of everyone else.  If Aksinya imagines a demon, she must be crazy. 

Since Aksinya can't get Frau Mauer to give her a needle and thread, she must discover another way to protect herself.  Aksinya is used to using blood as a sacrifice.  This time, she is using blood to protect herself, but it isn't through a spell.  She is using blood to make crosses on her clothing and blankets.  Aksinya may be resourceful, but she just is too innocent and naive.   Tomorrow, success, but at what price.

A New Novel, Part 230 I am Perhaps not Sane

22 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 230 I am Perhaps not Sane

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Asmodeus visited Aksinya in the depths of the night and took her dress.  In the morning, the woman guard finds Aksinya unresponsive... 

Otto returned with four hot water bottles and two blankets.  The woman wrapped the blankets around Aksinya and put the hot water bottles in the layers.  She put the warmers under the blankets but where they wouldn’t touch and burn Aksinya’s skin.  She and Frau Mauer rubbed Aksinya’s chilled hands and feet.

Aksinya gave a moan and tried to sit up.  The woman’s voice was very kind, “Don’t get up.  Don’t move for a little.”

Aksinya whimpered, “It hurts.”

“Aye, it does hurt.”

Aksinya squeezed her eyes shut then opened them wide, “Who are you?” 

The woman smiled, “I’m Frau Becker.”

Aksinya moaned again and began to shiver, “It really hurts.”

“Why did you take off your dress?”

Aksinya groaned, “I didn’t take it off.”

“Were you molested?”

Aksinya didn’t reply.

Frau Becker turned toward Secretary Schwab, “You need to question the guards.  The girl was attacked in the Archbishop’s own home.”

Aksinya gritted her teeth, “They didn’t molest me.”

“…But your dress.”

Aksinya let out her breath, “You would not believe me anyway.  I am here to be tried.  No one molested me.”

“Tried, surely you aren’t the one.”

“I am the one.”

Frau Becker stared at Secretary Schwab, “This isn’t a joke is it, Schwab?  I’ve heard the rumors.  This girl is to be tried as a sorceress?”

Secretary Schwab shrugged.

Aksinya was shivering a little less, “I am a sorceress.  That is why they locked me up.”

Frau Becker’s gentle hands didn’t stop rubbing Aksinya’s.  She mumbled, “Then you are not fully sane.  They put a poor crazy girl in a cell and are going to try her for sorcery.  Does the Archbishop think this is the Fifteenth Century?”

Aksinya tried to smile, “I am perhaps not sane, but I am a sorceress.”

Frau Becker gave Aksinya a very sad look then she turned to the secretary’s servant, “Get some food and hot tea.  Bring sugar and milk.”

Frau Becker is doing her best to help Aksinya.  Aksinya finally wakes.  Frau Becker and Frau Mauer are rubbing Aksinya's hands and feet to help the circulation return.  Frau Becker is very kind.  Aksinya is in pain.

Frau Becker wants to know why Aksinya took off her dress.  What she really wants to know is whether Aksinya was molested.  Aksinya knows she can't tell the truth--no one would believe her.  So she says nothing.  That's when Frau Becker learns that Aksinya is "the one." 

Everyone has heard rumors in the Cardinal's house, but Frau Becker didn't expect to come face to face with the prisoner.  Then we see Frau Becker's conclusion--this is everyone's conclusion: Aksinya isn't sane.  How will Aksinya fair in a trial?  How will she get through the next night?  Tomorrow, at least she gets breakfast.

A New Novel, Part 229 She’s Still Breathing

21 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 229 She’s Still Breathing

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Asmodeus visited Aksinya in the depths of the night and took her dress.  In the morning, the woman guard finds Aksinya unresponsive... 

At the cell door, the secretary took one look inside and turned his face away.  With his face averted, he unlocked the door and pushed the kitchen mistress, Frau Becker, inside, “See if she is alive.”  He handed the blanket to her. 

