Elizabeth didn't know what to do as she looked with calculation in her eyes at her kitchen table that was filled with the crime scene photos from the Chesapeake Ripper case. She circled the table with her hand holding her chin in thought.

What is this guy after, she kept on thinking over and over again. He takes their organs as trophies which means that he does this for power over his victims. He likes to humiliate them because he thinks they're disgusting. What did they do to piss him off so much that he decided to play God with them?

DING! DONG!

Elizabeth looked up from the table and walked over to the door with a quizzical expression placed onto her face. She slowed her stride when she saw that it was Hannibal. It had almost been a week since she'd seen him. She opened the door with a polite smile, greeting, "Dr. Lecter, what a surprise."

"So lovely to see you again, Elizabeth," Hannibal replied. "May I come inside?"

Having no choice, Elizabeth nodded and stepped aside. Hannibal walked into her home, glancing around with a look on his face she did not recognize, but she thought that maybe he was snooping around. His eyes lingered on the kitchen table which sat the photos.

"Any progress on the case yet?"

Elizabeth scoffed lightly. "Not likely actually. He's…this guy is kind of pissing me off a little bit and Dr. Lecter, you do not want to see me pissed off."

Hannibal chuckled and walked over to the table, eyeing the photos in deep thought. "How so?"

"He's smart that's for sure. He's so organized in his kills and there is no evidence left behind. He makes no kind of attachments which makes it harder to catch him since there is no kind of connection to him through the victim. I know that he likes power and dominance over his victims which is why he probably takes the organs and humiliates them in his own way. He's satisfied that he's getting away with it." Elizabeth explained. "He is…"

"He is what?" Hannibal asked from behind her.

"If I tell you this then you cannot repeat this to anyone, Dr. Lecter, promise?"

After a moment, Hannibal responded, "I promise, Elizabeth."

"He's amazing," Elizabeth said in slight awe. "He's been doing this for a long time and hasn't gotten caught. He's cunning especially with the way he poses them. I mean you remember the one with the various pieces of supplies stabbed inside of him. Except he planned each one of them. He made it seem like his murders are masterpieces or something. Art maybe."

Hannibal was silent for only a moment before saying, "You've given this a lot of thought, haven't you?"

Elizabeth shook her head while chuckling then running a hand through her hair. "Yeah. I'm sorry, Dr. Lecter. You came over here wanting something, yes?"

Hannibal nodded. "I wanted to see if I can persuade you to come to dinner this evening."

"I'm sorry, but I can't, Dr. Lecter. I'm spending the evening with David. He's mad because I've been spending so much time on the cases with Jack and Will and not enough time with him."

Hannibal nodded again. "I am sorry for that. He shouldn't treat you like that. You deserve better."

"It's fine. David's always been needy for my attention."

"Is he controlling?"

Elizabeth was silent then she sighed when Hannibal asked carefully, "Elizabeth, is he controlling?"

"So what if he is?!" she snapped in frustration. She hated it when people tried to control her life. "All men are controlling in some way and so are women. I have seen and you have to."

Hannibal raised an eyebrow at how defensive she became. "What happened with your last relationship?"

"I'm sorry, Dr. Lecter, but I don't want to talk about it," Elizabeth told him. "You have your secrets and I have mine."

Hannibal pursed his lips. "I apologize if I offended you. That was not my intention. I was just wondering why a strong woman as yourself would let a man dictate their life."

"I do not…he has his moments. I-I honesty just want it to work out with him, Dr. Lecter. I mean I've had a pretty bad run of relationships. I can't seem to catch a break," she sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"You think that if you can't make it with David then you will give up on being happy with someone else."

"I stopped believing in love a long time ago, Dr. Lecter. Have you ever been in love?"

Hannibal shook his head and confessed, "Never had the need to be."

"Good for you," Elizabeth said. "It sucks ass."

Hannibal laughed softly and a piece of hair fell into her eyes. He suddenly felt the need to move it behind her ear and caress her cheek. His finger itched to do the action yet they twitched and stayed by his side, never moving towards her or complying with his needs.

Elizabeth didn't notice Hannibal staring intently at her until she looked up from the table and found his eyes staring directly into her own. She didn't know what it was about his maroon eyes that drew her in, but they were beautiful that was sure. I just barely met the man and yet I am already daydreaming about him. Maybe he is right about David and that I need someone better than him, but who?

"Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?" Elizabeth asked softly.

"A riddle," Hannibal mused. "You're asking me about a riddle right now?"

She nodded. "I've always wondered, but could never have the slightest idea why. I was wondering if you knew maybe. Curious I guess."

"So many riddles so little time. I think Alice tells the Mad Hatter in the book that 'I think you might do something better with the time than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers', right?" Hannibal quoted with a smirk. "I read the book a long time ago. I have a good memory."

"Ah, that explains it," she drawled out. "Actually there is an answer to it. Lewis Carroll answered it by saying, 'Because it can produce a few notes, tho they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front'. Originally, Carroll spelled 'never,' as 'nevar'. It was raven spelled backwards, but a proofreader erased the inverted pun before it was ever published," Elizabeth told him.

"Clever man," Hannibal praised. "So? What do you think about this evening for dinner at my house?"

Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously. "Dr. Lecter…are you asking me out on a date even when you know I'm with another?"

Hannibal looks in deep thought for a moment as he gazes down at her. "Yes. I am."

Elizabeth's brows raised up in surprise before sighing in defeat. "Fine. Why not?"

Hannibal smirked, replying, "Marvelous. Come at five in the evening then."

Elizabeth nodded and said, "Yes, I'll be there."

Elizabeth kept on fidgeting with her dress as she walked up the steps to Hannibal's house. She wore her hair down, straightened and her dress was crimson red with no sleeves and fitted her curves perfectly with black high heels. She bit her lip as she rang the doorbell and knocked on the door.

Not a moment later after she knocked did the door open to reveal Hannibal with an apron on him. He smiled politely at her.

"Elizabeth, welcome. Please come inside."

Hannibal stepped aside and Elizabeth walked in slowly, glancing around. "Dr. Lecter, you have a beautiful home."

"Here, let me get your coat," Hannibal said and moved his hands to her shoulders.

"Oh, thank you."

Elizabeth lets Hannibal take off her coat, his hands lingering as he took off her coat. She looked at all the different kinds of art pieces he had around his home. "Where did you get all these artifacts, Dr. Lecter?"

"Please, Elizabeth, call me Hannibal. No need for formality anymore," Hannibal dismissed with a wave of his hand.

Elizabeth smiled softly. "Sorry. It's a habit."

Hannibal placed his hand on the curve of her back and responded, "Don't worry. We all have our bad habits…some worse than others."

Elizabeth nodded and then laughed as they walked into the dining room.

TBC…

THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS, FOLLOWS, AND FAVORITES! Keep it up cause every time I see something about this story, it makes me want to write and update faster! So Hannibal is up to something involving mischief and Elizabeth is apart of his plan along with Will. Hannibal's keeping a close eye on her because he doesn't necessarily trust her yet and she doesn't trust him either. They are both up to something, but Elizabeth's mind is mostly being taken up by the ripper case.

She is very determined to find out the answers just like Jack and Will, but doesn't accuse people so quickly like Jack does. This will cause major conflict for her when the time comes because she was morals and this code that she kind of lives by when it comes to justice. So stay tuned for what's to come since this is just a little piece of the story. I hoped you liked this chapter.

REVIEW. FOLLOW. FAVORITE. Until next time…