Annabelle’s Bastion

“Whenever your eyes close, I have the option to take over. We are one, yet I do not sleep when you do. One soul, two identities. Odd, isn’t it? … But you cannot hear me. You tend to be asleep when I am in control, so you do not get to taste the ire of having a voice you cannot respond to.”

Should she exert control here?

She didn’t want to, not in the slightest. Her desire for the outside world was practically non-existent, not unless the circumstances met her long list of conditions.

Yet…

“You truly find it acceptable for another being to peer into our soul? Have you not—” Annabelle stopped. “I suppose you do not.”

Her other self was a perfect example of a frog dwelling at the bottom of a deep well. But such a thing should be common sense—their soul was the core of their being.

Their spells, their mana, their potential, and their future. Seeing that meant seeing who they were in every conceivable capacity.

Annabelle blamed the academy for that. Many things have not been told when they should have, especially on matters related to personal security. 

Regardless, she understood the Elf’s fear very well.

It was a disgusting thing, this ring of hers. Whether the color meant anything beyond just an unfortunate coincidence wasn’t something she had the answer to. But she would believe it was done to mock her intentionally.

That didn’t matter, though.

For the Elf to think it was her place to peer into Annabelle’s soul just to soothe her cowardly fears was far too presumptuous.

“I would be remiss if I allowed us to be treated like this—I will correct her arrogance.”

And so, Annabelle took control.

That brief moment—the instant before her consciousness took control of their body—she felt her connection to the mana flow in the world. That was a side effect of her Apex Sigil at work. The same feeling her other self discovered for the first time a few days ago.

But for Annabelle, that feeling meant she could get a deeper connection to the world. Conversely, she wasn’t able to use the Apex Sigil. Unfortunate, but the mana flow had become her third limb.

Because of the connection, she instantly knew where she was, what was happening, and what the Elf intended to do.

The Elf’s mana was moving toward her hand, but it hadn’t yet activated. She was about to use whatever ability she had that allowed her to breach Annabelle’s sanctity.

She was in some kind of empty room, lying on a somewhat comfortable bed. There were some open books on a desk in the corner written in a script she couldn’t read. Dormant mana flowed from the walls and into the ceiling.

But there was a larger name on that page, one she noted down as the feeling faded. Perhaps when her other self mastered that Apex Sigil and grew stronger, Annabelle could exist in that state for longer.

Annabelle opened her eyes.

Elyanthra had her pale, cold hand placed on her forehead.

Feeling hands against her body was infuriating.

“Unhand me,” Annabelle coldly ordered, earning a jolt from the Elf, who instantly jumped back, recognizing something was different.

“You... It... seems my fears were correct.” She squinted as the ring around her head brightened. “What are you?”

Somewhat respectable senses.

Annabelle’s body felt fine and with no noticeable abnormalities other than the semi-unstable state of her mana. She sat up and checked for physical signs but didn’t find any. The scar was hideous, but that could be taken care of.

“Answer—”

“Silence,” Annabelle commanded. “I do not appreciate my thoughts being interrupted.”

Elyanthra’s face underwent various changes, from shock to horror. An expression Annabelle enjoyed seeing—when the arrogant realized they weren’t as indomitable as they once thought. The Elf’s senses were commendable.

Her intent wasn’t bad… but such behavior could not stand.

While her other self may have just wanted to annoy Annabelle, the Elf should have known better than to take advantage of the naïve. She would teach her other self about sanctity if they ever got the chance to interact once more.

“Accursed, the corr—”

“I detest such misunderstandings,” Annabelle again interrupted. Seeing the same color eyes as her own look back at her wasn’t something she enjoyed. “Furthermore, do not speak unless I grant you permission. I will not warn you again.”

They always ignored her order for silence—even her other self. Was it that difficult to control their mouths?

It seemed Elyanthra finally understood, and she wisely decided to simply observe. With that, it became silent in the dark room.

“I find darkness unpleasant,” Annabelle said, glancing upward at the dim light on the ceiling. “Turn the light on.”

Rather than comply, a green ring materialized around Elyanthra’s head, emitting a whimsical whir.

Smart enough to close her mouth yet dumb enough to take out her ring.

Well, her other self was a bit slow in gaining the strength she needed to punish those incorrigible fools. Which meant she had to use the one thing she didn’t want to.

“Elyanthra,” Annabelle said. “If I feel mana move within your body, Zeruphirim  will wake to find his priest no more.”

But the Elf didn’t intend to attack; she was too curious about Annabelle. She wanted to see what Annabelle would do, what sort of power she thought a so-called accursed could have. 

“You have a grave misunderstanding,” Annabelle said, holding out her palm. A black swarm of fog slowly emerged from her body, hissing quietly as it gathered into her hand. It created a grotesque ball that looked as though it had tentacles sprouting from it, wailing about like they wanted something to latch on to. “You do not get to stand back and analyze—that was never a decision in your hands.”

“C-corruption…” Elyanthra muttered in horror, taking unsteady steps back. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, and she stared at the fog like it harbored death. “H-… how?”

Annabelle did not want to have this deplorable power linger in her body anymore, so this was quite fortunate. It was barely controllable, threatened to eat her every passing minute, and was an abhorrent feeling to keep contained.

“No matter your strength, your accolades, your people, or even your God—you all fall to your knees the same,” Annabelle said as the black sphere of fog and tendrils left her palm, hovering in the air before her. “To the same power.”

She had to keep the disgust from showing on her face at the power in her palm.

