A New Novel, Part 233 I Might Need Some Help

25 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 233 I Might Need Some Help

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.  Last night, Aksinya almost died of exposure because the demon took her dress.  Now, she is back in her cell with warm blankets, but unless she can mark them with crosses, the demon could take them away...

Aksinya sat back and pouted.  She felt much better, but she knew that wouldn’t last long if the demon returned and took her dress and the blankets from her again.  She only knew one way to fight Asmodeus.  She thought for a while about how she might put crosses on her clothing and the wonderfully warm blankets.  After a long time, there was only one thing she thought she could use.  Under the cover of the blankets, she began to prick at her hand with a sharp point of her rosary.  After a few minutes she drew some blood and made a couple of satisfactory crosses on the hem of her dress.  At that point, she couldn’t get much more blood without going deeper into her hand than she wanted to.  She thought for a while then began to prick at the large vein at the side of her wrist. 

She cut through and gave a slight gasp.  She glanced up to see if Frau Mauer heard her.  The old woman didn’t stop sewing.  Aksinya was surprised at the amount of blood the little nick drew.  With blood, she marked the collar and sleeves of her dress.  Then quickly put crosses at the corners of the woolen blankets.  When she was finished, she held the place on her wrist she nicked, but it wouldn’t stop bleeding.  She had nothing to use as a bandage, and she was becoming a little faint.

Since she had marked everything, she thought it was safe to say something to the Frau.  Aksinya cleared her throat and tried to speak.  She couldn’t say anything at first and her sight began to dim.  Finally, she forced out, “Frau Mauer.”

The old woman didn’t turn, “I’ll not give you any thread or a needle.  You needn’t ask again.”

“Frau Mauer, I don’t need them anymore, but I might need some help.”

Frau Mauer leaned over and clucked her tongue.  She turned toward Aksinya.  Aksinya held out her arm.  A bright drip of blood ran down her hand and dropped to the stone floor.  It spattered into a growing puddle of blood on the ground.
Frau Mauer screamed and jumped up.  Aksinya’s eyes closed and she slowly lay on the bench.  The release of the pressure on her vein let the drip become a slow stream.  Frau Mauer screamed again and ran toward the kitchen.

Aksinya moves from one problem to the next.  Do you see how the demon is still driving her even when he isn't present.  There is a great allegory in this.  You do recognize that Aksinya's actions are literally the only thing she can do.  If she does not make crosses, the demon will take her dress again, and she will suffer greatly.  She choses to use her own blood to protect herself.  As a side note, Aksinya is selfish in this, just as all of us are selfish.  She doesn't want pain and suffering.  She doesn't want the demon to take her clothing and blankets.  She doesn't want to be cold.

Unfortunately Aksinya makes a slight error.  In her hurry to find some blood, she pricks too large a vein and she can't stop the flow of blood.  I use some fun advanced writing techniques to show you what is happening.  Plus, I interject a little humor. 

Remember, Aksinya is cold.  She is undernourished.  She has only blankets and thin clothing.  Although she isn't bleeding very much--it is enough to make a difference.  Frau Mauer thinks Aksinya has tried to commit suicide.  Do you imagine this might be part of the demon's plan?  Suicide is an unforgivable sin for the Catholic Church.  Aksinya's actions will appear to be a suicide attempt--or success.  Tomorrow, more help?

A New Novel, Part 232 I Must Put Crosses on my Dress

24 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 232 I Must Put Crosses on my Dress 

For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

Aksinya is locked in a cold dark cell under the residence of the Cardinal of Wien.  Aksinya almost died of exposure because the demon took her dress.  Now, she is back in her cell with warm blankets, but the demon could take them away...

After Secretary Schwab, Otto, and Frau Becker departed, Frau Mauer took her position again beside the door.  The moment Aksinya finished praying her rosary she felt better, she called to the Frau, “Frau Mauer, may I borrow a needle and thread?”

Frau Mauer took a quick glance at Aksinya.  Aksinya sat on the bench wrapped in the blankets, “Of course you may not have a needle and thread.  What would you want with something like that anyway?”

“I must put crosses on my dress.”

“Crosses on your dress?  You are a strange one.”

“If I don’t he’ll just take it off me again.”

Frau Mauer stared at Aksinya and nervously fumbled her sewing, “Did you lie to the secretary and Frau Becker?  Did some man molest you?”

“The demon took off my clothing to punish me.”

Frau Becker’s eyes widened, “I think Frau Becker is right, you are crazy.”

“I may be crazy, but I need to put crosses on my clothing and on these blankets.”

“You shan’t get any needles or thread from me—not unless the Secretary himself instructs me.”
Aksinya sat back and pouted.  She felt much better, but she knew that wouldn’t last long if the demon returned and took her dress and the blankets from her again.  She only knew one way to fight Asmodeus.  She thought for a while about how she might put crosses on her clothing and the wonderfully warm blankets.  After a long time, there was only one thing she thought she could use.  Under the cover of the blankets, she began to prick at her hand with a sharp point of her rosary.  After a few minutes she drew some blood and made a couple of satisfactory crosses on the hem of her dress.  At that point, she couldn’t get much more blood without going deeper into her hand than she wanted to.  She thought for a while then began to prick at the large vein at the side of her wrist.

