Chapter 25
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One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
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Saskia knew Jack arrived before the other two did, carefully getting out of the bed without waking them. She yawned and slipped her dressing gown on to maintain her modesty as she let the dogs out.
"Saskia, you're here?" Jack said as he got up to the Graham house. "I thought you were with Hannibal in Baltimore?"
"We're spending the weekend up here, away from the reporters lurking around for interviews," She said. "If you want Will, he and Hannibal are still asleep I think."
Jack paused, confusion and question lining his face. "I thought you… Are you and them…? All three of you?"
She smiled sleepily. "Yes, Jack. We are serious. Anyway, why are you here on a sunday? I heard some sirens, did something happen nearby?"
"About two and a half miles back," He gestured vaguely towards the area she knew was where she left the bodies, "We found two campers. They look like ritualistic killing with how they were done but I want Will's opinion. He isn't answering his phone, nor are you or Doctor Lecter."
"We're trying to spend a weekend away from people but I guess it isn't happening."
Will could deal with this. She was still tired from yesterday's fun little activity and wanted to sleep some more before she had to do anything.
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Instead of the small lecture room full of FBI agents in training, all eager to listen, the room was full of all levels of FBI agents that wanted to know more about the Miscreant Killer case.
Jack was at the front of the room, addressing everyone as the briefing started. The three killers sat in the front row, Countess laying at their feet with her vest on. They were dressed sharply, clothes tailored and fitted perfectly.
For the last couple years, Leroy Harris was tormenting the city of Baltimore. He spent weeks inactive between his kills, leaving gaps in the timeline of where he was but he always came back to Baltimore to get another victim. With these gaps of inactivity, it was the reason why it took so long for him to be caught.
This was the longest part of today, the briefing of the higher ups.
But after that was the get together where everyone could mingle.
Saskia was grateful for the fitted maroon suit and black blouse combo. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun, Hannibal helped with that, and just enough makeup to accent her features. The red lipstick matched her suit, almost resembling the blood she had splattered onto her face and teeth a few days prior.
As always, they wore the same colour.
Hannibal had on his shirt the beautiful maroon that matched his eyes while Will went for a red tie and suspenders.
"My face hurts," She said through a smile she couldn't drop.
"Then don't smile," Will replied back in Lithuanian, his face more or less blank.
"I'll get told to smile if I don't smile."
"Tell them to fuck off then."
"Tell who?" Hannibal inquired as he handed both of them drinks, champaue for he and Will while Saskia took something stronger.
"Anyone who tells me to smile." She dropped the forced happiness before reverting back to English. "My face hurts from smiling so much today."
"You're Doctor Alasite?" A woman asked, stopping by Saskia as they turned to look at each other.
Saskia inwardly cringed. "I am. And you are Agent Kade Prurnell if I remember correctly?"
"Doctor?" Will asked.
"PhDs in Psy and Socio, finished it a few months back but it took time to process,"
"Prurnell will do," The woman said, waiting for Saskia to do the same but she just calmly waited for her to continue. "I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?"
"Of course," Saskia bowed her head an inch. "Please excuse us for a few minutes."
They moved to a less crowded part of the room, standing near a wall as Prurnell kept her eyes out and glared at anyone who came too close or within earshot.
"It has been a privilege to work with the FBI, ma'am," Saskia said politely, her hand clasped around her glass and the other tucked into her trouser pocket. Confidence oozed from her. "If the FBI ever needs my help, they just need to ask"
"You are a lawyer now, private practise however?"
"Private consultant, yes. Most of my jobs pertain to legal situations. I get jobs requesting some of my expertise and I accept those that I want or feel like I need to do. Fewer clients but better money. Gives me time to write."
"I hope you don't plan to write another murder mystery,"
"Oh, no. I have plans for a semi fantasy and paranormal series."
"Good." Prurnell nodded. "What I wanted to speak about actually pertains to you working with the FBI as a private contracted consultant. You have heard of the Chesapeake Ripper?"
"I've worked with Agent Crawford for a while, I've heard."
"I don't think we have published this information to the public yet but there is another serial killer now. Two I believe."
"There is the Ripper, and I think I overheard Crawford speaking of someone called the Butcher?"
"The Chesapeake Butcher, yes."
"And the other one?"
"The Chesapeake Slasher,"
Saskia wanted to smile but she knew it wasn't the time. "What is it with serial killers and Baltimore? We get rid of one and get two more. How lucky of us."
