"Impressive," began Jane as the Volturi confronted the Cullen's."I've never seen a coven escape an assult of this magnitude intact," she commented as the four pushed the hoods back on their cloaks.

"We were lucky," Carlisle responded.

"I doubt that," argued Jane.

From beside her, Alec stepped forward. "It appears we've missed an entertaining fight," he remarked.

"Yes, it's not often we're rendered unnecessary," Jane replied.

Edward tried to inform them that they were just a few minutes too late but Jane seemed uninterested until her eyes flicked over to a newborn standing behind the Cullen's.

"You missed one," she mused as a small smirk tugged on her lips.

"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," Carlisle explained.

"It wasn't yours to offer," Jane snapped.

Jane focused all her attention on the girl. "Who created you?" she asked.

"You don't need to do that," Esme intervened as the girl let out a blood curdling scream, "she'll tell you anything you wanna know."

"I know," Jane replied evenly.

Bree, the young vampire, looked up to answer but wasn't much help since she didn't know the answer.

"Her name was Victoria," Edward answered for the girl. "Perhaps you knew her?" he questioned.

"Edward," Carlisle reprimanded, " if the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would have stopped her. Isn't that right, Jane?"

The blonde hesitated for a moment, as all eyes looked on her.

"Of course," she answered, then quickly ordered Felix to execute the girl. Esme protested and Carlisle asked they give her a chance, but Jane refused to be reasoned with.

"The Volturi don't give second chances," she stated. "Keep that in mind," she added. "Caius will be interested to know that she's still human," Jane said nodding her head towards Bella.

"I also think he'll find this one of great interest as well," Jane replied as Demitri flashed towards the woods and back again with an unconscious Jackie in his arms.

Emmett's stomach churned at the sight of his mate in the arms of that vile monster. Suddenly Emmett flashed forward clenching his fists multiple times as fury like he had never felt before exploded inside of him.

"What have you done to her?" Emmett growled through clenched teeth as he fought the urge to crush the tiny blonde's neck.

Jane shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal. "I only tortured her till she passed out," she replied.

Emmett envisioned himself violently dismembering their heads. He slowly stepped forward with a malevolent grin plastered across his face- he was going to enjoy this. However, all thoughts of revenge were quickly halted as his heart shattered to a million pieces when Jackie whimpered his name.

"Give her to me, now!" Emmett roared causing Demitri to tremble slightly at the powerful command. He immediately handed Jackie over.

Ignoring Emmett's glare, Jane proceeded to advise the small coven. "I expect both of them to be changed before winter," she warned. "I don't think I need to remind you what the punishment is for disregarding Caius and his decisions."

"That won't be necessary," Bella spoke up, "the date has been set," she assured.

"Very well," Jane replied before turning her attention back to the newborn. "Felix, take care of that," Jane directed, "I'd like to go home."

***
"I don't understand," Emmett grumbled as he paced the floor of Carlisle's home office. "Why is she still unconscious?" he asked.

"I don't fully understand myself," Carlisle answered honestly. "But I ran some blood work and she seems to have a large ammount of rohypnol in her system."

"Wait, as in roofies?" Bella questioned as the entire family gathered around the room.

"Yes," Carlisle nodded.

"But who would have done that?" asked Edward. "Alice, have you seen anything?"

"Not since she found out about us," answered Alice. "It's like she somehow controls what she lets me see," she explained.

Edward nodded his head in agreement. "It's the same with me too," he admitted.

"Well, whoever it is," Emmett began, "when I get my hands on them..."

"Emmett?" The small frail voice of his mate groaned.

In an instant he was at her side.

"I'm here baby," he said softly as he grabbed her hand. "I'm here."

As Jackie tried to open her eyes she cursed.

"Esme," Carlisle spoke softly, "dim the lights, would you?" he instructed. Esme quickly did as she was told, and shooed the rest of the family out of the room to give Jackie and Emmett a little privacy.

"Is that better?" Esme gently asked.

"Yes, thank you," Jackie croaked as she tried to wet her tongue. It felt like a desert had taken up residence inside her mouth.

"I'll go get you a glass of water, sweetie," Esme smiled at her.

Carlisle waited to ask any questions until Jackie had that glass of water. She graciously accepted it from Esme and nearly gulped it all down but not before swallowing two aspirin from Carlisle. She was grateful for that as well since it felt like tiny shards of glass were poking the back of her eyeballs.

"Do you remember anything that happened yesterday?" Carlisle gently prodded.

