Be sure to drop some reviews. Thank you all for your love and support! I'm sorry if it took so long, I've been very very busy – but I promise, the next chapter should be coming sooner than this one did. And that it will longer as well. :)

As for my story 'The Past Lives', which some are wondering when I'll be posting the first chapter – I am working on the first chapter and it will be hopefully be out at the end of July. I know I wanted it out by the 11th, but that didn't work out. Each chapter covers an entire lifetime, so they're rather long. I'm doing a lot of research for each chapter, and I may not do every single lifetime – Since there are 7 thousand years worth. I may just do five or seven from the same century. I haven't decided haha, but nonetheless – I'm excited to share the first chapter with you. I haven't abandoned it and it is in the works.

Love Never Dies,

Bella

Chapter 9

x

Where There's Smoke

"Just lay down or something while I go get the others, Daniel." Gabbe says as she ushers Daniel until her dorm. "You look exhausted." Daniel didn't object to Gabbe's demands, wandering straight for her bed and laying down, swinging his arms over his eyes. He was drained from his all-to-vivid nightmares that he had endured through the night, but he hadn't wanted to wake up. He didn't want to stop seeing Luce – No matter how painful it was. He missed the things he had felt with her, he missed the way they were able to cradle each other, kiss each other.

Before she combusted in his arms.

Daniel felt a shudder send through him and the constant whispers of his name, of Lucinda's name, the dates, the times. His jaw clenched, screwing his eyes tighter though his arm was slung over the, blocking them from the view of anything in the room.

"The Announcers look like they're most certainly ready to take your life today."

Cam's voice and the series of footsteps made Daniel peek from under his arm. Molly and Arriane stood side-by-side near the eastern window, Roland and Cam standing by the door, and Gabbe standing in the center of the dorm, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm sure Cam knows why we're here today." Gabbe's established voice nearly snarled in Cam's direction, her eyebrows raised in question. Everyone's eyes swung in Cam's direction – all with their own expression. Molly's holding a smug look, as if she had known the answer and was to do a sarcastic yawn. Arriane's narrowed and an angered look shone in them. Roland looked curious, but then again if he didn't exactly care. And then there was Daniel; Who had gotten to his feet and was now face to face with Cam, his gray eyes glistening with a dangerous look.

A sly smirk slid over Cam's lip as he leaned back against the wall Daniel had corned him against and crossed his arms over his chest.

"As you may or may not know, Lucifer has been walking the face of Earth for quite some time, and he has a plan." Cam looked at his watch, shaking his head before meeting eyes with Daniel. "I almost forgot, you're not aware of his plan going into effect already, are you?" Cam taunts, smirking at him. Daniel's jaw clenched and his fingers stretch at his side.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Remember that fire Lucinda was in – The one that had killed that boyfriend her's? Lucifer's doing."

Daniel didn't know what he hadn't thought of this – Of course he would be trying to end Lucinda. But why? It's not as if it would stop the cycle – Would it?

"We're suppose to be in a truce." Daniel said, "Even if Lucifer isn't in that pact – You are. Unless you're back out -"

"I'm not, I'm just giving you a little heads up. His plan is still in the works, even right now."

And then there was a crash from the lower levels of the building, and a formal toned crackled through the speakers.

'Alert. Alert. The fire alarm has been activated. Evacuate the building.'

Daniel glances up at the ceiling and then glared back down at Cam. "Why is he trying to kill her?"

"I'm afraid I don't know." Cam held his smirk, but Daniel didn't have for Cam right now – Not when Lucinda may be dying. Daniel quickly stepped away from Cam and rushed out the door, jogging straight for the library. Smoke was pouring from the doors to the library, filling the hallway as students rushed out and towards the exit. He watched as Pennyweather and Sophia rushed out.

"Luce and Todd - They're still in there -"

That was all Daniel needed to hear. He quickly rushed past to two and into the smoke filled room. His eyes went across the room, hearing a series of coughing.

"We have to keep going!" He heard a voice call, but no response and then a shuffle of footsteps, a series of wheezing and coughing. Lucinda, it had been Lucinda's voice he had heard. Daniel moved quickly towards the back of the library, following the sounds of the continuous coughing and urging. He pushes through the doors that lead out to the hallway, looking around hastily before his eyes fell on Lucinda and Todd.

Through the smoke, he could see Todd heaving in smoke, his droopy eyes showing he was on the verge of passing out and Lucinda's head turned up towards something. . .

An Announcer that hovered over the two, and it made Daniel's heart fall and a feeling of unease fills him.

But, he didn't have time to worry about this right now.

Lucinda and Todd were here, and more than likely to die.

Daniel's wings unfurled behind him and grabbed the two, just as Luce shouted 'Run'. He didn't think twice about it, he didn't think about how Lucinda had obviously been staring at the Announcer, or how apparently Todd may have seen it as well. He had to save her, he had to get her away from here.

"What the Hell?"

And that made Daniel remember where he was, what was happening. He couldn't be here – He shouldn't be here with her. But, he continued to carry them to the door until he pushed through the door and dropped them both at the top of the steps that led down to the commons. Daniel hovered over them, his wings beating softly behind him as he looked down at the two, but he couldn't help but stare down at Lucinda with worry, with an ache in her his heart, his soul.

And then she looked up at him.

Daniel couldn't decide if she could see him fully with all this smoke, but was grateful that she couldn't. He shouldn't have come here – She would've died if you hadn't. He should have sent someone else – No one else would've been as quick, no one would've been able to find her as quick, you know that Daniel.

