Nightfall fell as Alaric and the girls finally arrived to Mystic Falls by cars. An arrangement settled for their stay in a hotel that Cathy, Alaric's personal assistant, rented out.
The werewolves who came along the journey escorted the girls to their separate rooms. Mason volunteered to take Elena himself.
When they reached to the room she's staying at, Mason stopped her by the door. He looked back to his right and then to his left, checking to see if anyone is nearby; there is no one in sight. He turned his head back to Elena and placed something in her hand.
She looked down at it and found a silver wedding band. She tried to give the ring back, but Mason refused, closing her fingers on her hands to plant the ring deeply on her palm.
"It's traditional for the bride to wear a ring."
"Mason."
"That belonged to my mother..My father worked in the mines ever since he was a boy. He learned how to search for rich gold and did a lot of welding. When he married my mother, he worked for three straight days until he dug out real silver. He melted it and made this ring...The day she was on her death bed, she gave the ring to me and begged me to sell it. She told me that she would find finally rest in peace with my father, who died before her, and that the ring means nothing without him beside her. I never sold it though. I kept it by the time I was able to make more money by working back in the Fortuga Camp."
"...I'm sorry..."
"It's alright. It was a long time ago..We all have our stories, after all. Anyway try the ring on. I'm not sure if it fits you, but my mom had skinny fingers since the day she died, you do too, I'm sure it might fit."
Elena slipped the ring on her thumb, but it only fit halfway. Mason chuckled of the fact that she has no knowledge of the tradition of marriage. He took her left hand, pulled the ring off her thumb and slipped it on her fourth finger. It's a perfect fit just like he hoped for.
"It fits you just fine."
"Thank you, Mason."
"Your welcome. Anyway, I got the priest ready to arrange the marriage documents."
"When do we have to leave?"
"Now will be best."
"Now?..Okay. But there's guards outside, they'll get us."
"Don't worry about the guards. If we make a run for it, they'll never get to us on time. Come on, let's go. We'll use the window."
Mason slipped the hotel key card into the inserted place of the door knob. The small machine scanned it and opened the door. Mason placed the card back in his pocket. He took her by the arm and rushed inside the room.
He released her arm and opened the window. Elena stood there, puzzled of what he's thinking of doing next. Right then at that moment, Mason kicked off his shoes and started to pull down his pants. By the time he slipped his pants off completely, Elena immediately turned around as Mason stripped off his other clothes.
"Why are you taking your clothes off?"
"Well, the only way we can get to the church a lot faster is for me to carry you on my back in my werewolf formation. If I go through the transformation with my clothes on, I'll just end up tearing them into pieces...By the way, can you take these clothes and hold on to them so I can change back to them until we reach the church?"
"Okay...Just hurry up."
Mason removed the last of his clothes and kicked the pile of his clothes aside. Elena took a few steps back, and she picked up the pile of clothes and his shoes.
"Now get on my back."
"Do I have too?"
"The fastest way for me to get us there is you getting on my back that way there will no trouble for you to run."
"Okay...Just..Can I close my eyes?"
"It's your choice."
Elena turned her head to the side, her arms stretched out to blindly find where he is standing. When she felt his back with her fingertips, she embraced one arm around his neck, while the other arm clutched tightly onto his clothes and shoes, and her legs wrapped around his waist.
"Hold on tight. Alright? It's okay if you grab onto my fur, it won't hurt me that much. This ride requires no seat belts so try doing everything you can to grab on as long as you don't want to slip off and fall."
"Got it..Let's..Let's just get this over with."
"Okay. Here we go."
Mason slipped his body halfway out the window. With the kick of his feet, he leaped outside of the window. Elena closed her eyes as the wind harshly blew coldly on her skin. Mason's transformation processed in lightening speed. His formation completed once he landed on his feet.
Immediately he took a run for it. Just as Mason warned Elena, the force of the wind tried to separate her from his back. She gripped a handful of his fur, tightening her legs around his waist until she can feel his rib cage against the sides of her calves.
Mason soon halted to a stop by the time he finally reached the church. His transformation changed him back to his human form. But even though he stood upright, Elena refused to let go. Her eyes are still closed and her tighten grasp on him still hasn't loosen.
Mason touched her hand and spoke.
"Elena. Elena, we're here. You can let go of me now."
Elena's eyes burst open once hearing those words. She released his neck and dropped her legs off his torso. She again turned her head away as she awkwardly dropped his clothes and shoes, and turned her body around.
He changed into his clothes quickly. He couldn't help but smile of how adorably she took a few breaths, whispering herself to calm down.
When he slipped his shoes on, he signaled her to turn around. Elena turned her body to face him. He took her by the hand and gave it a light kiss on top of it.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. Let's do this."
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"What do you mean you're married? That can't be possible. It's only been a day since you arrived here. How..How in the hell did you get married so fast?!" Alaric demanded.
