"Do you have an escort to the ball, Miss Morgana?" Amelie asked as she pulled on the strings of Morgana's corset. Morgana had her palms on the wardrobe, leaning against it as Amelie dressed her for the ball. She gasped as the corset tightened around her waist, almost crushing her ribs. She wasn't a heavy girl so the corset seemed unnecessary but it was fashion and one must keep up with the times.

"No, I do not," she replied, breathlessly. "But it's not from lack of trying. Katherine Pierce has the Salvatore brothers enchanted by her. The only time I seem to have their attention is when she is elsewhere."

Amelie tied the strings at the base of the corset and hurried to fetch her dress, knowing that in a few minutes the ball would start. Morgana straightened and winced slightly as the bone at the base of the corset dug into her hips.

"Amelie, I do not mean to criticise but I think that the corset is too tight." Morgana tried to pry her fingers under the corset but not even her nails would reach under.

"That is how a corset is supposed to be, Miss," Amelie said, as she draped the dress over one arm.

Morgana took in a restricted deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. This wasn't the first time she'd worn a corset but it was possible Amelie was still angry with her and this was the punishment she was receiving. Well, she'd take it like a woman and not complain until Amelie was out of earshot.

"Miss Morgana," Amelie said, hesitantly. "If it is of no trouble to you, I wish to speak my mind."

Frowning, Morgana turned to look at the girl.

"You should always feel free to speak your mind with me, Amelie," she said, smiling warmly. "I welcome it. As I said, you are my most trusted friend and I hope I am to you."

"Of course," the handmaiden replied. "I only want to say that you must be careful around Miss Katherine when it concerns the Salvatore Brothers. I believe that she may be rather possessive of them and would not welcome any attention you may have for them, or they for you."

"If you think that I would try for a Salvatore, you are sadly mistaken. They are both infatuated with Katherine and I will not be second best to her when she breaks one, or both, of their hearts. If you will, Amelie, my dress."

Morgana felt her heart sink at Amelie's words. What was she thinking, believing that a Salvatore would be interested in her? Why would she even want a Salvatore? Obviously the brothers were not exactly intelligent or they would be able to see she was only toying with them. Love makes you blind, they say. In their case, they were completely in the dark of what was really happening. Soon they would see it and their hearts would shatter.

Damon paced outside Katherine's room listening to her beautiful voice as she spoke with Emily. He knew she knew he was there and he knew she was deliberately keeping him waiting. He wanted to knock on the door but it wouldn't make her move any faster. Katherine went at her own pace and those around her had to deal with it. Damon sighed, running a hand through his silky black hair. He had to know who she would pick, him or his brother.

The door opened and the face of Emily Bennett peeked out.

"Miss Katherine wishes that you leave," Emily said, an apologetic look on her face. "Before Mr Salvatore arrives."

"Stefan?" Damon tried to control his voice. "My brother is escorting her to the ball?"

"Yes, Stefan Salvatore is her escort."

"Thank you, Emily," he said, curtly. "And tell Miss Katherine that she has chosen the wrong brother."

Emily nodded and closed the door quietly as Damon stalked away, his anger eating him up inside. How could she choose Stefan? He was younger than him, barely seventeen and if anything, inexperienced. He couldn't say he was as experienced as Katherine but more so than his brother.

"Mr Salvatore, you startled me!"

Damon glanced up and felt like he'd been smacked in the face with a ton of bricks. He stumbled back slightly and tried to fix a smile to his face but inside, his anger had been replaced with shock and nerves and he struggled to compose himself.

"Are you feeling well?" Morgana asked him, her eyes filled with concern. "Do you need to sit down? Please, come inside and have a sit."

He shook his head and his hands fumbled with his cravat, trying to straighten it unnecessarily.

"I am perfectly well, thank you Miss Morgana," he said, his voice breaking slightly. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I was not looking where I was going and you too startled me."

She smiled warmly at him and her eyes shone.

"Well, I must apologise on my part," she said, sincerely.

"No apology needed," he said, trying to smile back. How could he smile when inside his heart was breaking? Katherine had chosen his brother, yet again. Did he not show her enough love or affection? Maybe he should try harder next time, if there was a next time.

"You look troubled." Morgana tilted her head to the side and surveyed him. "Are you sure you are well?"

"Physically, I am," he said, quietly. "Emotionally, I am indeed unwell."

