Scenes - Scene Setting, more Climax

6 March 2013, Scenes - Scene Setting, more Climax

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here are my rules of writing:

1. Entertain your readers.
2. Don't confuse your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

A scene outline is a means of writing a novel where each scene follows the other with a scene input from the previous scene and a scene output that leads to the next scene. The scenes don't necessarily have to follow directly in time and place, however they generally follow the storyline of the protagonist.

A storyline outline is a means of writing a novel where the author develops a scene outline for more than one character and bases the plot on one or more of these storyline scenes. This allows the scenes to focus on more than the protagonist. This is a very difficult means of writing. There is a strong chance of confusing your readers.

Whether you write with a scene outline or a storyline outline, you must properly develop your scenes. All novels are developed from scenes and each scene has a design similar to a novel. Every successful novel has the following basic parts:

1. The beginning
2. The rising action
3. The Climax
4. The falling action
5. The dénouement

Every scene has these parts:

1. The setting (where, what, who, when, how)
2. The connection (input)
3. The tension development
4. The release
5. The output

There are lots of approaches to scene setting. That means there are about a million plus ways you can set a scene. The main point is you have to clearly get across the where, when, who, what, and how.

Here is another example of scene setting from the novel, Aksinya. I'm giving you examples from the book so you can see different ways of introducing and writing a scene. In each snippet, you get the scene setting, the tension and release, and the input and output. This isn't true of every example, but the pieces should be there, and I've been trying to identify for you when all the pieces aren't evident. You can use these ideas to guide your own writing. Make sure you set the scene properly, then make everything come to life through the narration and conversation.

When you write a climax for a novel you must give the reader everything they hoped and waited for.  That still doesn't mean you give them everything, but you must answer their basic questions and advance the plot.  This novel is odd in that it has two climaxes.  This is the first.  The scene has already been set, and we move to the main revelation of the novel.

Aksinya raised her head, “Please close the door to the parlor, Sister Margarethe.”

Sister Margarethe nodded and slowly pulled it shut.

Aksinya stepped over to the door and made certain it was fully closed then she turned back toward Ernst, “What do you mean, sir by your statements?  I did not send you a letter, and I did not attend you the other night.”

Ernst’s face fell for a moment, but he reached into his coat and pulled out a letter.  He shook it open and handed it to Aksinya, “You sent this to me.”

Aksinya reached out and carefully took the letter without touching Ernst’s fingers.  She scanned the letter. Then read it again, carefully.

Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna

Sacré Coeur Straße

Wien, Austria

 8 January 1919

 My Dearest Ernst

 I hope I proved my love to you Wednesday night.  I couldn’t imagine a more suitable man to take into my arms and reveal my every desire and delight.  My answer to you on Monday is yes and yes and yes.  I am already yours.  You have my heart and soul and body.  Please don’t be late because my love for you only exceeds my desire. 

                                                                                      I love you with my body and soul,

                                                                                                                  Aksinya

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.”

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.

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.

Sister Margarethe knelt beside Natalya and hesitantly touched her.  She glanced up at Aksinya, “What have you done?  What have you done, Countess?”  Tears streaked Sister Margarethe’s face.  She cried out again, “Sister Rita.”  She screamed, “Sister Rita, Sister Tria, come help me.”  The novice sisters ran to the room and halted in the opening of the parlor.  They glanced at Aksinya and at Natalya’s silent body beside Sister Margarethe.  Their eyes widened, and they trembled.  Aksinya, still filled with rage, rushed at them, and they scattered screaming.

What could bring out Aksinya's rage?  What could make her beat Natalya?  What could make her do the singular thing she would never wish to do in her life.  The demon orchestrated it all.  He made everything come to fruition.  He put together the events that would lead to the downfall of Natalya, Ernst, and Aksinya.  His actions led to Aksinya's murderous rage.  His temptations led to all the actions of the climax.  Now, in this scene everything comes together.  Much of it could have been put together by the reader.  There were clues throughout.  The mystery of all the actions of the previous days and the reason he brought Ernst to Aksinya suddenly becomes obvious.  The result is that Aksinya does try to murder Natalya.  She beats the person who loves her most in the world.  She strikes the man who does love her.  In an instant, she loses everything she hoped to have and all her friends...but this is not the end.

The following is a question asked by one of my readers. I'm going to address this over time: I am awaiting for you to write a detailed installment on identifying, and targeting your audience, or audiences...ie, multi-layered story, for various audiences...like CS Lewis did. JustTake care, and keep up the writing; I am enjoying it, and learning a lot.


ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com, www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, thefoxshonor, aseasonofhonor.

A New Novel, Part 183 Who's There?

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 learned Natalya had slept with Ernst.  She forced Ernst out of her house and she beat Natalya with a poker until she was bloody.  That was the climax of the novel.  Now, the aftermath...

Sister Margarethe knelt beside Natalya and hesitantly touched her. She glanced up at Aksinya, “What have you done? What have you done, Countess?” Tears streaked Sister Margarethe’s face. She cried out again, “Sister Rita.” She screamed, “Sister Rita, Sister Tria, come help me.” The novice sisters ran to the room, and halted in the opening of the parlor. They glanced at Aksinya and at Natalya’s silent body beside Sister Margarethe. Their eyes widened, and they trembled. Aksinya, still filled with rage, rushed at them, and they scattered screaming.

