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 193 Don't Let Your Mind Dwell on it

A New Novel, Part 193 Don't Let Your Mind Dwell on it

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 being comforted by Ekaterina.  Matushka Ekaterina asked Aksinya to tell her about her life...

“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 put out her arm and dipped her finger in a small puddle of tea spilled on the table, “My mother hated me.”

Ekaterina rocked Aksinya, “I doubt that very much.”

Aksinya ignored her, “I was her first child and the child of her first husband. He died before I was born. I reminded her too much of him. My adopted father loved me very much. He gave me whatever I wanted, but my mother didn’t give me what she did my younger sister or brother. She knew I loved fine clothes. Mine were always the least in the house. My mother couldn’t give me hand-me-downs, not at first. Her clothing was too elegant, but when my sister grew taller and larger in the…you know, the chest, than me, I received her old clothing. My sister had jewelry. I had nothing. My father gave me the old guest house. It was too unimportant and too ruined for my mother to care. That’s where I found the books on sorcery. I taught myself everything. I learned Latin on my own.”

“On your own?”

“Yes, perfectly. To use sorcery, you must speak the Latin words exactly as they should be spoken. Most can’t do it. I memorized the books on sorcery. Then I could have everything I wanted. At least I could make the appearance of everything I wanted. Much of sorcery is similar to illusion. It shapes the way the world looks. Some of sorcery is like…”

“Hush, Aksinya, Countess…you shouldn’t speak about sorcery. You want to give it up. You shouldn’t let your mind dwell on it.”

“Yes, you’re right, but it has been a part of my life for so long…”

We have been waiting for this moment--the time to learn more about the reticent and secretive Aksinya.  Ekaterina asks Aksinya to tell us about herself.  Aksinya wishes very much to be accepted and "loved" by Ekaterina.  Isn't it interesting that Aksinya doesn't seem to remember how much Sister Margarethe loved her?  That kind of love always frightened Aksinya--so it shouldn't surprise us.

Look at the use of description used to cause an intentional pause in the dialog.  The interlude develops the tension in the scene.  From the next description and conversation, we find Ekaterina still holds Aksinya.  She is rocking her like a child.

Aksinya believes her mother hated her.  We heard this from her before with Natalya. Ekaterina pooh poohs that Aksinya's mother hated her, then Aksinya gives us some information to chew on.  You can look at this statement from Aksinya in two ways.  The one is that her mother really did have some animosity toward her--the other is that her mother knew Aksinya had a problem with luxuria and kept it out of her hands.  The result of either her mother's wisdom or meanness resulted in Aksinya learning sorcery.  It wasn't Aksinya's mother's fault--it was all Aksinya's doing, but there is a lesson here.  Aksinya was obviously a child who was not given much attention.  The lack of attention drove her to sorcery.

Aksinya begins to go on and on about sorcery that is until Ekaterina pulls her up short.  Ekaterina wants to know Aksinya's problems, but she doesn't want Aksinya to dwell in her sin.  As I mentioned Ekaterina is very wise.  You should get this just through her conversation.  Tomorrow, we learn more. 

A New Novel, Part 186 You Must Be in Your Right Mind to Confess

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.

When Father Dobrushin carries Aksinya into the Ecclesia, she vomits and can't stop. The cross burns her. In spite of her pain, she demands to be confessed...

Aksinya croaked out, “Not ill. It is the evil in me.” She opened her eyes and tugged at his cassock, “You must confess me.”

He sighed again, “I will confess you, but you must be able to speak. You must be in your right mind.”

“I beg you. Let me kneel at the altar. I will tell everything to you.”

“To God.”

“God will not listen to me anymore. I forsook Him. But you will do.”

Father Dobrushin made a sound that was a cross between a sob and a laugh.

“Don’t mock me. You can’t know.”

“I don’t know until you tell me. I will listen to you. Are you well enough that I can carry you again?”

