An Unpleasant Invite

"His name is Bryne Leighton. He is a viscount. He is a good match for you."

Barrett informed as he scribbled passionately on a piece of paper. 

Her brothers looked composed, following the information. They made it seem as though they were simply announcing a ball they planned to hold. As if they were extending an invitation.

It made Ember even more furious. It might seem like a piece of cake to them, but it was not to her. This was her future. Her fate and serendipity. Why would they sabotage it by tossing her to one faceless bachelor? 

She had heard about a viscount in Belmont once but never knew what his name was or what he looked like. She never cared to ask. 

Of course, she had always desired a marriage of comfort and wealth but of love and passion as well.

There was now love and passion omitted from her wish. 

"Whatever for?"

She found her voice asking, trying not to sound offended. For she knew her brothers would mean well and only well for her.

They'd probably thought she would be delighted to be a viscountess and finally have a title to her name.

But that would be nothing to be delighted about if she didn't have a morsel of feelings for this man.

"It is part of Father's request."

Edward responded in Barrett's place, walking over to her and palming her hand in comfort as Barrett continued scribbling on the paper, ignoring Ember's total existence.

Edward had always been the brother to give solace, while Barrett would rather stab his eyeballs with pins than show his emotions. 

"And, you all felt it was wise to decide without my knowledge?"

Ember was still trying not to sound offended, but with each spilt word, she was failing miserably.

"It is of necessity, Ember. This man will protect you from the vampire that hunts after you. With you by his side, the vampire would never come for you. Rest assured."

Barrett responded dryly, penning down the last words on the paper and scrambling around to find the letter seal.

Ember cast him a painful, hot glare.

"You must think me to be a joke, then. Do you think I would jump at the idea of getting married to just anyone because he is some viscount? Huh, Barrett?!"

Edward jumped at Ember's snap, and Barrett halted in his search and swirled around towards her.

He stalked towards her, folding the paper in his hand as he did.

"Em, this man is not just a viscount but as well, a vampire hunter. If we are looking for anyone to protect you from this vampire rummaging the town as we speak, he is the only man for the job."

He moved even closer to her, shoving Edward out of his way as Edward watched the scene with a raised brow. 

"Father had asked us specifically to engage both of you. And, we can not disregard his request. Together, Viscount Bryne, Edward, and I will hunt this vampire, and in the meantime, you'd let him protect you and make this easy for us."

Tears trickled down Ember's blemished face as she continued glaring daggers at Barrett, who was displaying zero feelings.

She never entirely believed in getting married to the love of your life, but at least she hoped for something as such. Something as similar and remotely close.

She hoped she wouldn't have the same fate that awaited Lauren - getting tossed to a man you know nothing about, excluding his name and his title.

However, that hope was crushed. Even with her facial flaws, she had the hope of crumbling and shattering into a million pieces.

What man would still want her despite learning of her scars? 

The Duke, perhaps.

Suddenly, she felt a pang of regret for not accepting the Duke's request that night. If she had, maybe she wouldn't need a suitor again.

Maybe he would now occupy the empty, echoing space as her spouse. 

More tears poured out. She never imagined being with anyone other than the Duke. 

Edward moved closer and wrapped her in his embrace, patting her back smoothly.

Barrett stalked away from them, proceeding with his search for the letter seal.

"Wipe those tears, Ember. You have to get ready because you'll be meeting him in a few hours."

"Come on, Barrett. Be sympathetic for once."

Edward shot at Barrett as Ember sobbed in his shoulder.

"No one sympathetic ever survives this cruel world."

Edward just responded with a roll of his eyes as he continued patting and sobbing Ember.

"Luckily, we secured an invitation to a private small gathering of reminiscing of the past legends and their significance from the Duke."

Ember suddenly went white against Edward's shoulder at the mention of the Duke.

"Viscount Bryne would be there. It is a medium to meet up and get to know each other and also announce to the public that you are to be wedded."

Ember didn't catch on with the other things Barrett had said since the "Duke." 

And, after she got dressed by her maid, Grace, and got on the carriage with her brothers to the private gathering, her thoughts were focused on the Duke and how he had moved on from her.

He would have only extended the invitation to Barrett after learning of her engagement with Viscount Bryne, she was sure of it.

Tears threatened to spill out as the carriage crawled lazily to the Duke's mansion, where the event would be supposedly held. But, she pushed the tears back in, fighting them to the Duke's mansion.

And, when they got down from the carriage, making their way into the Duke's mansion, she had a rush of Deja Vu that she had been there.

But, it was stupid. It had to be because the Duke had never asked her there. There was no way she would secure an invitation to the Duke's mansion. Alone.

It was dusk, and it was indeed a small gathering with no more than 15 guests in attendance. Everyone was directed to the library at first and instructed to pick a book biography of one of the past legends to learn more about them. 

They were also allowed to discuss the history with a friend or a guest.

What a boring gathering, Ember had thought as she glued herself to one of the many towering shelves in the library, running her fingers to find a book that she might pretend to enjoy while she waited for her brothers.

They had gone to collect Viscount Bryne, and she silently prayed that he would, at least, be a little bit entertaining to kill her boredom.

A tiny laughter echoed across the room.

When Ember swiped her head to catch who it belonged to, her face fell immediately.

It was Francesca's,  the first daughter of a Baron, and she had, in fact, laughed at something the Duke had said.