Frau Becker paused a moment but the look on the secretary’s face drove her more than any words.  She laid the blanket over Aksinya’s naked body, and put her face close to the girl’s.  The woman called over her shoulder, “She’s still breathing.”

“Thank God,” exclaimed the secretary.  “What’s wrong with her?”

“What did you expect?  She’s naked and freezing.”

“What should we do?”

The woman tucked the woolen blanket around Aksinya’s body, “It’s too cold in here for a thin girl like her.  Bring warmers and hot water bottles.  Hot tea and food later.”  She stated almost accusingly, “Where are her clothes.  Was she molested?”

Frau Mauer called from the corridor, “Her dress is out here on the floor.”

“Bring it to me.”

The secretary nodded at Otto, “Get warmers and hot water bottles.  Go now.”

Frau Mauer brought the dress to the open cell door.  Frau Becker barked at her, “Frau Mauer, bring that here and help me dress her.”

Frau Mauer grumbled, but entered the cell, “She did it herself.  I’m sure.”

The woman began to pull the dress over Aksinya’s head, “Secretary Schwab, this dress is too light for this place.  Did you want her to die from exposure?”

He stared accusingly at Frau Mauer, “The girl was fine when she came here.”

“She is certainly not fine now.”  They pulled the dress over the rest of Aksinya’s body.  Frau Becker held her close and rubbed her hands.

Otto returned with two coal packed metal warmers, “The hot water bottles are being filled.”

“Go back and tell them to bring them right away.”

He nodded to the kitchen head.

She stopped him, “Bring another two blankets.”

“Yes.”  He ran back down the corridor.

Frau Becker laid Aksinya down again and placed a warmer near her head and one near her feet.  The kitchen head ordered Frau Mauer, “Take off her shoes and rub her feet.”

Frau Mauer jumped, “Her feet?”

“I’ll do if it you won’t.  Here, take her hands and be gentle.  When the circulation returns she will be in great pain.”

Frau Mauer shook her head, “I’ll rub her feet.  I don’t want to be that close to her.”

In this scene, the overtones of the times play out wonderfully.  The secretary turns his face away from the naked Aksinya.  His actions are for her dignity and his temptation.  What a perfect balance of one and the other.  He sends Frau Becker, the kitchen mistress, to check on Aksinya. 

Aksinya's life is important to the Cardinal for a couple of reasons.  He isn't a bad man, but he has inquisitors in his city and his house.  He doesn't want to bring the wrath of the Pope on him--who knows they might investigate him.  The other reason is that the Cardinal doesn't wish to have a young woman, even a sorceress, die in his custody.  We will see the result of this care later.

I'm still playing the humor, but when we find that Aksinya is indeed alive, I can bring it out a little stronger.  The secretary asks a dumb question, and Frau Becker responds:“What did you expect?  She’s naked and freezing.” 

I love observations from other characters.  They bring great depth to the writing.  This is exactly what we get from Frau Becker's impression of Aksinya: “It’s too cold in here for a thin girl like her."  Then the question: "Was she molested?”  This seems innocuous to us, but in this time, it is a big deal.  We know Aksinya was not molested, but they don't.  The problem with such an idea, is that it would ruin Aksinya's reputation even more.  Not to mention the black mark on the Cardinal's house.  You know the demon had this in mind the entire time.

I give you details of the flurry they make in helping Aksinya.  They dress her and we get Frau Becker's impression that the dress is too think for the environment.  As I mentioned, I give details of the no nonsense way Frau Becker takes care of warming Aksinya.  She warns about the returning circulation--ouch.  Can't you see the demon's plan.  He doesn't wish Aksinya to die--he wishes to torment her.  If she died, the exquisite suffering of the upcoming revelations would fall flat.  If she died, she couldn't experience the pain of returning circulation.  The demon is about torture not just temptation.  Tomorrow, more treatment for Aksinya.

A New Novel, Part 228 I Think the Prisoner is Dead

20 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 228 I Think the Prisoner is Dead

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Asmodeus visited Aksinya in the depths of the night.  He told her, again, his purpose was to ruin her life.  He left her naked in the cold...

