Athena sat at her desk , peering over the landscape thoughtfully. She was
becoming accustomed to Doctor Lecter's ways of living and habits. He was
rather quiet , and every morning liked to go out for a walk after breakfast
in the dining room. Athena would sit and have breakfast with him in the
mornings if she woke in time , and idle conversation was shared. Little by
little , her fear melted away , but when he would surprise her she would
normally tense up wide eyed once more , before coming to her senses.
Doctor Lecter this morning had allowed Athena to sample a bit of wine and to go along his normal walk with him. It was winding path they took through the woods , and it was generally silent except for his occasional observations of the wildlife that so fluently covered the grounds. When they arrived home , Doctor Lecter had explained she would be in her room for the rest of the day and night ,a s he was going to retrieve the "dinner guests".
So now she sat in front of the window , pen poised over her notebook which lay on her desk , watching the driveway that ran up to the house from the woods. Athena sighed , she was fearful about the murder. Someone would be killed tonight in this house…below her feet…and she would most likely be eating them. Not to mention , an infamous FBI agent would be attending the little "party". Athena looked away from the driveway down to walkway , lined with forget me nots. Doctor Lecter hadn't tried to make her his little servant , but he had requested she help plant the row of flowers a day ago. He said it would "remind Dear Clarice of their night on the Chesapeake."
The flash of head lights made athena jerk her head around and the old car came up the driveway , halting in front of the house. She watched carefully as Doctor Lecter got out and elegantly walked around the car. He first pulled a frightened looking man out , letting the man stand in front of him so he could hold the knife to his throat properly. Athena crakced her window open just slightly ,trying not to be seen , and heard the sounds below…
"Come along now , Clarice , and don't try anything , you understand. Agent Pearsall here just might loose his life in the process , hmm?" Hannibal taunted to the next figure.
A woman stepped out of the car , looking shaken , and Athena saw it was Clarice Starling , dressed in the black gown from their last encounter. Athena frowned at Doctor Lecter…he was going to kill pearsall anyway , why tell starling that? Starling nodded and walked forward to the front door. Doctor Lecter smiled
"Excellent"
And directed Pearsall towards the door as well. They dissapeared from her line of vision and Athena sighed deeply , hearing the front door close. Shuffling of feet along with muffled voices was heard downstairs and Athena coruched down on the floor , listening to the click of hand cuffs in the dining room below her. Someone had been chained down…she had a strong suspicion it was Clarice Starling.
"Come now , Agent Pearsall , we have work to do in the kitchens…" Was the last muffled voice she heard before Clarice Starling gasping loudly as if she had never thought of it.
Clarice had been pulled off the street from her jogging , forced to wear this horrid little dress again , and was now sitting in the Cannibal's dining roomw aiting for the first course which no doubtedly included her old boss. Oh , WONDERFUL , she thought darkly. As pearsall was led into the kitchen , Clarice stare after with tearful eyes. She couldn't stand this…it was too much. The kitchen door shut and immediately Starling closed her eyes and halted her breathing as she heard a slamming noise and the slice of a knife. Pearsall screamed , and a tear was shared between both the young woman downstairs , and Athena waiting upstairs in her bedroom.
A few minutes later , Doctor Lecter knocked on Athena's door and she stood , walking shakily to the door.
"Athena ," he said from the outside , "I have begun our meal. Will you get dressed and come down and help me with the soup , hmm? I may need a taste tester."
"Yes…Doctor Lecter." She replied shakily.
Hannibal walked back down the hallway and stairs to the dining room and began to talk with Clarice , As Athena wandered over to her closet. She decided on a dark blue dress Doctor Lecter had purchased for her and pulled on a pair of sandals. Athena sighed , looking at her reflection in the mirror and brushed her thick hair out , pushing it behind her ears. Did he unlock the door? She wondered. Athena walked over and turned the handle , it opened. She stepped out into the dim hallway and closed the door , walking down it carefully. Athena made her way down the stairs and at the bottom , walking into the Dining Room.
