A/N:I'm so sorry!!!! Please forgive me for making you wait an eternity for this chapter!!! I was just really busy with real life and reading, and I could never really find the mood to write. And I've neglected my online life! Sorry about this, but sometimes I just go into this phase when I lose interest in doing anything. Usually it's temporary but it's quite important that I don't do anything rash like quit my piano lessons because I get frustrated too easily with my lousy piano skills or anything which I'll regret later when I snap out of it. Oh, and sorry for rambling on like a freak about my mental problem when all you want to do is read the chapter. Apologies all around to everybody! Oh, and I hope this chapter isn't muddled or confusing or anything like that. There's a clue in here which I hope clears up the confusion some people had about Colin. Pray that I update soon and don't get depressed again. Enjoy the story! - MissMei92

THE TALE OF ELIZABETH CULLEN

"Mommy, when did you know that you were in love with Daddy?"

"I'm not sure, sweetie. We just knew,"

"Will I know too?When I fall in love?"

"Yes, sweetie. I think you will."

I stared at the cold, ceramic tiles of the floor, my body wracked with unshed tears, having no way of unleashing my emotions upon the world. It must be handy. Being a vampire. No running mascara because you couldn't cry. No icky, sticky tears and runny noses. No feelings. I bit my lip, furious. And then I did it. I screamed. A piercing, grieving scream which no one would answer.

No one to answer. Nobody cared. Nobody understood. Nobody wanted to. Nobody. You're as unwanted as ever, Elizabeth. You're a tool. Once you vanquish that army of hybrids heading here, you're useless. And FREE Nobody's going to keep you locked up in this dank, windowless room anymore. You can leave. And do what? I'd rather...die.

I collapsed to the chilling floor of the bathroom and buried my face in my arms, pretending to cry when it was impossible. I didn't know why he cared so much. Wasn't I just an object? A duty. A burden. Burden. Always a burden. Meant to be destroyed. Never meant to exist. Not natural. A thing. Something created for a corrupted purpose. It was too much. I willed myself to do it. I couldn't take it anymore.

FLASHBACK

"She's our daughter! What did you do with her?! Give her back!!!"

"Bella, we have no idea..."

"YOU KNOW WHAT WE MEAN! What have you done to Elizabeth?! Why did you take her away?!"

"Edward, surely you can't...

"Give her back!!!! Give my baby back to me!!!"

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! She's just a child!"

"There are no children here. Only vampires."

"Elizabeth!!!!! Sweetie, it's mommy!!!! I'm here!!!!"

I wanted to run to her. And cry. And beg for forgiveness. For being so selfish. For running away. For making them worry.

But...I couldn't. It was too late. I was no longer their child. The child who had grown up with their loving family.

I was what I truly was. A monster.

I fled from the side corridor of the throne room, as my mother cried out heart-wrenching pleas for me to come. I covered my ears. But I couldn't block it out. I didn't want to forget my family. But I was without any other option.

It was better for them, this way. I wouldn't ever burden them again.

But somehow...deep down...a voice whispered, "You were never a burden at all, misguided child."

Falling, falling down into the recesses of eternity. I was dying. I was committing suicide. By willing myself to die. I couldn't face anything. It was just too much. Darkness, time, moons and suns. All of it thrashed and swirled around me. But I wasn't afraid. Dying felt so much more peaceful than living. Something soft and warm gripped my hand in it's. It felt familiar.

"Elizabeth Cullen. What have you gotten yourself into now?" I knew that voice! And I had thought I would never hear it ever again in my pitiful, pathetic existence.

"Seraphina." It was her. My best friend. My truest, most loyal and unforgettable best friend. The friend I'd feared was dead and gone with...Colin.

"Elizabeth, really. I thought you wouldn't need me to look out for you anymore." She pretended to chide me in a mock-scolding voice. But she was all smiles. She was still pretty, though she was older now too. We'd all grown up, and in such a short time.

"Where are we?" I finally had the sense to take in my surroundings. We were in...no, on...a beach. A white-sand, deep ocean blue beach. The sky was cloudy and greying, looking as if it wanted to rain but still holding enough hope that it would clear up instead, unveiling the sunlight.

"In limbo. I've come back to make sure that you don't give up so easily. It's not like you, Elizabeth. Giving up! That's preposterous!" She joked, letting go of my hand and flopping onto the sandy surface beneath. She was so care-free. Not the serious, studious girl who'd sat next to me on my first day of grade school.

"Elizabeth, don't lose hope. It's not as if everything is lost, is it now?" Her eyes twinkled, and she smiled that same devilish grin at me. The one she used when she knew about my crushes. I was baffled.

