CH 5 The Ball
I approached the building stunned. Not only was the house enormous its architecture was exquisite. When we got to the door the butler was waiting to our invitations, our car keys, and our coats. When we got inside, well we stopped dead in our tracks. The place was so beautiful, like a castle, a dream. When we finished gauging and snapped back into reality we felt the very usual coveting eyes checking us out. Ardelia and I shared the stares equally; her tight red dress had a huge slit up the side after all.
"Goddesses among mere mortal men." I giggled at her statement. "I'm gonna scan for my Unc" I cut her off
"Your Uncle? And…"
"Oh, all right definitely scan for guys. Want to come?"
"Nah. I think I'll go have a bite to eat, I am starving."
"Suite yourself." She turned and started to walk away.
"Ardelia!" She turned
"Yes?"
"Be careful. Half of those coveting eyes are married."
"I know and the cute ones are gay." We giggled then departed.
I sat quietly at a table. After a few seconds, a waiter came buy.
"Madam, would you like some wine?" He said in French. Oh, I am so glad I took French in high school.
"Depends. Is it free?" I said in my fluent French.
"But of course."
"Do you have…Hmm… Chateau d' Yquem?"
"Yes, we do madam."
"Great. May I have a glass of that please."
"Certainly." He was about to saunter off when he came back. Then he said in broken English "You're from America, no?"
"Yes, I am. Why?"
"Oh, excuse my intrusion but I was shocked to see how well you spoke French. You speak it well."
"Thank you. Your English is not bad either."
"You are very kind madam. Excuse me."
*So, I speak French well. Hm, I should give myself more credit. And anyway, if I am going to dress and act like a goddess I should drink like one. *
A little while later, as I was finishing off my glass of wine, Ardelia came over with an older man.
"Hey Clarice. Uncle Travis this is my best friend Clarice Starling. Clarice this is my Uncle Travis Mapp."
We shook hands "Nice to meet you Clarice."
"Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for inviting us."
"Your welcome anytime Clarice."
We sat and talked about France and Ardelia. It felt great to talk to somebody. Especial somebody who reacted and understood. Then we started to talk about my life. After a bit, he turned serious.
"So, what is it with you and that Lecter guy?"
I nearly spit my wine out. This conversation just went sour. "What do you mean by that sir?
"Well, the newspaper seem to be talking about it a lot. They call it Beauty and the beast syndrome."
Now I was pissed. Ardelia was about to cut in when I said very calmly. "Dr. Lecter and I simply keep colliding at random times. He seems to notice first and screws with my mind for a little bit, like a cat he bats me in-between his claws. He likes to see me suffer and seems to like to add to my despair. I am simply a pawn in his chess game. He is waiting for me to make the wrong move so he can take one of my men. He enjoys screwing with my mind and my life. That is all there is between us." I put down my wine and stare at this man. I lied to him. How could I explain I was in a denial period because I was falling for a cannibalistic killer?
"Uncle Travis you have other guests to attend to don't you?" Ardelia says
"Yeas, don't take up your time talking to me." I say
"Well, it was great talking to you Miss Starling."
"Please, call me Clarice."
"Very well. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it."
"Thank you Mr. Mapp." He walked towards the dance floor.
Ardelia turned to me. "I'm gonna check out some of my cousins friends. Maybe share a dance or two with them. Do you wan to come?" I didn't know what to say "Clarice, you must promise me that you will dance before the evenings over."
"I promise 'Delia enjoy yourself." She smiled a sad smile. And wandered onto the dance floor.
*Who the hell am I going to dance with? *
~*~
Dr. Lecter was amused and impressed. When he got to the party, he figured he'd wait for Clarice's arrival at the tables. He must have daydreamed for a second but the next thing he knew was a young woman sat down behind him. Her back to his, his back to hers. When the waiter came to her, he thought the voice sounded familiar. "Could it be?" He thought, "could that be Clarice? Clarice with her hearty West Virginia accent can speak such fluent French? No I must be mistaken." His thoughts were answered a moment later.
"You're from America, no?"
"Yes, I am. Why?"
It is Clarice. You see a lot Doctor. But I did not know this Clarice. Mmm… I feel even more attracted to you now. Yet, the irony of this situation made him want to laugh out loud. He had his back to what he wanted most, and the FBI had their back to their famous 'Hannibal the cannibal'. Dr. Lecter remained silent, so he would not give any clues to his ambitious Clarice.
Later, after he found out how Clarice was here, he amused himself by listening to her explanation of our world famous relationship. He chuckled softly when she said, "He enjoys screwing with my mind and my life." The first thought that popped into Dr. Lecter's mind was "I'd enjoy screwing with more than just your mind Clarice." He could also tell she was lying when she said they had no relationship. Dr. Lecter knew she and he had a damn good relationship. He thought about what she said "Hmm… you're just a mouse in my clutches you say Clarice. I have actually grown quite tired of those cat-and-mouse games we play. You just wait and see Clarice, what I have in store for you…"
~*~
"Damn it" I said scornfully under my breath when I saw someone heading for my table
"Clarice. How have you been doing, after you know?"
*Why is everyone afraid to say it? * My hand briefly touches the gun under my dress. *Hm… when I get home I'll make sure to get in some target practice. *
"Oh, I am just fine. How is everything?"
"Great. It is wonderful to see you again, Clarice."
