A New Novel, Part 229 She’s Still Breathing

21 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 229 She’s Still Breathing

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 visited Aksinya in the depths of the night and took her dress.  In the morning, the woman guard finds Aksinya unresponsive... 

At the cell door, the secretary took one look inside and turned his face away.  With his face averted, he unlocked the door and pushed the kitchen mistress, Frau Becker, inside, “See if she is alive.”  He handed the blanket to her. 

Frau Becker paused a moment but the look on the secretary’s face drove her more than any words.  She laid the blanket over Aksinya’s naked body, and put her face close to the girl’s.  The woman called over her shoulder, “She’s still breathing.”

“Thank God,” exclaimed the secretary.  “What’s wrong with her?”

“What did you expect?  She’s naked and freezing.”

“What should we do?”

The woman tucked the woolen blanket around Aksinya’s body, “It’s too cold in here for a thin girl like her.  Bring warmers and hot water bottles.  Hot tea and food later.”  She stated almost accusingly, “Where are her clothes.  Was she molested?”

Frau Mauer called from the corridor, “Her dress is out here on the floor.”

“Bring it to me.”

The secretary nodded at Otto, “Get warmers and hot water bottles.  Go now.”

Frau Mauer brought the dress to the open cell door.  Frau Becker barked at her, “Frau Mauer, bring that here and help me dress her.”

Frau Mauer grumbled, but entered the cell, “She did it herself.  I’m sure.”

The woman began to pull the dress over Aksinya’s head, “Secretary Schwab, this dress is too light for this place.  Did you want her to die from exposure?”

He stared accusingly at Frau Mauer, “The girl was fine when she came here.”

“She is certainly not fine now.”  They pulled the dress over the rest of Aksinya’s body.  Frau Becker held her close and rubbed her hands.

Otto returned with two coal packed metal warmers, “The hot water bottles are being filled.”

“Go back and tell them to bring them right away.”

He nodded to the kitchen head.

She stopped him, “Bring another two blankets.”

“Yes.”  He ran back down the corridor.

Frau Becker laid Aksinya down again and placed a warmer near her head and one near her feet.  The kitchen head ordered Frau Mauer, “Take off her shoes and rub her feet.”

Frau Mauer jumped, “Her feet?”

“I’ll do if it you won’t.  Here, take her hands and be gentle.  When the circulation returns she will be in great pain.”

Frau Mauer shook her head, “I’ll rub her feet.  I don’t want to be that close to her.”

In this scene, the overtones of the times play out wonderfully.  The secretary turns his face away from the naked Aksinya.  His actions are for her dignity and his temptation.  What a perfect balance of one and the other.  He sends Frau Becker, the kitchen mistress, to check on Aksinya. 

Aksinya's life is important to the Cardinal for a couple of reasons.  He isn't a bad man, but he has inquisitors in his city and his house.  He doesn't want to bring the wrath of the Pope on him--who knows they might investigate him.  The other reason is that the Cardinal doesn't wish to have a young woman, even a sorceress, die in his custody.  We will see the result of this care later.

I'm still playing the humor, but when we find that Aksinya is indeed alive, I can bring it out a little stronger.  The secretary asks a dumb question, and Frau Becker responds:“What did you expect?  She’s naked and freezing.” 

I love observations from other characters.  They bring great depth to the writing.  This is exactly what we get from Frau Becker's impression of Aksinya: “It’s too cold in here for a thin girl like her."  Then the question: "Was she molested?”  This seems innocuous to us, but in this time, it is a big deal.  We know Aksinya was not molested, but they don't.  The problem with such an idea, is that it would ruin Aksinya's reputation even more.  Not to mention the black mark on the Cardinal's house.  You know the demon had this in mind the entire time.

