I own nothing Twilight, I just like playing with the characters. They are so much fun! Any other mentions of movies, music, art, literature, etc… that wonderful stuff are owned by their respective creators, they just add to my dark purpose!

When last we left:

"Why would I do that, Princess?"

She brought her right hand back around my back and put it in my jean pocket, trying to hold me in place with her human strength, as she swayed her body gently against mine. In words so softly I was lucky to hear she said, "Because it is time that you had someone to rule with you and I don't think I have a choice anymore."

I watched as she walked to my car and got in the front seat. She knew she owned me. I was SCREWED!

Chapter 12

BPOV

I didn't think it would do any good dwelling on the dream. Edward would probably think I was crazy if I said anything. I mean, seriously, who could hurt a vampire? But still, there was a part deep inside of me that felt he needed to be protected. And an even bigger part that felt I needed to be the one protecting him. I looked over at Edward while he was driving; he was incredible! So incredibly good looking that it amazed me that he would want me!

Okay, I know that I am a Gothic Queen and I have stated my claim to the throne here already. However, like many Queens, I am a great actress. I know I gave Edward the sense that I was confident and that I was in control of everything, but everything inside of me just a quivering mess! I have never been so attracted to someone or as bold as my earlier actions would suggest. As I stated earlier, I never wanted anyone in that way. I know that Rose thought I was insane and should have jumped several of my suitors in Phoenix, but I just couldn't.

"Are you just going to keep staring at me?" Edward asked. His eyes were on the road, but his lips were turned up in a smirk. "You could give a guy a complex you know."

"Yes, I am sure that a big, strong vampire such as yourself would get a complex from a smiling human girl," I quipped. I turned and stared out the window next to me. I had been so preoccupied with my thoughts that I hadn't noticed that the car had stopped and that Edward had turned to look at me. He placed his fingers under my chin, and gripping it gently, turned to me to look into his beautiful green eyes.

"My Dark Beauty, you don't see yourself clearly." Edward placed a piece of hair that had fallen behind my ear. "You, of all people, have the ability to bring this vampire to his knees with just a look."

At that moment I couldn't breathe. I was locked into his stare. I doubted his words and hoped that he couldn't see that deep inside I was just a lonely mouse of a girl who felt like she had no real purpose in the world. I had felt that way for so long and in a lot of respects still feel that way. That at any moment people would see through my mask and would know that is who I really was. That is why a long time ago I decided that in order to keep people from seeing that part of me that I would be Queen and help people who loved the same culture as I did. To watch people flourish and let their inner beauty shine, regardless if I ever would or not.

As I sat there beside Edward, I wanted to be that strong person, but Edward had this inane ability to make my defenses disappear. And Mousey Bella would make an appearance soon, destroying everything by driving him away. I sighed heavily.

Edward rubbed our nose softly together and whispered, his lips gently against mine, "I only wish to show you my court and hope you find it missing only one thing."

Missing something?

"What would that be?" I whispered, having lost all ability to focus. I wanted more of his cool lips, his sweet breath fanning over my face, his hands gently caressing me…anywhere!

"You!" His lips pressed harder against mine. Then like a flash, Edward was out of the car and moving around to my side. I hadn't realized we were at the school parking lot. I didn't even notice the evil pixie who had wormed her way into my heart was bouncing excitedly next to her Mad-Hatter boyfriend. I had only been able to concentrate on one thing; that he thought I was the only thing missing from his world. ME, how is that possible!

Alice bounced over to me and looped her arm through mine when I had exited the car. I didn't have time to respond to Edward's remarks, because she was pulling me towards our class and blowing kisses to Jasper as he and Edward headed to their class.

"I so love being in love," Alice sighed as we strolled to my locker.

Love? Is that what this was? I had only known him for a few days. Was it possible for anyone to fall in love in that short amount of time?

"Yes, it is. It happens all the time. Now stop over-thinking!"

"Get out of my head," I sighed as I opened my locker. "It is crowded enough as it is."

Alice turned me to look at her. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned me up and down. "I don't have to get in your head when you say things out loud!" She stuck her tongue out at me and smirked. "Trust me, I know it is scary, but there are a lot worse feelings to feel."

I nodded in agreement. I am sure there are worse things to feel, especially fear. Then it occurred to me, if Alice could help Edward with his dreams, maybe she could help me with mine.

"Hey, Ali, I was wondering if you weren't doing anything tonight if you could help me." I tried to keep my voice level, hoping she couldn't pick up on my nervousness.

