( A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter up, but I have been working on my Severus Snape fic night and day. {When you have 27 characters you're trying to develop, it gets hard.} It will be posted soon. Thanks for reading this far, and here's the seventh chapter. By the way, no matter how long it takes for me to get chapters up, I promise I'm not abandoning this story.)
Chapter Seven: Pawns And KingsAlissa awoke at 3:00 AM in the morning, according to the bright red numbers of the digital clock at her bedside. She got up, suppressing a groan, and blundered towards the bathroom. After rummaging in the medicine cabinet, she found what she was looking for- her prescription of Vicadan. After swallowing two, she stumbled back to bed, never once noticing her car keys were gone from her dresser.
Later that morning, around 11:00, she yawned and stretched, she knew the strong medication had caused her to over sleep, and she had missed her morning jog. She realized two things at once- she could smell a heavenly aroma of something similar to pork seeping under her door, and, there was no meat in the cabin. She jolted up in bed. Whatever he was cooking (she shuttered to think) at least it wasn't her, she reasoned.
He isn't cooking a person; he isn't cooking a person…stay calm, act normal. What would you do if he were a normal person? Deciding that the only thing she could do was to take a shower, get dressed, and confront her unusual houseguest; she selected a towel from a drawer and turned on the shower.
Alissa opened the door leading to the living room. She had almost convinced herself the smell was pork, and yet…there wasn't any way to explain how he had gotten the pork. She walked silently through the living room, but Dr. Lecter smelled her long before she entered the kitchen.
Alissa had swept her wet hair up into a bun, as she often did when it was wet. She was wearing sweats and a T-shirt. Dr. Lecter, she noted, had also taken to dressing casually. Was it just her…or was his hair…? Yes it was…it was several shades darker brown. What was going on?
"Good morning Alissa, I must say, I did expect you to be an early riser, I was wondering when you would venture out of your room" He didn't bother to turn, but spoke casually, as though them standing in the kitchen speaking like they were intimate friends was the most natural thing in the world.
"Medication does that to you." She said. "Not to be rude, but what exactly are you cooking? Do I want to know?"
He looked slightly miffed. "Well, it's pork of course, I assumed you'd prefer it to my…specialty."
"But…there wasn't any meet here…?" she said, gently.
Hannibal let out an exasperated sigh. "No, there wasn't, that is why I went to the market. Really, there wasn't anything here to make a proper meal." He said with a condescending air.
" YOU…WENT…WHERE?" she said through clenched teeth.
"The market, which is where people tend to go to buy provisions."
She took a deep breath; she had to stay calm.
"Didn't you think that could be a bit hazardous?"
He seemed to consider her a moment.
"You really are much too uptight, you need to get more fun out of life. Besides, I needed to get to financial reserves I had in a near by area. I am still in need of an ID. Sit down, breakfast will get cold soon," he scolded.
"Dr. Lecter, I think it would be a very good idea if you didn't venture into town between now and the time I escort you to the airport." She explained.
He cast her a hard gaze and slowly approached her.
"Alissa, I am aware you don't know me, so I've been generous with my patients, I've made allowances, but this must end here. Any delusions you have of being in control of this situation should end now. I am in control, I am a key player, and you are a pawn. You are convenient, but you are also expendable. I suggest that you treat me with wary respect, and politeness, and perhaps you'll live to tell about it. I can appreciate that you are only doing this for Clarise, but don't think just because you cause is noble that I will hesitate a moment to rid myself of you if you step out of place. Do you understand me?"
Alissa was too dumbstruck and frightened to reply yet.
"Good, now, eat your breakfast" he ordered in a kindly tone, setting a dish before her.
"Now you listen to me!" she roared. "I spent hours, weeks, preparing this! I got in shape in order to accomplish your escape, I made sure you had a place to sleep, and cloths, and everything you could need. I worked out arrangements, planned everything out, and I did it all because it's what Clarise would have wanted! I have so little meaning in my life left, and this is a huge piece of it. And I will not have it fucked up because you decide it's a dandy day to go fucking shopping!" Her voice calmed slightly.
"And, I have an advantage here: I'm not afraid to die." She said softly, looking up at him.
He crept towards her, when he was close enough; she found she was backed against a wall.
"You're so brave aren't you? You think I'm evil, don't bother to deny it. So you think I won't kill you, because good wins in the end, doesn't it? But are you really good? Are you as worthy as you think you are? I think you carry a lot of guilt for an innocent person." A pause, " And, you may not be afraid to die, but if I were to inflict death upon you, I would make sure the few hours before it would be long, and painful, until you begged for death with every ragged breath you took, and you have my word on that." He said, eyes glairing with anger.
