A/N Thanks for all your reviews. You guys are the reason why this new chapter is up! You totally inspired me to finish it, so thanks and I hope you enjoy it, and don't forget to check out my other story 'Sparks fly in New York' which you can find on my page

Chapter 2

After Father's dull but necessary speech in which I stare straight ahead the whole time, I slowly walk down the stairs with my Mother as Father makes conversation with some guests I have never met before. He glances at me, noticing my bored and furious expression and excuses himself from the conversation and tows me out the main reception doors into the hallway.

I hold my hand out to his as I show him all the things Heidi just told me. He stares at me the whole time and I stare back, furiously. Once I'm finished he straightens up and continues to pull me through the castle to the room where no one can listen in.

"Don't you even dare embarrass me tonight, Isabella," Father scolds, staring at me. "I'm trying to do what's best for you here. Can't you see that?"

"No, Father...unfortunately I do not see nor understand that," I spit. "But please do and try and clear that up for me."

"Isabella, don't you understand that you're the laughing stock? That I'm the laughing stock-"

"Oh, and we are back to you again," I say in bored tone, examining my finger nails.

"So you're jealous now? You want my glory or something, huh? Well I've got news for you now, Princess; I'm the King here, not you. I have the power. Not you. I have now for hundreds of years, whereas you've had one measly century of being little miss royal" He yells, as I flinch away from him, my Father, who has never raised his voice towards me in all of my one hundred years. "You're here because I made you, Isabella! I did. I control you, do you understand? You are mine!"

I'm speechless. I stand there staring at this stranger.

"Now you are to go out there, and find somebody suitable for this family. You are not to embarrass me or your Mother, do you understand me?" Father growls at me.

"Yes, Father," I bite my lip, looking at my feet.

Satisfied with my answer, he slams the door open with vampire strength, nearly breaking the door of its hinges. I slowly fall to the ground and sit there as my brain flashes with thoughts.

Who was this man and what had he done with my Father? Why was he so angry at me for simply speaking my mind? And what did he mean by 'somebody suitable for this family'. What happened to what I wanted? My thoughts always mattered to my Father. I was the fresh, young youth here with new ideas that Father loved.

My brain continued to flick through similar thoughts like this and the conversation that had just happened in this private room. No one would have heard this conversation, not unless they had supersonic hearing which was unheard of. Then my thoughts immediatly crossed to the vegetarian mind reader...had he seen what was going on in our heads? What would happen if he had looked through our minds? I had a mind shield as one of my gifts, which I always used at events like this. But Father...Father could read people's minds, but he had nothing preventing other mind readers from searching his brains unless his personal guard was hovering behind him at all times...which she obviously wasn't.

I didn't quite know what the mind reader would do if he had looked through my Father's mind, but I wanted to make sure he did nothing with this piece of information, for my sake. I didn't want anyone to know of this conversation. If threatening and black mailing was the only option, then so be it.

I raised myself off the floor, checked my reflection in the mirror and quietly walked back towards the ball room. I wondered whether anyone had noticed my departure, but hoped they hadn't.

I couldn't explain why it was so important to me that nobody found out about our argument. I guess it was embarrassing! I was royalty who had been treated so...royal for one hundred years, and now here I was being told off like a little school girl by my Father...it brought back memories of my human life...and this I did not want to remember.

Two guards were at the door and opened it as I reached it. I walked in to the Ball room, glancing round. My Father was in deep conversation with a man I had never met before and my Mother was talking to our friends from Spain. Over my Father's head I could see the mind reader, leaning up against the stone pillar. His bronze, messy hair stood out from the stone behind him. He was staring at my Father...frowning.

I slowly walked around the edge of the room, smiling at strangers, excusing myself as I crept closer and closer to the mind reader. I stood beside the pillar next to the one he was using and then slowly let my shield wander over to my Father. He wouldn't be able to feel it, but the mind reader certainly would. As the shield wound itself through my Father's brain, I smirked as the mind reader straightened up and glanced round the room, blinking.

"Somebody is being a little bit too nosy," I giggled from behind him.

He whipped around, glaring at me.

"Your Highness," he bowed at me slightly, staring at me the whole time in anger.

