𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐒
Chapter Three | The Gift of Amends

EIGHTEEN SIXTY FOUR

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THE PRECIOUS SOUND OF GIGGLES FLUTTERED THROUGH the early morning as passionate kisses were litered upon the fair skin of one, Kalliope Salvatore. She relished in the butterfly sensation, sighing in bliss as the sheets ruffled against her bare skin.

She took pleasure in running her hands through the raven locks of her beloved. A wide smile adorned her rosy cheeks, something Damon couldn't and wouldn't dare wipe from his mind.

The fresh light from the new day peeked through the cloth curtains, casting Kalliope in a incandesant glow. She was breathtaking. A sight nothing in the world could replace.

"How are you fairing this morning my dearest wife?" Damon cuddled closer to her embrace, mouthing a path up to her ear.

Kalliope wiggled around. The babyhairs framing her face wild from sleep. She laid her head back against the feather down pillow, glancing up at him through her lengthy lashes. "I've never been better, my Lord."

Damon hummed in delight, leaning back to caress her brow to her temple. "Hm, my Lord. I quite like that."

"I had a feeling you would," She lightly rolled her eyes, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Damon couldn't resist indulging in her affection, capturing her plush lips with his own, sighing in content. Curling her hand around the nape of his neck, she deepened the kiss, tongue mingling with his own.

His hands roamed the contours of her supple flesh. From the sides of her chest smoothing down the length of her thighs. Kalliope practically quivered under his touch, hugging his strong body to her with a devoted fierceness.

The couple had been in married bliss for three months now and the joy hadn't warn off yet. Their love was beautifully abundant. Unbriddled with envy or selfishness. It was an unconditional surrender. An honesty many could not afford these days.

Giuseppe was not happy with the turn out of their forbidden love. Kalliope was promised to Stefan, even if she was three years his senior. The patriarch of the house wanted the very best for his son, never mind his eldest. Damon was supposed to get the scraps, contrary to traditional house governing.

The man threatened to beat Damon black and blue, but the announcement was already open to the public. There was to be a wedding in Mystic Falls and Giuseppe would just have to deal with it.

Suddenly, a harsh knocking came to their front door. They could hear it from upstairs, which meant it must've been urgent. Separating from Damon, Kalliope glanced towards their bedroom door. "Did you hear that?"

"Hm, no leave it be," He breathed in a rush, running his hands through her curly brown tresses.

Kalliope sent him an amused smile, placing a hand on his naked chest to keep him at bay. "Darling, we have guests. We shouldn't be rude, come on. Let's see what the fuss is about."

Groaning low in his throat, Damon flipped off of her and raked his hands through his hair. He eyed his wife with his arms behind his head as she meandered around the room for something appropriate to wear.

Kalliope found a decent highwaisted skirt and slipped it on over her garments with ease. Damon readied up behind her, accepting the role of tightening her corset in place. The brunette sucked in her breath for him to do his worst, holding onto the mirror posts with squinted eyes.

"I'll never understand these horrid contraptions." Damon shook his head, biting his lip as he winded his fist around the taunt ropes of fabric.

Kalliope huffed, making quick work on her tumbling curls. "You're not meant to. Simply let women be women. That'll be fine," she tapped his hands, allowing him to tie it securely.

Turning on her heel, she kissed his lips in appreciation, finding her buttoned up top to put over her chest. "Whoever's at this door will not be on my good side."

"I don't think you have a good side, dear." She skipped down the stairs, meeting Laura Dean, their housekeeper tending to the front door. Kalliope smiled brightly towards her. "That's okay, Laura dear. We've got it."

The woman curstied with a benevolant expression. "Very well, Lady Kalliope. I'll go prepare the fixings. Will there be another guest?"

Damon passed her on his way towards the door, surprisingly opening it to his handsome brother Stefan Salvatore. His golden hair was neatly combed although his vest was partially buttoned. In Kalliope's opinion, he looked hopelessly in need of a warm meal. Thinking exactly that, she faced Laura with a knowing tilt of her lips.

"If you please. I'm afraid, the Salvatore's will be communing for a while."

"Right on that," Laura glanced to the youngest Salvatore with a shy smile before ducking out to the kitchen. Her skirts flounced around her as she exited.

Kalliope thought it sweet, her ladies maid had her eye on Stefan. She wasn't necessarily surprised either. Most woman, young and old, swooned at the sight of the hero-haired Salvatore. There was a certain innocent charm about him. Gentlemenly and reserved.

However, she didn't quite see the appeal herself. Maybe she was too smitten with her husband. Her eyes only fluttered for one man.

Bounding to the front door, Kalliope flashed her pearly whites at her brother in-law. Her heart shaped face and flushed cheeks temporarily blinded him. Her smile was so warm and inviting. It sent a dizzying feeling into Stefan's stomach.

"Darling, Stefan. How fair you?" Damon wrapped his arm around her waist, causing the effortless smile on Stefan's face to droop minutely.