"Just this evening, we snuck out of the hotel and met with the priest. Our marriage has been finalized, we had a witness to confirm proof of our small wedding, and lastly we signed our papers. It's a done deal, Saltzman." Mason said.
"Oh the hell it isn't. Look, just because you walk in here so much in love with this marriage document in your hands doesn't mean that I can't have the marriage annulled."
Mason stepped forward, he raised his fist to Alaric's icy marble cheek. "You have no right to do that. Have you forgotten what I am? I am just as strong as you are to crack this ancient face of yours. Elena is my wife now. None of your kind can't touch her now that she is under my protection and my pack."
Alaric paused for a moment. He is aware of the power a wolf pack has. War between the vampires and the werewolves hasn't occurred for nearly twenty years. The world for the vampires have been living happily in peace, none of them wouldn't want anything to ruin that.
"...So does this mean that you are backing out from the job offer, Elena?"
Elena, who remained quiet throughout the whole argument, stepped forward beside her husband and replied. "I'm still in for it. Even though I'm married, I want my family to stay where they are now."
"Look. This won't be easy now. No vampire is going to want to buy a girl who is married with a werewolf. You're too risky now to buy, sweetheart. So you either have your marriage annulled to make the auction a lot easier, or you walk out that door and return back to your camp with your dog here."
"I'm still running for it. You never know if some of them might be interested of buying me."
"Are you deaf? I just said it will be impossible."
"But there are some married women who managed to get jobs even though they are protected under the werewolves. If its possible for them, it surely must be possible for me to make those clients rise up from their chairs."
"Look, sugar, I'm a businessman. I got a reputation to clear up and this job I have now is the only thing that makes these auctions possible. If I have you there on that stage, you'll be a complete disappointment to my clients and that leaves my reputation to be stained...Getting girls like yourself is easy. But selling only a few makes your hands dirty, and vampires don't like filth, they want a smooth and easy auction. If I don't offer them an easy auction that they want, my career as an auction man will be over."
"I know I can impress those clients..Can't we just..No. Can't you just add anything interesting about me that can catch the attention of others? Like maybe if I can just pose – "
"Wait..Give me a minute. There might..No..Well...There might be a way for you to be sold."
"Well, what is it?" She asked.
"You see, the moment I saw you for the first time, I prepared a complete look for you that will make every vampire in that auction fight their way to buy you."
"What kind of look are you talking about?"
"You resemble so much of this one famous girl I was lucky enough to choose for my auction. The legendary girl was named Katherine, Katherine Pierce. From about twenty five years ago, she was here in Mystic Falls in the auction almost like the one that's going to be held tomorrow night. There were a few vampires who wanted her when I called her up. The highest bidder however, was Damon Salvatore, also famous for his long scandalous life of living as a long-time bachelor – not to mention his charms adds on to the label of him as a womanizer. Anyway, long story, short, they married and he turned her into a vampire."
"Katherine Pierce? Saltzman, the woman was a complete psycho to allow that son-of-a-bitch to turn her like that." Mason said.
Elena turned her head to her husband. "You know her?"
"Everyone does. She's the one who made guys like me get a job."
"How did she do that?"
"You know I still don't know the answer to that question. But she was responsible for separating the werewolves and vampires into a compatible alliance...But to me she was still one crazy bitch."
"That's what you may think. But ever since she was killed by a human riot, she became very popular to the vampires ever since. She was the very last human who was ever turned by a vampire by her own will. To this day, the couple is still remembered as the star-crossed lovers." Alaric said
"So what you're saying is that the vamps will only buy me because I look like her?"
"Duh. Why wouldn't they? The very fact that you are human and resemble so flawlessly like that legendary woman, every vampire will find it refreshing to have that woman back as if she has risen from the dead."
"I don't quite follow of how this idea is going to attract vampires to get their attention on me."
"Think of it this way, simply imagine that you are the Katherine who has been born again and risen from the dead. That woman made a large impression on the vampires. First she fell in love with a vampire. And then the next she proved her love for her lover by allowing him to turn her, betraying her own kind. This is the only way to get you that job."
"Wh-What is it that I have to do though once I get on that stage?"
"Like I said before with the other girls. Don't speak and don't move as long as I tell you to. My job is to make sure you are sold. Your job is to please your master. As for your husband here, you two should think about how you're going to contact each other. Based on who buys you, sweetheart, I doubt half the vampires in the auction will be generous enough to allow full contact to your husband."
"I don't care about that. As long as I get the job, then that's all that matters."
"Alright then. By five o'clock, your makeup crew from last time will give you another makeover. The auction starts at eight. It'll take an hour or two for all the clients to arrive and take their entrance. Right now, I have far more to do around here – contacting the press for photos and articles, new carpets, more lighting in the room, decorating the reception, and also my stage hasn't been nailed by its proper place. So return to your room, sleep as much as you can for it'll be the last time you'll ever sleep in peace."
"Alright..Thank you, Alaric."
