Thank you guys for the wonderful feedback on the last chapter, I'm really excited for the next chapter, as it being one of my favorite scenes from the first novel. Be sure to let me know what you think! And I'm sorry I had to post it on Saturday, I ended up falling to sleep during the editing process.

Love Never Dies,

Bella

Twelve

x

Touched At The Roots

A gloominess settled over Daniel when he realized it was Parent's Day at Sword & Cross. The thought of all the families he had torn apart by being with Luce made him shudder. He also thought of his own family that he been torn into separation by an ignorant war. They shouldn't had been forced to choose – Of course he would've chose love, it was the right choice. It was the choice worth fighting for.

He had talked to Gabbe after freeing himself from Luce at the lake, he remembered his frantic heartbeat that made him pant and his head rushing – Daniel still couldn't believe what he heard.

"She. . . Sees the announcers, then?" Gabbe sat on his bed, a confused look resided on her face. Daniel nodded, putting his hands on his knees as he bent over and gasped for air – Had he been holding his breath all that time? Daniel only nodded, looking up at her. His eyes shined the brightest shade of violet, it was illuminating. Daniel then stumbled forward and grabbed Gabbe's shoulders, his violet eyes wide.

"I don't know what this means, Gabbe – Please, I need to find something out, help me." Daniel pleaded, tears welling into his eyes. Gabbe frowned, her hands came up and grabbed Daniel's elbows.

"I'll do whatever I can, Daniel."

Daniel hadn't seen Gabbe since that night, no clue to where she could have gone. He knew Gabbe would take it seriously, especially if it meant not only getting Daniel's love back, but also her sister, and resolving the curse that had taken over them.

Daniel was with Arriane and Roland in the cemetery. He was oddly perched on a tombstone, watching Arriane throw Skittles at Roland while popping some in her mouth every now and then. The sun had just began to rise over the horizon, sunlight peeked through the cloud cover above.

"So, tell me Daniel – Where did you and Luce disappear to yesterday?" Arriane asked, her eyebrows raised in questioning. Roland nodded as he looked at Daniel as well for an answer, eating on of the Skittles that he had caught when Arriane had been throwing them at him. Daniel didn't move or even make a suggestion he was going to speak at all. The mention of Luce only made him long for her more. Daniel hung his head, his blond hair falling and hiding his mournful eyes.

Daniel didn't fear the lost when Luce was around, at least not as much. He forgot that he had to push her away at times, he forgot the pain of their curse. . . When he was with her, just her – He was happy, he had the tiniest bit of joy. It was when she was gone that made it worse. He knew the curse was there, he knew she was gone, he knew he wouldn't be able to wake up that morning and see her face. She only stood as an imposter in his twisting nightmares.

Daniel looked up finally to Roland and Arriane, his eyes wet and wide with fear and pain. The two frowned as they stopped playing around, their attention turned to Daniel.

"She. . . Told me she saw the Announcers." Daniel croaked and turned away, his eyes stared out into the void. He didn't bother to see their reaction, or even listen to them, as he drowned them out and closed his eyes. Daniel didn't want to be there, he wanted to be with his love, he wanted their curse to be over, he wanted them – He wanted something more. He didn't care for the risk in line, he didn't care if he had to take his life for the curse to ridden from them.

Then, the feeling of loneliness to sunk into Daniel. Was it really that bad? He felt empty without Luce at his side, he ached for that wholeness he felt at the lake with her, he longed to feel her presence once more. Daniel almost wanted to reach to feel his heart, to assure it was still there because all he could feel now was this twisting black hole that caused an uneasy sensation.

"Do you think. . .Possibly. . . " Arriane trailed off, but Daniel quickly caught on to what she tried to say. Daniel looked beneath his lashes and nodded slowly.

"Maybe," Daniel whispered, unsure. "I don't know though, but. .. I hope it means something." Daniel sighed and shook his head. His fingers ran through his tousled hair and stood to his feet. "They're taking over the cemetery for the day, we better get going." Daniel murmured, but honestly – He wished he'd just stay and join in on 'Parents Day'. He knew Luce would be here with her own parents, and he didn't want to interrupt that – It wouldn't be fair to them. Daniel shoved his hands into his pockets and wandered from the two and out of the cemetery.

XoXoX

It was around mid-day when Gabbe informed Daniel that she had seen Cam with an unknown visitor. Daniel had a good feeling who it was.

Daniel walked ahead of Gabbe, the tip of his wings bristled against his sweater as he moved his way through the crowd and toward the woods. He didn't bother to see if Luce had happened to be in the crowd – It was her safety he was concerned about. The two weaved their way through the overgrown forest before finding Cam and the visitor. Cam immediately turned toward the two, a small smirk slid over his lips as his arms crossed over his chest. The mysterious figure beside him, who was in a fitted black suit and far too large gold watch shined on his wrist, then he met his piercing blue eyes. Lucifer.

Daniel couldn't help it now; His grand white wings burst behind him, hovering over the ground now and looking down at the two. Lucifer chortled as he shook his head, running his fingers through his amber hair.

"Hello, brother." Lucifer nearly taunted, his icy blue eyes narrowed in a playful yet mocking manner.

"What an insulting term to use," Daniel jeered, a dark glare aimed at the two. "What are you doing here?"

Lucifer tilted his head to the side, "Am I always assumed to be plotting something, brother?" Lucifer yet again used that term, a smirk settled on his face.

