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 171 I Know You Wish to Read Tonight

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.



Natalya returned at the beginning of the school day.  Aksinya won't speak.  She won't respond.  We have no idea what her thoughts are.  Aksinya's despondency continues past dinner...

They walked across the street to Aksinya’s house. Natalya unlocked the door. The novices came when they heard the door open. Aksinya didn’t wait for them to take her cloak. Sister Margarethe entered directly behind them from the street. She was out of breath. She started to say something and follow Aksinya, but Natalya put up her hand and waved her back. Natalya handed her cloak to the first novice. She took a deep breath of the collar first. Then she followed Aksinya up the stairs.

Natalya closed and locked the door to Aksinya’s rooms. The mink cloak lay in the sitting room floor. Natalya picked it up and smelled it. She took a deep breath of the lining and smiled. She placed the cloak reluctantly down over one of the chairs and went into Aksinya’s bedroom. Aksinya fought with the buttons on her blouse. Her uniform short coat lay on the floor.

Natalya came over and pulled Aksinya’s hands away from the front of her blouse. She pushed them to Aksinya’s side and began to unbutton the blouse. She pulled it off Aksinya and lifted the camisole over her head. She unbuttoned Aksinya’s skirt and untied her slip. She took everything to the gross schrank and hung them inside. She pulled out a silk nightgown and returned. Aksinya already sat on the edge of the bed. Natalya pulled the gown over Aksinya’s head and plucked her hands through the sleeves. She pulled the bottom of the gown over Aksinya’s thighs.

Aksinya lay back on the bed and her head touched something hard. She frowned and reached up behind her head. She felt a book. No, two large books.

Aksinya sat up suddenly. She half turned and mumbled, “My books.” She glanced at Natalya, “Why are my books here?” Without waiting for an answer, Aksinya pulled the books over to her. One had a brown cover, she opened the book and her mouth formed an “O,” “This is the book Ernst took.”

Natalya chuckled.

Aksinya’s hands trembled. She pushed the book aside and took up the other. She caressed it with an overly light touch as though she really didn’t want to handle it. She opened it and whispered, “This is not my book. It is a Greek Book of Heka.” She stared at Natalya, “This is Ernst’s book.” She dropped it back on the bed, “How did these books come to be here?”

Natalya smiled.

“What did you do, Nata?”

Natalya pulled the covers down on the bed. She carefully didn’t touch either book, “Now that man has no power over you. You have no reason to see him anymore. You have your book again, and you have his book.”

Aksinya picked up The Book of Heka and held it against her breast, “I do have his book.”

Natalya smiled, “Get in bed, mistress. I know that you wish to read tonight. I will leave the gas lamp lit over your bed.” She bent forward and helped Aksinya crawl under the covers. Aksinya would not let go of the new book.

Aksinya has no hope.  This might not be so obvious as a statement.  Asmodeus took the most important person to Aksinya from her without any fight.  Aksinya had no say--she had no power to prevent Natalya from leaving her.  She had no power over the demon, his actions, his desires (if he has any).  Aksinya could not prevent her best and only friend from coming somehow under the power of the demon and leaving her.  Aksinya knows Asmodeus was behind everything, and she isn't as interested in what Natalya was doing as her own failure to prevent it.  Aksinya should have been concerned about Natalya's actions.  Aksinya is and has always been focused on herself and not on others.  Her concern isn't as much for Natalya or what Natalya was doing as her own lack of power or control.
 
When they return to Aksinya's house, Natalya is in complete control.  She orders Sister Margarethe.  She orders the novices.  Look at her actions with her cloak and then Aksinya's mink.  It is obvious who Natalya loves.  Natalya is entirely and completely dedicated to Aksinya.  She literally worships the ground Aksinya walks on.  This is what I am showing you through Natalya's actions.
 
Inside Aksinya's rooms, Natalya is still completely in control.  She locks the door.  She savors the scent of Aksinya.  That makes Natalya smile.  Aksinya is despondent and completely beaten down.  She can't undo the buttons on her blouse.  Natalya has always unbuttoned them for her.  Watch Natalya's actions.  She demands her place.  She takes over the work she knows to do.  She undresses Aksinya and puts away her clothes.  There are no words and no need for words.  Natalya gets Aksinya's nightgown.  Like one would dress a child, Natalya dresses Aksinya in it.  The words I use show you exactly this: Natalya pulled the gown over Aksinya’s head and plucked her hands through the sleeves. She pulled the bottom of the gown over Aksinya’s thighs.  Note, Aksinya sits on the side of the bed--an obedient child waiting to be dressed.  I also give you some historical details in the way clothing was put on and taken off at the time (slips were tied, ladies).

