A/N: Look at my profile if you have stumbled upon my original account "dreamiestnightmare13" and/or read the first version of "Bittersweet Temptations". There's a full explanation there.

If you haven't done either or both of those things, ignore me and enjoy the story.

Warning: This story will include some dark topics such as abuse.

Disclaimer: Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal and, well, anything having to do with Hannibal Lecter is not mine. Most unfortunate. However, I do actually own Audrey.

Prologue: Twin Birds

Twelve Years Ago

Silence. Piercing as it was comforting. Exquisite beyond compare.

Her bare feet appeared to echo her thoughts on the matter. Audrey had no desire to be caught nor did she want to break the peace that enveloped the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. If she was being honest with herself, the chances of her getting caught were slim to none. The security system in the hospital was a complete joke. It was as though the last technological update was in the 80s. Not to mention the security guard was actually asleep at his desk. Here she had been thinking about covertly entering through a window. No, not at all.

Just stroll on through the front damn door.

Well done proving all those stereotypes wrong. Your parents must be so proud.

At least there wasn't a half empty box of donuts near him. She might have just left at that point.

How much time had she wasted organizing that entrance? Hours? Days? Probably. Half a month's rent down the drain for some stupid blueprints. An annoyed sigh left her lips.

Those extra shifts will be agonizing.

Perhaps funds were lacking. Embarrassingly lacking. Hard to believe since the hospital was like a damned castle. Then again, this place was designed to keep criminals in. Not many people must want to let out the monsters for shits and giggles. Or, in her case, let out her friend.

Her only friend.

It was a strange concept even to her to slap the relatively juvenile term on the infamous Doctor Hannibal Lecter. Refined, brilliant, silver-tongued… all perfect terms to describe him. BFF and bestie? Not so much. Just the thought of calling him either of those names made her physically cringe. She couldn't even do it as a joke.

There wasn't an easy label to put on their relationship. He certainly was not a father figure. God, no. There could not possibly be enough therapy in the world if that was the case. Protégé? Eh, maybe. But that would imply she was in his shadow, looking to become exactly like him. Yes and no? Their killing methods were similar but her palette was more narrow than his. Unfaithful men were where her tastes lay.

As it seemed, Hannibal did have a taste —no pun intended— for a person such as herself. She knew she was held in a positive light. Her death would have occurred long, long ago if that hadn't been the case. Audrey was sure it was her charm that allowed her to wiggle through most of the castle walls surrounding his heart. If she was honest, he had done the same thing to her. She would never verbally admit it but he could read her like an open book. That was a lot of the 'feelings' portion of their relationship in a nut shell.

Thanks to the copies of the security tapes she had from an orderly who was a bit too friendly, she knew Hannibal was in a good state of mind once again. Took long enough. The absence of a specific individual seemed to be the source of that.

Oh, yes. Will Graham was long gone.

A small smile crossed her lips. Audrey never got tired of that phrase. The relationship between Hannibal and Will was one of the most complicated monstrosities she had ever seen. It was like watching a mouse get emotionally attached to a cat. Then the mouse turned out to also be a cat but when the original cat finally started to treat the mouse-cat like an equal, the mouse-cat tricked the cat into a trap. Then it became a mouse once again and ran away from the cat, never to be seen again.

Apparently, no amount of analogies will ever decrease its weirdness.

Will's betrayal shook up Hannibal. He would never admit it. The whole ordeal was simple bizarre. Will had Hannibal's respect —which was no small feat. If Hannibal didn't respect someone… well, Miggs was what happened on a good day.

He got off lucky. Her adopted parents got off luckier. When Hannibal found out what happened… Well, their quick deaths by her hand was the best possibly things to happen to them. A small amount of regret blossomed inside her chest. They truly didn't deserve seconds of pain before blissful darkness. Not after what they had done to her.

A strange groaning sound shook her from the darkest corners of her mind and back into reality. Rather than scurrying off like a frightened deer, she stopped walking and listened. Another loan moan, this time of a distinct feminine variety came from the hallway. Two doors down to be precise. Her indigo eyes narrowed in the direction of the noise before closing them, briefly. Pushing aside her annoyance, she inhaled a deep lungful of the musty smell coming from the old building. A few seconds ticked by as she pieced the situation together.

