After the interlude with the jewelry and box, Aksinya and Natalya went to school. Chapel is, of course, first, followed by German. Remember the Demon's words about the German teacher.
When they went to chapel, the crucifix burned against Aksinya’s skin, but her stomach felt better. She didn’t feel quite as nauseous, but she didn’t feel well either. Natalya still had to help her out of the church at the end. They went to their rooms to retrieve their books. The jewelry box was gone. Natalya served Aksinya tea.
Their first class was German with Sister Margarethe. The sister greeted Aksinya and nodded to Natalya. The sister did help Natalya, but she spent most of her class time speaking with Aksinya. At the end, she placed her hands softly on Aksinya’s shoulders, “Dear countess, your skill with German is very good and improving already.”
When they were outside the classroom, Aksinya whispered to Natalya, “I didn’t even finish my work for the class.” And she laughed. Natalya just looked concerned.
They went to their other classes and finally supper.
The problems with the rosary are a continuing theme through the book. It indicates the guilt of Aksinya's sin. One point of resolution would theoretically be that if the cross stopped burning her, then her guilt would be gone. Aksinya has the classic popular and historical indications of deep spiritual problems. Could you expect anything else?
When they returned to their room, Asmodeus has removed the jewelry box. They have their morning tea--notice that Natalya pours.
German class is always interesting and important. Watch closely. I hope you remembered the interaction before. Aksinya doesn't get it, but Natalya obviously does. You can't miss the fact that Natalya knows more than she likely should and understands much more than she says. Tomorrow, the demon again.
Showing posts with label jewelry box. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry box. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A New Novel, Part 77 I will endure
I'll give you a little more today than usual, because I want you to connect an important part of the story and theme. I'm writing chapter 17 now. It is one of the pivotal scenes in the novel. You have only seen two of the pivotal scenes so far and there are seven. The first is the incantation--loosely chapter 1. The second it calling Natalya. We are building to the third. After the third pivotal point in the novel, it proceeds until the great confrontation (not what you might think) and the chapters flow from there with the resolution and final conclusion. Like a mentioned, I'm writing one of the next big surprises in the novel--a scene that everything has built to.
She pawed through the rest of the jewelry and took out a couple of more pieces. Each piece brought back some memory of her mother. She couldn’t stop her thoughts. Aksinya’s stomach ached the whole time, and the rosary burned against her skin, but she would endure it, she would. Sleep began to overtake her, and she eventually closed and locked the box. She wanted to go to sleep. When she tried to lift the jewelry box from her bed, she found it was much too heavy for her to lift. She couldn’t budge it. If she tried to push it off the bed, it might fall and break. The noise would surely wake Frau Drescher, whose own rooms were just below hers.
Since she couldn’t move the box, Aksinya finally curled up in the remaining space on the bed that was left to her—it wasn’t much. She was cramped. She couldn’t move. Her stomach ached. The crucifix burned her skin. She wasn’t certain she slept at all, but she did wake when Natalya shook her in the morning.
Natalya just stared at the jewelry box and at Aksinya.
Aksinya was drowsy. She sat up and stretched, “The de…, Asmodeus paid me a visit last night. He left the box. Would you like to see inside?”
Natalya was enthralled, “Is it something that has to do with you know what?”
Aksinya’s brain was still a little fuzzy with sleep, “You know what?”
“Yes, the things you can do…” Natalya whispered, “Sorcery.”
Aksinya lowered her eyes, “It has nothing to do with that.” She unlocked and opened the box.
Natalya gazed at the jewelry. She let her eyes move lovingly over every piece she could see. Aksinya picked them up and let Natalya see those things underneath. Aksinya tried to hand a couple of pieces to Natalya, but she wouldn’t touch them. After a while, Natalya sighed and stated, “Please mistress, we will be late.”
Aksinya put away the pieces, closed, and locked the box. At the same time, Natalya pulled the nightgown over Aksinya’s head. She stopped when she saw the crucifix.
Aksinya complained, “It’s only half off. Keep pulling.”
Natalya squeaked, “Around your neck…”
“Yes, it was my mother’s. Keep pulling.”
Natalya pulled the nightgown off the rest of the way, “You are burned, countess.”
