(A/N) Thanks for all the reviews of encouragement! I just noticed that I broke 200 reviews last chapter! You guys are awesome!

Anyways, I'm really excited. This chapter is a kick-off point for my secondary conflict...I guess...I finally have it planned out with the timing and stuff. I'm debating whether to include some stuff in New Moon or whether to write my own and make it a sort of extended Twilight...so...tell me what you think.

Also, this chapter's not really edited for grammar or spelling because I'm also in a hurry to get my history paper done (only 1/4 left to go!!!) so I'm sorry for any grammar/spelling errors. Please tell me if you find one!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or New Moon

Chapter 19

The Christmas Ball was scheduled for tonight. I had not seen Edward since yesterday when Alice pulled me away from him. She played dress-up with me...literally. I was her new-found doll. I had to change so many times into so many dresses and go through so many hair styles that if you tell me I have to dress-up again, I would probably scream. The good thing was, I was already dressed for the ball and had nothing to do for the two or three hours until the ball officially starts.

Alice had donned me in a red satin ball gown with a green-flowered tiara. My hair was just combed straight and decorated with green and red ribbons and combs. The necklace Edward gave me hung around my neck, matching my attire nicely. I was quite pretty. I seemed to have said that a lot every time I dressed up nicely…

Before she let me free exploring the palace, Alice said that a faerie was going to bless us with her presence…some faerie that rarely left her dwelling some place north. She also was to bring her consort with her, and said that I should beware of her consort.

I wondered who the faerie was as I wandered aimlessly through the halls, trying hard to also not get lost. Just as I was about to turn around and head back to the main entrance, for the ball was going to start soon, there was a flash of blinding purple light. A sweet scent of lavender filled the corridor I was in. Purple mist spread everywhere. When it cleared, a beautiful lady with red hair and a thick purple robe was in its place. Beside her was a tall man, his eyes an eerie red. The lady's eyes were the same red; and their skins were both extremely pale.

"H-Hi," I said in greeting, just realizing that this must be the faerie. I did my best curtsy, trying hard not to fall flat on my face.

She waved her hand, but spoke no words. She just stared at me as I was some very interesting flea on the hide of a cow. I tried not to flinch under her scrutiny. Her consort watched me with interest, almost as food – his eyes darkened with some sort of desire, but the faerie laid a hand upon him.

"Lead us to the ball," she demanded, her voice soft yet menacing. I did as I was told, as if someone had forced me without my will. I quickly shook the feeling away, and retraced my steps.

Soon enough, more light was present, and we broke into the grand entrance hall. Edward was on the other side, greeting an extremely long line of beautiful ladies when he caught sight of me. His eyes lit up; and when he gave me a once-over, his mouth seemed to drop in shock. I did not know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Then, he rushed over to me, though his steps were almost hesitant. "Bella? Is that you?" he asked when he was close. I nodded, smiling shyly. He closed the distance between us, picked me up by the waist, and twirled me around once. He kissed me lightly on each cheek, when he suddenly stiffened. His head snapped up, and he noticed the faerie and her consort behind me.

He let me go quickly, bowing a greeting to her. "Forgive me. I had not seen you," he said politely.

The faerie just waved her hand again, and uttered no word. She slid past Edward and me, her consort following behind her silently, and gracefully stepped down into the view of everyone. The usual buzzing of the ballroom quieted immediately. The silence was deafening.

Quietly, she spoke, but her words could be heard by all. "I thank you for allowing me to join in this wonderful celebration this evening…and for the warm welcome and attention you are paying to me. I bless this celebration here, and I hope everyone will have a wonderful time feasting, dancing, and waiting for the chimes of Christmas."

Her words, though spoken with sweetness, had an underlying edge – a trace of venom. Everyone was still held in her thrall even when she seemed to be done. Then, her consort spoke, his voice slick and velvet – almost like melted candy – yet it is a poisonous candy, "We are happy to be here. For those who want to know our names, please honor us by asking us personally."

With that, they glided to a corner, and the spell was broken. The usual ballroom chatter resumed as if nothing happened. Many people, who were taken by the faerie and her consort's beauty, went over to them to ask for their names.

When the musicians finally arrived, ballroom music began to flow. Edward was by my side throughout, meticulously avoiding the different ladies who sought for a dance with him. I giggled at his efforts, yet he just stared at me. His posture was relaxed with an underlying stiffness to it that made me wonder what had happened.

