Chapter III

Nurse Jenna was the first to speak up. "What is it you want with Elena, Mr. Salvatore?"

This "Damon Salvatore" looked past her to Dr. John and Elena followed his gaze, watching as they seemed to have a silent conversation with their eyes. At last, John spoke.

"Damon is here for Elena's hand in marriage."

"Marriage?" Elena exclaimed and immediately regretted it.

Damon's blue eyes locked on her and she shied away from his gaze. He seemed to assess everything about her – her face, her clothes, and her body.

"I have arranged it," Dr. John said simply.

"Arranged?" Nurse Jenna said and John looked at her sharply.

"Yes, Jenna." They both shared a cold look before Jenna lowered her head, walking back to stand beside Nurse Pearl and Nurse Bree.

Really, arranged marriages weren't very uncommon, but it was mostly for money between families. Elena didn't have money – or a family – so what would Damon's reason be? She hoped he wouldn't put her in a freak show. Why else would a wealthy (from the looks of his attire,) handsome, (the word seemed bland when describing him.) man want to marry an orphan in an insane asylum besides for money?

Mason and Tyler nudged each other and whispered something across the table. Suddenly, Vicki jumped up.

"VAMPIRE!" She screeched and began to run.

Nurse Pearl sped across the room and grabbed her. "Calm down. You know that vampires are out there."

"NO!" Vicki screamed. "They don't exist! They don't exist!" She struggled against Pearl, scratching and clawing at her.

Elena glances at Damon, who had a look of inquiry on his face. He didn't seem fazed at all by the outburst.

Suddenly John walked over and lightly grabbed Vicki's arm. Nurse Pearl backed away and Elena watched as he fiercely whispered something in Vicki's ear. She almost screamed, but John's grip on her tightened and she calmed down.

"Yes," John said. "Mr. Salvatore is indeed a vampire."

Elena swallowed nervously, turning her gaze back to a smirking Damon.

"Anna and Rose will bathe dress and fix Elena up and tomorrow I will come back to claim her."

Elena shuddered at the word "claim."

"Claim her?" Jenna exclaimed.

Dr. John suddenly slapped her with the back of his hand and Elena gasped, though she didn't dare step out of place.

"You shall not talk out of turn anymore, Nurse. I will not allow it."

Elena turned back to Damon. With a brief scanning of Elena against, he turned on his heel and walked out with "Alaric," leaving Rose and Anna behind.

Jenna stood and wiped blood from her lip. Elena nearly started crying. Jenna had been the one to take care of her, love her as her mother never could.

The girl with brown hair – Rose – walked over to Elena, followed closely by Anna. "We should probably get started."

Maybe this won't be so bad. Elena thought. After all, she was taught that you were nothing unless you were married to a man of wealth.

But what if Damon was mean? True, there weren't very nice people in here, but the whole time she was growing up, the patients had told her stories about the outside world. Stories of demons screaming in your head at night, shadows that stalked you during the day.

Was this real?