Be sure to review and follow for more updates! I'm so happy you guys are still following along and are enjoying the story. I really hope to have the first chapter of 'The Past lives' out by the 11th, but I'm not making not promises since I'm writing an entire past life into one chapter and it's taking a lot of hardwork. But I'm really excited to share it with you :)

Love Never Dies,

Bella

Chapter 8

x

State of Innocence

Daniel didn't know what he was doing here.

He had no business being here.

It would only wound him more.

Daniel slowly approached the worn down cemetery, the rain beginning to pour down on him - making him flick his hood up over his head. Daniel's gray eyes held the most saddening look, as if he were torn in half, as if something were missing. Daniel sighed, going towards the back of the cemetery before stopping at a covered tombstone. He fell to his knees and wiped away the dead leaves that covered the engraved name.

Lucinda Muller.

Daniel still didn't understand what he was doing here, it wasn't as if her body was in there. Even if it was – She would've been a speck of dust. Daniel stared down at the tombstone before laying his head upon the cold and wet tombstone.

Maybe he was here out of guilt, or maybe need? Daniel didn't care anymore, he was just. . .Here. He was here, this was one of his last places of connection to Lucinda. He screwed his eyes shut, hugging himself as he held back a sob. He wanted to sleep – Just as he had before at this very place – He wanted to sleep and try to forget, he wanted to sleep and remember. What the hell do you want, you bipolar idiot?

"Funny finding you here." A chilling voice spoke behind Daniel, sending a shudder down his spine. Daniel slowly turned, sitting up to look at the man behind him. Daniel glared at the man, who wore a dark smirk and his icy blue eyes burned into Daniel. "Weren't you in that position last time?"

"What are you doing here?" Daniel sneered, rising to his feet so he could be face to face with him – Not that Daniel had half the power that this man had.

"Maybe the same reason you are, wanting to be somewhat Closer to Lucinda." He cocked his head to the side, his icy blue eyes squinting as his amber hair fell into his face. "I'm surprised you aren't with the reincarnation of Lucinda right now – Have you backed out?"

"I'll never back out, I'm not like you." Daniel stood his ground, his gray eyes igniting with anger. The man chortles darkly, his head tilting back and shaking up at the sky before looking back at Daniel.

"Not like Lucinda, you mean? She betrayed me, I gave up everything for her, I did everything I did for her-"

"You're lying." Daniel quickly cut off, his jaw tightening. "That's all you know what to do.'

"I loved her, I showed everything she knows about love – You don't even know the half of it." The man snarled, stepping forward.

"You may have invented it, but you surely didn't know how to use it. You broke her, I picked up the pieces, I'm the one who will stick with her until the end." Daniel says with certainty, his arms crossing over his chest.

"And what happens if she starts falling for Cam? Or maybe, she'll regret her choice and choose me?"

"You already know she'll choose me – She always does, and I'll do the same for her. Always." Daniel held his chin high, his eyes narrowed at the man. "You believe what you may, but it's not changing what she feels. If somehow in the end of our curse, she decides she wants you again or if she falls for Cam, then I'll let her go. But, you'd never do that. Keep that in mind. You'd never had done half the things I did for her, for our love." Daniel stepped forward, his face only inches from the man's now. "And if there is one thing I've figured out, is that you may love her – But you don't know how to. You let your wants get in the way of what Lucinda needs from you. That's why she chose me, that's why she left you alone. You let your desires crumble any emotion that Lucinda did have for you. I'd never do that, ever."

His icy blue eyes watched Daniel, a smirk slipping back over his firm lips and stepping back, running his fingers through his amber hair.

"You don't know the half about love, Daniel – You never will. You just easily get swept up. But, what I said was true, whether you chose to believe it or not. . ." The man looked down at his wrist, looking at his watch. "Oh, pity – Look at the time. I'm afraid I have business to attend to, Daniel. But, I'm sure we'll see each other sometime soon. Be sure to call me for coffee sometime." The man taunts before extending his grand golden wings behind him and shooting into the sky.

Daniel watched the man go, his fists slowly easing as he stretched his fingers out. He turned and looked back at the plot, kneeling back down on the soggy ground and sighing.