I give you details of the flurry they make in helping Aksinya.  They dress her and we get Frau Becker's impression that the dress is too think for the environment.  As I mentioned, I give details of the no nonsense way Frau Becker takes care of warming Aksinya.  She warns about the returning circulation--ouch.  Can't you see the demon's plan.  He doesn't wish Aksinya to die--he wishes to torment her.  If she died, the exquisite suffering of the upcoming revelations would fall flat.  If she died, she couldn't experience the pain of returning circulation.  The demon is about torture not just temptation.  Tomorrow, more treatment for Aksinya.

A New Novel, Part 227 I am Christ’s, Not Yours

19 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 227 I am Christ’s, Not Yours

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...

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.”

“So… I see.”

“Too late.  Always they understand too late.”  Asmodeus stretched to his full height, “Ah, evil is so liberating, but you have chosen a different path, haven’t you.”

“I have chosen.”

“With all the pain and suffering you will know.  I could offer you life, liberty, freedom, sorcery.”

“It wouldn’t help my friends.”

“I could continue to lie to you and tell you it would.  Would that change your mind?”

“I have chosen.”

“I must be completely clear because I don’t wish to lose all the potential of evil within you.  If you determine to follow me, I will save you from all this pain and suffering.”

“But you won’t help my friends.”

“I will not help your friends or your enemies.  I offer you evil and only evil.”

“You offer me relief now and eternal suffering later.  Christ offers me suffering because of my own actions now and eternal life later.  In either case, I can’t help my friends…or my enemies, and I don’t wish to bring any more evil into the world.”

At the word, Christ, the demon cringed.  He frowned, “Very well.  You will not know peace until your dying day, and I shall reap your soul in any case.”

Aksinya’s teeth chattered, “You will not have my soul.  I am marked by Christ as His own.”

Asmodeus snarled, “Shut up, Countess.”

“I am His.  I am Christ’s.”

“Shut up.”

Aksinya hugged her naked body more closely.  The rosary pressed solidly against her chest.  She pulled it out and raised it up, “In spite of all the pain and suffering I might face because of this decision, I choose Christ.  You can’t do anything about that.  My mind is free of you.  I am Christ’s, not yours.  I can swear, and I can hold onto the promise that is mine.  I only wish I knew this before I knew you.  Begone.” 

At that moment Asmodeus was gone.  All that was left was an acrid stink.  Aksinya wondered if her confession had sent him away or something else.

Asmodeus, the demon, is tormenting Aksinya.  He told her he killed her family.  He restates his purpose--evil and temptation is his only purpose.  Then we get to the choice.  Aksinya has chosen something other than evil.  The demon tries to tempt Aksinya again.  The demon wants to be certain of Aksinya's choice--and I want you to hear it too.  The choice, to Aksinya, is Christ.  The demon promises that she will not know peace until your dying day.  He claims that he will reap her soul anyway.  Then we get the whole confession from Aksinya: “You will not have my soul.  I am marked by Christ as His own.”

This irritates the demon because he knows it is true--except the question of who owns her soul.  This question is still up in the air.  Aksinya confesses again (I don't want you to miss it): “In spite of all the pain and suffering I might face because of this decision, I choose Christ.  You can’t do anything about that.  My mind is free of you.  I am Christ’s, not yours."

At Aksinya's claim, the demon retreats.  Like I said, the question of the ownership of her soul is still in the air.  Further, the demon could still tempt her back to evil.  They still have a contract--it has not been negated.  Tomorrow, the morning.

A New Novel, Part 224 She Tried to Sleep

16 May 2011, A New Novel, Part 224 She Tried to Sleep

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.  Her jailer is an old woman...

Before the room darkened completely the old woman brought a small bowl to the door and shoved it through the low rectangular hole at the bottom that was made for that purpose.  She pushed a second bowl more gently under the door.  She rose expectantly in front of the lattice, “Don’t be slow, sorceress.  Push the slopjar under the door.  I’ll empty it.”

Aksinya shook her head, “I haven’t used it.”

“I will only empty it once a day.  When you are finished push the bowls back under the door.  I’ll see you in the morning.”  Aksinya noted the old woman’s laughter as she made her way down the corridor.  She heard a heavy door open and shut.  A metal lock turned.

