A New Novel, Part 176 You Would Keep My Secrets, Wouldn't 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.

The question of the bills and the post came up yesterday.  Aksinya knows something is up about them both, but she is of no mind to worry about them.  She has other concerns more pressing.  She seeks luxuria to forget these pressing issues.  Sister Margarethe now brings up the issue that plagues Aksinya...


Natalya turned Aksinya a strange look that Sister Margarethe and Aksinya both did not see.


Sister Margarethe shifted the cloaks in her arms, “Have you decided what you are going to answer Herr von Taaffe on Monday?”

Natalya cocked her ears.

“I have considered Herr von Taaffe’s proposal very carefully. I think it would be unfair to the gentleman if I told anyone before him.”

“He is a very fine young man. You could not do much better than to accept his proposal. I would hope that I might continue to serve you afterward.”

“Thank you, Sister Margarethe that is very kind of you. I will take your request into consideration. I don’t expect to leave this house or the school for a while even if my decision is to join myself with his household.”

Sister Margarethe seemed relieved, “Then you anticipate a long engagement?”

“I take everything under advisement depending on my answer to the gentleman. I enjoy his company. Perhaps I shall tell him I would like more time to consider his offer, and perhaps I will request a longer time to get to know him. Then again,” Aksinya’s eyes sparkled, “perhaps I shall accept him and his offer and entertain him here.”

Natalya blushed.

Sister Margarethe put her hand over her mouth, “Surely, you would not. The Reverend Mother would not allow such a thing.”

“You have kept my other secrets well, Sister Margarethe. Why should you not keep another one? What the Reverend Mother doesn’t know will not burden her or me.”

“But such a thing…and right across from Sacré Coeur. You wouldn’t be able to keep something like that a secret for very long.”

Aksinya shrugged, “I did not say what I would do, yet. I simply suggested that as a possibility. You would keep my secrets, wouldn’t you, Sister Margarethe?”

Sister Margarethe raised her eyes, “Yes. Yes, you know I would.”

“Very good. Then whatever decision I make, I shall feel comfortable that my interests are guarded by those who serve me.” Aksinya turned toward Natalya, “Isn’t that so, Nata?”

Natalya glanced down, “Y…yes, Countess.”

They heard horses’ hooves on the cobblestones outside and Aksinya stood, “My cloak, please.”

Sister Margarethe moved a little too quickly. She fumbled a little and began to place the mink cloak over Aksinya’s shoulders. Natalya intercepted her and took the heavy cloak from her. She put it over Aksinya’s shoulders herself and lingered a moment too long when she tied it at Aksinya’s neck. She put her face discretely close to the side and took a deep breath.

Sister Margarethe placed the other cloak around Natalya’s shoulders. Then she answered the door.

The driver helped Aksinya and Natalya into the coupe, and the carriage took off with only a slight lurch. Sister Margarethe watched the carriage until it was out of sight.

You get a whole lot in a very tight form.  This is a scene truly driven by conversation.  The information that flows from the characters involved is very large.  I give you the last paragraph from yesterday because I don't want you to forget it.  It flows into the next piece of conversation.  Natalya is guilty of something.  Do you remember Aksinya's conversation with Natalya concerning secrets before.  Aksinya's admonition was: don't keep any secrets from me. Natalya is keeping secrets.  She knows something about Ernst.  She knows something about the demon.  She knows something about Sister Margarethe.  There are deep secrets circling Aksinya that she does not begin to understand.

Sister Margarethe brings up the one question Aksinya has not wished to answer, but you know it is the question that burdened her--that is until she received the new book of sorcery.  Watch the use of analogy.  Sister Margarethe shifted the cloaks in her arms.  This indicates she is changing the topic of conversation.  The cloaks represent Aksinya and Natalya, but you knew that.  That is why Sister Margarethe holds them so carefully.  She cares for both of them.  Then the Sister asks the bombshell question:  “Have you decided what you are going to answer Herr von Taaffe on Monday?”

Natalya wants to know too.  Remember Natalya's confession to the sleeping Aksinya.  Remember her confession to the drunken Aksinya.  Natalya does not want Aksinya to chose Ernst and perhaps any man.  Natalya has a deep seated mistrust for men.  She was used by men.

Aksinya's answer does not answer the question.  Her response is gentle and proper.  Then Sister Margarethe tells us and Aksinya what has bothered her all along: "I would hope that I might continue to serve you afterward.”  She wants Aksinya to accept Ernst's proposal, but she wants to continue to serve her.

Aksinya's answer begins gentle and refined.  Aksinya isn't interested in Ernst.  She wants her house and to continue in the school.  She expects to have these things (luxuria) even if engaged and even, we find, when married.  Sister Margarethe is relieved and makes a logical deduction--a long engagement.  This is not what Aksinya has in mind at all.  Aksinya wants luxuria.  She wants everything she can get from Ernst and to have everything as it is now.  Her statement that she would entertain Ernst in her own house is cultural speak at the times that she would let him stay over with her--the obvious conclusion is for sex.  This is why Natalya blushes and Sister Margarethe reacts as she does.  Notice, that I don't have to tell you all about the culture--I let you see the culture first hand through these women and their reactions. 

