Chapter Seven: Little Virgin
Caroline and Elena were enjoying the bright sun and sharing stories about their first day of work when they noticed a dark hair girl going towards them. Her curls were unkempt and her dress was dirty. She looked like she hadn't slept for a while. She was carrying a small suitcase and Caroline immediately recognized that she was a runaway.
"Where is your Madam?" she spat, not waiting for an introduction. "I need to speak to her."
"Madam Pearl is inside," Elena offered helpfully like the good girl that she was. "Can I help you?"
"No," the curly brown hair girl spat. "I don't need your help. I just need to talk to the Madam. Now."
Caroline stood up and told her. "Hold on, I will go and get her." Despite her rudeness, Caroline could tell that the girl was desperate. Caroline herself had held that desperate look in her eyes when she had first arrived, but unlike this girl she had at least tried to be polite.
Madam Pearl ever the courteous boss that she was welcome the new girl. They were in her office for over half an hour and when she came back she was holding the girl cautiously by the shoulder. "This is Katherine Pierce," Madam Pearl said trying to maintain a cheery atmosphere when there was none. "Otherwise now known as Ruby. Please make her feel welcome."
Before Caroline knew it, a week had gone by and Caroline was surprised by how time seem to fly. She had gotten used to her job serving drinks and she even knew how to flirt with men. Elena and Caroline had gotten to know little miss Katherine a bit better and the three girls had seemed to form almost a small truce.
Caroline had been in the middle of tying her corset when Madam Pearl entered the room. "I'll finish that for you dear. I want to speak to you."
Caroline nodded as Madam Pearl began to tightened the strings of the corset. "Tonight, has been your first week at the Moonstone Saloon and I told you that at the end of the week you will be able to choose if you continue working as a waitress of if you would start to accept men into your bed. What would it be, Caroline?"
Caroline gulped. For some reason, Klaus' angry face came to mind and that only seemed to annoy her more. "It pays more than being a waitress, right?" When Madam Pearl confirm this Caroline nodded. "All right, I will start working upstairs."
Madam Pearl looked conflicted, but she didn't stop Caroline. She only told her how to dress to look more appealing and too show off her pale, round breasts a bit more to get the men's attention. "And Elena, will she also be-"
"No, not tonight," Madam Pearl said softly. "She said that she promised herself to the wealthy Rancher that came the other night. Damon Salvatore."
"And Katherine, she still has a few days to go, doesn't she?"
Madam Pearl shook her head. "Katherine took some customers last night, she was stubborn and was not willing to wait. Besides she told me that she wasn't a virgin and she was more experience. Honestly, if she didn't keep the customers so happy I would have second thoughts she seems a little vicious." Madam Pearl looked at her. "You don't have to sleep with guests, Caroline you can stay downstairs if you want- "
"No, I'm ready," Caroline said. "Besides, I have to get used to it. The first time is always bound to hurt, doesn't it?"
"A little," Madam Pearl agreed. "Well, if you're sure."
"I'm sure," she said quietly. "Do I get to choose or does someone pick me- "
Madam Pearl smiled. "Actually, I have an idea. Since you are a virgin and frankly they are rare in these parts why don't we auction you off? You can choose who you choose to go with Caroline, it's ok. Do not worry, I will ask whoever buys you to be gentle with you and to respect you. The first time is always the hardest."
Caroline nodded. "Thank you, Madam Pearl."
Klaus didn't know what he was doing here since Caroline had made it clear that she didn't want to be near him at all. But for some reason he had come to the Moonstone Saloon every day since Care had come and had stayed until the early hours of the morning which caused him to become bad tempered at work, not to mention tired and cranky all the time.
It didn't help that his brother, Elijah was determining to look for some little, curly haired runaway girl who was apparently injured but somehow had still managed to escape his brother's grasp.
Klaus didn't know why his brother cared so much about the little runaway, she was a nobody and probably spoiled and bratty. Elijah had told him to shut up and mind his own business.
The lights dimmed in the saloon and Klaus raised an eyebrow. Well this was new. The men were hurrying to surround the stage. The pretty Madam Pearl stood in the middle a bright smile on her face. "Welcome everyone, it is a special night tonight. We are auctioning a young virgin tonight for some lucky man. I expect the one who claims her to treat her like a lady. Marigold?" you could hear the whistles and shouts coming from the men. Klaus felt disgusted and then he paled.
Marigold? wasn't that Caroline's- Right on cue, Caroline appeared wearing a tight corset and blue skirt that showed off her ankles. Klaus felt his blood boil. The little idiot, what was she doing there? She was walking prey. The men would tear her alive. "Gentlemen?" Madam Pearl purred. "Any bets?"
"Twenty dollars!" one of the men shouted.
"Thirty!"
"100 dollars!" Klaus blurted out before he could stop himself. The men started mumbling to themselves, but no one attempted to outbid him. Madam Pearl smiled. "Going once, going twice, she's all your sheriff!"
"Oh no," Caroline murmured, the obvious anguish on her face.
Klaus wasn't smiling when he followed her up the stage. "Let's go now." Caroline gulped, but did as she was told. "Where are, we going?" she squeaked.
Klaus threw her a dirty glare. "Where do you think? Upstairs. I did pay for you, did I not? Or would you rather go with the other men?" Caroline recalled the dirty, unbathed men that had been disappointed by the lost. "No."
"Good, then let's go upstairs."
-End of Chapter Seven-
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