A/N: This is just a small summary of what happened leading up to the previous chapter. I'll start writing in Elizabeth's point of view again in the next chapter. Hope this isn't too depressing for some of you. - MissMei92

THE TALE OF ELIZABETH CULLEN

Elizabeth was in shock for several days after. The memorial service for her parents and for uncle Carlisle was held as soon as she had recovered enough from the pure, blatant shock to be able to stand without collapsing. Susan had to support her throughout the whole memorial. She did not give a eulogy for her parents herself but wrote one out and had Rosalie read it, through her own tears.

The full story of what had truly happened was explained in detail to her when she had finally become emotionally stable enough to handle it. The day the hybrids had attacked the Volturi was also the day that her parents had decided to come back and argue with Aro, Marcus and Caius over her supposed whereabouts. They'd been accompanied by Carlisle because he'd hoped to be able to talk some proper sense into his former companions. It had all been a cruel twist of fate. The meeting had just begun when the hybrid army attacked in full force and murdered all of the Volturi, including Edward, Bella and Carlisle

Only a few lucky ones survived. Those on the outskirts of Volterra and those who'd been on a hunting trip in Switzerland. The revenge of the mastermind had been completed but it had taken with it in the bloodshed the lives of Elizabeth's parents and uncle...and the life of Nikolas too.

As for how Elizabeth was found and brought back to New York, when she'd been brought to the nearest hospital which was in a town situated near the border of France and Italy Elizabeth's running had brought her across half of the country in such a short period of time. While she was in the hospital, word about her spread among the townsfolk. Alice and Jasper had been staying in this particular town at the time, while waiting for the return of Carlisle, which would never happen. They heard about the mysterious girl and were curious to find out that she seemed to look just like Elizabeth, only older.

They visited her in the hospital and were shocked to find out that it really was her. They made the necessary arrangements to have her discharged from the hospital and called Carlisle. When there was no answer, they went down to Volterra themselves. Only to find the burning underground ruins of what was once the splendid Volturi chambers. There were no vampires in sight. Everything had been destroyed. Annihilated. They knew it was true when they saw Bella's handbag lying torn and beaten up on the floor, along with some shards of her sweater and Carlisle's handphone. Proof that they were...dead.

They brought Elizabeth back home to New York, but while she had yet to regain consciousness, they themselves had already gone into a zombie-like state. Esme had gone into a shell-shock state and retreated into her mind. Emmett and Rosalie went through the motions of life, but they were dead on the inside too. Elizabeth only woke up a week later and that was when Susan had delivered the gruesome, painful news.

Now, it's been 2 months since these horrifying events took place.

And something completely unexpected is about to happen, something which can hopefully bring life back to the Cullen family.