A/N: Hey everyone, sorry again for the longest gap with updating! I'm really sorry about the jumpiness of this chapter, I kind of just kept writing myself into circles so ended up going with this.

The song that Lilia plays (we will pretend she wrote it) is called Opus 54 by Dustin O'halloran if anyone wants to listen while reading

Annnnnd the song in the dance is Can't Help Falling In Love, the Ingrid Michaelson version – I didn't specify what the song was in the chapter because I like it better that way

ANYWAY HOPE YOU ENJOY THANKS FOR FOLLOWING AND STICKING WITH THIS STORY IF YOU'RE STILL HERE :D YAYYYYY

PS: Sorry about the format, my program that I write on keeps malfunctioning when I upload :D

Intoxication

Lilia let out a shaky breath as she eyed herself in the mirror. She had chosen a deep red gown that draped just off her shoulders, leaving a soft dip to her neckline – modest, yet provocative. It came in at the waist then opened up just over her hips. It was elegantly bold…for someone like Lilia anyway. Her skin was illuminated in its glowing porcelain glory by the crimson red that adorned her skin.
She tried to offer herself a smile while she let out another long breath, smoothing her hands over her hair that she had curled back and clipped into a bun.
Tonight she would be playing for more people than she had ever played for, and her nerves were trying to flee her body.

"Hey, don't pull that face!"

Lilia turned to the door at the end of the dressing room and relief flooded her -
"Elyse, you made it!" She exclaimed, walking toward her and encircling her in a tight hug.
"I wouldn't have missed this! You look absolutely incredible, by the way," marvelled Elyse as she stepped back to examine Lilia's appearance.
"Turn for me please," she requested, though it sounded more like a command, but Lilia obeyed and turned around for her.
"Very daring," began Elyse, and they both laughed, "I like it!"
"You look really beautiful too, El," she said, smiling at her friend.
Elyse curtsied in response, sending them both into giggles as they walked to the small faded black sofa in the corner of the dressing room.
"You nervous?" asked Elyse as they sat down.
"Yes. I have never played a song like this publicly before."
"What do you mean? Not to be rude…but don't they all kind of sound the same?"
Lilia laughed at her, but ended the laugh with a long sigh, "Not always. Sometimes yes, I know what you're getting at – they do sound the same because a lot of my songs are written with the same feeling behind them; but this one is different."
"oh," started Elyse, eyeing Lilia, "How so?"
Lilia fiddled with her thumbs, "Well…I think it's different because when I wrote it I was feeling a fire that I've never felt before. It was like it consumed me and I wasn't allowed to stop playing until every note had its say."
Elyse hummed, "You sound like a movie."
They both burst out laughing before falling into a silence again.
"So what was different this time when you were writing? What inspired you?" Asked Elyse and Lilia's mouth twitched at the question, and she tried to keep her expression straight, but a smile was trying to break free.
"Wait, wait, wait – I know that look. Lilia Peters tell me right now who inspired you!"
Lilia's smile broke free, and she was thoughtful for a moment; "It was Doctor Lecter."
Elyse stood up abruptly, "What! As in the Doctor Lecter from the University? The one that's all proper and charming and … kind of old?"
Lilia smirked and rested her chin in her hand, leaning on it and looking up to Elyse, "Yes it is Doctor Lecter, the proper, charming and I don't care about his age," she knew Elyse hadn't been serious about the age jab, but she continued, "but I'm just drawn to him Elyse. There is just something about him that completely overwhelms me."
"So you wrote a piano piece about it?"
"Well…about something we spoke about last night," replied Lilia, sheepish with her replies because they were skirting a more intense conversation now, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to reveal completely to Elyse everything that her and Hannibal had talked about.
"Wait – you were talking to him last night? Lilia! Were you guys – "
"No- no, no –" interrupted Lilia quickly, her face flushing, "we were JUST talking. Yes it was a little intimate, but that is ALL I am telling you."
"But Lil," whined Elyse, pulling on her arm, "you have to tell me – I want to know everything!"
"Everything can wait, because I have ten minutes before I have to perform, and I am still nervous, and I have to get back stage!"
Elyse sighed, resigning to Lilia's tone because ultimately she knew her friend would tell her everything once she was ready to.
"Ok – break a leg!" said Elyse excitedly and then left the room.