"Seraphina? What are you smiling about?" I shook my head and dropped to my knees, my hands scooping the flawless sand which seeped out between my fingers. She gave me a Girl, are you that clueless? look and took my sandy hands in hers.

"Elizabeth, I know that you still love Colin, so very much. But Colin is...gone. He can't come back to life. It's too late for him. Right now, his spirit is connected to Nikolas. That is why he hasn't left yet. He still has someone tangible to hold on to. But he has to leave soon. And when he does you need to know that you must move on!" She raised her voice at the last bit and my stomach lurched. I couldn't do that. It was too hard. Too hard.

Seraphina gave me a disapproving look, one which said that she knew what I was thinking. "Oh, dear Elizabeth. We want you to be happy. That is why you must let Colin come to where I reside. In a place...where there is no sadness. Only happiness and rejoicing. A place where love is abundant and where everyone is reunited together for an eternity to come." Her eyes misted and she clutched my hands tighter in hers.

"But it's also a place for those whose time is up. You still have time, Elizabeth. You can still do something, in the world. But...for Colin and I...we are no longer bound there. We belong in the place of eternity. One day, you'll be there. With us. But only when your time is truly up. And that is why you must not spend it, deep in mourning for us. For we are happy and at peace, Elizabeth, we're happy! You should be too." Her eyes welled with clear tears and she hugged me tightly. One last embrace, I knew. It would be a long, long time before we would be together again.

"But...why did Colin stay then? Why didn't he go with you?" I asked her, and to my joyful astonishment, I realized that I was crying too. Those wet, slimy tears had never felt more comforting.

"He just wanted to tell you. Tell you that it was okay. Okay." She whispered, before adding, "...he's coming now. I'll let you both talk one last time. Goodbye, Elizabeth. I'll see you in eternity, girl." Her voice faded away gently, a slight giggle following. One which I would remember forever until I saw her again. And then Colin was holding me, his embrace stunningly warm and human for once.

"Elizabeth," He brushed his lips towards mine and we shared a kiss. A kiss unlike any other we'd ever shared. It was warm, passionate and loving all at the same time. It held his unspoken words. I love you.

I love you too, Colin. Forever. Don't leave me.

I have to...but we'll be together one day. The future still holds hope, Elizabeth.

But I can't live without you there. To talk with me, to hold me, to love me.

Elizabeth. I will miss you, as much as I missed you these past years. But I don't want you to be lonely. I want you to be loved. And Nikolas can do that.

Nikolas?

He cares about you. I've seen his heart and his mind. He's fallen in love with you. And you deny the fact that you have too.

No...I love only you!

Elizabeth, a heart is not limited to loving only one soul. It can love many, but in different forms.

What do you mean?

I will always be your true love, and you will always be mine. But you also feel love towards him, although it is not as deep as ours, it's still love. And I need you to know...that I'm okay with it. I'm okay with letting you go. You should be too.

I...I...I...understand.

Elizabeth, don't be afraid. And don't believe the lies. You are valuable. In fact, you are priceless. And everyone loves you so much. Your parents have never stopped loving you. They have never thought of you as anything but their daughter. It's been told you countless times. Yet, you deny it, stubborn Elizabeth.

I...do. Don't I? Oh, Colin. I love you so much. You're right. About everything.

The kiss ended here, and Colin whispered his goodbyes, as he walked off into the distance, a beckoning, distant light being his aim. I watched his figure become a speck of black on the horizon before he disappeared altogether. And I closed my eyes and let myself float back into the swirling hourglass of eternity once again.

My eyes fluttered open. I was back in this world. And my spirit had been renewed. I was free. Free from the hurt and rejection. And the feeling was light upon me. I was still crouched upon the floor so I straightened and washed up. I found my bed and slept. Just slept. For the first time in 6 long years, my dreams were empty and I could rest.

Sweet beauty sleeps tonight...

Dreamless and peaceful...

She holds love within...

The fortress of her broken heart.

I heard a song being sung. It was such a soothing melody, so hauntingly enchanting. My heart beat faster when I realized it was Nikolas singing. To me. How sweet of him. And then I remembered why he was singing. He was in love with me. And I was in love with him too.

"Nikolas," I sang out, my voice sweet and girlish-like. He stopped singing. His eyes met mine, and I saw that he was surprised by my cheeriness. I surprised him even more.

I slid to his side of the bouncy bed and without any hesitation whatsoever, gave him a kiss he wouldn't forget. Of course, my boldness was surprising to him. But he didn't pull away. And neither did I. And then, when we'd finally decided to breathe, I replied his unspoken question.

"I love you, Nikolas. I won't deny it any longer."