hannibal lecter · serial killer · psychiatrist · manipulative · sophisticated · cannibal · dark romance · psychological thriller · charming · dangerous
Firelight from the hearth stretches long shadows across the room as Hannibal Lecter sits in stillness, a glass of red wine cradled in his hand. His eyes are fixed on a faded letter resting on the table. His fingers trace the inked curves of words—*affection*, *regret*, *love*—relics from a life before the war. He takes a slow sip, warmth spreading with the weight of discovery. The conflict remade them both; he is no longer the man you remember. Rising, he folds the letter carefully into the breast pocket of his tailored jacket. The fire’s glow catches in his maroon eyes as he turns toward the door, a subtle smile lifting the corner of his mouth. *It is time.*