"Mind reader," I snarl back.

"I have a name, you know?" The mind reader growled.

"I would be surprised if you did not," I smirked.

"What do you want?" He snarled.

"Ooh, not very friendly," I observed. "Be careful, mind reader...or you might just upset me." I walked away, knowing he would follow; I came to a slightly less crowded pillar, leaning against it as he came behind me.

"What happened between you and your Father then?" He said casually.

I spun round, faster than he was expecting and shoved him up against the stone pillar.

"You know I can take you," The mind reader laughed as I growled quietly so only he could hear.

"Oh yes, I know. And I am sure my guards would love that..." I spat. "You had better be careful, mind reader. Or..."

"What?" He smirked, "Daddy going to come and fight me? I don't think so, do you? Not after your argument."

"What did you see?" I snarled, quietly, glancing around and making sure no one could hear us.

"A lot," He smiled.

"Tell me," I spat.

"No...I don't think I will..." He said slowly.

"Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you?" I whispered urgently as I noticed my Mother making a bee line towards us.

Edward frowned, screwing up the skin between his gorgeous, hazel...familiar eyes. I take a step back and stare at him, pleading.

"Isabella? What are you...oh...making friends?" Mother smiles as she notices the mind reader staring down at me.

I nod my head once, looking away from the mind reader's observing gaze.

"That's wonderful, my darling!" She beams. "Perhaps this young man could be your dance partner?" The way she said it, reminded me why I was dressed in such a revealing outfit...No way was this self centred bastard going to be my soul mate. No way!

"I'd be honoured," Edward smirked down at me. I glared at his hand as he held it up, waiting for me to take it. I glanced at Mother as she nodded her head furiously. I sighed, taking his hand and walking out to the dance floor.

I stared straight ahead of me, blanking out the curious stares I was been given by other guests. I felt Edward smirk down at me as he noticed the attention and I ignored him.

He stopped me near the edge of the dance floor. I noticed my Father in the centre of the dance floor smiling at my Mother as she gracefully walked over to him. My Father's closest friends, my Uncles and Aunties were all on the dance floor as well, though I noticed that none of the mind reader's 'family' was present. Instead they were at the back of the nosy onlookers, staring at the mind reader and me. They each wore different expressions. The blonde one's gaze interested me out of the others. She was glaring, her eyes furious, annoyed and...jealous? Wasn't she mates with the big one? Weird.

The boring, instrumental music started and Edward grabbed my hand and planted his hand on my hip which I tutted at.

We started to move in time to the music. Being a vampire made it easy to know the steps just by listening to the music carefully. And I always felt that all these formal dances used the same moves, so I knew all the steps already.

"Well I must say, Your Highness," the mind reader grinned. "You do look incredibly beautiful tonight."

He was taking the right piss out of me now.

With a small dose of my shield, I pushed forward quickly. It hit him square in the chest at an incredible speed and he stumbled backwards. He raised himself up, frowning in confusion.

"What the-," He broke off as he noticed me smiling sweetly up at him.

"Are you sure you know the steps, mind reader?" I smirked.

"Two can play at that game," He snarled. He closed his eyes and all of a sudden I felt somebody push at my mind with such a force that I winced. He smiled at my pain and then released it.

My shield slowly wrapped round his neck from two directions as I clutched at his throat. I knew he could survive for seconds, if not minutes without breathing, but as I applied even more pressure to his throat, he did wince at the gagging sensation. I released the shield quickly, returning all of it to my mind, aware that he might strike back with even more force than before.

From the nosy onlookers, we must look ridiculous. The pair of us stopping and starting dancing as each of us winced or messed up the steps. He glanced over my head, and then carried on dancing with me as if nothing had happened. I bit my lip. I glanced over at his family and grinned when I saw the blonde one glaring straight at me. I returned the gesture with the grin still on my face. Edward soon caught on and quickly spun us to the other side of the room where his family could no longer see us.

I raised my eyebrows and he shrugged.