“Yes, the crucifix did it. It is burning the impurity from my soul.”
“Doesn’t it hurt you, mistress?”
“It hurts like the dickens and my stomach aches, but I will endure this.”
“Why?”
Aksinya’s shoulders drooped, “I’ll tell you later. Yes, later. Please hurry, Nata. Otherwise we shall be late.”
Aksinya looked through the jewelry and reminisced about her mother. The entire time, the rosary burned her skin. She intends to fight against the demon--this is her first shot. The pain she faces is insignificant to her determination.
When she tried to go to sleep, she realized the demon's point. She can't move the box and she doesn't have enough room to stretch out. The demon knows how she would react to his warning. He didn't tell her to help her but to get her to make the demand. The end is that Aksinya's demands caused her problems.
Everything surprises Natalya. She represents all of us. All of us who would be equally surprised by the astounding events around a person like Aksinya. Aksinya shows Natalya, her friend, the contents of the box. Natalya's mind is focused on one thing--you should know that--sorcery. Natalya won't touch those things that belong to Aksinya--this is a proper reaction of a servant. She would touch the jewelry if asked to get them for Aksinya, but believes she has no right to touch them for herself.
Do you like the fun technique I use to draw Natalya's and your attention to the rosary--she pulled the nightgown over Aksinya's head but stopped when she sees the crucifix. Natalya immediately noted that the crucifix has burned Aksinya on the chest. Aksinya's answer was intentionally incomplete, but we have to wait until tomorrow to see Natalya's reaction.
She pawed through the rest of the jewelry and took out a couple of more pieces. Each piece brought back some memory of her mother. She couldn’t stop her thoughts. Aksinya’s stomach ached the whole time, and the rosary burned against her skin, but she would endure it, she would. Sleep began to overtake her, and she eventually closed and locked the box. She wanted to go to sleep. When she tried to lift the jewelry box from her bed, she found it was much too heavy for her to lift. She couldn’t budge it. If she tried to push it off the bed, it might fall and break. The noise would surely wake Frau Drescher, whose own rooms were just below hers.
Since she couldn’t move the box, Aksinya finally curled up in the remaining space on the bed that was left to her—it wasn’t much. She was cramped. She couldn’t move. Her stomach ached. The crucifix burned her skin. She wasn’t certain she slept at all, but she did wake when Natalya shook her in the morning.
Natalya just stared at the jewelry box and at Aksinya.
Aksinya was drowsy. She sat up and stretched, “The de…, Asmodeus paid me a visit last night. He left the box. Would you like to see inside?”
Natalya was enthralled, “Is it something that has to do with you know what?”
Aksinya’s brain was still a little fuzzy with sleep, “You know what?”
“Yes, the things you can do…” Natalya whispered, “Sorcery.”
Aksinya lowered her eyes, “It has nothing to do with that.” She unlocked and opened the box.
Natalya gazed at the jewelry. She let her eyes move lovingly over every piece she could see. Aksinya picked them up and let Natalya see those things underneath. Aksinya tried to hand a couple of pieces to Natalya, but she wouldn’t touch them. After a while, Natalya sighed and stated, “Please mistress, we will be late.”
Aksinya put away the pieces, closed, and locked the box. At the same time, Natalya pulled the nightgown over Aksinya’s head. She stopped when she saw the crucifix.
Aksinya complained, “It’s only half off. Keep pulling.”
Natalya squeaked, “Around your neck…”
“Yes, it was my mother’s. Keep pulling.”
Natalya pulled the nightgown off the rest of the way, “You are burned, countess.”
“Yes, the crucifix did it. It is burning the impurity from my soul.”
“Doesn’t it hurt you, mistress?”
“It hurts like the dickens and my stomach aches, but I will endure this.”
“Why?”
Aksinya’s shoulders drooped, “I’ll tell you later. Yes, later. Please hurry, Nata. Otherwise we shall be late.”
Aksinya looked through the jewelry and reminisced about her mother. The entire time, the rosary burned her skin. She intends to fight against the demon--this is her first shot. The pain she faces is insignificant to her determination.
