WELCOME BACK MY FAITHFUL FAN FIC FRIENDS! Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review at the end! I'd love to know what you think!
LOSING CONTROL
It didn't bode well for Hannibal that during transport they did not cover his eyes.
You have no intention of ever letting me go, at least not while you remain in the area.
Hannibal had been enjoying the crisp day. He tilted his head upward and admired the blanket of clouds pregnant with snow. The stillness beckoned the approach of winter and Hannibal was certain to breathe deeply not knowing how long it would be before he could free himself and enjoy fresh air again.
You cannot afford to let me outside of the home. I am far too easy to identify. No…I will be kept indoors for this.
He would make every effort to be home before Clarice's birthday in four days. She would be sick with worry. He would have to be careful but expeditious in his planning. He would save her as much anguish as possible.
Do not worry Clarice our child will not be fatherless. I do not know the man, but I do know Emilia. It may take some time…rest assured I will have my way. Forgive me for what I may have to do to come back to you.
Hannibal was good to his word and followed Nico into the rented home. He didn't make a sound and offered no resistance. When he entered the foyer Nico directed him down the hall.
"Please proceed this way, Doctor Lecter." Hannibal passed the taller man and entered the room as he was directed. When he saw the autopsy table he stalled briefly, his hands still cuffed in front of him. He could feel Nico move behind him closing the distance between them, the smell of the chloroform reached his nostrils long before the cloth reached his face. Instead of raising his hands defensively he took several deep breaths and as he felt the whoosh of air displacement, just before the cloth covered his face, he held the last inhalation.
Alright young Einstein, let us see what you have planned.
Hannibal thrashed for a few moments as if in the throes of panic then, understanding exactly how a body would react to this drug allowed his own body to collapse.
Nico reached forward to prevent Hannibal from falling to the ground. He grabbed around Hannibal's shoulder and firmly gripped the handcuffs. The much larger man then lifted Hannibal over his shoulder in a modified fireman's carry and placed him carefully on the metal table. He raised Hannibal's joined hands over his head while still cuffed. Nico then secured the cuffs to an attachment point welded to the top of the table just above Hannibal's head.
Moving quickly to the bottom of the table, Nico gripped Hannibal's legs at the ankles and pulled the body until both arms were stretched to the limit. The chains of the cuffs strained painfully gouging deeply into his skin. The metal of the table was already very cold radiating through his clothing which Hannibal believed he was certain to be divested of soon. Nico moved to the hallway and waved Emilia into the room.
Hannibal waited.
"Emilia he is sleeping though not for much longer. You may come in for a moment and see your wolf at rest."
Emilia peeked around the corner of the door frame, timid to enter. "Are you certain he is sleeping?"
Nico was irritated at the insinuation. "Of course he is asleep but he will not be for much longer."
Emilia ran a hand from Hannibal's throat down the center of his chest. She began to proceed toward his groin when Nico stayed her hand.
"I must ask you to stop, Emilia. I will not allow you to molest the man while he sleeps. You may do with him what you will when he is conscious but if you wish to degrade him I ask you to wait until I bring him to you. He is in my care now and though I have no love for this man I will preserve his dignity as best I can. You must respect my time with him as I will respect your time with him. I will tolerate no intrusion as I will not intrude on you."
"What time will you bring him to me?" Emilia asked making no effort to hide her enthusiasm.
"It will be several hours. You will have him nightly when he has reached his limits but you will have to be available during the day. He will need to use the facilities and I have no desire to care for him in that manner. You will be responsible for his sanitary needs and his feedings. I will transport him to assure he is restrained but you will have to assist him. I will not remove his restraints for any reason."
"I'll be here the entire time. You only need call me. Whatever his needs are, I'll take care."
Hannibal listened carefully. He had already learned quite a bit of information in this exchange. He learned that there were weaknesses in the planning. He would be fed and that would help to keep his strength up. That was a mistake. He would be moved back and forth to a bathroom…another mistake. Any time there is movement, there is opportunity. Hannibal was most pleased to hear that he would spend each night in the company of Emilia alone. He understood her. If left alone with her long enough he could control her.
Knowing the drug should be wearing off, Hannibal began to stir.
"He is waking. Leave me to him. You will have him soon enough."
Emilia dragged a finger up the length of Hannibal's zipper. "Nothing below the belt…I want him capable."
"There is no need to worry. I am not interested in that part of his anatomy. I will extract flesh, possibly some bone. You can have the rest."
Emilia stopped next to Hannibal and kissed his forehead. "I'll care for you soon my magnificent beast. You will spend the night in my arms."
Hannibal opened his eyes but did not respond. He would not speak in front of Nico. He would be silent.
Nico waved Emilia away. He was growing irritated and wanted to put his plans into action. "Leave us now…I have my work to attend to and you are in the way."
