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Love Never Dies,

Bella

Chapter 1

x

Perfect Strangers

"You should at least be a little happy, Dani."

Roland had been urging Daniel for almost two weeks now to feel a bit of joy that he would be reunited with his true love, even if there was an unfortunate ending each time. But, Daniel had swore not to love her this time, and he was going to do his best to stay to his promise. Daniel had grown weary, his gray eyes showed his depression that had grown heavier with each lifetime, each kiss, and each lost love. He felt Roland's hand clasp his shoulder and cautiously continued,

"Do you really think you can resist her this time, Dani?"

"Yes."Daniel replied almost immediately, his tone curt and clipped, his gray eyes staring at the cemetery in front of them. Today was the day, the day the Lucinda Price would arrive at Sword & Cross. And Daniel deeply loathed it. Daniel had tried so hard to stray from Lucinda's path this time, thinking that Sword & Cross would be the last place she'd look, but, of course – as usual, she was thrown back into him.

Daniel screwed his eyes shut, cursing under his breath. "Why can't she just stay away from me?" Daniel muttered through his sealed teeth, causing Roland to sigh.

"It's fate, Daniel. You are meant to be with her, you know that." Roland says, sighing sympathetically, "Daniel, you know. .. You could always beg for clemency, pick a side and end this curse.. ." Daniel didn't respond. It was thought that haunted his mind,but, Daniel knew he couldn't do it – Even if he wanted to. He chose Lucinda, just as she chose him, and he would never back out from that. Daniel had some hope, hope that either Lucinda had her own simple mortal life or that their curse would finally be lifted and they could be at true peace.

"I have hope, I won't back out from Lucinda. We chose each other for a reason." Daniel finally spoke, shaking his head, and leaned back at the tree trunk behind him, crossing his arms over his chest. Daniel and Roland stood in silence for several, long minutes, neither of them saying anymore on the subject. Roland knew it was a touchy subject for Daniel, it always had been; Especially when it came to talk about abandoning the choice Daniel and Lucinda made. It was the last thing they had truly shared together, the one thing that sealed their love, forever.

"Arri is really excited to meet Lucinda." Roland finally spoke, his dark eyes look at Daniel, who only hummed in acknowledgment. Daniel's mind had wandered from the cemetery to thinking about Lucinda. What is she like in this life time?,Daniel thought. Maybe she has blonde hair, freckles perhaps? Or perhaps she's the same as she was in her previous life. ..

"Daniel?"Roland interrupted his thoughts, forcing Daniel to blink twice to realize where he was and then his eyes fell on Roland.

"Yes?"

"Someone is here. . ." Roland said and looked over, along with Daniel.

Cam.

Daniel felt his wings ache to break free, the bitterness inside him begun to grow, and his blood begun to boil. It wasn't that he had hated Cam that much, it was more to that fact that they were mortal enemies for life. Daniel saw Cam's emerald eyes look at Daniel, he may even seen the typical brief smirk that Cam always wore.

"You could say that again." Cam spoke, his arms slack at his side.

"What are you doing here, Cam?" Daniel knew that Cam always had a purpose for the things he did, and he most certainly wouldn't have come to Sword & Cross without one. Cam held his smirk and shrugged once,glancing towards the Reform school.

"I guess I came to see what all the fuss was about. . .I suppose I'll see you around then, Daniel." Before Daniel could object, Cam had already ran off into the open eye of the mortal students, and Daniel wasn't planning on causing trouble – At least not now. Daniel said no more and ran his fingers through his hair, walking with Roland to the quad.

Once they got to the quad, they leaned up against the building, Daniel crossing his arms over his chest. Daniel stared at the gray sky above, shaking his head – Not at disapproval of the cool weather,but at the fact of how things have gone.

Daniel had tried so hard to stay away from everyone, everything. Tried to hide from the others, and most importantly – Lucinda. And yet, here they all were, though he had yet to see Lucinda.

Lucinda.

