Chapter 29 - Why aren’t you afraid of me?

Echo was confused. What masquerade ball was he talking about? Is this a masquerade ball for the Protectors, or the demons? Did demons even have masquerade balls?

"No!" Echo blurted in a soft voice, her head dropping, as she was thinking.

Damon held her chin, and gently lifted her head. "The commander told me that they were holding a masquerade ball tonight. He gave me an invitation."

Echo tilted her head, with a small smirk, "So you're fitting in so well here on your first day, that the commander invited you to a ball… that I didn't even know existed."

Damon smiled at her cute actions, and pulled her closer. Echo stared at Damon's eyes as a glint of mischief reflected on them. She gulped as she didn't take her eyes off him. His hand slipped to her waist, and without knowing what she was doing, Echo put her hands on his shoulders. She tiptoed as her heart beat began raising. In a swift second, her lips landed on his, but before she could pull back, he put his hand behind her head, and kissed her back.

Echo immediately pulled back, and looked around. She smiled at him, grabbing his hand, and rushing to the shop to buy masks and clothes.

—

After their little shopping trip, the three arrived back at the house. It was afternoon, and they were already tired. Damon slumped on the sofa, while Echo unpacked her clothes, re-checking them.

Echo's excitement exceeded her fatigue. She stared at the purple mask with feathers laying on the bed in front of her. It looked so gorgeous that she wanted to try it on right away. She couldn't wait until the evening to go to the masquerade. Glancing at the rose that was also laying on her bed, she smiled, biting her lip.

A quick thought made her more excited. She could use the masquerade to ask Damon to be her boyfriend. Smiling, she left her room, seeing Damon asleep on the sofa, and Hunter snuggled up next to him, she silently walked to the kitchen.

She made lunch, and prepared the table. Going back to wake Damon and Hunter who were still asleep, she crouched beside the sofa. Gently, she tapped Damon's arm, in a second she felt his hand wrap around her neck, and he lifted her up, slamming her on the coffee table. His eyes were filled with darkness.

"D-Da…" her voice didn't make it out of her mouth, because he tossed her across the room. Before crashing on the wall, Echo opened her wings, stopping her mid air.

Hunter jumped on Damon, and was about to bite him, but he tossed her aside. The cub fell on the ground, but immediately stood up, dusting.

"Damon! What's happening? It's me…" Echo's voice trailed off, when Damon used his powers, and threw a vase at her. Ducking, Echo moved away, "Revelioro."

Her outfit changed, and she rolled aside, pointing her sword at Damon.

Damon stepped back, and clutched his head in agony. Echo rushed to him, she was anxious and confused about what was happening. Why was he attacking her? Was he in pain? He looked like he was in pain, but what could she do to help?

Echo approached him with caution.

"Stay back!" Damon's voice was deep, and rough, as he stretched his hand out to motion her to stop. Instead he couldn't control his power and sent a telekinetic push.

Echo held her sword up, reducing the blow to her, and being pushed back a few feet.

Damon pulled his hand away, falling to the ground. He knelt on the ground, still clutching his head, while he tried to control his powers. It took a while for him to calm down, but it didn't stop Echo from rushing to him.

"Are you okay?" Echo asked, kneeling beside him.

Damon raised his head, turning his gaze to her. His eyes were now back to normal, but he was breathing heavily, and his brows were furrowed, "Echo!... Are you okay? I'm sorry!"

He checked on Echo, and then moved away from her. She tried to move closer to him, but he kept crawling back.

"E-Echo!" he called out with worry in his voice. She stared at him, her face void of fear. He continued, "W-Why aren't you afraid of me? I could have hurt you." Just the thought of hurting her, made him go crazy. He clutched his hair, pulling on it.

"Stop!" Echo held his hand, gently removing his finger from his hair. "You'll never hurt me. I know that you'll never hurt me."

Damon brows wrinkled more, "Are you crazy? I could have killed you."

Echo cupped his face, and with a sweet smile, she replied, "Don't worry about me, I can handle myself…" she paused for a while, searching for the right words, "You must be hungry. Let's eat first okay."

Damon held her wrist, and moved her hand away from his face. He stood up, and looked at the table. Casually walking to the table, he picked his food up and went to his room, locking himself inside.

"Damon!" Echo called out, but he did not respond. She sighed, holding her head and turned her gaze to check on Hunter. "Are you okay?" She picked the cub in her arms. Hunter was unharmed, making her smile.

"I'm fine," the cub jumped out of her hands, rushing to eat.

Echo smiled at her behaviour, but her thoughts were on Damon. She was now more anxious than earlier. Instead of talking to her about what was happening, he locked himself in his room. Why was he hiding from her? She understood that he was hurt because she could have got injured, but she was able to protect herself. And then she felt more miserable at the thought of him beating himself up for almost injuring her.

The appetite, and excitement were all gone… replaced by anxiety. Echo was getting a headache from thinking that she went to her bed, and laid down.