Before every trace of light drained from the room, Aksinya stumbled to the bowls.  One held a congealed mass of thick cooked wheat cereal.  It wasn’t seasoned at all.  The other was filled with water.  Aksinya took a long drink of the water.  She stuck her fingers into the hardened cereal and felt the last remnants of warmth.  She ate it all and washed it down with the remaining water.  Then she curled up on the bench and tried to sleep.

I hope your view of Akisnya has changed just as Aksinya has changed.  She has nothing now.  She is paying a penance for her wrong and will pay more.  The price of her actions is high.  She has come a long way from the pampered princess in a private Catholic school.  She once had hope and now she begs for blankets and warmth.

There isn't much commentary to give in the following transition.  It moves Aksinya from the day with her jailer to the night with hunger, cold, and perhaps a visitation.  Tomorrow, the night.

A New Novel, Part 192 Should I Beat You?

A New Novel, Part 192 Should I Beat 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.

Matushka Ekaterina is a very wise and well trained woman.  She is comforting the distraught Aksinya...

“No, I think I loved her, but I killed her.” Aksinya let out a sob, “Why did I make that sound? What’s wrong with me?” Her shoulders shuddered.


Ekaterina moved next to Aksinya. She put her arms around the girl.

Aksinya sobbed again in a hoarse whisper, “You shouldn’t try to comfort me. Instead of comfort, I beat Natalya. I don’t deserve comfort.”

“Everyone who is confessed deserves comfort. That is what we call agape love.”

“I see. I wish I could see Natalya. I miss her so much.” Aksinya buried her face in her arms. Aksinya couldn’t speak for a while, “Do you think she will hate me now?”

“She may hate you.”

“Do you think that is why I am so sad?”

“I think there are many reasons why you are sad.” She gently stroked Aksinya’s hair.

“You really shouldn’t try to comfort me. I should not be comforted.”

Ekaterina held her more tightly, “Should I beat you?”

“It might be a good idea.”

“You said you were in pain already.”

“I am in great pain.”

“Is it from your burns?”

“Yes.”

“Then there is no reason to beat you if you are already in pain.”

“I see,” Aksinya sobbed.

“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's confession was not over.  The morning just continues what the night had begun.  Aksinya is overwrought.  She is crying and she doesn't even understand what it is to cry.  She is in pain for many reasons, but doesn't connect her sadness with the pain she obviously feels in her heart.

Ekaterina is very compassionate and well trained at her job as the Matushka of the Ecclesia.  She comforts Aksinya.  Listen to her gentle, but strong tone.  I intentionally don't use much description in this scene so you will be drawn to Aksinya's words as well as her sadness.

Aksinya has a truly contrite heart.  She desires punishment to atone for her sin and evil.  Ekaterina's attitude is perfectly correct--the repentant deserve comfort.  That is indeed agape love.  God will not forgive without repentance and the repentant heart is a beautiful thing.  Aksinya could never see herself as beautiful at this time, but there is a beauty and serenity in her childish confession and childish view of the world.  It is still a world she does not fully understand.

Aksinya really did love Natalya.  She knows there has been a great breach in their trust and that breach might result in hate.  The theme about wishing to see Natalya is a foreshadowing and a recurring theme.  Ekaterina does not candy coat Aksinya's problems--Natalya might hate you.  Aksinya asks a very childlike question: “Do you think that is why I am so sad?”  We know why she is sad.  We know why Aksinya weeps.  We know that something monumental has happened in the life of this small, unloved, and unpretty woman who is Aksinya.  Aksinya cannot grasp what has happened.

Still, within the person who is Aksinya is still the Aksinya we know.  Listen to her response:“You really shouldn’t try to comfort me. I should not be comforted.”  She tells Ekaterina she should beat her--just as she beat Natalya.  Did you catch that.  Still Aksinya is already in pain and that pain is a direct consequence of her confession and previous actions.  Do you see the wonderful irony in this.  She wishes to be punished, yet she already is being punished.  This is what Ekaterina tells her in not so many words.  Then the Matushka asks the question we have wanted to ask Aksinya since the beginning: “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” We wanted to ask this of Aksinya.  We wanted to know more about her life.  I give you this through Ekaterina.  It is part of Aksinya's therapy.  It is part of her confession.  Tomorrow, about Aksinya.