When she tried to go to sleep, she realized the demon's point. She can't move the box and she doesn't have enough room to stretch out. The demon knows how she would react to his warning. He didn't tell her to help her but to get her to make the demand. The end is that Aksinya's demands caused her problems.
Everything surprises Natalya. She represents all of us. All of us who would be equally surprised by the astounding events around a person like Aksinya. Aksinya shows Natalya, her friend, the contents of the box. Natalya's mind is focused on one thing--you should know that--sorcery. Natalya won't touch those things that belong to Aksinya--this is a proper reaction of a servant. She would touch the jewelry if asked to get them for Aksinya, but believes she has no right to touch them for herself.
Do you like the fun technique I use to draw Natalya's and your attention to the rosary--she pulled the nightgown over Aksinya's head but stopped when she sees the crucifix. Natalya immediately noted that the crucifix has burned Aksinya on the chest. Aksinya's answer was intentionally incomplete, but we have to wait until tomorrow to see Natalya's reaction.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
A New Novel, Part 76 The Rosary
Asmodeus left Aksinya's mother's jewelry box on Aksinya's bed. We get a description now of the box.
Aksinya lit the gas lamp. Her mother’s jewelry box was a piece of art itself. It was handmade by a craftsman from the late fifteenth century. The box was decorated on the sides with the four seasons of their estate in Russia. The top showed the house of the Counts of Golitsyna. The façade was almost unchanged from that time to this. The box had been a wedding present from her father to her mother. It was locked, and the heart-shaped key was in the lock where her mother always left it. She remembered the first time she saw the jewelry box when she was a child. She had stared at it for a long time—until her mother finally opened it.
With shaking fingers, Aksinya unlocked and opened the jewelry box. Inside were all her mother’s beautiful things. They were literally a princess’ dowry of gold, silver, and jewels. On top lay a fabulous jewel encrusted crucifix and rosary. It was her mother’s favorite piece. Aksinya always remembered her mother wore it on Sunday, every Sunday. It was too large and fine a piece to wear everyday.
Beside it lay a smaller crucifix and rosary made of intertwined white and yellow gold. On it, the body of Christ was yellow gold and the cross white gold. The tiny adornments, the loincloth, the crown of thorns were white gold. The prayers and decades were white and yellow gold. It was the most beautiful rosary Aksinya had ever seen. Her mother let her wear it on Sunday, but had put it away during the week. She told Aksinya it was her wedding present when the proper time came. Aksinya lifted it in her hands. It was warm to her touch. She bit her lip and quickly put it over her head. It fell around her neck and immediately the crucifix became hot. She felt the heat against her breasts. The heat rose through the prayers and decades and irritated her neck. She felt slightly nauseous. Still, she promised herself she would not take it off. If she lost to this, she felt she would lose to everything. The demon might make her do the most horrible things in the world, but in this very little part she could fight back. She knew at least one of his weaknesses now. He could not move an evident cross. Unless the demon was playing a game with her, he had not taken her sister’s jewelry box, it was decorated with crosses. He had not taken her cross decorated bookstand. He had been able to move her mother’s jewelry box even though it was filled with crosses and crucifixes.
Aksinya didn’t let herself feel encouraged by this little piece of knowledge. It was much too early for that. She simply filed the information in the back of her mind—it was a little more information about the demon and his weaknesses. She would use it, if she could, against him.
Aksinya was asleep and the lights were off when the demon brought the jewelry box to her. Therefore, Aksinya had to light a gas lamp again. Perhaps I should have given you a little more description of the little light from the gas lamp.
We see that the jewelry box is truly a piece of art. It is ancient and beautiful. We learn it was a wedding present and had a heart shaped key--a symbol of love. The house depicted on the box is Aksinya's family home. In this, it represents her home. Remember, all her family were murdered outside the house. The box is locked. This scene is set up to be almost like the first time Aksinya saw the box opened--that is the image I give you. In this case, Aksinya represents her mother.
The box, like the home is filled with wealth. Notice, it is a "princess'" dowry. The first thing on top is her mother's rosary. It was the rosary Aksinya's mother wore every Sunday. Beside this rosary is another. It was the one, Aksinya's mother promised her as a gift for Aksinya's wedding. You might ask who would get the larger and more beautiful rosary. Aksinya instinctively goes for the rosary she always admired as a child. When she touches and wears the rosary, Aksinya feels nausea and pain. The cross, a symbol of God and Christianity, causes her nausea and pain.
