AN: I've been unable to properly check through this chapter due to the fact that my laptop's 1, Q,A,Z buttons have stopped working. Luckily everything i write is in a Google doc so I can write on my tablet and phone if there is a need.
I've started sixth form now, so the chapters on all of my stories will be spaced out a bit more. I will try and keep the chapters long.
Chapter 10
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The next day, Hannibal insisted that Saskia go to Alana Bloom, and if she wasn't willing to speak to Alana, Hannibal was happy to listen to her. Saskia did so without argument but didn't want to speak to Alana, knowing that the woman would prescribe some kind of unneeded medication that would distort her mind more.
Saskia knew she needed to get proper help now. After a bit of persuasion, Saskia agreed to take sleeping pills for her insomnia. She even went to the doctor to see if she had sleep apnea, which she luckily didn't have.
"I'm not terrified of drowning," Saskia admitted, her finger tapping against the leather seat as Hannibal wrote something down in his journal.
They were at his office, an hour or two before the time he usually finished working. Having made enough space for a session, they just spoke.
"What are you scared of then?"
"Unreliability, i'd think. Unpredictability too, but that's nature's way. I've already told you what happened in the nightmare. I'm a strong swimmer, after I almost drowned once, I made sure to be able to swim for long periods if there was ever a need."
"Everything in nature is unpredictable, but not everything is unreliable. And with your mother's death, did that have to do with your nightmare?"
"No," Saskia firmly shook her head, her hand in Countess' fur. "It was because Leroy killed her, on my birthday no less. The same night we were having dinner here, he went out and actively killed her and left me a note.
"I think since Leroy was able to get my family members involved, it told me that, even if I am physically safe, emotionally I might not be. I'm sad because of her death, only because that's what I'm supposed to be, isn't it?"
"A death of a family member usually gives the family a negative viewpoint for a while," Hannibal stated before gesturing to her vaguely. "But in your case, since you affiliated your mother with negative emotions already, in her absence, you feel that the negative things in your life have been lifted."
"That sounds about right. But my nightmares weren't really to do with her, more with Leroy and how he can still get to me."
"You had a trip to England and then Lithuania? How was it? Did you visit your father?"
"The trip was alright. Got called a sinner, a devil's whore, the normal things. I spoke to my dad for a bit after the funeral. It was… nice? I think nice is the right word unless I wanted to use a thousand. It was quite a relief to see him again, well, his grave but even speaking to that made me feel like I was speaking to him again."
There was a pause.
"You've been sleeping better," Hannibal noted. "More regularly and at better times. Have you accomplished anything with Abigail's book. How is it coming along?"
Saskia smiled warmly and began rambling on about how well it was getting for now. After half an hour, Will walked into the room unannounced.
"I thought you had therapy with Alana, not Hanninal," Will questioned.
"Yeah, but Alana isn't the best with the darker side of life. And I believe this is the end of our session," Saskia said, checking her watch. She grabbed her coat from the back of the chair before shrugging it on. "Are you eating with us, Will? I plan to make garlic butter pasta. Any requests for meat, or will bacon suffice, Hannibal?"
"I believe I have some sliced meat in the back fridge, if you are willing to cook that instead of bacon?" Hannibal inquired. He was curious on where Saskia stood with eating human meat. He had never given her any meat before. He himself didn't like eating animal meat, and so was rather picky with where the animal meat came from.
"Sure, meat is meat. I'm not eating it so I don't really care what or who it is. Are you joining us, Will?"
"I will," He said after looking at Hannibal, who nodded with a slight grin.
"I'll start it at eight, you both should be back by the time I've finished cooking," Saskia smiled in farewell before leaving, Countess following diligently behind her.
They waited a few moments, making sure that Saskia was out of earshot before speaking.
"She's changing," Will stated.
"Perhaps," Hannibal put away his notebook into one of the drawers. "Or she's finally accepting herself."
"Hannibal, Saskia already accepts herself, can't you see it? You pushed her last time, and she saw how you reacted to her truer self. She's changing in the fact that she doesn't lie to us. Well, lie to us like she used to."
"She called them omissions. I've found out that she doesn't like to lie unless she has to. She prefers to manipulate the truth to suit her needs in the moment." Hannibal leaned on the edge of the table as he and Will stared outside. "There's something I can't quite put my finger on with her. Something that makes me concerned for my own safety and yours."
"Do you think she will try and betray us? Is she a liability?"