Lilia looked out at the crowd of people from behind the curtain and felt her throat close up and her pulse quicken. There were so many people out there. For a moment, she mused over the extravagant decorations they had placed around the auditorium. The organisers had actually outdone themselves this year. There were round tables situated around the room, with plenty of people at each, and a dance floor closest to the stage – she hadn't realised how big the room was. But now, looking out at the hundreds of people before her, she felt the brevity of the moment.
As she examined the crowd, she found Elyse and Thomas with their friends at a table, just to the left of the stage, and it helped to calm her slightly; but evidently not enough as she looked down at her shaking hands.

"Oh gosh," she uttered to herself.

"Are you nervous?"

Lilia felt a chill shudder across her skin and she jumped in fright, turning to face the voice. She found Hannibal Lecter standing there, completely handsome in his dark grey suit and navy blue tie, and completely drowning her in his gaze.
"O-Oh, Hannibal, you frightened me!" she sputtered, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment over her jumpiness.
"My apologies, that was not my intention," his words were like silk that spread over her and she smiled at him.
"No it's alright, I just wasn't expecting anyone to be back here."
"I saw how nervous you looked and so I thought I had better come and tell you that you shouldn't be."
She crossed her arms over herself defensively, "That is a lot easier said than done, Doctor Lecter," her tone chastising.
"That may be so Miss Peters, but it does not change the fact that you should not let yourself feel nervous."
She sighed, playfulness lost, because even though he quelled some of her nerves, they were still erratic inside her and she was worried that she would make a mistake while playing – something she had never done, or been worried about before.
"I can't help it," she said quietly looking down.
"Will you do something for me?" he asked softly.
She tilted her head up to meet his gaze and nodded, "Yes."
"Close your eyes,"
She obeyed and let her eyes fall shut before him – still feeling his closeness.
"Good, just relax."
He placed his hands on her shoulders, and lightly let his fingers run soothing circles on her skin before saying, "Take a deep breath then let it out slowly."
She did and tried to focus on the pull of his voice. Another few breaths, "Good," he said, and lightly let his fingers trail off her shoulders, then stepping around her, "Just hear my voice, feel it."
She held on to every word.
He stopped behind her, heat emanated from him and everything that was him wrapped around her.
"Breathe," he said, "Now think about what inspired your composition."
She felt her heart jolt at his words and a different form of nerves erupted within her.
She took another breath.
Then his hands, feather light, drizzled up and over her own hands as he pressed himself into her back, "remember the moment that the first note left your hands last night."
His breath skirted her neck and Lilia had to stop herself from craning it so she could feel his lips against her skin. She felt the flames pooling in her stomach; where they had been stowed away behind her nerves before; but given life by Hannibal's voice, Hannibal's touch.
She felt him inch closer and her breath hitched as he spoke into her ear, "Remember what started the fire - remember the moment you felt the inspiration ignite within you,"
Then she knew that he knew. How could he not have known? But he knew that every piece of the composition she was about to play was because of him. It was all an effect of what he did to her. He knew and he was reminding her.
"Can you feel it?"
She thought it was such a ridiculous question. Her whole body felt it. It spread to every extremity, wanting to engulf everything that she was and greedily taking hostage of her body. Of course she felt it.
She nodded shakily and felt his breath escape him behind her.
"Then it's time you showed the audience."
At first she didn't hear the words properly. She was still trapped in the feeling of his breath warm and light across her skin, and the way his cologne invaded her space – completely tantalising to her. But then she realised the warmth was gone and another voice came from the stage, "Please welcome Miss Lilia Peters, of Baltimore Music Society, to play one of her original pieces."
And like that Lilia found her legs carrying her to the piano, her nerves faded into the past now, and a fire bursting at her fingertips.