Clarice Starling , a tear still unwiped from the side of her cheek , looked up at her with a confused look.
Athena nodded once to her in greeting and the kitchen door swung open. Doctor Lecter walked out and smiled at them.
"Ah , Clarice. You haven't met Athena , have you? Clarice , this is Athena. She is staying with me. Athena , this is Agent Starling , I told you she would be attending."
Athena didn't nod or shake her head , she showed no expression and neither did Clarice , who obviously was confused.
"Now , Athena , you will assist me in supper , won't you?" The doctor asked pleasently , then caught Clarice's look. "Agent Starling , I assure you Athena here has done nothing illegal."
Clarice just watched Athena who looked back and Doctor Lecter gestured to the kitchen door. Athena followed him in and Clarice frowned at the door thoughtfully.
"Please par no attention to that , Athena , your eyes need not lay on such a foul creature." Hannibal muttered. His hand at the side of her head moved her glance from Pearsall who lay on the counter , dead indeed . before she could see. Hannibal moved his hand down to her shoulder in a fatherly embrace and lead her over to the counter where various karrots and some potatoes lay by the cutting board and a knife.
"Please chop these up for me , Athena , I must tend to our main course."
She nodded , taking the knife into her fingers cautiously and Doctor Lecter smiled , turning away to Pearsall. Athena's thoughts ran wild. He had given her a knife…a very sharp knife…and not even began to worry. She frowned and placed a karrot on the cutting board , beginning to chop it up carefully. Of course she wasn't going to try and stab him…but it was the whole principle of it that bothered her.
A few minutes later , Athena mumbled an "ow" under her breath and quickly grasped her finger , which had been cut at the end as the kife slipped. Doctor Lecter turned around from the soup he was tending to and approached her from behind.
"Ah , Athena , what have you done?" He asked
She shook her head and turned around.
"I just cut my finger Doctor , It's nothing , really."
He took her wrist and lead her over to the sink , wetting a tea towel and wiping the blood that had fallen on her hand.
"Doctor Lecter , this isn't necessary , please." Athena insisted.
He shook his head and dabbed at the finger a bit. She frowned and knew what was going to happen before it even did. Doctor Lecter , forgetting anything , raised her finger to his lips and sucked on the blood calmly. Athena gasped and tried to pull her hand away , his teeth soon grazing over the cut.
"Doctor Lecter…!" she gasped , backing away heavily into the counter. Athena managed to pull her finger away as he bit into the cut and Doctor Lecter returned to his senses. He mentally shook himself and looked at her. Athena was looking very frightened , a tear of the scare on her cheek. Doctor Lecter sighed deeply and released his tight grip on her wrist , flicking the tear away with his thumb.
"I'm sorry Athena." He said , looking a bit tousseled that he had done that. "You may go back to the table…our food will be done shortly."
She nodded and scurryed off back out the door.
Dinner wore on silently , and Doctor Lecter eventually spoke.
"Athena , you may return to your room. Now that we are done eating , Clarice and I have some buisness to attend to. Are you alright with this?"
She nodded and stood from the table.
"Yes , Doctor Lecter. Good evening to you both." Athena said quietly and ducked out of the dining room.
"Now , Clarice…" Hannibal began.
"Doctor Lecter , who is that girl?" She interrupted him.
"Clarice , that is not the matter of buisness right now , is it? Please listen , it is rude to interrupt."
She nodded
"Clarice , I know back on the lake you said to me 'not in a thousand years' and Agent Starling I would wait a Thousand Years. But I would like it to be shorter. Clarice , Tell me , have you had a change of heart yet? Or are you still slaving over that bureu of yours? Have you realized there is nothing but pain there for you? Clarice , surely you must of realized that…"
But he was interrupted by her level speaking.
"Doctor Lecter , are you asking me to stay with you? To stay with you in this wretched life?"
