Her Final Days

Chapter 22

Where we last left off: Embry frowned, but he knew that Jacquelyn was right. To keep the imprint a secret was a bad idea, but to have it exposed would make it so much worse. Maybe Quil did know the truth, but refused to say anything. He would have a chat with him later.

But for now, it was all about him and Jacquelyn.

~~~~~

The next day, the training began.

Many of the wolves had showed up in the large field where a game of baseball was once played. They were all in their wolf forms. Jacquelyn frowned as she stood next to Ezra, who was also in his wolf form. She said, "Attention, everyone, this is where we will lure the witch and all those who willingly work for her and destroy them all."

Edward, who was the eyes and ears of the wolves, said, "They are asking you how to defeat a magic-user."

"I have had some experience fighting against magic-users over the years," said Jacquelyn, "and from this experience, I have three rules that must be kept at all times. #1, never let a magic-user attempt to put a spell on you first, as the spell they use could be disastrous. #2, breaking the wand arm of the magic-user disables the magic-user, so one quick snap of the arm and you have them out of the fight. And one more thing..." everyone stared at her. "Never go for the obvious kill, as they will try to kill you."

Ezra laid his head on his mother's shoulder as she said, "So now that we know the rules, I shall demonstrate how to disarm a magic-user."

Emmett stepped forward and said, "I wanna go first."

"Emmett," Jacquelyn said, "You do know I can beat you in a fight."

"Yeah right," Emmett laughed.

"Try me," said Jacquelyn.

Emmett rushed towards her, but she turned around and kicked him, which sent him flying and separated him from his makeshift wand. She stepped on the wand and broke it. Emmett said, "Hey, no fair!"

"I did say that I can beat you," Jacquelyn laughed. "Now you know why."

Carlisle attempted to sneak up behind Jacquelyn as she spoke to Emmett, but she turned around quickly and pushed him to the ground. "Never sneak up behind me, as I can turn around and knock you over," she snapped as she stared at him. "And there's something else that I need to tell you."

"What?" said Carlisle as Ezra grabbed his arm and sent him flying towards the other wolves. "Don't ever turn your back on your enemy."

Carlisle sighed as he got back up and rushed towards Jacquelyn, knocking her down. Ezra growled and Jacquelyn snatched Carlisle's makeshift wand and snapped it in two, then sent the doctor flying towards the wolves. Jacquelyn stood up and said to Carlisle, "And another thing...even when I'm down, I can still beat you up."

Carlisle rejoined Esme as Jacquelyn had the wolves attack the remaining Cullens and disarm them. As the training progressed, Embry approached her and sat beside her. Jacquelyn sighed and said to him, "I don't know what's the deal with the witch. I really don't. Sometimes, it's like...I know her. I don't know why, but I know her. She's probably doing this to get back at me. But what I did to her, I don't know."

-----

Annmarie Durham Stephenson was sitting at home, trying to get a bit of her crocheting done. Her husband, Elijah, was off at work, and their children were at school. She frowned, knowing that her illness was taking a toll on her, as it began to severely restrict her daily life. She had to quit her job after fainting and nearly getting herself killed a few months ago. She began to gain a dangerous amount of weight, weight that should have fallen off when she gave birth to her youngest child, Landon.

She was the only one who remained in Forks and stayed to take care of her mother after her father died. She also took in her niece Jill when she arrived a year ago, frightened and pregnant. And it certainly was a huge shock when Gerard Rosen of the Forks Police Department showed up at her house, informing her that her mother and niece had gone missing.

Annmarie said, "What do you mean they went missing?"

"Well," said Gerard, "apparently your niece never showed up at Forks High School and your mother isn't in her room at the nursing home. No one knows where they have gone. You were listed as an emergency 

contact, so the department sent me here to fetch you."

"I'd go with you, but I can hardly move without being in pain," said Annmarie. "I've already been in and out of the hospital enough times to have my own reserved room."

"We'd like to take you to the police station," said Gerard.

"Indeed," said Annmarie as she reached for her purse. She began wondering what are you up to this time, mom? Ever since dad died, you've been out of sorts. She decided that Rosalie would be leaving the nursing home as soon as she was found.

But what of Jill, she thought. She was 17 years old, raising a baby, and forced to work in a bar in order to make money. Annmarie planned to get Jill out of that place and into her home. That girl shouldn't have to suffer any further abuse.

Little did she know that her mother's secret past was about to come out...