A New Novel, Part 108 Secrets on Secrets on Secrets

Here is the rest of chapter 9.  We continue from the very revealing conversation between Aksinya and Sister Margarethe.  Sister Margarethe is convinced that Aksinya's power must be good.  Aksinya knows it is not...

“That is yet to be seen.”


Aksinya laughed, “That is the truth. How long are you to stay here?”

“The Reverend Mother said I am to reside with you until you are well. We will work out the details later.”

“I am hungry. Would you ask the Lady Natalya to prepare my tea? Please ask her to make it a heavy tea.”

Sister Margarethe stood. She held Aksinya’s hand until the last moment, “When I am filled with fear or apprehension, I find that prayer helps me very much.”

“I do too, but I don’t believe my prayers are ever heard.”

Sister Margarethe reached out again, “Why would you think that?”

“It is because of who I am. I still don’t trust you, Sister Margarethe, but I will allow you to serve me and stay here, at least until I am well.”



During tea, Freifrau Bockmann came rushing into Aksinya’s room. She stood just inside the open door to the sitting room, “Countess.”

“Yes, Aunt Brunhilda, we are just having tea. Would you like Natalya to pour you a cup?”

Freifrau Bockmann pulled off her gloves, “Please.” She came over to the side of the bed and sat down, “You don’t look like you are at the edge of death. Was the Reverend Mother’s report wrong?”

Sister Margarethe put out her hand, “Perhaps we exaggerated the event a little in our concern. The Countess was injured.”

Lady Bockmann cocked her head, “And you are?”

Aksinya put down her cup, “She is Sister Margarethe, our German teacher.”

Sister Margarethe bowed in her chair, “The Reverend Mother has assigned me to watch over the Countess and Lady Natalya.”

“I see.” Freifrau Bockmann glanced all around the room, “This is a beautiful room. Are these all your things from Russia?”

Natalya poured a cup of tea for the Freifrau Bockmann and handed it to her.

Aksinya answered, “Yes.”

“We didn’t realize you had set up housekeeping and brought your family’s things out of Russia.”

“We were lucky to get them out.”

“Yes, very lucky. You picked a lovely house, although it is in the city. It is convenient to the school.” She flopped her gloves at Aksinya, “Really, Countess, you should have told us before you made such an important decision.”

Aksinya stared at her, “I am not used to asking anyone’s advice before I make a decision.”

“Yes, of course. Your uncle could have helped you. He is a Freiherr and well regarded in Wien.”

“I’m sorry. Your help would have been valuable. I will endeavor in the future to ask both your advice before I make such an important decision.”

“That is kind of you. Thank you, Countess.”

“You do understand, apart from my injury, except for the Lady Natalya and me, the existence of this house would have remained unknown? That was my point. I wanted a private and secret place where I could feel the comfort and closeness of my family’s belongings in this city.”

“Oh, I see. I think I understand.”

“I really don’t wish everyone to know about it.”

“Ah,” Freifrau Bockmann sat back. She took a sip of tea, “I, we won’t let the cat out of the bag. You know you will have trouble keeping it secret.”

“I know.”

“We shall not let anyone know.”

“I hope the Reverend Mother is as accommodating. I will discuss our details tomorrow.”

“You and the Lady Natalya will still be able to come home. I mean to Grossbock.”

“Yes, we will continue to come to Grossbock for the weekends. You entertain us well.”

Lady Bockmann bowed. She took another sip of tea and nipped a biscuit from Natalya’s tea service, “Now will you explain how you were injured and how the Sister Margarethe became involved. I already spoke with the Reverend Mother, and I’m not clear on anything.”

Sister Margarethe smiled, “The Countess fell in the street. She was slightly injured and we were all very concerned.”

Lady Bockmann responded, “I see.” But her look said she clearly did not.

The conversation turns to a point that is very important to Aksinya.  She didn't want supervision.  First, she believes she doesn't need any, and second, she wishes to accomplish her sorcery without interruption. The details are important to Aksinya because she wants the latitude to do the evil she doesn't desire to do.  Aksinya asks for tea--heavy tea.  She hasn't eaten.  Sister Margarethe thinks Aksinya's problems are simple or just a girl's normal problems--she has no idea, or she hides the truth from herself.  She loves Aksinya so much.  Aksinya doesn't trust the Sister--she should.

Then at tea, Freifrau Bockmann rushes in.  Aksinya acts like nothing has happened.  Notice that Aksinya calls her Aunt Brunhilda.  I tried to make this address have some meaning in the novel.  I haven't been consistent and I'm not certain how consistent I should be.  I intended that Aksinya use the appellation Aunt Brunhilda when she was uncomfortable--it is her joke to herself.

