009.

"Have you been reading recipe books because you said you'd teach me how to cook?"

"Huh?" Echo asked looking at him confusedly before nodding her head slowly," yes, things to teach you of course."

"You don't have to trouble yourself so much, instead let me do it myself," he said and before Echo could open her mouth to respond, he stood up and walked away to his desk.

"What happened just now?"

Echo scratched her head and took the book out of her bag and ran her fingers over the initials causing them to glow faintly. She tucked the book back in her bag and walked up to the rooftop. Ensuring she was all alone, she sat cross legged leaning against the wall book in hand. She read through the book and closed her eyes.

"Ophelia.. communicator be seen by those that surround you... for no hate comes from this soul..."

She opened her eyes and looked around expectantly but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Did I not say it correctly?"

She picked the book and skimmed through the page when a slight breeze caused her to look up. A gush of wind twirled in front of her forming the shape of a mirror and on the surface, Ophelia's face appeared.

"Whoa! That actually worked?"

"Echo? Are you okay? Why did you use the communication mirror?"

"Am fine aunt. I just wanted to see if it'd work."

"Are you still in doubt of everything that happened"

"Um.. a bit curious is all," she said and Ophelia chuckled.

"Just don't try any other spells okay?"

"Of course aunt. I need to go now."

The mirror vanished and Echo looked at the sky before turning to the book.

"Hmm... this drawing looks like Dexter..."

She read through the contents in the page before letting out a surprised gasp.

"Echo? Are you up here?"

Zero's voice drew her from her thoughts and she quickly hid the book in her bag just as Zero appeared from her right.

"Here you are. Let's go there's so much to be done," he said and helped her up.

"Hey! Wait up... I.."

"Work now explain later," he said and dragged her towards the door and down the flight of stairs.

"... and done!" Echo said and leaned back against her chair lost in thought.

With a resolution in mind, she saved the draft and switched off her computer and walked out of the building. On the quiet walk home, she couldn't help but notice the streets were silent.

"Okay Echo, calm down, you'll be fine," she said to herself as she quickened her pace.

After getting to her house in one piece, she lay on the bed her aunt's book in hand. She sub consciously found herself looking through the drawing of Dexter.

" 'Banished prince, the strongest of all the devils. His soul stone contains the powers of the great dragon... ' Dragon? He is the most powerful demon with dragon powers? No wonder his aura seeps nothing but leadership and power."

A loud crash sounded from the entrance and she looked from her book to the door.

"Must be some stray cats," she mumbled and resumed to her reading," '... second prince, his soul stone contains powers of the mystic bird, able to heal people, put them to sleep and turn them to stone. In addition, the prince has hypnosis abilities..' hmm, Zero's powers aren't too bad.."

Another loud crash echoed through the silent house causing her to get down from the bed. She closed the book, sealed it, placed it in the drawer and silently walked out of the room.

"Hello?"

She walked into the kitchen where broken glass shards carpeted the floor. She stretched out her hand to turn on the lights when a swift movement caught the corner of her eye. Before she turned, a piece of cloth covered her mouth and it took her a second to realize that the cloth was drugged. She punched and kicked trying to free herself but the strong arm holding her was firm. Her eyesight became blurry and she passed out into the arms of her captor.

"I have the girl, master will be pleased."

The guy threw Echo over his shoulder and walked towards the door when a low whistle caught his attention. He turned towards the source of the sound and his eyes narrowed in anger at the sight.

"You..."

"Oh... what brings a demon of your league to the human world?" Zero asked and the man growled in response.

"Master is in need of this human girl," he said and ducked to the side missing Dexter's attack," predictable of you two."

"Well sneaking up didn't work out," Zero said and took a fighting stance," guess we'll attack head on."

Dexter stretched his limbs and turned to his demon form causing the demon to smirk.

"Without your soul stones, you two are weak," he said and attacked.

Zero and Dexter flew back but quickly regained their postures dodging another attack.

"We can't attack him head on because of Echo. What do we do?" Zero asked and Dexter wiped the blood from his bottom lip using the back of his hand.

"Get Echo away from him," he said and leapt forward.

The two attacked doing minimal damages on the demon and soon, they lay on the ground half conscious and panting heavily as the demon laughed.

"You two are in deed weak. I'll receive an award for bringing your heads back to master."

The demon walked towards the two when suddenly, he stood frozen in place.

"What is this... ugrh.. I..."

A bright light engulfed the demon and Zero and Dexter covered their eyes.

"What's..."

The light disappeared and the demon was gone. Echo let out a groan and Zero rushed to her side untying the ropes that bound her.

"Echo! Are you okay?"

Echo managed to nod her head and Zero helped her into the house and set her on the coach as Dexter surveyed the area. After a rest, Echo looked at the two gentlemen before her.

"Thank you for saving me," she said and Zero pet her hair playfully.

"We aren't about to let anyone bully you," he said teasingly and Echo couldn't help but laugh.

"It's not safe for you here," Dexter said and the two turned to look at him.

"He's right Echo. We don't know when more demons might come and try to attack you again," he said and Echo looked at him.

"Demons?"

Zero scratched the back of his head before taking a deep breathe.

"Echo, promise us you won't freak out," he said and Echo slowly nodded.

Zero looked at Dexter and soon, the brothers stood in front of Echo in their demon forms. Zero's silver horns perked up on his blonde hair and his ears were elf shaped. Dexter's black red horns curled on his head in a zig zag motion and his long, black hair drooped over his shoulders and a light gasp escaped Echo's lips.

"I know I should be surprised but seeing them in their demon forms is breath taking, they look hot," she mumbled to herself.

"Echo?"

She shook her head and looked at the two demons in front of her.

"Um.. can I ask what type of demons you are?"

"Aren't you afraid of us?"

"Uh... ," she bit her bottom lip under their intense gaze," it's okay if you don't want to tell me."

She stood up but Zero grabbed her hand and looked at her with an unreadable expression. She was drawn to his gaze and slowly, she found herself lost in his beautiful eyes. She blinked twice and looked at Zero who shrugged and let go of her hand.

"Did you just... hypnotize me?"

"You're clever," he said and she hit his arm.

"Stop playing around Zero," Dexter said and the two turned their attention to the senior demon who was back in his human form.

"Sorry," he said and turned to his human form.

"Tell her about our powers? She might actually use that information against us," he said and Echo turned to him.

"Do I come up as a traitor to you?"

"Echo.. he didn't mean it like that. He's just cautious around humans."

"That doesn't mean he should think all humans are bad."

"I've not met any human who is good," he said fixing his gaze on Echo," they are all evil."

Echo's hands clenched into tight fists at the remark. Her eyes flickered from emerald to brown at the mixed emotions bursting up in her chest.

"Bind," she mumbled inaudibly and an invisible force wrapped around the two and lifted them from the ground.

"What?"

The two struggled to free themselves but the force binding them was strong. Zero looked at Echo and a smirk spread across her lips.

"Wonder what I should do with you two. Should I just kill you?"

The force tightened on their bodies and they both let out a groan.

"Echo... please... "