Aksinya nodded, but the nausea still filled her body and the taste and smell of vomit in her mouth only made it worse.

Father Dobrushin lifted her again. Aksinya swallowed and fought down the desire to retch. The crucifix still burned against her skin. Father Dobrushin placed her on her knees and held her hands. She would have fallen on her face otherwise.

Aksinya pulled one hand from Father Dobrushin’s and made the sign of the cross. She gave a cry. Father Dobrushin grasped her hand again before she could topple over. Aksinya began: “I confess to God the Father Almighty,” She gagged slightly then rushed through the words, “and to His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, in the presence of Virgin Mary and all angels, prophets, seventy-two emissaries, twelve apostles and four evangelists, and confess in the faith of the three holy synods of Nicea, Constantinople and Ephesus, trusting in the honorable priestly authority conferred upon you, Father Dobrushin, by which you bind and retain sins.” Aksinya paused and took a shallow breath, “I have sinned in thought, word and deed. I repent my sins. You are the master, and I am the servant. Accept me as the prodigal son. I have sinned against heaven and against you. I believe that you have authority to bind and retain sins and that you are the mediator between God and me. And I pray that you deliver me from all my sins by your priestly authority that I may obtain forgiveness. I pray that you remember me before God, in your prayers and in the holy Qurbono. Amen.” Aksinya began to tremble and the crucifix over her heart felt as though it was on fire.

Aksinya has a serious problem. Her problem will not be solved with a confession, and she knows this. It is, however, a potential beginning. Father Dobrushin repeats Father Makar's warning. He isn't certain either whether Aksinya is sane or well. Do you see how I set all this up for you and for Aksinya? You and she were blindly moving along with the idea that the demon was real and that everything was real. Perhaps it is and perhaps it isn't. How will this play out in Buffalo? Only Aksinya can see the demon, Asmodeus, as he really is. He can hide his voice and his shape. Like I said, how do you think this will play with others in the real world, because we have moved to a more real world? In some ways, the world before this was a dream world. It is a world where all of Aksinya's desires were coming real. She had people who loved and respected her. She had a friend. She had her sorcery and her books of sorcery. She had her house and her family's possessions. Aksinya has moved into the real world--could it be that all these things she had were just like tissue paper in rain? The rain is falling now.

What will Aksinya's experiences seem like to these people? Aksinya has no idea yet what could happen or what her confession might sound like to them. She is warned. Still, she begs to confess.

Father Dobrushin tells Aksinya to confess to God. Of course this is right, but Aksinya doesn't believe God will listen to her anymore. She forsook God. Listen to her words: "But you will do.” Father Dobrushin's reaction makes the point more exact. He realizes how far Aksinya has fallen. He doesn't mock her as Aksinya thinks; he is so filled with sadness for her, he can't hold back his emotions. He remains strong and helpful to her anyway. He holds her at the altar so she can confess. He is a gentle man.

Watch as Aksinya begins her confession. First the sign of the cross. That pains her more. I don't tell you this, I show you this through her cry and again Father Dobrushin holds her up.


Since I do a lot of historical writing, I love to place historical accuracy in my novels. Here, I have an English translation of a turn of the century Orthodox confessional prayer. Aksinya has memorized this, of course, since childhood. The point is a historical marker to the times and for the place. This is not the confession; it is the predecessor to a confession. Thus, at the end: Aksinya began to tremble and the crucifix over her heart felt as though it was on fire. Tomorrow, the confession.

A New Novel, Part 182 I Did It All for 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.



Aksinya struck Ernst and ran him out of her house.  He was shamed and defamed.  Next the demon turns his attention to Natalya...

Asmodeus inspected his claws, “He got off easy. If he had taken you, he would be dead. There is still the problem of your handmaiden.”