In the morning, the old woman came to the cell door and tried to rouse Aksinya, “Sorceress.”  She knocked against the wooden frame with her stick.  Aksinya didn’t move.  In the early morning darkness she squinted at Aksinya, “Sorceress, where is your dress?”  She struck the wood harder, “Wake up, sorceress.  I have your breakfast.”  Still Aksinya didn’t move.  The old woman hobbled back up the corridor.  She cried for the guards.  They wouldn’t enter the corridor—they had been warned by the Archbishop’s secretary not to enter it for any reason.  The women in the kitchens ignored her.  She finally made her way up to the archbishop’s secretary’s office.  She lifted her stick and thought better of it then she tapped hesitantly at the door with her fist.  The door immediately opened.  The secretary’s servant stood there with a surprised look on his face.  When he recognized the visitor, his look turned to anger.  The old woman curtsied a little crookedly.

The servant was about to shut the door, but the old woman stuck her stick in the jam, “I need help…the prisoner.”

The secretary’s voice came from the depths of the room, “What is wrong, Otto?”

“It is Frau Mauer.”

“What does she want?  She has her instructions.  She is neglecting the Cardinal’s prisoner.”

Frau Mauer curtsied as deeply and evenly as she could, “Sir, I think the prisoner is dead.  She is naked in her cell, and she won’t wake.”

The secretary rushed to the door, “Naked, dead.  This cannot be.  I instructed you to care for her.  If something happens to her, the Pope’s inquisitors will be down on our heads.  Do you wish that?”

“You told me not to open the cell door.”

“I told you to watch her carefully.”  He snarled, “Otto, get a kitchen woman and come with me.  There can be no delay.”  He motioned to Frau Mauer, “You come with us too.”  They started down the steps toward the basements.  “How long has it been since you found her?”

Frau Mauer was breathless, “I tried to get the guards to help, then the kitchen women.  No one would help, that’s why I came right to you.”
He glanced at his pocket watch, “Dear God, frau, it is already seven and you were to serve her at six.  Already an hour.  Quickly.”  He moved more quickly.  They paused at the kitchens to retrieve a blanket and a lantern.  Secretary Schwab called for Frau Becker, the mistress of the kitchen, and she followed them past the guards, where the secretary collected the key to the cell, and then into the corridor.

The demon didn't have to torment Aksinya, the world itself did that.  Without any clothing in the middle of a cold winter, in a cold basement, the outcome was almost predetermined.  Perhaps Aksinya is dead.

The old woman, whom we learn is Frau Mauer hobbles to get help.  She can't find anyone to help her and ends up at the quarters of the Cardinal's secretary.  Do you remember the Cardinal's secretary.  I introduced you to him at the Advent party.  I specifically mentioned in that commentary that we would meet him again.

We also get to meet Otto, the servant of the Cardinal's secretary.  Still, Frau Mauer's information gets immediate attention.  The great fear is that the Pope's inquisitors might lose their sorceress.  I played much of this with a touch of humor.  Not too much--the idea of a young woman dying from the cold in a cell is too serious for much humor, but for the same reason, the tension needs a little break. 

You can see the humor in the approach to the problem as conceived by the secretary.  He gets a lantern and a blanket.  If Aksinya is dying of cold, that's likely not nearly enough.  Luckily, he will have help: Secretary Schwab called for Frau Becker, the mistress of the kitchen, and she followed them past the guards, where the secretary collected the key to the cell, and then into the corridor.

Tomorrow, we shall see the result of the demon's torment.

A New Novel, Part 226 My Purpose is Temptation and Evil

18 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 226 My Purpose is Temptation and Evil

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Asmodeus comes to visit Aksinya in the depths of the night...

He laughed, “I have no more instructions to give you, alleged Countess.  I’m here to steal all hope away from you.”

Aksinya pressed her lips tightly shut.

