Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Warner Bros., Inc., DC comics, Christine Feehan and Jove Books. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

To Heal a Soul

Summary: Impulse finds something in one of Lex's labs and brings it to Chloe for assistance.

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"Impulse!"

"Ah…" Bart replied.

"What have you found?" Chloe grounded out. She was completely annoyed that Bart suddenly cut off communication. As she tapped away on the keyboard, she gnawed on her lower lip.

"Chica, you really don't want to know," Bart's horrified whisper came down the line. "Luther's got a little girl strapped down on a metal table. They have started to dissect…. Ay dios mio! She's still alive! Jesus H Christ! She's young, even by Luthor's standards."

"Are you kidding me?" Chloe grounded out as she made a snap decision. " Impulse, I need details if I'm to assist you?"

"I'm in… all systems are a go… have fun 'Tower," Impulse replied.

With only a few clicks of her keyboard, she hacked into Luthor's security system. She had to swallow her disgust at her findings. With a fortified breathe she got to work, running back to back protocols. Seconds later she had a visual on Impulse and the latest victim. 'Luthor is going younger every year.'

"Chica, unless you know how to pick Schneir electronic shackles, I don't think you're going to be of much help," Impulse commented as he buzzed around the room. "Hey, stop that… I'm here to help. Look, I'm just going to cover you, ok… just let me cover you."

While she muttered under her breath, she smirked as the code for the shackles popped up on her computer. "Impulse, hold up your cell phone to the shackle. You're going to have about 3.2 seconds to hit all the shackles. Can she survive on her own?"

"I don't think so, she's cut up pretty bad," Impulse replayed. "She's going to need your special touch. Chloe-lious, can we move this along? This place is starting to give me the creeps; there is someone else here, even if I can't see them."

"Bring her to the Watchtower, as fast as you can. I'll clear it with the boys. And Impulse, be careful," Chloe advised.

"Phone's on the ready… ," Impulse stated seconds before his cell phone chirped. Speeding around all the shackles fell away. "Incoming!"

Pulling up the information on the subject, Chloe knew that she only had ten minutes at maximum before Bart arrived. Running several database searches, she got lucky off an old hit. Pulling up the information, she quickly put the pieces together. 'Paris? Great, the kid just had to be from there.'

Glancing at the clock, she mentally counted for a time difference and the precious few minutes before Bart delivered the subject. Grumbling, she typed out a message for Oliver to deliver to the child's parents. 'If he gets lucky he will get the mother and his charm will work on her.' She had just finished sending out the message, when Bart blurred into the room.

Without direction, he took the subject over to the large bed. Chloe observed that he made sure the he took his time

"Did I ever tell you, Chloe-lious... that you just get prettier every time I see you?" Bart flirted as he moved towards Chloe.

"Not now Bart," Chloe dismissed as she moved closer to the bed.

"It's worst under the sheet. I inadvertently hurt her, by bringing her out into the sunshine. The extra data will be placed on your desk as I make my way out. How long are you going to be on lock down this time?" Bart asked as he blurred around the room.

"Standard forty-eight hours," Chloe answered as she shut down her computer. Chloe looked at the young girl on the bed. 'The eyes are open, but no one is home. It's like she escaped into her mind, she would have had to in order to survive.' She took a breath before heading over to the hallway closet. "The kid you recued is nearly eighteen. I found her adoptive parents; they live in France of all places."

Bart flinched at the mention of Paris, before he shrugged. "I can drop her off once you're done."

"No, have to face my personal demons myself," Chloe answered. Looking directly at Bart, she tried to tender small smile. "Thanks for offering."

"Usual standard fare?" Bart inquired as he made his way out of the room.

"Of course," Chloe laughed. She hit several buttons on the wall, after he left the room. "Since direct sunlight hurts you, I'm going to put up the u-v shield. I hope you don't mind the stain glass windows," Chloe commented as the false walls sink into the floor, reveling integrate stain glass windows. "I find that they help with the healing process, you might think I'm funny like that."

'It looks like someone has come back to the land of the living.' She felt eyes on her back. With graceful steps, Chloe pulled out a well worn blanket. "This has been in my family for years; I find that it gives me comfort when nothing else will."

As she moved closer to the woman child, her senses picked up that she was not alone. 'Hum, that's some defense system she has.' The closer she got the more she felt the presence of an oppressive observing entity that was just waiting for an excuse to strike out. 'Or she could have had a run in with Brainic, who knows she could be yet another species.'

With gentle caution, she placed the blanket over the young woman. Chloe took a seat near her. Enfolding one of the girls's battered hands into her own, she smiled down at her. "This won't hurt a bit, and afterward we'll get you home," Chloe whispered as she started to glow. "I've got you Skyler Rose; you're going to be just fine now."

Until Later…

Several people wanted some clarification:

Metahumans: Are altered human beings that possess superhuman abilities. Humans can become metahumans by mutations (chemical or kryptonite exposure) or by birth. Those who acquire metahuman powers as a result of kryptonite exposure are sometimes referred to as "meteor freaks."

Carpathians are a fictional race of people in the fictional universe of the Dark Series. Carpathians survive by drinking the blood of humans, but unlike vampires, they do not kill their human prey. Carpathians use their telepathic abilities to "call" humans to them in order to feed, and then use those same abilities to erase the humans' memory of the incident. All vampires were once Carpathians. A Carpathian male "turns" into a vampire when he kills while feeding, loses his lifemate, or fails to find his lifemate.

Carpathians mate for life. This is because males and females are different in nature; while the females are filled with compassion and light, the males are filled with an inner darkness, capable of great violence. After 200 years, all male Carpathian lose the ability to feel emotions, sexual desire, and the ability to see in color. As a result, the darkness slowly spreads and consumes their souls. At this time, the only thing they feel is the thrill when they are about to make a kill. The only way their emotions are returned to them is when a male finds his lifemate, the "light" to his darkness, the other half of his soul. Once lifemates find one another, the male recites the bonding words. Once this is done, it cannot be undone. They must touch minds and share their bodies often.

At the beginning of Dark Prince, Carpathians are on the edge of extinction. There have been few children born to them in the past few centuries; those that have been born are all male and often die in the first year. It has been more than 500 years since a female has been born. Without females, the males are left with a stark choice, "greet the dawn" (i.e. commit suicide) or become vampires, the undead, the monsters of human legend.

Character breakdowns:

Smallville:

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Alexander "Lex" Luthor: billionaire CEO and "philanthropist". He is the eldest son and child of Lionel Luthor. Oliver Queen's rival, Lana Lang's ex-husband. Clark Kent's former friend and arch-nemesis. He is the creator of the 33.1 labs.

Chloe Sullivan: She is Clark Kent's best friend. Chloe considers herself to be a metahuman with the ability to heal. She was attacked by Brainiac, but her healing powers prevent him from harming her, leaving her with computer like super intelligence and the ability to communicate with computers. She has two cousins, Lois Lane and Lucy Lane. Codename: Watchtower.

Bart Allen: is a superhuman adolescent with the power of super speed. He is a full-time member of the Justice League, and goes under the codename Impulse.

Carpathian:

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Skylar Rose Daratrazanoff, she was adopted by two full blooded Carpathians, Francesca del Ponce and Gabriel Daratrazanoff. (More to come on her - don't want to spoil anything.)