"No, I don't believe so," They gave each other a wary look. "At least, not yet. I hope she doesn't become on. Her presence is nice. Her company is pleasurable and pleasant. It's hard to find people like us, or even remotely like us in any sense."
"Even Abigail retains her humanity," Will said, cocking a hip out as he shifted his feet. "I don't even think Saskia had any to begin with."
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She did not want to open the invitation.
She knew who this was from already. The navy envelope and silver script that said her name and address was unmistakable in the higher classes. Saskia used a small butter knife to open the letter, easily slipping the royal blue piece of card out.
Miss S Alasite,
Monsieur and Madam Crow extend the invitation of the annual Yule Charity Ball at Crow Manor to you. Dress is Formal, but heels and/or bow tie is optional. However, suit and/or formal dress is mandatory. Colour doesn't matter.
Black tie is not mandatory.
We do hope to see you on the 24th of December, at Crow Manor in LA.
A plus one is acceptable.
Sighed,
Monsieur and Madam Travers Crow.
Saskia was surprised, but at the same time not, that Hannibal got an identical envelope. She knocked on the door of Hannibal's study and waited until he answered, coming in and placing the letter on his desk. He glanced up at her before putting his pen down, going for the envelope and opening it.
"It seems like I will have to get a new suit," Hannibal mumbled after reading it for a moment.
Saskia held her own invitation between two fingers, a slightly grim expression on her face. "I need a new dress."
"I didn't know that you knew the Crows," Hannibal sat back in his seat, hands clasped together on his stomach.
"Who doesn't? They bought Mia Kimmer's artworks after her death," Saskia crossed her arms, leaning on the desk a little. "I was brought up working class before my family became middle class. But I'm from old money, on my dad's side, that is. My mother wasn't allowed to touch any of my inheritance."
"When I was younger, before my family was killed and before I came to America, my family owned a castle. We had to leave due to an unsettlement."
"Really? You own a castle in Lithuania?" Saskia grinned with a shrug. "I own a cabin and a forest where my dad was buried."
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"You'll have to be careful with Countess inside," Will said, parking his trunk outside with ease.
Saskia had agreed to help bathe Will's dogs. Countess needed a good bath anyway, and running around with the other dog would keep her calm before they started the chore of cleaning the mutts.
"Did you get a new dog?" Saskia asked, getting out before letting Countess jump out of the back of the trunk.
"Yeah, but it's more like it found me." Will opened the door to the house and whistled. They heard a large howl before the pack of strays surrounded them in greeting and then ran outside. "He's been quite aggressive with people, even Hannibal couldn't go near him so I've had to chain him for now."
They watched the pack of strays and Countess run around the front of the house, the snow was getting thick as December rolled around. After letting them run and play, and get plenty of snow stuck to their furs, Will called them in before both of them began to bathe the dogs in the metal tub placed before the fire.
Countess laid in front of the fire, she and Winston were the first to be washed, and now both of them were warming back up. Zeus was the next and Will had to hold him in place because he would not stop whining about being washed. For a huge dog like him, he was very much a wimp.
After seeing a flash of the fire, Saskia thought she saw the fox again. Will noticed her confusion and so asked her what was up.
"It's… it's nothing. I keep seeing this fox. Absolutely beautiful fox that keeps turning up." Saskia blinked before getting back to towel drying Zeus. "But it's not actually there."
"Like a hallucination?"
"I'd believe so. It's strange because I saw it when speaking with Abigail, and once again during the dinner we all shared. But the second time, it had two tails instead of one."
"Diesel, you're next," Will gestured as the German Shepherd got into the metal tub without a sound. "I remember when I had hallucinations. It started after I met Hannibal, before I found out about him. I think it was because of the Garret Jacob Hobbs case."
"Abigail's father? Why?"
"They were hunters, did Abigail tell you?"
"Yeah, I remember now. There was something… off about Abigail and eventually I had her drop the act and I understood her actions better for it. Didn't they have a room full of deer heads or something?"
"A cabin in the woods where Garret Jacob Hobbs and Abigail killed the girls. Abigail didn't realise that he was feeding them the girl."
"Kinda reminds me of Hannibal in that respect, but Hannibal has a better reason, you could say, for killing them. It's not really cannibalism if you aren't eating your equal."
"Has Hannibal ever fed you his creations of work?"
"No, or at least i hope to believe so. Hannibal has said that he has never fed me that and I trust him to not to lie to me."
