Chapter 12

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Saskia was glad to know that both men knew that the sex they shared was just that, sex. They were all high strung that night, and frustrated from Mason Verger's actions and figid words, and Saskia's little blood splatter with the other man just added to the pent up desires of hunting.

Instead of hunting as Hannibal would do, they found the next best thing and that was sex. Saskia didn't really care that one or the other, or both of them, killed the man who bothered her. She was just happy that they didn't get caught, as if they would even with the cameras littering the halls.

She will never know how she slept through them leaving the bed. She was a light sleeper for gods' sake. Extremely so, and even at the wind blowing a mile faster than normal, or the pipes creaked an inch, she would awake and freeze, waiting for the next sound, or if there wasn't anything, her mind would go back to sleep.

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Abigail took the train from University and stayed the rest of the Christmas holidays at the Lector House. Even bringing some work she had yet to finish for her veterinary major, Abigail was able to spend some quality time with everyone.

"Saskia," Abigail greeted her with a smile. Saskia helped take her coat off and hung it up before hugging the younger woman.

"Lovely to see you. See," Saskia said, picking at the ends of Abigail's hair. "I told you this cut would suit you better."

"You were right about that. Has Will arrived yet? I didn't see his car outside,"

"No, not yet,"

"Let me guess. Hannibal is in the kitchen, cooking up a feast?"

"Just finishing up. Will should be here soon," Saskia winked as Countess more or less dragged the girl to the couch before laying on her, demanding scratches.

Saskia went to the kitchen to start preparing her famous cheesecake. For someone with such a large sweet tooth, cheesecake was her favorite dessert to eat. Especially when it was either raspberry ripple or white chocolate and strawberry.

She was just putting the finishing touches when Abigail poked her head into the kitchen.

"Will's here!" Abigail called. "He says he needs help bringing out the dog beds."

"I've got it," Saskia said as she wiped her hands down before untying the apron keeping her outfit pristine. She wore simple dark jeans and a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Quickly shrugging a thick jacket on, Saskia got out in time to be shoved into the snow by furry bodies.

Will had parked his car by the street, letting the dogs out of the car and gesturing for the house. No, they didn't listen to him when it came to the Lithuanian woman. Instead of going inside the house as he wanted, all of the dogs jumped for Saskia and made her fall into the snow before she could even say her hellos.

He grabbed as many beds as he could which was about half of the larger ones. Abigail grabbed the rest and brought the food in, only laughing at Saskia trying to get up and failing each time.

Their furry bodies were warm against her as they all jumped. Spike the pitbull was the fastest, getting to jump into her arms before making her fall backwards as the rest joined him. Icey noses pressed into her face, neck, and hands, trying to get her scent and claim her as theirs before a deep growl made them pause.

Hades, as Abigail had named the wolf dog, was the only dog to not jump and force her into the snow. The pack quickly leapt off of her, yapping as they walked into the house. Saskia was able to sit up now, giving Hades a good ruffle around the neck and ears as he knocked his head into her thigh to make her stand.

Hannibal stuck his head out of the front door, already having taken off the apron. "Food is being served. You might want to get changed before you catch a cold, Saskia."

"Alright," Saskia got up from the ground and felt Hades against her legs as she walked inside.

Saskia did as asked, not wanting to become ill already. Her clothes were drenched from snow attaching itself. She dressed-up a pair of sweatpants with a light shirt and sweater. The dinner wasn't a formal affair and they were all dressed comfy but nicely with Hannibal swearing a red sweater which matched his eyes, Will in a plaid shirt and simple trousers, and Abigail in jeans and a jumper.

"My god. Hannibal, this is gorgeous!" Abigail said as soon as she finished her mouthful of the so-called pork.

"Is it pork?" Saskia asked. "I can't tell the difference between meats anymore."

Hannibal grinned. "What else could it be?"

"Hannibal, don't be rude," Will sipped his wine, giving the male a slight roll of the eyes. "And to answer your question, Saskia, it is what you think it is."

Human then.

"Tasty," She hummed with a slight grin before eating one of the roast potatoes. She got up from the table. "Anyone fancy a beer or something stronger? Abigail?"

"Saskia, she's underage," Will shook his head.