Aksinya whirled around. She stared at Natalya as though seeing her for the very first time. Natalya was so beautiful. She was so much more beautiful than Aksinya. Aksinya wondered why she hadn’t noticed before. No wonder Ernst or any man would choose Natalya over her. Aksinya moved slowly toward her lady-in-waiting, “Natalya, you took him from me. You took away the only man who ever loved me.”

Natalya crumpled in on herself, “I did it for you, mistress.”

Aksinya’s voice rose to a scream, “For me? For me? How could you do such an evil a thing for me?”

Asmodeus smacked his lips, “Actually, it was my idea.”

Natalya cried, “I didn’t want you to lose it.”

Aksinya’s voice rose again nearly inarticulate, “Lose what?”

“Your sorcery.”

Asmodeus smirked, “I told her that if a man took your virtue, you would lose your power to accomplish sorcery. The Lady Natalya knows how important that is to you.”

“But that was all a lie. I could have loved him.” Aksinya’s furious features were distraught.

Natalya raised her eyes, “But not any more. Now, you can do what you love the most. You can have what you love forever. I love you, mistress. I could not see you hurt like that.”

“Hurt? Hurt?” Aksinya’s eyes were wild she sought anything around her that she could take into her hand. She ran to the side of the fireplace and removed the poker from the implements there, “I will let you know how much this has hurt me.”

Aksinya struck Natalya’s side, and she fell to the floor on her face. Natalya put her hands over her head and Aksinya struck her shoulders again and again with the poker. Aksinya’s blows were so wild half of them hit the floor. Curses and cries flowed from Aksinya’s lips, and bright blood suddenly appeared on Natalya’s dress. At each blow, a breath burst from Natalya’s lips. Dark red stains drenched Natalya’s back, but the girl didn’t make any other sound. While Aksinya raised feral and shrill screams, blood began to streak the floor. Sister Margarethe rushed through the door. She grabbed Aksinya’s arms and wrestled the poker from her. Aksinya fell back. She cursed the nun with her remaining breath. After that Aksinya’s mouth only opened and close without a sound.

I told you this novel is a semi-allegory to the book of Tobit.  I mentioned before about what happened to the men who tried to bed Sara, the heroine in Tobit.  All seven of them were murdered by Asmodeus.  Thus, the statement by the demon: "If he had taken you, he would be dead."  This is an important foreshadowing. 

Something important to note here is what would this situation be like if the demon was not present?  There is another question; what would have happened if there was no demon at all?  If there was no demon to tempt each of the players, do you understand, they might have done the exact same thing.  The demon is a wonderful tool that I use in this novel to personalize temptation, but the novel could still proceed without him.  It wouldn't be as well developed or tied together.  The demon is like glue that binds everything with his brand of temptation--luxuria (lust).

We see, the demon has not finished his work: "There is still the problem of your handmaiden.”  Do you see how the statement of the demon could easily be the prompting of thought in the mind of Aksinya.  The demon is tied (contracted) to her.  The demon is like an extension of her.  His thoughts in many ways are hers.  This is similar to the statements of Paul in the New Testament: "I do those things I don't wish to do..."  Aksinya is tempted, and she falls into evil because she listens to the tempter (the tempter is her own mind).  I use Asmodeus' words to directly show you this temptation.

Then within Aksinya herself, the temptation drives her thoughts: She stared at Natalya as though seeing her for the very first time. Natalya was so beautiful. She was so much more beautiful than Aksinya. Aksinya wondered why she hadn’t noticed before. No wonder Ernst or any man would choose Natalya over her. Aksinya moved slowly toward her lady-in-waiting, “Natalya, you took him from me. You took away the only man who ever loved me.”  I repeat this paragraph because of its importance.  We have seen this before, but I haven't pointed it out so directly, and I didn't make it so direct before.  This is a different type of temptation driving Aksinya.  Aksinya never thought this way before.  She never placed another person above herself.  Note, that Aksinya didn't say, "You took away the only man I ever loved."  She doesn't love him, and she knows it.