Aksinya lays back on the bed.  She still doesn't say anything.  Her head touches something.  There are two large books on the bed.  Aksinya's first words in a long while are "My books."  Why indeed are these books of sorcery here?  The first book is the one that Ernst took from the street.  This was the book that Aksinya strove to get back for so long.  Natalya chuckles.

Watch closely what motivates Aksinya.  The first book is Aksinya's book that Ernst took.  The second book is the book that Ernst promised Aksinya.  Aksinya asks where the books came from--Natalya just smiles.  Aksinya asks what Natalya did to get the books.  Natalya doesn't answer her question instead this is her response:  “Now that man has no power over you. You have no reason to see him anymore. You have your book again, and you have his book.”

Aksinya's response shows that she is not interested in Ernst.  She is not interested in how Natalya got the books.  She is interested in only one thing that is the sorcery in the books.  This is what motivates Aksinya.  This is what has always motivated Aksinya in this novel.  She desires luxuria.  She desires sorcery.  These are her temptations.  Anything else to her is rubbish.

Natalya's statement at the end of this scene: “Get in bed, mistress. I know that you wish to read tonight. I will leave the gas lamp lit over your bed.” She bent forward and helped Aksinya crawl under the covers. Aksinya would not let go of the new book.  How well Natalya understands her mistress.  How perfectly Natalya predicted Aksinya's response.  Still, we know there are problems.  Where was Natalya?    What did Natalya do?  I have given you enough hints that perhaps you know exactly what Natalya did.  If you do, then you know Aksinya can't fathom or even imagine it.

Aksinya will climb out of her despondency.  She will perhaps find her way back from the brink of her silence and pain.  When she takes back control, what will be the result?  When she is finally satiated with sorcery, what will Aksinya do?  All will eventually be made clear.  Tomorrow, the aftermath of learning new sorcery.

A New Novel, Part 89 The Arm that Offends You

During the weekend, the demon visits Aksinya at her Aunt and Uncle's estate.  Every time he visits, he brings instructions to Aksinya.  What does he have in mind this time.


When the house was dark and quiet, Aksinya heard a knock on her door. She called out, “I don’t wish to speak with you demon.”


The voice behind the door was low and filled with a hiss, “But I wish to speak with you mistress. May I come in?”

“No!”

The door opened, and Asmodeus strode in, “Next time I won’t ask.”

Aksinya rolled away from him and pulled her covers around her, “I’m tired, and I don’t wish to speak to you tonight.”

“You are wide awake, and you have been longing to speak to me for days.”

“You are mistaken.”

“Why not speak to me, now. You’ve had your fun for the evening.”

“Zatknis'!” Aksinya was suddenly breathless, “You probably encourage it.”

“No, I don’t need to. You are filled with lust all on your own. So therefore I have an easy thing for you to do.”

“Don’t you feel lust?”

“Trying to turn the conversation? It won’t do you any good, Countess, but I will answer your questions. I feel great lust, but I can’t act on it. I rely on you to consummate my sin.”

“But you sin.”

“I don’t sin, Countess—you sin. I told you that before.”

“You stole the bookstand…”

“At your behest.”

“You killed all those people…”

“Because you ordered it. I am simply your tool, your arm, your eyes on the world. I am the eye that offends you. I am the arm that causes you to sin.”

“I wish I could cut you off. I would do it right now.”

“And you would die. That comes of losing an arm or an eye.”

Aksinya is still awake.  You guessed it, so did Asmodeus.  The demon is unhappy.  He is back to demanding and confronting.  Aksinya doesn't want to speak to him, but still you know she does.  The demon understands too.  The demon may not be able to read her mind, but he knows human nature and he knows her nature too well.  He taunts her with her lust, and forces a confession from her lips.  This is his technique and his trick.  Then we learn something about the demon--or how he thinks.  He believes (or lies) that he doesn't sin at all.  He is a vessel of temptation.  The target of the temptation sins, not him--he claims.
 
He says he is the tool not the sin.  Then he makes a reference to Christ's sermon on the Mount.  He claims to be the eye that offends and the arm that causes you to sin.  Christ told his followers to discard them, and the demon rightly notes, if you do, you will die.  His claim is that if Aksinya could get rid of him, she would die.  The opposite is that if you die, you will be rid of the demon.  That isn't the only reason the demon came to speak to Aksinya, but we will see the rest tomorrow.

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.