A New Novel, Part 229 She’s Still Breathing

21 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 229 She’s Still Breathing

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... 

At the cell door, the secretary took one look inside and turned his face away.  With his face averted, he unlocked the door and pushed the kitchen mistress, Frau Becker, inside, “See if she is alive.”  He handed the blanket to her. 

Frau Becker paused a moment but the look on the secretary’s face drove her more than any words.  She laid the blanket over Aksinya’s naked body, and put her face close to the girl’s.  The woman called over her shoulder, “She’s still breathing.”

“Thank God,” exclaimed the secretary.  “What’s wrong with her?”

“What did you expect?  She’s naked and freezing.”

“What should we do?”

The woman tucked the woolen blanket around Aksinya’s body, “It’s too cold in here for a thin girl like her.  Bring warmers and hot water bottles.  Hot tea and food later.”  She stated almost accusingly, “Where are her clothes.  Was she molested?”

Frau Mauer called from the corridor, “Her dress is out here on the floor.”

“Bring it to me.”

The secretary nodded at Otto, “Get warmers and hot water bottles.  Go now.”

Frau Mauer brought the dress to the open cell door.  Frau Becker barked at her, “Frau Mauer, bring that here and help me dress her.”

Frau Mauer grumbled, but entered the cell, “She did it herself.  I’m sure.”

The woman began to pull the dress over Aksinya’s head, “Secretary Schwab, this dress is too light for this place.  Did you want her to die from exposure?”

He stared accusingly at Frau Mauer, “The girl was fine when she came here.”

“She is certainly not fine now.”  They pulled the dress over the rest of Aksinya’s body.  Frau Becker held her close and rubbed her hands.

Otto returned with two coal packed metal warmers, “The hot water bottles are being filled.”

“Go back and tell them to bring them right away.”

He nodded to the kitchen head.

She stopped him, “Bring another two blankets.”

“Yes.”  He ran back down the corridor.

Frau Becker laid Aksinya down again and placed a warmer near her head and one near her feet.  The kitchen head ordered Frau Mauer, “Take off her shoes and rub her feet.”

Frau Mauer jumped, “Her feet?”

“I’ll do if it you won’t.  Here, take her hands and be gentle.  When the circulation returns she will be in great pain.”

Frau Mauer shook her head, “I’ll rub her feet.  I don’t want to be that close to her.”

In this scene, the overtones of the times play out wonderfully.  The secretary turns his face away from the naked Aksinya.  His actions are for her dignity and his temptation.  What a perfect balance of one and the other.  He sends Frau Becker, the kitchen mistress, to check on Aksinya. 

Aksinya's life is important to the Cardinal for a couple of reasons.  He isn't a bad man, but he has inquisitors in his city and his house.  He doesn't want to bring the wrath of the Pope on him--who knows they might investigate him.  The other reason is that the Cardinal doesn't wish to have a young woman, even a sorceress, die in his custody.  We will see the result of this care later.

I'm still playing the humor, but when we find that Aksinya is indeed alive, I can bring it out a little stronger.  The secretary asks a dumb question, and Frau Becker responds:“What did you expect?  She’s naked and freezing.” 

I love observations from other characters.  They bring great depth to the writing.  This is exactly what we get from Frau Becker's impression of Aksinya: “It’s too cold in here for a thin girl like her."  Then the question: "Was she molested?”  This seems innocuous to us, but in this time, it is a big deal.  We know Aksinya was not molested, but they don't.  The problem with such an idea, is that it would ruin Aksinya's reputation even more.  Not to mention the black mark on the Cardinal's house.  You know the demon had this in mind the entire time.

I give you details of the flurry they make in helping Aksinya.  They dress her and we get Frau Becker's impression that the dress is too think for the environment.  As I mentioned, I give details of the no nonsense way Frau Becker takes care of warming Aksinya.  She warns about the returning circulation--ouch.  Can't you see the demon's plan.  He doesn't wish Aksinya to die--he wishes to torment her.  If she died, the exquisite suffering of the upcoming revelations would fall flat.  If she died, she couldn't experience the pain of returning circulation.  The demon is about torture not just temptation.  Tomorrow, more treatment for Aksinya.