He asked me to a dance later on, but half-way through, he stiffened completely, his eyes going completely dark. Through the corners of my eyes, I noticed that the rest of the royal family had the same poise, though Jasper seemed almost as if he would lunge at the nearest person.

I touched his arm and whispered, "Finish this dance. Then, you have some explaining to do." That seemed to snap him out of his reverie. When the dance ended, he immediately dragged me from the dance floor and sought his family.

Alice and Jasper were nowhere to be seen. Carlisle had a worried look on his face, and Esme seemed to be pacing. As we drew nearer, I heard their conversation.

"…she has multiple powers because she's crowned a faerie…" Rosalie was saying.

"But that makes it even more wrong for her to feed…" Esme cut in.

"We need to stop it somehow –" Carlisle said, cutting off when he noticed that I had arrived.

His eyes went distant, as had Edward's, and I realized that Carlisle was telling Edward about everything through his mind. A little while later, when most of the guests had left, Carlisle led the way to meet the faerie. We had confirmed that her consort was a human-drinker – a vampire. Why would a faerie choose a vampire as a consort?

As we approached the pair, the consort looked up, his blood-red eyes seemed to pierce through my mind and know my deepest secrets. I stifled an involuntary shudder. He was not like any of the Cullens. Edward had stiffened beside me, and I saw him glaring daggers at the consort.

"Well, well, if it isn't the royal family…and the girl," the faerie wrinkled her nose in distaste. "And if it isn't the mutant 'vegetarians' too… I suppose you're here to tell me to feed elsewhere?"

"Yes, Mistress Faerie," answered Carlisle courteously. She was a faerie after all. "And if you would bestow us with your name."

Her consort's eyes twinkled. "We shall tell if only the girl comes with me." He licked his lips as if in anticipation. "She smells mighty delicious…" His eyes started to turn darker.

Edward moved in front of me in a protective stance. "She is not food, and she cannot go with you."

The consort glared, his eyes full of hatred. "Very well, then. I shall tell you my name. My name is James, and that girl shall one day be mine to enjoy!" Edward growled in response, but the faerie cast a spell, and purple clouds surrounded her and her consort. When it disappeared, they were nowhere to be seen.

Edward turned and hugged me, crushing me to his chest, as he spoke with the others in quick and low tones. I could not catch any words – I barely heard their conversation at all. They seemed to agree to a plan in just ten minutes, though Rosalie seemed to be very unhappy.

"Bella, we need to hide you somehow. James is a tracker – that's his power – and he is set on getting you. You will need to go with Alice and Jasper to the richer part of Vienna where there are too many people to count. The rest of us will split up to lead them on false trails," Edward told me, his voice fast and urgent.

"Rosalie, change dresses with Bella. Maybe we can mask her scent enough to help her escape," Carlisle commanded. Rosalie made no movement. Finally, Esme volunteered. She steered me into the nearest empty room, quickly helped me out of my dress before also slipping hers off. Then, she donned on my dress before helping me to zip up hers. It was a little big for me, but it fit.

When we came out, Edward was there. Without a word, he began to rub himself all over me. When he was done, my face was flushed, and I knew I looked confused. "That's to help get my scent on you and your scent on me," he explained.

"Edward, the horses are ready," called Carlisle.

"Coming!" he called to Carlisle before turning back to me. He pulled me into one final hard kiss. "I love you," he whispered, before running off in a blur.

Just a minute later, Alice and Jasper pulled me into a carriage and drove off to who-knows-where. Jasper was a fast driver, and he had pushed the horses to their limits as we zoomed through the streets.

"It's Christmas Eve," I whispered. "Where am I going on Christmas Eve?"

"Just sleep, Bella. We are going to the main part of town while Edward, Rosalie, and Emmett are going to try to lead James away from the city. Carlisle and Esme are staying in the castle to lead James on a wild goose chase. They will be okay," Alice whispered back.

I did as I was told, but I could not help but wonder if everyone will be okay, especially Edward. Guilt settled in snuggly. I was not only a threat to myself, but also a threat to my new family…and on Christmas, too! I cried myself to sleep on the carriage that night.

It's been some time since I last read Twilight...and I don't have a copy for my own...so forgive me if some of the details are not right.

I am wondering if there's anyone against me also modeling this story after New Moon near the end...so tell me. I have two outlines for the ending 6-7 chapters - one is kind of like an extended Twilight who's ending is almost like a post New Moon one without any spoilers for New Moon, and the other one sort of models New Moon with some spoilers, though the last 2 chapters for the ending is (or should be) the same. Tell me in a review...

--Cathy