Natalya did everything for Aksinya.  We observed and know what suffering Natalya went through to seduce Ernst.  I didn't show you the gory details, but the side conversations and the many hints showed you how much Natalya was disgusted with giving herself to Ernst.  In this moment, to Aksinya all this is meaningless.  The reason for the actions are immaterial to her.  Indeed, Natalya did an evil thing for Aksinya--in the name of Aksinya.  Remember back to Asmodeus' comments over and over--I accomplish evil in your name.  His purpose is to do evil in the name of Aksinya.

The act of seducing Ernst was Natalya's sin, but the demon himself claims to have promoted it--it was his idea.  Then we find the demon lied to Natalya.  He told her that Aksinya would lose her sorcery if Aksinya had sex with Ernst.

Because Natalya loves Aksinya so much she worships her, because sorcery is so important to Aksinya (it is what she loves), Natalya could not let a man stand between Aksinya and her sorcery.  There is much wrapped up in this statement.  I dedicated pages and pages, scenes and scenes to showing you this very important connection--Natalya and Aksinya, Aksinya and sorcery.  So, do you see the irony here?  Natalya gave up everything to protect the sorcery that Aksinya truly loves.  Remember however, that Aksinya hates this part about herself.  Aksinya has been on a path of self destruction through the entire novel.  Natalya has been upholding her on this path, but it is a path Aksinya loved.  Natalya had the bad luck to want to give Aksinya what she really wanted--sorcery.

Aksinya cries out: “But that was all a lie. I could have loved him.” We know Aksinya can't love anyone or anything while sorcery (luxuria) fills her heart.  Remember how the desire for it takes over her mind.  Natalya's statement is precise and exact: "Now, you can do what you love the most. You can have what you love forever. I love you, mistress. I could not see you hurt like that.”  You don't have to have all this information to viscerally understand what has happened here, but Natalya's words explain exactly what I took a few paragraphs to explain.  This is why I love novels and writing novels.  I can build a story, plot, and theme to a point and everything can be made clear in a single statement.  It is indeed clear that this is Aksinya's love.  This why what follows happens.  Natalya touched the raw nerve that is the core of Aksinya's being.  The claims about Ernst are secondary and even unimportant to this. 

At this point, Aksinya is completely out of control.  We have never seen her like this.  She has been provoked by her own actions and own thoughts into a murderous rage.  Do you remember from the very beginning, the demon desired Aksinya to personally murder and sin.  He murdered in her name, but he wanted her to take the actions herself.  This indicates the true state of everything.  Only Aksinya can answer for her own sin and own faults.  Asmodeus knows this.  He has driven her to the point where Aksinya is willing to act in a murderous rage, an uncontrolled rage that might achieve the demon's goals.

And so Aksinya beats Natalya with a poker until the floor is red with blood.  The world has come full circle.  Aksinya called the demon to prevent the deaths of her family--now she is murdering a member of her household.  Aksinya accepted Natalya as her friend to rescue Natalya from abuse--now Aksinya is beating her friend and confidant.  Aksinya was determined to fight the demon--she has succumbed to the demons' temptation and is murdering her own friend.

The only thing that stops Aksinya is Sister Margarethe.  Still Aksinya curses the nun for her actions.  She has screamed so much and so long, she can't speak anymore.  Tomorrow, the aftermath and more.

A New Novel, Part 181 You Will Never Have Me Now

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.



We discovered yesterday that Natalya and the demon conspired to have Aksinya make a great enchantment to change Natalya's features so she appeared like Aksinya.  Natalya then visited and seduced Ernst.  We also know that Natalya took the sorcery books from Ernst and brought them to Aksinya.  When Ernst came to get the answer to his proposal of marriage, he received much more than he expected...


Ernst pleaded, “I love you, Aksinya. I don’t love anyone else.”

“But you slept with her,” Aksinya thrust her finger at Natalya.