A New Novel, Part 192 Should I Beat You?

A New Novel, Part 192 Should I Beat 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.

Matushka Ekaterina is a very wise and well trained woman.  She is comforting the distraught Aksinya...

“No, I think I loved her, but I killed her.” Aksinya let out a sob, “Why did I make that sound? What’s wrong with me?” Her shoulders shuddered.


Ekaterina moved next to Aksinya. She put her arms around the girl.

Aksinya sobbed again in a hoarse whisper, “You shouldn’t try to comfort me. Instead of comfort, I beat Natalya. I don’t deserve comfort.”

“Everyone who is confessed deserves comfort. That is what we call agape love.”

“I see. I wish I could see Natalya. I miss her so much.” Aksinya buried her face in her arms. Aksinya couldn’t speak for a while, “Do you think she will hate me now?”

“She may hate you.”

“Do you think that is why I am so sad?”

“I think there are many reasons why you are sad.” She gently stroked Aksinya’s hair.

“You really shouldn’t try to comfort me. I should not be comforted.”

Ekaterina held her more tightly, “Should I beat you?”

“It might be a good idea.”

“You said you were in pain already.”

“I am in great pain.”

“Is it from your burns?”

“Yes.”

“Then there is no reason to beat you if you are already in pain.”

“I see,” Aksinya sobbed.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“Will that help you to love me?”

“Yes, and it will help me get to know you.”

Aksinya's confession was not over.  The morning just continues what the night had begun.  Aksinya is overwrought.  She is crying and she doesn't even understand what it is to cry.  She is in pain for many reasons, but doesn't connect her sadness with the pain she obviously feels in her heart.

Ekaterina is very compassionate and well trained at her job as the Matushka of the Ecclesia.  She comforts Aksinya.  Listen to her gentle, but strong tone.  I intentionally don't use much description in this scene so you will be drawn to Aksinya's words as well as her sadness.

Aksinya has a truly contrite heart.  She desires punishment to atone for her sin and evil.  Ekaterina's attitude is perfectly correct--the repentant deserve comfort.  That is indeed agape love.  God will not forgive without repentance and the repentant heart is a beautiful thing.  Aksinya could never see herself as beautiful at this time, but there is a beauty and serenity in her childish confession and childish view of the world.  It is still a world she does not fully understand.

Aksinya really did love Natalya.  She knows there has been a great breach in their trust and that breach might result in hate.  The theme about wishing to see Natalya is a foreshadowing and a recurring theme.  Ekaterina does not candy coat Aksinya's problems--Natalya might hate you.  Aksinya asks a very childlike question: “Do you think that is why I am so sad?”  We know why she is sad.  We know why Aksinya weeps.  We know that something monumental has happened in the life of this small, unloved, and unpretty woman who is Aksinya.  Aksinya cannot grasp what has happened.

Still, within the person who is Aksinya is still the Aksinya we know.  Listen to her response:“You really shouldn’t try to comfort me. I should not be comforted.”  She tells Ekaterina she should beat her--just as she beat Natalya.  Did you catch that.  Still Aksinya is already in pain and that pain is a direct consequence of her confession and previous actions.  Do you see the wonderful irony in this.  She wishes to be punished, yet she already is being punished.  This is what Ekaterina tells her in not so many words.  Then the Matushka asks the question we have wanted to ask Aksinya since the beginning: “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” We wanted to ask this of Aksinya.  We wanted to know more about her life.  I give you this through Ekaterina.  It is part of Aksinya's therapy.  It is part of her confession.  Tomorrow, about Aksinya.

A New Novel, Part 187 I am a Sorceress

A New Novel, Part 187 I am a Sorceress

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 begins her confession.  She is in the singular place where she faces great pain.  She is in the middle of an act Asmodeus ordered her to not commit...

Aksinya began to tremble and the crucifix over her heart felt as though it was on fire.


Father Dobrushin held her hands more tightly, “Go on...”

Aksinya continued, “Father, I am a sorceress.” Aksinya raised her face and cried out, “Let me confess. You can’t stop me. All the pain in the world will not stop me from confessing.”

Father Dobrushin stiffened, “Who is stopping you?”

