Back in Mystic Falls

56. Honey and Venon

Pairing: Sage/Damon-Elena (F/mf) slipper

"Amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus."

-Titus Maccius Plautus, from Cistellaria

Translation: Love is rich with both honey and venom.

Mikaelson Estate

Mystic Falls, Virginia

September 1855

Older Boys' Room

Kol's hand ached as he dutifully began to write out his lines. Elijah had made sure he had plenty of ink and paper before setting him to his task at his desk in the boys' room directly after school.

"Thank you, Brother," Kol said with a tinge of sarcasm. "I had thought I may have a chance to visit with Hank before you set me to this tedious punishment..."

Rebekah had stayed home with Hank from school today. The girls had not slept well and Hank was anxious for word of her father. Marcel had offered to go and look for him, but the details of his business trip were sketchy. Mrs. Smith's interrogation had not shown any light on his whereabouts.

"You are very welcome, Kol," Elijah said with a smirk. "I am surprised you got off so lightly. I would have tanned your hide and then set you to your work."
Kol rolled his eyes and said, "Hayley was pleased with me today. I feigned not being able to spell 'symposium' so one of the others could win the spelling bee. She even gave me a wink."

"Ah, as in a 'meeting to discuss some subject'?" Elijah asked. "Remember how much fun with used to have with Webster's The Blue-backed Speller? I shall have to get another copy, it was so helpful when I was schooling you and Marcellus in New Orleans."

"It twas fun for you," Kol grumbled. "For us, not so much. I think that twas why you starting assigning us lines in the first place. We never wished to study your long lists of words."

Elijah lost himself a moment remembering those times.

"We do not always get to do what we wish, do we? So who did win the spelling bee? Hayley said Solomon is doing well at his studies," Elijah prodded, standing over Kol's shoulder to watch him write a moment.

"Oh, it twas Harriet," Kol said. "Solomon did win a prize from out of the younger children. I thought I might ask Harriet to the community dance."

Elijah patted Kol on the shoulder, saying, "That would be lovely. She seems like a nice, hard working young woman. Anyone who could put up with Mrs. Whitmore like she has, is a strong person."

"I am sure," Kol said. "Elijah, did you really forgive Niklaus so easily. I mean, for what he did to Mother?"

Kol stopped and turned to look his brother in the eye.

Elijah sighed, "It tis a hard thing to contemplate...But it struck me that Mother was more troubled by the changes in us than anyone else. There were a few times she met with Ayana, almost secretly. It struck me that she may have regretted her actions and was seeking to undo them."

Kol sucked in a breath, "You mean that she would have killed us?"

Elijah took a few steps back. "I do not know, Kol. I am sure we shall never know, but she never looked at us the same. Even Ayana, who loved us almost as much as her own kin, was fearful of what we had become. Perhaps I should not have said anything..."

"Nay, tis true. We were all blood thirsty fiends, mayhaps me the worst of us all. I could not bear the hunger or being cut off from magic. It haunts me still at times," Kol admitted. "It twas not until New Orleans that we truly settled down. But I suppose, not enough for the covens to accept us."