Oh shit, she had made Hannibal Lecter angry, not a good thing.
"I'm sorry, I'm high strung lately, and stressed, and I wake up and find you've been sight seeing after you jail bust, and, I overreacted a bit." She said.
"Yes, you are clearly under more pressure then usual. And, if you don't eat your breakfast this instant, I shall be extremely upset with you" He had hardly finished his sentence as she began to bolt down the eggs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Sanity is the trademark of a weak mind." -- Mark HarroldHannibal sat looking into the roaring fire later that day. Alissa sat rigidly in a chair near him; too afraid to leave him alone, and petrified to be near him. He sighed.
"Alissa, I think, perhaps, you are feeling slightly afraid of me?"
She shook he head in the negative.
"Understand, I have a habit of speaking bluntly. I am honest, and merely presented you your options and made you aware of where you stand because I thought it was in your best interest. If that frightens you, I do not expect you to make it through the next two weeks with your sanity intact"
She smiled grimly. "Neither do I"
He smiled, the old twinkle returning. Alissa, do you play chess?" he asked, eyeing the chessboard on the mantle piece.
"Yes." She answered, almost laughing. She couldn't believe she was having this conversation with him.
"Would you honor me with a game?" He asked.
"Hey, why the hell not!" she stood to get the chessboard.
Three hours later, more then halfway into an engrossing chess game, Alissa began to laugh.
Hannibal quirked an eyebrow at her, and made a move to claim her bishop.
"I just can't believe I'm sitting here playing chess with you." She said, setting a trap for one of his knights.
"Why not?"
"Because of who you are!"
He sighed.
"I know you expect your idea of evil to where a nametag. Evil things should be a sickly green color, or have three heads, shouldn't they? But the world doesn't work like that. They have a face just like everyone else. Even the most evil things, Alissa, have beauty to them," He said, as he took one of her pawns out of the game.
Alissa seemed to consider this.
"I suppose if all evil things were purely evil, with no redeeming qualities, or excuses, no circumstances inflicted upon them, we wouldn't have trials And the world would be a lot easier to deal with; good on one side, bad on the other, but it isn't really anything like that, is it?"
Hannibal smiled.
"Alissa, you're getting warmer, you're in the right direction, but you have a far way to go yet. Checkmate"
"Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it".
The title to this chapter was inspired by the story "Pawn to Queen" by Riley. It is Snape fiction, and my personal favorite. Any Snape fans should go read it immediately. Below, you will see I have copy/pasted a poem. It is something I found on ff.net on accident, while looking for a Mary Sue test, and I found it very moving.
"Hey, Mary"
by Grendel226 a.k.a. Arren Dracone
Hail Mary full of grace,
The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou.
A complacent smile upon your face
As you keep us women in our place.
Hey, Mary, I've read the Bible before
How to rape women after a war…
And should someone harass your guests
Offer them daughters to molest.
And I've read man answers to Him above,
While women must answer to whom they "love".
You see my friend in the very last pew?
She's loyal, Mary and true to you.
Her husband threatens to take her life,
But she's a good submissive wife:
He beat her senseless just last week
But she smiled and turned the other cheek
Please understand if her prayers are silent,
Loose teeth are common when life is violent.
And then there's the girl in feverish prayer
Her heart so true, but her mind's not there.
She'll walk home in silent dread
And be thrown screaming on a bed.
I'd call it force without hesitation
She calls it her female obligation:
To be submissive, sweet and mild
While bloated with one more hated child.
Some just loose their fire for life,
Degraded, not treasured as a wife.
Called "worthless" and "ugly" every day
Gives cause for hearts to slip away.
Always faithful to the male power,
Yet dying slowly by the hour.
Such good women: they kiss your feet
As you smile sickly, feminine, sweet.
And there's me Mary, I've been there too
Heaven's Harlot but always true.
Broken, bruised, and torn apart,
I found someone to share my heart.
He wants an equal not a slave,
But I'll be a sinner if I'm brave.
Hey, Mary, I guess you finally won:
I've played your game, you've had your fun.
My spark is gone and so's my fight…
But I guess that's how you like us, right?
By divine design or discordant mind
Damn the blessed ties that bind.
We're shattered coals of female fire
Burning on the Godly pyre.
So now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Please give women strength to fight
And don't let another die tonight.
Well, if you've gotten this far, I think you should go review the poem. The author only has three reviews on it, and I personally think it deserves more. – Jacquline Christine