Oh.

Well, that should have been obvious. Considering what I do.

Audrey opened her eyes, amused at the situation. After another minute passed by, she heard another masculine groan. The slapping of skin on skin among many other fun sounds became louder as she continued down the hallway. Delightful. They were clearly too busy indulged in each other to hear anything.

As she walked on, a small stinging sensation from her right hand became more apparent. A metallic smell gave away the answer. Bringing her hand up to get a better look, she visually confirmed what her nose already told her: she was bleeding. Not badly. Apparently while mentally revisiting her nightmarish past, she had accidentally dug her nails so hard into her skin she had drawn blood. He was not going to be happy with that. Sighing, she pulled a handkerchief out of her jacket pocket and wrapped it around her self-inflicted wound. An old hair tie she wore around her wrist was the finishing touch to keep it in place.

Taking a right, the couple faded from her mind as she traveled down the cold, stone floor. A red brick wall that sealed off any other way in or out stood in her way. Or so the wall would wish everyone to think. Little did those sheep know, there was a specific brick that if pushed in a particular spot would open a trapdoor.

Perhaps those blueprints hadn't been a waste.

Of course, by that point, her opinion of those who worked at the hospital had dropped well beyond the floor. Why the construction team who built this place would construct an access point which would allow anyone to sneak into the maximum security holding without a problem was beyond her. Yes, let's make it easier to access all of the great, insane evils of the world.

Perfect.

Brava.

Eye roll.

Evil was such a subjective term anyway. A wolf is not evil for killing sheep because that is how it survives. It is simply nature's way. It wouldn't be logical to enclose a wolf in a cage in hopes that it becomes a herbivore. Humans are children of chaos trying desperately to ignore their animalistic roots by clinging to rules made by someone else. The spectrum of good and evil is not black and white: it is entirely made of gray. Given their history, the FBI would better be served at finding evil by looking at a mirror.

Silently, despite her thoughts, she slipped into the tunnel and carefully closed the opening behind her. She then continued her progression to her mark.

Another unusual noise flowing through the corridor, causing her to, once again, pause her advancement. The secret passageway she traveled down presently seemed to be filled with a quiet hum of a classic melody that she could not currently place. But that was not something that she cared to indulge her magnificent brain in. There were far more appealing subjects to ponder upon than anything as petty as a temporarily forgotten hymn. The tune may have been unknown right now to her but the voice was not a mystery. It was one that echoed through her thoughts in the day and haunted her dreams at night. She felt her pale pink lips curve upwards.

She was getting close.

Close, please…

Closer…

Audrey smiled humorlessly at the taunting voice seeping into her mind again. Only on others did she hear that tone. Hannibal had never taunted her. Not with malice intent, at least. He treated her with the highest respect. She was his equal and he was hers. They were two halves of a whole.

Lion and lioness.

Hunter and huntress.

Lucifer and Lilith.

Damned forever but damned together.

Audrey thought to herself as she continued forward until she saw thin, rectangular-shaped slivers of light coming from an opening up ahead. The speed of her pace increased upon seeing it. She wasn't even trying to be quiet anymore.

So damn close.

She removed the barrier, setting it down behind her gently. Crouching much like a cat, Audrey surveyed the situation below her. Several pipes ran both in parallel and intersecting formation. They were not precisely close but not impossibly far away either. Also, there was the trivial matter of the three story height to contemplate. Nevertheless, it was an easy feat to get to the ground. Impossible for most, yes, but not for her.

With a considerable amount agility, she managed to reach the unforgiving floor of the so-called dungeon. She silently swore as her wrapped hand angrily voiced a complaint. Audrey knew that he knew she was there. The obvious sign was the lack of music in the air but his unparalleled sense of smell would have given her away. Or at least let him know of someone else's presence.

A wave of heat hit her body and she unzipped her black leather jacket to cool off. The acrobatics must have gotten to her more than usual. Her black painted fingers straightened the crimson tank top with black intricate lace she had worn underneath it. She brushed off some dust that had visibly gathered on her distressed black jeans. Nimble fingers turned her choker until the maroon rose was centered at the base of her throat. Thorn-covered stems swirling elegantly over her skin until they met at the back of her neck.