"Yes, lucky," Prurnell didn't look happy but she shook it off. "Some of my higher ups want you to become a consultant on the case, on all three cases actually. You've got extensive legal knowledge, and the nature of the killings are within your knowledge range too. They feel it is safer to have someone who the FBI has already cleared for duty."
"Of course, as long as they can pay my fee," She joked, knowing the woman wasn't as stiff as she appeared to be. The curl of the lips made it known. "The FBI can send me a contract and I'll look over it."
"Good. I think your companions are waiting for you. Well done with catching Leroy Harris. I hope to work with you soon enough."
Saskia made her way back to her men, petting Countess on the head as the dog just sat next to them as they talked.
"What was that about?" Will asked, sipping his drink and looking at it funny.
"Higher ups at the FBI want me to help find The Chesapeake Three," Saskia grinned. "It seems like we are quite the catch."
Hannibal clinked his glass against theirs. "And they do not even realise that the snakes are within the lion's den."
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Saskia had, for a while now, trusted Harumi to post whatever she wanted and not have to confer with Saskia because she knew what the Lithuanian woman would want now. And her newest post didn't disappoint.
There were even some psychiatrists that wanted to speak to her about her Miscreant Killer induced trauma, which she always refused. They even tried to get Alana to talk to them about it, which caused the woman to threaten them with a harassment lawsuit if they didn't stop bothering both of them.
That shut them up.
The newest post for Harumi's blog just made Leroy Harris more insistent to see her.
Barney Matthews was the Head Orderly for the maximum security wing of the Baltimore State Mental Hospital for the Criminally Insane, and he was easily bribed with money. Saskia only wanted information about Leroy and Barney was happy to give her it because he saw the supposed trauma he had caused her. Barney believed it would help settle her soul if she knew what Leroy was doing.
The information also included a lot of things Leroy told his lawyer and whatever he muttered to himself, and anything he wrote down or said during his therapy.
Barney was also in charge of any requests of any of his charges, forcing him to call Saskia and ask if she wouldn't oppose coming in to talk to Leroy, he was also forced to call Leroy's lawyer before he was allowed to call her.
A couple weeks after Leroy's trial and damnation, Saskia finally agreed and secured a date with Leroy's lawyer's approval.
The lawyer was corrupt, that was easily seen, but not because he was a bad person. Mr Anson just wanted the money Leroy paid him, and the security he received from that money. Mr Anson wasn't the type of person to blab anything if his client asked him not to, so anything said in his presence while she would speak to Leroy would be kept confidential by law and his own morals.
Mr Frederick Chilton was like a knock off Hannibal Lecter with all the annoyances that could be found bundled into one form.
There wasn't much about Frederick Chilton that would impress or even amuse her. He had a bland brand of smugness that didn't fit him, he felt like he deserved the arrogance he held himself in but it wasn't.
His tie was crooked, leaning too much to the left as he strode closer to her and Leroy Harris' lawyer.
"Good morning, Mr Anson," He greeted cheerily, his eyes trailing to Saskia before recognition flashed behind them. "Ah, you must be the famous and infamous Saskia Alasite. Leroy Harris has been asking for you for a while."
"I know. I've been reoccupied, and Mr Anson thought it best for Mr Harris to be able to settle in before I visit," Saskia observed him with a bland tone of pleasantness lining her features.
"I hope you don't mind but I'd like to stay during the talk," He said before waving a hand to make it seem acceptable and an after thought of something. "To make sure that Mr Harris doesn't get too agitated during the talk."
"You'll have to ask Mr Harris," She said without an emotion lining her voice. "Either way, I don't care if you stay or not. It doesn't matter to me."
"Okay then," His face didn't tell her that he was disappointed by her dismissal of him, but his body language changed to become a little more hostile. "Please follow me to the room then."
The room was almost like a cell with how unpleasant it was. There were three chairs already pulled to one side of it. They didn't sit down, standing to the side as Barney Matthews wheeled Leroy Harris into the room, confined to a wheelchair.
"I don't want you here." Leroy said instantly to Frederick
"It is better for all parties involved if I stay," He tried to counter.
"No, I don't want you here. End of conversation." Leroy said tonelessly. "And no recordings of my conversations. It's my legal right, isn't it, Mr Anson?"
"It is," Mr Anson said, his voice leaving no argument. "Mr Harris has a right to speak to whoever he wants to privately when his lawyer is present. Even if he is your patient, Doctor Chilton, he has a right to choose who is in the room with him while he speaks to me."
