While thinking about the witches, Damon felt a slight pain in his heart. It was hard for him to explain, but the last time he felt like this someone died. Then he remembered that Echo had mentioned that he was not her boyfriend. This time it felt like he was shot in the heart, and the blood was pouring out. He needed to make things right with her. He wanted her to be his.
The commander kept his eyes on Echo. His suspicions on the witches' treatment of her increased. Like he had stated to his wife earlier, he knew that the witches were not as kind as everyone thought they were. He cleared his throat, gaining both Echo's and Damon's attention.
"I found something about the demon you've been searching for," the commander crossed his arms. The metal on his armour clanked.
Damon approached them, turning to Echo in confusion, "What demon?"
The commander raised his eyebrow while glancing from Echo to Damon. The confusion on Damon's face made it clear to him that Echo must have not told him anything. He took a deep breath and exhaled, turning around, taking a few steps back from the two.
'How could I forget to tell Damon about the demon who escaped?,' Echo thought as she sighed, and then continued deep in her thoughts, 'I've been so caught up with different things that I almost forgot about the reason I was here.'
She snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of the commander's voice, "Are you not going to explain it to him?" The commander had his usual, cold face. It was hard to read his emotions, but his voice revealed that he was annoyed.
Echo turned to Damon who was still waiting for an explanation. She took a deep breath, and began to explain, "The witches sent me to destroy a few demons who were attacking the Protector's Realm. One of them escaped, and when I returned to the Witches Coven, they banished me to the Protector's Manor. I'm not allowed back until I kill the demon who escaped."
"Did you see his face?" Damon asked, he continued before she could respond, "Maybe I know them. Maybe…"
Echo interrupted him, "I didn't see his face. If I did, things would have been a lot more easier."
Damon sighed. He of all people knew that hunting something that lacked a proper description was difficult. It could take months, or even years.
"Now that… that's all explained," the commander cut into the conversation, and continued, "You, and Damon need to go out on a mission. Like I said earlier, we've got some intel about the demon that escaped. He's someone higher up in the hierarchy. That's all we identified from the piece of cloth the witches gave us before you came."
Echo stared at the commander's face blankly. The witches had not told her about a piece of cloth. Was there more that she did not know about? Do the witches know who the demon was?
"What cloth?" Echo asked, glancing at Damon, and then at the commander.
"The cloth that was left behind by the demon," the commander paused for a while as he thought. "I assume that you did not know of this."
"I didn't."
'Why didn't the witches tell me about the cloth? It would have been easier if they did. Then again why give it to the commander? They could have just used… What am I doing? Why am I questioning the witches? I need to stop,' Echo thought to herself. She was staring at the ground without uttering a single word.
Damon creased his brows while watching Echo. "Everything alright, love?"
Echo snapped out of her thoughts, and turned her gaze to Damon, "I'm fine."
The commander swiftly turned to the door, taking a few steps towards it, "This next mission… It could be dangerous." He turned back to face the two, hoping to read their expressions, but both Echo and Damon stood in place with an unreadable expression.
The commander took the silence as his cue to continue, "Damon you need to go back, and Echo, you'll be his prisoner." He explained in detail about what they were to tell the demons if they ever questioned how Damon escaped, and came to take Echo as his prisoner.
"When are we leaving?" Damon asked, after the commander completed his explanation.
"Tomorrow."
Echo's mind was blank. It was a while since that had happened, but she did not want to think much. Damon on the other hand was anxious about the plan.
'What if the other demons decided to torture Echo? Or what if I am no longer allowed back home?' he racked his brain.
"You have the whole of today to do anything you want. Come to the briefing room early tomorrow before dawn breaks. Bring Hunter with you, and don't tell this to anyone," the commander ordered. He turned around, leaving before Echo or Damon could say anything.
Echo sighed. She was beginning to worry. What if the demons did not let Damon back in? Would that mean that they would both end up as prisoners? Was this even a good plan? She did not want Damon to get in trouble because of her.
"What's wrong?" Damon asked, stepping in front of Echo. He had noticed that she was staring blankly at the ground. She looked adorable to him, but her eyes were filled with anxiety.
Echo snapped out of her thoughts, and turned her gaze to Damon. He was standing so close to her. Within a quick second he cupped her cheeks, and stared directly into her eyes.
Staring back into his eyes, Echo could not help but feel like he was seeing right through her. He was the only one that could read her so easily.
Damon smiled once he got her attention. Her cheeks were cold, and her eyes were piercing his. He gently kept his forehead on hers as he closed his eyes. He opened his mouth, and in the most comforting voice, uttered, "You don't have to worry so much, my love. I'll take care of you… Just like you took care of me here."
Echo stared at Damon who was still leaning his head on hers. What was he talking about? She was not worried about herself. Why would she be? She was worried about him.