A New Novel, Part 284 I Have the Surety the Demon Gave You

15 July 2011, A New Novel, Part 284 I Have the Surety the Demon Gave You

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.

Father Dobrushin took Aksinya to dinner.  He told her he is willing to marry her to help her be rid of the demon.  Aksinya is speaking...

“If I marry you, I just want one thing.”

“What is that?” 

“You know how I desire.  You must swear to give me all the physical attention I want.”

He shook his head, “Is that all you really wish from me?”

“I always wanted to be held by my mother, she did not hold her children.  My adopted father was affectionate but my mother disapproved.  I have never had enough attention from anyone.”

“That’s all you want—attention.  Doesn’t love concern you at all?”

Aksinya lowered her eyes, “I know you have agape love for me or you wouldn’t have spent so much effort to help me. Ekaterina told me that the love of friends can grow by getting to know and spending time with each other.  I’m not certain we are friends yet either, but I would like to be your friend.”

“We are already friends.”

“Do you realize what could happen to you if what you propose doesn’t work?”

“I do realize the danger.”

She gave him a sly look, “How will you chase off the demon?  Do you have the special parts of a fish?”

“I have this,” Father Dobrushin stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a heart shaped necklace.  “Is this the surety the demon gave you?”

Aksinya’s mouth fell open.  She squeaked, “That is it.  Where did you find it?”

“It was inside your jewelry box just as you described it.”

“You bought it back?”

“I did indeed.  All the merchants to whom your goods were sold were listed in the court documents.  When I paid off the claims against you, I found the jeweler who bought your jewelry.  If you notice…” Father Dobrushin scooted his chair closer to her and Aksinya leaned her head toward his, “If you notice, there is the design of a fish on the pendant.”

My daughter tells me I shouldn't write so much about aggressive women characters.  I tell her I am writing about the unique and there really are people with personalities like Aksinya's.  Aksinya is a young woman who is driven by desire.  This isn't so unusual.  What is unusual is for a person to be so forthright in their desires--especially in this culture and time.

The reason Father Dobrushin knows about Aksinya's desires is because he was her confessor.  He is surprised that this is all she asks of him.  Aksinya then explains more about her life and what she wants.  We could have guessed this from her past. 

Father Dobrushin asks a question that is very important to him.  He obviously wishes Aksinya to love him.  He is more concerned with love than she is.  Her explanation is simple and very specific.  She is willing to get to know him.  Listen to his immediate response: “We are already friends.”  Aksinya is willing to be his wife and lover with the hope they will be friends.  Father Dobrushin wants her to love him.  He doesn't tell her, but isn't it obvious that he loves her.

The part about loving her is wrapped in the next few statements.  Aksinya asks: “Do you realize what could happen to you if what you propose doesn’t work?”  The answer is that the demon could kill him.  This was the danger for Ernst that Asmodeus explicitly told Aksinya at the climax of the novel.  The man who weds and tries to bed Aksinya will die.  The only reason Tobias was not murdered by Asmodeus was he had the help of an Angel who gave him part of a fish to burn in the marriage chamber.

Father Dobrushin has the surety the demon gave Aksinya.  It has on it (from the beginning of the novel) a fish.  Then we see another proof that Father Dobrushin loves her.  We know he paid off the merchants for her.  In addition, be bought back her surety.  We get the details about how he could find the necklace and the merchants.  Tomorrow, there is more to this very important conversation.

A New Novel, Part 126 You Desire Sorcery

If you haven't noticed, the world has changed to focus on Ernst von Taaffe.  Asmodeus accomplished this so easily in Aksinya and Natalya's lives.  The demon tempted Aksinya with sorcery and succeeded.  He tempted her with education and succeeded.  He tempted her with a household and servants and succeeded.  He tempted her with a friend and succeeded.  Now, he tempts her with a lover.  Will the demon succeed here too?  Aksinya is conversing with Natalya on just this subject...

Aksinya turned her a foul look.


“Aksinya, what about the man. He said he is infatuated with you. He likes you for who you are. What does a moldy book have to do with anything?”

“You are cruel, Nata. Why would I want a man? What would I do with him? I can do something with a book.”

“A book of sorcery. The thing you seem to hate the most.”

“I do hate it.”

“But you are so wonderful at it.”

“It is a wasted skill.”

“But you are so skilled at it. In any case, this young man likes you. He is the son of an aristocrat. You need to determine if he will become the Graf. If so he will be equal to you in rank and therefore a balanced union.”

“What if I don’t seek any union?”

Natalya’s mouth opened and closed, finally she squeaked out, “Of course you want a union. You must find a man to marry—a man who is close to your rank. That will bring honor to your family and to the nobility.”

Aksinya shook her head, “Nata, my family is dead. In Russia, the nobility will soon be dead. You heard Fraulein Vogt this evening, the Austrian Parliament intends to outlaw the aristocracy in Austria. There is no purpose in making a good match anymore.”

“But, Aksinya, there is still a purpose in marrying a good man.”

Aksinya mumbled, “He isn’t a good man. He is a man who desires sorcery.”

“Then he is just like you. What is wrong with that? I desire sorcery. You…you…”

“Say it Nata. Go ahead. I know what you are going to say.”