"He does, doesn't he?" The snarl Frederick had was hidden quickly. "I would still prefer if one of my staff was in here. Would that be alright, Mr Harris?"
The way he spat the name made Saskia clench her wrist. Only she got to talk to him like that. Only she had that right.
As much as she would enjoy killing Frederick Chilton, it would be too convenient for one of Leroy's psychiatrists to die so suddenly after she came to visit.
She might be impulsive but she wasn't stupid.
"Fine," Leroy said, rolling his eyes at the man. "Nurse Barney can stay. I like him more than you."
How convenient. Barney was doing well in gaining Leroy's trust it seemed. All the better for her gaining information.
"Fine. Matthews, come to my office after this is done," The man left with a sneer at Leroy.
"Finally!" Leroy smiled. "Big, bad dickhead is gone. Saskia, you look wonderful."
"Thanks."
She wasn't dressed that nice today. Having borrowed (stolen) one of Will's green hoodies, she swore that with a pair of dark leggings and matching green trainers. Her hair wasn't even done, only pulled back and up with the use of a claw hair clip.
Saskia wasn't going to get dressed for him, that wasn't happening. Today was a lazy day. Having a week full of finishing up the contract she had to sign for the FBI private employment, she just wanted to spend some time away from contracts and legal issues. Then Barney called.
Leroy looked good. Hair slicked back with water and a clean face, he just sat in the restraints of the wheelchair. He wore the white uniform of the criminals, unstained and ironed. Probably a courtesy of Barney.
"Why have you asked to see me, Leroy?"
"I see you don't have the bitch with you,"
"That bitch didn't want to come here to see you. Start talking, it's the reason I'm here."
He smiled, the corner of his lip tilted up. "Aren't you glad that your mother is dead? Oh, it was an honor killing her. The pain was so sweet."
"Good. I'm glad it was good for you. It was better for me when I found out about her death," Saskia said, her lips in a sadistic smile that comforted Leroy, unsettled Mr Anson, and had no effect on Barney. "It was a good birthday gift. A real surprise to see her."
"Good. How is your relationship with your mother? You've stopped wearing her ring."
"To a point, I never truly had a relationship with her. She was my mother and I love her because of that, though I don't love her."
"And our relationship?"
"There is none. Not since you've taken my books." She twisted the thumb ring once before clasping her hands together. "You've had your chance, Leroy. I asked you to do something and you did it. I'm grateful for that. But I don't need you for it. I can do it myself and you know. You somehow know."
Her laugh was mirthless but music to his ears, eyes drooping a little to watch the life enter her eyes as she just sat across from him.
"Information isn't hard to come by,"
"It isn't, is it? Information comes in all sorts of manners, sometimes the truth, other times a lie weaved in instead. You have to take it as it is or you risk forgetting the truth and taking the lie instead."
Leroy smiled, shifting to sit straighter in his bound form. "How are they?"
"How are who?" She asked, acting stupid on purpose.
"You know who."
"Voldemort?" She said but nodded. "They're good."
"And you?"
"Better."
"Better?"
"I can sleep easily knowing you won't kill me,"
"Is that so?"
"It is,"
"Well, certain things can't be helped. My incarceration is one of them."
"I gave you a warning in the forest. You stabbed me instead. You sealed your fate with a knife in my shoulder. I take revenge seriously. I will make sure you never see the outside of this hospital, you will never step foot on a path again. If you do somehow get out, be it by law, or by escape, I will be the last thing you ever before I drag your soul to hell myself."
She stood up from the seat, an expression of sadistic warmth and darkish glee on her face.
"You are my beginning, and you will be my ending."
She didn't look back. "I was never your saviour."
"But you are always the one I would rather follow to Hell."
"Your mistake was following me, and mine was letting you live."
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Saskia knocked on the door, only getting to the third one before the door opened to reveal the person she came to see. Dressed impeccably, Bedeia Du Maurier was beautiful in the skirt and blouse combo, though the floral pattern of her skirt left a sour taste in her mouth.
"Doctor Du Maurier," Saskia greeted with a small nod, also dressed smartly but she wore the same outfit she had worn for the FBI conference and party a couple weeks prior. Dark red suit with a fitted black blouse and simple heels. A bolo tie was tucked high on her sternum, the metal head of a fox kept the dark grey ropes together and brought her outfit to a finish.
"You're right on time," She said, incling her head as she stepped aside. "Please take a seat."
