1Ok time for a plot twist...that wasn’t approved by Julie because she wouldn’t IM me back so that’s just too damn bad :P

Julie’s POV

Once I was sure Edward was gone, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and bolted out into the forest behind the house. Once I was out of hearing range I quickly dialed Demitri’s phone number. He was the one in charge of the Cullen operation, and also my honey. After a few rings, he answered,

“Hello?” He sounded almost tired. I groaned,

“What have you been up to?” Demitri laughed,

“Oh it’s you,” he immediately sounded more alert, “Just making sure if a human calls the wrong number, they don’t think I’m up at three in the morning.” I grinned,

“Always the brains of the operation. So guess whose house I just happened to stumble upon while I was hunting in the northwest.” He groaned,

“Just tell me.” I laughed and leaned up against a tree,

“The target.” He was silent for a moment,

“You found them already? Well damn. We haven’t planned this far ahead yet.” I rolled my eyes,

“Are you serious? I have them all wrapped around my adorable little pinky, and you’re telling me you don’t have a plan?” He laughed,

“Just keep them under your thumb, okay? I need to consult with Aro, and then I’ll let you know what’s going on.” I sighed,

“Fine, don’t call me, I’ll call you. I don’t know when the next time I’ll be alone will be.” Demitri chuckled,

“Okay. I love you.” I rolled my eyes,

“Love you too.” I quickly snapped my phone shut and then bolted back to the house. Hopefully nobody noticed my absence. I curled up on the couch and scanned the back of Edward’s book before tossing it onto the coffee table. I was just about to close my eyes and relax when Carlisle walked into the room, followed by a very smug looking Rosalie, followed by a confused looking Emmett. I sat up, confused. Had someone heard me? Carlisle glanced back at Blondie and then back at me,

“Um, Emmett just told us some, erm, unsettling news and Rose asked me to investigate further. Emmett said you’re a Volturi?” I stood up and gave Emmett the death glare before looking back at Carlisle,

“I was. Not anymore. I left that life behind. I am a nomad. I don’t belong to any specific group of vampires.” Rosalie stepped forward,

“Don’t lie to us!” she snapped, “You can’t just walk away from the Volturi. It’s not possible.” I rolled my eyes,

“The Volturi isn’t a prison. It’s a sanctuary for those who want to belong. I was there for a year or two, when I got sick of what they were doing to tourists, I left. I haven’t spoken to anyone from Volterra for three years. I put it behind me. You have to believe me. Please.” I let my voice break a little on the end. Oh yeah, I’m good. Rosalie glared down at me,

“We don’t have to-“

“Rose.” Emmett and Carlisle both cut her off at the same time. Carlisle sighed,

“I’m sorry we have to interrogate you like this. We don’t have a very good standing with the Volturi. We can’t risk being. . .tracked.” I thought back to Demitri and then nodded,

“Yes, I understand. Demitri. He would definitely be a problem. . .” They all stared at me and I scrambled to fix what I said into something less. . .threatening,

“If I did work for the Volturi still. But I don’t. Free agent. That’s me.” Rosalie rolled her eyes and stormed up the stairs. Emmett shook his head and leaned up against the wall,

“Sorry about her. She’s not a real people person.” Carlisle chuckled and looked down at me,

“Yes well, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but like I said we can’t risk it. You don’t mind if we have Edward. . .read you, when he gets back do you?” I shook my head,

“No. Not at all. I understand that it’s just to protect your family. If I was a parent of a coven, I would do the same thing.” Carlisle nodded,

“Okay, well, we’re going hunting. Alice is staying here, but I think she might want to go shopping. You’re free to go with her if you wish.” I nodded,

“Thanks Carlisle.” I watched the rest of the family walked out the door and then spread out on the couch, only for Alice to walk down the stairs and sit down in a recliner across the room and pick up a magazine to ‘read’ it. I laughed,

“So they told you to stay behind to babysit me, right?” She huffed and tossed the gossip mag onto the coffee table,

“Yes!! And it really makes me mad. Just because I can see everything you do before you do it doesn’t mean I want to be the one to stop you!” I grinned,

“Do you want to go to Seattle and do some shopping?” Alice smiled,

“Oh! Yes! I need to buy a new hat before school starts!” I laughed,

“Okay, but first, you need to find me some new shoes.” She nodded quickly and bolted up the stairs, and came back two seconds later carrying a pair of pink flip flops. I quickly pulled them on and we ran out to her bright Yellow Porsche. I waited for her to turn off the alarm and then quickly got in the car. I sighed as I watched the trees speed past us on the high way. Alice sighed,

“Why can’t I see your future?” I started and looked back at her,

“What?” She rolled her eyes,

I can’t see your future. Why? I shook my head. That wasn’t a part of my power, was it? I couldn’t be a shield. Jane could make me burn, Alec could make me feel nothing. I shrugged,

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just weird.” She glanced at me in her peripherals,

Or maybe you’re blocking me some how. I frowned. How would I be blocking her? She sees the future not the future of what the mind’s thinking. What’s going on here?

“I wouldn’t know how. Your power is something I don’t understand. But I’m pretty sure there’s no way I could block it, even if I wanted to.” She huffed,

“Well something’s going on here. I’m the only one that can’t get to you. Edward reads your mind, Jasper can make you chill. Why can’t I see what’s going to happen?” I shook my head,

“I don’t know. Why are you looking me up anyways?” She glanced at me,

“It’s my job to keep this family on its course. If I can’t see the future, then we’re as good as dead. Carlisle told you that the Volturi hate us, not only that. They want us dead.” I nodded, already aware of the fact,

“Well. I don’t know Alice. But I know I’m not blocking you. I think. Maybe I’m a shield and its subconscious or something, but I know I’m not doing it on purpose.” She shrugged,

“Whatever. I’ll figure it out eventually.” I shuffled my feet nervously on the carmats and then relaxed into my seat

there finally