Chapter Nine

Daniel's POV

It all happened so fast, one minute I was laughing and the next something had gripped my ankle. My blood had ran cold as I was dragged under, faster than I thought possible. Shark. That was my one thought. Bubbles were filling my vision, so when I tried to look at what had my ankle I couldn't see it. My body instinctively began to thrash before I stopped myself. I only had maybe a minute left of oxygen….if I was lucky. I arched my back and reached down towards my ankle to give the predator a wallop.

"So weak, Can't even save yourself can you? How on earth do you expect to save her from what I have planned?" A smirking voice spoke into my head.

I shook my head and continued my frantic search for what had a hold of me as air- bubbles escaped my mouth. My lungs were beginning to burn, my vision dotting in red. My brain going fuzzy. I fought as hard as I could but still knew it wasn't enough. my movements were too clumsy. My body began to become numb. My eyelids involuntarily shut. My only hope was that Lucinda had the sense to get out before the shark could get her too. Lucinda. Probably my last ever thought.

Luce's POV

I kicked harder then I ever remember kicking. Harder even then I had when I had gotten caught in a riptide when I was seven. I couldn't swim probably at that age and the lifeguards were even baffled that I had walked away from that experience. A miracle they had said. For the first time in my life I prayed the same for Daniel. A miracle. I knew, I just knew that we were too late. He was gone. My heart clenched at the thought. I wasn't going to give up hope though. Not until I found his body at least. If there's one thing that Daniel had taught me through our agonising seven thousand year curse. Was that hope never dies. I looked to the side and could barely make out Cam, who looked so frustrated as he practically punched the water. I looked to my other side to see Roland right beside me. He looked at me worriedly. I shook my head I pushed on.

Don't you dare do this to me, Daniel. Don't you dare. We've been through too much for it to end like this. My anger propelled me further through the water. It's all the Thrones fault. We were meant to live a human life! Not worry about any of this angelic warfare stuff.

I drew back in shock as my hands brushed something that felt like hair. My heart skipped a beat as I gave one final kick and suddenly Daniel's face came into view. His mouth was parted open and his eyes were closed and there on his ankle was a black hand. I growled sending bubbles out. The creature withdrew but I was too quick i snatched it's arm, which was blisteringly hot. I pulled and the creature was up by me, before it's arm fell off, quite like a lizard and it disappeared into the bubbles which suddenly halted. The creature was no-where to be seen. I put my arms around Daniel and unfurled my wings, we were really deep and from Daniel's condition it may already be too late. I beat my wings once and we soared up through the water, stopping just as we broke the surface. I pulled my wings back into my body as I kicked for the shore. Cam and Roland surfaced and helped keep both of us afloat, more importantly keep Daniel's head out of the water. I looked to the beach and saw Steven and Francesca rushing to the water's edge with Everett charging behind them. I basically crawled onto the beach, dragging Daniel, I felt so weak. Arms looped through mine and dragged me from the water's edge. Cam and Roland lay Daniel flat. His lips were turning blue. I wasted no time. I closed the place between us and immediately started pumping his chest as hard as I could to try and expel the water from his lungs.

"I'II go get the lifeguard!" Everett said and he took off.

"What happened?!" Steven asked as he knelt beside us.

"Some creature, I dunno. Had grabbed him. Probably like the one that got Dawn." I say.

"Come on, please please!" I sob as water started flowing from Daniel's mouth.

After several minutes of nothing the lifeguards arrived and pushed me aside so they could attend to Daniel

Arriane and Annabelle had come too, they had reached the Lifeguards before Everett and had come with them meeting Everett half way.

Arriane wrapped her arm around me.

"He'll be fine, Lu. It's Daniel after all." She assured me but I heard the doubt in her voice.

"Everyone back now!" A lifeguard demanded as they could the defibulater out.

I crossed my arms and leant into Arriane for support.

"If he dies Arriane—" I start

"Shh, He won't." She said as she soothingly rubbed my arms.

"Stay back." The Lifeguards demand as they backed away.

Daniel's back arched dramatically with the shock.

No response. No Pulse

I swallowed as I watched on in horror.

The robotic monotone of the defibulator sounded and the lifeguards positioned the pads for another go.

Again Daniel's back arched dramatically but this time when the lifeguard felt for a pulse there was an extremely weak one.

"Anyone called 911?" The lifeguard asked.

"Yeah, they're on their way." A bystander spoke.

The lifeguards continued to do CPR until the Paramedics arrived, they put him on a stretcher and went as quickly as they could to the ambulance.

After a bit of arguing the Paramedics let me hop in and sit by him.

"We'll meet you at the Hospital." Steven said and I nodded before the Driver closed the doors and rushed around and hopped in. I carefully took Daniel's hand in mine and left his hand tighten around mine. I let out a strangled breath.

"What happened?" The paramedic in with me asked.

"He got caught in a current then his ankle got wrapped in some seaweed or something. He panicked and i tried to untangle him but it was so thick….I thought I'd lost him." I said.

The paramedic looked at me sympathetically.

"Well, he's in good hands now, nothing will happen to him."

If only that were true.

After a long journey. I climbed out of the ambulance. A headache forming from the shrieking siren. Steven was there and helped me out before we followed Daniel inside. He was admitted to a room and the doctors wanted to keep him until nightfall to make sure he was okay.

He hadn't woken yet. The doctors said it was the shock and that he should wake up really soon. I nodded before I left the room and went straight for the exit.

"What are you doing?" Cam asked

"I'm going after that thing." I growled.

"Luce, I know you're upset but going in blind and impulsive is not the way to go."

"I don't give a damn, that thing almost killed him!" I hissed

"I had you warned what was at stake here!" Cam snapped back

"You wanna go get yourself killed? Go ahead! That will do wonders for Daniel won't it!" He added

"Why isn't he remembering, Cam?" I ask

"I mean, he was an angel longer than I was, so why me? Why did I remember but not him?" I sighed

"We don't know? We thing that maybe it's because at the moment you are one of the most powerful angels out there! You have the possibility to be the Thrones what I like to call Lap-dog aka Gabbe's job." He sighed.

"Arriane, Annabelle and Roland went after the creature, Luce. Right now, Daniel needs you more than ever." Cam says

"Stand by him, keep him safe….Just like he did for you." He sighs

My anger dissolves.

"You're right." I sigh

"I just—I nearly lost him, Cam. My heart was—still is in my throat. I don't know how I can go on living like this, looking for danger at every turn."

"That's just our lot in life, Lu. Unfortunately.

Suddenly Arriane came barrelling in.

"We found it. Well it and it's lair and it has something pretty interesting to say to you."