"I'm always on time. Thank you." Saskia undid the button on her suit jacket as she sat down with a knee over the other, making sure to keep the jacket from wrinkling unneededly. She would redo the button when she got up. "I was surprised with your acceptance of me becoming a patient of yours, Doctor Du Maruier"
"Please, call me Bedelia. We will be getting to know each other anyway. I was surprised by your referral to me." She sat down, tucking her legs to the side. "I thought Doctor Bloom was your permanent psychiatrist."
"She was until she decided to take time off to look after Margot. Margot is pregnant, almost eight months now so they both decided it was time to settle down until Morgan is born."
"Morgan is the infant?"
"Yes. I'm going to be his GodMother."
"Oh, how wonderful."
"Here's one topic that is off limits, anything to do with me losing my uterus," Saskia said plainly.
"Why is that topic off limits?"
"Because I have made my peace with it. If we do speak about it, it will be a one time thing."
"How about we start with that then. How does losing your uterus and your ability to bear children make you feel?"
"Angry."
"Why do you feel angry?"
"My anger isn't focused on the fact that I can't have children, and more on the fact that I don't have the choice. I never wanted to be pregnant and have children, and I still don't even if I had the choice."
"You are angry at the fact you do not have the choice of children instead of the fact you cannot have them." Bedelia said, watching Saskia nod. "From Doctor Bloom's notes, she says that 'Saskia Alasite is a control freak yet isn't scared when there are things she can't control. She tries to control the conversations we have and often does it without me noticing until after.' Do you consider yourself a control freak, Doctor Alasite?"
"Please don't call me that, Saskia will do," She said, tapping her nail against the leather of the chair she sat in. "Somewhat."
"What do you consider yourself then?"
"Someone who likes control but isn't scared of not having it within a trusted senario. I didn't have control over a lot of my life when I was younger, and now I prefer to have as much as I can."
"You prefer to have control, but you do not have to have it."
"Yeah. I don't need to have control over others but I do need it over myself."
"Why do you need this control over yourself?"
"I was abused when I was younger, tormented by bullies and sisters alike. I was the scapegoat of the family, having the undesired emotions propelled at me when they occured."
"You were abused?"
"Emotionally and mentally mostly. I started to fight back if my mother or sisters tried anything physical from age twelve onwards. Age fourteen onwards, I fought back mentally and emotionally. I gave what I got and took what I wanted from them."
"What did you want from them?"
"I wanted love, comfort, affection. The bare minimum from them," Saskia felt her eyes moisten, nowhere near enough to cry but enough to tell herself that she was upset by what she was saying. "I wanted family and comfort, not fights and screams. The best thing that happened to me in a while was my mother dying and I don't know why I feel bad for thinking that. I'm happy she's dead, she deserved it for everything she did to me."
A heaviness in her chest made itself known.
"That bad feeling you're having is called guilt,"
"I don't feel guilty for wanting her death or wanting her to suffer." Saskia looked at her perfectly done nails, watching the shine flicker. "It's a heaviness in my chest that I don't feel often. I was conditioned to love my mother regardless of what she has or hasn't done, we all are conditioned to love our parents. The idea of a mother is appealing, that's why I feel guilty for my mother dying. I don't give a shit what happened to her. She made my life a living hell and I hope, oh gods, I hope she suffered before she died."
"Do you believe she deserved to suffer?"
"No one deserves to suffer regardless of their actions. But I wanted her to suffer, and suffer she did."
"How do you know she suffered?"
Saskia let a smile appear. "I was working the Miscreant case and was called in because another victim was found. It was a few days after my birthday and her body was found, all bruised, all beaten and broken."
"Did it ever make you feel bad for wanting her to suffer and then seeing her like that?"
"No. It calmed me. It was good knowing that she was dead, even better when we had the funeral and my sister called me a whore and harlot."
"Why do you think she called you those words?"
"I'm a whore, I'll admit that. There is a difference between a whore and a prostitute, but I doubt my sister knows the difference. She probably doesn't know that whore and harlot are synonyms."
"Do you like labelling yourself as such things?"
"Actually, I hate labels."
Bedelia quirked an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Complexity of humanity cannot be put into neat little boxes for our convenience of understanding. We are all too different from one another to put a label on us all. To label ourselves is to limit us. If we had labels, we wouldn't be allowed to act outside of them."
"Humanity is forever changing."
"For the better or worse is the question."
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It was strange to think that Will and Saskia spent more time at the Lecter house than they did their own houses. It made sense for Saskia, she had been protected at Hannibal's because Leroy kept getting in but now she could move back, and she did for the most part.