"Don't thank me yet, Elena. Remember, you're not anyone's 'blood donor' just yet...Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Elena and Mason headed to the door. But before they closed the door, Alaric shouted out something from behind.
"Hey, but no funny business in the bedroom. I don't care if you two are married; I need the wife to be clean by tomorrow night."
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The four women trapped Elena in the room with another painful makeover. There is no waxing required this time that gives Elena a relieving feeling and slightly happy, but the long process to finish her hair ruined her spirits. Emily and another large plumped woman named Meme, changed her hair into five different types of hairstyles. Emily insisted to have Elena's hair loosely curled, giving a more natural look. But Meme pressed the idea of putting Elena's hair into a bun, or creating maddening swirls with all her hair pulled back in a bun that's large like a top point of a wide hill. After two hour of painfully having her hair brushed and pulled back harshly, the two women finally chose Emily's idea of just curling Elena's hair.
Emily, aware of Elena's silent suffering, blew the steam by every strand of hair she curled with the curling iron. After finishing every strand, she finished the final touch by spraying hairspray to have the curls intact for the next few hours.
Elena got off the chair and changed – with the help of all four women – into the dress they chose for her. The dress is a slight beige white, the fabric of the skirt smoothly in swirls of ruffles, and the top is a tight corset; sewn beads attached fully on the front of the corset; a deep cut made in the center to expose her bare breasts.
Emily straightened the dress and separated Elena's hair in each side of her shoulders. Elena stood there still, looking at her reflection of the mirror placed right in front of her. The girl in the mirror is someone she doesn't know. A complete stranger who is in a gorgeous dress to take the walk of shame for a crowd of vampires.
In her entire life, Elena never once wore a dress before. Wearing it now for the first time gives her the most discomforting feeling in the pit of her stomach.
'How many dresses do I have to wear something like this to please my master?...Will I ever get use to it?' She thought.
"Meme, give me some powder and a lipstick, number 32 brick red."
Meme looked through the filled makeup box and got the things Emily asked for. She handed the makeup products to Emily. Emily first unsealed the container of powder, she dabbed the filled powder of the container once with the small round sponge. With her complete focus on Elena's face, she padded her cheeks with the sponge, smoothing all the unwanted scars to be covered.
"Will there be many vampires out there?"
"Of course, nobody comes to the auction for fun, more like to waste their time. They come for one, and one reason alone – buy girls like you to take home..Wait. On the second thought, there is another reason, publicity. The press always comes to event like this to see who's attending, what they're wearing, and their reason to attend."
"Has..Has there ever been an accident? Like, has any vampire ever attacked some of the girls when they get on stage?"
"Yes, a few accidents like that have happened. But it's usually only caused by drunken vampires, so no need to worry. Alaric this time brought plenty of werewolves to keep all his girls clean and unharmed."
"Vampires can get drunk?"
"I'm not quite sure if they can. But they sure do look drunk when they drink too much; whiskey seems to be the most effective. Vodka and tequila are not strong enough to drive those vamps nuts, it only makes them thirsty for blood."
"Thanks for that info. I better try to hide all the sweet bottles if my master might be an alcoholic."
"Just behave yourself. That's the main thing you have to do."
Emily placed the sponge back in the container of the powder, and sealed it shut. Next, she removed the cap of the lipstick and applied it on Elena's lips. She examined the color closely, and shook her head in disapproval of the color.
"It's too dark. I need something both light and dark," she turned her head and yelled, "Meme, the 32 brick red doesn't work. Bring me something like light pink."
Meme took the lipstick and the container from Emily's hands. She placed them back in the makeup box and returned back to her. But in her hand isn't the light pink lipstick Emily asked for, instead a transparent lip gloss.
She unsealed the cap and smoothed the glossy lip gloss only a dab on both the bottom and top of Elena's lips. The color is not that bright but it gives the slight shine to her lips.
"Nice choice. For once you got one right, Meme."
"What a nice thing for you to say, Emily, says the woman who can't even pick a decent color for a lipstick."
Emily smiled and lightly slapped the woman's plumped arm. "Oh hush you."
The door suddenly opened. Alaric, wearing a midnight black tuxedo with a black bow tied perfectly in the center between the points of his collar, walked in the room. He gasped as he saw Elena looking lovely in her dress.
"You ladies have fine taste. This dress is just perfect on her. Well done."
The four women gave her nod as they cleared up the mess they caused. Alaric went over to Elena and took a closer look at her.
"You look absolutely perfect. The dress fits you just well, showing those nice curves, now that's what the clients want to see...Are you nervous?"
"A little."
"Hang in there. Alright? You half an hour to kill. Until then, brace yourself for the worst, sweetheart."
"I'll remember that."
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"You're not hungry?"
She shook her head.
"Good. Because if you want to eat, I highly suggest you to eat now. There will be no food served during the auction, besides the fact we vamps eat solid food too, the only thing we'll be feeding on is human blood and a few shots of brandy tonight. So make sure your stomach will be able to go through the worst, alright? I don't want you fainting from the sight of blood?"