Walking on her tip-toes in a more than cliché sneaking manner, she approached the cell of the renowned psychiatrist, passing by the three empty cells that had once belonged to the other sociopaths. When she passed by Miggs' cell, she had to fight back a snicker as she recalled Jack Crawford's call.

Miggs is dead.

"Dead? How?"

"They heard Lecter whispering to him all afternoon and Miggs crying… They found him at bed check. He'd swallowed his own tongue."

Bugging the FBI phone lines had definitely been worth the risk.

She walked closer to the last room…

Closer…

Just until she was just a few feet away…

Closer…

Finally, she reached the cell. The simple act of standing in front of glass cage sent a chill down her spine while simultaneously filling her chest with great sadness. He really was caged like some sort of animal. A zoo exhibit for all the fools to come see thinking they could pick his brain so they could make an easy buck off his name. Slowly, Audrey approached the bulletproof glass until she was but mere inches away. Somehow, she refrained from touching it. Even with her wonderful night vision, she could see no movement. Just darkness.

For a single moment, she almost believed that he wasn't there.

Stupid.

Idiotic.

Naïve.

What the hell is wrong with you?

But a familiar voice consisting of both rich velvet and piercing metal struck through the air like a recently sharpened knife. It was European but not of a mainstream country. Lithuanian, if memory served her correctly. Calm confidence vibrated through the air. It took every bit of self-control to contain all her emotions.

"And to what occasion do I owe the pleasure of this obviously unauthorized visit, Clarice?"

Seriously?

When she didn't reply, shuffling could be heard from inside the cell. A figure sat up on the small cot and turned his body in her direction. A long inhale could be heard in the figure's direction. "You are not Clarice," he stated as his voice taking on an unusually curious tone.

Damn.

It did hurt to know he did not remember her smell. Instead of letting the pain shine through, she took a different approach. One only she could get away with. One of sass and tease.

A devilish smile curled on her coral lips as the dimmed light glistened off her unusually extended incisors. "Quite the adept deduction," she replied coyly as her hands moved to her hips. "You know, I have always thought rather favorably of you, my dear. Although, it would seem I now find myself quite offended by your lack of knowledge concerning my identity. Do you not remember who I am, Hannibal?"

A few seconds went by. Satisfaction coursed through her veins. It was not everyday someone could render him speechless. But she wasn't just anyone.

Her unannounced, seemingly random appearance probably had a lot to do with it.

"Audrey?" Hannibal's voice was but a whisper. Disbelief coated his tone. "I did not think I would ever see you again." The faint notes of hope intertwined in his words almost broke her. He was not someone who expressed emotion but her surprise visit had briefly lowered his walls. If Audrey was to be perfectly honest, the visit was having the same effect on her.

Hannibal stood gracefully and moved towards her. He stayed a few feet distance away from the glass. The doctor studied her as she did him. Audrey noted he looked as though he had lost some weight but other than that, he seemed healthy. Well, as healthy as one can be when locked up like an animal. It was rather strange seeing him in the hospital getup instead of an expensive suit. As her eyes went back to his, she saw a lingering glance at her right hand. She would need to explain that.

"You could never get rid of me that easily," Audrey replied teasingly but it was forced. She desperately had to get out of her emotional sinkhole or it would swallow her whole. His face mirrored her thoughts. "I thought for a fearful second that this inhumane cage you have cruelly been trapped in had begun to desecrate that magnificent brain of yours."

"Never," Hannibal retorted, a smile clear in his tone. It was so easy to fall back into their past banter. As if no time had passed at all. "That incompetent Chilton may take away every other freedom I might so meagerly attain in this dungeon, but he will never rob me of my thoughts. I can promise you that, my dear."

Then why did you forget me?

Stop being petty, dammit.

Moments passed by as they just stood there, enjoying each other's presence. Memorizing details. Knowing this would be the last time they would see each other for a while. Or however long it took him to break out of the hospital. He would undoubtedly come to see her immediately.

It was Audrey who finally broke the silence. "How have you been?"

