A New Novel, Part 289 You Traded Your Future for This?

20 July 2011, A New Novel, Part 289 You Traded Your Future for 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.

Father Dobrushin and Aksinya have decided to marry so that they can get rid of the demon.  They need to be married by contract in the church.  They return to the Ecclesia for this reason.  Father Makar doesn't give them a very warm welcome...

“Yes,” Aksinya still held to Father Dobrushin with one hand.  She put her other arm around Ekaterina, “Father Dobrushin defended me.  I am not going to prison.”

Father Makar sat at the table.  He scowled at them, “You should call him Dobrushin or Herr Lopuhin.”

Aksinya asked, “Why?”   

“Didn’t you note his beard, his clothing?  He is no longer a priest because of you.”

“Because of me?”

“Dobrushin, didn’t you tell her.  I can’t believe she is so slow.  I would not permit Dobrushin to defend you in court.  Because he opposed me, I took away his right to ordination in this Ecclesia.  When I send my report to the Patriarch of the Church, he will likely not be ordained anywhere else.”

“You can do that?”

“Yes.  I am his superior and an archpriest.  I can make any decision I desire concerning his future in the Church.”

“He will never be a priest again?”

“Not likely unless the White Russians prevail.  The Reds want to destroy the Church there.”

Dobrushin led Aksinya to her usual chair, “Sit, Princess.”

Aksinya would not let Dobrushin go.  She held to him even as she sat and would not release his arm.  He moved his chair closer to her so he could sit.  Ekaterina placed a mug of hot dark tea before each of them.  She sat down.

Father Makar squinted, “Look how she clings to you.  Didn’t I tell you before, Dobrushin, she displays every indication of insanity?  You traded your future for this,” he pointed at Aksinya.

Ah, now we discover what Dobrushin truly gave up for Aksinya.  Father Makar says it.  He tells Aksinya that she should call Father Dobrushin simply Dobrushin or Herr Lopuhin.  Father Dobrushin is no longer a priest.  When he decided to defend Aksinya, Father Makar removed him from his position.  Remember, I gave you all the evidence you needed.  His beard had been cut and he wasn't wearing his collar.  Aksinya should have caught on too, but she was not thinking about that at all--not until now.

Father Makar would not permit Dobrushin to defend Aksinya.  He forbade Ekaterina to attend the trial.  We get a little history of the Russian civil war--the Reds did indeed try to destroy the church.

Watch Aksinya.  She is clinging to Dobrushin.  This is more than ever her small attempt to hold her world together.  She just learned of the sacrifice Dobrushin made for her.  She clings to him because she doesn't know any other way to comfort another person.  She clings to him because he is suddenly her only hope.  You can't miss the fact that she is also his only hope--he has given up everything for her.  Father Makar misinterprets Aksinya's actions.  He sees only that she is insane.  He can't understand her actions in any other way.  Aksinya does show such signs, but it is the result of her decisions.  She finally has someone she can cling to.  This has been Aksinya's greatest desire from the beginning.  She has put her love and attention completely on another person.  Tomorrow, the question. 

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 209 She is Certainly Insane

1 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 209 She is Certainly Insane

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.

What follows is the full transition I promised you.  I first set a day for Aksinya.  Then I gave you a number of days (all similar).  Now, I place the whole before you and this allows us to move to the next scene…

A couple of weeks passed as though they were days. The season of the church was now lent. They all fasted, although Aksinya wasn’t certain they could actually fast more than they did. The food in the rectory of the Ecclesia was filling, but it was nothing like what Aksinya had been used to. At lent, there was less meat, but she ate plenty of potatoes and almost all the tea she wished.


Father Makar came home in a strange mood Saturday evening only two weeks from Easter. Although Aksinya didn’t notice, he wouldn’t look at her at all. His eyes kept shifting toward her all through supper. When Aksinya was finished eating, Ekaterina pushed her toward the door to her room. She placed a taper in Aksinya’s hands, “Here, you might want to read tonight. I’ll take care of the kitchen.”

Aksinya was so happy to get back to her Bible, she didn’t think much, but took the taper in her hand. She stammered, “Th…thank you, Matushka.”

Aksinya headed down the corridor to her room until she heard the Lady Natalya’s name mentioned. Aksinya had asked, like clockwork, but Father Makar hadn’t been able to tell her anything. Aksinya quietly moved back down the hall and snuffed her taper. The door to the kitchen was open. The three sat at that table. Ekaterina wasn’t working on the dishes at all.

Father Makar was speaking, “The abbot won’t reveal anything about the Lady Natalya to me.”

“Does he know the Countess is here?”

“They have no idea.”

“They are looking for her?”

“That isn’t clear either. The Reverend Mother doesn’t know anything.”

Father Dobrushin breathed out, “It’s been almost three weeks. You’d think we would hear something, anything.”

“They may have concluded she is insane too.”

“I’ve watched her all this time. She is odd, but she is certainly not insane.”

Ekaterina added, “I agree. The Countess is anything but insane.”

“She believes she contracted with a demon. She is certainly insane.”

Father Dobrushin continued, “Whether she is insane or not, is not the main question to my mind. What I want to know is does the Cardinal seek her, and what happened to the Lady Natalya?”

The beginning is the transition.  I use two methods to mark the when.  The "when" is critical when moving time like this.  The markers I use are first, two weeks, then the season is now lent.  The use of church seasons is one of my favorite tie markers in these types of period novels.  The time fits and it also gives other markers that provide information and period feel.  Note, that they all fast, but Aksinya isn't certain how they could fast any more than they do.  Here, I let you into the mind of the main character for just a moment.  This is another way to contrast Aksinya's past luxuria with her new found poverty.  She gets as much tea as she wishes, but it isn't the tea she likes best.

Now, another time marker and the actual scene.  The day is Saturday and the evening.  The time is two weeks from Easter.  Father Makar will not look at Aksinya.  He obviously knows something, but Aksinya is preoccupied with other thoughts and doesn't notice.  Ekaterina notices.  She gets rid of Aksinya as soon as supper is over.  She places a taper in Aksinya's hands--this will tempt Aksinya to go read, ha ha.  This is a temptation to Aksinya, but one that is reasonable.

They tried to get rid of Aksinya so they could speak about her, but Aksinya heard Natalya's name spoken, and she decides to listen.  Now we discover Father Makar's connections in the city.  We also discover that Father Makar has been seeking information about Natalya.  He has also been keeping Aksinya secret.  About Aksinya, Father Makar's opinion is direct--he still thinks she is insane.  Father Dobrushin and Ekaterina come to Aksinya's defense.  The ultimate problem with Aksinya is exactly what Father Makar thinks is what the rest of the world with think.

Father Dobrushin caps this piece with his question: “Whether she is insane or not, is not the main question to my mind. What I want to know is does the Cardinal seek her, and what happened to the Lady Natalya?” You should realize that all this is a set up.  I have given you all kinds of foreshadowing and hints.  These bind the scenes together and provide the background for what will happen next.  Tomorrow, more of this important conversation (don't forget, Aksinya is listening).