"I've seen the sight of blood before, a lot more than vampires. I assure you, I won't faint if I ever see any of them drinking."
"Good. Well now, if you'll excuse me, I have other arrangements to make. There are few girls crying their eyes out, begging me to take them back. I'll have to deal with them later."
"Alright. I'll see you in the auction then."
"The stage, you mean, sweetheart? The stage. Don't forget."
"I won't."
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"Stefan, I am not going to that auction." Damon said.
"Come on, Damon, it won't kill you to come with us. Rebekah has to stay home with our son. I can't go to the auction alone, I need your assistance to help me choose the right 'blood donor' for little Matthew."
"I'm not going, for the thousandth time."
"Damon, please just come, for the sake of your own nephew."
"As much as I love that little guy, it'll take both your pathetic face and including his to make me change my mind. But – oh yeah – that little angel isn't here, looks like you have to go alone."
"Damon, please."
"Listen, I know you only want to get me out of the house to quiet down all the rumors to show everyone I'm a good brother, a great uncle for your little son so our family's reputation will be cleared. Well, I'm not going. I don't give a damn about those fucking vamps, so they can just think about anything they please about me. I like the way I am and how peacefully I'm living here. So if you want to complete my evening without me not going through the worst headache of mankind, go out that door and never come back."
"Damon."
"No, Stefan, just leave me alone."
Damon sat back on the sofa, his back pressed against two pillows and his ankles resting on the far end armrest of the sofa.
Damon trapped himself in the Salvatore Boarding House ever since his beloved wife died. For that many years, he remained as a zombie, suffocating himself in the house that is filled with memories of her. There are times when he forgets to feed himself or even wake up from his long enchanting sleeps – dreaming into a paradise where he can be reunited with his lovely Katherine.
The relationship between the Salvatore brothers is a complicated brotherhood. Ever since their childhood, they bonded closely, sticking up for each other and protecting one another from danger or from other boys. But as they grown to maturity, Damon disconnected the brotherhood after Stefan married the love of his life, Rebekah Mikaelson. The Mikaelson family has the scandalous reputation to be the top wealthiest families out of all the classes of vampires, however, they are also one of the most despised vampires for committing grave sins of murdering over hundreds of vampires. Before the well preserved life blossomed in the vampire territories, the Mikaelson prevented the close chance from getting kicked out of the vampire society by paying a great deed to help construct the projects to build mines by transporting diamonds and golds to vampires for wealth.
When Stefan brought in another family member into his life, his adopted five year-old son named Matthew, Damon slowly reconnected his contact with his brother, only for the sake of the child. Stefan took that chance as an opportunity to bring his brother back on his feet, but he hasn't made much effort. Although, right now, Stefan is ashamed of trying to clear his brother's name to silence any negative rumors of the Salvatore family, he cannot accept the possibility for his son to be judged and treated differently due to something he hasn't done from the vampires.
"You're right. I only want you to come to that auction so all those rumors will die down. Do..Do you have any idea what they're talking about us? Just a week ago, Rebekah overheard three women in a store of how they think you're a complete psycho, trapping yourself in that room to drive yourself nuts. And now the rumors are attacking us. Damon, Matthew became part of the family only three months ago. That's not a very long time. I..I really can't bear the thought of him coming up to me, crying because these strange vamps are talking horribly about our family. I know our relationship as brothers went out the window long time ago. But consider attending this auction with me, well-behaved, as a favor for my son."
Damon didn't speak. Stefan waited for his brother to speak, but no words escaped Damon's mouth. Stefan nodded, understanding his defeat.
"Alright then. I take your silence that you still don't wish to go. Fine..I'll just go then. So long, brother."
Stefan turned around to leave. He picked his dinner jacket from his chair and walked passed it to head to the door.
"Do I have to wear my tux?"
Stefan stopped, a relieving smile curved on his lips. "Yes. Strictly required."
"Give me ten minutes then."
Damon pulled himself up, and in vampire speed, he disappeared into thin air.
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The vampires arrived to the Mystic Falls 140th auction. The press gathered around in two different sides between the long red carpet that led to the entrance to the reception; they took endless pictures as the vampires posed for the cameras.
The hundredth limousine halted to a stop again. The door opened and the press flashed endless photos again once they realized the clients are the famous first born, Klaus Michaelson, and his wife, Caroline. Klaus looks dashing in his fine black tuxedo, and his curled hair brushed back smoothly. Caroline wrapped her arm around his. She took the entrance in her fine green gown, strapless and the front has an elegant fold to expose her bare chest; two separate deep cuts slashed in the front of the skirt, exposing her beautiful bare legs.
The two paused after taking only five steps as the cameras flashed in uncountable speed. The press could not leave them alone, so the couple went to the left side to make a quick interview with a vamp reporter before entering to the reception.
The strawberry blonde reporter turned her mike on and made sure the camera man is still rolling the film with the camera.