Jackie scrunched her eyebrows. "Yesterday?" she questioned. "Nothing happened yesterday," she answered then turned to look at Emmett, "I just spoke on the phone with you a little bit ago," she insisted.

"Baby," Emmett paused, "we talked about a day ago," he told her. "You've been unconscious this whole time."

"Oh god!" Jackie looked mortified as realization set in. She tried to jump up but Emmett held onto her. "The girls!" she yelled. "My babies, where are they?"

"They're safe," Emmett assured her. "They're still on the reservation with Sue."

"No, no, no," Jackie wailed. "I've got to get to them," she cried. "It's not safe there! It's not safe anywhere!"

"What do you mean?" Emmett asked furrowing his eyebrows. "Why isn't it safe? What happened?"

"John," Jackie paused, "he found us. He was there, when I got off the phone with you. He shot something into my neck and tried to take me," she told them.

"The wolves were with us that day," Carlisle began, "I'm sure that's the only way he got on their land," he explained. "And the girls are fine" Carlisle added. "Sam and the pack wouldn't let anything happen to them," he assured.

Jackie hesitated for a moment but she knew Carlisle was right.

As Emmett and Jackie gazed into each others eyes, Carlisle began to feel awkward. He quickly dismissed himself allowing the two to have some privacy.

"I should never have let you leave that night," Emmett whispered before kissing every single one of her fingers.

"Well, you didn't really have a choice," Jackie pointed out.

"No, I should have broke that damn treaty," he argued. "None of this would have happened," he shook his head.

"You have to understand," he began, "I thought Rosalie was my partner, my mate," he explained. "But I was so wrong. From the moment I saw you, I knew I would spend the rest of eternity trying to adore you."

Jackie blushed before wrapping her arms around his neck and crushing her lips to his.

"How are you feeling?" Emmett suddenly asked. "Do you feel up to going somewhere with me?"

Jackie sat up, "I think I'm fine," she smiled, anxious to know where he wanted to take her.

She tried to stand but Emmett grabbed her up. "Hold on," he said smiling down at her.

He flashed out the house and through the woods. At first it was amazing, but as everything blurred past, her stomach became queasy and she buried her face in the crook of Emmett's neck. She thanked the Maker when he finally came to stop.

She asked him to set her down, but when he did, she began to sway.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'm so stupid," he cursed himself. "This was such a bad idea."

"Emmy, stop," she ordered. "I'm fine," she insisted standing up straighter. "Now what did you want to show me?"

Leading her towards a clearing in the woods, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt and stepped towards the sunlight.

"Emmett stop!" Jackie inhaled sharply. "Won't you, you know..." she trailed off.

Emmett quietly began to chuckle before bursting into full blown laughter.

"Just watch," he said, smirking as he walked into the sunlight.

In the sunlight, Emmett was fascinating. Jackie felt like she could stare at him all afternoon. His flawlessly white skin sparkled, like thousands of tiny diamonds were embedded in it's surface.

He laid down on the grass, his shirt open over his perfectly sculpted, glistening chest as he looked up at her with a smile on his face. Jackie sat down next to him and lightly trailed her hand over the perfect muscles of his arm. She marvelled at the perfect texture, satin smooth, cool as marble.

"You really are beautiful," she whispered.

"No one is more beautiful than you," he said tugging her towards him. Caressing her cheek with his thumb, he pulled her face towards himself and planted a passionate kiss on her lips.

Jackie could feel his need for her and was surprised when she found him pulling back. He gently lifted her and sat her down in his lap.

Emmett wanted nothing more than to rip her clothes off and make passionate love to her, but there was something nagging him at the back of his mind.

"Do you remember anything else from yesterday?" he asked. "Possibly after you got free from John?" he prodded when she shook her head.

For a moment Jackie remained silent as she tried to think back on what she could remember. Suddenly her eyes widened in remembrance.

"Jane," she mumbled. "I remember now," she answered. "I was coming to find you, but I ran into the Volturi," she said. "I remember feeling excruciating pain," Jackie told him. "I tried not to scream but I eventually passed out."

Emmett's muscles stiffened and his jaw clenched. He should have ripped off their heads when he had the chance.

Jackie softly placed a hand on his chest and looked up into his eyes. "Why?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

Emmett took a deep breath before explaining to her what happened. "Before they left, Jane gave us an ultimatum," he said.

"Either we turn you into one of us," he paused, intensely gazing into her eyes, "or the Volturi are going to kill you."