Surprisingly, she offered him her arm and smiled radiantly at him. He took it, wondering what was happening.

"As you walk me down to the ball, you can disclose what is on your mind," she said. "I will listen and try my best to advise you."

Damon shook his head but walked with her anyway and before he knew it, his mouth opened and he spilled everything about his relationship with Katherine, obviously missing out one crucial detail. She was a vampire.

Damon watched as Stefan and Katherine danced together, unable to stop the tendrils of jealously that crept up inside him, gripping his heart. Morgana was stood next to him and she watched him sympathetically. She'd listened attentively to his whole story and she'd advised him as best she could.

"Do not go to her," she had said. "By going to her, you have given her power over you. She knows that with a snap of her fingers, you will be by her side in an instant. For a woman, or man, to have such power over an individual is wrong. You must not allow her to control you. If she wants you, let her come to you."

"And if she does not come?" he'd asked, fearfully.

"Then you will know where her heart truly lies," she'd answered honestly.

"What do I do, Miss Morgana?" Damon turned to her now, his eyes filled with sadness. "Do I walk over and ask her to dance? Or do I remain here?"

Morgana glanced at Stefan and Katherine thoughtfully. She noticed that Katherine smiled and laughed a lot more with Stefan than she had seen with Damon, but then, she'd never witnessed Damon alone with Katherine.

"I do not wish to dictate what you should and should not do," Morgana said, slowly. "But I would not go over to them. It is clear that by choosing Stefan over you, she does not seek your company tonight."

Damon pressed his lips together in a fine line as more pain showed in his bright blue eyes. He watched his brother a few more moments before turning to Morgana.

"Would you like to dance, Miss Morgana?"

Morgana raised one eyebrow and smirked.

"I know your plan, Mr Salvatore, and I do not wish to have any part in it," she said, playing with the ruffles of her skirt. "I wish to live here peacefully with Miss Katherine and I will not antagonise her by dancing with one of her boys."

Damon's eyes flashed angrily but he didn't scare Morgana. She knew she was perfectly safe in his company. Even if he did attack her, it wasn't like there weren't plenty of men here to defend her. Nearly the entire town was in the Salvatore mansion tonight.

"I am not Miss Katherine's property," he said, his teeth gritted. "If anything, I renounce myself of her."

"Truly?"

"Truly," Damon flashed a smile and Morgana almost melted to the floor, but she composed herself. She would not be drawn in by Damon Salvatore. She would not risk her life.

"Well, in that case, Mr Salvatore," she said, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I will leave you alone to prove your word."

She turned on her heel and he watched her take the hand of George Lockwood who led her to the dance floor. He shook his head, laughing quietly to himself. Miss Morgana was feisty. She wasn't as emotional as he thought before. She had fire and wit, and he liked that.

Damon was not as true to his word as he told Morgana. Before Katherine left the party, he crept upstairs and entered her room to wait on her. Despite Morgana's advice to 'let her come to him' he couldn't wait, for he feared she would never come.

In the darkened room, he let his thoughts wander and unconsciously he was comparing Katherine and Morgana. It was true that he was taken by Morgana, as he was by any beautiful girl but it was Katherine he loved. Katherine he would die for, not Morgana.

But, a voice spoke slyly. You want to impress Miss Morgana, do you not? You want her to like you, you seek her approval. You may claim that you love Katherine and she you, but where is she now?

Damon shook his head, dispersing the thoughts and listened for Katherine. He could hear hushed voices outside and excitement rose in him. He pressed himself against the wall behind the door and waited for her.

"Until tomorrow." he heard Katherine say. The door opened and he saw her beautiful form silhouetted in the glow of the hallway light. She closed it with a gentle slam and he rushed towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He tried to kiss her neck but she pushed him away.

"Katherine?"

"Not tonight, Damon," she muttered, stripping off her gloves.

He tried again, managing to kiss her cheek quickly but again she pushed him, this time spinning around to face him. Her face changed, her fangs dropping down and she snarled at him. He jumped back in shock and fright, his hand reaching for the door knob.

"Get out," she hissed.

And he did so, realising that he should have waited for her to come to him. That way, he wouldn't feel the hurtful sting of rejection in his broken heart.

A/N: So, are you guys liking this so far? Are the Salvatores in character or too OOC? Let me know as I don't want to ruin it for you guys!

Please Review! :D