"This is Lena Pier in reporting E News!. I am here at the 140th auction of Mystic Falls, Virgina. And tonight, I got lucky enough to have a quick chat with our famous Mikaelson couple here. Hello, Klaus and Caroline. Tell me, are you here to bid in a deal for a 'blood donor' like all the others?"
She stretched her arm out to the couple for them to answer. Klaus lowered his head slightly, his mouth almost close to the mike.
"No. Caroline and I are just here just for the fun. Meeting friends and having the excuse to dress like this for the evening."
The reporter placed the mike closer to her mouth as she turned her attention to Caroline.
"That sounds fun..Anyway, I got a question for you, Caroline. Where in the world did you get that dress? I have never seen a dress like that before. I mean look at you, it has every cut and shows every right curves. Where did you get this?"
The reporter stretched her arm out again, and placed the microphone close to Caroline's mouth.
"Thank you, I'm very touched to hear that. I actually had my personal designer, Jeannete Fontae – my best friend and also the best French fashion designer in history – design this dress for me, she and I butted heads together and thought of new ideas to think about how my dress was going to look like. It was a lot of fun and I was very happy when the dress was delivered. I think the best part about getting it though is that it fits! I tried to cut down a little on type - O and forced myself to drink only +A."
"Well, that diet worked. You look great."
"Thank you."
The reporter spoke a little louder to hear.
"So, how about your plans for the next auction? Will I see you wear something as lavishing as this?"
Caroline rolled her eyes and answered with a curve of a smile. "Duh, girl. I'm gonna go all diva for the whole year."
The two ladies exchanged a high five and giggled for a short moment. The reporter placed the microphone close to her mouth again to ask a different question.
"How about kids? Any news of kids? Because you two have been married, for like what? Ten years? I mean, it's been that long but you kept yourselves – "
A sudden out roar started from the press when another limousine stopped to drop off the guests. The reporter cleared her throat and tried to speak a lot louder.
"I said, you kept yourselves quiet about having a baby! When is adoption going to pop the question?!"
The reporter stretched her arm out to have the mike closer to the couple again. Klaus leaned closer to the mike and spoke as loud as he can, keeping his eyes straight at the camera.
"We will think about it when we're ready! Ten years may be a long time! But for us, we still need an extra decade before we can bring another member of the family into our lives!"
From behind the camera, two open arms wrapped around both the couple's shoulders. Both Klaus and Caroline turned their end to the center to find Damon there. He smiled at the camera, his black shades giving his dashing smile flash his white teeth, instantly stealing the spotlight away from the couple.
"Hello Virginia!..So what are we talking about?" Damon asked playfully.
The reporter giggled a little and spoke over the mike.
"We were just talking about this wonderful couple's possible decision of adoption? Do you have any comments about that particular topic, Mr. Salvatore?"
The reporter placed the mike close to his mouth so his voice can be heard loud and clear.
"Of course, I have a say to it. I say they should. Anyone can adopt a baby, half the vamps here did and along with my baby brother who's still posing for the cameras back there..What an excellent question. Really."
Damon looked back at Caroline, giving her a quick look from her behind.
"But you know what, you got a little rounder on the waistline. Have you been drinking too much of type – O?"
Caroline stomped Damon's foot hard with her heel, and gave him a hard hit on the ribs with her elbow. Damon felt no pain, but to keep the moment more comical, he played his act by pretending her hits hurt him.
"Ow. Geez, I guess someone hasn't got enough in the bedroom. You should really work on keeping the mood tonight, Klaus."
Damon dropped his arms from the couple's shoulders and walked across the red carpet before Caroline had the chance to attack him.
Klaus pulled his wife back, thrusting his arm around her waist. "I think that would be all. Have a good evening."
As the couple walked further across the red carpet, Klaus and Caroline finally got inside. A waiter passed by them as they entered to the reception. Caroline snatched two glasses of champagne from the tray he was serving. In practically three sips, she gulped down each glasses to the very last drop.
"I hate that guy."
"Relax, Caroline. You know it's his nature to be a foolish idiot."
"Oh I know that..Huh. But what is he doing here? I don't think I ever seen Damon outside before. How long has it been exactly? Ten, twenty years?"
"I don't know. I lost track."
"I thought tonight will be a great evening to have some fun. Clearly, I was mistaken."
Klaus kissed his wife's cheek, and allowed the side of her head to rest on his shoulder. "Don't let him ruin our evening, now. We can still have our little fun."
"I hope you're right..."
In the back stage, the girls are kept hidden with their makeover crew, finishing them with their last touches on their clothes and makeup. Alaric made his last orders to his employees and gathered the girls around to say his last words to them before beginning the auction.
He clapped his hands together and started. "Alright, girls. This is it. We are two minutes late, but don't worry, everyone is waiting patiently outside. Now, I took a quick peek outside, and half the women excused themselves to the other rooms. This is a good thing, now. That means there are more men – your targets to be the buyers. Now the first I will call is Reina, make your appearance elegantly and don't you dare fall. Tonight must go smoothly without a single mistake. Understand?"