Hannibal nodded
"Yes , Clarice. That is exactly what I am asking."
She sighed and looked away to the kitchen door before looking back to him.
"Hannibal…"
A.N.: Ah…another cliffie! Read and review , mon amis!
Doctor Lecter this morning had allowed Athena to sample a bit of wine and to go along his normal walk with him. It was winding path they took through the woods , and it was generally silent except for his occasional observations of the wildlife that so fluently covered the grounds. When they arrived home , Doctor Lecter had explained she would be in her room for the rest of the day and night ,a s he was going to retrieve the "dinner guests".
So now she sat in front of the window , pen poised over her notebook which lay on her desk , watching the driveway that ran up to the house from the woods. Athena sighed , she was fearful about the murder. Someone would be killed tonight in this house…below her feet…and she would most likely be eating them. Not to mention , an infamous FBI agent would be attending the little "party". Athena looked away from the driveway down to walkway , lined with forget me nots. Doctor Lecter hadn't tried to make her his little servant , but he had requested she help plant the row of flowers a day ago. He said it would "remind Dear Clarice of their night on the Chesapeake."
The flash of head lights made athena jerk her head around and the old car came up the driveway , halting in front of the house. She watched carefully as Doctor Lecter got out and elegantly walked around the car. He first pulled a frightened looking man out , letting the man stand in front of him so he could hold the knife to his throat properly. Athena crakced her window open just slightly ,trying not to be seen , and heard the sounds below…
"Come along now , Clarice , and don't try anything , you understand. Agent Pearsall here just might loose his life in the process , hmm?" Hannibal taunted to the next figure.
A woman stepped out of the car , looking shaken , and Athena saw it was Clarice Starling , dressed in the black gown from their last encounter. Athena frowned at Doctor Lecter…he was going to kill pearsall anyway , why tell starling that? Starling nodded and walked forward to the front door. Doctor Lecter smiled
"Excellent"
And directed Pearsall towards the door as well. They dissapeared from her line of vision and Athena sighed deeply , hearing the front door close. Shuffling of feet along with muffled voices was heard downstairs and Athena coruched down on the floor , listening to the click of hand cuffs in the dining room below her. Someone had been chained down…she had a strong suspicion it was Clarice Starling.
"Come now , Agent Pearsall , we have work to do in the kitchens…" Was the last muffled voice she heard before Clarice Starling gasping loudly as if she had never thought of it.
Clarice had been pulled off the street from her jogging , forced to wear this horrid little dress again , and was now sitting in the Cannibal's dining roomw aiting for the first course which no doubtedly included her old boss. Oh , WONDERFUL , she thought darkly. As pearsall was led into the kitchen , Clarice stare after with tearful eyes. She couldn't stand this…it was too much. The kitchen door shut and immediately Starling closed her eyes and halted her breathing as she heard a slamming noise and the slice of a knife. Pearsall screamed , and a tear was shared between both the young woman downstairs , and Athena waiting upstairs in her bedroom.
A few minutes later , Doctor Lecter knocked on Athena's door and she stood , walking shakily to the door.
"Athena ," he said from the outside , "I have begun our meal. Will you get dressed and come down and help me with the soup , hmm? I may need a taste tester."
"Yes…Doctor Lecter." She replied shakily.
Hannibal walked back down the hallway and stairs to the dining room and began to talk with Clarice , As Athena wandered over to her closet. She decided on a dark blue dress Doctor Lecter had purchased for her and pulled on a pair of sandals. Athena sighed , looking at her reflection in the mirror and brushed her thick hair out , pushing it behind her ears. Did he unlock the door? She wondered. Athena walked over and turned the handle , it opened. She stepped out into the dim hallway and closed the door , walking down it carefully. Athena made her way down the stairs and at the bottom , walking into the Dining Room.
Clarice Starling , a tear still unwiped from the side of her cheek , looked up at her with a confused look.
