Chapter 53

Clarice had seen the ad in the papers. She had to distract any agents, run ads in several other papers. And she guesses it had worked since, she hadn't heard from the FBI or any other law enforcement agency. It had been 4 days and nothing has happen.

The Chateau d'Yquem was still waiting for the honour guest, and there was no sign that he would be showing up sometime soon. But it didn't matter, somehow she knew that he would be coming, she could feel it somehow.

And after all, being a wanted criminal didn't help on the travel plans. Clarice settled back in the couch, and watched the fire, her coffee steamed from the table. It was a nice evening and Clarice wasn't tired. She took a sip from the cup. And bite down on a giggle as she remembered that she once always drank coffee from a mug. How things had changed.

It was a bitter pill to swallow knowing that she had always had taste, but never the funds to live them.

The fire played with the shadows. A few candlelights and the fire is the only thing illuminating the room. The darkness was ascending outside, but Clarice didn't seem to notice. She was looking at the flames, remembering how HIS touch had felt like in Memphis, how his kiss had burned, and still burned. She was doomed, she had known for a long time, but it didn't matter as long as she could be with him, she loved him.

Clarice stopped, she hadn't meant to say it, yet it just flowed off, it was the truth, she loved him, she had been in love with him for more then 10 years. Clarice smiled. She would tell him.

She laid down on the couch, she didn't feel like sleeping in her bed tonight. She soon drifted off to dreamland, and didn't hear someone picking her door lock open. A dark figure made his way to the living room where he found Clarice sound asleep undisturbed by his presence.

He watched as the flames played over her features, she looked magnificent, she had changed. Dr. Lecter gently touched her cheek and run his finger along her jaw line. He wanted to kiss her, but thought better off it.

Instead he set out to explore her new accommodations. He started with the kitchen, expecting to find it as he had in her duplex. He was pleasantly surprise to see that it wasn't the case. Even the fridge was filled with food, in case of guest, Dr. Lecter mused to him self. He continued to the bathroom, and again, it was filled with creams, shampoos. And nice fluffy towels.

Her work station, was orderly, the bookshelves that was from floor to ceiling was filled with books. He briefly looked at the papers on her desk. And then continued to her bedroom.

---- Clarice heard someone in her apartment. And at once she knew who it was. ~Well two can play that game~ Clarice tip toed out into the kitchen where she found the Chateau d'Yquem and two glasses, and made it back to the living room where she sat on the couch and the wine on the table along with the glasses and she waited. She knew he would be snooping around and then returns here. ---

Dr. Lecter was taken with her taste, her wardrobe was filled with dresses he could picture on his Clarice to be nothing less then breathtaking. And when his eyes caught the black dress he had dressed her in back at Chesapeake he run his hands over the silk and then over the white scar that marked where his thumb was sewed back on.

Dr. Lecter snapped out of it, and made his way back to the living room where he to his great surprise found Clarice sitting. Dr. Lecter dug back into the shadows, and wondered what had wakened her, surely not him.

"Good evening Dr. Lecter." Her voice was warm and inviting, Dr. Lecter moved towards the couch. Clarice had her back to him. "Clarice" Was all he managed to say as he came into view.

"Would you like a glass of wine?" Clarice gestured towards the bottle on the table. And then looked at Dr. Lecter. A smile crept over her features. "Yes thank you." Dr. Lecter sat in the chair next to the couch and Clarice handed him the glass, and poured one for her self.

The silence was starting to get on Clarice's nerves. She wanted him to say something. "You look beautiful Clarice."

She loved the way he pronounced her name; no other did it like that. His metallic voice was like velvet in her ears it was almost like being in a trance. It didn't scare her that she didn't feel afraid, it scared her even more what she was willing to do, to secure his freedom as well as her own.

"Thank you, you look well." At that he smiled to her. "So tell me Clarice, why did you post that ad, not to mention the wine." Clarice smiled sheepishly. "I wanted to talk Doctor, and as for the wine, well that would be telling." "Talk about what Clarice, I seem to remember your choice the last time."

Clarice not missing the beat, fired back. "And I seem to remember being drugged Doctor." "Touché my dear." She had missed their little words games. They felt lively. "So what is it you wanted to talk about? Clarice brook free from his eyes, she couldn't say it while those intensive maroon eyes bored their way into her soul.

"You never got the answer about the screaming lambs as I recall." It wasn't what she had wanted to say, and they both knew it. Yet he was intrigued to find out why she would bring that subject into the game. Clarice took his silence as for to go on.

"They have stopped, some time ago now." She looked back into his eyes. She was willing to drown in them if she had too. "And why have they stopped do you think hmmm?" This was a question Clarice knew the answer to.

"It wasn't about saving all the lambs, it was about saving the right one. And that was me, it just took me a while to see who the big bad wolf was." At that Clarice let out a heartfelt laugh at the image the line provoked in her mind. She took another sip of wine.

"Now Clarice what did you want to talk with me about?" Dr. Lecter moved closer and sat next to her on the couch. "With one revelation comes another." Clarice let it stay at that.

Clarice looked away from Dr. Lecter and into the flames. She didn't flinch when she felt his hand under her chin, gently forcing her to look at him. "Clarice." She could hear his patience had run out, and it was time for the final game, she had played her hand the best she could. And now it was time to clear the table.

A/N well this seemed as a good place to stop. There will only be a couple of chapters more. So tell me what you think.... was this going to fast am I rushing the ending? Please tell. Ta ta guber