The girls nodded.
"Good...Okay. Let's get this show on the road."
Alaric straightened his bow tie, and with a quick spin of his foot, he opened the curtains and walked on stage. The vampires are casually standing around with glasses of brandy and some filled with also blood on their hands. When they saw Alaric, they immediately clapped their hands.
The cameraman turned the camera on and started the film. As for Alaric, he tapped the small black mike attached to his front breast pocket to see if it's working, then paid his attention back at the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am so pleased to have you here tonight for our 140th auction."
The vampires clapped their hands again.
"Yes, tonight, I have a very special treat for mostly the gentlemen here. So if you want to bring a gorgeous human girl with you tonight, I suggest you to prepare yourselves with your open wallets...Just about three days ago, my assistant arranged a trip for me to go to Fortuga Camp. Yes. I know that concentration camps are not exactly easy to find suitable humans. But when I arrived there, you be surprised of how many delicious treats I found. Now when the selection was made, I admit that not many girls volunteered, but I have a total of the most bravest and beautiful seven girls who will take your breaths away.
"Now our first runner up is a Californian girl. Boys, me giving me this girl to you is like throwing a bone for you to chew. This beautiful Blondie is seventeen years of age, has one sister and a father deceased from an unfortunate fate of being kept in the gas chamber. So if you have any interest in a slightly tan, natural GoldilocK kind of gal, this is the girl for you. Reina, come right this way!"
The curtains opened. A nervous Reina stood still in the center. Alaric stretched his arm out for Reina to come to where he's standing. But the girl is so lost and overwhelmed by the number of vampires she couldn't move; sweat dripped down her back and her stomach churned from the sight of numbers of blood filled in breadstick glasses.
Alaric chuckled and took her harshly by the arm, and pulled her hard to where he's standing. "I'm sorry, gentlemen, I guess our little girl is just a little nervous. Please understand her..Now, who wants to do the bidding?"
An Irish vampire raised his arm. He's dressed in an English evening suit; his dinner jacket custom made with a duckling tail from the back, a grey and black striped necktie tied around his neck, his pants held firmly with a midnight black belt, and a thin red mustache stretching above his top lip.
"One thousand."
Alaric pointed to the vampire and nodded. "I got one thousand over there. Alright. Can we go any higher than that?"
Another Irish vampire, dressed in a brick red suit with a black bow tie, raised his arm.
"Twenty five hundred."
"I got twenty five hundred from the loving Captain O'Brien over there...Do I hear three thousand?" Alaric announced loudly again.
No vampire made another bidding to beat Captain O'Brien's price.
Stefan, on the other hand, felt determined to make a bidding, he raised his arm to call out his price. But Damon took his arm and pushed it down to his side.
"Don't waste your time with Miss Cry-Baby up there."
"She seems nice. That's what a type of person I want for Matthew's 'blood donor'."
"No you don't. That girl is going to give you more tears than her own blood. There's no good to buy a girl who'll only scare your little boy. So just forget about her."
"Well, I guess you have a point there."
Alaric gave a nod to a werewolf who stood from the side of the backstage, signaling him to take her away.
"Alright everyone I'll give you three seconds for this lovely Reina here. Going once..Going twice..Sold. To Captain O'Brien."
The werewolf walked across the stage and took a tearful Reina away.
The auction went by for another two hours after a few short breaks; so far the highest price of the bidding reached only to twenty thousand and only two girls are now left.
Alaric stepped on the stage again , signaling the cameraman to start filming.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we are down to only two girls. Now I purposely saved these girls to be presented for last because they are by far the most strong headed ones out of all those other girls I presented to you all so far. I hope once I show you them, you will agree with me. My sixth girl was born in the Fortuga Camp, she is the first born out of three brothers who were all deceased five years before she ever had the strength to walk. When she was selected, she had no fear or a single teardrop in her eyes; she was just ready to say goodbye to her family and take this job. I tell you, she is the most bravest girl you will ever meet..I just hope that feisty fire in her won't go out by the time she is sold though..Miss Janet Dawson, come right this way."
The curtains opened. A hard faced Janet stood in the center. When Alaric signaled her to walk forward, she walked toward him without a single smile curved on her lips, or a sense of fear.
"As you can see, still no tears on this girl...Who wants to be the first to do the bidding?"
Four vampires called out a price range around thirty thousand, breaking the highest range of twenty thousand that has been made so far tonight. After another vampire joined, Alaric took his part to end the bidding once and for all.
"Ah. Now I got thirty five from the famous Peterson over there. In the count of three this bidding will end for the lovely Janet. Going once..Going twice..Sold!"
The werewolf walked across the stage and took Janet away.
In the audience, Stefan still hasn't chosen a single girl for his dearest Matthew. He turned his head to Damon and whispered. "Well, there's only one girl left. I need to bring a 'blood donor' with me by tomorrow."
