I'm in love with an angel, heaven forbid
Made me a believer with the touch of her skin
I'd go to hell and back with you
Stay lost in what we found.
Worlds apart we were the same
Until we hit the ground
Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm weak
Maybe I'm blinded by what I see
You wanted a soldier but it wasn't me
'Cause I could never set you free
Theory Of A Deadman, Angel
It was far, far, far too early in the morning for this shit, the sky had only been light for around two hours and Agent Lass hadn't even had a decent cup of coffee yet. She stood in the middle of a field just outside of Baltimore as if driving out towards Wolf Trap. Crime Scene Investigators were dotted throughout the dark grassland, Lass had no idea what was growing there it just looked to be grass to her but then again she wasn't a farmer. The blonde Alpha looked up to the latest victim of The Chesapeake Ripper, Gareth Redgrave, thirty-nine year old Alpha stock broker who had been strung up to look like a scarecrow. It was horrific Miriam had to admit. He'd been strung up after the Ripper took his Kidneys, Liver and Heart replacing the cavities with straw. The Ripper certainly was an artist, at least he is in his own head. Her mind told her.
The Chesapeake Ripper wasn't her case and so she had spent a good half an hour getting details from the various forensic personnel littered around the crime scene. Agent Lass couldn't even begin to describe her annoyance, The Chesapeake Ripper had killed four people in quick succession and the FBI had nothing except a rising body count; some days the blonde thought he was a ghost, maybe he was.
It wasn't the Ripper who had drug her out of bed so early in the chilly morning, no, the credit for that went to The Flag Killer who had struck at the other end of the rather large field. She had spent five minuets in shock when she found that out. The Ripper and The Flag Killer striking in the same place on the same night? It had to mean something and Agent Lass had a feeling it wouldn't bode well for herself and the rest of the FBI. At any time there were between thirty-five and fifty serial killers active throughout the United States and yet somehow Baltimore and the surrounding area had found themselves with two of the worst Agent Lass had ever thought possible. The Chesapeake Ripper and The Flag Killer would certainly find themselves in the history books somewhere between Jack The Ripper and BTK.
The latest Victim of The Flag Killer was an African-American woman, so gender and race meant nothing to him just like it meant nothing to The Ripper.
"You'll get them, Agent." Said one of the Crime Scene Investigators.
She was a sweet Beta in her late thirties with dark red hair, Lass has seen her at several of the crime scenes and she always seemed pleasant enough, still don't know what her name is though she said to herself.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing in my crime scene?"
The dominant Alpha words pulled Miriam out of her thoughts and back to the grotesque world before her ocean blue orbs. She glanced up to see a male Alpha approaching her with an annoyed expression on his face, from the deep lines in his forehead Lass guessed he wore that expression to the point of normalcy and so she didn't take it personally.
"I'm Agent Miriam Lass. I'm lead on The Flag Killer Case." She held out for the man to shake, which he did.
"Ahh, I was wondering when one of you lot would find your way over here." He released her hand. "Both of the bastards killing in the same place, what's next?"
"I hope it doesn't get to that point, Agent?" She gave a soft smile to go along with her question. She had never been an overly strong Alpha.
"Special Agent Michael McCoy, everyone calls me Bones though."
"Bones?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, you know Bones McCoy? Star Trek?"
"Oh, okay. Never seen it." The blonde answered honestly.
"Never seen Star Trek? How young do they let 'em into the bureau now'er days?" He mumbled to himself before looking back up to her.
Agent McCoy quickly filled Miriam in on his case after which she returned the favour, most was the same as every other crime scene organs missing, no one saw or heard anything, victim left behind like a work of art. Nothing helpful, McCoy felt just like she did...at a dead-end.
Maybe it was time to call Doctor Lecter in again, shed some light.
XXXX
The sky had long since passed dusk and settled into the blackness of night but the Lecter house was far from quiet. Sebastian and the twins had slipped into sleep earlier that evening leaving the three elder family members to set about tending to dinner and setting up for the dinner party that Missus Komeda had yet again pushed Hannibal towards. It wasn't like he had been forced, no one could force Hannibal Lecter to do anything he didn't want; well, maybe Will could.
It was half past eight when everyone sat down to enjoy dinner, Mister and Missus Komeda sat opposite to Anders and Abigail. Of course that left Hannibal at the head of the table with his beloved Omega by his side, right where he belonged.
"I must say Hannibal I was rather expecting a show. You always give us a show." Missus Komeda said as she tucked into her supposed lamb.
"I felt it would be nice to slow down and have a quiet meal for a change. No extravagance just indulgence in elegant cuisine."
"So you're putting on a show by not putting on a show?" Questioned Anders with a smile. "Subtle to the end Doctor Lecter."
"Exactly, Mister Corvene. That and I also didn't want to wake Sebastian, not after the amount of time Will spent getting him to sleep."
Will and Hannibal shared a look, a look that said they loved their son but his utter refusal to sleep was annoying. It seemed Seb had inherited Will's stubbornness, much to Hannibal's dismay.
"I completely understand, Hannibal. Anders was the same when he was a newborn. My sister despaired with him." She took another bite of her lamb completely unaware it was actually a rather rude Alpha named Simon Daniels, that though was neither here nor there. "I'd love to meet the newest Lecter."
