Annabella Altavista

• Also known as

Annabella Altavista is from Sicily in 1213, where she was raised by a cloister of monks called the Emanuele. At the same time, they were given a weapon called the "Hand of God." After turning 18, Annabella starts to ask questions about her life and the "Hand of God," since it isn't mentioned in the Bible. When she is nearly raped by a member of the Emanuele, he discovers a tattoo on her which marks her as the next in line for the throne, but he is not able to function properly to finish the act. A friend she had since she was a young girl, Amadeo, and other monks came to the sound of her cries for help, and the rapist fled, but he went to tell a rival cloister, the Swamians, of the tattoo he discovered on Annabella. They come after her. The Emanuele try to defend her using the "Hand of God," but none of them can wield it. Finally, Annabella tries herself, and finds that it bonds with her for it is the Witchblade. She defeats the Swamians, becomes the savior of her people, and stays with Amedeo to nurse him back to health.