No. Not now.

Daniel felt a chill down his spine and his eyes searched the quad, suddenly eager to find her – And secretly grateful he was wearing sunglasses. And then, there she was, sitting beside Arriane, who was telling her something, but Daniel couldn't make out what exactly it was. His eyes focused through his sunglasses, gazing at her as he took her in – For the seventh thousandth time. Lucinda had a short,choppy, pixie cut, with bangs that fell into her hazel eyes. Her facial features were all the same; Her full, plump pink lips, her arched neck and her beautiful almond-shaped eyes. Then, he realized,she was staring at him, gaping a bit actually. Her eyes filled with curiosity. . .And something else, something that Daniel couldn't lay his finger on.

Daniel's face was still turned towards Roland's, only his eyes had strayed away – Which were still hidden under his sunglasses.

Daniel pulled off his sunglasses, tucking them into the pocket inside his leather jacket before his eyes locked with Lucinda's. Daniel's eyes widened and then furrowed, without his sunglasses he could fully see her. And it bought a unexpected torture to his heart once more. Their gazes locked, Lucinda stared at him – Questioning his familiarity –While Daniel did nothing, his mind clear, his heart racing.

Daniel saw the suffering in her eyes, as if she had dealt with a lifetime of pain and it made Daniel wish he could run up to her and pull her into his embrace, to listen and help every ache and burden she carried with her, and kiss away her pain – His addiction. Lucinda's lips were an drug, and he was so madly addicted. Daniel couldn't help himself, a small smile bloomed over his lips.

Breaking your own plan,again, aren't you?

Daniel cursed at his feelings for Lucinda, couldn't stay down for a second could they?

Lucinda quickly returned the smile, a small, shy smile that made Daniel want to go over and greet her. But, he didn't – Instead, he stayed in his spot beside Roland and very slowly lifted his hand in the air,and lifted his middle finger.

No one wants to date the ass. Right?

Daniel watched as Lucinda gasped, a fallen look on her face as she looked away. Though Lucinda had looked away, however, Daniel's eyes never moved from her. He watch as Arriane stood up, clasping her wrist as she pulled her away to the classroom. He watched her go, is eyes now shining the most intense shade of violet. Daniel wore no expression;Mainly because he had so many emotions at once at the moment, his fluttering heart proved that.

Lucinda turned once, finding his gaze on her as he watched her go. Daniel wasn't ashamed that she saw, but - he was frightened that she had saw. He couldn't bear her dying all because he had chose to slip up and watch her leave. It was a natural instinct to watch her go, he had always watched her go – Even if sometimes it wasn't the most cherishing memory, it was better than nothing at all.

"Yo, Dani?" Roland's voice caught Daniel off guard, causing him to flinch slightly in surprise before turning his gaze to him. Roland gestured to the students that were walking off to Mr. Cole and Ms. Sophia's classrooms. Daniel had Sophia at the time, away from everyone that he knew for the most part, until after lunch – Where he would have classes with Roland, Gabbe, Arriane, and Cam.

And Lucinda.

Daniel sighed and nodded, walking off the the classroom beside Cole's. "See ya!" Daniel called, Roland giving Daniel a peace sign before they both slipped into their classrooms.

Generally, Daniel found the classes easy and spent most of his time drowned into his own thoughts or sketching into his sketchbook. But, Lucinda was the only thing on his mind, and it terrified him. He was so scared of losing her again, he was worried about making her suffer once more, causing them both pain. Daniel sighed, sinking into a desk at the back of the classroom and watch the board, a blank expression on his face as his thoughts poured immensely on Lucinda Price. Memories of their most recent lifetime before this one ran through Daniel's head.

Castine, Maine

1992

Lucinda's fingerstips stroked up and down Daniel's forearm, her hazel eyes gazing upon Daniel as he stared across the frozen lake before slowly turning to her and giving her a small smile.

"I'm happy you came,"Lucinda finally spoke.