Emilia closed the door to see Nico cutting the clothing from Hannibal's torso.
Hannibal's eyes closed. He walked himself through his memory palace. He entered the room where the paintings his mother favored were stored. This memory one of his earliest and most precious, his mother and he standing side by side in the great hall of the ancestral castle admiring the work of an Italian Renaissance master, the time spent together in loving silence.
His mind now occupied pleasantly and his pain compartmentalized, Hannibal paid little attention as the vicious sadist tore into Hannibal's body with his own Harpy and peeled thin strips of flesh from the tender area along his ribs.
Hannibal's blood flowed.
ANGUISH
Ardelia sat with Clarice. She had been investigating the stalker but the plates and vehicle were a dead end. The car had been reported stolen from a commuter parking lot. Now there was a secondary car, Clarice reported the plate of the car Emilia was driving, also stolen, this from an airport long term parking lot. No help with the cars. Dee was worried about her friend. She questioned Clarice very gently, mindful of her friend's emotional state.
"Clarice, is there anything you can remember…anything at all? What do you know about her?"
Clarice sat on the sofa, her body language reflecting her anguish. She sat, holding a throw pillow on her lap, huddled over it. She was no longer crying, though her eyes were red and practically swollen closed. Her voice was raspy as her earlier cries had etched their mark on her vocal cords. "I don't know anything about her. Your boyfriend knows just as much about her as I do."
Ardelia looked up from the notes she was making. "What? What's that supposed to mean? Why would Logan know anything about her?"
"Logan told me about a website where Hannibal's ex-lovers posted details about their sexual relationships." Clarice set the pillow on her lap and lowered her body to rest on it.
"And this woman is listed on the website?"
Clarice sighed, remembering the night in Buenos Aires. "Yeah…she's all over it. I read it…it's horrible. Definitely not H's best moment. Mine either for that matter."
Ardelia put a consoling hand on Clarice's shoulder. "Sorry, Clarice…I'm sure that was upsetting and I'd like to give you both some privacy in that respect. If I can help it I want to avoid reading any details about Hannibal's past sexual experiences so is there any information on that site that might give me some kind of information…any leads at all?"
"No…just a lot of freaking sex. Though I don't know if she was required to prove to anyone that see had a relationship with him or give any kind of proof of who she was. I guess they only had to prove they had contact with him…wait…Hannibal told me that she had a key and secured this house for him. She returned the key to his lawyer at the time. Maybe the lawyer would have some kind of contact information."
Ardelia scribbled more notes. "I'll check the attorney of record and give him a call. Maybe we'll get lucky."
"You can check immigration, customs…She had to have flown in from overseas. We saw her in Buenos Aires. I doubt she has false identification. She may have nefarious associates but I don't think she has the wherewithal to pull off the passports, identification in such a short an amount of time."
"Emilia is her first name? Do you know her last name?"
"Dolente…Emilia Dolente."
"Lloyd…Get in here!"
Lloyd entered the room very quietly. He was obviously concerned for Clarice and didn't want to cause any distress. "What can I do for you Ardelia?'
"We need to run a check on the name Emilia Dolente…customs, immigration, flights, hotel bookings…anything and everything. And tell Logan to hit his lap top and cross check that name on all of his Lecter sites…if there is any information on that woman that we can use…I want it."
"You got it." Lloyd could see Clarice was overwhelmed. He took a knee beside her. "Clarice? I know this is difficult but I want you to know that we're going to work day and night until we find him. We'll bring him back to you."
"Thanks Lloyd. That really means a lot to me."
"No worries, Clarice…anything you need until then…we're all here for you."
Clarice felt better. She was surrounded by friends. Her husband was not.
LIMITS
Hannibal did not know exactly how long he had been in Nico's company. He could feel the blood that had pooled at the small of his back. He was cold. The metal table held the chill and that building pool of serum, sticky and wet along with the searing pain that released it added to his discomfort.
Nico called for Emilia, his voice unemotional but his volume heightened. "You may come in here Emilia. I have finished. There is one more touch I wish to add. Your wolf will howl."
Emilia appeared in the doorway and seeing her, Nico grabbed Hannibal's shoulder and pulled hard flipping him onto his undamaged side. He reached into a bag and pulled out a container of salt. He opened it and poured the contents over the open wounds. He then took his fist and began to grind the course material into Hannibal's wounds.
Hannibal's body tensed, every muscle flinching from the pain though he made no sound.
Nico stood quietly, shocked that there had been no reaction. "The wolf is old but he is strong. No matter. In the long run…I will win." He reached into the same bag and pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol. He opened the bottle and began soaking the wound with the liquid.
Again, Hannibal's body tensed as he bit at his lip to fight back the pain, his molars grinding at the insides of his cheeks. Still he made no sound.
"I warned you my Hannibal was strong. It will be difficult." Emilia spoke with pride.