Ernst put his hands over his face, “I thought it was you. I only wanted you…”

Aksinya pushed him away, “You defiled her, and you defiled yourself. Do you think I would have slept so easily with you?”

Asmodeus voice was droll, “She would have.”

Aksinya barked at him, “Shut up, demon.” She whirled toward Ernst, “Get out, Herr von Taaffe. I don’t wish to see you again. I am not damaged goods, and I will not accept damaged goods.”

Asmodeus laughed again.

Aksinya ignored the demon. She scowled at Ernst, “Leave my house. You stain my honor by remaining here.”

Ernst ducked his head, “But, I didn’t know. I still love you. I want to marry you.”

“Do you think I could love you now? Do you think that after you took the virtue of my servant I could ever think of marrying you? I am not so low. You may have had her, but you will never have me now.”

Asmodeus gave a yawn, “The Lady Natalya had no virtue remaining to give. Others took it from her long before Herr von Taaffe. He was just one of many.”

Natalya bowed her head a little lower.

Aksinya stared at Natalya then jerked her eyes back to Ernst. She didn’t look in his eyes, “Herr von Taaffe, you disgrace my house. I already told you to leave.” She motioned violently toward him.

Ernst ducked his head and bowed, “I am sorry. I will leave. May I contact you later?”

Aksinya screamed at him, “Do not try to speak to me again. I will not entertain your letters or abide your presence again.”

“Very well. I do still love you. I am sorry.” He dropped to one knee.

Aksinya kicked at him and missed, “Take your apology and get out. Now!” She pulled back her hand and this time connected with the side of his face.

Ernst stood wide-eyed. He took one other glance at Aksinya then backed out of the door into the foyer. They heard the outer door open and close. The fire rose and fell among the coals.

There are small ironies throughout this scene.  Ernst still loves Aksinya.  He pleads with her.  Notice a small irony here.  Ernst was seduced.  This is obvious, but if he had managed to not fall to the temptation of Natalya and Asmodeus, he wouldn't be in the situation he is at this moment.  If Aksinya had not succumbed to luxuria and become drunk on Wednesday night, if sorcery were not her skill, none of this would be a problem.  Although the main actor in this entire problem is Natalya, Natalya was tempted only to help Aksinya.  We will find she did everything for Aksinya's sake.  Irony upon irony.  There is more.

Aksinya is a product of her culture as are Ernst and Natalya.  The act of sex before marriage is prohibited for good reason in this culture--it is too easy to become pregnant.  Sex outside of marriage is considered a great sin.  It leads to cultural and social ostracism.  It leads to religious ostracism.  The reaction of Aksinya is part of this, but there is much much more.  Aksinya feels that she was betrayed.  Although Natalya thought she was doing Aksinya a favor, that is not how she views it.

The demon adds fuel to the fire.  Aksinya would have slept with Ernst.  We know that, she knows that, perhaps Natalya realizes that--maybe that was part of her reasoning too.  Damaged goods refers to the culture's view of those who have had sex before marriage.  Aksinya turns all her anger on Ernst: "You stain my honor by remaining here.”  She calls Natalya her servant.  Aksinya has called Natalya her friend and confident--she rejected calling Natalya her servant before.

We know Ernst is at fault here, but there are various levels of guilt.  Aksinya has been pushed past the point of control and of reason.  The demon is an equal opportunity tempter and offender: “The Lady Natalya had no virtue remaining to give. Others took it from her long before Herr von Taaffe. He was just one of many.”  Poor Natalya acknowledges this.  She was seduced and used, abused by many men.  She only wanted to be free from the pain and suffering of her previous household.  That means nothing to Asmodeus.

Aksinya loves Natalya.  She doesn't love Ernst.  Ernst is easy for her to reject and remove.  Watch the techniques I use to escalate the situation.  Aksinya is screaming now.  She is gesticulating wildly.  When Ernst falls to a knee, Aksinya kicks at him.  Aksinya has been almost completely unphysical in the past.  She has not reacted with physical attacks before.  She is past the point of control.  She finally connects Ernst's face with her hand.  Ernst can't take anymore.  He isn't a coward, but he isn't good with confrontation--don't you remember the incident in front of the tavern.

