Inquires of The Truth

Wolf Trap, Virginia: Later the night of the previous chapter

Eldon Stammets woke up chained to the ceiling of a barn with fishing line. It was completely dark out from what the pharmistet could see and the chilly nearing winter breeze drifted across his bare skin. That was when he realized he was in nothing but a lab coat( Will had connections in place high and low apparently) and his undergarments. He vaguely heard the barking and howling of dogs ( or wolves, at this point he wasn't entirely sure). Something wooden creek and the small stream of moonlight showed a towering, lanky figure with two large Stag antlers blooming from its head. The creature's eyes glowed a soft, yet terrifying white as the thing stalked into the barn before taking one of its unnaturally thin arms and shutting the barn door with a clank and a click. Stammets tried to scream but when he went to open his mouth he found it clipped shit with fishing lures. A dark chuckle broke the eerie silence," No one will hear a sound from you, try and reach to them like your mushrooms, Stammets." 

It did not forbode with the older man as ashen skin appeared in the small lamplight of the barn, a hand... no, a claw reached towards his chest and sliced and carved into it the shape of a mushroom over his heart. The muffled screams made fresh blood spill like spit from the lures in his mouth. The thing's dark and shadow-like voice taunted him," You craved to be a mushroom, now you will feed my own truffle garden. Once of course, I've taken out all the vital organs. You will be composed alive if you still are by then, of course."

Stammets tried to move away from the claw as it tore down his chest and gut, missing all his organs like he was a fish being gutted to be fried the next day. Another trail of blood sputtered from his lips and mouth as the beast before him carefully and nearly surgically took out each of his organs, saving his heart for last. By some curse of luck, he was just barely breathing when he was placed into a compost bin. 

Will watched in bewitched amusement as Stammets's intestines poured over the plastic tarp he had placed down under the man and into the containers he had aligned perfectly for them. His liver and pancreas were carefully snipped and gently pulled from their places next. Then the kidneys and Spleen. Each organ was placed in its container before he moved on to the next ones. The smell of ironized blood was a perfume to him that made him chuckle darkly with instincts as he started to slice off half of each of the man's limbs( up to the elbows and knees) of which by the time he had finished he was surprised to see the man still alive, of course not for long as he pulled out his stomach and the other organs until there was only the Lungs and Heart left. He hummed as he licked his lips before plucking the lungs out and placing them in their container. Quickly sealing each box before he placed them in the icebox, Will pulled out of the shadows the cold gift box from a TV stand and placed the gift box on the stand next to the dying man. With one quick, sudden and price movement Will severed the man's heart from his arteries and cleaned the meat before he placed it in the nest of his own feathers he had couched the box. He closed the lid then buried the remains of the body in his compost box out by the small stream where he cleaned off the blood and other fluids before returning to the gift box and wrapping it. It took him next to no time to get his invitation into his intended's office. 

Baltimore Maryland; Hannibal's office: That next morning

Hannibal found a wrapped box on his desk when he walked into his office the next morning. It was wrapped in inconspicuous brown paper with a letter written with a typewriter on a heavy paper. He took one sniff and could smell the heavy and dark aroma of human meat. Glancing around the older Ravenstag picked up the letter and opened it with his scapula to read the note.

Dear Chesapeake Reaper,

I've hidden my gifts to you no longer. It's taken some time to find the right pig to give you. I am hoping that this will spur you to start courting me properly. After all, we've alone for too long now.

~WG

Hannibal looked at the box and carefully unwrapped it to reveal a human heart in a nest of black ravenstag feathers. He hummed darkly and with lust," How bold of you, William." 

A voice spoke from the shadows," Bold and risky, Hello Hannibal." 

The Ravenstag staggered back as he leaned down in a bow and risked a glance up," The Raven... Tenebris Celeum. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Tenebris tilted her own head, motioning for the old ravenstag to stand straight, as she explained," I was in the neighbourhood when a fawn called out. I know you know of who I speak off. Tell me, Hannibal, why haven't you started a courting yet?" 

"I will... Why are you here, really?" Hannibal asked her. She smiled, a dark twisted one that very few ever saw, and said," That is my business alone. I will see you very shortly, at the opera perhaps?" 

She disappeared with a ruffle of feathers and a crow's caw, signalling their talk was done. Hannibal glanced to the reflective surface of the painting's frame and saw the almost branch-like antlers of his true self. He growled at the reflection making the dominant feature shrink back into his skull with a wince. 