"It is no matter. Today was the first of many days. He may hold his tongue now…each day builds on the day before. Today he felt the blade…tomorrow the blade will feel the heat. The burn will loosen his tongue."
Nico moved across the room and retrieved a large pole with a retractable noose on the end. He slipped the noose around Hannibal's neck and tightened it. Hannibal could barely draw breath through the restriction. "Doctor Lecter I would like to offer you the dignity of the bathroom. I will ask Emilia to unchain the cuffs from the table. Your hands will still be restrained but you will be free from the table. If you make any move other than the directions I give you, I will choke you out with the noose. Is that understood? Do you agree to follow the instructions?"
Hannibal nodded. Emilia released the handcuffs. Hannibal waited for direction.
"You may sit up, Doctor."
Hannibal sat up slowly and lowered his arms with great difficulty, his muscles sore from the restrictions.
"You may swing your legs off the table and place them on the floor. Test your muscles and be certain you can stand."
Hannibal did as directed. He was able to stand, though he was light headed. Nico pushed at the pole forcing Hannibal forward. "Walk forward into the next room. There is a bathroom you may use. Emilia will assist you. I will control the pole from outside the bathroom door. When you have finished you will be moved to the bed."
Hannibal walked tentatively. He could feel the blood seeping out of the wounds running like hash marks along each of his ribs. The salt and the alcohol still trapped within the gashes, the pain was extreme.
Hannibal was allowed the use of the bathroom. He had some difficulty but managed without Emilia's assistance. He hoped she would clean the wounds, though he would not ask it of her.
Nico dragged Hannibal out of the bathroom and pulled him into the bedroom. He stopped just short of the bed. "Doctor if you would please take a seat and allow Emilia to attach the handcuffs to the mount on the bed you will be allowed slightly more length in this chain. The chain is quite sturdy so do not entertain the thought that you can escape. It is quite impossible."
Again, Hannibal did exactly as directed. Emilia quickly attached a long chain to the cuffs. She then restrained each of his legs by attaching leather straps to his ankles that were attached to the foot of the bed.
When Hannibal was fully secured, Nico removed the noose from Hannibal's throat and moved to the door.
"He is in your care, Emilia. I am going to retire for the evening. Do not remove his restraints. An injured wolf is a dangerous beast."
"Thank you Nico. I will be quite careful."
Nico left them and returned to the room with the metal table. He took several items from a closet, a small portable blow torch, and several rods that were designed to be used as small branding irons.
"Very well, Doctor you want me to know that you are strong. I want you to know that I do not give up easily…I will burn the flesh from your body if I must but I will hear your voice. You will cry out for mercy and find none."
CONTROL
Hannibal dropped his tortured body backward onto the bed, twisting in pain. Emilia guided him onto his uninjured side.
"You have material in your wounds that must be removed. I will clean it very carefully but you have to stay very still."
Hannibal nodded. He closed his eyes as Emilia tended to him. Although another woman's hands moved over his body, his thoughts were only for Clarice.
Hannibal's body was now cleaned and his wounds temporarily covered. Emilia tightened the chain, restricting his movements. She wanted access to his body and did not want to deal with his refusal. As the chain tightened and the handcuffs were stretched again above his head Emilia took a scissor and cut the blood stained boxers from Hannibal's body.
ALONE
Barney was afraid to leave Clarice alone. He wasn't convinced that Hannibal's captors would not return. He slept in the spare bedroom keeping vigil.
Clarice finally crawled into bed at two a.m. She was terrified, exhausted and overwhelmed. She said a prayer and closed her eyes with thoughts of her husband.
Come back to me, H…I'm lost…come back to me. Though she sobbed silently, sleep soon found her.
This morning seemed like a world away. He had been with Clarice and the day was magic. Now, he was trapped in a nightmare. Emotionally distraught Hannibal closed his eyes as Emilia took his flesh into her hand. Before his body could betray him, he turned just enough to roll himself onto his wounds inducing inhuman levels of pain.
Emilia wanted him stimulated. He would make certain not to comply. The pain effectively held his autonomic responses fully at bay.
I have no control over what you do to me, Emilia. I promise you, however…you will not have my cooperation. You can handle my body as I have no power to stop you but you will not have me. I am not yours. I will never be yours. I am only for Clarice.
Hannibal's thoughts turned to his wife. I cannot control this…forgive me Clarice…forgive me.
Emilia soon grew frustrated. She covered Hannibal's body with a quilt and got into bed next to him. She held him until she fell asleep.
When he realized she was now sleeping, Hannibal's body relaxed and his eyes finally closed. As the shroud of sleep overtook him his last thought was for Clarice.
Sleep well my Love…sleep well.
Don't forget to let me know what you think! Review, then post a pm and say hello!
Until the next chapter my friends!
LH