The music changed then to a much faster pace and the mind reader expertly twirled us round and round the room. As we continued to dance, I couldn't help but enjoy myself. I soon forgot where I was and who I was with. All I felt was the cool breeze rush around me and the sensation of spinning round and round into the mind reader's arms. I leaned my head back, hoping for a better breeze, grinning. I slowly put more enthusiasm into the moves, as Edward sped us faster and faster as I asked him to.

"You are a very good dancer, mind reader," I praised him.

"I'm cheating," He laughed. I glanced round at what he was laughing at. I quickly realised we were much faster than the other dancers. We were just a crazy moving blur to them. Even I couldn't focus my eyes properly at our surroundings.

You're a man of many talents, mind reader I thought to him. We slowed instantly as soon as he heard my voice in the back of his head.

"What the-" Edward gasped.

Shh I thought to him. My shield can form words in your head. The shield takes any form I want it too. Not everyone knows of this gift, and you're going to keep it this way, aren't you? He nodded. I need to speak with you away from prying ears. Meet me at these West doors of the Entrance Hall at midnight. Come alone.

I stood back from the mind reader and I instantly stopped moving. He stopped as soon as he noticed I had stepped away.

"Please; call me Edward," He whispered to me.

"Edward," I tested the word on my tongue. He nodded. "See you around, Edward," I stalk off past him, disappearing from view.

Hopefully he would keep my special gift a secret. It was important for me to speak to his mind; otherwise I would never get him to promise me he would not tell anyone about Father and mines argument. It would be too embarrassing. And Father would probably be furious with whoever spread the rumour, and of course he would blame it on me unless he knew Edward's gift and then he would kill him...which...I didn't want to happen. I mean, you might not think it, but I do care for people's feelings. I could not let Edward go to the grave if it was my fault I had not told him to keep quiet about this...did that even make sense?

Anyway, long story short, I couldn't talk to him in the ball room otherwise everybody would hear about our argument. My plan was to take Edward to the special room and make him promise me there that he would keep his mouth shut.

I swept round the room, smiling and nodding, but not really listening.

"Your Highness," A voice said from behind me. "Care to dance?"

"Oh, Demetri," I laughed, sarcastically. "You are such a romantic!"

He grinned.

"So no, I do not 'want to dance'. Here's what I want you to do," I snarled.

Trail the blonde vegetarian. I want to know why she keeps glaring at me. Got it? I thought towards him. He was used to me bossing him around like this, and I knew he would never tell anyone my secret. Hell, even my Father didn't know I could speak to minds.

He bowed then hurried over to the other side of the room.

"What are you up to?" A small voice whispered from behind me.

"Mother, I am up to nothing," I smiled at her, as she frowned at me. "I am simply enjoying this wonderful evening."

"Isabella, don't ruin this for your Father," Mother warned, and then stalked away.

Right...

"Isabella?" A tentative female voice questioned from behind me.

I turned around and raised my eyebrows at Edward's leader and his mate.

"Yes?" I hesitated. Were they going to tell me off for dancing with Edward?

"I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful tonight," the female smiled at me.

"You know what? You are not the only person who has said that to me tonight!" I laughed boldly. The female glanced at the leader. "Forgive me for my manors, but what are your names?"

"I'm Esme, and this is my husband Carlisle Cullen...we're Edward's parents?" She smiled shyly at me.

"Ah...Edward's parents," I smiled. "Your son is a very good dancer."

She giggled. "Yes, we have been told that before."

"You must be very proud," I say. There must be something in my voice because Esme beams at me.

"We are," She smiled then added "You looked like you were having a fun time with him!"

"I guess..." I nod vaguely, watching him as he laughs with a strawberry blonde whom I have never met before. "It appears I have some competition!" I joke, nodding towards Edward's female companion.

Esme and Carlisle both turn around in the direction I point at and they sigh, shaking their heads.

"Uh oh, she cannot be that bad?" I smirk.

"Tanya's been interested in Edward for years" Carlisle answered for me. "She's slightly...crazy over him."

I frown. That's not such a bad thing, is it?

"When I say crazy, I mean...a bit obsessed..." Carlisle murmured out of the corner of his mouth.

I incline my head, eyes squinting in interest.

"That is a beautiful dress you appear to be wearing, Esme," I smile, politely at her dress. It's a periwinkle blue and ruffled at the bottom.