Nixi glanced out the penthouse's master bed onto the quite daybreak streets of Baltimore and sighed. The more she thought about it the more she wondered if Tenebris was really okay with what was happening or if she was hiding how she truly felt from everyone. These thoughts had been plaguing her since she had heard Tenebris say those proficatic words. News about Oliver Queen's return had spiked a change in the archangel that Nixi had never seen before in anyone. She got darker, more fear-inspiring, more mysterious, how she was when they had first met, back in 1993. She was 38 now, and nearly 20 years had passed since then. All the while, the archangel had steadily been reeled back to who she had been Before. But now, her more darker self, the self that only had manifested shortly in the past five years. She frowned as she dialled a number she sore she never would call in her life again. 

Wolf Trap, Virginia 

Will heard the low rumble of a Hybrid pull into his driveway as he pulled a pair of shorts on and let the dogs out for their morning run about. He saw Alana walk up and greet him," Morning."

Lying, because no human would have been able to hear her come up, he said," Didn't hear you drive up."

"Hybrid, ah... Great car for stalking." 

Will hummed as he asked her," You want a cup of coffee?" then he stared at her as a sudden feeling started to sink in his gut as he asked the physiatrist," And more immediately, why are you here?" 

Answering both questions Alana said," Yes, and Abigail Hobbs woke up."

Will pauses as he turned to his door. His inner Ravenstag pawed and huffed to be with who he was quickly seeing as his own fawn. He softly growled, nearly unhuman, at the brunette," Well, you know how to bury a lead. Let's have some coffee before we go?" 

They walked inside and to the small dining area next to the kitchen before Will started to make a pot of coffee. By the time the brew was done his landline had rung four times and his cell three, all from Jack Fucking Crawford. Sighing as he handed Alana her mug of coffee he wondered out loud," Is he gonna keep callin'?"

His southern drawl picked up as he grumbled but Alana just told him," Jack wants you to go see her."

"And you don't," Will observed, the observation making him grit his teeth in an effort not to instinctually attack her, at least just yet. Alana looked at him and shrugged," Eventually."

She sipped her coffee then explained more in-depth her meaning," Jack thinks Abigail was an accomplice to her father's crimes. I don't want to get in the middle of you and Jack, but if I can be helpful to you as a buffer..." 

Will cut her off, with a playful," I like you as a buffer." 

She smiled then he explained, toying loosely with her," I also like the fact that you rattle Jack. He respects you far too much to yell at you, no matter... how much he wants to."

"And I take advantage of that."

Looking at her with pleading and sympathetic eyes, Will reminded her," Abigail Hobbs doesn't have anyone."

"You can't be her everyone," Alana sighed before mumbling," Dogs keep a promise a person can't."

Will gripped his mug tighter in his grasp but stayed quiet as Alana counited," The first person Abigail talks to about what happened can't be anyone who was there when it happened. So that means, no Dr Lecter, either." 

Will hissed under his breath," Yeah, much less the guy who killed dad." 

"Let me reach out to her in my own way..." She started but Will hissed," No..."

Alane looked at him as he composed himself before he explained," Wouldn't it be better for her if it was someone who wasn't affiliated with the FBI, in any way?" 

"Who are you thinking off, Will?" 

"I'd have to make a call, but I have a friend in town, who has an inclination on what she might be going through."

'If my theory is correct, anyway,' Will added to himself. Alane looked at him before nodding. 

Uptown Baltimore

Tenebris sat with some of the Baltimore Elite, Some who were hidden gods, creatures, magi, or Wizards/Witches as well as others, some who were just humans and a few scattered hunters or decedents of the Men of Letters( many, many generations removed, however), as well as a few international spies and undercover countrymen/gentlemen, dotted about among the elites of any city, let alone on as old as Baltimore is. So it didn't surprise the Anglic-goddess as much as it would others when she got a call. Glancing around the trance as she excused herself she walked to the side to answer it. 

"Tenebris, It's Will Graham," The young ravenstag stated. She hummed," Will, what is it I can help you with?" 

"It's about Abigal Hobbs. She woke up this morning. I was hoping you could speak with her... explain what's going on," He asked. She hummed," What do you think is going on Will?"

It was slight for a moment before he asked," She's a Ravenstag isn't she?"