Then he heard the whispers, the all-to-familiar warmth spread through him. His eyes wildly went down to Lucinda and then, he was blasted back against the wall, along with the other two.

"No!" Daniel cried out, quickly getting to his feet and pulling in his wings as he stumbled to Lucinda. "Luce?" He gasped out, feeling the cold ground and looking wildly around. Todd was at the bottom of the stairs, his body propped against the wall and a blank in his eyes, and then he saw Lucinda just a little ways from Todd, laying flat on her back. He stood up quickly and slowly picked up her body, holding her in his arms and stroking her hair from her face, wiping away the ash that dirtied her face.

Daniel couldn't pull his eyes away from her, he didn't want to let her go. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. He wanted to kiss her then, he wanted to caress her and let her know she was safe with him. Daniel sighed and curled his lip in-between his teeth and looked back up at a paralyzed Todd.

"Todd?" Daniel slowly set Luce back on the ground and crawled to the boy, frowning as he realized that Todd wasn't passed out at Luce was – He was dead. Daniel slowly picked up the boy and hauled him over his shoulder and pulled Luce in his arms cradling her awkwardly. He had to take them back, it wouldn't be right to leave them here. He couldn't help but stare down at Lucinda as he walked toward the front of the lot.

"Stay with me. . ." Lucinda mumbled in her sleep, her head turning into Daniel's arm and her fingers curling into his shirt. A small, sad smile spreads over Daniel's lips and he nods.

"Forever." Daniel promised, and then looked ahead, seeing a cluster of people outside the building. He felt a yearning to take Lucinda away from this place, not only from him – But, this place in general. She didn't deserve this, she never did. She just wanted to be in love, she just wanted to be happy with him.

Daniel didn't realize that Randy was in front of him, a paramedic was taking Todd off his shoulder and another was trying to tear Lucinda from his hold.

"Daniel Grigori -"

"He's in shock, give him a moment." Gabbe said, coming around Randy and stepping towards Daniel, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Give her to the paramedic Daniel, she needs help." Gabbe whispered allow enough so that only Daniel could hear. He then realized he was staring Lucinda,, his arms locked around her in a secure cradle, but his eyes slowly pulling away and then he nodded quickly, allowing the paramedic to pull Lucinda from his arms. He felt suddenly cold, as if a part of him was torn from him – Because it was. Daniel wanted to be able to carry to the ambulance, to stroke her cheek and watch her wake up.

"Daniel Grigori, lets go." Randy was snapping her – Or his – fingers in front of his face. "Do you need an oxygen tank?" Daniel pulls his eyes from the ambulance as the door shut, blocking Lucinda from his sight, and looks towards Randy.

"Where are we going?"

"The hospital, you all need a quick vital check up – Lets go." Randy turns and walked towards the small black bus, Daniel following slowly behind. But, he couldn't help but glance over his shoulder when he reached the door to the bus and looked at the ambulance one last time

She wasn't gone. She was alive, well enough to have a beating heart, and that meant everything to Daniel right now. A weak smile tugged at the corner of Daniel's lip and he climbed into the bus.

XoXoX

Daniel had sneaked out of the hospital with Gabbe after he was certain Lucinda had arrived and to avoid the 'vital check up', walking side-by-side as they went toward the back woods.

"Are you alright, Daniel?" Gabbe placed a supporting hand on his upper rub, squeezing lightly. Daniel didn't respond, he has nothing to say, he didn't know what to say, what to think, what to feel. "I'll take that as a no then." Gabbe sighed, letting her arm fall.

Daniel continued to walk with Gabbe in silence, his eyes staring ahead but stopping when they reached a small clearing.

And Daniel shattered like glass. He bit his lip hard to hold back his cries, his eyes screwing shut as he fell to his knees and put his head into his hands. "I can't take it, I can't it anymore," Daniel's broken voice sobbed into his hands as he hunched over, holding himself as he rocked back and forth on his knees before laying his head on the ground, tears spilling from his eyes as they shot open. "I don't know what to do Gabbe, tell me what to do – Please."

Of course, Daniel knew she couldn't save him, she couldn't help as much as she tried. Only one person could drag Daniel out the hole he was buried in.

But, Lucinda couldn't.

She didn't know she had to.

Daniel did, Daniel knew everything, he remembered very death, every pain, every word that came from her mouth, her good and bad habits – He knew her better than the back of his hand. But, Lucinda would never know, not unless their curse was gone – Not unless she remembered. And remembering was the unknown key.

Gabbe kneels beside him, a sad sigh coming from her as she placed a hand on his back. "Daniel, you're hurting yourself more than you're hurting her." She whispered, "Do you think Lucinda would want this? Do you think when she made her decision, that this is what she wanted from you? To see you in this much pain, to see you slowly killing yourself?"

Daniel didn't respond, he had nothing to say to that. Because Gabbe was right, this wasn't Daniel nor Lucinda had intended for each other.

But, it was worth it.

All the sacrifices, all the pain, everything he had ever done for Lucinda – It was all worth it. Daniel sat up before rising on his feet and allowing his grand wings to unfurl behind, their pinions extending towards the sky briefly before Daniel shot up above the treeline and above the clouds. He found himself stopping as he reached just over the clouds, his eyes staring up at the dark, star lit sky.

"I'll find you, Lucinda – And until that day comes, I'll be searching. Always."