"I used to see a stag. And for some reason, it reminded me of Hannibal a lot. I had nightmares a lot, bad ones, I still do but Hannibal, and you, have helped me keep them at bay,"
"Stag? When I had my drowning nightmare, after the ice had suddenly appeared, I saw the hooves of deer or stags. It even brought its head close to the ice and I saw the maroon eyes it glared with. I'm on sleeping pills so I never really get to the stage of dreaming anymore, but the stag reminds me of Hannibal, strangely enough. I think I see the fox when I'm paranoid, or because of my paranoia? I don't know."
"I saw the stag more and more because of the Ripper case."
"Chesapeake Ripper? Hannibal's case?"
"That one. When did he tell you?"
"Yeah, a while back, i've known for about a year now. I laughed when he told me he was a cannibal. Hannibal, cannibal. I couldn't help myself."
"I started to talk more openly about the stag with Hannibal, he helped me when I was getting worse and eventually I was diagnosed with this brain condition, now I just take pills to keep the inflammation down in my brain." He shrugged as he lathered the dog's fur. "I feed the FBI lies about the Chesapeake Ripper and Hannibal keeps me stable. We have this sort of companionship, we're there for each other if there is a need. We satisfy what others cannot."
Saskia chuffed. "I'm either thinking you satisfy both of your intellects, or your sex lives. Why am i thinking of that?"
"You've got a dirty mind,"
"That's putting it lightly," She paused, "So you and Hannibal are dating?"
"Of sorts. We haven't really discussed it like that but I'd hope to believe we are monogamous."
"It just happened?"
"Yeah, it just happened over a long period of time. Hannibal tries to force me to go to these operas and stuff like that. It isn't my style."
"Oh, that reminds me," Saskia sat back onto her hunches. "I got an invite to a charity ball and I was wondering if you wanted to be my date for it. Completely platonic, of course. But it's considered unseemly if I attend by myself, otherwise one of the old hags will try and set me up with their sons again."
"Uh, when will it be?"
"Twenty fourth, this month,"
"Hannibal mentioned the Crows' ball. He'd be glad if he found a way to weasel me into going."
"So, do you accept? I'd need to know soon to get plane tickets and hotels ready for it. And you'd need to get a suit,"
"I accept. Hannibal will have to help me get a suit, I doubt i have something that will fit such an event."
"Don't worry about the price, i'll get it for you."
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Saskia's curiosity got the best of her.
The dog was less dog and more wolf with its size and face. It was plain black with a touch of burnt brown, and it did not look happy sitting in the garage.
Saskia was careful approaching it, making sure that Countess stayed away.
She was on her knees, carefully making sure that the wolf dog was comfortable with her in there. She only crept forward when she knew he was behaving. Eventually the wolf dog moved, making Saskia flinch back. It froze as if it understood that it startled her, taking slower steps to stand before creeping towards her. She stuck her hand out to let him sniff it and he did, before licking it.
He suddenly pulled her sleeve and her with it, almost pouncing so he laid over her legs and most of her chest. Countess was quick to jump forward and growled at the other dog, which he growled back at. They both sneezed before Countess went into a playful bow. She strutted until she stood to the side of him, almost shoving him over a little so she also got to lay on Saskia too.
Saskia groaned as Countess laid down. "You're both heavy."
The wolf dog growled when Countess huffed, making her whine with an almost humanlike eye roll.
"Shut it," Saskia tapped both of their muzzles until they looked at her like she had two head. "Will, we have a slight problem!"
He came into the room before pinching the bridge of his nose when he saw them. "What is it with you and dogs?"
"Hey, i'm not the one who brings home strays all the time,"
"But you're the one under an aggressive wolf dog that even growled at Hannibal, and I bet…" Will stepped forward and reached down an inch. Instantly, the dog growled from deep within his chest, sending Will a warning look before a nip. "Thought so. He considers Hannibal and I as the enemy when he lays on you. He didn't even give Jack another look after growling at him. And Alana, he just ignored."
"Really, dude?" The dog placed his head so it nestled between her breasts, an awkward angle for Saskia. She sighed and simply gave him an ear rub as his chest vibrated in contentment. "He probably sees you as dangerous, understandable though. Wolves prefer women due to the fragile look and less aggressive movements. Watch this."
Saskia allowed herself a moment to take a breath, closing her eyes before opening them to reveal the completely empty look in them. The wolf dog was confused, quickly sitting to the side and was giving Countess the dirtiest look, like respect her!.
