008 I Woke The Shadow

"High priest!" Ann gasped as she looked down to her own hand, which was what took away Hank's breath.

Because in Ann's hand, The Shadow was now glowing.

Dimly, but the glow was still there.

"How?! I mean... how did it happen?" Hank stammered as he started walking towards Ann.

His attention was no longer on the crashing scene.

"By the time I got here, she already crashed the car..." Ann started with an improvised lie.

There was no one to expose her anyways.

"What?! You mean Lilith?" Hank took a gasp as he blinked in confusion, "Where is she?"

"She was taken to the hospital." Ann said, "I called the ambulance right away as I got here."

"That's good." Hank nodded, still in shock, "So what happened to The Shadow? How was it wakened?!"

"I don't know..." Ann handed The Shadow back to Hank, "I was so worried about Lilith when I saw all these, and before I knew, The Shadow was already in my hand with its whole body shining brightly like the moon itself..."

"Oh my God..." Hank stared at the now awake wand with awe and frantic sparkles in his eyes, "It's truly amazing..."

"I'm sorry I took the wand..." Ann lowered her head with a little sobbing, "I'm sorry for all that happened tonight...I didn't mean any of these to happen! I just..."

"I know, kiddo." Hank patted Ann on her head, "You have been too hard on yourself. But I guess your ambition is with good reason."

"That's no excuse, high priest..." Ann wiped some fake tears away, "I don't know what got into me...I don't think I'm worthy..."

"That's not true." Hank comforted her, "There must be a good reason for The Shadow to choose you. You don't have to doubt yourself. Let's go home, kiddo. I'm sure the archbishop would be most delighted to know this great news!"

Ann didn't stop her sobbing.

She dragged Hank on his long sleeve slightly and opened her mouth with hesitation: "Sir...Do you think it's I who killed her? Maybe it was because I came chasing her--"

"Oh, no! Of course not!" Hank exclaimed in surprise, "She was out here on her own before you even got to her house. This is not your burden to bear, my child."

"She only got upset at Jacob because..." Ann sobbed, "Because she ran into us kissing... This is all my fault! Oh my God..."

Ann burst into tears as she fell on the ground right there on the highway.

"Ohh, I see..." Hank sighed, "That IS really unfortunate. But that's no reason to put her death on you. Besides, you are the one who called the ambulance. Let's not just assume she would die yet."

"I hope she will live, I really do!" Ann allowed Hank to pull her up.

Ann knew full well that the mysterious alpha won't allow that girl to die, for some reason yet known to her.

It didn't sound like he knew who Lilith was. So why would he care so much?!

He even said "treat her life as my life" for God's sake! Ann rolled her eyes in her mind.

Why was that stupid human girl just so lucky?!

"Are you alright"? Hank looked at Ann with worry written in his eyes, "You are in no condition to drive. Let me, please."

"What about your car?" Asked Ann in surprise.

"Ohh, I'm sure the owner would just be happy that the police find their car and return it intact tomorrow." The old high priest answered with a naughty smile.

"I cannot believe I made you do this..." Ann exclaimed, "I'm really sorry, and grateful to you, sir."

"Ohh, I believe your gratitude belongs to Jacob." Hank winked at her, "That boy really cared about you, you know? You would be in big trouble if he didn't take that girl to his mother's care for you."

"Oh my God!" Ann gasped, "How is she! Is she okay?!"

"Lost a lot of blood," Hank glanced at Ann with obvious scold in his eyes, and Ann lowered her head.

"But she will be fine." Hank moved his sight away, relieving her from the shame and guilt, "You avoided all the important organs."

"Thank god..." Ann murmured, thanking the almost ridiculous kind assumption from Hank instead of Emma's survival, "So...what now?"

"Now? Now we go home and rest before we go pay the archbishop a visit." Hank smiled softly as he winked at Ann, "I'm sure he will be thrilled by this news, but we should give him some sleep tonight."

"Yes," Ann nodded, "Yes of course!"

"Do you want to stay at Jacob's parents' for tonight?" Hank asked.

"Why?" Ann asked in confusion, "I have nothing to do with him! The kiss was just--"

She stopped herself at Hank's chuckle.

"I meant the girl, Emma." With still a slight laugh, Hank glanced at Ann, "I thought you might want to check up on her. So that you won't feel too bad about it."

"Ohh, yeah..." Ann nodded quickly, "That WOULD be lovely, but I worry that seeing me might just upset her. Maybe I should deliver my apology when she heals a bit first."

"That's very considerate of you." Hank nodded, "I'll just take you home then."

"That would be great..." Ann sighed, "It really has been a long night..."

"I'm not sure you can just go right to sleep though," Hank chuckled as he stopped the car, and Ann looked up in surprise--

Jacob was standing at her doorstep.

"I'll leave you two alone then. Good night, my child." Hank winked at Ann before he got off the car.

Ann smiled at Hank, and took a deep breath before she opened her side of the door.

No one knows what happened. Ann told herself over and over again as she walked towards Jacob. Not even the high priest.

She stopped in front of Jacob but didn't say a word. She was waiting. She needed to know how he views her right now.

"Are you alright? You cried?" Jacob asked with a cautious tone.

"It's okay..." Tears filled her eyes instantly as she was sure that he still cared about her, "I'm sorry..."

Jacob took her into his arms.

"It's okay. Everything will be okay." Jacob comforted her with a gentle voice, "Emma is fine, and she will be able to go home in no time."

"No!" Ann burst into tears, "I meant I'm sorry that I couldn't save Lilith..."

"What..." Jacob paused before he looked into her eyes, "What are you talking about?!"

"She got into a car accident before I could catch up with her..." Ann managed her explanation as she sobbed, "She crashed into the other line...I don't know what happened..."

"Wh-where is she now...?" Jacob's voice was shaking as he asked with hesitation.

He didn't know if he wanted the answer.

"I called the ambulance so she would be fine..." Ann sobbed more, "I'm really sorry... I kissed you only because your mom was worried about you! I didn't mean to hurt her!"

Jacob sighed heavily.

"It's all my fault..." Ann wiped her tears as they burst out nonstop, "Do you hate me?"

"No..." Jacob sighed as he took Ann into his arm again, "No, I don't hate you. Neither of us saw that coming..."

"You should go look for her." Ann hugged Jacob swiftly before she took herself out of his arms, "And maybe we should not keep in touch, for...ever."

Jacob stared at her in disbelief.

"What are you talking about?!"

"She must hate me right now..." Ann sighed with a bitter smile, "You won't be able to get her back if we stay friends."

"She would be mad for the kiss, sure." Jacob nodded, "But I'm sure she will understand--"

"She got into a car accident, Jacob, because of me..." Ann shook her head in sorrow, "Do you think she would ever forgive me even if she still gets all her limbs and her cute little face intact? And I don't think she'd be that lucky...Her face was covered in blood when I found her..."

Ann was satisfied at the hesitated look on Jacob's face.

She needed Jacob to not bring Lilith back, at least not before she gets The Shadow.

"You should go." Ann pushed him on the chest lightly, "She needs you right now. I'll be fine..."

"Yeah...Maybe I should go..." Jacob nodded, but he didn't move.

"It's the right thing to do..." Ann sighed.

"Yeah." Jacob nodded and stepped aside, "You need to rest. I'll leave."

"Wait." Ann pulled him on the sleeve as Jacob started to leave, "Will you come to archbishop's with me though? I was hoping you could be there, even if it's the last time I'll ever see you."

"What's that for?" Asked Jacob, completely lost.

"Well, I have to pay him a visit." Ann shrugged in an indifferent way, "Cause I woke The Shadow."