"Don't give me that look, Will," Saskia said and cracked two beers open. "I was drinking by her age. Hell, I was dating Leroy the serial killer by her age. I rather her drink here where she's safe than going out and getting drunk in unfamiliar places."

"Have one, Abigail," Hannibal didn't hesitate as Will gave him a dirty look. "Saskia is right, Will. I rather have Abigail drinking safely than getting black out drunk at a bar."

"Fine," Will gave in. "One beer, but no tequila or anything stronger."

Saskia placed a bottle on Abigail's side before taking her seat.

All around the dining table, dogs slept in various positions. Countess laid with her back against Saskia's chair legs, careful to wrap her tail near her mistress' legs. Winston laid by Will's feet without making a sound. Spike sat with Abigail, keeping his eye on the girl.

Then there was Hannibal with Hades begging for food by his thigh.

"Hannibal!" Saskia almost shouted as he fed a piece of 'beef' to the wolf dog. "Stop feeding him at the table. You'll spoil his appiecte and he'll expect to be fed every time at the table."

"Nothing goes to waste if he eats it,"

"Then wait until we're all finished and then you can feed him meat," Saskia sighed and shook her head as Hannibal then tossed a pit of flesh at Countess, Winston, and Spike. Each of them quickly chewing the meaty slabs of flesh before going back to sleeping.

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The fireplace burned bright as Hannibal handed her a fresh cup of coffee. She smiled brightly and thanked him, taking the cup before sipping at the hot liquid. Only after he left did she look at the cup in disdain, knowing what was in it.

Abigail laid next to her, almost asleep as Saskia stroked the stressed out girl's hair. Her workload was becoming a lot for her already unstable mind and Saskia wanted to help keep her half.

She swirled the cup of coffee, knowing that a foreign substance had been stirred in but she drank it nonetheless. As the days went by, Saskia could feel the effects of the drug, one made to make her calm and compliant. It didn't take her ability to make decisions, just made her more susceptible to suggestions compared to normal. So instead of completely refusing, she would take a moment to think before deciding it was still a no.

Saskia wasn't stupid, the drink was less sweet than normal and Saskia knew Hannibal would always put the right amount of sugar in. He just didn't take in account the bitterness of the drug. She'd stopped taking her sleeping pills a while back, no longer finding a need for them as every nightmare she had just made her numb.

Hannibal was willing to betray her trust to keep her compliant, possibly to keep himself safe. It was possible for him to see her as a threat but she hadn't done anything to make herself one. Perhaps it was to keep her in the place she already was.

Perhaps.

She didn't know nor did she really care. Why should she care? She knew what she was doing, breaking down his little costume bit by bit, trying to find the true Hannibal Lector before she decided anything.

It wasn't like she was actually going to tell the FBI anything. She was too selfish to finish this little game of cat and mouse, or would it be fox in her case?

She grinned slowly as she watched the little fox lay before the fireplace in all its glory. Its tails, four in total now, twitched until it stretched down and flicked them all backwards with a long yawn. Those red eyes reminded her of deep pools of blood.

There was blood on her hands.

Saskia lifted her right hand closer to her face to get a better look at it. The crimson liquid dripped down from her fingertips, leaving red ribbons going down her hand, wrist, and forearm. It stained her skin but she didn't feel surprised, this felt right somehow. The warm substance was etched into her skin like a tattoo, forever staining her skin. And suddenly it looked as if her skin was absorbing the blood, leaving behind clean skin.

She shook her head softly, getting rid of the image before taking another sip and letting her mind become full of cotton and clouds.

Some would say she was going down the rabbit hole, creating a situation which she couldn't control. Others would say she was making life difficult for everyone else, crafting conversations which would lead to their eventual demise.

She wasn't Alice nor was she the Red Queen. Saskia would leave those roles to Abigail and Freddie respectively.

Saskia Alasite was the Cheshire Cat, and she would disappear before she could get hurt again. She was there to guide Alice down the right path, which wasn't always the morally correct way. She made life difficult for the Red Queen. what an easy feat for someone who didn't care about the feelings of others.

To an extent, she trusted Hannibal, regardless of his actions, and Will. That in itself was dangerous for someone like her.

