Author Note: The Girl Who Fell Out of the Ocean is a first draft and is still raw

Sheiks Club- Bognar Regis- Present Day

The music suddenly seemed so loud almost like it was screaming in protest of the cramped bodies dancing, smashed together like sardines in a tin.

Andy's eyes began to ache, suddenly she was begging internally for the flashing lights stop just for a moment . She held her hand over her face protecting her eyes from the painful light, this night, this night wasn't fun, anymore, she wasn't laughing and dancing with Roxanne instead the whole world around her seemed to be screaming out, yelling even "Andy, Andy, look away from the club, from the night, something is wrong," Then it hit her. It hit her like she had been slapped in the face and left standing cold and alone in the middle of the club.

"Where is Lavinia?" Said Andy.

"I dunno mate," said Roxanne, she was laughing with some boy whose name she wouldn't remember tomorrow and as she spoke her eyes barely locked with Andy's.

"You don't know? What do mean you don't know?" Andy's voice became hysterical quickly as she grabbed her friend's arms to try and get her attention.

Roxanne snatched her arm away.

"I mean," said Roxanne, who looked and sounded annoyed at being grabbed.

"That I haven't seen her in a while, not since she was dancing with Claude," said Roxanne who then turned her attention back to the boy.

Andy ran round the club looking for Claude's dark head of hair that normally towered over any crowd, eventually, she found him, at the bar, with a girl that was not her sister, dick she thought.

Andy didn't say anything she just stared at Claude.

"What is it with you guys?" Said Claude, who was met by an angry Andy, red eyes and the hands on her hips were normally a sign that he was in trouble, why am I always in trouble? Thought Claude.

"Look I don't know where she is," he said  holding his hands up.

Sam was walking towards the group who he had seen standing and talking by the bar from across the dance floor "What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Said Sam.

Claude annoyed by the siblings sudden moment of unity turned to face them put his drink on the bar and looked them both square in the face. In that moment Andy could see what Lavinia had seen in him, he was very handsome in an obvious sort of way and he had a darkness about him, a darkness that would make any sensible girl run a mile.

"Look guys, we were dancing, and then we weren't she went all weird on me, ran towards the toilets I think. She's hot and we were having a good night but she's not my girlfriend and there's no way in hell I'm going into the ladies and holding her hair back for her while she pukes or whatever, she's not my problem."

"You arse hole Claude," said Andy.

"Andy, go and check the ladies, you can fight all you want with Claude later..." Sais Sam.

It wasn't long before they realised that Lavinia wasn't in ladies, she wasn't anywhere in the club, and that dark feeling that surrounded Andy and Sam when they thought about their sister it flooded their bodies now. It washed over them like a wave and they both felt as if they were drowning in it, drowning in their own terror,  terror for Lavinia, and terror for their own souls. 

They ran away from the club and  across the windy pier the angry sea furiously crashing beneath them. They stood in the road and began to look for a taxi they had to go back to Chichester, back to their halls, it was the only place they could think of that she would go, besides Andy had said, she has the key to the room.

Marxby Manor-September 2nd 1918

It was the night before Fay's eighteenth birthday and her birthday celebrations, I can not tell a lie all most all the work had been done. The rooms were decorated, food prepared, many of the guests were already staying at the manor. It wasn't going to be a grand affair not like in the days before the war, but we were Marxby's so this would still be an affair Papa wanted it that way. 

That evening was a happy one, Sarah and I had been playing together on the piano, well I say together. Sarah had been playing and I had been making up silly songs to go with her melodies. We were laughing and enjoying each others company when we knew we should check on the preparations for tomorrow, and make sure everything was done. Everything would be done, the servants were brilliant and they all adored Fay and to top it off word had spread like wild fire that her engagement would be announced at her birthday party.