The Elf didn’t deserve death, but some respect was owed.

To even have to try and use this power was an affront to nature, but her other self had not gained any real strength for her to use. That needed to get solved, lest she mared her fists.

“Do as I commanded,” Annabelle ordered. “Now.”

Elyanthra hesitated for a few seconds, but a tendril shooting near her shook her. She stood, slowly moving to the wall by the entrance. Once there, she swang her hand over a gem socketed in the wall. Her hand glowed, as did the gem before the room gained a brighter shade.

Once the glow died, she turned back to Annabelle with the same look of fear. “What… what is it that you want?”

The Elf recognized the power of the fog—at least, the power she expected it to have.

Good.

“Kneel.”

“What?”

“I said kneel.” As Annabelle spoke, the foggy tendrils whipped out toward Elyanthra. It made the Elf jolt, but the tendril pulled back.

Elyanthra’s hesitation was brief. She soon shakily complied, slowly kneeling with an expression that made it seem as though Annabelle killed her child. She could no longer look Annabelle in the eyes, her head down.

Annabelle felt much better.

“You should not bend your knee for any other than your God, yet you find yourself so easily controlled.”

“The…” she paused, remembering Annabelle’s order.

“Speak.”

“The…” Her fists tightened, the once mesmerizing sight of the Elf now appearing a bit more mortal. Soon, she gathered some courage and lifted her head once more. “The accursed takes us all, I cannot afford to fail my lord here… I… will listen to your demands.”

The mighty can fall so easily - such was common. At the very least, she would offer a bit more deference to her other self. Being treated like a child wasn’t pleasant to watch and hear.

“What…” Elyanthra’s gaze switched repeatedly from the foggy mass to Annabelle. “What are you?”

What now?

“I should end your existence here,” Annabelle said. “Your actions toward my other self warrant such a punishment.”

“I would never hurt her!”

“You intended to peer into my being, to see that which no other eyes have the right to see—you know that.”

If it was done even slightly forcefully, Annabelle would have immediately sent the detestable ball into the Elf.

At most, she was guilty of taking advantage of her other self’s desire to annoy Annabelle.

“I apologize,” Elyanthra said, bowing her head once more. Seeing Annabelle not stop her, she continued, “But you must understand, my lord cannot handle—”

“Listen closely, I will explain it to you.” Annabelle didn’t particularly enjoy being in the spot of having to explain herself.

But she couldn’t expect her other self to blindly trust her. Unlike Annabelle, who had borne witness to every word spoken and every sight seen by her other self… she did not have such experiences.

“Please, at least…” She met Annabelle’s eyes. “Tell me enough to have faith that my lord is not in danger.”

Annabelle lightly sighed. “My other self hoped to use you to see me and find out what I am—such a thing would have been pointless.” She shook her head. “You would have seen a proper soul.”

A beautiful, pure soul that would have mesmerized the Elf—but not one tainted. If her other self wanted to find out the secret of their existence, she’d have to find the person responsible for it. Not even Annabelle had that answer.

Well, she had her theory that was most likely correct, but she needed her other self to grow more to confirm it.

“But then…”

“My other self is not of the Taint—as far from it as possible,” Annabelle interrupted. “That is all you need to know about my existence.”

Elyanthra’s eyes only went to the foggy sphere, a seeming obvious objection to her words.

“This corrupted mana is from one of the cores placed on your world.” Annabelle lightly scoffed. “You owe my other self for finding it.”

“Y-you can harvest that energy?!” Elyanthra said, nearly launching upward before she seemed to remember her place. “H-how?! Please, tell me! I will hand you my life if—”

“Embarrassing—calm yourself.” Annabelle pulled the fog back, having it hover above her open palm. “This is only possible for active corruption targeting my body. I cannot save your lord.”

She felt that the last time she connected to the flow; it stained the world. Their God was all but dead, and anything the Elf did was simply delaying the inevitable.

“O-oh,” Elyanthra dejectedly said, visibly deflating. “Forgive me.”

“I cannot prove my words to you, Elyanthra.” Annabelle was already sick of being out. Being in the open air and disconnected from the mana flow made her feel sick. “Allow my other self to aid you while you wait for the other to wake. You will find the proof in her actions.”

“H-how—”

“I felt it.”

It didn’t feel good to explain herself.

“You—”

“You need her,” Annabelle interrupted once more. She pulled the black fog back into her body, a gross feeling as she felt it submerge into her being. “You may tell my other self about this exchange.”

“Wait!” Elyanthra exclaimed. “Please… who are you?”

“Annabelle Frost, heiress to the Frost family,” Annabelle stated simply. She returned to lying on the bed. Elyanthra’s gaze followed her closely. Once comfortable, she closed her eyes. “If you dare to harm my other self, I will see to it the corruption claims your species. Where you hide will not matter.”

That should be enough—fear was a strong motivator, and the Elf wouldn’t try such things again.

Annabelle was not the type to use her fists or blades. Her other self could dabble in that practice, but she had no need for such barbaric tactics; such a thing ruins the beauty and power of magic.

Elyanthra and her other self caused a ridiculous setback, but this was likely for the better. Annabelle would receive a bit more respect.

But she wouldn’t be so gracious to the next entity who tried such acts.

“When my eyes open, it will not be me.”

One day, her other self wouldn't sleep when she was in control and they could truly move forward.

But it was time to return to the darkness.

She was going to miss the bed - it was quite comfortable, better than the hard chair.