See previous chapters for disclaimers.
A/N: I hope you enjoy this; your reviews would be greatly appreciated.
Emily walked past her father, her eyes trained on the cobbles at her feet, her head light and her eye stinging from the drop on blood that had hade it's way unknowingly down the side of her face. She couldn't seem to clear her mind, and the effort itself was making her brain sorer still. She could barley make out the voices behind her now as she reached the front steps of the house, they seemed to be getting further and further away, everything seemed to be getting a little darker. The last thing she remembered was the picture of the mahogany door as she fell to the front mat.
Dr Lecter heard her fall but kept his eyes trained on the large man in front of him. He was easily twice his size, weight wise. Taller than himself and big around the arms. They stood for a moment staring at each other, the shadows of the wall behind the Italian providing the cover needed. Not a word passed either of their lips, but Dr Lecter saw the twitch in the mans left arm as he suddenly lunged at him. He was prepared. Dr Lecter moved swiftly to meet him in the middle, and with a grunt caught his incoming arm in a tight lock, using his weight to force them back against the wall. A small wooden door was what the Italians back met with, and it groaned its protest over the heavy breathing. Pressing his weight into his, he violently twisted the arm that was still in his tight grip and forced it hard against the dark wood. His hand that held the harpy quickly came to life, and with deadly strength, he forced it through the Italians hand, pinning it to the age-old wood. Leaning his weight heavily on the blade, he felt it sink into the grain, the Italian desperately throwing his free hand into action. Once the blade was secure Dr Lecter deftly captured his other hand, snapping the bones of two of his fingers in quick succession, rendering the hand useless. His scream of agony was silenced with a hand over his mouth, as Dr Lecter leaned dangerously close to his face. His eyes were dark as he gazed unblinkingly into the fear filled ones of the whimpering man. With his hand holding his screams at bay, Dr lecter stopped for a second to consider his options. The anger that rippled through his veins was almost uncontrollable, and it took all his strength to restrain himself from ripping the mans throat out there and then. In that second a thousand thoughts and images consumed him. If he killed this man he would have to leave Florence, the chance that it could be traced back to him, no matter how well he disposed of the body was still too big of a chance to take. A small whimper brought him back into focus, but he realised it wasn't from the man in front of him. Emily.
Briefly looking over his shoulder, he could see her sitting on the step, her head leaning heavily against the supporting wall. She was watching him.
Turning back to the Italian he knew she had made the decision for him. Two months ago he would have not thought twice at ending the man's life. He would have felt justice done by eliminating him. But he couldn't do it now. The thought shook him to the core, his anger replaced with the realisation the he would never be the same again. Leaning dangerously close once more, he spoke quietly and precisely, his words dripping with warning as they were uttered.
" I'm going to remove my hand now. Be a good man and don't scream."
He slowly released his hand, the Italian taking deep lungful of air, only the smallest whimper escaping as he did so.
" You are extremely lucky my friend, you have caught me in good graces. " he paused his voice lowering to a growl.
" If I ever see you again I will not be so forgiving. I would feel nothing but an intense sense of pleasure in ripping your heart out. If you value your excuse for a life, you will run from here and never speak a word of it. Do you understand me?"
Dr Lecter reached for his harpy as the man simply stared open mouthed at him. Grabbing it and twisting slightly, the man stuttered his submission through clenched teeth.
" I'm glad we understand each other. Goodnight."
Quickly retracting the blade with a small tug, the Italian fell to his knees, cradling his mutilated hand against his chest, his other hand held awkwardly at his side. Looking down at him for a moment longer, Dr Lecter waited until the man looked up before licking the blood from the blade, holding it in stillness for a moment to convey his promise made. He watched as the man nodded his head, and slowly turned his back on him, his ears trained on his retreating footsteps, his eyes locked on the soft smile of thanks from the girl that had changed him forever.
Well?
A/N: I hope you enjoy this; your reviews would be greatly appreciated.
Emily walked past her father, her eyes trained on the cobbles at her feet, her head light and her eye stinging from the drop on blood that had hade it's way unknowingly down the side of her face. She couldn't seem to clear her mind, and the effort itself was making her brain sorer still. She could barley make out the voices behind her now as she reached the front steps of the house, they seemed to be getting further and further away, everything seemed to be getting a little darker. The last thing she remembered was the picture of the mahogany door as she fell to the front mat.
Dr Lecter heard her fall but kept his eyes trained on the large man in front of him. He was easily twice his size, weight wise. Taller than himself and big around the arms. They stood for a moment staring at each other, the shadows of the wall behind the Italian providing the cover needed. Not a word passed either of their lips, but Dr Lecter saw the twitch in the mans left arm as he suddenly lunged at him. He was prepared. Dr Lecter moved swiftly to meet him in the middle, and with a grunt caught his incoming arm in a tight lock, using his weight to force them back against the wall. A small wooden door was what the Italians back met with, and it groaned its protest over the heavy breathing. Pressing his weight into his, he violently twisted the arm that was still in his tight grip and forced it hard against the dark wood. His hand that held the harpy quickly came to life, and with deadly strength, he forced it through the Italians hand, pinning it to the age-old wood. Leaning his weight heavily on the blade, he felt it sink into the grain, the Italian desperately throwing his free hand into action. Once the blade was secure Dr Lecter deftly captured his other hand, snapping the bones of two of his fingers in quick succession, rendering the hand useless. His scream of agony was silenced with a hand over his mouth, as Dr Lecter leaned dangerously close to his face. His eyes were dark as he gazed unblinkingly into the fear filled ones of the whimpering man. With his hand holding his screams at bay, Dr lecter stopped for a second to consider his options. The anger that rippled through his veins was almost uncontrollable, and it took all his strength to restrain himself from ripping the mans throat out there and then. In that second a thousand thoughts and images consumed him. If he killed this man he would have to leave Florence, the chance that it could be traced back to him, no matter how well he disposed of the body was still too big of a chance to take. A small whimper brought him back into focus, but he realised it wasn't from the man in front of him. Emily.
Briefly looking over his shoulder, he could see her sitting on the step, her head leaning heavily against the supporting wall. She was watching him.
Turning back to the Italian he knew she had made the decision for him. Two months ago he would have not thought twice at ending the man's life. He would have felt justice done by eliminating him. But he couldn't do it now. The thought shook him to the core, his anger replaced with the realisation the he would never be the same again. Leaning dangerously close once more, he spoke quietly and precisely, his words dripping with warning as they were uttered.
" I'm going to remove my hand now. Be a good man and don't scream."
He slowly released his hand, the Italian taking deep lungful of air, only the smallest whimper escaping as he did so.
" You are extremely lucky my friend, you have caught me in good graces. " he paused his voice lowering to a growl.
" If I ever see you again I will not be so forgiving. I would feel nothing but an intense sense of pleasure in ripping your heart out. If you value your excuse for a life, you will run from here and never speak a word of it. Do you understand me?"
Dr Lecter reached for his harpy as the man simply stared open mouthed at him. Grabbing it and twisting slightly, the man stuttered his submission through clenched teeth.
" I'm glad we understand each other. Goodnight."
Quickly retracting the blade with a small tug, the Italian fell to his knees, cradling his mutilated hand against his chest, his other hand held awkwardly at his side. Looking down at him for a moment longer, Dr Lecter waited until the man looked up before licking the blood from the blade, holding it in stillness for a moment to convey his promise made. He watched as the man nodded his head, and slowly turned his back on him, his ears trained on his retreating footsteps, his eyes locked on the soft smile of thanks from the girl that had changed him forever.
Well?