She and Will spent almost every night at Hannibal's unless he wasn't home for a conference or another, then they both slept at Will's.
It was strange to think she hadn't spent a night alone in a couple months. In march, she decided to accept Hannibal's and Will's strange courtship. She didn't spend any night after that alone, even if she had a bed for herself at Hannibal's. There were some nights that Will would spend at his house because it was a bit closer to the FBI academy.
But since Leroy was captured, there was no reason for her to live at Hannibal's anymore.
They all had keys to each other's houses, forcing them all to carry three different keys at all times.
The other two houses, the Graham House and the Alasite House, were more for storage than anything anymore. The two lived at Hannibal's with the dogs, swapping out clothes when there was a need as the months rolled closer to the summer months. Hannibal had only so much space for clothing in his wardrobe, Saskia already had a closet to herself in the room she and Countess occupied.
After spending a night alone with only Countess for company, Saskia found she did not like this arrangement, and nor did the men. After that, it was decided that Saskia and Will would more or less move into the Lecter House while still having their respective homes if there was ever a need.
It felt right that they had a place that was called home.
Like usual, Hannibal was in the kitchen with his sleeves rolled up and an apron on, and like usual, Saskia and Will were both being menaces.
At one point, he threatened them with a spatula and no food because they kept trying to add ingredients into the food he was making. It was the leftover meat from Randell Tier that Will had stored at his home. It needed to be used up.
It took a good part of the day and the threatening of no food for Hannibal to create a classic beef stew with the alteration of a different type of meat. It was still fucking good.
"May I?" Saskia asked them when her phone started buzzing on the table because it was only polite. They nodded before she even went to pick it up. "Good evening, Barney. What's up?"
"Leroy has plans to give out information about the Chesapeake Ripper." Barney said without hesitation. "He's been talking about it to himself and to his lawyer. The lawyer has been given information about the location of some documents. He said something about getting redeemed by you. I don't know what that means."
"I do," Saskia didn't let any expression filter through. "You've done well, keep me updated and you'll get your money in a few minutes. Thank you, Barney."
She sighed, putting her phone down. Rubbing a hand down her face, she took another bite of that delicious meat before sipping at her water. She knew both of them were looking at her, they knew something made her react.
"Barney thinks Leroy has information about the Ripper," She dug her fork into a potato. "He doesn't know what information yet but he's gonna keep me updated. I pay him for information and he gets me it without questioning me."
"You've bribed an orderly," Will said, not at all surprised. "The head orderly no less."
"Everyone can be brought, though some wouldn't like to admit that," Hannibal said. "What do you think Leroy Harris knows?"
"Barney said something about a document. Leroy gave the location of a document to his lawyer. It will take time for the document to actually be processed into the system, and even more time before it is flagged as important to the FBI. As soon as I know, I'll start making plans. I'd prepare a bag just in case, and a suitcase."
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She found out late next morning. Mr Anson had brought the document in early last night, demanding to see Leroy because he was requested and even Frederick Chilton couldn't find a legal reason to not allow him in.
Why did it have to be today of all days? Leroy was just trying to make her life hell, wasn't he?
Luckily it was a saturday and that meant that Will and Hannibal were at home. Saskia had been requested at a scene of a new serial killer, someone who used tarot cards as inspiration.
Jack was pleased with her input.
Unlike Will who put himself in the position of the killer, Saskia would imagine herself as a ghost that followed the killer. She didn't get physical descriptions like skin or hair colour but she got the size and build needed for this to occur. She imagined two different people doing this, two lovers.
Will was working as a professor more often than not now, prefering to keep away from the scene unless requested.
She was out of state when she got the call from Barney which said that Leroy knew who the Ripper was and had evidence to support it.
She called Hannibal because she knew he would pick up. Will tended to ignore calls.
"Is Will with you? Put me on speaker," Saskia said in Lithuanian so anyone wouldn't overhear and understand. Her tone was blunt and no nonsense. "Barney called. He says Leroy knows who the Ripper is. Leroy won't stop muttering Hannibal's name in his sleep. It'll take two days for the paperwork to be filed and sent, and then another three for it to be picked up by the FBI. I'll be back home by nightfall and we'll talk about what's happening next."
She hung up before they could reply to her. She had plans in place for something just like this.
Scrolling through her contacts, she called her GodFather.
