Silence plagued the room. It hung in the air like a sickly fog. Melody watched as Hannibal's eyes flickered to her and then her purse, as if expecting to find a weapon, he swallowed and loosened his tie.
"An angel?" he sounded faintly amused. "A guardian of the light? Playing in the shadows? Then I did see your work this morning, my love."
"I expected you saw it after you said you work closely with Will Graham." she smiled politely. "What did you feel? When you saw my work?"
"Why do you care?" he asked and slowly stood to pour himself a drink. "If it is art should it not be viewed in peace?"
"It is not art," she smiled. "It is my art, but not meant to be seen as such. I need an outsiders view. Will Graham understood the message. I need someone to tell me if I will get caught; an alibi."
"And I will do that for you?" he said, taking a sip of his drink, offering her a glass with a nod of his head. "Why do you believe that?"
"No thank you, unless you have wine." she crossed her legs. "Because, just as you saw a body of mine; I saw one of yours, I know only because of the smell lingering on her."
He unstoppered a bottle of wine for her, pouring it into a tall, elegant glass. The crimsion liquid drawing her eyes with excitement.
"Marissa Schurr.." she asked, watching the glass. "Did her death inspire what you hoped in Abigail Hobbs?"
He was still for a moment, he set the bottle down and brought her the glass. "Perceptive, Melody Milan." he extended his hand so she could take the glass. "What gave you the thought it was me?"
"The elegant smell of soap that lingered in her hair where she was struck." she took the glass, ensuring her hand touched his slightly. "It is the same you wash with when at home; I smelled it on you when we first met."
"You have a strong sense of smell." he chuckled and sipped his amber drink. "What else mademoiselle?"
"The perfect placement of the body," she sighed, she sipped her drink, feeling the burn in her throat and nostrills. "Other than that nothing points to you and no human can smell soap on a cold body."
"And what makes you able to smell so well?" he asked. "Were you born with it, or gifted it?"
"Gifted," she grinned, showing her pearly white teeth. "I know you were born with it Hannibal Lecter. So answer me this." she swirled her drink gently, watching the alcohol in the glass, clear, cling to the glass. "Shall we work together?"
"Let's get to know each other first." Hannibal raised his glass in toast. "I wish to know the beautiful woman they are calling a Vampiress."
"And I wish;" she raised her glass mirroring him. "To know the Ripper. If he would be so kind?"
"He shall." he smiled and tapped his glass on hers before taking another sip.
They stayed awake listening to classical music Hannibal had put on an old shining record player until the clock struck midnight.
"Is it truly so late." Hannibal stood. "I must head home to rest for the long day ahead."
"Nonsense." Melody chuckled. "Only regular folk need sleep, and you are a cut above the rest."
Hannibal chuckled deeply; "Still, I require a change of clothes or else rumours will spread."
"I will meet you later today." she smiled, gathering her purse. "I need to eat before I head into the Bureau."
"Which reminds me." Hannibal went to his desk and wrote something quickly and elegantly on a patient sheet.
"An evaluation form." he explained, folding a copy into a folder and handing her the other copy. "I think the Bureau could use an angel on the field."
She smiled wickedly. "Thank you, Doctor Lecter."
"Not at all Miss Milan." he bowed his head slightly. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning. And please."
He took her hand in his and kissed the top of it gently; "Call me Hannibal."
"Enchantè." she smiled. "And I prefer Melody, Hannibal."
She didn't sleep that night, she had instead drunk some more dark mysterious fluid when she got home from a joke blood bag an old friend had given her. If anyone had seen her at this early hour it would look as if she was feasting on blood.
She chuckled at the thought and stretched her body, listening to faint popping sounds from her spine and hips. It had been a long night. And the day was about to stretch before her. She picked out an outfit; a black pant and matching suit jacket, heals and a light red blouse to set under the jacket. She washed her face, brushed her teeth which had been stained a little from her drink earlier.
She pulled on her sports bra and panties, then pulled on her thigh-high tights. She would be only elegant for the team, she would be a monster to the world. She shook this thought as she grabbed her letter from Hannibal, folding it into her wallet she jammed it and her keys into the jacket and headed out the door. Her phone remaining in her hand.
As she neared her car the phone sprang to life ringing loudly. She let it ring twice and picked it up.
"Hello, Melody Milan." she answered. "Speaking?"
"Melody it's Hannibal." he sounded enthralled. "Excuse the early hour; Jack is going to ask you to go to Connecticut. Tell him you have a follow up with me today and met me at my office at once, please."
She rubbed her temples and teased; "To what do I owe the pleasure of skipping breakfast for you?"
"I will make breakfast." he sounded thrilled at the idea. "And I will meet you at your place. I don't want Jack to bring you to the crime scene today. Only the bodies of the deceased. Afterwards of course."
Her phone beeped, Jack was calling her. "What if he insists?" she asked.
"Tell him I insist you stay and he can call me angrily all he likes." he teased. "Will is heading to Connecticut anyway."
She sighed; "One moment, he is calling now."
She flicked over to answer Jack's call.
"Melody" he sounded worried. "Is it too early to ask you to take a plane with the team?"
"It depends." she asked. "How soon would you need me?"'
"Immediately." he said. "Four bodies in Connecticut."
"I can't make it." she said with a sigh. "Doctors orders." she grumbled. "Lecter still wants to pick my brain before I see an actual crime scene in person."
There was dead silence on the other end. "Is that so." He sounded like his breath was bubbling with anger. "I'll call you when he says you can come."
He hung up and she heard the click of being connected back to Hannibal.
"You said you're near?" she asked. "How do you know where I live?"
"A quick look at your records curtosey of Jack." Hannibal responded. "See you soon."
He hung up, leaving her in the silence of the morning.
