AN: here's the next chapter where bella and edward will meet one on one. let's see how that will go : )

oh as some of you noted, carlisle indeed did not spend time with the volturi in this story.

Chapter 5

BPOV

Alice and Edward quickly excused themselves after she'd seen something and left through the backdoor. The rest remained. They didn't look particularly surprised by this. I figured it happened more often. It made sense, the telepath and the seer bonding and using each other's gifts to their advantage.

Jasper did look slightly unhappy as they left, but he quickly shook himself out of it and turned back to me, with a look of wonder on his face. I guessed he was wondering what they had seen as well.

'Can you tell us about your lifestyle?' Carlisle asked, redirecting everyone's attention back to the matter at hand.

'I'm a nomad.' I responded, deciding to play along. I guess you could say, though I do have a semi-permanent dwelling where I try to be a few months out of the year.' I chose my words carefully as I crafted a story that was close to the truth and would be believable for them, but not give too much away or outright lie to them. That still didn't feel right. Though for some reason it did seem to come easier right now than it did a few moments ago. I wondered why that was.

'Can I ask about your eyes?' Jasper asked.

'Sure. What do you want to know?'

'They're black.' he stated. I nodded. 'But you don't seem thirsty.'

'It's part of my gift.' I said easily. It wasn't entirely a lie. Though my eyes remained black always regardless if I was thirsty or not. 'I don't experience blood lust.'

Shocked gasps travelled around the ground. 'Not at all?' Esme asked.

I shook my head. 'You could cut someone open in front of me and I wouldn't give a damn.'

'That's amazing.' Carlisle said, awe in his voice. I shrugged. 'Do you know all facets of your gift?' Carlisle asked.

I nodded. 'Oh yes. I've had it for quite a while.'

'How old are you?' Emmett asked, earning a slap on his arm from Rosalie.

'You don't ask a woman her age.' She scolded him.

'It's fine. Let's just say I'm old enough. I've been around a while.'

I wasn't going to lie and tell them a random number, but I also couldn't tell them I was oh around ten to fifteen thousand years old. I wasn't even sure to be honest.
We talked more about what they did and why and a bit about my travels as a nomad until Edward and Alice came back in.

The entire family turned to the window when we heard their approach.

Alice flitted inside smiling happily as she bounced over to Jasper and dropped herself in his lap. He smiled and held her tightly against him. I gazed at them for a moment interested in their unique bond. They seemed to use their gifts as well, speaking to each other through feelings omitting the need for their words. It was interesting to say the least. Edward came in slower, and with a frown on his face. He walked slowly over to an empty spot on the couch opposite me and sank down on it, his gaze settling on me with the frown firmly etched on his face. Carlisle looked at him, and Edward seemed to give a small nod. Were they having a silent conversation again?

'Do you have a place to stay around here?' Esme asked me then.

I nodded. 'I'm in a motel just outside of town.'

'well, If you're planning on staying around, know that our door is always open. I'd love for you to come back again.'

'Or…' Carlisle hesitated for a moment, glancing around at his family.

'Or you could stay here.' Esme finished with a smile.

'No. I couldn't impose like that.' I shook my head. Though it would be a good opportunity to learn about the seer's gift, I really didn't feel comfortable accepting their offer. They were kind people and taking advantage of them like that just felt wrong on a number of levels. Though again I didn't understand why. It had never bothered me before.

'Nonsense. We have the room.' Esme assured me.

'Plus I can totally give you a makeover.' Alice gushed.

Rose rolled her eyes at Alice, but smiled at me. 'She doesn't need a makeover. But you're welcome to stay.'

As the women were all trying to convince me to stay, I noticed the men were having an entirely different conversation between themselves. Carlisle and Edward were staring at each other, the frown on Edward's face had turned into an outright scowl, Jasper was tense and pretty much glaring at both of them while clutching Alice tightly to himself. And Emmett was staring at the other three with a look of confusion.

'Honey?' Esme asked, placing her arm on Carlisle's arm.

He turned to her and gave her a smile.

'It will be fine.' Alice cut in, turning to Jasper and giving him a kiss. Jasper frowned at her and she nodded encouragingly.

Finally he conceded. 'Alright, then. You can stay.'

Edward finally sat back and gave me a small smile as well. 'Yes, please do.'

I glanced between all the Cullens, it seemed whatever tension had been there, had been erased now. 'Alright then, if you're all sure.'

And that's how I found myself suddenly and quite reluctantly going to be living with the Cullens.

I tried to push the uneasy feeling settling through me away. I had done this countless times before. It was nothing new. I would just observe like always and then disappear again when the time was right. I was interested to see what would happen.

Esme showed me to a guest room and brought me towels in case I wanted a shower. I was still unsure about whether I would actually end up staying for long. Still it seemed like the Cullens were genuinely good and kind. And it was a good way to get to know them better, and a way to get to know Alice and how her gift worked faster. Though it seemed unlikely that they were using her for nefarious purposes.

I'd met a lot of crazy vampires over the years, and vampires with ulterior motives, the Cullens didn't seem like either… or they were the best actors I had ever come across. I had to keep my senses and my distance as I figured out what this coven was doing. Still I didn't like that I was lying to these people and making friends under false pretences. I sighed to myself. I simply had to hope I'd find out soon and then I could disappear from their lives again.

I frowned as that thought made me sad. Why would disappearing from them make me sad? I shook my head, trying to clear it. then I checked my shield, was someone messing with me? but my shield was still firmly wrapped around me and nothing was trying to penetrate it. Jasper was not using his gift on me, nor anyone else. Then why was I suddenly sad at the thought of leaving the Cullens?

I groaned and pushed the feeling firmly away. I wasn't going to be sad about doing what I was meant to do. it was how I'd lived for eons.

