Chapter Six: Rancher & Sapphire

Damon was a frequent visitor to the Moonstone Saloon mainly because he was single and didn't have a wife nagging him and he liked the good bourbon that they served. Besides a good whisky never hurt anyone.

The Moonstone Saloon was lively as usual and the place stank of perfume and sweat. Damon didn't have many friends in town, but he liked going to the Moonstone Saloon because it was filled with lively people. He nodded briefly to Madam Pearl who was flirting with one of the customers named John.

He found a small table where he could finally sit down and waited half impatiently for a waitress to serve his drink. He had, had a tough day today and the only thing he wanted was to pour himself a drink and forget about everything.

Madam Pearl needed to get herself some new working gals because there were currently only two. One of them was a blond girl who was arguing with the sheriff and the second one was a pretty brunette who looked nervous. A nervous smile was on her face and it was obvious that she wasn't used to this kind of thing. Damon could sense that she had a good girl attitude that even while working in a brothel she couldn't shake off.

Damon looked at the makeup that was caked on her face with the amount of excessive blush and the way that her corset showed off her tiny waist and full breasts. Damon watched at the way that the girl moved her curvy hips and the way that the men laughed at her stuttering and blushing.

Damon could feel a protective instinct rise inside of him. The girl just looked so pathetic and it was clear that she didn't belong here and he had no idea why she was even here in the first place. Damon whistled to get her attention and Elena jumped slightly and went towards him. She brushed back a curl and said nervously. "Sorry, sir I didn't see you there. Can I get you drink?"

"Sure, Doll. Bourbon neat." He handed her a silver coin. "Keep the change."

Elena nodded eagerly as she went to get his drink. Damon stood up and finally managed to catch Madam Pearl's eye. "A fine establishment you have here Madam Pearl."

Madam Pearl chuckled. "It's gentlemen like you Mr. Salvatore that keep me rich. Now I know that you're dying to ask me something, so ask away."

Damon cocked an eyebrow towards the brown hair girl. "Who is the new girl?"

"Sapphire."

"Is that her real name?"

"Does it matter? Don't get your hopes up rancher, she and the pretty blond are only serving girls these week. If they are up for it, they graduate to ladies of this fine establishment."

"Is she a virgin?"

Madam Pearl chuckled. "So, are you obsessed with virgins?"

He cracked a smile. "No Madam Pearl, but with that one you can tell a mile away."

She shrugged. "You're going to have to ask her yourself Mr. Salvatore. Have a good night, but you know what they say. It's the innocent ones that you have to look after."

Damon tipped his hat towards the madam. He went back to his small table and three seconds later Elena came back with his bourbon. "Here you go, sir. Would you like anything else?"

He dropped another coin into her bodice. It fell in between the swell of her breasts and Elena blushed, but didn't say no. "In fact, I do. I want your name."

"Sapphire." Elena prompted.

"Your real name."

Elena shook her head. "I don't think I'm allowed- "

"Sure, you are," Damon prompted. "I just talked to Madam Pearl, she said it was fine. So, come on little Sapphire tell me what your real name is."

"Elena," Elena said softly.

Damon nodded. "Pretty name. I'm Damon Salvatore. So, tell me Miss Elena why is a wide eyed innocent virgin like you working in a whorehouse?"

"How do you- "she shook her head. "Never mind. A job is a job Mr. Salvatore. Besides there were no other jobs available. It is a small town and I'm happy with the job that Madam Pearl offered me. I am grateful."

Damon nodded, obviously not buying her story. "Tell me Miss Elena doesn't a pretty little thing like you have family to take care of her."

"I have a brother," Elena said defensively. "But he is missing right now. That's why I took this job, Mr. Salvatore so that I could earn enough money so that I would be able to rescue him. He's been missing for a while now and I know that I may not find him, but I still have to hope."

Her voice broke slightly and Damon looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry Miss Elena I didn't mean to upset you. I was just trying to say that you don't belong here, that's all. No offense, but you look more like a schoolteacher than a whore."

Elena almost smiled, but she fought herself not to. "It is what it is Mr. Salvatore. Any other questions about my personal life?" she said the last part with a bit of sarcasm.

"In fact, there is, just one last one. Are you a virgin?"

"How is that any of your business?"

"Just answer the question Miss Elena."

Elena flushed slightly. "Yes."

Damon almost smiled. "I thought so. And when are you planning on working upstairs as they call it as a lady of the night?"

"Next week," Elena said. "When Madam Pearl allows me and Caroline to work."

"Caroline?"

"A friend of mine," she said impatiently. "Is there anything else that you would like to know about me, Mr. Salvatore other questions of my virtue perhaps?"

Damon smiled slightly. "No I think I'm done," he handed her a gold coin and Elena eyes widened. She was about to protest that it was too much money, when Damon interrupted her thoughts. "Calm down, it is not an act of generosity by any means. If you accept this coin that means that you will allow me to be your first paying customer."

"Why do you want to the first one?" Elena asked looking at the coin greedily.

"That is my business." Damon asked. "What do you decide, Miss Elena. Am I going to be the first man in your bed."

"Yes," Elena whispered quietly looking at the coin and Damon dropped the coin in her open palm. He winked. "I will see you next week, Miss Elena."

The rest of the evening went by quickly and before Elena knew it, it was the first hours of dawn and she and Caroline were in their tiny bathroom that they shared taking off their makeup. "How was it?" Caroline asked. "I must have gotten my bottom smacked by I don't know how many men."

"A few pinches, but nothing else." Elena said as she put the coins that she had gotten as tips in her small bag. Caroline noticed the gold coin and her blue eyes widened. "Who gave you that? That is almost ten dollars in gold!"

"A prospective client," she flushed. "You won't meet him until next week."

"What's his name?" Care asked curiously.

Elena blinked. "Damon Salvatore."

-End of Chapter Six-

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