The Witch Crown

A Worm/ Queen's Blade Crossover.

Arc 1.1 Possession (Danny)(a)

Danny Herbert

My wife and daughter were clinically dead for ten minutes when Annette was giving birth in the operating theatre. It was sudden and had not been accompanied by any flashy lights or costumed supermen playing their games. One moment, breathing and struggling to begat new life, the next, two lives snuffed out like a candle and the flesh going cold.

And just as quickly as the doctors gave up resuscitation efforts, Annette's eyes snapped open and she turned the most piercing, judging gaze I've ever seen on the woman I loved on everyone in the room. Despite her pale complexion, the gasping for air and apparent frailty expected of a new mother that look in her eyes made everyone in that room shiver like the condemned before a hanging judge. I was certain that she was now one of those capes whose existence made our lives miserable and blessed in great measure.

The stillness of the room was broken by the lusty cries of a newborn child and my heart ached to rush towards my daughter who had been surgically removed from Annette and left for dead. But that steely gaze on my newly alive wife kept us all frozen to the spot.

Then she broke into a warm smile and all thoughts of my wife being dead and replaced disappeared. I hugged her tightly, afraid she'd die again.

I had always considered myself a rather progressive kinda guy. Not the one who'd leap headfirst into the newest social trend or shifting mores, but someone who won't flip out when my daughter takes home a boy who's not perfectly clean cut, respectful and won't so much as touch a single hair on her body before her wedding night.

I'd take him to a corner to make a few death threats if he doesn't take my daughter home safe and early, but I won't flip out.

So I'd never imagined myself feeling all sorts of inadequate as I watch my wife being fawned upon by men and women of the upper crust of what's left Brockton Bay's social elite in the café of a country club. Judges, CEOs, politicians and high powered businessmen gathered around my wife who's a humble English professor of lower middle class birth and means. The crowd striving for her attention while engaging in social combat with sly but polite putdowns about the inadequacies of their potential rivals.

It was like high school all over again, and I'm the plain wallflower who's somehow attached to the hottest girl in school.

"Whoever said that a woman's looks start going downhill after giving birth is spouting some Master grade bullshit, because your wife is living proof to the contrary."

I turned around to glare at the source of that unwanted but all too familiar commentary on my spouse. A certain redheaded divorce lawyer was grinning at me, nursing a drink in his hand while wearing the standard country club ensemble of a polo t-shirt with white pants. He raised his glass in greeting while his grin got wider.

"You should probably know, won't you, Mr Alan Barnes? It only took you nearly a year before you'd stop gaping at the wife of a friend of twenty years. "

Alan chuckled at my ribbing as he placed his free arm over my shoulder while he pointed to my wife holding court with the cream of Brockton Bay's social scene. A few of the plainer looking women had moved to outer rims of the circle that had gathered around my wife Annette while a few of the women who were closer to Annette personally whispered things into her ear. The men on the other hand were glaring at one another while sporting transparently fake smiles. Quite a few were intruding on the personal space of their closest counterpart, in an attempt to intimidate.

"I understand Annette has a Masters in European History?"

Alan was asking a rhetorical question of course. He had sat through more than one of her impromptu lectures of early modern period French Court etiquette though it was more like a recounting of a life lived rather than a lecture of a dry academic when Annette spoke of long dead European royalty.

"You going somewhere with that line of questioning, or are you just going to waste the court's time?"

My old friend raised an eyebrow at my comeback before laughing out loud, catching the attention of several of Annette's gaggle of hanger-on's. Alan then settled for smiling the smuggest smile I've seen in a while and the man can do a lot of smug. It made me wish we were in high school just so I can flush Alan's head in the toilet.

You know, as a friendly prank between friends.

" What I'm saying, Danny, is that your wife has an obvious love for re-enacting because I'm feeling like this is an afternoon party in the gardens of the Sun King, Louis the Fifteenth. All we need now is some whipping boys, a few poodles running around yapping away and powdered wigs and we're all set."

I was sure that Alan had gotten the powdered wigs, whipping boys and French King who was actually the Sun King wrong, but I decided that needling him on that wasn't needed. So I settled for grumbling instead.

"I certainly don't feel like a king in my own palace garden, Alan."

Alan's expression turned melancholic as he shook his head.

"You're not the king, Danny."

My friend pointed Annette, a calm radiating presence in surrounded by overeager courtiers.

"She is. Long live the queen."

Shouting from the fringes of the circle around Annette caught my attention as I saw two elderly men start shoving each other while the rest of crowd gave space to a potential fracas about to breakout. I recognised the two as a District Judge and also the head of the Brockton Chamber of Commerce Rupert Thornly. In other circumstances, I would have hoped for the judge to soundly beat the behind of Thornly because just last week he had propositioned my wife. I still felt the tingle of satisfaction when Annette had publicly rejected his indecent proposal and did it in such a way that everyone knew he was a dirty old man who got shot down. It is not very nice of me to feel satisfaction over a man's ruined reputation, but he propositioned my wife, so fuck him.

