Here comes another one. I'm on a roll! I don't think it will turn out to be too long, but with me, you never know... :) P.S. - I feel no need for a disclaimer. How in the world could I have come up with these characters? I mean, please. Enjoy!
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It had been three years since that fateful night on the Chesapeake.
Clarice had followed her heart and gone away with Hannibal Lecter. Papers reported that she'd been kidnapped by a notorious killer, that there was no way she'd ever escape. If they only knew what she knew now. If they only knew.
Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling were finally together. Forever. The love they had for one another was like nothing else. Not a dull day passed in their household. There were always new things to try, new places to go, new things to see. They had just recently moved to Florence, something Lecter had waited for. After the events at the Chesapeake, he felt that it would not be safe for them to go to Florence right away. But once the time was right, they immediately left for Florence.
Lecter always had things planned. They had visited museums, art galleries, concert halls, and the like. Clarice was constantly amazed at the knowledge Lecter possessed. He was much better than any tour guide could ever hope to be.
Tonight, they had planned on the opera and dinner. This was no surprise to Clarice, as Lecter had brought home a dress for her several days before. But what she didn't know was what else Lecter had in mind.
Clarice noticed that as she dressed, Hannibal came in several times to 'check up on her'. She began to wonder if something was wrong, but immediately dismissed the thought. The dress Hannibal had chosen for her was one of emerald green fabric. It was form-fitting and simple. There were no straps or elegant patterns on the dress. Still, she was an image of pulchritude.
As she was choosing her jewelry for their 'date', he knocked on her door. She had to admit that she was a bit puzzled as to why he was so concerned about her on this night. Clarice walked across her large dressing room and opened the door. No one was there. As she looked about the hall, she noticed a large black velvet box in front of her door. She stepped back inside her room and opened the box. A note fluttered out and fell to the ground. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the jewelry: a large emerald pendant with a matching bracelet and earrings. Once over the inital shock, she picked up the note.
Dearest Clarice,
These should go nicely with your dress.
H
She quickly put them on and turned to the mirror. Clarice Starling didn't recognize herself beneath the jewelry, makeup, and beautiful clothes. Though it had been three years, she still had a hard time believing that the beautiful woman in the mirror was, in fact, she. After making sure that everything was in its proper place, she turned out her lamps, picked up her dainty bag, and opened the door. She walked down the hall and ascended several flights of stairs.
Lecter heard her and stood to show proper respect. It never failed to amaze him how beautiful she was. He smiled at the sight of her and walked to the bottom of the stairs to meet her. He took her hand and kissed it. Lecter said nothing vocally, but his eyes said everything. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. What made her even more beautiful was the fact that she, most of the time, was unaware of it.
Lecter walked to a closet near the front door to retrieve their coats. He also took an umbrella as well. A storm was expected tonight and he hated to be unprepared. "Ready?" he asked as he took her hand.
"Yes," she said, smiling. "Very ready. I'm hungry."
"Wonderful." Dr. Lecter closed the door behind them and locked it.
And the excitement began.
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It had been three years since that fateful night on the Chesapeake.
Clarice had followed her heart and gone away with Hannibal Lecter. Papers reported that she'd been kidnapped by a notorious killer, that there was no way she'd ever escape. If they only knew what she knew now. If they only knew.
Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling were finally together. Forever. The love they had for one another was like nothing else. Not a dull day passed in their household. There were always new things to try, new places to go, new things to see. They had just recently moved to Florence, something Lecter had waited for. After the events at the Chesapeake, he felt that it would not be safe for them to go to Florence right away. But once the time was right, they immediately left for Florence.
Lecter always had things planned. They had visited museums, art galleries, concert halls, and the like. Clarice was constantly amazed at the knowledge Lecter possessed. He was much better than any tour guide could ever hope to be.
Tonight, they had planned on the opera and dinner. This was no surprise to Clarice, as Lecter had brought home a dress for her several days before. But what she didn't know was what else Lecter had in mind.
Clarice noticed that as she dressed, Hannibal came in several times to 'check up on her'. She began to wonder if something was wrong, but immediately dismissed the thought. The dress Hannibal had chosen for her was one of emerald green fabric. It was form-fitting and simple. There were no straps or elegant patterns on the dress. Still, she was an image of pulchritude.
As she was choosing her jewelry for their 'date', he knocked on her door. She had to admit that she was a bit puzzled as to why he was so concerned about her on this night. Clarice walked across her large dressing room and opened the door. No one was there. As she looked about the hall, she noticed a large black velvet box in front of her door. She stepped back inside her room and opened the box. A note fluttered out and fell to the ground. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the jewelry: a large emerald pendant with a matching bracelet and earrings. Once over the inital shock, she picked up the note.
Dearest Clarice,
These should go nicely with your dress.
H
She quickly put them on and turned to the mirror. Clarice Starling didn't recognize herself beneath the jewelry, makeup, and beautiful clothes. Though it had been three years, she still had a hard time believing that the beautiful woman in the mirror was, in fact, she. After making sure that everything was in its proper place, she turned out her lamps, picked up her dainty bag, and opened the door. She walked down the hall and ascended several flights of stairs.
Lecter heard her and stood to show proper respect. It never failed to amaze him how beautiful she was. He smiled at the sight of her and walked to the bottom of the stairs to meet her. He took her hand and kissed it. Lecter said nothing vocally, but his eyes said everything. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. What made her even more beautiful was the fact that she, most of the time, was unaware of it.
Lecter walked to a closet near the front door to retrieve their coats. He also took an umbrella as well. A storm was expected tonight and he hated to be unprepared. "Ready?" he asked as he took her hand.
"Yes," she said, smiling. "Very ready. I'm hungry."
"Wonderful." Dr. Lecter closed the door behind them and locked it.
And the excitement began.