Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 7 of Familiar Taste of Poison. I want to thank those who have kept up with this story so far and have left reviews for this story. It does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying this story. I am hoping that this next part of the story that you guys will enjoy as well. This chapter will be set during the dinner and a little bit before the dinner as well during Episode 5. Without further ado Chapter 7. ENJOY!

Chapter 7

The next night Violeta was in Hannibal's kitchen helping him cook the meal that she would be joining with the Crawfords. She was dressed in a midnight blue, knee-length gown, with a wrap-around her neck making it strapless, and it was flowy showing some of her curves off. She nibbled her lower lip softly as she helped Hannibal put food onto the plates. She carefully handed him the sauce that he had made specifically for the dinner.

Hannibal used a large spoon and carefully put the sauce over the terrine of foie gras, before putting the last finishing touches to it by adding a garnish.

Violeta looked up at Hannibal. "Jack and Bella seem fairly nice." She said softly as she picked up two of the plates.

Hannibal picked up the two plates that Violeta didn't grab.

The two of them walked into the dining room being careful to not drop the plates they were carrying.

"A masterpiece foie gras Au torchon with a late harvest Vidal sauce and dry and fresh figs," Hannibal said as he placed the terrines in front of both Bella and Jack.

Violeta carefully put the plates down in front of Hannibal's place sitting and then her own after walking around Hannibal being careful to not bump into him.

"Mrs. Crawford, your husband introduced you as Bella. Are you an Isabelle or an Annabelle?"

Violeta looked over curiously at Bella wondering what name Mrs. Crawford would tell him.

"I'm a Phyllis. But Jack only calls me Phyllis when we disagree." Bella explained easily knowing that Hannibal didn't fully know her name.

"So named Bella for your beauty?"

"We were both stationed in Italy. I was in the Army. She was a NATO staff member. The Italian men called her Bella. But I wanted her to be my Bella." Jack explained before taking a bite of the meal that was before him. "Cold foie gras with warm figs."

Bella eyed the terrine of Foie Gras. "Would I be a horrible guest if I skipped this course?"

"Too rich?" Hannibal asked his brow raising.

"Too cruel."

"Phyllis," Jack said looking at his wife.

"First and worst sign of sociopathic behavior - cruelty to animals," Hannibal said, thinking spouting off his knowledge of the behavior of those that killers usually have.

"That doesn't apply in the kitchen."

"I have no taste for animal cruelty. The goose, in this case, the gander, is not force-fed. It eats only as much as it chooses and only in its natural environment." Hannibal's eyes slid over to Jack. "Would you like your wife's serving?"

"Please."

"At my table, just the cruel deserve cruelty, Mrs. Crawford. Which is why I employ an ethical butcher."

"An ethical butcher? Be kind to animals and then eat them?" Bella questioned her brow-raising slightly.

"I'm afraid I insist on it. No need for unnecessary suffering. Human emotions are gifts from our animal ancestors. Cruelty is the gift humanity has given itself." Hannibal said as he got up to his feet, grabbing the wine craft before walking to where Bella sat.

"The gift that keeps giving."

Hannibal leaned over Bella, pouring some more wine into her glass.

Violeta's brow raised as she looked at Hannibal wondering what he was doing.

"Your perfume is exquisite, similar to the aroma on the air just after lightning strikes. Is it Jar?"

"You've got some nose, Doctor," Bella said, turning her head slightly to look at Hannibal.

"I first noticed my keen sense of smell when I was a young man. I was aware one of my teachers had stomach cancer even before he did."

"Makes an effective parlor trick." Jack mused looking up at Hannibal.

"Our next course is roasted pork shank. And I assure you, Bella, it was an especially supercilious pig."

Violeta looked up at Hannibal. "Do you need my help?" She asked softly, locking her eyes with his.

Hannibal shook his head lightly. "No, that won't be necessary, Violeta." Hannibal gave her a soft smile.

Violeta gave him a small smile back knowing that he wanted to get her to know these two people that were in the room.

"I will be right back," Hannibal said before slipping out of the room.

Jack turned his attention to the young woman that sat in the room. "I remember you." He said his brows furrowing slightly.

"And I remember you. You came in during my session with Hannibal." Violeta said as her eyes drifted over to Jack.

"Yes," Jack affirmed looking at her. "I didn't think that Doctor Lecter would date a patient."