A New Novel, Part 102 She's Dying

Aksinya achieved a great enchantment in the streets of Wien to save Natalya and Sister Margarethe. The power of the world flooded back on her and injured her. She is dying...



Before Aksinya fully woke again, the pain overwhelmed her. She gasped out of sleep with a cough that sent blood and phlegm down her cheeks. Warm gentle hands caught her face and turned her head. She felt the relief on her lungs and her body. Liquid flowed down the side of face. She opened her eyes and saw the dark slick trickle that stained her bed and ran across the sheets. A voice called to her. It was soothing and kind. It was in German accented French.

Aksinya focused her eyes away from the side of the bed and saw that Sister Margarethe held either side of her face. The nun’s lips moved with the French words. As yet, Aksinya couldn’t make them out. She moved her eyes and extended her vision. Natalya leaned against the door with her hands over her face. Aksinya knew tears flowed down her lady-in-waiting’s cheeks. That was just her personality.

She turned her gaze back on Sister Margarethe. Aksinya wanted to pull away from the nun, but she couldn’t rally enough strength to move. She tuned her ears to hear the French that flowed from Sister Margarethe’s lips.

“…we think some of your bones are broken, Countess.”

Aksinya couldn’t respond.

Sister Margarethe’s face was tracked with tears. Her hands held Aksinya so tenderly, but she didn’t want this woman to touch her. Sister Margarethe’s voice caught, “Can you hear me, Countess?”

Aksinya nodded and gasped again in pain.

“The doctor is coming. They said he should be here soon.”

Aksinya shook her head. She put every effort she could into a breath without a cough, “Natalya.”

“Do you want the Lady Natalya?”

Aksinya coughed and nodded. A trickle of blood leaked from her lips.

Sister Margarethe didn’t want to move, she called across the room, “Lady Natalya, the Countess is calling for you.”

Natalya let out a sob and rushed to Aksinya’s side, “My Countess. What can I do? What can I do?”

Aksinya grasped her hand and pulled her with all her might down close to her face. She spoke Russian, “Alone…help.”

Natalya whispered back in Russian, “Do you want Sister Margarethe to leave?”

Aksinya nodded.

Natalya half stood. A tiny hysterical pitch filled her perfect but Russian accented French, “Please, Sister Margarethe, you must go.”

“Go?”

Natalya glanced down at Aksinya, “You may wait outside the door, but you must leave us for now.”

Sister Margarethe didn’t want to let go of Aksinya. She stammered, “Are you certain?”

Aksinya’s grasp on Natalya’s hand tightened, and Natalya’s voice strengthened, “You must go. Please leave us alone. I’ll tell you when you may return.”

Aksinya didn’t have the strength or the ability at that moment to say that she did not want Sister Margarethe to return at all.

Slowly, Sister Margarethe stood. She backed toward the door. Aksinya began to cough. Sister Margarethe cringed at the sound, but Natalya put her arms around Aksinya. The nun left the room and shut the door. Natalya ran and locked the bedroom door behind her.


Aksinya wakes and I show you the extent of her injuries without telling you anything about them. I also introduce you to a mystery--who is caring for her. Sister Margarethe is the last person Aksinya desires to see. Aksinya believes the sister is sexually drawn to her--the demon has convinced her of this.


Natalya can't be far away, but Natalya can't face the suffering of Aksinya. Aksinya knows this. Through the sister, I show you what you might have guessed from before. Some of Aksinya's bones are broken. Although the sister seems to be compassionate, Aksinya can't stand to have her around. The person Aksinya really needs right now is Natalya--can you guess why?