Saskia was able to sit up without a problem, only petting the dog on the head after he stayed still. She crouched down until she was level with him, giving him a good neck and chest rub too.
"ARWOOO!"
Will laughed as Saskia just blinked as the wolf dog had just howled, literally into her face.
"Thanks for that."
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Over the next few weeks, Saskia was making arrangements for them. She had booked the hotel for the day before the ball and the day after, giving them enough time to get ready and then get ready to depart without having to rush. And thankfully Saskia and Hannibal both had green cards, but since both of them had Lithuanian passports, Saskia hoped they didn't have any problems on the plane.
Will was very reluctant to allow Saskia to pay for the suit. Both Hannibal and he had their suits custom made by a place Hannibal trusted. When they asked what dress Saskia was going to wear, she winked and said it was a surprise for the ball.
Saskia convinced Will to get the perfectly tailored suit. Hannibal had helped to choose it so Saskia just had to swipe her card and pay, and the suit would be delivered a few days before the party.
Both sides arrived the same day as her dress. She tried it on to make sure it fit properly and she was relieved to find that it was perfect
And soon enough all three and Countess were on the plane. It was a long flight but Saskia only ever took business class, and somade the two men take the same, paying the difference between economy and business.
Luckily, due to the fact that Saskia brought Countess, they were able to board the plane first. When the flight attendant passed them champagne, Saskia took one and simply handed it over to Hannibal. As if she was going to drink anything like that again.
The hotel was a good four stars, perhaps for if they had better service but the rooms were beautiful with excellent views. By some fortune, the rooms Saskia had chosen were in a suite. She took the smaller back room, while Will and Hannibal shared the main one. Both rooms had their own en suites so there was no awkwardness as Saskia had the habit of walking dripping wet back to her room.
There were several hours before the ball was going to happen, and Saskia booked a massage and spa treatment for herself. But before she left for it, she handed each man a small box, and Will got an extra box.
Both men got pocket squares that would complement their suits.
"What's this?" Will asked as he opened his other gift. He took out a bottle of expensive liquid, uncapping the bottle before taking a sniff.
"Serge Lutens L'Eau?" Hannibal said after a moment. "Expensive. A hundred and fifty dollars if I remember correctly."
Will looked up. "I see that Hannibal isn't the only one to disapprove of my aftershave recently."
"If I ever have to smell that aftershave again, Will," Saskia said over her shoulder as she began for the door. "I'm going to hurl it at the wall. I've got a few appointments to go to. I'll be back just after six, the party is at nine but it won't actually start until half term or so."
She looked at her nails as she left, Countess easily trailing behind. The blue and white nails needed to be replaced by a new coffin set. These ones were a month old and her pointer nail would fall off any day now.
The new set was a simple black with her middle and ring finger nails being a polished maroon that would match her dress.
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"Saskia, are you decent?" Hannibal knocked at the bedroom door.
"Yeah," She struggled to tighten the corset back, having to use her hands out of sight to do it. "Door's unlocked. Just tryna tighten this piece of shit."
"What?" Will said as he and Hannibal came in, watching her struggle to tighten the dress around her. Hannibal was swift to come over to her and help tighten it, easily doing so and then tucking the red ribbon of the corset into the top, hiding it.
Everyone's attention would have been… elsewhere so there was no need to worry about the ribbon.
She finished her look after wrapping the black ribbons of her heels to her ankles.
"You're going to be cold," Will said after pausing to look at her as she applied the lipstick lightly. She used a bit of mascara to fix up her lash extensions before deciding she was ready.
"You don't get to look this good and not have to suffer some consequences, Will," Saskia smiled at herself in the mirror. "I've got a coat, don't worry. I like a good three piece suit. You both look handsome."
Hannibal looked completely in ease in his burgundy suit, the inside was silver and the shirt was black. His tie was red and silver with an aristocratic theme. The vest was the same with black and silver design, contrasting the suit nicely as he buttoned it. His cufflinks were silver and had L carved into them. Saskia thought they looked like family heirlooms.
"Thank you, Saskia. You look marvelous," Hannibal grinned as he helped Will into his jacket.
Will fiddled with his cuffs, the underside of the black jacket was red to match the others. His shirt was burgundy red with his tie and pocket square matching Hannibal's vest, just like Hannibal's matched his vest. The vest was silver and red with the design being like a tapestry.