Violeta cleared her throat, shifting some before grabbing her wine glass. "I'm not a patient of his." She pointed out looking at Jack. "I only came in for talks about the problems that I face."

Bella blinked a few times. "Problems?"

"Oh yes," Violeta said softly, taking a sip of her wine before looking at Bella. "I'm Baltimore Theater's Prima Ballerina."

"You're the Violeta Cel Tradat?" Jack questioned rather surprised.

"Yes, I am." She admitted softly, her cheeks flushing slightly. She looked down shyly wondering how they didn't know that she was the Prima Ballerina. After all there were many photos of her in the papers and articles talking about her success even though she was slightly older than what a Prima Ballerina should have been.

"I have to admit that I didn't even think that Dr. Lecter was even dating anyone."

Hannibal came back into the room. "We were friends first," Hannibal said, carefully putting the plates down on the tables. "We bonded over our love of the arts and cuisine. We only just started to date a few weeks ago."

Violeta shyly looked up at Hannibal and seeing him wink at her caused her cheeks to flush in embarrassment.

Hannibal sat down in his seat. "Enjoy."

Violeta looked at the food. "This looks so amazing. So much more amazing than when we were making this."

Hannibal smiled at his girlfriend knowing what exactly she had meant. "And I have to thank you for making it with me."

Violeta smiled softly. "Thank you for allowing me to make it with you."

HANNIBAL

Later that evening the Crawfords had left Hannibal and Violeta alone in the home. The two of them had cleaned everything up from the dinner and made sure that everything was taken care of before heading up to his bedroom for the evening.

Hannibal looked over at Violeta making sure that she was alright from the dinner. He knew that she wasn't used to being peppered with questions about herself from others. He was thankful though that both Bella and Jack were polite to her. "You have done well today."

Violeta cleared her throat softly as she looked up at Hannibal. "I could have done better." She took a soft breath as she carefully removed her heels. "Are you sure that you're alright with me staying the night?"

"Yes, I am perfectly okay with it, Violeta. You have had wine to drink. I don't feel that it would be wise to send you out after having a few drinks."

Violeta nodded her head knowing exactly what he had meant. He didn't want her to drive home under the influence of alcohol. "Of course." She admitted softly as she carefully grabbed the night bag that she had. "Thank you again for inviting me."

"I thought that it would be nice for the four of us to get together." Hannibal mused with a soft smile.

"And you were right. It was rather nice. But Jack seems a bit…"

"A pushover so to speak?"

"Yes. isn't he the one that has been pushing Will at crime scenes?" Violeta asked softly, slightly concerned about the man that was being pushed during work. She couldn't help but wonder if it would lead to something far worse happening.

"Yes," Hannibal said with a nod of his head.

Violeta let out a soft breath. "And you're okay with that?"

Hannibal shook his head. "No, of course not. But it's what Jack is doing. He wants to catch as many killers as he can."

"But it won't help him find the two killers that have been eluding him and the FBI for quite some time… The Chesapeake Ripper and the Full Moon Widow." Violeta said, looking over at Hannibal.

"Yes, I believe that those are the two killers that are probably causing a lot of problems for the FBI."

Violeta let out a soft hum as Hannibal came up behind her wrapping his arms around her. "Do you think that they'll find the two of them?"

"They've eluded them for quite some time. I don't think that they'll ever catch them."

Violeta let out a soft chuckle as Hannibal kissed the side of her neck softly. "Makes me wonder."

Hannibal let out a hum against her throat causing her to shiver. "What?"

"Makes me wonder if the two of them end up meeting up."

"You think that they might meet one another?"

Violeta turned to look at him. "Wouldn't it be something that would be wonderful for the two killers to find the same interests?" She asked softly, looking up at him.

"The two of them killing together would be a headache for the FBI."

"But it would be perfect for them, wouldn't you think?"

"Perhaps. If they ever do meet."

Violeta smiled softly.

"We should get ready for the evening."

Violeta nodded her head knowing that it was very true that they should get ready for the evening and go to bed. "Alright."

"We shouldn't be talking about serial killers before bed."

Violeta let out a soft chuckle knowing that was very true. "I know."

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This is the end of Chapter 7. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I want to hear your thoughts about this chapter and let me know if you think that Hannibal will end up meeting the Full Moon Widow. Review and let me know your thoughts. Reviews help me keep going when it comes to writing. I hopefully will update you with a new chapter next week. Until next time.