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 recovering from her evening with Ernst. She had a hangover, and Natalya assured her that Ernst would ask her to dinner again...
Indeed, a letter came to Aksinya’s house the next day.
Ernst Franz von Taaffe
Stal Straße
Wien, Austria
19 December 1918
Dearest Lady Golitsyna
Thank you for attending the ballet and dinner with me last evening. Your presence was dazzling. You lit up my evening the same way the Palais Coburg Hotel Residenz lights up the night sky. You made me so happy, dear Countess, I would like to see you again this weekend, and I wish to invite you next week to dinner and the grand Christmas performance of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. We shall work out the details when I see you at Grossbock on Saturday. Until then,
Sincerely,
Ernst Franz von Taaffe, heir to Graf von Taaffe”
On Friday evening, Aunt Brunhilda greeted Aksinya and Natalya when they arrived at Grossbock. She curtsied and took Aksinya’s hands. Her first breathless words were, “Dear Countess, Ernst von Taaffe has asked to dine with us on Saturday night…”
Aksinya frowned, just a little, “Did you accept?”
Aunt Brunhilda stared as though Aksinya had lost her mind, “Of course we accepted.” She smiled and shook Aksinya’s hands, “He is the perfect match for you.”
Aksinya rolled her eyes, “I’m cold. Could we retire to the family parlor?”
“Even better, we can have aperitifs in my sitting room until dinner.”
Throughout dinner and Saturday, Aunt Brunhilda wouldn’t stop talking about Herr von Taaffe. Aksinya wondered if she would be able to put up with her Aunt for the rest of the weekend. Ominously, Asmodeus did not make an appearance Friday evening. Aksinya had not seen him for a long time. She had not attempted to contact him, and she had not called him. She had a very bad feeling about his lack of appearance and speculated that the demon was either preparing something very unpleasant for her or that she was accomplishing everything he desired her to do. The later worried her the most.
Ernst is a gentleman although a gentleman who could use a little more polish. He sends a note to Aksinya the next day. The letter is a little overwrought and a little romantic, but that's Ernst. It is obvious he invited himself to Grossbock for the weekend. If you remember that Ernst and the Freiherr have an arrangement about Aksinya, then you know Ernst won't be turned away. The Freiherr and Freifrau are very must in favor of Ernst and his suit. All this is confirmed to us when Aunt Brunhilda greets Aksinya and Natalya. Aksinya does everything she can to deflect it, but the Freifrau won't let thoughts about Ernst go.
The real issue troubling Aksinya is while she is embroiled in this wonderful little love affair, Asmodeus is nowhere to be found. She hasn't tried to call the demon for obvious reasons. Aksinya knows things are not right, but she doesn't want them to stop. She loves everything that is going on. She is warming to Ernst and falling into the temptation before her. Aksinya knows what is going on, but she won't admit it to herself. She is willing to let everything play out in spite of the possible tragic ending, because she can't imagine any tragedy. Not at this point. Tomorrow, Herr von Taaffe.
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
A New Novel, Part 84 The Beginning of the Weekend
This is the beginning of chapter 8. I set up Aksinya in her house. Now we see the progression of her sin and some very important connections. The first is the Freifrau...
The week continued for Aksinya and Natalya without great problems. The demon led them every night to the house across the street. As yet, he made no other demands on Aksinya. The cellar workroom remained unused for now. The demon didn’t even ask Aksinya to go down to it again.
Chapel was a daily chore. With Natalya beside her, Aksinya could endure it, but it was not pleasant for her. Aksinya spent her time in the evenings working with Natalya on her German. Aksinya’s work in her classes suffered, but the sisters didn’t seem to expect much from a countess anyway. They didn’t praise her, but they didn’t berate her either. Only Sister Margarethe, in German class, seemed to show Aksinya any special attention. No matter what Aksinya did, Sister Margarethe praised her. Aksinya thought, perhaps her German was truly improving because she worked with Natalya so much.
On Friday afternoon, Freiherr Bockmann’s coupe, the covered carriage, came for Aksinya and Natalya. The Freifrau Bockmann herself sat in the coupe. For the weekend, Aksinya and Natalya had taken clothing from the house across the street. They wore something other than their Sacré Coeur uniforms now. Aksinya was dressed like a countess. Natalya like a lady-in-waiting. Both of their jewelry was much more elegant than that which would have been expected any student to wear.
Freifrau Bockmann’s eyes widened when she saw them. She descended from the carriage and curtsied to Aksinya. Then, she greeted both the girls with a kiss. The Reverend Mother came out of the school to see them off. Frau Drescher stood as an after thought in the shadows near the gymnasium’s door.
