Disclaimer: These are not Stephanie's vampires.

Chapter Twenty Five

Isabella Swan

"Her name was Isobel, you know," I tell him, twisting my fingers absently in the sheets beneath me. His mother's missive sat on my lap and though the request sat in the back of my mind, my immediate loyalty was not to the Queen – it was to her son, to Edward, and he required my promised attention. The Queen could wait.

I don't glance up at Edward; I don't need to, not really. His feet shuffle nearly soundlessly on his plush carpet before he moves towards me, sitting on the bed in front of me, brushing his mother's missive off my lap; large, cold, gentle hands pull me into the comforting cradle of his chest.

Lips press into the crown of my head. "Isobel," he repeats, absently twirling my hair in the tips of his fingers.

Suddenly, a question that had been lurking in my very soul presses against my lips; Isobel and I, our soul, had been idly thinking on it, wondering how he saw us, if he missed the last us, if we were as good as the last us. Convoluted. It hardly made any sense. "Is she your real mate?"

"No," he answers immediately.

Half of my heart is ecstatic, the other half drooping hopelessly.

Edward's hand coaxes my face up towards his, focusing his mint eyes on mine. "But, princess, that's not even a question to ponder. Asking that…you make it sound like she and you are different people."

"Aren't we?"

Edward smiles. "It's your heart, your soul, that belongs exclusively to me. You're the same person," he says logically.

I nod – of course I am. These silly insecure feelings have come from Isobel's soul reawakened in me. And, a small part of myself admits, it has to do a little bit with the Queen's missive, because I'm completely out of my element. She's asking something of me that Isobel would have handled better.

Edward kisses me, soft, sweet and too short. "Besides," he continues, breathing cool breath into my face. "I know you so much better; my body merely recognized Isobel's soul. It was you that my heart started to beat for."

I feel heat rise in my face and happiness pulse through my bones. God, but what did I do to deserve him?

He kisses my temple. "My mother's letter," he begins. "Is it time sensative?"

I close my eyes, recalling each delicate script written on the exquisitely expensive paper. "Yeah, it is. About an hour, maybe? I need a shower," I tell him, opening my eyes.

I'd never really seen Edward leer, but…he was doing it. Leering. It was devious.

My pulse quickens.

As quickly as the leer had appeared, it disappeared. Edward's face became completely innocent. "You talk, I'll listen."

"What about my shower?"

"You talk in the shower," he shrugs, holding his hand out, helping me stand, leading me towards his massive bathroom.

"Are you a closet pervert?"

He blinks at me. "Of course not. I don't even like closets."

Another brilliant example of vampire-human miscommunication.

I roll my eyes. "Turn around."

"Why?" he pouts. I can almost read it from his mind – I've already seen most of it, princess, and I'll be seeing all of it soon.

I snort. "Just do it."

He complies slowly. As soon as his back is to me, I shrug out of his white thermal shirt, sliding my panties down my legs. Edward seems to twitch with every rustle of clothing.

Naked, I turn to his shower, blinking in confusion at the overly complicated technology. Frowning, I reach past the glass sliding door, touching a button on the sleek silver pad on the grey tiles – and four jets of water shoot out from the walls.

I screech, jumping back.

"Bella!" Edward yells, his cold body suddenly pressing against my bare back. "What? What is it?"

Embarrassed by my freak-out, I put my head in my hands. "Can you work this thing?"

He chuckles, pressing his body close to mine, reaching past me to fiddle with the buttons on the shower until steam fogs up from the warm water. Edward pauses, his chest cold against my back, even through the thin fabric of his shirt; when he pulls back, he places a careful, cool kiss on the top of my shoulder.

I shudder slightly, chills shooting down my spine.

"Thank you," I murmur, stepping into the shower, glancing back at him, surprised to see that his back is turned in a show of respect for my privacy.

"Anytime, princess," he replies, a smile in his voice. "Now, tell me about this gift you have."

I groan under my breath, stepping into the path of the four showerheads, closing my eyes to protect them from water. "Are we sure it's a gift? This seems like something that could become a curse….mind control…"

"Is it complete mind control?"

Squinting my eyes open, I reach for the shampoo in the shower, somewhat surprised that it's actually my brand of shampoo. Squirting a liberal amount on my hand, I begin to work the creamy soap through my hair. "It can be. Or it can be fleeting," I answer carefully. "I could make it permanent, I think. If I wanted to. But…it seems like that would be like creating a bond, you know?"

"A bond?"

"Yeah," I say, scrubbing my scalp with suds. "I mean, whoever I put under complete mind control would be totally dependent on me for the rest of their lives. That's not something I want to be responsible for. It would be like having a living robot. So creepy."

Edward makes a humming noise and I think he turns around, leaning against the double sink. The fog on the glass is so thick I can barely make out his shape as I rinse my hair.