“Very well, Aksinya. Though I desire it, you will not properly teach me.”

A knock came to the door. Aksinya jumped. Natalya turned toward the door, “You may enter, sister.”

Watch closely what is happening in the Aksinya/Natalya relationship.  Where always before Aksinya led and Natalya followed, now Natalya is leading.  Natalya encourages Aksinya in regards to Ernst, and Aksinya asks a penetrating question: “Why would I want a man? What would I do with him? I can do something with a book.” We will find later, Aksinya answers this question for herself at least intellectually.

Aksinya claims that she hates sorcery, but we all know she doesn't hate it at all--she desires it.  She is tempted by it.  Aksinya is lying.  She doesn't like herself when she sucumbs to sorcery, just as she doesn't like herself when she sucumbs to sexual desire.

Natalya suggests that Ernst might make a good marriage companion for Aksinya--she responds with the obvious but false argument that leads back to the end of the nobility.  Natalya answers with the truth--the purpose of marrying a good man.  Aksinya has perhaps never thought of such a thing.  She can't imagine that someone might desire her and love her.

Aksinya and Natalya's relationship is slowly changing.  Aksinya is letting things get a little out of her control.  Natalya will set her straight about men, or will she make things worse?  Tomorrow, more of this conversation and more about Aksinya and Natalya's new friendship.

A New Novel, Part 30 Hungary

We move very simply from Russia into Hungary.  There is no east and west--yet.  The world is war torn from WWI, and I will likely add much more in description to this section and the next.  I don't want to make this a travelling novel, and I don't want to draw attention away from the main storyline, plot, and theme.

Zάhony was a city being rebuilt. It was war torn and weary. The people looked at anyone who was different with suspicion. Asmodeus, Aksinya, and Natalya exited at the station. Asmodeus led them back toward the Russian side and behind some buildings. There Aksinya said her words and suddenly she and Natalya were again in their normal forms and their clothing. The counterspell was very simple. After the change, they were completely bedraggled, and they stunk. Aksinya could smell herself. She was very uncomfortable, and she wanted a bath.


Asmodeus led them back to the station. The Russian and Hungarian guards stared at them, but here the revolution was still an event in Moscow and well away from this place. Here the old order of White Russia still reigned. They allowed Aksinya, Natalya, and their courtier an escort to cross the boarder. The Russian and the Hungarian guards bowed to them as ladies and gentlemen and to Aksinya as an aristocrat. Aksinya spoke French. The men nodded politely but did not understand her. Asmodeus spoke to the Hungarians in Hungarian. Asmodeus led them into and through the town to a very fine inn on the other side.

He engaged them an apartment with a sitting room. The very first thing Aksinya did was tear off her clothing. While Natalya drew a bath, Aksinya stripped off everything. She entered the tub before it was half full and let Natalya continue to fill it with hot water from the stove in the bathroom. She let Natalya scrub her. She didn’t dally, but stepped out before the water was cool and started to help Natalya remove her clothing.

Natalya held Aksinya off. She hung her head, “I’ll take care of my clothing myself, countess.” She blushed, “It is unseemly for my mistress to help me.” She gave Aksinya an imploring look.

Aksinya didn’t say anything—she returned to the bedroom. The demon had placed a selection of clothing there. Aksinya put on a warm gown and pulled on a heavy robe. Almost before Aksinya was clothed, Natalya entered from her bath. She carefully kept her back turned away from Aksinya and pulled on her old nightgown and robe.

When a knock came at the door, Natalya answered it.

A woman and two kitchen girls stood there. Natalya nodded at them. Aksinya addressed them in French, “Good evening.”

The lady and the girls curtsied and ducked, but didn’t say a word. They filled the small sitting room table with many dishes and fine food. They laid out very nice china and silver. When the table had been set and filled, they all curtsied again and left.

Aksinya took a deep breath. She sat at the table. Natalya stood at her elbow. Aksinya tugged on her sleeve, “Lady Natalya, please sit with me and eat.”

“It would not be proper, countess.”

“It might not be proper, but it would please me. We ate together all the way across Russia from Minsk to here, and you didn’t complain.”

Natalya blushed.

“There is no need to be embarrassed. You will be my lady and my friend both. It would please me if you would eat with me.”

“Only in private, please mistress. I would never want to embarrass you.”

“And I would never desire to embarrass you.”

“Thank you.” Natalya guiltily slipped into a chair and tried to make herself a little lower than Aksinya.

Aksinya served Natalya a plate of food and placed a fork in her hand, “Please eat and converse with me, Lady Natalya. You are very pleasant company and a very fine lady-in –waiting.”

“Thank you,” but it was slightly muffled as Natalya demurely filled her mouth with a bite of meat.

Did you note how I showed you Natalya's desire to hide her scars from Aksinya.  I didn't tell you anything--I just showed you.  Did you note that Aksinya called Natalya her friend.  This is a revelation I need to make stronger from the beginning.  Aksinya has had few friends.  Her friends were here books of sorcery.  She was estranged from the family she loved.  The reason will become obvious later.  For Aksinya to have a friend is a new thing for her--even her approach is awkward, but notice, not unplanned or unthought.  She is not embarrassed, but rather approaches friendship like a demand.