Aksinya uses everything she has to express this to the sister. Aksinya needs to be alone with Natalya. Natalya is bright, she gets it. The reason why will be revealed very soon. Every action of Aksinya is to get Sister Margarethe out of the room. The reason isn't that she fears the sisters sexual proclivities right now. Natalya gets it. When the sister leaves, Natalya locks the door. We shall see tomorrow what Aksinya has in mind.

A New Novel, Part 76 The Rosary

Asmodeus left Aksinya's mother's jewelry box on Aksinya's bed.  We get a description now of the box.

Aksinya lit the gas lamp. Her mother’s jewelry box was a piece of art itself. It was handmade by a craftsman from the late fifteenth century. The box was decorated on the sides with the four seasons of their estate in Russia. The top showed the house of the Counts of Golitsyna. The façade was almost unchanged from that time to this. The box had been a wedding present from her father to her mother. It was locked, and the heart-shaped key was in the lock where her mother always left it. She remembered the first time she saw the jewelry box when she was a child. She had stared at it for a long time—until her mother finally opened it.


With shaking fingers, Aksinya unlocked and opened the jewelry box. Inside were all her mother’s beautiful things. They were literally a princess’ dowry of gold, silver, and jewels. On top lay a fabulous jewel encrusted crucifix and rosary. It was her mother’s favorite piece. Aksinya always remembered her mother wore it on Sunday, every Sunday. It was too large and fine a piece to wear everyday.

Beside it lay a smaller crucifix and rosary made of intertwined white and yellow gold. On it, the body of Christ was yellow gold and the cross white gold. The tiny adornments, the loincloth, the crown of thorns were white gold. The prayers and decades were white and yellow gold. It was the most beautiful rosary Aksinya had ever seen. Her mother let her wear it on Sunday, but had put it away during the week. She told Aksinya it was her wedding present when the proper time came. Aksinya lifted it in her hands. It was warm to her touch. She bit her lip and quickly put it over her head. It fell around her neck and immediately the crucifix became hot. She felt the heat against her breasts. The heat rose through the prayers and decades and irritated her neck. She felt slightly nauseous. Still, she promised herself she would not take it off. If she lost to this, she felt she would lose to everything. The demon might make her do the most horrible things in the world, but in this very little part she could fight back. She knew at least one of his weaknesses now. He could not move an evident cross. Unless the demon was playing a game with her, he had not taken her sister’s jewelry box, it was decorated with crosses. He had not taken her cross decorated bookstand. He had been able to move her mother’s jewelry box even though it was filled with crosses and crucifixes.

Aksinya didn’t let herself feel encouraged by this little piece of knowledge. It was much too early for that. She simply filed the information in the back of her mind—it was a little more information about the demon and his weaknesses. She would use it, if she could, against him.

Aksinya was asleep and the lights were off when the demon brought the jewelry box to her.  Therefore, Aksinya had to light a gas lamp again.  Perhaps I should have given you a little more description of the little light from the gas lamp.
 
We see that the jewelry box is truly a piece of art.  It is ancient and beautiful.  We learn it was a wedding present and had a heart shaped key--a symbol of love.  The house depicted on the box is Aksinya's family home.  In this, it represents her home.  Remember, all her family were murdered outside the house.  The box is locked.  This scene is set up to be almost like the first time Aksinya saw the box opened--that is the image I give you.  In this case, Aksinya represents her mother.
 
The box, like the home is filled with wealth.  Notice, it is a "princess'" dowry.  The first thing on top is her mother's rosary.  It was the rosary Aksinya's mother wore every Sunday.  Beside this rosary is another.  It was the one, Aksinya's mother promised her as a gift for Aksinya's wedding.  You might ask who would get the larger and more beautiful rosary.  Aksinya instinctively goes for the rosary she always admired as a child.  When she touches and wears the rosary, Aksinya feels nausea and pain.  The cross, a symbol of God and Christianity, causes her nausea and pain.
 
By this, we are to understand a cross will also affect the demon.  Aksinya puts this together--she had before.  If you remember, the jewelry boxes were a test for the demon.  Aksinya noticed Asmodeus couldn't move her cross decorated bookstand.  He couldn't move Aksinya's sister's jewelry box because it was also decorated with crosses.  This is the answer to one question about the weaknesses of the demon.
 