But what was the point of living if you couldn't live a little bit dangerously?

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Countess stared at her mistress curled up on the couch, sleeping peacefully as the dogs crowded around her form. The canine knew her status in the pack, so Countess didn't care when she saw Hades place his head into the crook of Saskia's arm and draped a paw over one of her curled ankles. Abigail had laid into Saskia's side and also fell asleep without a worry, Hades draped his body over Abigail's legs to keep the humans warm.

"They're going to be in pain if they sleep like that," Will said as the pair came back into the living room.

"Saskia has a nasty habit of falling asleep anywhere and everywhere," Hannibal mentioned. "She still gets nightmares but Countess wakes her up when they get bad."

"Apparently Abigail's roommate wakes her up if she has a nightmare,"

They both softly smiled. Abigail had spoken of her roommate with bright eyes and a beaming smile. They knew that this friendship between them was good for her.

Hannibal nodded. "Let's get them into their beds before they wake up with sore necks. Hades, off."

The wolf dog simply blinked at Hannibal, only getting up with a slight huff when he snapped his fingers and pointed to his feet.

Saskia frowned when she felt a weight being lifted off of her, opening her eyes before hissing as she accidently looked into the fire. She rubbed her eyes with a yawn, careful to keep quiet as she watched Will pick up Abigail bridal style.

"Bedtime?" She asked as Countess jumped to her side as she stood and stretched her limbs with another yawn.

"It's just gone midnight," Will said softly. "We thought it best to get you both into actual beds before you wake up sore tomorrow. You weren't in the most comfortable position."

"I will be soon," She smiled softly as Will left to put Abigail in her room. Saskia whistled quietly enough as to not wake Abigail but the dogs still heard her and began to trot after her. "Say goodnight to Will for me, Hannibal."

"I will. Goodnight, Saskia,"

"Night."

Hannibal watched Saskia's retreating form as she slowly stepped upstairs with sleepiness still in her limbs. He would never understand why animals liked her as much as they did, always willing to follow her commands even if they didn't fully understand her. Perhaps it was the instinctual likeness of her mind compared to theirs, the need to stay alive, to stay safe, to stay fed.

Protect those below you, give respect to those equal to you, and fight any who opposed you.

Hannibal didn't know where he stood with her, nor did Will know. Saskia was as predictable as a tropical storm, quickly gaining rage and power before destroying everything in her path, before slowly calming down to a simple breeze. Appearing and disappearing just as suddenly as a blink of an eye.

He needed to keep her compliant for the time being as he tried to figure out her motives. He didn't believe she was simply living as the days went by, knowing the secrets she did, and holding her own behind the non rusting steel and silver cage that was her mind.

Did she have an animal, a blood-crazed beast inside her like they did?

Both men knew that she had a vindictive side, a bloodthirsty lust for those who went against her and harmed those she deemed hers, but to what lengths was she willing to go before she lost herself to the madness?

They hoped she didn't let the shadows of her mind consume her. They wanted her to become part of the shadows, to become the shadows. There was no difference between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter and the shadows of society.

There weren't many who could become one with the shadows without falling into the madness of their own minds. Abigail was on the verge of falling but they were there to stop her, or at least cushion her fall down the rabbit hole.

"The pack followed her, didn't they?" Will asked as he came back downstairs, his keen eyes quickly taking in the empty dog beds in the living room.

"Of course, they did," Hannibal smiled as Will also grinned and tutted softly at the thought.

"Dogs love her," Will sighed as fatigue finally seemed to settle in his bones. "Let's go to bed before I fall asleep where I stand."

"Let us go then," Hannibal almost herded Will up the stairs, watching as Will narrowed his eyes playful before doing as told.

They stopped outside Saskia's door, looking in as it sat ajar on the doorframe. Saskia was curled up in the middle of the bed, the duvet over her legs as she slept in a matching blue pair of bralette and shorts. The dogs seemed to sleep around her, all in various stages of sleep with Spike trotting off to Abigail's room, but Countess, Hades, and Winston seemed to be the ones keeping watch.

Those three were scattered around Saskia. Countess to Saskia's right as the woman held onto the fur of her companion. Hade was more or less being used as a pillow to cushion her arms, his head curled until his muzzle laid on the very edge of her head. Winston laid against her back, his head peering over her hip as he laid his head on her.

