Page 56 of Echoes

"So, I'm a step above him?" Damon taunts, leading us toward the courtyard.

"Definitely more than a step," I mutter. "You're growing on me a little."

He laughs and we head past the empty rooms. I look inside, instinctively searching for Theo.

Theo…

I haven't seen him for days because of all this bullshit. I told him I wouldn't avoid him and now I've been forced to do that.

Is he mad at me?

Sick of me?

My eyebrows furrow with anxiety and worry. It's not unnoticed by Damon, who stops in front of the door to the stairwell.

I stop walking, remembering the last time I was here. Theo had smashed the access pad and swept me away underground to escape the bomb that had been dropped in the hall.

The keypad has been replaced, the shiny black metal untouched, not even a single finger mark smear on it.

"What now?" Damon asks, annoyed.

Looking at him in confusion, I quickly shrug. "It's just been a crazy few weeks. I'm just thinking of shit. It's okay."

Damon raises an eyebrow at me. "You need to learn to get a handle on your emotions. You have no control whatsoever. It's pathetic."

I scowl at him. "Every time I start to almost like you, you say shit like that."

"Lucky for me, I don't care about being liked."

"Why?" I blurt out. "Why would you not want to be liked?"

Damon looks at me, unfamiliar disbelief on his face. He's glaring at me like it's the stupidest question he's ever heard. "This is exactly the emotional bullshit I'm referring to. When will you learn that likeableness gets you nowhere? Power is everything, Avery. I'm not here to make friends. We're notgoing to sit in the library and braid each other's hair and share secrets."

"But we do share secrets," I point out sarcastically.

"No, we don't," he answers coolly. "I provide information as required. You should be mindful that you are lucky to be included. Sadly, that was out of my control."

I snort. "Something out of your control. Shit—Hell is freezing over."

I realize instantly that I'm going too far. Damon's arm slams onto the wall next to my head as he leans in, eyes darkening.

"Wearein Hell. The only difference is I took over from the Devil. However, I believe in rewarding loyalty. Grey has been loyal to me since the day he arrived. Thus… I tolerate you."

My jaw clenches. "I know," I tell him quietly. "If we're being honest, I tolerate you for the same reason."

His eyebrow twitches, but I offer a quick smile, trying not to stir the beast.

"But regardless, I'm thankful for your…tolerance," I add.

Damon straightens up, scanning me curiously. "I'm glad to hear because there are many secrets about this place you don't know. It's best you do as you're told and follow orders."

"And that includes looking after Grey," I murmur. "Because you need him."

He nods. "Exactly." Pausing, he smirks, looking away. "You might think I'm the villain, Avery. And you'd be correct. But that's because we're made to be. There's nothing wrong with that."

I stare at him in confusion. What is he talking about?

Damon reaches into his pocket, extracting a staff card. He holds it up to my face between his fingers, tilting his head to the side.

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