The buildup in this scene is important--I worked on it for a long time to try to get the exact strength and measured increase.  It will likely take more work to make perfect.  The end detail relates to the demon and to the times: The fire rose and fell among the coals.  We will eventually see how important an incident this is, but for now, Ernst is gone and tomorrow, Aksinya turns her ire on Natalya.

A New Novel, Part 180 You Had Her Maid

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.

We have arrived at the climax of this particular novel.  This is the climax I envisioned from the beginning.  Because this is a commentary about the writer's craft, I will not be shy to tell you what you don't fully comprehend yet.  This incident will lead to the degradation of many in Wien.  It is just as the demon wished and predicted.  Already we see the beginning of the end for a couple of characters.  Aksinya is confronted by a letter she supposedly wrote to Ernst concerning the night they spend together...



Aksinya was suddenly breathing hard, “I did not write this letter. After the opera, I did not spend Wednesday night with you.”


Asmodeus laughter filled the parlor.

Aksinya stared at him, “What do you have to say about this demon?”

Asmodeus’ lips rose over his fangs, “Ask your handmaiden where she was on Wednesday night.”

Aksinya’s voice rose in volume, “Natalya, what do you know about this?”

Natalya cringed. Then she raised her eyes and met Aksinya’s angry glance, “I could not give you to this man. He would take away your virtue and your sorcery. So I gave him mine.”

Aksinya rushed forward and threw the letter at her, “Did you write this?”

Natalya jerked her head to the side and shook her head.

Asmodeus laughed again, “I wrote it. I wrote it in answer to the impassioned missive from this stupid young man.” He glared at Aksinya, “It is all true.”

Aksinya pressed her hands over her ears, “It is not true. None of it is true.”

Asmodeus wrinkled his nose at her, “This evening, you were about to answer Herr von Taaffe that you would wed him. You were planning to give up your virtue to him. You would have gladly lain in his arms and moaned out your every desire. You would have pleasured him already if you had the courage. You would have loved him just as he foolishly loves you. Do you think I could allow that?”

“Don’t you want me to sin?”

“I want you to do evil. That is your purpose and my purpose, and the evil you created in your wake is truly breathtaking. Can you not appreciate it? I would help you bed him now, but you realize he has already been taken.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you hear your lady-in-waiting? Ask her again. She already told you.”

Aksinya’s hand slipped to the side of her face, “Natalya, what did you do?”

Natalya wailed, “I could not let you do this thing. So I did it for you.”

Aksinya spat at her, “You did what for me?”

“I seduced him for you and gave him myself in your place.”

Ernst stepped beside Aksinya and grasped her arm, “What does she mean? I slept with you, Aksinya. I did not sleep with her. I saw your face. I touched your body. I heard your voice.”

Asmodeus cackled, “The Countess herself made the Lady Natalya appear like her. While she was in a drunken stupor, the Countess made her favorite enchantment. She made the Lady Natalya appear exactly like her and befuddled the Sister Margarethe’s thoughts. I sent the Lady Natalya to your bed. You did not sleep with the Countess.” He crossed his arms, “You had her maid.”

Aksinya shook off Ernst’s hand. She moved away from him—toward the demon, “You did this horrible thing?”

The demon sneered, “I didn’t do it—you did.”

I don't know what else I can tell you here.  I wrote this section to be exact and precise.  I didn't want you to miss any of the details.  I want every single point to be out in the open.  Still, I don't tell you everything, so perhaps there is some benefit in showing some of the rich details and to explain the writing techniques.
 
Do you see the piece of evidence.  There is hard evidence that Ernst has in his hands--it is the letter.  We will discover more.  The accusation or rather the testimony of the letter says that Aksinya spent the night with Ernst.  This, in itself, would be a terrible thing in this culture, but if Ernst married Aksinya, the indiscretion could be easily forgotten.
 