They watched the pair at the door, unmoving and unreacting as the two males grinned before closing the door a bit more to give her more privacy, leaving it ajar enough so if the dogs wanted to leave, they could. Both Hannibal and Will doubted those dogs would leave her side without good reason.

They doubted even death could break those kinds of bonds.

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Saskia had the rare ability of never needing leashes when it came to walking dogs.

After waking up at the crack of dawn, which was actually quite late for the sun to come up but she supposed that it had to do to the fact it was mid winter, Saskia dressed in her winter running outfit and wrote a note to place on the kitchen fridge in case she wasn't home in time for everyone else to awaken. Grabbing leashes in case she needed to go into town before coming back, she jogged to the nearest hiking area, the very same place where she was stabbed a while ago.

She had a thing for running, or rather sprinting like her life depended on it. Gods, she loved a good chase. Keeping a slow enough pace that the smaller dogs could keep up, she still sprinted ahead with the dogs that could.

The rushing of adrenaline in her bloodstream was a great welcome. She hadn't run in a few weeks, at least to the normal extent she liked to get to before even thinking of slowing down.

There was nothing compared to adrenaline and the thrill of the hunt. It was just ingrained into her DNA. Depending on her mood and who she was with, she was either the hunter or the hunted.

The hunter would stalk and tease the prey until she got what she wanted, be it sexual or mentally. Or the hunted would run and hide, waiting for the other to find her and take what they wanted.

Either way, consent was given before the primal scene and she would receive what she wanted in one way or the other.

A hare, long eared and alone appeared in Saskia's keen eyesight and the thrill was upon them instantly. It wasn't like Saskia was actively hunting it to kill and eat it, no, she just wanted the thrill of the hunt. The adrenaline that would course through her veins was enough motivation to begin chasing after the hare. The dogs followed, knowing this was a play chase and no real harm was intended.

Dodging each tree trunk, leaping over the roots, ducking below branches, Saskia followed the hare with ease as she let the frustrations of not being able to think properly go. They drained out of her with each pump of adrenaline filled blood, letting her instincts take over for a few minutes.

She needed to relax like everyone else. While she was an extraordinary woman with a sharp wit and sly tongue, she was still human and could burn out after a time. She couldn't keep pushing herself beyond her limits without some sort of consequence, so her runs were helping.

There was too much stress with trying to handle Will and Hannibal and not allow them to see the true her. Too dangerous, too early, too unready.

Ever since she was young, she knew she was different. She got in trouble as a child because she didn't act in the correct manner as society wanted her to. Her mother even had her tested for autism which she did show some characteristics for but she didn't have it, Saskia had something completely else.

With a great lack of empathy and remorse, and the charm of a con man, Saskia would regret to call herself a sort of psychopath. By her own research, she had found this out at around the age of seventeen and had herself privately tested. Just because she was a psychopath, did not mean she could not feel emotions like fear, anxiety, or happiness, it was just to a lesser extent.

Her normal state was usually spent with a numb feeling which she considered normal for herself. Her happiness was a warm tingle and her sadness was icey shivers down her back. Fear was warm, uncontrollable shivers which she hated.

Thinking back, perhaps her mother could tell that Saskia wasn't normal and so acted upon it. Of course, this didn't excuse her abusive actions and words towards her own child. It wasn't Saskia's fault she felt emotions to a lesser degree than normal people, nor her fascination with the darker side of society and gore.

Lying was just part of her personality, especially to people like Alana but she had never outright lied to Will or Hannibal. For some reason, she found solace in her friendship with the two men. It was warmly welcome. She liked to not have to hide. She liked being herself around them.

The cold air was fresh against her face as she breathed in the misty air. By the time she had finally stopped running, the night had turned to early morning and the sky lightened enough to show off the curves and creaks of the forest.

Losing sight of the hare, the lucky thing jumped into a hole, Saskia guessed it was time to go home.

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The following saturday, just as agreed with Margot Verger, Saskia made her way to the lovely little cafe on the corner of the busy high street. She rocked an oversized cream sweater, black jeans and boots combo. The snow still fell but not as badly as it did just before christmas, now a light sprinkle dropped from the sky.