"Thank you, Your Highness," She blushes. "Edward and one of my daughters, Alice, picked it out from a local boutique near our home."
"And where is that then?" I say.

"Forks, Washington which is in America, but we're constantly moving" Esme smiles but then looks down as I gasp, standing rigid.

"Is that so?" I choke out. "Please, excuse me." I rush off to the other side of the room.

I can't explain to you why this upsets me so much, flashes of blurry memories come flicking through my mind of my human life. Green trees...wood...trucks...Forks...It's a miracle that my shield stays wrapped through my mind as I stumble over to the doors, shaking my head to relive myself from the memories.

Calmness circles around me in huge waves. I take a few breaths. Even though they are not needed, it helps. The calmness winds its way round me and through me until all thoughts of my human life have been pushed to a dark place in my brain.

I look up and across the room my eyes lock with a handsome, blonde male from the Cullen family. His hazel eyes look at me with concern...peace...and...calm? Emotions must be his gift. I nod once as in thank you. He returns it, and then disappears from site.

Xoxoxoxoxo

Mother soon catches up with me and pulls me with her as we make conversation to a lot of handsome, young, but boring men. I know she wants me to be happy, but why can't she just realise that I am happy being single? I don't need a money grabbing man on my arm like an accessory to make me happy.

The young men all try and flirt with me, but they know I am not interested as I stare off into space or are surprised at my cold shoulder.

At half eleven, everyone either retires to their bedrooms or leaves the castle to go home. I walk to my room, trying to blend in with everyone else.

At five to twelve though, I sneak out, ever so quietly. I have become rather good at stealthily moving at a silent pace because of the fact I always sneak out for a midnight snack or some peace and quiet.

I arrive at the West, ball room doors five minutes late. I see Edward pacing up and down in one of the nearby rooms.

Follow me I think. Edward glances up at me in surprise and hurry's out the room nosily, following me as I make my way back the same way I had come. After five minutes I look down the corridors twice, making sure no one else sees us go into the charmed room. Once I am satisfied I gesture for Edward to go in first, and then slam the door once I am in. Edward doesn't flinch at the noise, but instead smirks round at the dark, dingy, dull room.

"I like what you've done with the place," He snorts sarcastically.

I grab him by the throat and then throw him against the wall. He makes a deafening crack as his skin slaps against the brick wall. He glares at me, beyond furious.

"What the-"

I grab his shirt in my hand, staring up into his pissed off face.

"Oh, like you weren't expecting it," I spit. "Nobody else can hear us in this room. It is just you and me. You are not going to tell anybody about that conversation my Father and I had last night and you are not going to tell anybody about anything else you saw tonight. Anything to do with me and you keep quiet, do you understand?"

He looks down at me; a tiny bit scared I think and shakes his head no.

"If you tell anyone, I will know, and I will make sure you pay for this, do you understand?" I repeat.

He nods.

"Is that all?"

"I beg your pardon?" I splutter angrily.

"Are you finished?" He asks, rolling his eyes.

"Yes," I frown.

"Good," He grins, "because I've been dying to do this all evening."

He dips his head down and kisses me ever so softly on my lips. I freeze as he kisses me, and then tries to deepen the kiss in hope that I will move my lips with his. Suddenly, an excruciating, familiar pain stabs at my eyes with such a force, I'm momentarily blinded.

With one flick of my hand, my shield charges towards Edwards's chest. The last thing I see before he is flown across the room is his familiar golden eyes, staring at mine. He slams into the wall, groans, and attempts to get up. I run out the room at vampire speed without one more look at Edward. I don't stop running nosily until I am safe in my own room.

A/N Don't worry if you are confused. If I continue writing this story, you'll find out in the next couple of chapters a) why Bella speaks a different way than she thinks (grammatically) b) Why Bella reacts the way she does when Esme tells her where they're from and c which is the most important) why Bella feels pain in her eyes aka...the big secret!

I admit that this chapter was really hard to write. I did not enjoy writing this, and so will be returning my attention to my other fanfic I'd appreciate you to check out.

Please review and tell me what you think. Your reviews are greatly appreciated!