This is an era and an age preoccupied, as most of human history, with sexual purity.  The demon stands in directly contrast to this.  He tempts into sexual sin and luxuria.  Whether you agree with the opinions of the culture is immaterial.  The culture is as it is and this makes this scene even more ironic and tense.
 
We might have guessed who spent the night with Ernst.  The demon almost tells us.  We had hints.  We knew Natalya brought back the books from Ernst.  We know she was missing until Thursday morning.  There was a certain smell about her.  There was a certain air about her.  Do you remember Thursday morning--the scent of sulphur and incense in Aksinya's room?  We know already the outcome of that event.  Aksinya might have guessed, but she is overwrought and overcome.  Her world is crashing around her.  It is out of control and she is losing any control she had left.
 
Listen to Natalya's words:  “I could not give you to this man. He would take away your virtue and your sorcery. So I gave him mine.”  Aksinya completely ignores Natalya's speech.  She is more concerned about the writer of the letter.  The letter impugns Aksinya--that her pride can't abide.  But Natalya didn't write the letter--Asmodeus did.  He was taking the post.  He was checking and reading the letters between Ernst and Aksinya.  We fully realize that now.
 
Aksinya is right, the letter is not true, but the demon is also right.  Aksinya wishes it were true.  If Akisnya had more courage, she would have seduced Ernst.  She doesn't love him, but she desired him.  She was about to answer "yes" to Ernst this evening, but she didn't love Ernst, she only desired him. 
 
The demon's point is very specific.  He is Asmodeus, the demon of luxuria (lust) and also the demon from Tobit who murdered Sara's husbands one by one before they could consumate their marriage with Sara--therefore Aksinya is in the same situation.  The demon will murder anyone who attempts to comsumate a marriage or sex with her.  In the ancient world sex is marriage and marriage is sex.  I have not told you before, you might have guessed it, but this novel is a semi-allegory of the Apocryphal book of Tobit.  I won't go any further right now with this information, but get out your Book of Tobit and see what I am talking about.
 
Aksinya asks the demon: “Don’t you want me to sin?”  His answer is very important: “I want you to do evil. That is your purpose and my purpose, and the evil you created in your wake is truly breathtaking. Can you not appreciate it? I would help you bed him now, but you realize he has already been taken.”  There is much in the demon's statement.  This is a foreshadowing.  The later is the point about the culture and about the demon.  He is lying.  If Aksinya attempted to bed Ernst, the demon would murder him.  The demon's point is cultural.  The man has lost his sexual purity and this is evident to everyone there.
 
Aksinya missed the point about Natalya before.  Aksnya doesn't think much about others, the demon rubs Aksinya's face and mind in the ideas he wants to convey.
 
Get this, this is very important.  To protect Aksinya and Ernst, Natalya seduced Ernst.  Natalya offered herself in the place of Aksinay.  This is an important redemtive idea in Natalya's actions, but it is twisted.  The demon and Aksinya have twisted the mind of Natalya.  Natalya was not tempted by Ernst, she was tempted by Aksinya.  She did it for Aksinya.  Natalya's words: “I seduced him for you and gave him myself in your place.”
 
This is news to Ernst.  He thought he slept with Aksinya.  Then everything is made clear by Asmodeus.  The events of Thursday morning--everything becomes clear.  I prepped you for this very moment from the beginning of the book.  Remember Aksinya's favorite great enchantment--it was the changing of appeaances.  Remember the ease Aksinya made this sorcery.  The sorcery Aksinya trusted came back to cause her all this misery.  That is the great irony here.  Aksinya trusted in sorcery and the sorcery not only failed her, it betrayed her.  This is a very important point--sorcery betrayed Aksinya. 
 