The Reverend Mother curtsied to Freifrau Bockmann. It was a deep curtsy that included Aksinya, “Freifrau Bockmann, the Countess and Lady Natalya have started well. We are glad you decided to take them under your wing for their social training during the weekends.”
Freifrau Bockmann was effusive, “Thank you, Reverend Mother. I will return them Sunday evening. Please don’t expect them for dinner.”
“Yes, Freifrau Bockmann.”
With the drivers help, they climbed into the carriage. After they were inside, Freifrau Bockmann tapped the ceiling of the carriage with the top of her cane and the driver started the horses moving.
This is the setup of the entire chapter, and this is the means to convey to you the basis of a continuing of action in the novel. The week continued... then we see their week abbreviated to show only the important parts. This is a writing technique to move the writing in time and to give the reader the expectation of what is happening without going into great detail. Detail is left for important parts. The key takings here is the cellar remains unused, the chapel, Natalya and German class. Watch the sister and German class closely.
So Freifrau Bockmann comes herself to pick up Aksinya and Natalya. You can see the small details. The coupe, the girls are dressed in finery and with jewelry. This is what gets the attention of Freifrau Bockmann. They are wearing clothing and jewelry, especially jewelry she didn't expect them to have. She has no idea about the house. The Reverend Mother can't miss the opportunity to greet the Freifrau or see Aksinya off. She is kind, but she is political and wise. She praises the Freifrau in a manner the Freifrau can't ignore. The point of all this is so I can detail for you what Aksinya and Natalya are about for the weekend. At the end of this piece, I give you a little color to show how the world worked at this time. That is the way to tell the driver to start the horses.
The week continued for Aksinya and Natalya without great problems. The demon led them every night to the house across the street. As yet, he made no other demands on Aksinya. The cellar workroom remained unused for now. The demon didn’t even ask Aksinya to go down to it again.
Chapel was a daily chore. With Natalya beside her, Aksinya could endure it, but it was not pleasant for her. Aksinya spent her time in the evenings working with Natalya on her German. Aksinya’s work in her classes suffered, but the sisters didn’t seem to expect much from a countess anyway. They didn’t praise her, but they didn’t berate her either. Only Sister Margarethe, in German class, seemed to show Aksinya any special attention. No matter what Aksinya did, Sister Margarethe praised her. Aksinya thought, perhaps her German was truly improving because she worked with Natalya so much.
On Friday afternoon, Freiherr Bockmann’s coupe, the covered carriage, came for Aksinya and Natalya. The Freifrau Bockmann herself sat in the coupe. For the weekend, Aksinya and Natalya had taken clothing from the house across the street. They wore something other than their Sacré Coeur uniforms now. Aksinya was dressed like a countess. Natalya like a lady-in-waiting. Both of their jewelry was much more elegant than that which would have been expected any student to wear.
Freifrau Bockmann’s eyes widened when she saw them. She descended from the carriage and curtsied to Aksinya. Then, she greeted both the girls with a kiss. The Reverend Mother came out of the school to see them off. Frau Drescher stood as an after thought in the shadows near the gymnasium’s door.
The Reverend Mother curtsied to Freifrau Bockmann. It was a deep curtsy that included Aksinya, “Freifrau Bockmann, the Countess and Lady Natalya have started well. We are glad you decided to take them under your wing for their social training during the weekends.”
Freifrau Bockmann was effusive, “Thank you, Reverend Mother. I will return them Sunday evening. Please don’t expect them for dinner.”
“Yes, Freifrau Bockmann.”
With the drivers help, they climbed into the carriage. After they were inside, Freifrau Bockmann tapped the ceiling of the carriage with the top of her cane and the driver started the horses moving.
This is the setup of the entire chapter, and this is the means to convey to you the basis of a continuing of action in the novel. The week continued... then we see their week abbreviated to show only the important parts. This is a writing technique to move the writing in time and to give the reader the expectation of what is happening without going into great detail. Detail is left for important parts. The key takings here is the cellar remains unused, the chapel, Natalya and German class. Watch the sister and German class closely.
So Freifrau Bockmann comes herself to pick up Aksinya and Natalya. You can see the small details. The coupe, the girls are dressed in finery and with jewelry. This is what gets the attention of Freifrau Bockmann. They are wearing clothing and jewelry, especially jewelry she didn't expect them to have. She has no idea about the house. The Reverend Mother can't miss the opportunity to greet the Freifrau or see Aksinya off. She is kind, but she is political and wise. She praises the Freifrau in a manner the Freifrau can't ignore. The point of all this is so I can detail for you what Aksinya and Natalya are about for the weekend. At the end of this piece, I give you a little color to show how the world worked at this time. That is the way to tell the driver to start the horses.
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