Chapter 3 [Hours Later—Metropolis, Club Atlantis]
As the shadows lengthened and night claimed the prairie once more, the party scene in Metro's center sprang to life. In its epicenter, Club Atlantis throbbed with pulsating music and flashing strobes. Bodies moved in rhythm across the varnished dance floor. Drinks flowed from the bar. Contacts between the folks therein started small and worked toward bigger things.
Just another night at the club or so they thought…..
Lex sauntered his way through the jostling bodies while surveying them. Earlier that day he'd decided on ending the post-Helen moratorium and dove right in. He'd spent the last three hours making eye contact, having conversations and perhaps a sip of wine. With his charms and assets, he could've had any of them really.
The Club Zero version would've been in that boat…
Not really this version though…not anymore.
Fun's fun but really? He sighed knowing that these girls really didn't have what he wanted anymore.
A perky blonde waitress in a white collared shirt and a dark blue skirt approached him with a serving platter holding several half-filled wine glasses. She smiled confidently. "Drink, Mr. Luthor?"
He knew better than to ask how she knew him. Considering that his picture was practically plastered everywhere, he stood out. "I think I will. Thanks." He took a glass and sipped on it.
"My pleasure. Let us know if we can be of service," she replied with a pleased smirk. She met his glance with her own holding it there for a minute. Then she melted away into the crowd.
If only I were about five years younger! He enjoyed the white wine's dry flavor and southern French vintage. "Now I know why I like it here."
However, as he started to relax, his cell phone buzzed.
He frowned. Now who? He glanced at the caller ID. "The Kents? What the?" He was tempted to ignore it. After all, he knew Clark would understand. He really didn't want a lecture from Jonathan. Still for them to call at almost 11 PM? He answered it as he headed toward the bathroom. "Lex Luthor."
"Lex, this is Mrs. Kent. Where are you?" Martha inquired.
"Sorry, Mrs. Kent. I'm out at a club. What's going on? Are you all right?" he wondered; his mind trying to swim through potential scenarios.
"You haven't seen Clark, have you? He took off this afternoon and we haven't seen him since," she informed him.
He rolled his eyes. They were all still recovering from the farm boy's last disappearing act. Lana in particular had a difficult time of it. "I'm sure he's probably at the caves. If he shows up at the mansion, I'll have the staff tell him to call you."
Then he heard a loud fist pound the bar counter about ten feet to his left.
"I TOLD YOU! GIVE ME ANOTHER!" a loud and familiar voice snarled.
"Was…that Clark?" she wondered.
"I was wondering the same thing. Call you back." Lex disconnected his phone and started toward the bar.
He was about to get a surprise…..
[Five minutes earlier]
Clark slid onto the bar stool and sulked. He'd spent the previous several hours super speeding across the length and breadth of America and Canada. His heart still felt heavy. He couldn't deal with his reality without Lana. He wanted to shut everything else out.
A part of his brain drew him to Atlantis. For some reason he didn't understand, he needed to be there. He needed a drink to numb his pain. He needed to feel like a big shot. Maybe Kal knows what he's doing for once.
Before he entered the bar, he'd bought a new black shirt and some slacks to look the part.
The bartender definitely remembered him. "Hey, Kal! Sure you should be here? Mr. Edge said not to serve you."
While Clark knew he should take the hint, he really wasn't in the mood. "I can't even have a stinking drink in here?" He slapped a five on the counter and shot the toadie the most intense stare manageable. "A damn Coke, all right?"
The bartender was well aware that he should've had this customer escorted out. He knew that Edge would flay him alive for serving him. But he also recalled that Kal would rip him apart personally for not serving him. "Fine. One Coke." He scooped ice into the glass and filled it with the soda. "And a little something else." He reached into the cooler and brought out a glowing crimson liquid. "A little kick." He poured it into the drink and stirred it. "Just drink it and go."
Clark, keeping in role, downed the drink and placed the glass back on the counter. As he did so, he felt the additive's usual properties taking effect. His eyes glowed red. He smirked wickedly.
Instead of acting the part, Kal now was in control. He considered the glass. "That was sweet! Hit me again!"
The bartender shook his head. "Kal, look, I need you to leave. Now."
"Or what?" The Kryptonian stood and grabbed the toadie. He hefted him into the air. "I TOLD YOU! GIVE ME ANOTHER!" He dropped the bartender to the floor rudely like a sack of potatoes.
"Dude, really?" A brawny dark haired man in a blue suit chastised.
"When I want your opinion, Jeeves, I'll ask!" Kal puffed ever so slightly with his lips.
Blue Suit hit the floor hard in the wake of a super rush of air.
"Can't stand a little hot air." Kal snorted. "Can't deal with business? Stay the HELL outta my way!" He sniffed the air. He picked up on a familiar cologne. "Him now?"
"Little young to be in here, Clark. Aren't you?" Lex insisted. Given the bouncer determinedly checking IDs at the door, he felt shocked that Clark actually had made it to that point. Now he wanted to get his friend home before the cops busted him,
"I'm sure you were too at my age. Money doesn't stop you. You have your perks. I have mine." Kal turned from the bar and started toward the door.
The billionaire grabbed onto his friend's arm. "Clark, your folks just called me! They're worried! What the Hell's going on?"
"Lana's seeing someone else. Dad's being an ass! You wanna pile on? REALLY?" Kal shrugged off Lex's grip as if it were straw. "Bug one of these girls, Lex. That's more your speed!" With that he melted into the mob.
"HEY! STOP!" Lex commanded while trying to follow his path. He desperately cut and wove his way through the activity on the floor. He watched Kal do the same just ahead of him before disappearing out the front door. "Damn it!" He rushed out into the chill Metro night.
The line of patrons wound around the building's right side.
But no Clark to be had….
"Something bothering you, Mr. Luthor?" the bouncer, a tall and well ripped blonde male, inquired curiously between ID checks.
Lex quirked a frustrated eyebrow at the man. "You see a dark haired guy walk out just ahead of me?"
"Nobody's come out in the last ten minutes, Mr. Luthor. Sorry," the bouncer noted before going back to his job.
Really? He had to come out! There was no other place to go! Lex knew the bathrooms and potential hiding places were not along the way his friend had just led him.
Somehow Kal had just a Houdini on him.
How do you do it, Clark? Lex shook his head. Enough of the social scene. I'm getting to the bottom of this! He headed toward his Porsche.
Smallville, it seemed, had another mystery worth solving on that evening…