“You will never be rid of me, but now, I can torment you as I desire.”

“You lie.  You may only torment the guilty, and I am confessed and forgiven.”

Aksinya heard a slight change in the tone of Asmodeus’ voice, “I warned you not to confess.  I still have power over the world, and the world will do my work for me well.”  He stuck out his hand and pulled it back.

The dress Aksinya wore slipped off her body.  At the door, the demon held it in his fist.

“There, alleged Countess, the night is cold.  Your cell is colder.  This dress shall keep until the morrow.”  He threw it far down the corridor where Aksinya could never retrieve it.  “I can still torment you, but I don’t need to torment you.  That was never my plan.  I sought to bring everyone around you down to your level.  Already my plans have come to a wonderful harvest.  It is a harvest you shall reap for me.  Could you imagine that you would see the ruin of everything you hold dear?  You don’t need to imagine it, because you will soon live it.  Everyone you touched will be harmed.  Little girl, you don’t have any idea the havoc you have wrought in this world—soon you will know all.”   

Aksinya huddled naked and shivering in the corner of the bench and the wall.

“This is usually the time you threaten me, alleged Countess.  Why so quiet?”

“Because speaking will do no good.  It never did any good before.  The only thing that matters anymore is that I am confessed and forgiven.”

“What about your friends?”

“For them…for them.”

“Hah, don’t say you are willing to die.”

Tears trickled down the sides of Aksinya’s cheeks, “I cannot say that.  I am not willing to die for them.  I wish I was able, but I am not.”

“That is your problem.  You were willing to release a demon to protect your family, but you would not have died for any of them.  Let me tell you a secret, alleged Countess.  I killed your family.  I killed them all.  If you wondered at your injuries when you traveled with me from your cellar to your family’s estate, they came about because you helped me bring about the deaths of your own family.  I delayed just long enough between heaven and earth so the Bolsheviks would have the time to do their dirty work.  You were marked with the touch of hell in the place where time has no meaning.  Already you have been to hell; therefore, you should embrace your new home with even greater fervor.”

Aksinya was breathless, “You let them murder my family?  You were sworn to obey me.”

“Never sworn to obey you.  I swore to do evil in your name.  You are such a fool, little girl.  You tried to negotiate with a demon.  My purpose is temptation and evil.  I have no other purpose in heaven or earth.”

Asmodeus has come to torment Aksinya--he has shown this behaviour over and over.  He has come to steal all hope from her.  When Aksinya tells the demon he can't torment her because she is forgiven, the demon's tone changes slightly because he may not be able to use his power and physically torment her, but he can use his words and the power of the world to torment her.  He takes her clothes and now she is naked in the cold.  She was cold before, now she is colder.  Do you remember how sensitive to the cold Aksinya is?

Asmodeus tells her, it was never his plan to torment her.  His plan was to torment everyone around her.  Perhaps he is lying, but that doesn't matter, the suffering of Aksinya's friends is a torment to her.  The demon tells her, she will see the ruin of everything she holds dear.  She doesn't understand the suffering she has wrought--soon she will know.

The demon knows her well--usually Aksinya returns the demon's attack at this point.  But Aksinya has learned.  It does no good--it never did any good.  The truth is that: "The only thing that matters anymore is that I am confessed and forgiven.”

The demon isn't finished.  He has more torment to bring her.  It's about Aksinya's friends.  Told you.

Aksinya isn't much different than most of us--she isn't willing to die for another.  She isn't willing to die for her friends.  The demon uses this against her.  He has more to use against her.  He begins his torment with the truth about Aksinya's family.  Asmodeus allowed them to be killed.  He could have protected them, but he didn't and had no intention of protecting them.  Ultimately, calling the demon gave absolutely no benefit to Aksinya.  If you imagined anything positive from it, this confession from Asmodeus completely destroys that idea.