Frau Mauer is Aksinya's guard again.  Aksinya asks for a needle and thread, but Frau Mauer won't loan them to her.  Aksinya tells the Frau exactly why she needs the needle and thread.  Do you remember, the effect of the crosses on the demon.  The crosses did prevent Asmodeus from removing Aksinya's clothing.  She knows they can protect her in the cell.

Frau Mauer's thoughts are not pleasant.  She can't imagine anything good about Aksinya.  Do you see that her reaction and the reaction of Frau Becker will be the reaction of everyone else.  If Aksinya imagines a demon, she must be crazy. 

Since Aksinya can't get Frau Mauer to give her a needle and thread, she must discover another way to protect herself.  Aksinya is used to using blood as a sacrifice.  This time, she is using blood to protect herself, but it isn't through a spell.  She is using blood to make crosses on her clothing and blankets.  Aksinya may be resourceful, but she just is too innocent and naive.   Tomorrow, success, but at what price.

A New Novel, Part 78 A Gift to Natalya

Aksinya showed Natalya her mother's jewelry box then Natalya saw the rosary and the burns from it on Aksinya's chest.  Natalya is dressing Aksinya.

Aksinya’s shoulders drooped, “I’ll tell you later. Yes, later. Please hurry, Nata. Otherwise we shall be late.”


“Nata?” Natalya put the blouse on Aksinya and began to button it.

“Yes, Nata, and you are supposed to call me Aksinya.” Aksinya slid off the bed and stood.

“I am so embarrassed…” Natalya pulled the slip and skirt up Aksinya’s slim legs. She buttoned and belted it.

“I have a gift for you, Nata, but only if you call me, Aksinya, as you did last night.”

Natalya pulled the sweater on Aksinya and began to button it, “I am sorry, mistress. I will call you Aksinya.”

“Very good.” Aksinya took a small jeweled cross on a golden chain that had been in her mother’s jewel box. “Bow you neck, Lady Nata.”

Natalya bent her head and Aksinya placed the chain around her neck. Natalya picked it up in her hand and stared at it, “Is this really for me?”

“It is yours forever, Nata. Now hide it. It’s definitely against Frau Drescher’s rules to wear jewelry—even a cross.” Aksinya pulled open the top of Natalya’s blouse and let the cross fall down its front.

Natalya gazed at Aksinya, “It doesn’t burn.”

“That’s because you are an innocent person.” She gave a half smile, “I am not.” Aksinya started for the door, “Come on, we’re late, we’ll have to get tea at breakfast.”

Natalya made a strange face, but she answered, “I’m sorry mistress. I already heated the water for tea.”

Aksinya smiled, “You are so very, very good, Nata. Come on, I’ll pour your tea today.”

Natalya put her hands over her mouth, but she quickly followed Aksinya out of their rooms.

Natalya doesn't really get her answer.  You know she figured it out on her own.  Natalya is very bright, but she gives the impression, intentionally, of not being.  That is Natalya.  So, I use some writing techniques to further show her personality and the pressure Aksinya is giving her.  That is, while dressing, Aksinya insists Natalya call her by her name.  She uses the carrot of a gift and then presents it to her.  Note, how it is presented.  This is the way a noble lady presents a gift to an important courtier.  A point not lost on Natalya.  Remember Natalya's origins.  She never received anything of importance.  Here Aksinya presents her with a very valuable cross necklace.  You can guess from the context the point of this little exchange.  Aksinya wants to protect Natalya from the demon.  That is obvious and the underlying context of the gift.  She also wants to solidify Natalya's alliance.  We know that is unnecessary, but Aksinya thinks in terms of nobility--such displays and honors are always necessary.
 
The jewelry must be hidden from Frau Drescher.  I never told you about this rule until now--remember there were more rules in the dormitory.  I told you then, I wouldn't give you a list.  Here I show you one without making a list--you can guess some others on your own.
 
Natalya's response to the cross on her skin shows many things.  First Natalya expected it to burn her.  Because it doesn't, she realizes afresh the differences between her and Aksinya.  Remember, Natalya lusts to be the apprentice to Aksinya, but Aksinya wants no part of it.  The response from Aksinya answers another question, one about innocence.  We will find out later why Natalya could not believe that.  That is why she made a strange face at the comment about innocence. 
 
There is a rush from the beginning of this piece to be out of the rooms and get to breakfast.  Natalya already has water on for tea, and Aksinya spins Natalya's world again "I'll pour your tea."  That shows honor as much as anything.  Again, the response from Natalya. 
 
So today, we see a very simple exchange that is not simple at all.  There is foreshadowing and information flowing all over the place.  Each of these details is conveyed by an expression of the personality of Aksinya and Natalya.  That is the power of dialog to move the story, plotline, and express the theme.
 
On another note, I just started chapter 19.  The point is I wanted to mention something about writing in scenes.  That is my major technique.  I have been prepping for the scene I just finished from the beginning of the novel.  I am near the end of the novel, and the astounding thing is I could probably finish it if I just started writing, but if I did, I'd die.  The amount of effort to write the initial draft of anything is very high for me.  It is also amazing to see how a scene develops even when you know its input and output.  I set the scene and let the characters play out the scene within the setting.  I know where the scene is going and I know what should be in it, after that, there is no holds barred.  So the scene many times takes on a life of its own.  This part of the writing process is like magic to me.  The scenes almost write themselves.  They leap on to the page and usually end up very much like I wanted it, but not exactly how I imagined it.  When I get to that point in the pieces, I'll try to remember to tell you how some of the very important interactions became changed from my initial thoughts.  

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. 

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.