Athena nodded once to her in greeting and the kitchen door swung open. Doctor Lecter walked out and smiled at them.
"Ah , Clarice. You haven't met Athena , have you? Clarice , this is Athena. She is staying with me. Athena , this is Agent Starling , I told you she would be attending."
Athena didn't nod or shake her head , she showed no expression and neither did Clarice , who obviously was confused.
"Now , Athena , you will assist me in supper , won't you?" The doctor asked pleasently , then caught Clarice's look. "Agent Starling , I assure you Athena here has done nothing illegal."
Clarice just watched Athena who looked back and Doctor Lecter gestured to the kitchen door. Athena followed him in and Clarice frowned at the door thoughtfully.
"Please par no attention to that , Athena , your eyes need not lay on such a foul creature." Hannibal muttered. His hand at the side of her head moved her glance from Pearsall who lay on the counter , dead indeed . before she could see. Hannibal moved his hand down to her shoulder in a fatherly embrace and lead her over to the counter where various karrots and some potatoes lay by the cutting board and a knife.
"Please chop these up for me , Athena , I must tend to our main course."
She nodded , taking the knife into her fingers cautiously and Doctor Lecter smiled , turning away to Pearsall. Athena's thoughts ran wild. He had given her a knife…a very sharp knife…and not even began to worry. She frowned and placed a karrot on the cutting board , beginning to chop it up carefully. Of course she wasn't going to try and stab him…but it was the whole principle of it that bothered her.
A few minutes later , Athena mumbled an "ow" under her breath and quickly grasped her finger , which had been cut at the end as the kife slipped. Doctor Lecter turned around from the soup he was tending to and approached her from behind.
"Ah , Athena , what have you done?" He asked
She shook her head and turned around.
"I just cut my finger Doctor , It's nothing , really."
He took her wrist and lead her over to the sink , wetting a tea towel and wiping the blood that had fallen on her hand.
"Doctor Lecter , this isn't necessary , please." Athena insisted.
He shook his head and dabbed at the finger a bit. She frowned and knew what was going to happen before it even did. Doctor Lecter , forgetting anything , raised her finger to his lips and sucked on the blood calmly. Athena gasped and tried to pull her hand away , his teeth soon grazing over the cut.
"Doctor Lecter…!" she gasped , backing away heavily into the counter. Athena managed to pull her finger away as he bit into the cut and Doctor Lecter returned to his senses. He mentally shook himself and looked at her. Athena was looking very frightened , a tear of the scare on her cheek. Doctor Lecter sighed deeply and released his tight grip on her wrist , flicking the tear away with his thumb.
"I'm sorry Athena." He said , looking a bit tousseled that he had done that. "You may go back to the table…our food will be done shortly."
She nodded and scurryed off back out the door.
Dinner wore on silently , and Doctor Lecter eventually spoke.
"Athena , you may return to your room. Now that we are done eating , Clarice and I have some buisness to attend to. Are you alright with this?"
She nodded and stood from the table.
"Yes , Doctor Lecter. Good evening to you both." Athena said quietly and ducked out of the dining room.
"Now , Clarice…" Hannibal began.
"Doctor Lecter , who is that girl?" She interrupted him.
"Clarice , that is not the matter of buisness right now , is it? Please listen , it is rude to interrupt."
She nodded
"Clarice , I know back on the lake you said to me 'not in a thousand years' and Agent Starling I would wait a Thousand Years. But I would like it to be shorter. Clarice , Tell me , have you had a change of heart yet? Or are you still slaving over that bureu of yours? Have you realized there is nothing but pain there for you? Clarice , surely you must of realized that…"
But he was interrupted by her level speaking.
"Doctor Lecter , are you asking me to stay with you? To stay with you in this wretched life?"
Hannibal nodded
"Yes , Clarice. That is exactly what I am asking."
She sighed and looked away to the kitchen door before looking back to him.
"Hannibal…"
A.N.: Ah…another cliffie! Read and review , mon amis!