Aksinya doesn't understand.  She states: "You were sworn to obey me.”  Asmodeus clears that up quickly: “Never sworn to obey you.  I swore to do evil in your name.  You are such a fool, little girl.  You tried to negotiate with a demon.  My purpose is temptation and evil.  I have no other purpose in heaven or earth.”  He told her that before--was she not listening?  Tomorrow, more from the demon.

A New Novel, Part 225 I Can Torment You as I Desire

17 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 225 I Can Torment You as I Desire

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Her jailer is an old woman who left her water and gruel as her supper.  Aksinya tries to sleep...

A heavy sound woke her.  She raised her head.  She didn’t dare speak.  Then she heard it again.  It sounded like the slap of a bare foot against stone.  She caught a whiff of sulfur in the air.  In the darkness, a large dark figure stood outside her door.

Aksinya shivered and trembled at the same time.

Asmodeus voice thick with mocking amusement tumbled out of the darkness.  Aksinya was so used to seeing his lips curl up over his fangs, she wasn’t certain if she could see them or she just imagined them in the darkness.  The demon chuckled, “Dear alleged Countess what a terrible predicament you find yourself in.”

Aksinya stared at him.

“Didn’t I warn you not to confess?  Didn’t I tell you to not seek out the Church.”  He spat the word.  “You sought to resist me.  That was a new experience for me.  None of my previous masters ever tried to fight against me before.  But that doesn’t matter.  There is no hope for you now.”

“There was never any hope for me from the beginning, was there, demon?”

“Ah, the little girl finally speaks.  Yes, you are right.  There never was any hope for you.”

“Why are you here now demon.  Have you come to give me more instructions or did you just come to torment me.”

He laughed, “I have no more instructions to give you, alleged Countess.  I’m here to steal all hope away from you.”

Aksinya pressed her lips tightly shut.

“You will never be rid of me, but now, I can torment you as I desire.”

“You lie.  You may only torment the guilty, and I am confessed and forgiven.”

We all seek resolutions.  This is one such time.  It is a rich time in a novel when we can begin to see what has transpired outside the stag we see.  Asmodeus visits the prisoner, Aksinya.  How ironic is this--to be visited by a demon in the house of the Cardinal.  Did you note that the demon could not enter a church or an Ecclesia, but he freely enters the house of a Cardinal--oh well.

Perhaps Akisinya's reaction is too much.  I wanted you to note that she is cold--in this scene, I don't want you to forget, but I want you to know that she is filled with fear.  She should be.  I show you how dark it is, still Aksinya imagines the expressions of the demon--they are horrible.  You can imagine them with her. 

His first address to her: “Dear alleged Countess what a terrible predicament you find yourself in.”  With these words, you know he takes credit for leaving the impression she is not really a countess and with her entire predicament.  He is trying to be amusing.

First he attacks her confession.  Isn't that the first thing the newly confessed think.  When everything doesn't work out, they ask, why did I confess?  Then the Church itself.  It hasn't helped Aksinya?  Has it?  That is the impression the demon tries to leave.

Second, he reminds her, she resisted him.  There is no hope for her because she resisted the evil of Asmodeus and she sought confession and the church.  But listen to Aksinya's words.  She does understand now.  It wasn't her resistance, it wasn't her confession, it wasn't the Church--there was no hope from the beginning.  We knew this.  If we didn't, we guessed it.  There was no hope while Aksinya wallowed in sorcery, luxuria, with a demon in contract with her.  The only problem is she still has a contract with Asmodeus.

Note how the demon addresses her, this will be important in the future--little girl.  And Aksinya's observation, "Have you come to give me more instructions or did you just come to torment me.”  Of course, the demon came to torment her--that is his purpose.  He told her that before.  Then the part that implies her contract: “You will never be rid of me, but now, I can torment you as I desire.”

Aksinya hopes this is not true.  She grasps at what she knows is truth.  The fact that she is confessed and forgiven, is it enough?  We know it is likely not.  Tomorrow, more from the demon.

A New Novel, Part 224 She Tried to Sleep

16 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 224 She Tried to Sleep

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 locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Her jailer is an old woman...