They didn't mean to match each other, at least Saskia didn't. Will and Hannibal, on the other hand, looked like they were meant to be partners. Everyone wore the same shade of red, burgundy red. Saskia had chosen it because she wanted to wear red but she knew she didn't look good in bright reds.
Saskia closed the long cloak-like coat, it almost completely hid her dress and figure.
"Countess, up," Saskia patted the bed and the canine jumped up. She allowed her master to put the black collar on her. "She won't be the only animal there, so she doesn't need to wear her vest."
"Are you bringing your gun?"
"Strapped to my thigh. I sent word ahead to the party that I would be bringing it." Saskia pulled the silver chain of her black clutch so it rested on her shoulder. "Ready?"
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"Miss Alasite, your car is waiting at the entrance," The front desk assistant said before dropping the keys carefully into her hand.
"Thank you," Saskia said before turning to the two men as they walked outside, dangling the keys in her hands. "So who's driving the Rolls Royce? Can't drive cause I'd wrinkle the dress and this corset isn't giving me any room to breathe properly."
"I thought you couldn't drive," Will said after Hannibal gestured for him to take the keys.
"I just really hate it, prefer a motorbike purring between my thighs than a car. Can't really take Countess if I'm on a bike," Saskia opened the door to the back, allowing Countess in before getting in herself, sitting in the middle of the back seat. Hannibal closed her door before going for his seat in the front, to the right of Will who would be driving.
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"Last names?"
"Alasite, plus one,"
"Lector,"
"Welcome to Crow Manor. The coat closet is to the left and the entrance to the hall is to the right,"
"Thank you,"
She shrugged the coat off, easily handing it to the servant who stood behind the tall counter. They also took Hannibal's and Will's coats before going to the back room to hang them up with designated numbers.
"Wow. Are you sure you'll be able to walk by the end of the night?" Will asked.
"Oh, honey. I can run in heels," Saskia grinned. "As long as you help me down the stairs, I'll be fine."
Saskia looked like a succubus in a wet dream and she knew it. The dress left nothing to the imagination. With a slit to the left thigh, Saskia had to strut and sway her hips as she walked. The tightness of the dress should have been illegal but she made it worth it.
The dress was full length, falling to her ankles and swayed. With each step, her six inch heels kicked away the burgundy red dress. The top pushed her breasts up seductively and showed off plenty of cleavage. The corset back kept it tight against her, keeping it and the girls in place.
The silver choker complimented the glamorous look she was going for, matching the chain earrings that ended in a simple red gemstone. A silver and red hair clip was keeping her hair from tumbling down from the base of her skull, all gathered to create an elberate look and to show off the necklace and earring pair.
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"If one more person touches my ass without my permission," Saskia muttered dangerously as she stood next to Hannibal. "I'm going to hurt someone."
"Don't you think you are overreacting?"
"We haven't even been here an hour, and I've had seven people touch me inappropriately. Seven, Hannibal. Seven. And I'm ready to hurl a punch," Saskia gave a quick glance over everyone close to her. "I don't care if my dress is tight. I could be naked and it still doesn't give them permission to touch me like they have been."
"Saskia, dear!"
"Kill me now," She muttered before finishing her drink and forcing a huge grin on her lips. "Madam Crow, how lovely to see you. And might I say, that shade of blue just makes your eyes pop!"
The older woman simply smiled and waved the compliment off. "I know, I know. But that dress of yours, so beautifully… fitted."
Or in other words, Madam Crow liked the dress and thought it suited Saskia, but also thought it showed too much but couldn't find a polite way to say it.
"Custom made dresses are usually made to fit perfectly," Saskia said, eyeing Hannibal and Will, both of whom stepped away and left her to speak with the older woman.
"If I remember correctly…" Madam Crow tapped a French manicured finger against her chin and looked around. "I invited the Vergers. They live in Maryland, don't they? Or close by?"
Saskia shrugged. "I wouldn't know."
She knew the reputation of Mason Verger. He worked, well, he traumatised the children who visited his mansion. His family grew and slaughtered pigs for profit. Even if Saskia was vegetarian, business was business and many people ate their well produced products.
Madam Crow waved two people over with a grin.
Saskia took a glass off of a passing servant with a tray, easily drinking the spiked hot chocolate. If these were the Vergers, the sister was beautiful but the brother just made her want to crawl backwards to the two men who Saskia knew would protect her from his advances.
She downed the rest of the hot chocolate. This was going to be a long night.
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