"Oh no you don't. You already have like two at home. They'll do."
"Yes, but they scare Matthew."
"Well, that's just your problem."
"Whatever. Whoever this girl is, I'm going to buy her whether she's a cry baby or hardcore."
"And you still call yourself the best daddy in the world," Damon muttered under his breath.
Alaric pressed his hands together and rubbed them together to form a warm friction. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we have one more left. Now before I present her to you, I must warn you all that this girl will take you by surprise. Her face resembles a lot..a lot like someone we all once knew. So to make things clear, this girl is purely human and whatever questions you might have, I cannot answer them. So without further or due, ladies and gentlemen, I like to present the unique, beautiful Elena Gilbert, the girl who was scarred deeply in both emotional and physical ways. In the age of ten, she has been whipped and tortured in the gas chamber, but she is still very much alive and also her beauty is still intact. Her age is only by twenty two. If you think that's too young, well, wait until you see her. Come right this way, Elena."
The curtain opened again. Elena stood in the center of the stage, a limelight shining straight across her. Just as Alaric hoped for, the audience took her by surprise and an exhilarating excitement aroused the room.
Stefan took Damon by the arm and forced him to stand up. "Let's go. I could wait another month to get a 'blood donor'."
Damon yanked his arm off his grasp. "Like hell I will." He muttered.
He went across the room to go closer to the stage. His unblinking eyes concentrated fully on Elena. He's filled with disbelief of how much she resembles his wife.
'Katherine? Katherine is that you? After all these years, God is finally generous enough to bring you back now.' He thought.
Elena walked toward Alaric, and he placed his hand on her shoulder before starting to speak again.
"I clearly understand of how astonished you all are. I was quite taken back of how this ordinary girl resembles so much like the famous woman we all remember, Katherine Pierce. Ah. That woman will always be remembered for the great peace she has caused...Anyway, getting back to our auction to this lovely Miss Gilbert. Who wants to do the bidding?"
Before Damon raised his arm to say his price, over thirty other male vampires called out their price. The next five minutes the price range raised to thousands and came to a stop to about five hundred thousand dollars by Elijah Mikaelson, the eldest brother in the Mikaelson family.
Alaric pointed straight ahead at the dashing, dark faced Elijah. "We have reached to five hundred thousand. My God, that is a new record in history."
Elijah looked ahead at Elena with a sly curve on the corner of his mouth. There is no easy sign on his expression of appealing desire for the girl, but behind his mysterious Mona Lisa smile, he clearly isn't going to allow any vampire take Elena away from him.
"Is there any more bidders for this beautiful lady? Hmmm? Anyone?"
Damon raised his arm at this point, removing his sunglasses as he causally announced his price.
"One million dollars."
The cameraman turned the camera to film Damon, and also the other vampires now whispering amongst each other. Damon's depression over his wife's death is no mystery to any of the vampires. They actually expected for the man to join the bidding anyway.
'You finally made your price. What took you so long, Salvatore?' Alaric thought to himself.
Alaric clapped his hands together and stretched out one of his arms, pointing his open hand straight at Damon.
"One million dollars! Wow, now that is a record. Round of applause for Mr. Damon Salvatore!"
The audience clapped their hands, but not by excitement yet concern.
Alaric kept his eyes on both Elijah and Damon, unsure of who exactly will win. "Then if Mr. Michaelson doesn't wish to go any higher than that. I will conclude this auction in three seconds. Going once..Going twice.."
Elijah raised his arm again before Alaric got to three. "Five million dollars. In cash."
He snapped his fingers and two men dressed in black stepped forward, two open briefcases held out on their hands, each one filled with stashes of hundred dollar bills.
"Five million dollars. Now this is some evening, you gentlemen are crazy about this one girl, aren't you?"
Alaric took Elena's left hand and held it up in the air for everyone to see her wedding band on her finger.
"But I must warn you two before you go any further, this girl recently eloped here in Mystic Fall just last night with a werewolf. As you can tell by the ring on her finger...You two know very well of the circumstances to keep a girl legally guarded by a pack of dogs. So if you still wish to buy this girl, by all means, continue to empty out your wallets, but if you don't want to risk anything with her, just drop out of the bidding now."
Elijah closed both the briefcases shut with his hands without bothering to turn around. In vampire speed, he appeared in a flash right in front of the stage. Elena gasped as his sudden hands grabbed the end of her skirt and lifted it slightly, revealing her bare ankles.
"Do you mind if I take a glimpse of your legs, beautiful?"
Elena turned her head shakily to Alaric. Alaric pulled her back protectively, but still not ruining his cool.
"That all depends, Elijah, are you going to buy her or not? Because I don't intend to waste my time with clients who just want to play with my girls."
"I'm not interested of interfering with any werewolves, but the girl does reach to my satisfactory, I can't seem to refuse."