By this, we are to understand a cross will also affect the demon. Aksinya puts this together--she had before. If you remember, the jewelry boxes were a test for the demon. Aksinya noticed Asmodeus couldn't move her cross decorated bookstand. He couldn't move Aksinya's sister's jewelry box because it was also decorated with crosses. This is the answer to one question about the weaknesses of the demon.
Aksinya is already preparing to oppose the demon. The crosses she had Natalya sew into their clothing is meant to affect the demon--we shall see how effective it is. And we shall see what Aksinya does with this knowledge. Don't you admire how methodical Aksinya is--this is perhaps the best part of her personality. You can see how she could become a powerful sorceress.
Aksinya lit the gas lamp. Her mother’s jewelry box was a piece of art itself. It was handmade by a craftsman from the late fifteenth century. The box was decorated on the sides with the four seasons of their estate in Russia. The top showed the house of the Counts of Golitsyna. The façade was almost unchanged from that time to this. The box had been a wedding present from her father to her mother. It was locked, and the heart-shaped key was in the lock where her mother always left it. She remembered the first time she saw the jewelry box when she was a child. She had stared at it for a long time—until her mother finally opened it.
With shaking fingers, Aksinya unlocked and opened the jewelry box. Inside were all her mother’s beautiful things. They were literally a princess’ dowry of gold, silver, and jewels. On top lay a fabulous jewel encrusted crucifix and rosary. It was her mother’s favorite piece. Aksinya always remembered her mother wore it on Sunday, every Sunday. It was too large and fine a piece to wear everyday.
Beside it lay a smaller crucifix and rosary made of intertwined white and yellow gold. On it, the body of Christ was yellow gold and the cross white gold. The tiny adornments, the loincloth, the crown of thorns were white gold. The prayers and decades were white and yellow gold. It was the most beautiful rosary Aksinya had ever seen. Her mother let her wear it on Sunday, but had put it away during the week. She told Aksinya it was her wedding present when the proper time came. Aksinya lifted it in her hands. It was warm to her touch. She bit her lip and quickly put it over her head. It fell around her neck and immediately the crucifix became hot. She felt the heat against her breasts. The heat rose through the prayers and decades and irritated her neck. She felt slightly nauseous. Still, she promised herself she would not take it off. If she lost to this, she felt she would lose to everything. The demon might make her do the most horrible things in the world, but in this very little part she could fight back. She knew at least one of his weaknesses now. He could not move an evident cross. Unless the demon was playing a game with her, he had not taken her sister’s jewelry box, it was decorated with crosses. He had not taken her cross decorated bookstand. He had been able to move her mother’s jewelry box even though it was filled with crosses and crucifixes.
Aksinya didn’t let herself feel encouraged by this little piece of knowledge. It was much too early for that. She simply filed the information in the back of her mind—it was a little more information about the demon and his weaknesses. She would use it, if she could, against him.
Aksinya was asleep and the lights were off when the demon brought the jewelry box to her. Therefore, Aksinya had to light a gas lamp again. Perhaps I should have given you a little more description of the little light from the gas lamp.
We see that the jewelry box is truly a piece of art. It is ancient and beautiful. We learn it was a wedding present and had a heart shaped key--a symbol of love. The house depicted on the box is Aksinya's family home. In this, it represents her home. Remember, all her family were murdered outside the house. The box is locked. This scene is set up to be almost like the first time Aksinya saw the box opened--that is the image I give you. In this case, Aksinya represents her mother.
The box, like the home is filled with wealth. Notice, it is a "princess'" dowry. The first thing on top is her mother's rosary. It was the rosary Aksinya's mother wore every Sunday. Beside this rosary is another. It was the one, Aksinya's mother promised her as a gift for Aksinya's wedding. You might ask who would get the larger and more beautiful rosary. Aksinya instinctively goes for the rosary she always admired as a child. When she touches and wears the rosary, Aksinya feels nausea and pain. The cross, a symbol of God and Christianity, causes her nausea and pain.
