Today I’m taking you behind the scene of the Prostitute Achaia and her crew meet in Paris in chapter eleven of Transgression, book one of The Kingdom Come Series. There’s a lot going on in this scene as well as behind it! Let’s dive in to why it was so important to not only the story but the book itself.
But first, the scene!
They took off to the right toward the lights. They came up on a girl who was probably only a year or two older than Achaia. She wore a tiny leather mini skirt, and a shiny red halter top with knee high black leather boots. She was leaning against the wall with a cigarette.
Oh my God, is that a— Achaia started thinking to herself. She looked the part, except for her demeanor. The girl slumped against the building and didn’t even try to look at Noland, Emile, or Olivier.
As they got closer Achaia noticed a tear gliding down her pale cheek.
“Hold up,” Emile raised one of his hands for them to stop behind him. “Yellaina you wanna help me out with this one?” Yellaina nodded and stepped forward. Together they approached the girl.
***
“Bonjour.” Emile started, getting the girl’s attention. He looked to Yellaina. The girl looked up and tried to smile seductively at Emile. But she could not stop her crying.
Yellaina approached the girl and spouted off in rapid French, asking her what was wrong and if she was okay.
The girl’s face dropped once more and she eyed Yellaina suspiciously.
Emile smiled at her sympathetically and told her that it was okay, that they were here to listen.
The girl cocked an eyebrow. It was obviously something she didn’t hear every day. It was natural for her to be wary of them. “Je m’appelle Emile.” He held out a hand to the girl, “C’est mon pleasure.” He then gestured to Yellaina, “tel est mon ami Yellaina.”
The girl smiled at them, but didn’t take Emile’s hand. “Je m’appelle Anastasie.”
Emile smiled and let the hand drop back down to his side. He told her that they noticed she looked upset as they were walking by and just wondered if there was anything they could do, that they would really love to help.
Anastasie started with the immediate, that she was cold, and tired. That it was late, but she wasn’t allowed to go home yet. She looked down in shame and explained what they had already surmised, that she was in fact a prostitute, but that she hadn’t wanted to be. That this had never been her plan. Before long, Anastasie was spewing her guts to Yellaina and Emile. As she spoke, even more quickly, Emile found it hard to tell when one word had ended and another began. But she started to weep.
Emile could feel the depression demon working in Anastasie all the more because they were there. He had felt this demon before, he recognized it. The oppressor was a demon named Ania, the bringer of grief and trouble. She was desperate to hold on to Anastasie.
Emile took a deep breath, feeling Ania’s presence as if buried in his own chest, making him feel heavy with worthlessness. It was hard to breathe. It took everything in Emile not to break down, himself.
Hearing Anastasie’s story, and feeling the weight of it on her heart, Emile struggled. He knew Ania wasn’t going down without a fight. But swords and bows were no good against this kind of demon. This was the kind you had to fight inside.
***
“What’s going on?” Achaia asked Amelia who was standing closest to her.
“Well, she’s oppressed by a depression demon. Emile is trying to talk her out of it.” Amelia explained.
“He’s going to perform an exor…”
“No.” Amelia shook her head. “See, there is demon possession and…”
“Oppression.” Noland butted in. “It’s not controlling her, like the hunter in the woods. It’s not really in her. More like over her, influencing her. There is nothing in her to be brought out, so we can’t kill it. The only person who can kill it is her. She has to conquer it within herself.”
“Amelia was looking at Noland funny. Achaia couldn’t tell if she was offended he had cut her off, or just amused. Maybe even a combination of the two.
“So Emile is trying to make her happy?” Achaia asked simply.
“Yeah— You could put it that way. He is trying to give her hope,” Noland explained.
Achaia turned back around to watch Emile and Yellaina work.
Excerpt from: “Transgression”, book one of the Kingdom Come Series by Brandy Ange, Copyright Brandy Ange 2017
The importance to the story:
The full scene is much longer, but for today’s purposes, this is enough. See, this is a crucial turning point in the story for Achaia. This is her wakeup call to think more beyond herself- and the impact that she could potentially have on the world around her, if she were to live more for others than just for herself. Shael insured that Achaia led a very sheltered life- it is probable that Achaia had never met anyone truly in need of help in such a profound way, and therefore was ignorant to the fact they existed on a personal level (though she doubtless knew they existed in theory). This is the interaction and the moment that wakes her up to the level of brokenness in the world. Witnessing this scene is what wakes up her compassion and her desire to help and to be good. This is where we really start to see her decide who she wants to be as a person. The first moment leading her toward her ultimate choice.
A caveat:
Because of Achaia’s sheltered upbringing and lack of experience with people, let alone demons, it didn’t make any sense for her to jump in and try to be involved. She watches with rapt curiosity, is humbled, and is taught. Some things we learn by trial and error- but when it comes to counseling someone who is in truly desperate mental health crisis- that is not the time or place for trial by fire. Someone else’s health and well being are at stake. In this instance we have Emile who is divinely equipt to work with the girl through her emotions, because he can feel exactly what she is feeling- more than empathy, he has a front row seat to sit with her in her pain. Yellaina is also a naturally compassionate and empathetic person, though not spiritually gifted specifically in that area. It is implied that they have teamed up against these kinds of demons before, and they approach with kindness, openness, compassion, patience, and strategy. They listen before offering advice, and they seek to understand before offering up any solutions. When the time comes, they present her with truth, and with options, not a list of to dos or a lecture on how to fix her life in five easy steps.
The importance to the book:
Back when I first started thinking about publishing Transgression, I knew I wanted this book series to have a greater impact than to just serve as entertainment for readers. I had been aware of Rapha International for years, and loved supporting them, but I wanted to do more. I decided then that I would donate a dedicated portion of all of my book royalties from the entire series to this organization.
Rapha International provides aftercare for survivors of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and abuse and family preservation programs in vulnerable communities.
rapha.org
Before I had decided to donate the portion to Rapha, I had debated whether this scene was appropriate for a YA audience, and whether or not I should edit it out. But after making the decision, it seemed obvious that it needed to stay. As a nod to the book and series’ greater purpose, and also as a potential gentle eye opener for those like Achaia who were simply unaware of the terrible circumstances many children find themselves in.
When, like Achaia, we choose to live for more than just ourselves, we have tremendous power to make a positive impact on our world. Especially when we team up and show up with kindness, openness, compassion, patience, and strategy. So if you have purchased any of the books in the series, or requested them at your local library, you have played a part in helping to rescue and restore victims of this world’s brokenness. Thank you for joining the battle, and making a positive impact.
If you’d like to learn more about Rapha, or help their mission by making your own donation, you can do so by visiting their website.
If you enjoyed this behind the scene look at chapter eleven, you can check out the previous behind the scene posts about:
brandyange.me 