Chapter 19 - Are You Okay?

Damon pulled away from Kaia's hug. She smiled at him, and stretched her hand to reach for his cheek, but he swiftly moved away.

He saw Echo talking and laughing with Sebastian, and it made his heart drop. His eyes turned dark again, and then his eyes met hers, she gave him a small smile, and continued talking.

"Who is he?" Damon asked, turning his gaze to the commander.

The commander glanced at Echo and Sebastian, "He's the captain of the elite warriors. He's the strongest warrior… and the most eligible bachelor." The commander turned his head away to hide his smirk, as he strode forward.

Echo lowered her head as the commander approached them. The commander nodded to her, and turned to Sebastian.

"Anything?"

Sebastian turned to the commander, "No. Nothing yet. The squad is checking the area."

The commander nodded, turning to Echo, "Mission report!"

"I heard someone dangerous was in the club yesterday. Most likely a demon, but I couldn't get a proper glimpse of them, commander!" Echo replied, with her head lowered.

The commander stared at Echo, "I guess we'll have to make due that then." The commander glanced at Sebastian once again before moving on to examine the garden.

Echo turned to Sebastian, only to see Damon approaching them.

"Are you okay?" Damon asked in a soft voice. His eyes had turned back to normal.

Echo smiled, nodding, "I'm fine."

"I'm sleepy!" Hunter blurted, sitting on the ground. Echo smiled, and picked the cub in her arms.

Sebastian watched Damon from where he was, and gave Kaia a cold glare, as he crossed his arms.

Kaia walked over to Damon, and glared at Echo. She soon smiled, "I'm glad you were here. I'm sorry I doubted you."

Echo nodded with a smile. She turned around, and walked towards Sebastian, her smile vanishing.

She had a feeling that Kaia was hiding something. She did not know what, but there was something off about her. Either Kaia was dating Damon as Echo thought, therefore disliking her to the core, or she had something to hide… or both.

"I don't know how you do it," Sebastian blurted, he turned to Echo.

Echo turned her gaze to him in confusion, "Do what?"

"Smile to her face. If I were you, I'd rather punch her in the face."

"And that's why you are not me," Echo smiled, crossing her arms. Her expression turned unreadable as she asked, "How did you know I needed help?"

"It's best you don't know," Sebastian replied. He kept his hand on Echo's shoulder, and walked away to talk to one of his squad members.

Echo flipped her sword in her hand, she was thinking about everything that had just happened. Why was Damon helping her, and going against the other demons if Kaia was his girlfriend? Didn't he also threaten to kill her if they met again? Then why was he helping her now? What was she not seeing? The only thing that came to her mind was that either he cared for her because of the promise he made to her brother, or he was just using her for information.

The last thought made her heart shatter. Would he really do something like that to her? Echo trusted him so much, but now she was worried.

"Echo!" the commander called, standing in front of Echo, a safe distance away from her sword.

Echo snapped out of her thoughts, "Commander!"

"You're deep in thought. What is it?" the commander asked.

Glancing at Damon and Kaia a few feet behind the commander, she replied, "We'll talk about it later."

The commander nodded. "We should go back to manor. Sebastian will stay back with a few of his squad to check the place out." He glanced behind him at Damon and Kaia, continuing, "Let's go!"

Sebastian stood back, with his squad, as Damon and Kaia walked towards the commander. The commander chanted a short spell, teleporting the group back to the portal room in the manor.

Damon and Kaia stood in awe, taking in the sight around them. The commander led the group to the briefing room. The briefing room was filled with soldiers

The commander turned to Damon and Kaia, "Take them to the dungeons!"

Echo's eyes widened. A group of soldiers escorted Damon and Kaia out of the briefing room. Echo watched in silence, once the soldiers left she turned to the commander, ready to say something. The commander stopped her by putting his hand up.

"What did you want to tell me earlier?" the commander asked. He stared at Echo with his cold unwavering gaze.

Echo stared back with a poker face, "It's nothing." The commander's gaze was still on her, and his expressions did not change. It was obvious to Echo that the commander did not buy what she had said.

"Echo!... It has been a few weeks since you arrived here. It must be obvious that most of the other Protectors don't trust you. Don't make me one of them too," the commander crossed his arms on his chest, his armour clanking as it touched together.

Echo was battling her thoughts. She wanted to tell the commander that she doesn't trust Damon and Kaia. Then again she was worried that the commander would hate Damon. She didn't want that, and what if she was wrong. There were just too many factors to think about. She had to think about the outcome of everything, and that made her even more anxious.

The commander sighed, "Echo! I'll give you a few minutes to think this out." He walked past her, leaving her alone in the briefing room.

Echo sighed, she had a huge burden on her shoulders now. If she makes the wrong decision, the commander might even execute Damon. She wanted to talk to someone she could trust, but there was no one she knew well enough.

With some hesitation, Echo found herself in front of the healers' room. She reached out to tap on the door, but her hesitation grew. Thinking that since she was already there and she might as well just go through with it, Echo tapped on the door lightly.