But the potential brawl between two senior citizens was a bit too close for comfort to Annette for me, so I strode towards her purposefully, daring those rich parasites to try and stop me from my spouse.

"Annette, we've got to go. Taylor's sitter is leaving in half an hour!" I shouted over the crowd and they turned to face me. Almost all of them wore various degrees of murderous expressions, except for Annette who smiled and stretched out her hands towards me. On cue, the crowd surrounding her parted ways for me to approach her, their expressions switching to strained smiles as if they've sucked on a lemon.

Feelings of annoyance started to boil inside of me. Annette Rose Herbert was my wife. I was not supposed to be vying for her affection and attention like some mistress! As I looked at her smile for me, the building feelings melted away as I saw in her smile a warmth and affection that was lacking when she was facing the others.

I suppose I can let this go for…the tenth time? And the sudden need for dramatic gestures she had developed after giving birth to Taylor. That one can go too.

The feeling that my wife had changed almost completely continues to gnaw at me even as I began driving home. Taylor's sitter was not due to leave for another hour and the drive home from the country club only took half that time.

A country club. A part of my brain still wonders if I had gone mad and I was dreaming all of this. An employee of a Dockworker Union where the docks aren't doing any business due to world ending sea monsters should have no business in a gathering of snooty rich elites. I called that part of my brain the logical part of my brain and even after adjusting for a world of people with superpowers running around in their jammies it was still screaming something was wrong.

I decided to take the scenic route to clear my thoughts. I found myself doing it a lot more often since Taylor was born and my wife did something that threatens to blow my mind.

I snuck glances at Annette as she stared out of the window onto the view. The club was located on a hill out of town and a drive down the winding route offered a bird's eye view of most of Brockton Bay.

Annette Rose Herbert is a stunning woman and she was not one when I married her. The woman I married was tall, slim with minimal curves and had a pair of lips that were too thin. Her hair was long, dark and wavy and kept simple and neat. She was very expressive and a lovely warm woman and I love her more than any other woman in the world. But she was not someone who'd grab the attention of everyone on the street when she walked on it.

The postnatal Mrs Herbert on the other hand, was a bombshell that hits harder than Behemoth on a city full of capes. I did not quite notice it at first. The change was gradual but it was noticeable after a few weeks. The shapely curves, the fuller lips, the skin that was blemish free and radiated vigour. As she got well enough to walk again, there was a very noticeable change in her stride.

Annette always had a quiet, mature confidence in her, one that suited the inner strength that had attracted to me to her. This new Annette glided with a regal poise and barely concealed swagger that demanded everyone look at her. Awkward during the first few days after her recovery, her poise soon grew into a confident stride that demanded attention.

"You're staring again, Danny. Maybe you'd like to park at the side so you can have a better look?"

I fumbled with the wheel as Annette's purring tease jolted me into realising I was lost in admiring my wife like some obsessed voyeur. Purposefully keeping my eyes on the road, I tried to ignore the burning sensation on my cheeks or the giggling of my spouse.

"You know, the offer's still open Danny. " Annette said causally as she resumed looking at the scenery.

"The one where you offered to be tested by the PRT for being a parahuman?" I said far more stiffly than I had intended. The car rolled to a stop as I exited the winding path from the club and I parked on the shoulder of the road.

"Yes, that one Danny. " All signs of humour had vanished as she looked at me expectantly with a hard expression. Seeing me hesitate, Annette pressed on.

"I'm your wife! I know that you're doubtful if I'm some parahuman Villain who replaced your wife or messed with your mind. "

She grabbed my hand reassuringly and her face softened as she continued, "I just want to let you know, that I'm still Annette. It's natural for you to think I've triggered to be some cape, since you know, dying during childbirth and then coming back to life. "

Annette squeezed my hand as she looked me in the eye. "I don't want this doubt to fester between us, Danny."

If I wasn't sure telepathy was impossible except for the Simurgh, I'd have been convinced that my wife was reading my mind and making me feel like a heel.

I considered my next words carefully, aware that a wrong turn of phrase can damage our relationship irreparably.

"Annette, I want to believe in you, without having someone like PRT having to vouch that you're telling me the truth. " I saw my missus flinch as if she had been slapped and I felt a stab of guilt in return. But I knew I had to continue.

"Ever since you left that hospital, when you gave birth to Taylor. I... damn it!" Searching for words as I struggled to let the words go, I decided to just let it all out.

"You've changed, Annette. Changed in a way I cannot understand. If you've changed completely, it'd actually be easier for me since then I'd know someone had taken your place in that hospital ward. That someone was wearing the face of Annette Herbert for what? I'm not someone important enough for some supervillain to target! But for every bit of you that's changed from the quiet gentle woman I've fell in love with to Annette the Prom Queen, there's still the part of the old you that's how the way I've always known you. All our little moments together, the way you like our shared cup of tea and even the events that I've forgotten about but you still remember and needle me with. That's how I believe that you're still you and not some freak in a costume using you."