"Oh," Margot smiled as soon as she saw Countess and her mistress enter. "I didn't realise she was a service , it explains why she is so well-behaved."

"Even before I got her, she was intuned with what I wanted. Thing is, she hates people and even growled at me the first time she met me." Saskia smiled in memory. "I knew I just had to keep this one."

Countess whined, shoving her head into Saskia's hand and almost begging for an ear rub. After ordering a coffee to go, as Margot had suggested, the three females were walking down the snow covered roads and streets as people prepared themselves for new years.

"You, a writer, Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist, and Will Graham, a profiler," Margot asked as they walked. "What is the story behind that?"

"I'm living with Hannibal until they can find Leroy Harris," Saskia smiled. "He left a body in my house a few months back. I was supposed to go into witness protection because I was the best person to be a testifying witness to get him behind bars or the death sentence."

"How did you come to live with Mr Lector then?"

"I refused to hide again," Saskia's long coat was dark maroon and flowed in the cold wind as she huddled into it a bit more. She shrugged. "I hid my identity for years while I wrote those books. I won't hide again unless I need to. Hannibal knew that I was stubborn and would completely refuse, so he suggested that I live with him until this is sorted."

"Why is Leroy Harris copying your book?"

"I don't know, I've never truly known," Margot then turned to Saskia with a raised eyebrow before nodding with understandment.

"From what I've seen of you, you may have some ideas about how to get rid of my brother,"

"Maybe."

They both held smiles.

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"How's the law degree coming along?" Alana asked at their next session but it was less of a session than a meet up during a free lunch they both had. They had just visited a nearby cafe on the FBI academy campus, walking back to the academy with plenty of time to spare before Alana's next class.

Their breaths steamed as the weather hadn't let up since christmas, the snow still falling into early and mid January days.

"Quite well," Saskia said and hugged the grey reusable cup of burning coffee to her chest as she felt its warmth through her thick scarf. "I was thinking of going back to Lithuania for a week or two."

"Did something happen?"

"No," She smiled softly. "Just feel a little suffocated here. At least there I would be able to go out without looking over my shoulder all the time."

"It would be good for you, I'd think," Alana nodded. "Why don't you take Will? He's been quite, stress isn't the right word, but he's been busy these last few months. Enough to make someone irritated and angry to a point. He's been snappy recently."

Saskia said she would ask Hannibal his opinion of this before asking Will.

Saskia didn't want to intrude on their relationship in any way. She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding when Hannibal nodded at her question that evening when they began to cook dinner.

"I think it would be a marvelous idea for you and Will to get away for a bit," Hannibal said after pausing his stiriung before getting back to it. "Even at the charity ball, he was quite tense because of the amount of people. The Vergers didn't help either."

"Yeah, he isn't a people person," Saskia stood to the side as Hannibal made dinner for them, a simple hot stew. "I wanted to make sure you would be alright with it."

"Why would I oppose it?"

"Will made it sound like you both were together, he even used the word monogamous," Saskia shrugged. "I didn't want you or him to think I was trying to split you two up. I might be ruthless in my pursuit but I'm not a homewrecker."

"Your pursuit in what?"

She paused to take a sniff at the circulating air. "That smells good."

"You've changed the subject," Hannibal said but otherwise didn't comment. "But yes, Will and I are monogamous, with the exception of christmas since we both agreed to it and you did too. I wouldn't oppose to doing it again, nor would I shame Will and you if you so decided to have sex again. Safe and consueal is just the main thing."

"Definitely. Being safe and having safe words is key, even if you're engaging in vanilla sex. Sometimes no and stop fall on deaf ears when engaging in high and fast acts and scenes."

"Even in normal relationships, communication is key," Hannibal said as he dished out the food into bowls and added the finishing touches before nodding for her to follow as he brought both bowls to the dining room. "Some people understand others better than normal. Some need verbal cues, others need physical ones."

"Physical cues don't lie as often as verbal ones," Saskia said, pouring the wine into Hannibal's glass before reaching hers, thinking for a moment and taking a breath before pouring herself a small amount. "But both can be used to manipulate others. Cheers."

They began eating.

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