By this, we are to understand a cross will also affect the demon. Aksinya puts this together--she had before. If you remember, the jewelry boxes were a test for the demon. Aksinya noticed Asmodeus couldn't move her cross decorated bookstand. He couldn't move Aksinya's sister's jewelry box because it was also decorated with crosses. This is the answer to one question about the weaknesses of the demon.
Aksinya is already preparing to oppose the demon. The crosses she had Natalya sew into their clothing is meant to affect the demon--we shall see how effective it is. And we shall see what Aksinya does with this knowledge. Don't you admire how methodical Aksinya is--this is perhaps the best part of her personality. You can see how she could become a powerful sorceress.
Friday, December 17, 2010
A New Novel, Part 75 Aksinya as a Temptation
The question at hand is specifically Frau Drescher and generally Aksinya's affect on the school. The demon just answered the following. The she is Frau Drescher.
“I wish she would. That would be a definite sin. In any case, I do not wish any other undue attention toward you at this point. In this place, they worship your aristocracy. This is a pleasant little lust for all of them here. A little more mystery might enhance that mystique at some point, but not now.”
Aksinya wondered how much the demon lied at that moment. Was she herself a temptation to others—that statement was likely true. If the jewelry were found here, would that really cause a problem—more temptation? He could be lying and by that lie be informing her that to let the jewelry be found would cause her fewer problems. He could also be telling the truth, that the jewelry would lead to more issues for her and temptation for others. It could all be meaningless. On the other hand, Frau Drescher might be tempted to steal the jewelry and that would be a terrible thing for Frau Drescher and for Aksinya. Aksinya felt a very strong avarice toward her mother’s valuables. She knew she would react in a terrible way if they were taken. After a few moments thought, she responded, “Yes, demon. Tomorrow morning, you may take the jewelry to my house across the street. You promised to take care of these things that belong to me and belonged to my family. See that they are protected.”
The demon bowed, “Yes, mistress.”
“You may go.”
Asmodeus bowed to the door and out of the room. After he left, Aksinya gave him a few minutes. She tiptoed to the door and opened it. The demon was gone. She realized that really meant little. Where might a demon go and how might a demon conceal himself? He might be in the room with her at this moment.
We established that the demon doesn't want more attention paid to Aksinya right now. That is obvious from his comments. However, there is more to this than that simple statement. We know the demon can lie. We know he has lied to Aksinya before. The question before us (and Aksinya) is how much does he lie. We know Aksinya over thinks everything. I let you see her thinking here. This is one of the rare times, but I think it is a good technique to use at this point. I want you to sense her mind and the quandary Asmodeus' short statement put her in. I want you to know the same indecisiveness she knows.
I also want you to see the depth of her luxuria problem. You see it in the detail of her mind--she would do anything to forestall the loss of her things. Aksinya realizes the depth of her problem, but she likely doesn't realize it is sin. So her answer is to accommodate the demon and therefore accommodate herself. If you didn't get it before, you should now. Aksinya is reacting to the demon exactly as he has planned. He tempts her. This temptation is so much more subtle than some in the past. Aksinya seems to accept it hook, line, and sinker.
The demon plays along and continues to acts the servant. Aksinya is especially vulnerable to this means of approach. As I mentioned, the demon plays one way then the other. He knows how to affect her.
Then a small revelation of the how he knows her so well. Aksinya rightly infers that Asmodeus could be in the room with her at that moment. He could spy on her at any time. There are few secrets from him. At that moment, she recognizes the problem. She will now show more caution.
“I wish she would. That would be a definite sin. In any case, I do not wish any other undue attention toward you at this point. In this place, they worship your aristocracy. This is a pleasant little lust for all of them here. A little more mystery might enhance that mystique at some point, but not now.”
Aksinya wondered how much the demon lied at that moment. Was she herself a temptation to others—that statement was likely true. If the jewelry were found here, would that really cause a problem—more temptation? He could be lying and by that lie be informing her that to let the jewelry be found would cause her fewer problems. He could also be telling the truth, that the jewelry would lead to more issues for her and temptation for others. It could all be meaningless. On the other hand, Frau Drescher might be tempted to steal the jewelry and that would be a terrible thing for Frau Drescher and for Aksinya. Aksinya felt a very strong avarice toward her mother’s valuables. She knew she would react in a terrible way if they were taken. After a few moments thought, she responded, “Yes, demon. Tomorrow morning, you may take the jewelry to my house across the street. You promised to take care of these things that belong to me and belonged to my family. See that they are protected.”
