Chapter Two: Blood Red

Katherine's entire back ached and she wasn't sure if it was because of the long journey from her home in San Francisco or because of the whipping that her father had given her. The tears stung at her eyes when she remembered how angry her father had been when he had seen the blood in the tub as Katherine lost her baby and he realized that his only daughter and child was no longer a virgin.

He had taken his belt across her naked back so many times until Katherine saw stars and her mother who had been screaming the entire time had pulled her father back. With the little money that her mother had left her, Katherine had decided to leave San Francisco and she had decided to go towards a small town by the name of Mystic Falls.

It was three days by carriage and Katherine had barely been able to afford the passage. She would get a job there as a waitress or maybe in an inn. She would tell everyone that she was a widow and an orphan. She doubted that anyone would ask too many questions.

"Last stop!" the driver grunted as the few passengers exited the carriage. Katherine grabbed her small bag and headed down. Her eyes burned from the dust and her legs felt jittery, but she convinced herself that it was from the unpleasant journey.

She slowly took a small step towards the inn that Katherine could see through the corner of her eye. But everything was becoming dizzy and Katherine couldn't seem to tell right from left. Her legs trembled and even her bag seemed too heavy. Everything was spinning.

"Miss!" she heard someone call. She tried to turn away to see who was calling her, but everything became black.

Dr. Elijah Mikaelson had just been exiting the general store after shopping for supplies when he had seen a brunette fall flat face towards the dusty ground. "Miss! Miss!" he called after her, but it was obvious that she had passed out. Elijah didn't think it was the heat, it was not that hot outside.

When he came closer he saw that her back was caked with blood and that it had soiled her dress. Elijah let out a series of curses, the young woman was obviously injured. He needed to take her back to the clinic and look at the damages. "John," he called to the local stable boy. "Get me my carriage now."

John did as he was told and Elijah propped Katherine towards the back of the carriage. Using the horse blankets so that she could lay down. Katherine stirred a little and mumbled something that Elijah didn't understand. He stroke her cheek and murmured. "Don't worry darling, I'll take care of you. We'll be home soon."

Elijah owned a small clinic near the center of the town. He deposited Katherine down pulling her towards his arms as he took her inside. The room where he treated patients was kept very clean and Elijah deposited her on the small bed. He used a pair of scissors to rip open the back of her dress.

That's when he saw the brutal marks against her back that were bloody red, almost purple. Her entire back was covered with them. It looked like she had been hit with a belt or something worse.

Elijah pressed a cool cloth against her injured back and Katherine hissed though she was still half asleep. Elijah ran a hand through her dark hair trying to soothe her. "Shh, shh little girl I know it hurts. Please be brave it's almost over."

Two days later Caroline was seconds away from bursting into tears. The last of her money was gone she only had a dollar to her name. The rest of the money had been used for board for Mr. and Mrs. Simon.

After tonight she would be homeless. Now, Caroline, should be begging Mr. and Mrs. Simon to let her stay for a few days or begging in the streets, but Caroline Forbes didn't beg. She tapped her foot nervously, not daring to believe that she was in The Moonstone. The local saloon and whorehouse and famous in Mystic Falls for it's beautiful ladies.

No one in town was hiring and since Caroline was lacking a husband this was her last best. She knew that whores were treated like property but what other choice did Caroline have? None that's what.

Besides she had seen a few girls exit and enter the saloon and they didn't look miserable. She had been sitting in this hard little chair for over ten minutes waiting for Madam Pearl the owner of this establishment.

The pretty, dark hair woman entered the hall and gave a quick nod to Caroline. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss-"

"Forbes. Caroline Forbes."

"Miss Forbes," Madam Pearl cleared her throat. "But as you can see it is almost dusk and we will be having clients soon."

Caroline smoothed her dress. "I understand, it won't take long. Madam Pearl I came to ask for a job," Madam Pearl raised an eyebrow. "Please, hear me out. I can clean and serve drinks and even. . .entertain men." Caroline's cheeks flushed red. In all honesty, the closest that she had gotten to a man was holding hands and even that made her blush, but she wouldn't tell that to Madam Pearl anyhow.

Before Madam Pearl could respond Caroline heard a rough chuckle. Caroline could feel her face turn pink as she looked around to where the chuckles were coming from. There were currently only a few men and most of them seemed to be more interested in playing the card games or getting drunk.

She finally noticed where the chuckles were coming from because the man couldn't stop laughing at her. Caroline glared at him as she studied his appearance. Sandy blond hair, light skin, and bright blue eyes.

He was older than her, about six years or so maybe more. Even though he was laughing at her he didn't seem like the happy go lucky type. She stiffened. "Is there a problem?"

"You, love, you are the problem," he said as he straightened up and gave her a look. "You're like some lost, innocent little lamb who came stupidly into the wolf's den." She saw as Madam Pearl cracked a small smile and that annoyed Caroline. "What makes you think you can work in a whorehouse? You're a child- "

"I'm twenty," Caroline interrupted firmly. "That's old enough. Please give me a chance."

Madam Pearl looked intrigued. "All right, I will. You seem like a responsible girl."

Klaus's jaw clenched. "Pearl, you can't be serious."

"Stay out of this." Both girls snapped. Madam Pearl shook her head. "Honestly, this is none of your concern, Sherriff. I thought you would be happy to have a pretty gal around."

"Sherriff?" Caroline squeaked.

Klaus raised an eyebrow as he offered her his hand. "Yes, little lamb, sheriff. Klaus Mikaelson."

-End of Chapter Two-

Thanks for your reviews! I know a few of you are having mixed feelings of the girls working in a whorehouse, but that's kind of the point of the story :)

Would you prefer it if each chapter was dedicated to one girl (first Elena, then Caroline, and then Katherine) or do you want to keep it this way with small tidbits of each girl in each chapter?