The Eyes of a Lamb

Virtue

"Forgive me for intruding" Mason Verger said trying to step into the office "But I do have an appointment with Dr. Lecter" he said staring at Clarice with a dark intent "And you are?"

Clarice gave him a tight smile "Leaving" she said.

Hannibal smiled to himself as Clarice turned around and gave him a expectant look.

"I'll get a cab" Clarice said "But I'll call you later?"

"I look forward to it" Hannibal said smiling but inside wanting to stab Mason Verger in the face for intruding on his office and Clarice.

Quickly, Clarice whipped around Mason and walked down the stairs while Mason's eyes trailed and followed her all the way out the door.

"She's attractive" Mason said finally as Clarice left "But a little young for you don't you think?"

"Would you like to come in Mason?" Hannibal said giving him a dark look "It is after all time for your appointment."

Mason stepped leisurely into the room, his ensemble today made from Italian satin with gold buttons trailing up his firm chest. He pushed back his golden hair and closed his brown eyes before inhaling deeply.

"Your office reeks of her" Mason said giving Hannibal a wicked smile "What kind of perfume does she wear? I can't recognize it for the life of me."

"Have a seat Mason" Hannibal said walking in front of him as he tried to keep himself cool and composed. Anything he gave Mason, even the slightest hint of who or what Clarice was to him, would surely send Mason on a humorous pursuit for Clarice.

"You don't like talking about her" Mason said laughing "Though I don't blame you. She's pretty, and I can tell the relationship between you two isn't something that would be frowned upon. You just want to keep her all to yourself. It intrigues me doctor..."

"What have you been up to lately?" Hannibal said sitting down. Mason joined him, sitting opposite on the couch where Hannibal had taken Clarice for the first time.

"Why should I tell you?" Mason said "You are already slipping from me."

"I assure you I am fully here" Hannibal lied.

"Well my father came to the house finally" Mason said checking out his fingernails "He is quite a boorish man, always asking me when I'm finally going to fuck some rich girl with the right connections and give him grandchildren. Ha! Can you imagine? Me with children? And some whore of a trophy on my shoulder?"

"It sounds like an ordinary life" Hannibal said "Why does it seem so outrageous to you?"

"Because of who I am" Mason said with a toothy grin "I fuck women for the pleasure of seeing how disappointed they are when I tell them to leave the house. I get off on the things I do to Margot and the tears of children. Though I do think it would be funny to see how much suffering I could put on a family of my own."

"You tell me you like the pain and suffering of others" Hannibal said "Could you be a sadist?"

"Could be?" Mason said smiling "I guess I could. But you are the doctor, what do you think?"

"I think you enjoy hurting others" Hannibal said "So much that you are willing to throw away an empire your father has made for you."

"What does my father have to do with anything?" Mason said sneering.

"Everything" Hannibal said twisting the knife he had driven into Mason "You have never talked highly of him. Could it be he did something to you? Something that now you inflict upon others?"

"My father is none of your damn business" Mason said gritting teeth "I'm done with that subject. I want to talk about something fun."

"Alright" Hannibal said backing off, pleased he had infuriated Mason.

"I want to talk about her" Mason said smiling now.

"I don't think that would be wise" Hannibal said, his eyes cooly glaring at Mason.

"It's my hour doctor" Mason said leaning back "And I want to talk about that woman."

"I'm afraid I can't" Hannibal said "Patient confidentiality prohibits me."

"So she's a patient?" Mason said "And you just happen to be sleeping with her? How very modern doctor."

"Please" Hannibal said "If we could continue on our conversation about your life."

"My life is nothing but boring" Mason said sighing as his eyes rolled "Although I think I have found something of interest."

"And that would be?" Hannibal said trying to stop himself from taking his pen and stabbing it through Mason's throat.

"That girl" Mason said "She interests me just like she interests you. A certain aura around her if you would say."

"I can honestly say Mason" Hannibal said with a slight smile "She might be too much for you to handle."

"We will see about that" Mason said with another evil grin "But for now I'll let her be, scope out my prey before I take charge."

"Funny you should call her prey" Hannibal said quietly "When she herself is nothing but."

The hour passed by with Mason talking non stop about how much he enjoyed doing insufferable things to others and listed off what he had done through the week like he was confessing to a priest for all his sins. Hannibal listened, but his mind kept wandering, wondering what he was to do with Mason, knowing he was a threat to people. Funny he should worry about innocents, when he did not think twice about taking them for himself. But all that seemed mundane now compared to what the world was like without Clarice Starling dropping into his life like blood in water.

Mason left after his hour, promising more threats upon finding out who Clarice was with Hannibal taking it in stride. He knew if Mason even came close to what was Hannibal's that he himself would gladly rip open Mason limb to limb, exposing him as the monster he truly was. Mason had too many enemies, and Hannibal wouldn't be considered a suspect if he reported Mason growing violent to the authorities.

Hannibal sat down at his desk, his fingers working overtime on a pen that twisted and moved around his fingers like clockwork, his thinking stained. What was he to do about Clarice?

He could not go on like this, thinking he should distance himself from her and then doing the complete opposite. He was careful, always careful, and now he was being reckless. And now Clarice felt love, or some sort of admiration for him. What would she think if she ever found out his secrets? The way he worked when he was out of Will Graham's mind and outside of his office? Would her virtue see past what he had done, and what he could be? Would she still love him?

"No" he thought to himself as a sad smile crossed his face "Nobody can love a monster."

But he could always hope.