“All the devils in hell are trying to stop me in this.”

Father Makar’s voice came from the side, “She can’t confess. She is not right in her mind.”

Father Dobrushin commanded, “Tell me, Aksinya, your sin. I will listen.”

“I brought a demon up from the pit. He was the Demon Asmodeus. You must know of him. He was the demon who tormented Raguel's daughter, Sarah. He killed her bridegrooms when they came to her. He was the one that Solomon wrote about in the Testament of Solomon. Tobias forced him into upper Egypt, but he came to me when I called him, and I bound him to myself in a contract. Asmodeus is the demon of luxuria and lust. I have worked much evil through him and he through me, but the worst is that I am truly a sorceress.”

“Can there be such a being? She is insane.” Father Makar’s exasperated voice came again.

Father Dobrushin turned his head a little, “She believes it with all her heart. Such a thing can be.” He faced Aksinya again, “Please, confess everything you wish, Aksinya.”

“I desired to seduce Herr von Taaffe, but my lady-in-waiting was encouraged by the demon to sleep with him for my sake. Because of that, I sent Herr von Taaffe away and I beat the Lady Natalya. I think I killed her.” Aksinya gave a cry. “I am guilty of so many sins, I can’t begin to tell them all to you. I used sorcery to kill. I used it to harm. I have done nothing but harm others for my entire life.”

Matushka Ekaterina stepped beside them, “Father Dobrushin, something is burning. I thought it was the tapers, but I can see smoke near you.”

Aksinya cried out again. She yanked her hand from the priest’s and placed it over her heart.

Ekaterina yelled, “She is burning.” The Matushka ripped the front of Aksinya’s dress open. The fabric was charred. The camisole beneath it was smoking. Ekaterina pulled the burning fabric away from Aksinya’s chest. Her bare skin was singed. The beautiful gold crucifix was almost glowing. A repeatedly blackened mark marred Aksinya’s small breasts. It was shaped like a cross. Ekaterina grasped the chain and pulled the crucifix away from Aksinya’s skin, “Let her continue. She must continue.”

Aksinya seemed oblivious to everything. She whispered, “If I were to confess everything I would be here on my knees for weeks, and I’m not certain I have the strength for another minute.”

Ekaterina called out, “Absolve her. Absolve the girl so I can do something to help her.”

Father Dobrushin placed his right hand on Aksinya’s head and loudly announced, “May God have mercy upon you, and may He guide you to everlasting life through the authority of priesthood which was entrusted by our Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples who, in turn, entrusted it to their successors until it was given me; I who am weak and sinful, absolve you, Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna of all the sins that you have confessed and are repentant of them, as well as of all the transgressions which have escaped your memory in the Name of the Father, amen, and of the Son, amen and of the Holy Spirit for everlasting life. Amen.”

Aksinya screamed and arched her back. Ekaterina held her tightly. Father Dobrushin rose and lifted Aksinya up with him. He kissed her cheeks. The crucifix was suddenly cold. Aksinya, senseless, fell forward into his arms.

Now, on to the confession.  You knew some of what Aksinya had to confess, but unless you went and read Tobit, you didn't know the half of it.  Do you imagine, the great and wise Aksinya would have chosen a demon without knowing exactly his origins and being?  Do you imagine that she did not know exactly who she was calling on?

Aksinya plainly tells Father Dobrushin that she is a sorceress.  I told you yesterday how her confession might be received.  You can see now exactly how it was accepted.  Father Dobrushin, caught up in the moment, seems to believe her, but Father Makar thinks she is crazy.  Aksinya's actions during her confession seem reasonable to us, but listen closely to them--they sound insane to Father Makar, and the other two aren't certain what to make of what she says.  We'll find out more later.

So, now you know all about the demon Asmodeus.  There is some more, but most of that I've fed you through the novel, and you don't have to worry, I'll give you the rest before the end.  You will be well acquainted with this particular demon.  I chose him because we have so much common and ancient information on him.