The conversation turns toward secrets.  This brings up in our minds how much does Sister Margarethe know.  If you will remember from the time of the great enchantment, Sister Margarethe has been keeping some very great secrets about Aksinya and Aksinya's actions.  The Sister knows that Aksinya is a sorceress.  Sister Margarethe's love for Aksinya prevents her from even correcting her young charge.  Aksinya is unkind enough to bring this up.  Having Ernst over to entertain Aksinya is just another secret in Aksinya's household. 

Sister Margarethe warns Aksinya, but Aksinya has given herself over completely to her desire and temptation.  That is why her response.  She takes a promise from Sister Margarethe.  It is a promise that the Sister should not give and one Aksinya should not request.  Aksinya is dragging down those around her.  She is like the demon.  She has become just like the demon in this.  Look at the Sister's response: Sister Margarethe raised her eyes, “Yes. Yes, you know I would.”  She raises her eyes.  She is proud to keep Aksinya's secrets.  If you remember Sister Margarethe is infatuated with Aksinya.  She loves Aksinya without desire.

Aksinya then turns to Natalya.  She requires a promise from Natalya.  We guess that Natalya is lying.  She is keeping secrets for Aksinya, but she is also keeping secrets from Aksinya.  The coupe arrives just in time.  Sister Margarethe moves to place Aksinya's cloak over her shoulders, but remember this is the privilege of Natalya.  Natalya will not give her place over to anyone.  In this group, Aksinya is the idol of worship and these two worship her, but it is a perverted idol and a perverted worship.

Natalya goes through the liturgy of her worship.  She breaths in the incense of Aksinya.  Do you see, the incense of the demon is sulphur and a stink.  The incense of Aksinya is like a breath of life for Natalya.  Sister Margarethe is relegated to serving Natalya.  We see Sister Margarethe's dedication.  She watches the carriage until it is out of sight.  Tomorrow, Aunt Brunhilda.

A New Novel, Part 172 Any Suffering 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.



Natalya somehow procured Aksinya's book of sorcery and the book of sorcery Ernst owned.  Aksinya was tempted by them and spent the night reading the new book...


In the morning, when Natalya entered Aksinya’s bedroom, she had to immediately cover her eyes. The room was filled with brilliance. Aksinya sprawled naked across her bed, and a rod of light lay on her open palm. The bedclothes all were on the floor, and a large and strange magic circle encompassed the bedroom.


Natalya carefully crossed the circle and moved to Aksinya’s bed. She held her hand in front of her face and squinted between her fingers at the bright light. Natalya knelt at the edge of the bed and smiled a great and wonderful smile. It filled her entire face and the sparkle in her eyes vied with the light of the rod. Natalya reached out her hand and touched Aksinya’s lengthening hair. She stroked it and gently clasped it. Her eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, “I knew you would make something beautiful with the book. I longed with all my heart to see it.” She gave a great sigh, “I love you so much, mistress. I would do anything for you.” Her mouth trembled, “What I gave for these books was worth every moment of agony.” She buried her face as though in prayer for a moment then raised her head. She couldn’t take her eyes from the piece of light that lay so easily on Aksinya’s palm.

A knock came to the door. Sister Margarethe’s voice came clearly to Natalya, “Lady Natalya, Countess, you will be late for chapel and class.”

Natalya didn’t want to take her eyes off Aksinya. She replied without turning her head, “The Countess was up late studying. I don’t wish to wake her yet.”

Aksinya has used the sorcery in the Book of Heka to do an enchantment.  The Book of Heka is a book of sorcery concerning light.  Aksinya has made a rod of pure light.  She lies naked across her bed.  I don't tell you anything about her evening or her actions, but I do obviously invite you to guess at her actions and activities.  Natalya knows immediately.  The evidence of Aksinya's activities fill the room from the circle on the floor, to her state of undress, to the rod of light in her hand.
 
Natalya understands about magic.  She carefully crosses the circle to reach Aksinya.  Natalya is happy because she knows Aksinya is happy.  Aksinya gave into temptation; look at Natalya's response.  She kneels and smiles a wonderful smile.  The symbolism here is obvious.  She is worshiping Aksinya.  If that wasn't enough:  Natalya touches Aksinya's lengthening hair.  I won't ever let you forget about the hair and that it is lengthening.  This is her tie to the demon.  Natalya strokes and clasps it.  She wants what Aksinya has.  Then Natalya's confession: “I knew you would make something beautiful with the book. I longed with all my heart to see it.” She gave a great sigh, “I love you so much, mistress. I would do anything for you.”  She would do anything for Aksinya--indeed she may have.
 
Then we learn more.  I can't do more than repeat it:  “What I gave for these books was worth every moment of agony.” Natalya went through some degree of suffering for the books.  I don't tell you and you don't know.  You might guess.  If you imagine what Natalya was already ready to give--then you'll have it.  Then she does worship.  She buries her face as though in prayer.  If it is a prayer, we know that prayer was to Aksinya.  The reference to the light again is intended to draw you r attention back to it and show you another image of this worship scene.  The rod of light lays like a scepter on Aksinya's palm.
 
The Sister Margarethe interrupts Natalya.  This is an image too--it is a metaphor for the actions of the spiritual interjecting itself in the lives of Natalya and Aksinya.  Natalya will not take her eyes off the object of her worship.  Natalya doesn't lie exactly, but it is an equivocation.  Tomorrow, Aksinya wakes.