"You generally are." Daniel snapped, his fingers extended and then curled into a fist. Lucifer raised his eyebrows and crossed his hands behind his back.

"You won't do anything, Daniel."

"Then you lack competence – I'm more than capable of doing plenty." Daniel sneered, his jaw locked, and his gray eyes never left their ever-standing glare. Cam then hovered with Daniel, face-to-face. Cam's golden wings were a bit smaller than Daniel, but still held enough power and strength as Daniel's.

"What do you want, Daniel?" Cam's green eyes squinted. "Missing your Lucey?"

Daniel's face twitched and he slowly landed on the ground, his eyes still locked on Cam. "You're not worth a petty fight," Daniel grumbled and drew his wings and then turned his back to them, Gabbe followed suit.

"Why do you do this, Daniel?" Lucifer questioned, which forced Daniel to stop in his tracks. "Why not just pick a side? Seven thousand years, really?"

Daniel stared at the dark trail before he slowly turned to Lucifer, a blank expression fell upon his face. "Because, we chose each other."

Lucifer cocked his head to the side, as if he was waiting for more. Daniel stretched his fingers again and sighed.

"Because Lucinda showed me more, she made me feel more than I ever had." Daniel whispered and cast a look at Cam, who was now wore a neutral look and stood beside Lucifer. Daniel turned his heel and walked along side Gabbe as they left Lucifer and Cam behind.

XoXoX

"I couldn't find anything out," Gabbe finally spoke as they reenter his dorm, a somber sigh escaped from Daniel's lips and he sat on his bed, running both hands through his hair.

"It probably doesn't mean anything," Daniel muttered, "It won't end."

Daniel had gone from optimistic to pessimistic in no less than an hour. He couldn't bear to put his hopes up again – He had done it too many times before. It was better if he could just stick to his plan rather than continue to seek out Luce. How many times would Luce have to die for him to realize that he had to give a chance? He screwed up, each time. He tried to leave in Helston, but not before she took notice, not before she fell more in love with him. He had hoped their previous life would end the curse, the way things had been lasting. . .

Daniel couldn't help but feel tired now. He was tired of the ache in his soul, tired of chasing for something that may never happen again. Daniel wanted to go back, to choose a side and get it over with. But, he knew he could never do that. He knew he'd never be able to back from his choice, even if he did get a do over. He loved Lucinda, he loved her more than life itself. She had showed him a life outside of the walls, there was nothing more for Daniel. There was only his love for her.

"I'll keep looking, why don't you go take a walk? Stop moping," Gabbe said as she rustled Daniel's hair and left the room, the sound of the lock setting in place being her dismal. A walk, that sounded good enough.

Daniel walked around the crowds of students and parents, his eyes never dared to look at any of them as guilt had sunken in his gut. He didn't want to see Luce – Oddly enough. He didn't know if Luce would ever see her parents again after this day if things didn't go according to plan.

His head hung low, his blond hair hiding his somber face, and is hands were buried in his jacket pockets, twiddling the locket in his pocket. Daniel didn't understand why he picked it up before he left – For no reason in general, he supposed. But, the reason was far too obvious but no one bothered to speak of it.

"Daniel, are joining our tour?" Cole called as Daniel avoided the small crowd. He glanced up, giving a tight smile.

"Afraid not," Daniel said curtly. He gave a simple nod in his direction before turning and headed into the dense forest for the second time that day, but instead – Headed to the secret lake. A part of him wished he could had been able to bring Luce here today, it was the perfect temperature for a swim.

He knelt on the rock, his eyes locked on the dark water as he sat on his heels. He didn't bother to get in, he didn't want to today. Instead, his wings sprouted from his back and wrapped around him, shielding him from the world. Daniel could feel a wetness in his eyes as tears grew in his eyes. Daniel tipped his head back, staring up at the sky. It was dark with buzzing Announcers, sending shudders down his spine.

Guilt seeped into Daniel's bones, tears rolled down his cheeks before he turned downward and held his face in his hands as his body shook with a sob. All day, the ever-continuing remembrance of Luce and his past lives haunted him. He couldn't get over it. She'd never have children with him. She'd never be able to marry him. She'd never be able to live as long as this curse was in place.

Darkness had began to fall over the ground, and Daniel was still in his position as he had been no less than an hour ago. He turned his head up to the sky and allowed his wings to carry him up. His tears had dried, but his dull gray eyes and tear-stained cheeks showed that he had been suffering. Daniel flew for a short time before he landed on the Monolith in the cemetery, his wings drew in, bought his knees to his chest, wrapped his arms around them, and stared out.

XoXoX

A few sniffles caught Daniel's ear along with a female saying something like 'I usually do something' but couldn't make out what exactly she had said. Daniel could feel his heart flutter, but his head never turned, his eyes never looked away from the now darkened woods. He didn't care for who was there now, it didn't matter – Nothing mattered to Daniel at this point.

His head hung low, burying in between his knees. Daniel considered crying again, but he felt so emotionally drained that he could barely do that.

He had been so distraught by the remembrance of the families he had torn, the families he could never start, his lost without Luce – that he barely realized that Luce was watching him from the other side of the cemetery.

Daniel could hear the leaves rustle again and someone whisper 'lets go', before departing off into the darkness, but he could see the hazel eyes from the corner of his eyes. She was watching him still. Daniel warily looked at her, their eyes never meeting but it was obvious to see what Luce was feeling.

Empathy.