Aksinya ran into the foyer and to the outer door. She tugged at the handle. It wouldn’t open at first. She screamed and ripped it open. She ran out into the freezing night. Behind her, she heard nothing but sobs. She knew nothing but cries, but these were no longer hers. They were the cries of the nuns who knelt beside the broken and bleeding Lady Natalya.

In the street, the cheerful sounds of the Golden Adler Gasthaus came to Aksinya and mocked her. She ran in the opposite direction. She ran, and she ran as though the devils of hell pursued her. She had every reason to believe they did.

After a while, Aksinya slowed and stumbled on the cobblestones. A carriage rushed by and almost struck her. She fell to the side and cowered against the wall of a building. She pressed her burning body against the cold stone, and crept along beside it. After a few steps, Aksinya began to run again and fell. The cobbles bruised her hands. When she raised them in the circle of gaslight near her, they were covered with blood, but she couldn’t tell if the blood was hers or Natalya’s. Aksinya let out another anguished cry and pressed against the wall. She stood and ran again. She ran until her breath was gone. She ran until she could not run any further. Her throat was hoarse. Her body ached. She couldn’t think at all. She had just seen everything in her life, every thing that loved her and that she might have loved melt away to nothingness. She had discarded Ernst. She had killed Natalya. She had threatened and cursed Sister Margarethe. She had thrown away God. There was nothing for her now. She had nothing at all now.

The darkness enveloped her and she fell again. The cold ground was hard against her burning cheeks. She lay there panting for a long time. Then before her, a door creaked open. Light streamed through the opening. Aksinya raised her face from the cobbles. A voice called out in the darkness, “Who’s there? Who is it?”

None of this should be a real surprise although I hope it surprises you.  I hope it caught you off guard, but then afterward you could tell yourself--ah, I saw this coming.  I hope with Aksinya's actions and reactions, you had an ah ha moment, an epiphany just like Aksinya should soon have.  It is the realization that in an instant Aksinya herself threw away everything that was important in her life.  We will find she has lost much more than we or she can imagine.  I've already placed all the clues, and that is the point of this commentary now.  If you look back at the buildup to this point (the rising action), none of what happened should be a great surprise.  The foreshadowing, the analogies, the metaphors, the words of the characters themselves led us here.  That is why I say, the story, plot, and theme all come together at the climax.  This is where the intersecting elements of all the previous scenes, all the previous plot (the scenes together), and the theme (overarching point and idea in the novel) all led us--there wasn't any other place they could lead us.
 
Is Natalya dead?  She certainly appears dead.  Aksinya thinks only of escape.  In a rational moment, she should know there is no escape for her.  She can't escape the demon and she can't escape the results of her actions.  Still, she scatters the novice nuns, and she rushes to the door.  She is like an animal.  She has fought and only seeks now to flee.  Rage drives her.  Rage and something else.  You can guess what it is.  I don't hold you in suspense long.
 
Aksinya rushes into the freezing night.  Behind her are cries of anguish, but not from the lips of Natalya.  Is Natalya dead--that is the implied question in the next reminder.
 
In the street to the right, remember, is the Golden Adler Gasthaus.  That was the scene of the attempted rape of Sister Margarethe and Natalya.  I must remind you of that with the name of the place.  Aksinya remembers that incident and turns the opposite direction.  She runs as though pursued by the devils of hell.  An apt description at this point. 
 
I give some descriptive details about her run.  This is to make it seem as long to the reader as it does to Aksinya.  All the description is intended to make you feel what she feels: shame, anger, rage, cold, fear.  She is running for her life away from all the pain and suffering she caused--yet, she can't run away from what she is or what she did.  The blood on her hands reminds you and her of that.  Then I do make the point.  I let you into Aksinya's thoughts using a writing technique.  I don't actually tell you what she is thinking.  Look at the method: Her throat was hoarse. Her body ached. She couldn’t think at all. She had just seen everything in her life, every thing that loved her and that she might have loved melt away to nothingness. She had discarded Ernst. She had killed Natalya. She had threatened and cursed Sister Margarethe. She had thrown away God. There was nothing for her now. She had nothing at all now.
 
In this short description, I add a conclusion I don't want you to miss.  I give it, not as her thoughts, but rather as a synopsis of what happened at the house.  I let you infer that it is what Aksinya is thinking.  Then, more metaphor to drive the point home: The darkness enveloped her and she fell again.  The darkness has enveloped Aksinya.  She has literally and figuratively reached the end of her rope.  Asmodeus tempted Aksinya and her closest friends to cause them to betray her and her to betray them.  What will she do and what will happen to her.  The end of this piece: Then before her, a door creaked open. Light streamed through the opening. Aksinya raised her face from the cobbles. A voice called out in the darkness, “Who’s there? Who is it?”
 
If you go back to the previous scenes in the novel, you can almost guess where she is.  I used much description and much foreshadowing to tell you what lies down the road from Aksinya's house.  This is not a deus ex machina, and I will have much to comment on tomorrow to show you how you set up such scenes to make the end of such a climax fit within the story, plot, and theme.  Also, I want to point out that this novel of all mine has the longest falling action to lead to the dénouement.  This novel calls for this early climax.  This point leads directly to the falling action.  You might guess what will happen next--then again, I hope you are somewhat surprised.   

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.