When Hannibal had first glanced at Lilia; so meek and nervous peeking out from behind the curtain, from his place in the crowd, he was taken by her delicate, yet completely enticing form and he rapaciously took in her form.
Red. Such a daring colour, and so completely stunning on her creamy white skin he had to swallow back the groan that sat in his throat. He noted how the light touches of makeup complimented every aspect of her rounded cheekbones and her sharp, intoxicating eyes.
Now he sat at his table with Will Graham, Jack Crawford, and Alana Bloom; all waiting with baited breath for the performance Lilia was about to give.
She didn't look nervous anymore. Hannibal's lips twitched with confidence – it was he who had set her alight. Now…now he hoped he had inspired something wonderful.
The next few minutes were incredible in their intensity. Lilia looked out over the crowd – smiling at some of the people, then letting her eyes linger on Hannibal. He revelled in what he could see behind her eyes.
Then, so completely sudden, the melody erupted from her fingers in fast rhythmic strokes. It was like watching someone come apart, with every piece of themselves laced through the notes. She swayed with every stroke of key, a rapture so entrancing that Hannibal's mouth parted at the beauty of it. He felt it all melt over him and erode the layers of his skin – knowing him. The rest of the audience had become much the same; slaves to her music.
But as Hannibal tore his eyes away from her beauty, to look at the rest of them, he knew that they didn't understand. They could not feel it the way that he could. He felt the hair on the back of his neck tingle as the notes became bolder and louder, and he looked back at her in all of her glory. It was indescribable to him.
The rush of ecstasy that flooded him as she threw her head back, completely immersed in the melody, made him close his eyes in savour. Such decadence before him and he was truly grateful. The song ended and Lilia's hands hovered above the keys, where she felt the lasting embers from the flames leave her fingertips. She was breathing heavily – still in a trance – but then the applause erupted throughout the room; bringing her mind back, and she stood from her place to face the audience with a smile.

"That was wonderful!" Exclaimed the MC while taking her hand, "Wasn't it everyone?"

A loud applause emitted again, and then cheers could be heard amongst them – some of which Lilia was sure was from Elyse's table. She took a bow and exited the stage – smiling at the next band that was due to play for the rest of the evening.

Lilia returned to her dressing room, still ecstatic from the performance. She could hear the thrum of music through the walls and smiled to herself. She walked back to the mirror to make sure everything was in place, and to put her masquerade mask on – it was the same deep red as her dress, outlined with small round crystals that sparkled under the light. She wondered if Hannibal had brought a mask because he hadn't been wearing one when he had approached her before, she didn't linger on the thought for long.
She left the dressing room excited to spend the rest of the night enjoying herself.

"I saw the way you were looking at her, Hannibal," Will said softly so that the others didn't hear.

Hannibal hummed in thought, not looking at Will, but at the band on the stage.

"And what was it that you saw, Will?"

"Like something you want to consume and have as part of you."

Hannibal laughed and looked to Will, "That is quite an observation you've made."

"Well, it's obvious," said Will, a cheeky grin at the corner of his mouth.

Hannibal nodded, "Only to those with a mind such as yours, Will."

"So you like her," Will said, disregarding Hannibal's comment.

"I can assure you, I definitely do not dislike her," replied Hannibal softly, while his eyes followed Lilia as she walked across the hall and to her friends table.

"You were amazing!" Said Elyse excitedly as she stood and hugged Lilia.

"Thank you," Lilia said as she took a seat at the table, smiling while the rest of them congratulated her on her performance.

"So now I know what you meant about it being different," started Elyse, taking her seat next to Lilia, "Doctor Lecter, by the way, did not take his eyes off you for the entire performance."
Lilia felt her cheeks warm at the thought of him.

"Speaking of the handsomely masked man," said Elyse, smirking as she watched Lilia's body twitch in excitement.

"May I have this dance, Miss Peters?" His voice asked from behind her.