Before the room darkened completely the old woman brought a small bowl to the door and shoved it through the low rectangular hole at the bottom that was made for that purpose.  She pushed a second bowl more gently under the door.  She rose expectantly in front of the lattice, “Don’t be slow, sorceress.  Push the slopjar under the door.  I’ll empty it.”

Aksinya shook her head, “I haven’t used it.”

“I will only empty it once a day.  When you are finished push the bowls back under the door.  I’ll see you in the morning.”  Aksinya noted the old woman’s laughter as she made her way down the corridor.  She heard a heavy door open and shut.  A metal lock turned.

Before every trace of light drained from the room, Aksinya stumbled to the bowls.  One held a congealed mass of thick cooked wheat cereal.  It wasn’t seasoned at all.  The other was filled with water.  Aksinya took a long drink of the water.  She stuck her fingers into the hardened cereal and felt the last remnants of warmth.  She ate it all and washed it down with the remaining water.  Then she curled up on the bench and tried to sleep.

I hope your view of Akisnya has changed just as Aksinya has changed.  She has nothing now.  She is paying a penance for her wrong and will pay more.  The price of her actions is high.  She has come a long way from the pampered princess in a private Catholic school.  She once had hope and now she begs for blankets and warmth.

There isn't much commentary to give in the following transition.  It moves Aksinya from the day with her jailer to the night with hunger, cold, and perhaps a visitation.  Tomorrow, the night.

A New Novel, Part 222 You Must Never Forget This

14 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 222 You Must Never Forget This 

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 locked in a cold dark cell.  Her jailer is an old woman...

Aksinya stood.  Her legs almost buckled, and she took an involuntary step to keep from falling down.  The floor was stone.  It was freezing through her thin shoes.  She regained her balance and stumbled to the lattice work door.  She gazed out into the corridor.  She couldn’t see very far, but beside the door sat an old woman in a thick habit.  The woman was sewing.  She didn’t look up at Aksinya, “You finally awake, deary?”

Aksinya stared at the woman.

“I expect you’re hungry.”

Aksinya licked her lips.

“You slept through breakfast, so there won’t be anything for you until supper.”

Aksinya cleared her throat, “May I have tea?”

“Tea for the likes of you?  I don’t think so.”

“Water then.”

“It will just make you need to pee, and I don’t have a mind to clean up your mess more than I need to.”

“Who are you?”

The woman laughed, “I don’t need to tell you anything.  I’m your jailor.  That’s enough for you to know.  If you don’t cause me any problems, I will ensure your stay is not harmful to you.  If you cause me problems, I will make your life miserable.”

“Where am I?”

“There is no harm in telling you that.  Perhaps you can guess…”  The woman glanced up at Aksinya.

Aksinya shook her head.        

“No…then you are in the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.”

“He would be the Archbishop.”

The woman’s voice tightened, and she shook her needle at Aksinya, “He is officially a Cardinal.  You must never forget this.”

I repeated the last paragraph from yesterday.  An old woman is Aksinya's jailer.  She wears a habit, but we will find she is just a servant in the house.  Listen to how the old woman taunts Aksinya.  Aksinya is indeed hungry--she hasn't eaten all day.  Aksinya asks for tea.  At least in the Ecclesia, when they didn't have food, they had tea.  Aksinya then asks for water.  Water will fill a belly for a little while.  You might ask what kind of cleaning--the chamber pot isn't clean at all.

Since Aksinya can't get anything to eat or drink, she turns the conversation to the woman and where she is.  We learn that she is in the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Aksinya had met the Cardinal before at the Advent party.  She knows he is a Cardinal, but he also has the official position as as archbishop and not a cardinal.  The Cardinal of Wien is not a full Cardinal.  This statement is intended to show that Aksinya is very smart about these things, let the readers in on a historical bit of information, be a joke on the Cardinal, and incite the old woman.  Tomorrow, more of Aksinya's stay.