A New Novel, Part 162 I Shall Sleep Late and Wake with a Terrible Headache

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 dancing with Ernst's father, the Graf von Taaffe.  The waltz is just ending.  I repeated the last two paragraphs from yesterday's piece to place everything in context.  The Graf said that Aksinya had ensorcelled Ernst...

Aksinya pushed back from him, “Temptation.  I am a temptation.”

“Yes, you are, and I’m glad your eyes are at least on my Ernst.”  The Graf let go of her hand and stepped back.  The music ended, “Thank you for the dance, Countess.  Even drunk, you are a wonderful partner.”  He bowed.

Aksinya gave a slight curtsy, “Now, Franz, you may not leave me here.”

“Why not, Countess?”

“I will be unable to make it back to my seat without your help.”

The Graf von Taaffe turned a trifle to the side and signaled Ernst.  Ernst rushed to them.  The Graf father took Aksinya’s hand and put it in Ernst’s, “Please Ernst, escort the Countess and her lady-in-waiting to their rooms.  The Countess might stumble.”  He winked at his son.

As Aksinya and Ernst started toward the stone stairs that led to the third floor, Natalya joined them.  She scowled a little at Ernst.  Ernst signaled and two women servants took their places.  One led them at the front and the other followed.  They went up the stairs and entered a long hallway.  At the first room on the right, the leading servant opened the door.  The two maids went inside and lit the gas lamps and the candles.  They checked and refreshed the coal fires.  Aksinya held to Ernst at the door until they were finished.  When everything in the room was ready, they both curtsied to Aksinya, Ernst, and Natalya.

Ernst gave Aksinya’s hand to Natalya, “Lady Natalya, I give the charge of the Countess to you.”

“She has always been my charge, Herr von Taaffe.”

Ernst ignored her, “Good evening and sleep well, Aksinya.  I will speak to you in the morning that is before you depart with your uncle and aunt.”

Aksinya smiled at Ernst.  As Natalya dragged her through the door, Aksinya replied, “I shall sleep late and awake with a terrible headache, but I will speak to you by and by.”

Natalya shut the door.

Aksinya is herself a temptation on many levels, but this is the last statement she wants to hear.  She has obviously ensorcelled the Graf as well as his son.  Asmodeus would be proud--the demon likely had a hand in it all.  Aksinya is drunk.  She apologetically calls the Graf by his given name, Franz.  Remember, the Graf said she could, but Aksinya would never do that if she were sober.  Aksinya's observation and request is also unnecessary and too candid.  The Graf would have conducted her back to her seat.  She's drunk and I use this as a writing technique to move the story. 

The statement that Aksinya needs help back to her seat gives the Graf the opportunity to bring Ernst over.  The Graf realizes the slight estrangement between Aksinya and Ernst (that's one of the reasons she's drunk), now he can bring them amicably back together.  The Graf signals Ernst over.  I intentionally use matrimonial imagery here, that is, the Graf places Aksinya's hand in Ernst's.  The Graf doesn't mean for anything untoward to happen between Aksinya and Ernst, that's why he asks Ernst to escort the Countess and her chaperone.  The wink is to show he is allowing Ernst an opportunity to see the Countess off to bed and to leave the party for a moment.

Natalya is watching and joins them right away.  Natalya is still not happy with Ernst.  What follows is a short description for the travel.  The third floor, remember, is the one with the largest windows.  The implication is that those invited there are welcomed into the household and secrets of the von Taaffe's.  The details of the servant's activities are to place you firmly into the time and place again.  I don't want you to miss this important idea that we are in 1919 now--remember, it is the new year.

At the door, Ernst most properly gives Aksinya over to Natalya.  Natalya's statement might make us pause a little.  Who was in whose charge?  Natalya has taken charge here.  This is a direct confrontation, that Ernst ignores.  Neither is right, Aksinya is in the charge of a demon.

The Drunk Aksinya gives the final words to Ernst:“I shall sleep late and awake with a terrible headache, but I will speak to you by and by.”  She will and she will.  Ernst hopes the answer Aksinya gives in the morning is that she will wed him.  He and his father hoped to make the big announcement at the party, likely at midnight.  Aksinya didn't stay until midnight--get it, she missed the reason for the party.

We shall see a little more between Aksinya and Natalya tomorrow.

A New Novel, Part 64 Serving

Natalya's problems aren't over.  Aksinya has another thing to show her at dinner.  Plus, I get to show you more about how the aristocracy and etiquette worked in 1918.

When the fish course arrived, Natalya served Aksinya then Aksinya served Natalya. Natalya tried to protest and attempted to stop Aksinya, but Aksinya would have none of it. Natalya covered her face with her hands. The rest of the girls gaped at them. Finally, the girl who spoke before asked, “Lady Natalya what’s wrong?”