"I miss you, Lucinda. I'm so sorry I'm hurting you as I am – I have to, I have to protect you, I have to give you a chance. I'll always love you, no matter what. No matter what you do, what you choose. . .You'll remain a part of me." Daniel sighed, slowly standing up. "I'm sorry I didn't bring you any peonies today, I know how much you love them . .Next time, I promise." And Daniel disappeared into the trees.

XoXoX

"Where the Hell were you, Daniel!?" Arriane scolded him as he walked into his dorm. Daniel frowned at the small group that had gathered in his dorm; Arriane, Gabbe, Roland and Cam. Daniel had just wanted to shower, he wanted to sleep, he wanted to relax – Not be hassled to explain where he had been for the past day.

"I thought I was entitled to my own privacy? You know, with it being my dorm and all. . ." Daniel muttered, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it on his bed.

"The last time you went missing, Daniel, we found you here majorly depressed – it isn't your best case to be alone." Cam says, who was leaning against the wall near the bathroom. Daniel didn't respond to Cam's comment about his depression, he knew he was depressed without Lucinda, he knew he suffered – But he didn't need Cam going on about it. He sat on his bed, toeing off his shoes and lays back on the bed.

"Can I just get some rest, you know - without several people in my room?" Daniel raised his eyebrows, propping himself up on his elbows to watch everyone go – But no one made any sign that they were leaving. Daniel groaned almost childishly and plopped back down, covering his face with his arm and rolling over, facing his back to the group. No one spoke for several minutes, all of them sitting in the eerily quiet room that only had the sounds of their breathing. Daniel sighed and rolled back over, facing the ceiling.

"I went to Prussia and visited her grave. Does that answer your question?" Daniel remarked, sitting up and running his fingers through his sandy hair, his eyes going along the group. They all looked between each other, as if that showed something, but none of them spoke, all of them rising to their feet.

"Well, um – I guess we'll give you your privacy then." Roland said, glancing at Daniel as they walked to the door. Daniel nodded, mumbling a 'thank you' and lays back on the bed. He heard the door open and close, and he closed his eyes.

Daniel couldn't sleep, what was he thinking? As much as the nightmares were better than being awake and suffering in reality – He couldn't. There was an ache inside of him, guilt of what he said to Lucinda.

A wonder if she was still alive.

Daniel sat up in his bed again, a urgent look in his eyes. Maybe that's why they had been here? Daniel swung his feet off the side of his bed and quickly pulled on his Converse. He rushed out his dorm, looking wildly up and down the hall, starting for the stairs.

"Attention all Sword & Crosstians," The speaker crackled, causing Daniel to stop briefly at the top of the steps. "For those who attend the optional religion class, Miss. Sophia Bliss is requesting all of her students come in for a last-minute study session in the typical Religion class."

Daniel continued down the steps, uncaring for the announcement. He had to find out what had happened to Lucinda. If she had made it back. . .

Then he saw her as he stepped outside, and his breath caught in his throat. She was with Pennyweather, talking to her near the classroom block. Daniel had been so wrapped up with the idea that should could be dead, when he had second thought she could be alive. And there she was, in all her glory. She was in the typical array of black clothing, her short black hair looked like perhaps she had just woken up, and her pale skin glowed under the florescent light. Daniel didn't want to turn away, he wanted to stare at her for hours, her wanted to go to her and run his lips against her skin. . . She was his craving, and his temptation was growing.

Daniel drew his eyes away, looking at the stairs behind him. A temptation he couldn't have. Daniel sighed and started heading towards his religion class.

XoXoX

Daniel tried to figure out on a scale of one to ten how ridiculous this session was. It was as if they were a class of kindergarteners in Sunday School, learning about the Bible. Daniel, of course, knew plenty of these things already, he had studied the Bible's rewrites practically every time.

But, he couldn't help but admit that this was one thing that was keeping his mind of his erratic heart beat, the aching pull on his heart as Lucinda sat only a few desks away from him. Daniel wanted to turn to look at her, to see what she had been doing, just to see her face.

Daniel had pretty much drowned out the lesson as his thoughts faded to Lucinda. He had caught a glimpse of her on the courtyard, and Daniel didn't know what he wanted anymore.