"Will be... yes, I can explain what she is going through, but as she wasn't born one, there is still a step for her to take before she can fully become one," Tenebris explained before glancing out of at the roads of Baltimore and then towards the elite. The glance showed her a young man, someone who was eyeing her with that look of weariness she knew form experiences a with certain double 0. She hummed then told Will," I'll talk to her today."

"Thank you, You know where she is at, I suspect..." He asked. Tenebris hummed," I do. Goodbye Will." 

Will said his own goodbye and she hung up before calling Nixi and explaining to mee her at Port Haven Psychiatric Facility. 

Later that Day; Port Haven Psychiatric Facility: Baltimore, Maryland

Nixi walked into the building hand in hand with Tenebris as they walked into the psychiatric facility. Nixi felt the lay lines that it was built on and frowned as she asked," Why is the place built on lay lines?"

"The older psychiatric facilities all are, as most use to be places for the supernatural to gather when they were ill or hunted. Most are hunted because of that as well," Tenebris answered as they signed the visitors' passes and walked up to Abigail Hobbs's room. Once there Tenebris sighed and opened the door, greeting the Ravenstag fawn," Hello, I am Tenebris Celeam, this is my fiance and good friend, Nixi Butyrumager." 

Nixi set aside the bags they brought as Abigail asked," Are... you a doctor?"

"No, at least not of medicine or psychiatry," Nixi answered. Abigail looked at them and asked," What do you specialize in then?"

Tenebris smiled, that smile that reminded Nixi of who Tenebris really was and what she truly was like, and explained," Among other things, family trauma." 

"I asked the nursed if my parents were dead, and they wouldn't tell me. Said I had to wait for someone."

"No one should have to wait for this news, Abigail... I am sorry they made you wait," Tenebris replied sommely before the young woman stated," I know they're dead." 

She paused for a moment before asking," Who buried them?"

"They haven't been buried, your mother was cremated per the instructions in her will. However, your father is a different story," Tenebris explained as she sat down. Nixi watched as Abigail asked," Because he was crazy?" 

Nixi frowned and said," The nurses said you didn't remember." 

"I do... but what I remember makes me seem crazy..." 

Tenebris hummed," What is it you remember?"

"There was two men, at least I think they were men, there. My dad slit my mom's throat before they walked in. One had antlers sprouting from his head the other had a strangely shaped shadow. It wasn't right, but it wasn't wrong either." 

Tenebris nodded and said," You're not crazy, Abigail. What you saw was real, just as real as what I am about to show and tell you." 

Abigail looked at her as the room darkened lightly and two large midnight purple fathered wings sprung from Tenebris's back. They stretched across the room before folding behind her and Nixi said," What you saw was Ravenstags, they are similar to Widago's in some ways but they have more human features and are able to hide and blend more within humans. There are two that live in the area... well, at the moment." 

"What do you mean at the moment?" Abigail asked. Tenebris hummed and smiled," You could be one... because of what your father forced you to do, it enabled a higher power to create the senior need for a transformation. In order to complete it, however, you have to kill an innocent and not eat any part of them." 

Abigail stared at her and frowned," Why would I do that?"

"If you don't you will die by the end of this year, Abigail. I hope you will at least consider it." 

Nixi looked at Tenebris as she said this before Abigail changed the topic," What are all those?"

She pointed to the bags of clothes and Nixi told her," We brought you some clothes. Thought a change might feel good. Tenebris guessed your size, so anything you don't want, just leave the tags on. I brought you some music and books on different things if you want them.  

Abigail looked at her and frowned," Your music?"

"No... My nephew and niece's picks. How ever if there isn't anything you like, We can change it out," Tenebris corrected before standing up and saying," I've been asked to Quantico, Nixi if you could stay here with Abigail and explain somethings for me?"

"Of course..." 

Abigail and Nixi watched the angel disappear in front of them

Quantico: Jack Crafford's office

Tenebris smirked at Hannibal and Stiles when they walked in with Dr Bloom. The later looked at her and asked," Dr Celeam... it's a pleasure to meet you. Will told me much about you."

"I am sure... He told me a plethora about you," She smiled then turned to the two men and smiled," Hello again Dr Lecter, Mr Stiliskie, it has been a while." 

"Two years, correct?" Stiles asked before humming," Thank you for the help back in Beacon Hills, by the way." 