"I'm glad I did, Lindie."Daniel said, his hand rising and gently caressing her cheek. Lindie smiled at him, leaning her head lightly into his hand. This lifetime had gone on a little longer than most, they were moving slow, Lindie was constantly busy from her first job and Daniel had been busy doing his own things.

Lindie's hazel eyes were still locked with Daniel's, as he had did the same to her. Daniel and Lindie didn't move their gaze, their eyes radiated with adoration for each other. Lindie's hand reached up and cupped his cheek, drawing him in for a kiss. Daniel wanted to, he wanted to kiss her slowly,wanted to hear her moan into his mouth, but as their lips inched closer Daniel remembered, she would die. His hand grab her wrist and slowly Daniel pulls back, shaking his head.

"We shouldn't, Lindie," Daniel tells her as Lindie's eyes shine with tears as rejection boils through her. "But, I want to kiss you Daniel. You always do this." Lindie stubbornly insisted, but she was right – No denying it.

"Do . .Do you not want me?" Lindie's voice broke and Daniel's eyes soften, his eyebrows furrowing together.

"No, no, darling. . ."Daniel whispered. "I just want to give you the best kiss, the kiss you deserve." It was only a partial lie, Daniel did want to make their last kiss their best, but then again – He didn't wanther to leave him so soon.

"You kissing me would be the best kiss there ever could be."

"I want to make it perfect." Daniel murmured to her buried his face into the crook of her neck, nuzzling it gently as she giggled softly.

But, this one had ended so tragically. . .

"Kiss me, Daniel." Lindie begged for what must have been the hundredth time that day, they were now standing on the ice, balancing on ice skates. They had been together for three weeks now, it was the longest time they had ever been together. Daniel stared at her, his ingratiating violet eyes glowing with lust. His fingers tips slowly trailed up her side, his lips nibbling along her jawline.

Had the curse been lifted?

Daniel felt her skin heat under his lips, but he only believed it was her cheeks flushing with heat. Lindie moaned his name, her fingers tangling into his bedraggled hair. Daniel pulled back only for a moment, his eyes staring into her's before he pressed his lips slowly against her's, molding together perfectly. He hitched her leg over his waist, his fingers tangling into her black locks before the chill ran through his entire body.

No, it had not.

Daniel then pulled back from Lindie, staring at her wildly, a panicked look on his face. Lindie blinked, as something had come across her, and her eyes locked with Daniel, confusion written over her face.

"This. . .Feel so familiar, Daniel. . . It-It's as if we have kissed before." Lindie's finger tips slowly trace Daniel's jawline as he breathed in jagged breaths, the whispers of the Shadows filled Daniel's said nothing, as he was to scared to say anything at all before his hands wrap around the back of her neck. Daniel looks up at the sky, whimpering as she saw the Shadows begin to haze over.

"No! It's to soon, you can't leave me yet – Please." Daniel started begging her, as if she could reverse what was doomed to happen. First, a baffled look crossed Lindie's face, but then, slowly, a recollection formed on her face.

"Daniel," Lucinda begun, staring at Daniel. My Lucinda, Daniel thought, it's her!

"Lucinda," Daniel whispered her name right back, going in to kiss her, until a blinding flash of a light exploded, flinging Daniel across the lake and into a tree, and Lucinda obliterated in the air with a great ignite.

"No!" Daniel gasped out, his eyes flashing open – Back into reality, to present time. Daniel was first stunned by the new scenery, but Daniel gradually relaxed, leaning back into the metal chair and stared at the ceiling until the bell rang, freeing him from his prison cell. He slung his bag over his shoulder and rush to the door. A longing to see Lucinda dug into Daniel's core, but he was quickly distracted by Roland. However, Daniel couldn't help but look over his shoulder, seeing Arriane and Luce walking alongside each other. Lucinda and Daniel's eyes lock briefly before they both look away, breaking their gaze.

This is going to be harder than I thought. . .