She knew he was corrupt, her own father was too to a certain degree. Her father and GodFather were the ones to teach her how to hunt in the first place. How to kill an animal with and without mercy. She was taught well in case she wanted to follow them in their corrupt ways of life.
Money was money, and a job was a job, even if being a killer was the job description.
"Viktor, I need a favour,"
"Don't tell me they're onto you? Did they find out about Yasha? Or is it about the two men?"
"There's a problem with Leroy. There's a chance he has sensitive information."
"Get yourself out of that country!" He almost snapped. "Get yourself back here and you'll be fine. They can't do anything while you're a citizen of Lithuania."
"He's not gonna go after me. He's going after the two I love."
He laughed, unbelief in his voice but it was the type that said it was quite a welcomed surprise. "You've fallen."
"Maybe." She smiled, letting the happiness go into her voice. "Get them some documents under the Alas name."
"And first names?"
"Hector for Hannibal and Waylan for Will."
"Strong names, though a little too British,"
"True. They're going to leave on monday and be there some point that evening. They can stay at the house before moving on wherever they want,"
"And if they don't want to leave?"
"If they trust me, they will."
"The way you speak of them, they should do."
She hummed. "I need you to hand them the phones."
"Fine. But, Saskia?"
"Yes?"
"Do you truly care enough for them to forfeit your own freedom?"
She laughed. "I'm not forfeiting my freedom when the next move of the chessboard is about to be made. We'll just have to see what move the FBI decides to play next."
"I'll ask them to call you then,"
"No. Hand them the burner phones and tell them I'll call them when I can." She went to hang up but paused. "Thank you, Viktor. You don't have to do this."
"I owe you, 'Kia," He said his pet name for her. "Fabius is dead because he wanted to save me. I owe you this much. Are you truly happy with them?"
"Yes."
"All I ask is that you try and get all three of you to safety and be happy."
"Thank you."
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Hannibal and Will weren't happy with the plan she had.
They were going to leave on Monday morning because a 'distant uncle' of Hannibal's needed help and he was the only relative available. That wasn't the part they had a problem with. It was about who was leaving.
"You're not joining us, are you?" Will mumbled when he realised. "Why?
Her lip twerked up sadly, she shook her head. "Someone has to look after the dogs."
"Don't be stupid!" He shook his head with a dark and angry expression. "You can't just expect us to leave you behind, Saskia. We're leaving Abigail because we know she will be happy now, she doesn't need us, but you… You need us like a fish needs water to survive and we need air to breath!"
"But even we can be without air for a time before we die, I'll just hold my breath until such a time we can meet again." Saskia handed them an envelope. "Passports and euros. Viktor is expecting you both to arrive some point that evening. He will hand you a copy of the key to the house. Stay as long as you want."
"Where are we supposed to go? We cannot stay in Lithuania. It is somewhere the FBI would check."
"You'll arrive there because you needed to get something from your family house, before you move onto wherever you want. You need to keep track of where you stay because the FBI will question you about it. You're leaving because of a family emergency, not because you're going to be found out because you know nothing of this document or evidence."
"You've really planned this out,"
"Of course, I am me. Decide where you want to go after but don't tell me. If anything, the FBI will question me."
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The next twenty four hours were rough.
Will and Hannibal both sorted out their jobs. Will sent in an email requesting a leave of absence that would last for the foreseeable future while Hannibal just cancelled all future appointments and referred his patients to other psychiatrists.
After that, they spent a lot of time getting clothes and stuff packed away, enough that made it look like they were leaving for an undecided amount of time.
And after that, they spent an ungodly amount of time trying to completely memorise each other's bodies. It felt good being with each other in those final hours before seperation. They didn't know how long they would be seperated but hoped it wasn't for long.
The dogs were upset by them leaving but it seemed like Winston and Hades knew their counterparts would return, not when but they knew they would eventually.
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It was a week later when Saskia got a box in the mail. She had moved back into her house with all of them dogs. She had to sign for the small box, questioning what she brought within the last few days and coming up empty. She opened it anyway.
Within the box was another box, smaller and covered in a soft material that was reserved for propsal ring boxes.
The velvet box originally held three rings that complimneted each other, and now there sat only one in the middle.
The ring was black sterling with the dark red gemstone of her father's ashes set into the top like a signet ring. It wouldn't catch and still look beautiful. She had wondered where the necklace with the now red stone of her father's ashes was.
The card only held three words.
Wear with pride.
She slipped the ring onto her left ring finger.
How they found out what her ring size was would remain a mystery for the ages.
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One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
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