"Any time," She replied before Crawford called them into her office. He glared at them and said," I got seven families waiting... no let me rephrase, demanding that we find whatever's left of their daughters. Abigail Hobbs may be the only person who knows the truth."

Tenebris raised her eyebrows as she stated," I am afraid, Mr Crawford, that you can't ask her at the moment. Someone needs to create a safe place or a trusted bond with someone first, otherwise, you will not get any answers." 

She said this in an informative way. But the FBI agent growled," I respect your sympathy for her, Dr Celeam. I hope one day you'll appreciate my lack of it."

"It's not sympathy, Mr Crawford, far from it in fact. This is experience and my prior knowledge of cases similar to this one, speaking. However, that being said, I have to ask you, do you really think Abigail Hobbs helped her father kill those girls?" 

 Stiles looked at the archangel and said," As I explained before, it is possible that she had helped lure them in order to save her own life. All his victims look like Abigail Hobbs. They were virtually identical to her in every way that mattered to Hobbs... Something I am sure she picked up on." 

Unaware of the echoed words that his mentor had told Hannibal once himself, Stiles sighed. Crawford once again ignored the Druid's thoughts as he huffed," I think it's a possibility that needs to be ruled out. If Abigail didn't help her father, maybe she knows who did." 

Hannibal looked to Tenebris then asked," How was she when you saw her?"

Wording her words so that the ravenstag would be calmed she explained," She was understandably practical and worried. "

"Suspiciously practical?" Crawford asked. She frowned as Hannibal suggested," I would suggest you can be practical without being a murderer." 

"She could be in shock, as well," Alana explained. Tenebris hummed," As much as agree with both of my co-works on this, the possibility of it being something else is evenly high. She as the same penchant for manipulation as a psychiatrist might have." 

The dig at Hannibal, while helpful, was not appreciated, however, Jack took it the other way as he asked," You beginning to appreciate my lack of sympathy?"   

Stiles sighed," You said it may be more that trauma yet you question her involvement in her fathers murders?"

"What I'm questioning is the state of her mind and body," Tenebris explained, hitting to Hannibal what needed to be done. Crawford frowned," I want Will Graham to talk to her." 

Tenebris went slight as Alana hissed," Jack! not yet." 

"You are not Graham's psychiatrist, Dr Bloom. Dr Lecter is," He reminded her. Stiles left for Will's classroom slipping into the back with a nod to the professor just as he started the lecture on the Copycat.

"Garrett Jacob Hobbs, the, uh, Minnesota shrike, abducted and murdered eight girls over an eight-month period. Each of them had the same hair colour, same eye colour, same age, height and weight as his daughter Abigail. There was a ninth victim who also fit Abigail Hobbs's profile, but Garrett Jacob Hobbs didn't murder her. The Likker who did wanted us to know he wasn't the Minnesota Shrike. He was better than that."

At these words, Hannibal and Crawford walked. Will could feel the pride wafting off of Hannibal in the way that only a fellow Ravenstag could feel or see as he continued, the next two sentences a short lie," He is an intelligent psychopath. He is a sadist. He MAY never kill like this again. So how do we catch him?"

He vaguely heard Hannibal ask Stiles, who had walked over to him and Crawford," giving a lecture on Hobbs's copycat?"

"Crawford's idea... seemed to think we need as many good minds as we can find," Stiles replied before Crawford could say anything. Will hid a smirk as he asked his class," This copycat is an avid reader of Freddie Louds and tattlecrime.com," Stiles sneered at the mention of the two but Will continued on," He had intimate knowledge of Garrett Jacob Hobbs's murders, motives, and patterns. Enough to recreate them and, arguably,"

He paused as Hannibal looked straight at him before stating," elevate them to art."

'So you really did appreciate the gift then. I appreciated yours as well, William,' Hannibal thought to himself as Will finished off his lecture," How intimately did he know Garrett Jacob Hobbs? Did he appreciate him from afar or did he engage him? Did he ingratiate himself into Hobbs's life? Did Hobbs know his copycat as he was known?" He sighed before adding," Before Garrett Jacob Hobbs murdered his wife and attempted to do the same to his daughter, he received an untraceable call. I believe the as-yet-unidentified caller was our copycat killer."

Yet another reminder to Hannibal, as to why he was glad that Will was on his side and not truly on Crawfords.