Father Makar does not believe there can be demons.  He doesn't believe there can be sorcery.  Doesn't his testimony shock you out of the ideas I've shaped in your mind for the last 15 chapters?  For those chapters, there was no question.  Sorcery was real, and the demon was real.  Aksinya was sane, and slightly strange, a wild girl, but not insane.  Now, suddenly, Aksinya is not sane, sorcery is not real, and a demon can't exist.  I'm not going to play with your mind the way I did in Aegypt, but I want to draw your attention to a plot device I chose not to use.  I do hope you are now concerned about how the world in the novel will view Aksinya, but I have not fully caught you up in that dilemma.  In Aegypt, I made you wait until the bitter end to realize whether Paul Bolang was imagining the agent that affected his world.  In this novel, I'll let you alone and allow you to know in your heart Aksinya is sane, and the demon is real.  In another novel, I will perhaps not let that be.

From Aksinya's lips we get a synopsis of what has happened and we hear what we knew already, but had not been said directly.  Her confession ends in hyperbole, but why should it not.  It is not a lie--Aksinya can't imagine a time when she did not seek luxuria and sorcery.  This was a great harm to herself and others--it was also a great help to others, but that's another issue.

Now to the great kicker here after the climax.  I take you back to the reality of the book.  I promised I would.  I did not design this novel to leave Father Makar's ideas unchallenged.  The Matushka Ekaterina notices smoke near Aksinya.  The cross is burning Aksinya's skin and her clothing.  Ekaterina sees that Aksinya is burning and rips open her dress to reveal the cross and its effects.

Ekaterina is wise.  She directs Father Dobrushin to absolve Aksinya so she can be fully confessed.  The absolution is the traditional Orthodox translated into English.  The result of the absolution is a catharsis--it should be.  This is exactly the right point.  The uncontrolled actions of Aksinya are a foreshadowing.  Tomorrow, we see the direct aftermath of the confession.

A New Novel, Part 102 She's Dying

Aksinya achieved a great enchantment in the streets of Wien to save Natalya and Sister Margarethe. The power of the world flooded back on her and injured her. She is dying...



Before Aksinya fully woke again, the pain overwhelmed her. She gasped out of sleep with a cough that sent blood and phlegm down her cheeks. Warm gentle hands caught her face and turned her head. She felt the relief on her lungs and her body. Liquid flowed down the side of face. She opened her eyes and saw the dark slick trickle that stained her bed and ran across the sheets. A voice called to her. It was soothing and kind. It was in German accented French.

Aksinya focused her eyes away from the side of the bed and saw that Sister Margarethe held either side of her face. The nun’s lips moved with the French words. As yet, Aksinya couldn’t make them out. She moved her eyes and extended her vision. Natalya leaned against the door with her hands over her face. Aksinya knew tears flowed down her lady-in-waiting’s cheeks. That was just her personality.

She turned her gaze back on Sister Margarethe. Aksinya wanted to pull away from the nun, but she couldn’t rally enough strength to move. She tuned her ears to hear the French that flowed from Sister Margarethe’s lips.

“…we think some of your bones are broken, Countess.”

Aksinya couldn’t respond.

Sister Margarethe’s face was tracked with tears. Her hands held Aksinya so tenderly, but she didn’t want this woman to touch her. Sister Margarethe’s voice caught, “Can you hear me, Countess?”

Aksinya nodded and gasped again in pain.

“The doctor is coming. They said he should be here soon.”

Aksinya shook her head. She put every effort she could into a breath without a cough, “Natalya.”

“Do you want the Lady Natalya?”

Aksinya coughed and nodded. A trickle of blood leaked from her lips.

Sister Margarethe didn’t want to move, she called across the room, “Lady Natalya, the Countess is calling for you.”

Natalya let out a sob and rushed to Aksinya’s side, “My Countess. What can I do? What can I do?”

Aksinya grasped her hand and pulled her with all her might down close to her face. She spoke Russian, “Alone…help.”

Natalya whispered back in Russian, “Do you want Sister Margarethe to leave?”

Aksinya nodded.

Natalya half stood. A tiny hysterical pitch filled her perfect but Russian accented French, “Please, Sister Margarethe, you must go.”

“Go?”

Natalya glanced down at Aksinya, “You may wait outside the door, but you must leave us for now.”

Sister Margarethe didn’t want to let go of Aksinya. She stammered, “Are you certain?”