The demon cruelly baits Aksinya, Natalya, and Ernst:  "I sent the Lady Natalya to your bed. You did not sleep with the Countess...You had her maid.”   Then, the coupe de grace: “I didn’t do it—you did.”  Indeed, Aksinya did cause it.  Aksinya was the one who made it all possible.  Natalya, Ernst, the demon all had major roles to play--it is all their sin together, but Aksinya was the catalyst.  She did it. We ultimately can't forget that Aksinya tried to fight against the demon and this is his revenge.  Tomorrow, more of this revelation--could it get worse?  Oh yes, much worse.

A New Novel, Part 105 The Accusation of Lust

Aksinya made a great enchantment to save her friend.  She made another great enchantment to save her life.  When she woke the first time, the woman she most fears was beside her.  When she wakes again, the same woman, Sister Margarethe is there.

When Aksinya woke again, Sister Margarethe held her hand. Aksinya pulled it out of the nun’s grasp, “Don’t touch me.”

“I…I’m sorry, Countess.”

“I don’t want you in my room.”

“The Reverend Mother said I could look after you.”

“Why are you here, anyway?”

Sister Margarethe closed her eyes and put her hands together.

“I asked you a question.”

“The Lady Natalya and I have been looking after you since you collapsed in the street.”

“You brought me back here?”

“No, a young man carried you here. The Lady Natalya suggested it.”

Aksinya closed her mouth.

“The Lady Natalya told us that this was your house. She explained about how you had to flee Russia and set up everything here. You didn’t need to keep it a secret.”

Aksinya glared at her.

“I realize you wanted to keep the existence of this place from us. I think I understand how you wanted to blend in with the other girls…”

“Then why did you follow and spy on me?”

“The Reverend Mother instructed me to keep a special eye on you…I didn’t mean to spy. We were worried about you.”

“Why do you care about me at all?”

Sister Margarethe colored, “You are one of our students. You are a special student.”

“Is that all?”

Sister Margarethe glanced at the door, “I…we love you.”

Aksinya wrinkled her lip, “Love me. I realize what you think about me. You feel lust in your heart for me. You want me that way…that’s why I don’t want you alone with me.”

Sister Margarethe stared in shock. She didn’t say a thing.

Aksinya looked smug.

Asmodeus convinced Aksinya that Sister Margarethe has sexual desire for her.  This shocked Aksinya so much that she didn't take the time to question the demon's statements.  This was a revelation that the reader will not know (yet might guess), but I wanted to give you a heads up.  This explains Aksinya's reaction--and perhaps the Sister's.

Aksinya's statement that she doesn't want the Sister in her room is direct and partially misinterpreted by the Sister.  In this dialog, the two are talking passed each other.  Aksinya doesn't dare state what is on her mind--for many reasons.  In spite of this, we learn a lot about what is going on.  Aksinya interrogates the Sister.  We find that the Reverend Mother knows about the house.  We discover that a young man carried Aksinya to her bed.

Sister Margarethe tells us that they understood that Aksinya wanted to blend in so she kept the house secret.  This is a blatant misconception.  Aksinya never tried to blend in anywhere.  That idea was never in her mind.  That the sisters thought it of her was informative on lots of levels.  Aksinya lets that one go by--it's a worthwhile misconception for her to use.

Aksinya drills in on the point she wants to know, but she does it from the side.  Sister Margarethe's reactions are informative.  I...we love you.  Then Aksinya pounces.  Sister Margarethe is in shock from Aksinya's accusations.  Is her shock due to the revelation.  Is she astounded that Aksinya would make such an accusation.  Is it because she is embarrassed or offended or angry?  Aksinya thinks she has it all figured out.  Do we.  Do we know what is really going on here.  I've tried to direct and misdirect you.  If you review the writing, I never told you one way or the other about the truth or falsehood of the demon's claims.  My writing was intentionally ambivalent.  Tomorrow, the answer to this important question, and an important marker in the potential redemption of Aksinya.