"Sandwich?" Gabbe's voice caught his attention as he went back to reality. He glances up, his dull gray eyes suddenly radiating a violet that caused Gabbe to frown. "You remember what I said when you l left the lake, don't you?" She whispered, leaning on Daniel's desk. Daniel didn't respond, he shook his head and looked down at his notebook.

"I don't want it." Daniel waved her off, pretending to read the notes he had taken down. He heard her sigh and then walk away.

"Don't eat those." He heard Gabbe say, making him turn around to see who she was talking to. Lucinda. Arriane, Cam, and Gabbe were now circling her desk, and his made his heart ache, an urge to come over and join the group burned into him.

"She's right, Luce." Arriane said, glaring at Cam. "Who knows what he drugged these with." Lucinda laughed, but seeing no one else had, she stopped. Her laughter made his lips twitch into a small, wishing that she had continued a little longer. Everyone was called back to their seats as their dinner came to an end. But, his eyes didn't leave Lucinda's for several minutes until a paper airplane slid onto his desk.

She's going to notice you eventually, you know.

It was obviously from Arriane, but Daniel didn't bother responding, just crumbling the airplane into a paper ball and dropping it to the floor as he looked back at Sophia, who was continuing on her session.

"And do we all know who the wicked angel was who battled God?" Sophia's words sent a sense of anger through his veins, a ache in his back as his wings wished to break free. No one dared to respond, in fact – No one dared to speak his name.

"Anyone?" Sophia asked again. What do you expect from a class of fallen angels?

"Roland!" Arriane hoots, causing Daniel to chuckle softly as he glanced between her and Roland; Arriane nudging him, and Roland rolling his eyes, but couldn't keep his smile off his face.

"That's right," Sophia said, as if Arriane had answered correctly. "We call him Satan now, but over the years he's worked under many guises – Mephistopheles, or Belial, even Lucifer to some." Daniel glanced quickly at Lucinda, as if he had expected something – Maybe some sort of recollection.

"For nine days and nine nights," Sophia continued, "Satan and his angels fell, further and further from Heaven." Daniel's lips curled, and it seemed like the rest of the group had a sinking feeling inside them, but his eyes never moved from Lucinda. Until they met with her's. Had he been staring? Daniel whipped his head away, leaning forward instantly and looking down at his notebook.

"And they landed, in the blazing pits of Hell."

Daniel exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and ran his fingers through his sandy hair. Then he heard a series of tearing and clanging of two desks colliding. Daniel turned to see Molly and Lucinda glaring at each other as Lucinda quickly shoved it into her pocket and looked back at towards Sophia, who was now eying the two.

"Lucinda and Molly, I would hope whatever you two feel the need to discuss in a disrespectful passing of notes could be said before the entire class."

"M-Molly was just saying that she disagrees with your view of how Hell is broken down. She has her own ideas." Lucinda stammers, making a surge of guilt rush through him. He wanted to get Molly off her back, and sit by her, telling her not to worry about it, but no words escaped his parted lips.

"What the hell," Molly mutters, standing to her feet. "Well, you've described Lucifer's mouth as the lowest place in the inferno, which is why all traitors end up there. But for me, I think the most tortured place in Hell should be reserved not for the traitors, but for cowards. The weakest, most spineless losers. Because it seems that traitors? At least they made a choice. But cowards? They just run around biting their fingernails, totally afraid to do anything. Which is totally worse." She then paused and coughed out, "Lucinda" before continuing after clearing her throat. "But that's just my opinion."

This would've been the part where Daniel got out his chair and approached Molly, told her off, before grabbing Lucinda and walking out the room with her. It was obvious that was directed to the both of them, and it pissed him off. He would have to talk to Molly after this. . .

"Thank you, Molly. I'm sure we all very enlightened" Sophia said and then Daniel felt the eerie quietness fill with whispers and he turned to see the Announcer. It was approaching Lucinda, and Daniel swore his heart stopped.

And then he watched as Lucinda reached out and pinched it.

She. Pinched. It.

She sees them.