Aksinya’s grasp on Natalya’s hand tightened, and Natalya’s voice strengthened, “You must go. Please leave us alone. I’ll tell you when you may return.”

Aksinya didn’t have the strength or the ability at that moment to say that she did not want Sister Margarethe to return at all.

Slowly, Sister Margarethe stood. She backed toward the door. Aksinya began to cough. Sister Margarethe cringed at the sound, but Natalya put her arms around Aksinya. The nun left the room and shut the door. Natalya ran and locked the bedroom door behind her.


Aksinya wakes and I show you the extent of her injuries without telling you anything about them. I also introduce you to a mystery--who is caring for her. Sister Margarethe is the last person Aksinya desires to see. Aksinya believes the sister is sexually drawn to her--the demon has convinced her of this.


Natalya can't be far away, but Natalya can't face the suffering of Aksinya. Aksinya knows this. Through the sister, I show you what you might have guessed from before. Some of Aksinya's bones are broken. Although the sister seems to be compassionate, Aksinya can't stand to have her around. The person Aksinya really needs right now is Natalya--can you guess why?


Aksinya uses everything she has to express this to the sister. Aksinya needs to be alone with Natalya. Natalya is bright, she gets it. The reason why will be revealed very soon. Every action of Aksinya is to get Sister Margarethe out of the room. The reason isn't that she fears the sisters sexual proclivities right now. Natalya gets it. When the sister leaves, Natalya locks the door. We shall see tomorrow what Aksinya has in mind.

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.

A New Novel, Part 73 Choose the Evil You Will Do

Asmodeus gave us the strongest statement of his purpose so far.  His job is to do evil for Aksinya.  Her response follows.

Aksinya’s eyes darted from one side of the room to the other, “But I don’t want to do any of that.”


“So long as you accomplish evil, I will be pleased. Choose the evil you will do, and do it well. I only remark the evil that will occur if you fail at your part of the bargain.”

“I made no such bargain. I contracted you to be my servant. That was our agreement.”

“There you are wrong, Countess. You contracted to me using a part of your body as a surety. The contract was to me, the demon Asmodeus. I agreed to do your evil work in the world. That is our agreement—to do your evil work in the world. Since you have chosen to have no plan to pursue evil, I am providing one for you. I am happy to do it. I must confess, I was very pleased with how our relationship started. I am not as delighted with how it has progressed.”

“I hate you, demon. God will surely punish you for every way you torment me.”

“God will surely punish you, Countess, because all the evil I do is in your name. In fact, I myself commit no sins—it is you who sin. I am simply a tempter.”

“Get out. Get out of my room and torment me no more.”

“I will leave you for now. You understand what you must do, Countess.” Asmodeus slipped off the bed. He backed to the door and out of the room.

Aksinya waited a few minutes before she moved. Then she ran to her door and yanked it open. The demon was gone. She took a deep breath and leaned against the jam for a while. Then she closed her eyes and mouthed a prayer. She crossed herself. That small action hurt her heart. She couldn’t hold back a whimper and glanced around. She was afraid she would hear the demon’s laughter come out of the close darkness.

After a little, Aksinya closed her books and went to Natalya’s room. She didn’t even finish the work she was supposed to do. With Natalya, she reviewed her lady-in-waiting’s German work and spoke German with her for an hour. Then she went to bed.

If you didn't understand the demon's purpose, there can be no question now.  "Choose the evil you will do, and do it well."  Then, the bargain.  The point is that evil will occur if Aksinya fails to uphold her part.  We will see the evil in the future, for now, this is a threat and a foreshadowing.
 
Did you wonder at the demon's claim.  He claims not to sin--that he is only a tempter.  This may or may not be true.  Aksinya, in any case, bears the brunt of the sins the demon accomplishes in her name--that is his purpose.
 
Aksinya reveals her own desires after the demon is gone.  The act of crossing herself causes her physical pain.  This is presented as real physical pain, but we can't be certain that it is not psychological.
 
Then the end, Aksinya goes to help Natalya.  She neglects her own work for Natalya's sake.  I'm not certain the demon expected her to do this, but the point is that she takes her evening to help Natalya.  You might wonder at the demon's purpose.