Appreciation at her concern was reflected in his eyes. "As good as one can be considering the circumstances that I have endured in for the last eight years," Hannibal responded with a faint sliver of bitterness.

Audrey nodded understandingly. She was all too familiar with what it was like to be in a position of entrapment and unable to do anything about it. It was actually the reason she knew Hannibal in the first place. He had saved her. While the sexual abuse did not come until after his trial, her adopted parents had always been horrific. Audrey owed her life to Hannibal. "I can't believe it's been eight years."

An emotion she could not name flickered over his features. "Neither can I, Audrey."

There was a another pause.

"I was at your trial, Hannibal."

"I know. I saw you," He took a deep breath. "Although it was nice to see a friendly face in a sea of sharks, I really wish you hadn't gone. It was not my finest hour, let me assure you."

"I owed you that at the very least." She lowered her gaze to the ground but her eyes didn't focus on anything in front of her. "But nothing could've stopped me. Not even my foster parents —for lack of a more appropriate name to call them seeing as they were not around. Now I'm thankful they weren't because when they were around, everything was so much worse. They were horrified when they found out that their foster daughter had been spending the majority of her life with a serial killer. But I think it had less to do with my safety and more to do with their reputation." She laughed bitterly. "They attempted to punish me, but I just ran away. They couldn't keep me there anymore. I saw nothing that could possibly hold me back."

His eyes narrowed just slightly. Clearly, he had picked up on the lies involving her foster parents. He hated it when she lied to him. Audrey involuntarily flexed the fingers in her right hand causing it to draw his attention again. A question was on his mind but he did not ask it right away."You always were absurdly obstinate…"

He was catching on and she felt panic rise in her throat. Hannibal didn't need the distraction of knowing what happened after he was hauled off. She laughed but it was hollow. "Says the man that would refuse to listen to 'Goldberg Variations' on a CD because he claimed that it messed up the C and D notes even after the record player broke—"

"Audrey, look at me."

She could never deny him when he used that authoritative tone. Indigo connected with maroon as he read her like an open book. He could see the hurt and pain she had tried to hide. Anger flashed in his eyes but not directed at her. "Tell me what happened."

He was breaking past her barriers with ease. She had wanted to enjoy a few more moments of normalcy before having that conversation. Without hesitation, her posture became defensive as her arms crossed over her chest. "My problems are not your burden to bare."

"I will be the one to decide that. Not you." A terrifying calmness overtook him. His words rang finality. "Tell me, now."

Their eyes locked in a challenging stare but it was futile. Her shoulders sagged in defeat. "My foster parents. After you were put away, they—" Audrey's voice faltered and broke. She swallowed hard and tried again but no sound would come out.

He got the message and his cold rage was tangible. "How long?"

"Six months." Audrey swallowed hard. "I think. I was locked up so I'm not entirely sure." She would not cry. She would not cry. Dammit, she would not cry. "But you don't need to worry about them."

Dark laughter came from his throat. "I would beg to differ—"

"Because they're dead."

A questioning eyebrow shot up at her deadpan tone. "Explain."

"I killed them." Audrey gave him a humorless smile that faded immediately. The tears in her eyes dried.

Hannibal went silent, seemingly taking in everything for a solid thirty seconds. Her words, her expression, her body language, her bloodied hand. Thankfully, there was no need to explain that one. Apparently, he was drawing his own conclusions.

The rage melted away —or simply faded to the back of his mind for later use. "Interesting coincidence. I have been hearing whispers of a new serial killer on the rise. While the media is having a field day with their beloved Buffalo Bill, it seems someone has slipped under their radar. Six kills over the last eight years have been reported within the same confines. Unfaithful men seem to be their taste —quite literally it would seem. The victims are always missing a body part. For this, they have dubbed her 'The Black Widow'." His maroon eyes glittered with glee, previous anger forgotten. "Now, you wouldn't know anything about a cannibalistic, female serial killer with a delightful appetite for adulterers, would you, my dearest Audrey?"