We learn ancillary data.  The Reverend Mother's knowledge and that she immediately called for the Freifrau.  Sister Margarethe is introduced to the Freifrau.  This, by the way, is the highest the Sister will be in the household.  We get a little more about the house and the things from Russia.  Then a strong foreshadowing.  I won't reveal anything about it, but I will remind you when it happens.  Listen to the Freifrau's words, “Really, Countess, you should have told us before you made such an important decision.”  Aksinya's tells the absolute truth, she doesn't ask advice--but she didn't make this decision, the demon did.  Then Aksinya makes a promise she can't keep.  She makes many of these--she's under the thumb of a demon, but she still wishes to do the right thing.  Then Aksinya tells her reason for keeping the house secret.  Part of this statement is true.  Aksinya's problem is luxuria.  I havent' reminded you of that for a long time.  The belongings fill her with lust and desire.  Then more foreshadowing from the Freifrau, "You won't be able to keep it secret for long."  There is more to this, but we shall see.

Then the end of chapter kicker.  It isn't very strong, but it is telling.  It underscores the entire chapter.  Everything is known, but nothing is known.  Everything is revealed, but nothing is revealed.  There are secrets and secrets and secrets.  The kicker: Lady Bockmann responded, “I see.” But her look said she clearly did not.

Tomorrow we begin chapter 10.

A New Novel, Part 97 Every Evening, a Transition and a Kicker

I set up the situation of Aksinya and Natalya traveling to Aksinya's house for at least two nights.  Asmodeus took them the first time, and the second, they went to escape Sister Margarethe.  What I want to do now is end this chapter with the impression that the two ladies are going to the house daily.  Aksinya, at first, was reluctant.  Now she is encouraged.  Note, all of this was at the demon's suggestion.  Although we know Aksinya is trying to fight the demon, she is like putty in his hands.  The setup of the circumstances around Aksinya are detailed and unexpected.  This short piece is the end of chapter 8.  It has a transition and a kicker.  The entire situation is set up for the next chapter.  Chapter 9 is a pivotal chapter where we see the culmination of the setup begun from the entry into Wien.

Each evening after the dormitory was quiet, Aksinya opened the lock at the back door. She cast a spell to prevent observation. Then she led Natalya out of the dormitory and across the street to her house. The place was comfortable to Aksinya. It was filled with her family’s ancient possessions. She could make magic circles to protect herself and Natalya there. She could work the sorcery she found in her new book there. She could study whatever she wished. She could sleep in her own bed whenever she wished. She could work in very comfortable conditions in a place that seemed completely familiar to her. She literally had her own place.


As an excuse, Aksinya helped Natalya with her studies, and sometimes she worked on her own studies. She taught Natalya a little about Latin, but she was very slow and deliberate about it. She never wanted to teach Natalya anything about sorcery, but she didn’t want to bring on the attention of the demon or the ire of Natalya, so she taught her just a little. Enough to give the appearance of teaching, but nothing that had any real meaning. Aksinya reasoned the Latin itself could be helpful to Natalya anyway.

They didn’t see the demon the entire time.

Before the night was over, they returned to the dormitory and went back to bed. No one was the wiser, so they thought.

Note the language.  Each evening... Aksinya (used sorcery) to open the lock.  She additionally cast another spell to hide Natalya and her movements.  Aksinya has moved from resisting the demon to adding to her sorcery to hide her secretive actions.  Further, look at the description of what Aksinya does in her house.  Her temptation of luxuria is satisfied by her expensive possessions.  You know that includes her dresses, but more than that she has her sorcery books and implements.  She can do as she likes.  She can practice sorcery.  The new book has encouraged her interest in sorcery--just as the demon planned.  If you look carefully at the language I use, each item was what Asmodeus used to tempt Aksinya.  She is following the demon's purpose.  Even more, she is practicing sorcery--that was the whole reason the demon brought her to Wien.  Did you notice this before I told you?  If you did, I communicated it well.  If you didn't then I really achieved my goal as a writer.  I wanted you, like Aksinya to miss the fact that she was directly acting as the demon called her to act.  The end of the paragraph: She literally had her own place.


That isn't all.  As an excuse--Aksinya's excuse is that she is helping Natalya.  She is teaching Natalya sorcery.  This is just the thing Aksinya didn't wish to do.  She is doing it to placate Natalya and the demon.  Though Aksinya has convinced herself that her teaching has little meaning, she is teaching the rudiments--in Latin to Natalya. 

Then the kicker--all chapters must (should) end with a kicker.  Here is the kicker.  First, they didn't see the demon--the reason is that Aksinya is following the demon's instructions (almost).  She isn't following all of the demon's instructions.  Oh my, what might the demon do?  Second, the final sentence is the kicker for the chapter end.  It wraps up everything and sets the tone for the beginning of the next chapter.  The driver into it is the completion of this transition scene.  The scene began with the girls going to Aksinya's house.  The end of the scene is that Before the night was over... and the kicker: No one was the wiser, so they thought.  The point here is the idea that someone does know they are sneaking out of the dormitory.  You want to make a guess who is watching.  The trick is that Aksinya and Natalya don't suspect anything.