Aksinya is already preparing to oppose the demon.  The crosses she had Natalya sew into their clothing is meant to affect the demon--we shall see how effective it is.  And we shall see what Aksinya does with this knowledge.  Don't you admire how methodical Aksinya is--this is perhaps the best part of her personality.  You can see how she could become a powerful sorceress.

A New Novel, Part 69 German Class and Sister Margarethe

Important person and important interaction, today we get to meet Sister Margarethe for the first time.  Also, here is Aksinya and Natalya's first class at the school.

The first class was German. The room was filled with ten younger and older students. The teacher was a middle aged nun with a very friendly and elfish face. She greeted Aksinya and Natalya at the door pleasantly in French, “Good morning Countess and Lady Natalya. I am Sister Margarethe Traugott. I teach German, both beginning and advanced. I understand the Lady Natalya doesn’t understand any German and that you, Countess, wish to improve your understanding of the language.”


Aksinya smiled, “The Reverend Mother must have spoken to you.”

The Sister Margarethe gave her a very large smile, “Yes, she told me about you, and we discussed your curriculum. You seem a wonderful young woman to have faced such suffering.” She stared at Aksinya and didn’t give a glance to Natalya. Suddenly, she reached out her hand and touched Aksinya’s face then brushed the tips of her hair, “I’m very glad you are in my class. I hope we can be good friends.” She pointed, “Please take the seats near the window at the front. I will assign you your books.”

Aksinya and Natalya sat where they were directed. Natalya pulled out notebooks and pens for both of them. Natalya began with a primmer, and Sister Margarethe spoke with Aksinya for a long time in German before she handed her a book of advanced German studies. At the end of class, the sister let them out of the classroom with a comment, “Countess, I’ve given you an advanced course of study. If you find your studies difficult, please come to my office. I would be happy to help you.

Aksinya grinned, “Thank you, Sister Margarethe.”

As always, we need to set the scene.  I could give you more on the classroom setting, but I already told you about the school, the rest is your imagination.  Plus, classrooms in 1918 aren't that much different--just more wood and less metal (no plastic).  You know the rooms are small and the classes have about 10 girls.  We see the German class is a mixed class (young and old)--you want to bet the students are not Austrian.  Maybe I should tell you this, but it doesn't drive anything in the novel, so the knowledge would just be gratuitous.

The important point isn't the class, it's the teacher.  Sister Margarethe Traugott is a very important character.  Traugott means "trust in God" and Margarethe means "pearl."  There is a significance to the last name.  Her first name is one of the most popular for girls in Austria and Germany when she was born 1860s.  You don't see much more than her face since she is a nun and wears a habit, so the description I give you is about her face.  By leaving the rest out, height, etc, I leave you with the impression she is average--that's what I want you to conclude.

Right away we see Sister Margarethe is very interested in Aksinya.  Then, we should be surprised.  Out of the blue she remarks on Aksinya's suffering.  I prepared you with Aksinya's comment about talking to the Reverend Mother.  That is obviously the only way Sister Margarethe could know so much about Aksinya.  The Reverend Mother obviously received her information from Aunt Brunhilda.  Then the very surprising part: she reaches out her hand and touches Aksinya's face, then her hair.  It's the hair.  If you didn't get it before, you should now.  The hair is an indicator and indicates that Asmodeus has in some way touched Sister Margarethe.  You get then, the words, "I hope we can be good friends."

Next I also give you description in dialog--there is a window in the room and Aksinya and Natalya are directed to sit at the front by it.  Teachers pet and by the window, could a student wish for more?  You should ask, why.

Natalya takes care of business.  She doesn't get any attention, but Aksinya does, plus an invitation.  We also get that Aksinya likes the attention.  We know she is attention starved.  She is looking for something, she called a demon from the pit for it.  So the first class, we know something is up with Sister Margarethe.