"How do you access this mind control?"

"Third eye," I say quickly. "It's like I can turn it on and off, seeing this aura on the third eye. The weirdest thing is that vampires have it, too."

"Why would that be weird?"

"Vampires barely reacted to my eyes before."

"Your eyes?"

I nod, forgetting that he can't see me. "Uh, yeah," I say lowly, applying conditioner and winding my hair up into a bun so the water could hit my shoulders. "Strange reactions happened my whole life when people looked into my eyes. Remember that test I took for you? The teacher? He just…walked away when he was about to make a big deal out of it."

"So, this gift is innate."

"It is," I agree. "I think that even now, if I looked at someone and just had a brief thought, they would follow through. I wouldn't even have to access their third eye. They would just automatically do what I wanted them to, but it would be fleeting – like evasion, or something. Getting to the third eye, switching on the lights so to speak, takes a few more seconds of time. It's almost like just looking at my eyes buys me the time I need to get into their third eye aura."

"It's a gateway."

"Exactly."

"Princess, I think this is a gift."

I'm quiet in response, rinsing my hair off and the suds from my body. "I have to be careful, Edward."

"Of course you do," he says, quick to respond. "It would be irresponsible to just use your gift when ever, princess. Using it wisely is smart. And keeping it a secret from the other nobility is even smarter."

I blink in his direction, feeling the hot water rush over my skin. "How so?"

"Anybody who knows about you will assume you are weak. But you have a secret weapon," he tells me. "If I was ever unable to protect you….you would have a way to protect yourself."

I bite my lip, not liking the thoughts that come with Edward's words. "But you'll always protect me," I tell him firmly.

Edward laughs. "Of course, princess."

I smile. "Edward, I'm starting to prune."

"Prune?"

"Yes."

"You're becoming a dried plum?"

I laugh aloud, recognizing his odd, lighthearted humor. "Could I get a towel?"

"I'll have to look," he says, a rasp entering his voice.

"Not if you close your eyes."

"I'll see it all eventually, princess."

"Can't a woman have some mystery?"

"What kind of mystery is that? I've seen the top, I've seen the bottom and I've seen the back, just not all at the same time."

I blush, pressing random buttons on the silver pad until the water turns off. "Just send the towel over the glass."

He does, reluctantly, and then turns around as I quickly dry off, wrapping the towel tightly around my chest. I sigh, feeling clean, and ask for the time.

I don't have much time before I have to meet the Queen. "Where's Alice?"

Edward, ever so attentive to my needs, opens the door to his bedroom, leaving me in the bathroom, and mutters to someone in the hallway. A few moments later, Alice is rushing into the room, dropping into a quick curtsy to Edward and then turning to me, bowing her head as her knees bend again. "My Lady," she greets, smiling. "How may I assist you?"

I lick my lips, standing straighter.

Edward looks on with a mild expression of approval.

"Could you find me something appropriate to wear? I'm meeting the Queen in thirty minutes."

Alice flashes me a smile, moving quickly to the feminine wardrobe against the wall and quickly picking out an outfit. Setting the clothes on the bed, she looks back at me. "Your hair cannot be wet when you meet the Queen, my Lady," she tells me, ushering me into the bathroom, lacy little garments in her hands.

Closing the door, she frees me of my towel, ignoring the embarrassed blush from the unceremonious reveal of my body. I slip on the simple black lace bra and panties, trying not to think about how my exact measurements ended up in that wardrobe – I seriously do not need to know. Alice is moving quickly around the bathroom, setting various items on the counter; mousse and a blow dryer and a large curling iron, some kind of obscure spray, which she immediately applies to my combed out hair. She works quickly, drying my hair into soft waves, styling the dark tresses in large curls, pinning a large section behind my ear with a shinning silver comb. I opt out of make up, save for a quick coat of mascara.

Edward is not in the bedroom when we return, but that's fine with me since the whole reveal-of-me-in-lingerie should be saved for a time when he can actually appreciate it. Alice goes back to the wardrobe, digging in the large bottom drawer while I quickly pull on dark grey skinny jeans with a black rose overlay and a vibrant silk amethyst blouse with capped sleeves and a scoop neck. Alice places black suede pumps before me, adjusting my hair when I stand back up to my full height, slightly uncomfortable with the shoes but understanding that it's part of the image.

"You look wonderful, my Lady."

"Thank you, Alice," I smile, fighting off the nerves that are suddenly crawling up my throat. "Will we be on time?"

"Of course, my Lady," she answers, leading me out of the room.

I glance down the halls as we maneuver out of Violet Hall – Edward is nowhere to be found. His life doesn't revolve around me. He's a busy guy.

He's a prince.

Prince.

And I was meeting his Queen – his mother.

I feel sick.