A smirk curled on her lips. One of the many things she adored about him was his ability to not push anything emotionally with her. The death her foster parents received at her hands was a far more merciful one than what he would have done. Hers was one of passionate hatred and it was over relatively quick. Hannibal would have taken his time and tortured them properly. He was ferociously protective over her. There was nothing he could do about the past but she saw the shadow of his rage behind his eyes. Anyone who knew what her foster parents had done would be at the top of his list.

That knowledge was enough to grant her peace. Hannibal always did his best to protect her. He would never forgive himself for allowing them to continue living. Especially not with what happened. There would most certainly be hell to pay.

"Come, now. Have you forgotten our little game? I will only answer if you tell me something in return." Mirth danced in her eyes. "Quid pro quo, Doctor."

All the teasing seemed to drain out of his face again. Yet again. At first, she was rather confused. All she said was…

Audrey remembered the tapes.

"Quid pro quo, Doctor."

Oh.

No.

Fuck.

Audrey mentally smacked herself for her foolish behavior. So much for any kind of pleasant visit. A friendly chat had become a therapy session. Lovely. In fact, the emotional roller coaster they were on was disorientating. Thankfully, she had decided to go with an extra strong dose of sedatives for the orderlies and the guard rather than just the strong one. The visit had gone on for quite a bit longer than expected.

"Say that again."

The sudden sharpness in his voice startled her a little. She tried to play innocent. Stupid, stupid idea. "Say what again—?"

"Quid pro quo. Repeat it, please."

She was in so much trouble. "May I ask why?" Too high pitched. Dammit.

Hannibal ignored her question and stared at her rather unnervingly.

Damn, damn, damn. "Fine." A deep breath. "Quid pro quo, Doctor," she allowed her former West Virginian accent to sink into the words with a grimace on her lips.

She didn't have to wait long for the eruption.

Suddenly, he was closer. So close that his breath fogged up the glass. Maroon eyes flashed but she did not back up. Audrey held her ground. Fear was not something she felt around him. "Precisely how many secrets have you foolishly been keeping from me, my dear?"

Audrey took a small step forward so that all that was between them was the thick piece of glass. She raised her chin up and returned his piercing stare with her own. "I do not keep secrets from you, Hannibal. I didn't even know until recently that my sister was in the FBI, let alone interviewing you. What a fun surprise that was." She didn't even try to hide her bitterness. "And let me remind you that you had not known of her existence up until a few weeks ago. Tell me, Hannibal, what purpose would it have served to tell you eight years ago when you had no knowledge of her? None. And as far as my foster parents' actions, I did not want to distract you from your plans for escape but it was one of the reasons I came here tonight. I don't like to keep things from you." She jabbed her finger at the glass, where his chest would be. "And I'm allowed to be protective of you too, dammit!"

They glared at each other. Like a married couple in the midst of a quarrel.

Idiots, the pair of them.

"You could have written it to me."

How he was able to go from dangerous to the Hannibal Lecter equivalent of pouting was beyond her.

She scoffed. "And have that unbearable bastard, Chilton, read it? I think not. He already gives her enough pervy hell as it is without having the knowledge that her twin sister is The Black Widow, killer of nine."

"Oh, really? Have the major news networks not blessed the globe with their infinite knowledge and riveting commentary on the subject?"

"No, surprisingly. It was a Senator, though. Shouldn't be too long before word gets out."

"I would imagine so."

Talking about her killings was a sufficient distraction. Probably his intent. A blissful sigh left her lips. "Oh, how I wish you would have been there. It was magnificent. The man, from just the surface, appeared to be happy with being the father of three and having a loving, beautiful wife who is always there for him. He was secretly cheating on her." A giggle bubbled up to her lips that to any other ear would have been brimming with madness.

"My dear, as much as I am in agreement with your decision, I must admit that your reasoning behind it is rather lacking. An adulterous politician is not an uncommon occurrence."

A twisted smile appeared on her lips. "I didn't realize keeping up with the amount of people we killed was so important, Hannibal. After all, we both kill and eat the rude. Your palette is just more open than my is." A small shrug rolled off her shoulders. "You would have thought we would be awarded for our efforts of wiping humanity of its blemishes instead of being hunted down by those who have failed to do so."

"An interesting take but nonetheless, quite true."