 I didn't hate Niall's cousin, but then I had only seen him once from across a room, his name was Arthur and is was blonde and brilliant like Niall another Lord Winter, he had the same beady eyes, there was something about a person's eyes. I had always you can read a person's soul just by looking into them, a way to spot their goodness if you like. Will's eyes were an ocean, deep and full, and Niall's were black and empty, I saw that same emptiness in Arthur and I didn't want that emptiness to touch Fay, not ever.

We walked down the spiral staircase still giggling about are songs but stopped suddenly when we heard voices, cross, angry voices. We paused on the staircase almost frozen to the spot, and there they were Mama, Papa and Fay, arguing in the hallway so openly, so freely, thinking no one was around.

"You silly girl, don't ever try and make bargains with me," said Papa.

Fay turned away from Papa but he carried on talking anyway.

"Did you know your sister Dolly did the same thing as you five years ago? Begged me not to make her marry that awful man," Laughed Papa.

"Of course I know," said Fay, looking back at Papa full of hate.

Sarah held me tightly on the arm to stop me running down the stairs after Fay; I stood like a statue and just listened.

"Do you know I think I might have had to carry her down that aisle kicking and screaming if it hadn't been for you?" Papa was still laughing, something seemed quite funny.

"She made me promise that if she married Niall, that terrible, monied, titled, monster, I would let you and Percy make your own choices, marry who you choose," Papa said this with a sickly grin.

"What?" Said Fay her pretty face was full of shock and suddenly quite pale.

"So close, you and your sister, and she never told you this, I wonder what else she never told you?" Said Papa.

"Shut up," said Fay.

"That's enough Willis, said Mama trying to put her hand on Papa's arm before he snatched it away.

"I don't think it is enough because I don't think our youngest child really gets the point. Your sister tried to make a bargain with me Fay, she bargained with the only thing she had, her own life. And here you stand, mine just the same, I own you."

Fay stood listening to our father I don't think she  knew who he really was until that very moment.

"I own each and every one of my children and when I decide your time comes I sell you to the highest bidder, do you understand me?" Papa was shouting his face was red and sweaty.

"You are the devil," said Fay her big blue eyes full of tears.

Papa walked closer to Fay and grabbed her small porcelain face in his big left hand, "then you should know daughter, you never make a deal with the devil, you will always lose, something your sister is just finding out after all this time. 

Papa nodded to the staircase where Sarah and I stood, tears streamed down both our faces, Fay looked at me, I think in that moment all she was was sad, sad that I never found a way out for myself, for her and now she was heading down exactly the same road I had walked upon five years ago, to the day.

Two Hours Later- Marxby Manor

Papa passed a letter to Mama without uttering a word she looked at it expecting something horrible to be inside often when Papa gave her letters the contents was full of terrible things, this was not a terrible letter.

"Captain Gilbert, he wants to come here?" Said Mama with a frown.

"Yes, it would appear that the Captain had quite a time of it due in the war, he was caught up in a gas attack and injured and has now been sent home." Said Papa.

"Is that so?" Said Mama raising her eyebrows curiously still holding the letter.

"He was Jimmy's best friend, and in the letter, he asks if he may  visit the manor, a place that held great happiness for him before the war began,"

"And you're going to permit him to come here?"

Papa looked up at Mama with his strong almost black eyes "I know you don't think much of me Marie, but I'm not a complete monster, if my dead son's best friend who is most probably traumatised or his body broken from this god forsaken war wants to come to Marxby Manor then he'll come to the manor," he said with conviction. 

Mama nodded and so did Papa and so did Dolly... who was listening outside Papa's office door. Dolly wanted to cry out, to scream but instead, she held her hands tightly over her mouth she nodded over and over again telling herself Will's alive, oh my god, he's alive and he's coming to Marxby Manor... tomorrow.

Hi guys thanks for continuing to keep up with The Girl Who Fell Out of the Ocean, sorry this chapter has been a bit later than usual I started a new job this week so I wasn't used to my new routine but all is back to normal from now on! 

I hope you enjoy this chapter and it is worth the wait, please comment and vote if you enjoy! Happy reading and writing everyone :-) xxx