The demon bowed, “Yes, mistress.”
“You may go.”
Asmodeus bowed to the door and out of the room. After he left, Aksinya gave him a few minutes. She tiptoed to the door and opened it. The demon was gone. She realized that really meant little. Where might a demon go and how might a demon conceal himself? He might be in the room with her at this moment.
We established that the demon doesn't want more attention paid to Aksinya right now. That is obvious from his comments. However, there is more to this than that simple statement. We know the demon can lie. We know he has lied to Aksinya before. The question before us (and Aksinya) is how much does he lie. We know Aksinya over thinks everything. I let you see her thinking here. This is one of the rare times, but I think it is a good technique to use at this point. I want you to sense her mind and the quandary Asmodeus' short statement put her in. I want you to know the same indecisiveness she knows.
I also want you to see the depth of her luxuria problem. You see it in the detail of her mind--she would do anything to forestall the loss of her things. Aksinya realizes the depth of her problem, but she likely doesn't realize it is sin. So her answer is to accommodate the demon and therefore accommodate herself. If you didn't get it before, you should now. Aksinya is reacting to the demon exactly as he has planned. He tempts her. This temptation is so much more subtle than some in the past. Aksinya seems to accept it hook, line, and sinker.
The demon plays along and continues to acts the servant. Aksinya is especially vulnerable to this means of approach. As I mentioned, the demon plays one way then the other. He knows how to affect her.
Then a small revelation of the how he knows her so well. Aksinya rightly infers that Asmodeus could be in the room with her at that moment. He could spy on her at any time. There are few secrets from him. At that moment, she recognizes the problem. She will now show more caution.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A New Novel, Part 74 The Jewelry Box
The demon again comes to Aksinya that evening. This time he comes with a gift. Isn't this demon clever?
In the middle of the night, a knock at Aksinya’s door woke her. She sat up and answered without thinking, “Come.”
The dark heavy shape of the demon entered her room. He was more massive in the darkness than she ever remembered, “Countess, as I promised, I brought your mother’s jewelry box. She had more than one. You were not specific so I brought the largest.”
Aksinya’s voice trembled, “That will be sufficient for now. What about my sister’s jewelry?”
“I have not been able to find it.”
Aksinya wanted to cry out, “You liar.” Instead she took a deep breath, “Bring it when you can find it.”
“Yes, Countess.” The demon still held the ornate box, “Where should I put it?”
Aksinya scooted toward the head of the bed, “Here on the bed.”
“It’s heavy.”
“Do I need to repeat myself? Place it on the bed.”
The demon’s fangs were evident in the light from the streetlamps. He might have been smiling. He placed the box near the middle of Aksinya’s bed. Then he stepped back, “You should not leave this in your room.”
“Why not, demon.”
He snarled, “Frau Drescher will find it.”
“Will she steal it?”
“I wish she would. That would be a definite sin. In any case, I do not wish any other undue attention toward you at this point. In this place, they worship your aristocracy. This is a pleasant little lust for all of them here. A little more mystery might enhance that mystique at some point, but not now.”
After Aksinya works on German with Natalya, she is sleeping. The Demon waits, this time, for her summons. Do you see how he is playing her. At one moment demanding, the next responding as her servant. All the demon's actions are intended to make Aksinya follow his purpose. The play here, is we think the demon doesn't fully understand Aksinya's actions. That is a reasonable thought. I will go further and reveal, the demon can't read her mind. I think I mentioned this before. There are secrets Aksinya can hide from the demon, therefore, the demon's actions will be to try to force the secrets from her. We will see some of these tricks later. Right now, the demon is accommodating Aksinya because he believes this will aid in his purpose. The demon doesn't realize that Aksinya intends to use the jewelry boxes to discover more of his bounds (weaknesses).