Maroon eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul as he examined her. "I never would have guessed you were her sister. Though I do see some facial structural similarities."

Audrey shrugged. "You have not seen me for eight years, Hannibal. I have changed from that little girl playing Bach in the piano shop to a young woman. I would not blame you for not recognizing the relation between the two of us. No one has before. I doubt they will now."

Hannibal continued to examine her. "Given the lack of age differences, I imagine you two are fraternal twins. May I take another assumption in deducting that you were sent off to foster care at the same time that she was sent off to the cousin's ranch?"

"Yes. Our cousins could only take one of us. They choose her. But my misfortune changed when I decided to play the piano at a music shop and a nice man offered me piano lessons." Audrey smiled kindly at him. "And the rest is history."

"I have to admit, that was the most beautiful playing that I had heard in a long time. I could hardly believe that you were as young as you were." Hannibal smiled as well. There was a moment of blissful happiness before he went on to a more serious matter. "So, my dear Audrey, why is it that you have come here? And please, refrain from lying. As good as you are at it, I will still know."

Clearly not as good as I thought I was.

Taking a deep breath, she answered. "The second reason is… well… I came here to ensure my sister's safety."

Fucking liar.

Half-lying. Only half.

Ignoring her thoughts, she continued. "I know you will eventually get out —it is rather inevitable as we both know— and she has enemies— enemies that will harm her. I also know that you have enemies that —if it is found out of your fondness to her— they will most likely use that against both of you."

Hannibal tilted his head slightly, indicating for her to continue. "Even since I found out of our relation, I have done my best to keep her safe. I'm okay, for now, in regards to protecting her, but I cannot do it alone, Hannibal. I know you care for her. It's rather obvious in the security footage I have seen of your conjugal visits together. She tried to deceive you a few days ago, foolish as we both know. If you had not cared for her the way you did, you would not be feeling a sense of betrayal right now." Audrey paused to allow her words to sink in. "I know you're going to escape in Memphis. That makeshift handcuff key that you've been creating —don't be shocked that I know. Why else would you keep staring at Chilton's beloved gold pen as he lay there mocking you yesterday?— is what you're going to use, isn't it?"

Pride for her glittered in his eyes as a sly smile formed on his lips. "It appears that I have perhaps taught you a little too well, my dear."

"I would expect nothing but the best from you." After a moment, Audrey looked at her watch, realizing the time. "Hannibal, the orderly will be waking up in the next three to five minutes. Can you please do me that favor of helping me protect Clarice?"

Protecting her, never seeing her again, forgetting who she was…

Same thing, really.

Her sister's name felt foreign and strange in her mouth. She didn't like it.

He seemed to consider it for a couple of seconds, but they both already knew his answer.

"Alright. I will assist you. And to answer you from before… I will not deny any of your allegations that you have set upon me nor will I refute any of the assumptions you have insinuated thus far. But I will also not agree to them either."

Of course he likes her.

Good. Good. Fantastic.

Were you truly expecting anything different?

Didn't stop the green-eyed monster within her from opening its eyes.

A smirk curled on her lips instead. "You never can make it easy, can you?"

"Where would the fun be in that, my dear? Are you suggesting that I live a boring life and allow my enemy's lives to be just as dull? Come now. I do have a reputation to live up to."

Audrey laughed at that. "And lest we forget about your massively over-sized ego…"

"Oh, never, Audrey, never. That would be simply criminal —pardon the pun if you will."

There was a groan from down the hallway, suggesting that one of the orderlies had begun to awaken. "I'm sorry, but I need to—"

"Go," he stated simply, gesturing to the hall.

"Alright. I will…" Audrey put her hand up flat against the glass, smiling sadly. "Good-bye, Hannibal Lecter."

He likewise put his hand up to the glass, opposite of hers. She swore she could feel his body heat through the barrier. "Until we meet again, Audrey Starling."

Never before had she hated that name so much in her life. Nor had she experienced such a hatred since her foster family. Clarice would live for now. Protected by Hannibal's feelings.

A snarl curled on her lips as she left.

One day, he will be mine.

A/N: Poor Audrey.

Until the next chapter…

Ta ta,

Dreamiest Nightmare