Daniel gaped at her and then glanced towards Arriane, who was also staring as if she had seen a ghost. They watched as the Announcer shattered on the ground and Lucinda looked back at Arriane, who quickly regained herself, but Daniel was still dumbfounded.

Could she see them?

Of course she can, she just touched it.

Daniel's eyes didn't move away, his face still holding it's confused look, until Sophia spoke.

"I think my arthritis has had enough Hell for one night." Sophia chuckles, a couple students weakly joining in. Daniel quickly rose to his feet, shoving his notebook into his bag. "If you'll all reread the seven critical essays I've assigned on Paradise Lost, I think you'll be more than prepared for tomorrow's exam."

Daniel stood at his desk for a moment, watching Lucinda unfold the note she had snatched from Molly earlier. He had to say something.

He slowly approached her desk, slinging his bag over his shoulder and standing in front of her desk, watching her read the note before her eyes met with his. A odd feeling of bliss flushed through Daniel as their eyes met.

"I wanted to apologize for leaving so suddenly the other day," Daniel finally spoke, his eyes never leaving her's. His tone was formal, as if to keep up the one last barrier they had – Rather than having the casual tone he had when they were are the lake. "I take it you made it back to dry land okay?" Daniel watched an awkward smile spread over her lips, making him return a small tight smile.

"What did you think of the review session?" Small talk, really?

"It was torture," Lucinda answered immediately. But, to Daniel, this sounded fine – It meant she, hopefully, didn't catch anything, that she wasn't any closer to discovering her past.

"Good," Daniel spoke with a content tone.

"You hated it, too?"

"No," He said, cautiously.

"So. . . You liked it," Lucinda said, "What did you like about it exactly?"

"Maybe 'like' isn't the right word." Daniel paused, thinking about how to continue this. He didn't mind religion, of course he hadn't – After all, he was an angel. "It's in my family. . . Studying these things." Daniel spoke the first thing that came to mind, "I guess I can't help feeling a connection." He shrugs. Of course you feel a connection.

"I didn't know you had any family," This stunned Daniel, but he quickly came back – rudely. "Why would you?" Daniel scoffs, his sandy hair falling into his gray eyes.

"I don't know. . . .So, I mean, you do?"

"The question is why you presume you know anything about my – Or me – at all?" Daniel remarked, but he honestly wanted to know. Had she remembered something? A look flashed in his eyes, a confused, stunned, and hopeful look that could honestly be made out for anything.

"D," Daniel felt Roland's hand rest on his shoulder. "You want to stick around to see if there's another yearlong lecture, or are we going to roll?" Daniel knew that he was getting too close, and this was Roland's way of getting him out of this.

"Yeah," He nodded and glanced once towards Lucinda. "Let's get out of here." He turned his heel with Roland, not bothering to say goodbye to Lucinda. He felt the aching pull again, the urge to look back at her, to see if she was watching him, to see the look in her eyes. But, he didn't.

"Are you cool?" Roland asked, watching Daniel as they stepped outside, Daniel nods slowly in response.

They started to head back towards the dorms, neither of them attempt in any small talk or anything. Daniel's eyes ran among the crowd of people that started to head back as well, and hoping to see Lucinda's black hair, he saw a bright blonde – Molly.

He felt the anger from earlier arise and make him stride over to her, his hand clasping her shoulder and turning her, making him face her.

"What the hell was that?" Daniel nearly snarled, his gray eyes narrowed at her. Molly smirked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"What was what?" Molly taunts, watching Daniel. "Oh, stop acting so pissy. I thought you wanted distant, Daniel – You've always been so bipolar. And aren't you supposed to defend her in front of her? Doesn't make a lot of sense if you're acting as the heroine behind the scenes."

"Leave her alone, Molly. Whatever my plans are, that doesn't give you the free card to fuck with her. She doesn't deserve how you're treating her." With that, Daniel turned away, not caring for Molly's response, and continued walking back with Roland, who had his eyebrows raised – But didn't comment.

When Daniel finally reached his own dorm after leaving Roland on the second floor, he couldn't help but feel an odd sense of relief. He tossed his bag beside his bed and plopped down, rubbing his face. Daniel stared at the ceiling overhead, his mind wandering as he slowly drifted off.

And finally, dreamed.