She turned to face him, bewildered by his question. No one had asked her to dance since high school. She noticed that he wore a plain black mask, that only made him look more enticing, and he looked at her expectantly, then slowly took her hand in his, "Would you do me the honour madame?"
Lilia smiled, shy and sweet, "I would love to."
They both headed toward the dance floor, lucky enough to receive a new song for them to dance to.

They both stood before each other, preparing for the music to begin. He took her hand in his, and let his other slide around her waist, all the while never breaking his gaze from hers. She felt electric under his eyes.
Then the first few introduction bars hummed over them, and Lilia couldn't believe how relevant, and so completely cliché it all was; but regardless it made everything feel right.
Hannibal had noticed the flicker in her eyes when the song had started, "Do you know this song?" He asked.
She nodded, feeling intoxicated by the moment like she was being pulled into slow motion, "I just haven't heard it in a while," she said softly.
"Ah," uttered Hannibal and they started to sway lightly with the music.

"You were radiant up there."

"Thank you, Hannibal. And thank you for … before."

He smiled at her, partially revealing some of his crooked teeth, "It is I who should be thanking you for such a memorable evening."
Her head tilted down shyly, "You flatter me, Hannibal."
He pulled her closer and her arms circled around his neck, while both of his smoothed down to hang just above her waist, "I tell truth."
It was such a short answer, it felt abrupt to her, but like a hook that pulled her head back up to meet his gaze. There she stayed, trapped in his eyes, succumbing to him.
She hadn't noticed the song coming to an end because she had been concentrating on trying to make herself say something.
"I believe that was the end of the song, Lilia," said Hannibal quietly.
She was still staring at him, and then sputtered over words for a moment, "O-Oh, s-sorry!"
Hannibal ran his hand down her arm and took her hand in his once again, her arm tingling the entire way down, "I'm afraid as much as I would like to spend the evening dancing with you, I must actually take my leave now."
Lilia felt her stomach drop. It was the sinking feeling of disappointment; perhaps if she were another girl she would have kissed him then and there – a fleeting goodbye, because she knew she wanted to. God, she wanted to. But something was holding her back. Something was always holding her back. She tried to squish the feeling down, "Thank you for the dance, and for calming my nerves earlier. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't here,"
"Forgive me," he interjected, his accent thick and light as it fell from his tongue, "I do not wish to leave right now, but I must."
"Please don't worry," she started, feeling horrible for wanting him to stay, considering he was probably leaving for a patient, "you have responsibilities, Hannibal. It was lovely seeing you again."
Hannibal smiled, "It was a privilege – I hope I will see you soon, Lilia."
She watched his retreating back, somehow frozen on the dancefloor amongst the other people, and watched as he bid goodbye to his friends before walking out the auditorium doors.
There had been something about the way that he had said her name; something about the way he always said her name – it was always left ringing in her mind, over and over like a mantra.
Something that had never happened to Lilia before, happened then. A spark of something jolted her into a run, and the next thing she knew, she was running out the auditorium doors to catch Hannibal. She didn't know why exactly she was doing it, but her legs had taken her from the room with no hesitation or reason to thought.
She ran out into the open foyer but it was barren with no life. So she went through the centre doors, and out into the street, where the icy air nipped at her skin. She spotted him walking toward his car that was parked on the side of the street, and ran after him, "Hannibal!" She called, running toward him. He turned around upon hearing his name, and stopped as she came toward him.
When Lilia reached him she was breathing heavily, not just from running but from her own madness. Her mind was frantic and unpredictable.

Then

She stepped forward slowly, all of the heat from his body encasing her once again, and even in her heels had to stand on her tip toes as she brought her mouth to his ear and huskily said, "Thank you for inspiring me," and then carried her mouth just to the corner of his, just barely catching the edge of his lips, and kissed his cheek, before retreating back into the auditorium and not looking back.

Under the glowing light of the streetlamp, and the hum of traffic as it passed him by, Hannibal Lecter stood in silence with a hand pressed against the cheek that had been touched by Lilia's innocent mouth.