My fingers clench as I focus on walking as straight as possible. I'd always been graceful enough to pass through life but I felt that meeting a person this important called for a higher level of grace – one I wasn't sure I actually had.

Alice notices my sudden stiffness and bows her head, slowing her steps until she is matching mine. "My Lady, if I may, the Queen is not as intimidating as her title indicates."

I force out a sigh, taking her words to heart.

Alice is, after all, honest and timid to a fault.

Nodding, I pause, gathering my wits before Alice leads me towards tall oak double doors that seem to be in the center of the main building of the compound palace. "My Lady, the throne room," Alice murmurs, opening the doors and falling into an immediate, low curtsy.

Having never done so before, I try to copy Alice's movements, pleased at how my body seems to remember such a movement – no doubt some distant memory of Isobel's, saving me once again. I keep my gaze down but my head high.

Edward picked me – me.

I wouldn't let him down – I refuse.

A gentle voice fills the air. "Isabella Swan. Nineteen. Five feet and seven inches. American, born in Washington state," the Queen says softly. "You, my dear, are simply exquisite. Lift your eyes, now. I must see what all the fuss is about. My son did name his home after your shade."

I blink, feeling a blush flow across my skin. She knows a lot about me, probably too much to be comfortable but I feel at ease. I lift my eyes, meeting her steady, confident gaze – eyes that are a shade darker than her son's. Incredibly long, deep auburn hair tumbles down to her hips in soft waves, a polished silver, ruby, bloodstone and diamond tiara sitting atop her head.

The Queen stands tall, her shoulders straight, face soft and untouched by time, even though wisdom is clear in her fathomlessly green eyes. She is dressed casually in straight legged Chino pants and an obviously cashmere red sweater.

"Yes," the Queen says after a moment. "Violet. A shame you were not named after your eyes, though your name does match your face wonderfully."

"Thank you," I murmur, fighting not to lower my eyes.

I wasn't one to be intimidated easily but right now – standing before a Queen with my lady's maid a foot step behind me – I was intimidated. I could feel in the air that I was standing before someone with power.

"I see you got my missive," the Queen says. "Thank you for coming on time. Neither of my sons seem to understand how to read a clock."

Before I can stop myself, a snort escapes me.

Horrified, I slap my hands over my mouth.

And then, so easily, the Queen giggles. "Loosen up, dear. We have a party to plan!"

Instantly, my mind flashes back to the exact words written in the Queen's missive – I request your presence in the planning of your coming out ball – and I nod. "Would you mind if Alice stays? I've never planned a ball, my Queen."

The Queen smiles. "The more help, the merrier. The ball is tomorrow night. I've already sent a few of my lady's maids to retrieve a selection of dresses appropriate for the occasion. The kitchens are already preparing the standard appetizers and bloodwine selections," she tells me, moving towards a small round table stacked with various binders.

I follow, seating myself across from the Queen, Alice taking a meek seat to my right. "What else is there to plan?"

The Queen purses her lips. "The decorations and the colors. Flowers. Lighting. Don't worry about the timing, dear. We've hosted many balls and have the resources in storage to pull from. But," she sighs. "This is not just any coming out ball. My son has recently expressed his interest in this ball being a double for your public third blood exchange."

I swallow. "How recently was this?"

"You just missed him by a few minutes."

So that's where he disappeared off too.

I nod, feeling my brows furrow. "Forgive me for my ignorance, but is that…normal? The third bond being completed in public?"

The Queen smiles gleefully. "Of course, dear! It's more than normal – it's tradition for the royals and the nobles. A new mate being introduced into the family has to be acknowledged by all, including the subjects. I believe humans call it a wedding, yes?"

My mind moves quickly, processing, drawing parallels – Edward wants to get married tomorrow.

"A wedding," I say softly, feeling a smile bloom on my face. "My wedding."

The Queen pats my hand. "That's the spirit, darling. Now, for lighting, would you prefer them to twinkle or…"

A/N: Wooo-hoo. Got the chapter in on time!

Shout out to the first ten reviews (and guests) of the last chapter:

Lost in a magic realm – I would totally feel the safest in his arms!

NorthmanCullen – You're awesome! RL can just go suck it!

TwiSagaLover – Glad you loved it!

Valentine Rain – lol Maybe a younger Queen, though!

Guest – I'm sorry you don't like a little bit of Stonerella! At least she's not getting stoned all the time!

Pumpkinmykitty – LOL I, for one, would prefer it from Freddie Mercury!

Jane3105 – When you're that high, do you really need a verbal filter? Lol

Twilight Rocker 12 – LOL Now I have to say, "Thanks Nicole, for the image of hairy blood and nose bleeds. Geez!"

And super special shout out to the first review of the last chapter, nessiehugs – thanks for taking the time and reading the story! You totally get a hug!

As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.

~cupcakeriot