"Well, then. Elena, lift your skirt a little for the dead man to see."
Elena whispered uneasy shaken words. "Al-Alaric..I..I can't..."
Elijah smiled by her refusal. Again, he took one step forward, his body moving in lightening speed on top of the stage. From behind her, she almost screamed when she felt cold arms wrapped around her waist. His head leaned on the side of her neck, and his cold marble cheek touching the side of her jaw line. Elena gulped hard as he inhaled her sweet scent deeply through his nostrils.
"You smell nice." He muttered.
Damon can taste nothing but bitter arousing fury. He closed one of his cold hands into a death grip fist, closing it tighter the longer his eyes watched Elijah's hands smooth hard against Elena's stomach. But in order to win the girl, he composed himself into a more calm and soothing manner, swallowing away the sour taste of rage and maddening desire for blood.
"Come on, gentlemen. I don't have all day. Are you going to raise the bidding, or not?" Alaric asked.
Elijah gave Alaric a nod, his eyes still focused on Elena's frightful face. "I'll double the price to ten million."
Alaric closed his hands together and announced again to the audience. "I am loving this evening very much. You all have no idea..We have ten million for Elijah here, who seems to not want to let go of my precious girl."
Damon took a step forward, casually buttoning the one button sewn on his black dinner jacket. "Ten million dollars? You just love to play with your money, don't you, Elijah?"
Elijah turned his head to look at Damon. "Of course, I wouldn't let this girl slip away from my fingers. You had Katherine to play with, now let me have the turn with this girl."
"You know that's not going to happen. Saltzman! I make my price to twenty million."
Elijah leaned in Elena's ear, making her shiver as his cold breath brushed in the warmness of her ear. "Now that's the price I was waiting for. As much as I want you, Elena, I have no intention to be involved with a well guarded girl like you...But I will see you again."
He pressed his cold lips on her cheek before releasing her. He turned to Alaric and straightened his coat properly as he spoke. "I'm dropping out of my bidding."
"Oh come now, Elijah, don't tell me twenty million is too much for you." Alaric said.
"No, it's not that. I wasn't intending to buy this girl anyway. I just wanted to empty out Damon's pockets as much as possible. But since I had my fun, you can allow the Salvatore brother to collect his prize."
Elijah jumped off the stage. As he passed by Damon, his shoulder roughly pushed Damon's. Damon ignored him as Elijah walked straight to the exit with the two guards following behind him with his two briefcases.
"I guess Damon Salvatore is the winner then. Congratulations, Damon...As for the rest of you, I hope you have a very good evening. That concludes for our auction tonight. If you like, please stay, have a drink or dance while I arrange the contracts with our lucky winners..Goodnight."
The werewolf from earlier took Elena by the arm and escorted her off the stage. Alaric turned around, removing the microphone off his jacket as he walked straight between the red curtains.
The makeover crew members busied themselves with each of the seven girls to change them before sending them to their masters' homes.
This time Elena's crew simply changed her into a dress – the blue dress Alaric personally order for her – and curled her hair again to keep the curls intact for the evening. Besides the burning steam brushing against her cheek and the light padding of a round sponge masking her face, Elena feels nothing but the worst frightful fear she never thought she'll ever experience before. The first greatest fear she felt was the time a werewolf whipped her when she was only ten. The second time was when she was taken to the gas chamber from spitting at a werewolf's face. Right now is almost the same fear she experienced before, accept this time she chose to get herself into this.
Emily curled the last strand of Elena's hair, and again kindly blew the steam to make the process a little easier for Elena. "There. You're all finished."
"Oh."
"Are you ready?"
"...No..."
"Relax. Remember, once this all ends by the time that Salvatore gets tired of you, you'll be free to return to your unharmed family. The vampires can't harm you anymore...I should know, we're both on the same page now."
"I know...But..But I'm still a little scared."
"Good. Fear will keep you strong and alert. Just never displease him. Alright? This job is worth everything, every life in your family and including yourself. Never forget that."
"I won't."
The door suddenly opened. Mason entered. Emily took Elena's hand and pulled her up to stand up. "It's time for you to go, Elena. Good luck. And stay alive."
"Thank you..Thank you, Emily."
Elena lightly squeezed her hand before Emily released it. Mason went over to her, taking her hand and walked straight out the door.
They walked halfway down the hallway before Mason stopped her for a moment. He took both her hands and lifted them up to his lips to kiss each one of them.
"Okay. This is it...Just..Just be careful. Okay?"
"I will...Watch out for my family, Mason. Please."
"You know I will."
"...Do you think I'll ever be able to contact you?"
"I'm not so sure yet. I doubt that might be possible though. But I might be able to pull a few strings with Saltzman."
"Please try."
"I will. And don't ever lose this," he placed the marriage documents on her hands, "it'll be hard I know, but if anything happens to you, I'll be there for you."
"I know you will. Thank you, Mason."
"Don't thank me yet. Thank me when you return safely back to your family..back to me."