*Oh, don't you wish I could say the same? You followed me around like a fly at Ardelia's birthday party. I am so glad that I decided not to answer the phone a couple weeks after that. Well, I lie wont hurt him. *
"Yes it's nice to see you again Charles."
"Would you like to dance?"
*Not really. But I could tell this man was desperate and I wanted Ardelia satisfies. Why not? You only live once right? *
"Sure."
He offered a hand and I took it. He was quite a good dancer. I was relived he was a gentleman as well, his hands didn't go anywhere near my ass. *Good boy. *
"You look great."
"Thanks. You look good too."
"Thanks."
We stayed silent. I stared out a window at the bright moon. *What would it be like to dance with Dr. Lecter? Oh god, Clarice this is pathetic. He would never dance with you and when would he get the chance? *
Just then, Charles got a nice tap on the shoulder. Her turned and saw a man standing there. He asked, "May I cut in?"
There was something familiar about that voice. Charles looked at me and was about to say something when I put a finger on his lip to silence him. "Let's be nice. You can share. Certainly sir."
The man took me in his arms and I was struck with a wave of deja' vu. After we danced away from Charles crushed expression I asked "I feel as if I know you from somewhere. Please tell me who are you?"
He chuckled. "I think that would be quite obvious my dear."
I swallowed. *Holy shit! Holy shit! God damn it Clarice. Why don't you listen to your mom when she says 'Be careful what you wish for.'? Damn! * "Dr. Lecter." I whisper.
"Clarice, it is a pleasant surprise to find you here."
"Ugh… same here… I guess."
"I have a question would you mind answering it without a round of Quid Pro Quo?"
"Depends on the question."
"What happened to that black dress I gave you?"
I blushed a little. *The famous black dress. Oh god. * "I kept it in my closet. It's still in decent condition. I have a question about that dress. Why were you so well… tasteless?"
"Ah. Forgive me but I couldn't help myself. The minute I saw that dress I thought of you." I blushed some more.
"You look quite lovely tonight. Gorgeous if I might say so."
I laughed then I quoted from one of my favorite movies: "You think I'm gorgeous. You want to kiss me. You want to hold me." Then I laughed a bit. After I had finished, he pulled me close. "That's not all I want to do." I stopped laughing. I was in shock. We danced in silence for a bit. He was staring at my reaction. * HE WANTS TO S C R E W ME! Oh my god! Does that mean he loves me? Or just feels sexual attraction towards me like every other man in this world. I don't know. I'm so confused. *
"You feel that strongly about me Doctor. You"
He cut me off "I have a name Clarice."
"You want me to call you by your name?"
"Yes. I think you are a little older than you used to be don't you think so?"
"Hannibal." I whisper. The words put a tingle in my stomach. Especially when I when I feel him shiver.
"Say it again." It sounds like a demand. *What do I do to you? *
"Hannibal, Hannibal, Hannibal." I sigh. I think I like the sound of that on my lips as much as he does. He shivers again. That makes me smile.
"What do you do to me?" He asks "I think it is quite obvious that I am in love with you Clarice."
Once again, complete shock. "Hannibal, how could you love me? I am nothing but a well scrubbed hustling rube with a little taste. I have good nutrition but I am not more than one generation from poor white trash."
Now he stares at me with concern "My words affect you that much? I was just teasing you. Back when you were an ambitious little student. But you have grown quite a lot from then haven't you? The old Clarice would probably have her gun to my head at the moment."
It was true. "I regret how our last dinner date went Hannibal. I wish I could have thought more when I decided to call the cops but unfortunately my mind was fogged with morphine."
"Hm… quite true but it was for your own good."
"I know and I appreciate it."
"You seem quite different this time around."
"Yes. I guess it because there really isn't a way for me to deny my feelings anymore is there?"
"No but I truly wonder what those feelings are Clarice. I hear them from the press not from your lips."
"I…" *can't finish. I am blushing very much. My face must be very red at this point. * He gives me one of his looks and lifts an eyebrow. "What can I say Hannibal? I feel a lot towards you. But some times, in my darkest thoughts, I wish we could have brushed more than just fingers in Memphis."
That makes him smile. "You are still the naughty girl I left on the bay." He paused "Speaking of naughty where is your gun?"
"Under my dress, on my leg." I answer. He reaches for it. I grab his hand. "Don't go for the gun. I won't shoot you." He gives me a devilish smile then whispers in my ear, "What makes you think I was reaching for the gun?"
*Hannibal, what are you getting at? Why do good girls go for bad guys? Why am I attracted to him? *
"Clarice, would you like to join me for dinner?"
I wish we could chat longer but I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye.
"Depends."
He seemed to know what I was thinking but he played along. "On what?"
*On what's for dinner. Or who. *
Never ask it spoils the surprise.
"Don't worry Clarice. It's a normal dinner. No human brains on the menu."
*Thank you god! *
"Where is this dinner of yours?"
"Someplace a little more private. My house perhaps."
"Sounds great."
"Then let's go. Shall we?" He offers his hand. I take it. "Let's."
~*~
"Clarice is coming to my house. Why am I so excited? Hm… what am I going to cook? And what's for dessert? Oh wait, that's an easy question." He thought
~*~
What do you think so far? Please R&R! O thank you Miss Congeniality! Next chapter is coming soon!