As I let my spiel continue, pouring out my doubts over the past year and half, I saw Annette's face twist with grief as she broke into heaving sobs. As I finished my thoughts, I saw her make up running from the tears as she bit her lips in an attempt to stifle her crying.

"Even now she looks inhumanly beautiful." I pushed those thoughts away and I pulled her in for a hug and felt her return my affection even as her crying grew louder.

I've no idea how long it took for the crying to die down. I kept my eyes closed as I didn't really want to see her so hurt and preferred to just feel her next to me. My eyes only opened as I heard her start speaking hoarsely and I looked at her as she spoke.

"Danny, I… I'm so sorry. It's just that I didn't expect you to be so..." Sparring my wife, I finished her sentence for her.

"Left out? Neglected? Annette, I know women usually undergo drastic change after their first child, but most of them only let their figures go, rather than transform into Mrs Popular Amateur model."

I received a punch in the shoulder for that attempt to lighten things up. I didn't think that I'd be getting any offers soon, but if it helps Annette feel better than as far as I'm concerned I've brought the house down.

"Danny." Annette asked lightly," What do you remember of my life before I arrived here in New England?"

I racked my brains as I went through her history. Born in Quebec, moved to Newfoundland before Leviathan forced her and her family to flee to the US. It was then I realised I never asked about her life when she was in Canada.

"I was a bit of a social butterfly back when I was in school all the way to college." Annette offered, "After arriving in America, I stopped being so active in the popularity sweepstakes since it brings up so many memories. "

"So why get back in the game now? Why the eagerness after Taylor?"

She sighed as I saw her grimace. A long suffering look was etched on her face as she started playing with her hair.

"Being friendly with people I don't really like means Taylor can learn to be around people and be liked by them. As I was before she arrived, I don't think I'd be equipping her with the right skills for her in life. "

I disagreed quite vehemently with what Annette was saying. Being Ms Prom Queen brought a whole set of problems with it, one of which involves dirty old Heads of Commerce Chambers, but I kept my peace. Even if I disagree, I guess Taylor will have to choose when she grows older.

"So Danny. Does the PRT have a nursery suitable for children under the age of two?"

I looked at Annette in surprise.

"I want to go to the PRT, Danny. I want to clear this once and for all. I don't know if I have triggered. But I do know I want to keep you in the loop from now on. No more assuming you know what I'm thinking. We are getting this done. Today. "

I pulled her in closer for another hug and felt her shivering. No matter what the results say, the Annette Rose Herbert in my arms today is the same as the one whom I married. No more lies between us.

I returned from work an hour earlier than usual. Three weeks had passed since Annette got herself tested at the PRT and the results came back negative. It lifted a weight in my heart that my wife was not some parahuman body snatcher and was simply reverting to her practices in youth that she never told me about before.

No superpowers bullshit here. Merely bad communication that nearly killed a marriage. Completely mundane and manageable. To celebrate the discovery that whatever issues our marriage have were decidedly human in nature, Annette bought a tape recorder. I'd suggest jewellery, but she reminded me of our stretched finances. The freebies Annette got from her amateur modelling and popularity didn't translate into a higher source of income.

Yet. I have a feeling Annette has that angle covered too.

I walked slowly and quietly to the basement that Annette had converted to a nursery, hoping to give her a surprise. She had insisted on using the basement, despite us still having spare rooms. She said she liked the quietness down there and it was warm in the winter.

Approaching the entrance, I heard Annette speaking in French and the distinct click of the tape recorder as she finished her sentences. Using the best of my almost forgotten lessons from high school and what little I picked up from my Canadian dockworkers, I listened in on her recording sessions.

I picked up something about numbers. It almost sounded like she was reciting some figures though I did not quite pick up on what they referred to. I did hear some phrases I could translate however.

Sorcière

Chevalier

Reine

Physics?

I chuckled as the pieces fit together. Annette was piecing together a fantasy novel, and it's going to be a New Englander in King Charlemagne's Court.

I opened the door and went down the steps to find a table with an empty cot next to it and a tape recorder on the table. No sign of my wife and child but then I felt the touch of very sharp cold steel at the back of my neck.

"…Danny?" I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding as I turned around and saw Annette holding our daughter in her left arm while clutching a golden ballpoint pen in her right.

"You know, that pen's tip felt a lot bigger when it was pointing at the back of my neck."

Annette was standing next to the steps leading into the house and was partially covered in the shade. I saw a flash of steel on her right hand and the faint outline of a gauntlet as the light reflected against it before I looked closer and saw nothing there.

The lighting in the basement needs some massive improvement if I seeing things that are not there.

"Your mind can play tricks on you when someone points a sharp metal object in a vulnerable place, my dear."

The hard look on my wife's face makes me inclined to agree.