"Jazz and I have plans, but I am all yours tomorrow night." She grasped my hand in hers and pulled me toward class. I agreed and made a mental note to let Edward know I would be occupied, a Goth Girl Night if you will. "Come on, Queenie. A little birdie told me that Jessica plans on slipping holy water into your drinking cup at lunch."

We giggled all the way to class. I so love playing with Jessica!

EPOV

I felt him before I saw him. James had been watching us from the parking lot, so I wasn't surprised when he followed us into the school. I knew he was interested in Bella. He liked the way she moved, the way she was confident in her look, but he did not like how she shot him down when he asked her out. AND he really didn't like that she was now on my arm for me to parade around.

Sissy Goth boy, thinking he is the modern day vampire and the girls at school would fall for him. I get more puss playing my guitar then he will with his, 'Oh, the cruel, cruel world!' mentality.

I couldn't help the smirk that formed on my face from his asinine words, and couldn't hold back the laugh when he bumped forcibly into my shoulder as he passed and yelled, "Watch where fuck you're going, Emo-ward!"

"Hi, Edward," a soft voice called beside me. I turned to see it was Emmett McCarty. He was the right outfielder for the varsity baseball team, but was on the DL because he threw his shoulder out at one of the games. Stadium wall + Emmett's shoulder = out for rest of season for therapy. I nodded my head at him.

Emmett was cool; he was personable to everyone. His ex-girlfriend, Kate Monroe, dumped him when he would be out for a season. I guess it's unacceptable to be seen at social functions with a rehabilitating baseball player. Fucking gold-digger!

"What can I do for you, Emmett?" I wasn't going to be snarky with him. He had never really picked on me like the other guys, but he never stood up for me either. In my book that was almost as bad.

"Well, see, I have this assignment to compare a book in literature with a movie that was made about it. See, I have Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." I started to say something and he held his hand up to stop me from saying anything. "Before you say anything, my mind was not on your being Goth. Jasper mentioned how lucky he was going to be because you have such an enormous DVD collection of all sorts of movies. He got Phantom of the Opera."

I waited, giving him a chance to spit it out what he wanted, so I could get to my first class of the day. The sooner class gets over, the sooner I see Bella! That is my main objective today!

"Look, do you happen to have any of the Frankenstein movies?" He looked down at his hands. "I have the book. I've read it several times and absolutely love it. I would like to see something that was filmed in black and white, but the video store here doesn't have anything and the one in the Port is out until after my project."

I looked at him for a moment, contemplating what to do and finally decided to throw an idea out there. "Look, I have a copy of the 1931 Universal release with Boris Karloff, but I also have the 1994 one that was directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, with Robert De Niro and Helena Bonham Carter." Taking a deep breath I looked at him. "If you aren't doing anything Saturday, how about you, me, and Jasper get together and have a film fest. We can watch our movies and maybe help each other come up with ideas for a paper."

He looked at me for a moment as if I grew three heads and then shook it softly, smiled, and stuck his hand out. "Deal, I could use all the help I can get."

Shaking it back and smiling, I started to walk away. "Edward..." I stopped and looked at him again. "What book did you have?"

I sighed. "Dracula."

We both laughed and went our separate ways to class. The time until lunch went pretty much as usual, with the exception I almost got thrown out of geometry before it even started. Mike was making a comment about how he was going to do Bella so well that she would see the light and lose her loser Goth ways. I grabbed him by the neck and was about to tell him how I was going to bring him to a slow painful death, when Mr. Jostens walked in and told me if we didn't break it up we would have to go see Dean Marcus.

I hate Dean Marcus! He has never liked me since I started at Marsten, but that is okay; there was no love loss on my end either. He was always leaving pamphlets in the lockers of student he believed were 'Not on the right path.' I had everything from Christian groups, drug support groups, cult awareness groups, suicide numbers…. When will people learn being Goth doesn't mean you can't be Christian, that you're on drugs, that you sacrifice people to Satan, or that you want to kill yourself?

I didn't give a shit about that anymore. I had Bella. All she had to do was realize we were more than physically compatible; we were each other's mates! She was beautiful, intelligent, and the confidence she shows…she was everything. And for that douche, Newton, to threaten to defile her in any way… the fucker was going down! We glared at each other, but he flinched when he heard the soft growl come from me. Yeah, I was going to defend my woman and you are on my hit list, asshat!

When I heard the bell ring signaling the end of the period and the beginning of lunch, I wasn't surprised to see Newton bolt out the door. I laughed lowly and started out the door when Mr. Jostens' called to me, "Cullen."