Aksinya trembles--it isn't in fear. It is in excitement. She will now know the answer to her question--can the demon touch or move evident crosses? This is an incredibly important question to her. The answer means that Aksinya might have another specific means to oppose the demon. That's why the question about her sister's jewelry. At that moment, Aksinya knows the truth. The demon can't move an evident cross--therefore her reaction.
Now there is a set up for a problem for Aksinya. You don't get to see it for a little. The demon asks, where he can put the box. Aksinya is so excited, she doesn't stop to think. The demon's smile should have warned Aksinya. Then Asmodeus tells her not to leave the jewelry box in her room. We'll see more about this tomorrow, but you might wonder about the demons statement. Aksinya does, she asks the obvious, but not the best question, and the demon's answer is Frau Drescher.
Then the wake up statement from Asmodeus that we will address from Aksinya tomorrow. He wishes Frau Drescher would steal the jewelry, but that would cause undue attention toward Aksinya. His point: they worship her aristocracy. This is very evident, but the rest is interesting. “This is a pleasant little lust for all of them here. A little more mystery might enhance that mystique at some point, but not now.” This is interesting enough that Aksinya ponders it tomorrow.
In the middle of the night, a knock at Aksinya’s door woke her. She sat up and answered without thinking, “Come.”
The dark heavy shape of the demon entered her room. He was more massive in the darkness than she ever remembered, “Countess, as I promised, I brought your mother’s jewelry box. She had more than one. You were not specific so I brought the largest.”
Aksinya’s voice trembled, “That will be sufficient for now. What about my sister’s jewelry?”
“I have not been able to find it.”
Aksinya wanted to cry out, “You liar.” Instead she took a deep breath, “Bring it when you can find it.”
“Yes, Countess.” The demon still held the ornate box, “Where should I put it?”
Aksinya scooted toward the head of the bed, “Here on the bed.”
“It’s heavy.”
“Do I need to repeat myself? Place it on the bed.”
The demon’s fangs were evident in the light from the streetlamps. He might have been smiling. He placed the box near the middle of Aksinya’s bed. Then he stepped back, “You should not leave this in your room.”
“Why not, demon.”
He snarled, “Frau Drescher will find it.”
“Will she steal it?”
“I wish she would. That would be a definite sin. In any case, I do not wish any other undue attention toward you at this point. In this place, they worship your aristocracy. This is a pleasant little lust for all of them here. A little more mystery might enhance that mystique at some point, but not now.”
After Aksinya works on German with Natalya, she is sleeping. The Demon waits, this time, for her summons. Do you see how he is playing her. At one moment demanding, the next responding as her servant. All the demon's actions are intended to make Aksinya follow his purpose. The play here, is we think the demon doesn't fully understand Aksinya's actions. That is a reasonable thought. I will go further and reveal, the demon can't read her mind. I think I mentioned this before. There are secrets Aksinya can hide from the demon, therefore, the demon's actions will be to try to force the secrets from her. We will see some of these tricks later. Right now, the demon is accommodating Aksinya because he believes this will aid in his purpose. The demon doesn't realize that Aksinya intends to use the jewelry boxes to discover more of his bounds (weaknesses).
Aksinya trembles--it isn't in fear. It is in excitement. She will now know the answer to her question--can the demon touch or move evident crosses? This is an incredibly important question to her. The answer means that Aksinya might have another specific means to oppose the demon. That's why the question about her sister's jewelry. At that moment, Aksinya knows the truth. The demon can't move an evident cross--therefore her reaction.
Now there is a set up for a problem for Aksinya. You don't get to see it for a little. The demon asks, where he can put the box. Aksinya is so excited, she doesn't stop to think. The demon's smile should have warned Aksinya. Then Asmodeus tells her not to leave the jewelry box in her room. We'll see more about this tomorrow, but you might wonder about the demons statement. Aksinya does, she asks the obvious, but not the best question, and the demon's answer is Frau Drescher.
Then the wake up statement from Asmodeus that we will address from Aksinya tomorrow. He wishes Frau Drescher would steal the jewelry, but that would cause undue attention toward Aksinya. His point: they worship her aristocracy. This is very evident, but the rest is interesting. “This is a pleasant little lust for all of them here. A little more mystery might enhance that mystique at some point, but not now.” This is interesting enough that Aksinya ponders it tomorrow.
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