Chapter Three

Ties That Bind

Hello again, I hope you like this chapter. I'm writing it in the pitch-black night of crossing state lines. I am currently en route to Gulf Shores, Alabama one of my favorite places in the U.S.! Until I get there though, I have my beloved laptop with me and will be typing up chapters, thus perceive my devotion to all of you. Now that you know what my corneas endure for the sake of your pleasure, please review! Enjoy the story. ~DarkFoxPriestess

Hannibal was downstairs cooking when Clarice walked in. He barely gave her a second glance as she pulled up a bar stool and watched in silence as he sliced peppers for a salad or was it a marinating base?

"Something wrong, Clarice?" He questioned after a few moments of stale hush.

"Personally, I'm debating on whether or not to lock you up." She stated as he adeptly set a few pots on the stove.

"Why would you want to do a thing like that for Clarice? Do you think it would ever actually amount to anything?" He asked a smirk on his face.

"Obviously you don't. I just wish that I could do something in my life that I can actually say that I thought of." She sighed toying with saltshaker.

"Jame Gumb, you caught him didn't you?" Doctor Lecter offered glancing up to see the bored expression on Clarice's face.

"Hardly. Most of the serial killers that have been caught in the past ten years can all be attributed to you helping in some way." She informed having moved onto balancing the saltshaker on a fingertip.

"Tell me about your cousin." Hannibal commanded smoothly dicing a tomato.

"Does she interest you, Doctor?" Clarice challenged causing him to stop in his actions.

"I'm merely wondering why you would ask for her forgiveness." He shrugged a bit to casually.

"Not that I'm buying any of that, but when I lost my parents I wished the same on her. I didn't really mean it, I was only a child and it was at the funeral, but the fact is that it happened." Clarice murmured as she glared at the countertop.

"So you think you killed her parents?" Lecter asked slipping back into the skin of a psychiatrist.

Clarice looked up tears in her eyes as she spoke. "In a way I do hold myself responsible, but she's forgiven me and that's more than I could ever hope for."

"Aw, Ricey, you're melting my heart here." Ingrid's voice was soft as she made her way across the room.

"I didn't say it to get you to like me again." Clarice confessed slowly turning to look at her cousin.

Hannibal watched silently enthralled with the drama before him. Human life, so frail and easily disturbed yet here was a chance for a new start. He was incredibly disappointed that Ingrid had found a new shirt instead of remaining in the black lace lingerie.

"Clarice, you're to afraid that everyone hates you to reach out and feel what's real. I never blamed you, cousin. We're good, just like we always have been." Ingrid smiled as Clarice stood.

"I thought you'd hate me after what happened." Clarice mumbled.

"There are a lot of things you never knew about my parents, about my family really. I'm better off without them really, but I do miss you. You're the only family I've got left." Ingrid sighed walking over to her cousin.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Clarice smiled as she embraced Ingrid.

Ingrid returned the hug with enthusiasm and smiled brightly as they broke apart. Clarice returned to her bar stool while Ingrid opted for sitting on the countertop beside the stove.

"What about your daddy, Clarice? Don't you want him back?" Lecter taunted as he placed the vegetables in a frying pan. He glanced up and caught the even glare that Ingrid leveled at him. They were mere inches apart and the brute intensity of the look caught him slightly off guard.

"I dare you." She whispered calmly though there was a dark unspoken threat behind the words.

"My father died due to his own choices, Doctor Lecter and I'm sure that I'll die by my own. That's what makes us so alike. Besides, I wouldn't have really gotten to know Ingrid if he hadn't died." Clarice shrugged.

Lecter looked a bit crestfallen but a quick glance upwards assured him not to press the subject. Ingrid had one eyebrow arched in question and he knew better than to fall into bad graces with a woman of her caliber.

"Admirable decision, Clarice." He nodded.

"I'm glad you agree with me." Clarice smiled as he turned around once more to face her.

"So tell me, are you going to try and lock me up again?" He challenged.

"No, I'm not even going to try." Clarice informed balancing the saltshaker once again.

"Why not?" Hannibal questioned his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"If she arrested you, then she'd have to arrest me." Ingrid informed hoping off the counter to walk away.

Hannibal grabbed Ingrid's wrist and twirled her around to face him. "Why would she have to arrest you?" He inquired.

"I'm Ingrid Eva, Doctor Lecter; Eve of Destruction. I'm the number one assassin in the world and the F.B.I. have bee salivating to get me locked up for quite some time." Ingrid smiled calmly.

"An assassin?" Hannibal repeated doubtfully.

"Assassin is putting it mildly. I do what you do for an exorbitant amount of money. I haven't really eaten anyone yet, I have my boundaries." Ingrid stated offhandedly.

Hannibal slowly turned his head and gave Clarice an incredulous look. "You must be joking."

"There was a reason Migg's cell was left empty, Doctor Lecter, they were planning on putting her in it." Clarice stated solemnly.

"Why would you kill people?" Hannibal asked slowly releasing her from his hold.

"It's comparatively healthier than smoking." Ingrid smiled craftily as she skirted out of the room.

"Don't ask me how we're related. I'm still trying to figure out the blood lines and what not." Clarice offered as Hannibal slowly stepped back over to the stove.

The sound of the backdoor slamming shut diverted Hannibal's attention momentarily. "Where do you think she's going?" He questioned returning to his cooking.

"We're relatively isolated so I would guess she's gone out to hunt." Clarice shrugged.

"You think I've met my match, don't you Special Agent Starling?" Hannibal questioned thoughtfully stirring the mixture.

"In more ways than one, Doctor Lecter, definitely in more ways than one." Clarice nodded with a knowing smile.

"We will just have to see about that now won't we? What a marvelous game." Hannibal murmured to himself with a sly smile creeping onto his features. In truth, he could hardly wait for the action to begin.

That's all for now I do believe. Hope you liked it I had a lot of fun writing it. Constructive criticism is always welcomed as is praise and new ideas. Don't be to negative, that tends to dishearten some writers, me not being one of them. As I said before, I have no idea where this story line is going I'm working it out as I go. Hope you enjoy the spontaneity. Please review to help the progression. As always thank you. ~DarkFoxPriestess