"I'm well, Kalliope. Thank you. I was just relaying to my brother that word sends from abroad, our cousin, Lady Katherine Pierce is lodging with father and I." She nodded in understanding, curling a loose strand behind her ear.

"God bless anyone who steps in father's house without proper protection," Damon muttered below his breath. He and his father had a toxic relationship, if it was ever considered one. Giuseppe lacked conviction for his wrongdoings and that included laying his hands on his eldest son whenever he saw fit.

It was one of the imprefections that drew Kalliope to Damon. Her sympathy led her to spend more time with him and in doing so, a love blossomed stronger than any hurtful lashings Giuseppe would dare throw at Damon.

Kalliope patted her husband's chest, soothing his worsening mood. "Oh, hush. Come in Stefan. Let's break fast together, have you eaten?"

She stepped out of Damon's embrace to lead his brother inside. Kalliope fussed over him like any older sister would. Brushing the spare grass off his shirt and fixing his hair just so.

Stefan's cheeks heated at the attention, fighting the urge to stare at her longer than necessary. "No, I skipped out of the house before the dining bell rang."

"Then, that settles it. You'll eat with us," She placed a hand on his upper back to bring him into the formal dining room. Glancing sweetly at her husband over her shoulder. "Isn't that right, Damon?"

He rolled his crystal blue eyes, closing the door with a resounding shove. "Of course, Flore. We could use the company," His tone was sarcastic, smirking lowly as he assumed his seat at the head of the table.

The dining room was colored in an eccentric array of warm tones and patterns, much like the rest of their house. Kalliope styled the entire home with unique and curious artifacts. Empty bird cages, corkscrew book shelves, elaborate rugs.

Much to everyone's fascination, she wasn't normal. Her tastes often contradicted societies take on a proper lady. Her personality was as bright as the sun and her home perfectly reflected that.

Kalliope sat on her husband's right side, laying the set napkin over her lap. She immediately started serving the table. Making Damon's plate first as she reached over the table.

"The food is complimentary of Laura," She mentioned with an appreciative glimmer in her cocoa colored orbs.

"It looks amazing, do thank her for me."

"Of course," She loaded it with a hefty amount of food, placing it in front of him with a pleasant smile. Then, she served Stefan with similar portions, though she doubted he'd finish it all. Stefan always left something on the dish. "So Stefan, tell me about this cousin of yours. Why is she traveling all this way?"

He stumbled over his words, pausing to take a bite of his eggs. "Uh, well she recently lost her parents in a dreadful accident. Fever took them swiftly."

Kalliope gasped innocently, eyebrows furrowing in despair. "That's dreadful... poor girl must be devastated." The look on her face was as if she'd seen a ghost, sheet white as she messed over her grits.

Damon placed a hand over her fist, causing her grip to relax on her fork. "I can assume father is presuming the role of her guardian?"

Stefan nodded distractedly, frequently flicking his forest green eyes towards his sister in-law. "Yes, that is what he told me."

"Then, we should show her around town. Give her a good time and lift her spirits." His thick brows wiggled as he suggestedly looked over his brother.

It was time Stefan found a wife and Damon felt it was his responsibility. Especially, because he took his brother's promised bride for his own. It was only right.

Not understanding the exchange between brothers, Kalliope shook herself from her stupor. A small, sad smile curled her lips. "Inspired idea, dear. Besides, its about time we had some more ladies around here."

"Wherever for," Damon contradicted with a wrinkle of his nose.

"For fellowship. I could host teas and shop in town with a companion." She subtly placed her napkin on her plate, losing her appetite. "And of course, I'll have someone to gossip with."

Stefan titled his head curiously, "But what of Laura? Is she not up to your standards?"

Kalliope rolled her eyes. There was no way she would be able to get them to understand her reasoning. "Yes, but Laura shouldn't have to hear my ramblings alone. She has a family of her own, people to consort with already."

"So do you," Damon pointed out with pursed lips. By then, the brunette had, had enough of their talking in circles. She stood, causing the men to stand in tandem out of respect. Their objecting and clueless expressions were amusing, but weren't compelling enough to make her stay.

"I'm a lady who enjoys hosting speaking engagements to more than one person. Is it so much to ask that I would like another lady friend?"

The boys shared a look before turning to her expectantly, "Well, no. I suppose not."

They were still very much stumped for thought, but Kalliope was done holding their hands till they understood. She nodded once and left out to properly get ready for her day. Sometimes, she wondered if they shared one brain cell more often than not.

Maybe it was the sudden mood change that shifted within her at Stefan's words earlier. Or maybe she was simply more emotional than usual - having one of her spouts of hormonal imbalance. Nevertheless, she suddenly felt chilled to the bone.

Saddness creeped up on her flesh like an old friend, and the distant memory of what the fever could really do - flashed before her mind's eye like a projected movie. There were so many secrets she harbored for longer than she could remember. It felt like they were starting to catch up with her and quickly.

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Unedited. 01/25/2021