Natalya spoke through her tears, “I serve her. That is my purpose. That’s what a lady-in-waiting is supposed to do.”

“Ha,” exclaimed Aksinya, “Now you serve me by eating with me. I do wish you would converse with us all. I’m certain your input would be very pleasant.”

Natalya glanced between her fingers, “Do you really think so?”

“Of course I do.”

Natalya took a deep breath. She slowly lowered her hands. She picked up her fish knife and the proper fork. She began to eat her meal.

Aksinya smiled.

The girls around the table smiled.

The sister smiled.

Natalya gives us some insight into her mind.  She serves Aksinya.  This is an important, more than an important, it is a critical aspect of Natalya's personality and character.  This will make the pivotal incident in the novel possible.  This will propel Aksinya into redemption, but not in the way you think.
 
Natalya gets it, and here is part of the lesson that Aksinya should not have taught Natalya.  Natalya knows how to serve, but it escaped her that she might serve by being the "great lady she is."  In other words, her serving is not just about food and services, but rather about acting in Aksinya's place.  This is the first shot that will be repeated in Natalya's "education."  Don't get it wrong, Aksinya has it right about teaching Natalya, she just doesn't understand what Asmodeus or Natalya will do.  We still have a ways to go before we get to that point in the novel.
 
So, have you deduced my writing style yet?  It is characterized by dialog to drive the plot and theme, and a Spartan and slightly terse style of description.  I pray the description is complete enough to set the scene, but that it is short enough not to get in the way of the story.  Note, that I use dialog to drive almost everything in the novel.  That is the point, not what you are told, but what you are shown--show don't tell.  

A New Novel, Part 22 Acceptance

Aksinya has called the Lady Natalya to her.  She desperately tries to get the lady to leave.  The demon produces a temptation that Aksinya will not ignore.

Aksinya frowned, “I don’t want you for my lady-in-waiting or my apprentice.”


Asmodeus waved his hand. The world seemed to stop outside the magic circle. He glared at Aksinya, “I will only tell you once. I can destroy this girl. You will accept her gladly as your lady-in-waiting and your apprentice.”

“You swore not to harm her.”

“I will not harm her.”

“Plus, she is innocent. You cannot kill her.”

“I said I will not harm her.”

“You can’t make me do anything I don’t wish to do while I am inside this circle.”

“You are so naive. I did not set all this up for you to be able to reject her. Look.” The demon strode over to the unmoving girl. He turned her around, pulled off her light cloak, and ripped open the back of her dress. Whip scars crisscrossed the girl’s back. He lifted her skirt at the back. Her thighs and buttocks were covered with new whip cuts. They were still raw and oozed blood. “Didn’t you wonder why it took so long for her to respond to your call? You are the greatest sorceress on the face of the globe. She should have come running, but she couldn’t until the Lady Andronikov finished this work. The girl could barely walk here much less run. The prince’s wife and lady well knows this girl is his child. She never intends to ever let him forget it. The Lady Natalya believes she is punished for her frequent mistakes. Countess, she never makes a mistake. She goes over things in her mind again and again, certain she has done each step correctly, and the lady of the house punishes her every day for false errors.”

Aksinya sighed, “You tempt me again, demon.”

“Yes, this is indeed temptation.”

“Make time run right again. I will accept her. Get me a great cloak worthy of the lady-in-waiting to a countess.”

Asmodeus turned Natalya back around. He went to his chest and pulled out a warm long cloak. He raised his hand, and suddenly the girl was released. Natalya took a deep breath. She fell forward on her face. She cried again, “Please, Countess, accept me as your lady-in-waiting. Anything. I would do anything…”

Aksinya called out a couple of Latin words. She struck her dagger against the ground and a spark rose up. She spoke again and the world was filled with light.

Natalya jerked up from the ground. She raised her head. Aksinya stepped out of the magic circle. She clasped Natalya’s arms and lifted her up. Asmodeus held out the cloak. Aksinya took if from his hands and draped it around Natalya’s body. Aksinya embraced the girl. They were almost the same height. She held her and kissed her cheeks. Aksinya stated clearly, “Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska, I Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna accept you into my household as my lady-in-waiting and as my apprentice. Welcome, Lady Natalya.”

The girl began to shake. She clasped Aksinya, and her tears fell hot and wet against her neck. They stood together for a long time.

Acceptance was inevitable.  The demon created a situation and choose a lady-in-waiting that Aksinya could not and would not reject.  The question at hand is the culpability of Aksinya in everything.