Snippet #1843037

Emmaline nodded to Aaron's explanation of his untouched meal. Although she found his reasoning odd, she had no true reason to disagree with the noble. He seemed honest enough, and why would any person need to lie about not finishing a meal? No, that could not be the case. He said it himself, he had business to attend. Her mind lingered back to the comment he made about her music. He claimed it was the song that had drawn him in, in meaning that it was herself that had captured the noble's attention through music and note. Emmaline's eyes glittered hopefully to this thought, wishing it could be that simple. "When shall I... Free you, from your duties."

At this simple statement, Emma's small frame rose slightly to his invitation. His words implied that he wished to see her again tonight. Emmaline bit her lower lip in wonder to this thought, her body twisting slightly in childish awe. The back of her mind warned her to be cautious, that she knew little of this man and what she did not know should be feared. She chose to ignore these thoughts, however, her mind already pulling a list of places to visit and questions to ask. She could feel herself becoming giddy, an emotion that had not festered itself inside her for many years. In her distraction over Aaron, with her ocean eyes fixed solely upon him, she did not notice Ethan lumbering towards them until it was too late.

Although he was a honest, hard working man, Ethan believed that Emma was the one he would one day marry. He was possessive over her, easily angered when drunk by any man who crept too close to her side. The attention she gave to Aaron infuriated him. Ethan drank in anger, a dark cocktail when the prize was a lovely maiden to take as his own. He had all but proposed to her, simply assuming that Emma was his for the taking. She did not have the heart to tell him otherwise.

Emmaline opened her mouth to respond to Aaron in excitement. The tavern would be closing in only a few hours, obvious by the few remaining customers inside its walls. Before she could speak, another voice cut through: "Yes! Tell the lady why her food isn't satisfying to a Lord. Is it too filthy in a place like this? Is that it?" Ethan said and pushed him drunkely

Emma's eyes widened to Ethan's outburst. She had forgotten he was still here. Emma gasped, her hand covering her mouth as Ethan threw the first punch. Aaron's smooth motion was difficult for Emma to capture as it occurred so quickly, his speed inhuman. "Please," he said and looked at Emma for a second. "Before you embarrass yourself."

Emmaline looked to the men with large, frightened eyes, unsure how to react. Ethan was undeterred by Aaron's intervention as he continued to struggle inside the vampire's grasp. "Who are you to come in here like this?" Ethan shouted, his words blurred by the toxic of alcohol. "What do you even want here, to take my Emma?"

Emmaline blinked as Ethan attempted to break Aaron's grasp and throw another punch. She ran forward and clutched Ethan's arm, trying desperately to make him stop. "Ethan, this isn't right! You are drunk, just go home and get some rest. You don't understand what you are doing," she pleaded. "Aaron did not mean any harm." She looked to Aaron, her eyes begging him not to harm Ethan. Something inside Emma told her this would be an easy task for the apparent noble.

Ethan looked to Emmaline, a scowl heavy on his face. "Aaron is it? If you're so friendly with him already, why don't you just go f-"

"Ethan!" Emmaline cried, horrified by his words. "Stop this now, you are acting like a child." Ethan groaned at Emma, ripping his arm from her grasp and slamming it down across her face. She gasped, stunned by the action, her eyes wide in teary protest. At this, even Tabitha and her husband came out from the kitchen and behind the counter, ready to break up the fight as a few men slipped away from the tavern.

Tabitha took Emma closely and scowled to Ethan, "You are not allowed here anymore, I've had enough of you!"

Emma's gaze flickered between Ethan and Aaron, her mind unfocused from the attack. She looked to Ethan again and shook her head. Unable to bare the sight of him any longer, she ran from Tabitha's grasp and out the door, not looking where she was going.