With a frustrated huff I went to the shower, hoping that would somehow help. It did to a certain degree. The hot water made me feel calm and the steam billowing around me made me feel ensconced in a separate world, where I was back home with Jane and Alec, nothing was bothering me and I was just simply enjoying watching life. But when I was done, the feelings and reality of where I was crept back in though less strong then before I noted happily. It was probably just a fluke, I wrote it off.

I had just wrapped myself in a towel, when I was done there was a knock at the door. I stepped out of the bathroom. and called out for whoever it was to enter.

'Hi.' Rosalie popped her head in.

'Hi.' I answered. She opened the door fully and stepped inside, holding a bundle of clothes.

'I brought you some clothes. I figured you might want to change.'

'Thank you.' I smiled at her.

She smiled back. 'I'm sorry for Emmett.' she said after a beat of silence.

I quirked a brow at her. 'why?'

'He doesn't always think before he speaks. I'm sorry if he offended you or brought up something you'd rather not talk about.'

Ah, she was referring to my vague response to how old I was.

'don't worry about it. I wasn't offended. I just…' I stopped myself. Rosalie waited. 'I just don't usually share a lot about myself. It's hard to know who to trust.'

She nodded, her eyes kind. 'I can understand that. I know we've only met, but in this family we take care of each other. Protect each other and our secrets. If you need it we could protect you too.'

I was taken aback for a moment. 'but you don't even know me or why I am here.'

She smiled. 'I know something about hiding a part of yourself and being afraid to trust. I can see that in you, too. Sometimes you just need to be shown some kindness to remember the world isn't such a bad place after all.' She shrugged. 'Plus if you were to have heinous plans for us, you'd have to know by now that you'd be outnumbered and outmatched.'

I snorted and grinned. They sure placed a lot of confidence in their gifted coven maters… or family members as they called it.

Rosalie grinned, mistaking my response.

I was genuinely surprised though at how easily Rosalie had seen through me. She knew I was hiding something. But what stunned me more was that she was not hostile about it. Instead she was offering to help me. She didn't know what I needed help with, but she still offered it and that puzzled me. Normally if some vampire would see through my intentions I would be met with suspicion, not open arms. They could still be suspicious of me of course, this could be an act to get me to relax and open up to them. But something inside me nagged that that simply didn't seem likely. This coven was getting more and more confusing.

Rosalie left my room again after telling me to put on the clothes and to feel free to make myself at home.

I quickly dressed in the comfortable jeans and sweater she had brought me and then stepped out of my room.

I was curious about these vampires, and since they hadn't told me I couldn't go anywhere… I decided to go and explore.

I stumbled into the library just before dawn, to find Edward sprawled out on one of the sofas with a book in hand.

He jumped when he heard the door click shut behind me.

'Oh sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.' I said, smiling slightly. That probably didn't happen often.

He cleared his throat. 'No worries. I usually know when someone's coming, you know...' He tapped his temple. 'forewarning. It's been a long time since I've had to rely on my other senses for that.'

'I can imagine.' I smiled at him.

He smiled back, one of the corners of his mouth lifting, creating a half smile that seemed adorable and sexy at the same time. I quickly shook myself.

'Do you mind if I browse?'

He shook his head. 'by all means.'

He sat back and picked his book back up as I walked around the library, looking over their collection.

It was a fine collection I had to say. There were a lot of medical and psychological texts here, philosophy and chemistry too. But also a large literary collection. There were some first and second editions and I even spotted a few original manuscripts. All were in pristine condition and had to be worth small fortunes. I felt his eyes on me as I went through the room.

I lifted my shield. Am I distracting you? I thought at him, before snapping my shield back in place.

He gasped in shock as I heard his book clatter to the floor. 'How… You…' he was on his feet next to me an instant later. 'I heard you.'

I nodded. 'I can lift my shield if I want to.'

He stared at me in wonder. 'What else can you do?'

I shrugged. 'A lot.'

He frowned when I didn't elaborate. 'You don't trust me?' he sounded slightly hurt.

I gazed at him. 'No one but me knows the extend of my gift.' I explained. I didn't like seeing that hurt expression on his face. And I liked it even less that I had put it there. 'It's too dangerous. If anyone would know…' I shook my head.

'You don't want the Volturi to find you.' Edward surmised.

I just stared at him. Interesting that that was where he went. Was he afraid of that himself? For his brother and sister and himself? Becoming a tool for Aro to use? It was no secret that the Volturi liked to collect gifts. And their gifts were indeed impressive.

'I get that.' He muttered. 'It's the reason my family is also careful. Our gifts are quite something, especially Alice's.'

'Don't sell yourself short.' I mumbled and his lips pulled up into that crooked grin again.

My undead heart jumped slightly at the sight. His eyes sparkled, his face relaxed and he was fucking breathtaking. I took a started step back as that realization hit me. I had never been this affected by another vampire. I'd noticed them of course, had my fun with them, both vampire and human, even a wolf once. Jut to try it. but I'd never experienced anything like this. I felt trapped in his golden gaze, unable to do anything but stare at him in awe. His beauty was overwhelming, his voice like silk. I was entranced for the first time in my existence.

'The point is...' Edward continued stepping closer to me without hesitation or even noticing what was going on in my mind and body. 'that we understand having a gift that needs to be protected. You don't have to fear us spreading the word.'

I could only stare at him, and he seemed to be equally trapped.

Then his hand reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. A jolt shot through me when his skin touched mine. It was like electricity, racing through my veins where his fingers grazed my skin.

His brow furrowed as he pulled his hand back slowly. 'did you…'

'I have to go.' I cut him off and quickly escaped from the room and then the house entirely as my mind reeled from what had just happened.