Will hated the idea and Hannibal knew it. Omegas were always over protective of their newborns and no one could really fault that. In a way the Omega was more danger that the Alpha. Hannibal thought it best to side step her words and turn to a new topic.
"Newest and last me thinks, I only have so many bedrooms."
There was a small eruption of laughter that easily glazed over the request and Will was overjoyed. Just because he'd come to trust the female Alpha around himself didn't mean the same was true of his son.
Time past as everyone ate, conversations changing subject every now and then which Hannibal was pleased with because it forced William to be social. He liked building up his Omegas shield. The shell that hid who he really was just like Hannibal's mask did for himself. It didn't take long for the good doctor to notice the fleeting glances Anders and Abigail shared and he didn't have to turn his head to know that Will had noticed as well. It was clear that Anders Corvene was interested in his adopted daughter and even more clear that Abigail returned the interest. She was still young though only sixteen, a year away from her first heat and mating age. There was also a darkness to Mister Corvene that Hannibal wanted to make sure posed no threat to the chestnut haired girl. It was only when Missus Komeda's voice filled the air that Hannibal returned his attention back to the world around him.
"Did you hear about The Chesapeake Ripper and The Flag Killer? I read in the paper that they're killing together now. A team."
The idea was laughable and Hannibal quickly shut down that line of thinking...he had a reputation to keep after all.
"Its only Freddie Lounds that believes that, and her sources can never be confirmed." Hannibal spoke softly but with a hidden force.
"I agree." Began Anders. "Its more likely that The Flag Killer came across The Ripper's scarecrow victim and decided to send a message."
"I find it unlikely that he could just come across the victim." Retorted Mister Komeda but no one listened to him as his wife's next question filled the room.
"And what message would that be?"
"Easy." Hannibal gave one of his micro smiles. "Hello."
"Could it not have been something more?" Asked Abigail as she brushed her eyes over Anders' pale face.
"If it was something negative then The Flag Killer would have desecrated The Rippers victim. He didn't." Hannibal explained.
"But how can you be sure, Hannibal?"
It was Will to answer Missus Komeda instead of Hannibal, the Omega never looking up from his practically empty plate.
"The Flag Killer is not as experienced and so his ritual would take longer to carry out. It is more likely that The Ripper finished his work and The Flag Killer came across it later in the evening as he needs the early hours of the morning to skin his victim. Then decided to add to it."
No one questioned how Will knew all this, they were well aware that Will's intelligence far surpassed their own. He could see their design.
"Why the early hours of the morning?" It was still strange to hear Mister Komeda speak, he was normally so quiet yet not timid.
"Its when the fewest people are around. Flaying someone takes time and even longer for someone whose not fully experienced with it. Its the safest time."
XXXX
The end of dinner found the group standing for the customary chat before everyone departed for the evening. Hannibal and Will watched as Anders and their adopted daughter shared their interests, Shakespeare quickly came up. Abigail had become rather obsessed with his work since Hannibal had sent her back to school and had begged the Alpha to take her to nearly every production she heard about; of course Hannibal had, he liked spoiling his children. Will watched as Abigail's eyes lit up, it was nice and rather refreshing to see Abigail smile. Of course the female Omega had started smiling more often since Jack's death and Hannibal taking over The House but those smiles were day to day smiles. The one she wore on her face before Anders Corvene was something else, something that was only granted to a partner...dare I say a mate? William's mind questioned. The smile that Abigail gifted the blonde Englishman was the same he gave Hannibal. Oh, this could be dangerous, It seemed Will's mind was warning him yet Will decided to return his attention to what Anders was saying.
"...I completely agree, Abigail. However MacBeth is my personal favourite, I can see why King Lear appeals to you. It is a wonderful story told from so many angles. I cannot heave my heart into my mouth."
That earned another grin from Abigail.
"I actually have tickets to a performance of MacBeth next week. I was intending to take a friend from John Hopkins but I think you would enjoy the performance far more than he. Your are much more beautiful too."
Hannibal's eyebrow raised as if to say original. It was also the only sign that showed the Alpha had heard Anders, one that only Will noticed. Since the doctor had his back to the blonde and his daughter everyone amused he was listening to whatever it was Missus Komeda was telling him, leaving the younger of their group to their own conversation. Of Course not, Hannibal could multi task better than anyone else on the planet. He had a mate, four children, a full-time occupation and a murderous hobby to hide from the police and the rest of the world after all .
"I'd love to go." Said Abigail, her eyes lighting up.
Mister Corvene opened his mouth to say something else when his Aunt called him over to explain about how his mother was the inspiration for one of her latest characters. With everyone preoccupied Will took the opportunity to slip off over to the female Omega where he managed to look into her eyes; she was so happy.
"Abigail, I know you like him but remember you are sixteen. That's not old enough to mate with him."
"I'm almost seventeen and that is old enough, I'm really not looking forward to my first heat though. Also I wasn't thinking of that. I like him, yes, there's something about him that's strong and unique. I know you understand that, I can tell from the way you look at Hannibal. I've never liked anyone before." Abigail ducked her head and spoke in a hushed tone.
"Alright." Will relented. "Just remember what Hannibal will do if you get hurt." That earned him a smile and a slight snort. "To be honest I think Hannibal likes him."
So Anders intends to get closer to our family, I can only imagine what he'll say when he learns the true extent of who and what we are. Killers. Cannibals. The murder family.