I stopped and looked at him; he smiled at me and looked down at his desk for a moment. "Don't let the stupidity of others ruin your future."

I looked at him with a confused look. He sighed and looked me straight in the eye. "I have been a member of the Forks Wings from the time I could ride a motorcycle. Under this black dress shirt hides the ink that would make many faculty members cringe in fear." He snorted a little and I smiled at him. "What I am trying to say, son, is that you are part of a subculture with deep roots and misunderstood tendencies. I know the feeling, but we can't let the stupidity of a few make our lives miserable and make us doubt ourselves."

I smiled at him. "Miss Swan is an intelligent and beautiful girl. Michael Newton is an idiot and Karma has a way of coming around and smacking people in the ass. When he opens his mouth, walk away. You have an incredible future ahead of you…he might stuck at his parent store reliving the years of his high school football glory."

We laughed and shook hands, as I promised him to keep my cool from now on. I bowed out of his room and made my way to the cafeteria. Bella was sitting there giggling with Alice. She seemed so happy and when Newton winked at her she made a move that looked like she was going to spew on her lunch. When she saw me, her entire face lit up and it was Mike's turn to look ill. He moved quickly to the opposite side of the cafeteria.

I sat next to my girl, smiling at the way her cheek grew to a lovely pink shade when I kissed her on the temple. "Hello, my beautiful dark goddess."

"My lord," she whispered as she kissed my cheek. Jasper plopped down next to Alice and began kissing her at her neck, cheek, and ear until she started laughing and squeaking.

I tossed one of Bella's fries at him and he looked at me like I had left a hole in his temple. "Dude, it took hours to get this look. Don't mess with my look!"

"Whatever, Mad Hatter," I chided back. "So, we have McCarty coming over on Saturday for a film fest, you game?"

He looked at me like I had told him I stole his favorite eyeliner. "McCarty? As in Emmett McCarty?"

"Yeah, evidently you bragged about our movie collection and he wanted to borrow some movies. You know how I am about lending stuff out, so I invited him over and he seemed really responsive about it." I played with a curl of Bella's hair while I spoke to Jasper. Bella's hair was so soft! I loved how it felt on my fingers. She turned to smile at me when I tugged it gently and gave me a soft peck on the lips. I hated the taste of the red goo she had on there from her fries, but loved that she kissed me anyway.

"Ugh," Jasper grumbled as he picked at the fry on the table that had hit him earlier. "Fine, but if I have to pretend to eat popcorn and pizza the whole day, you do too!"

I frowned at the prospect. Human food really didn't sit well with vampire digestive systems, but I had been the one to make the movie fest. I would suffer along with all that went with it.

"Why don't Alice and I attend?" Bella piped up. Alice smiled at Bella and nodded her head excitedly. "That way there is less human food for you to eat and you can also show me your room of gloom."

I smiled down at my dark princess. "You, my pale beauty, are a genius."

"But they don't have the same assignment," Jasper pointed out.

"True," Alice commented. "But we could say that we were having a Girl's Night and movies go well with that."

Bella frowned and then mumbled, "What if poor Emmett felt like a fifth wheel? I don't want him uncomfortable."

Then her phone started buzzing. Bella got giddy at the number and answered right away. "RO! Why are you calling me so early, why aren't you in class?"

"Teachers' institute for the next several days, no less than a week. Seems Riley let lose some of Mr. Dexter's bugs and they have been breeding in the furnace room. The school needs to have a thorough examination before it is deemed safe for students to return. Sooooo…."

"Wow that is at least a week, right? Going to be partying at Velvet?"

What was Velvet?

"I thought about that, and since I have a whole week…can I come and visit?"

Bella began bouncing up and down in her seat. "YES! That would be so wonderful! When can you get here?"

"Daddy said I could fly out tomorrow, if I was a good girl."

"Let me call Charlie. I don't think he will have any problem with it and then I will text you." She sighed and leaned in to me. "Ro, it is going to be so nice to have you here!"

With that she hung up the phone. "Boys, forget my last comment. Saturday is going to ROCK!"

A/N: Sorry, Poppet, RL got the best of me. Holidays, I work in an admissions office for a university, my birthday on New Year's Eve…let's just say it has been a wild ride with no spare time for writing. I, however, could not wait to get back in the story driver seat and bring you a new chapter!

I LOVE that you all had ideas of who our mystery POV could be…keep the thoughts coming, still too early to reveal. THANK YOU, Nikkipattinson, you are the world's most awesome beta! Check out her writings if you want some really good reading!