Chapter 19

A Few Weeks Later

Kal-El was in another session of the Council. "What other news is there?" He asked.

"Your Majesty, we have just received word that Captain Lane has been made a commander in the Genesis Royal Army." Nox-Van said.

"And what is the importance of this?" Kal-El asked uninterested; although he was congratulating Lois in his head for gaining Lionel's trust.

"You should not have sent her back to Metropolis. We could have gotten valuable information from her." Nox-Van argued.

"I know you all think that but it was for the best. I do not regret my decision so this discussion is over… Before I end this session, I wish to speak to you all about a great matter." Kal-El said and they were all interested. "The Lady Lana and I's betrothal is null and void and I have given her permission to marry Sir Peter Ross." He said nonchalant.

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but is this is some sort of joke?" Durkin asked. The Council were exchanging glances at one another.

"This is no joke. The Lady Lana and I have decided that it is not a good idea to marry for she is still promised to Sir Peter. They wish to be married and I gave them my blessing." Kal-El said.

"But Your Majesty…" Durkin was cut off.

"My decision is final. I cannot marry another woman who is in love with another man. They will be married in the summer at my expense." Kal-El said.

"But the people expect you to marry…" Durkin was cut off again.

"I appreciated your concern, gentlemen. I will marry… just not the Lady Lana. An announcement will be made throughout the kingdom and I will find another bride, my lords." Kal-El said and everyone nodded. He knew they had been planning this marriage since his eighteenth birthday and they must have felt like they had wasted years of hard work for nothing. "This is session is now over." Kal-El said and left the throne room.

Lionel took a large gulp of wine as he waited for Lex to enter his private chambers. He had sent for him after receiving disturbing news from J'onn J'onzz. There was a knock at the door. "Enter." He said.

Lex entered the room wearing his all black attire and a dagger concealed at his waist. "Why did you send for me at this hour, father?" Lex rubbed his eyes and he obviously rushed when getting dressed.

Lionel stood to refill his goblet and took a large sip. "Give me the stone, Lex." Lionel ordered. Lex was not expecting this for he was sure no one else knew about the stone.

"I do not know…" Lex started to say but was cut off.

"You dare lie to me! TO ME!" Lionel yelled and Lex flinched. "I know everything that transpires in my kingdom. I know about all your affairs and the little coup you have been planning to take the throne." Lionel said and Lex lowered his head. "Now give me the stone."

Lex felt the stone resting against his bare chest underneath his black shirt. He grabbed the chain and removed the stone from his neck. He held it in his hand knowing what awesome power such a small object could release. Lex was reluctantly held out his hand but then he stopped and continued to examine the stone. "No." He whispered.

"What did you say to me?" Lionel demanded.

"No, father. This stone will help us win this war. Krypton will fall if we possess all three stones... and then Star City like we planned." Lex said with bloodthirsty eyes lustful for power.

"You are mad, my son. The power is too great for any one man… Seyg-El the First knew this. No good will come from unlocking powers you do not understand." Lionel said setting the cup down and taking a step towards his son. "Lex, I no longer crave winning this war and the burdens of the throne. I am giving the throne back to the House of Ross in exchange for a peace treaty with Kal-El." Lionel said in a soft tone.

Lex took a step back from his father. "What? Are you mad? You destroyed the House of Ross!" Lex asked shocked.

"No. I am tired and I want to make peace with my mind. When I took this throne, I watched and did nothing as my supporters murdered the royal family in cold blood. William was once my friend and king, and I did nothing to save him and his family. I spared his wife and youngest son but that night has haunted me every night for too long… but now that I am making peace with myself and it haunts me no longer." Lionel said.

"You have definitely gone mad." Lex said and backed up slowly.

"The one man who is mad in this room is you, my son. You have been fighting my war… a meaningless war for far too long. So long that I do not know who you are anymore… I want things to be the way they used to be. Not just for me… but for you and your unborn child. We were happy once, Lex." Lionel took a step toward Lex, who backed away.

"Happy? We were never happy. You were consorting about with every maid and noblewoman you laid your eyes on! Who knows how many other of your bastard children are out there! My mother drank herself to death because she knew when you were not home; you had to be with one of your countless mistresses… I remember her slaying Julian in his cradle!" Lex snapped. At the mention of what Jillian had done to Julian, Lionel smacked his son across the face.

Lex fell to the floor but immediately got back up. He rubbed where his father had struck him and looked at his father with pure hatred. "I loved your mother. I may not have always been faithful to her… but I loved her! And how dare you tarnish her memory by saying such things!" Lionel said furious while shaking his fist in Lex's face.

"Yet we both know what she did to Julian because of your infidelity." Lex said. Lionel was about to strike him again but he stopped himself. Lex did not even flinch. Lionel straightened his black robe and ran his hand through his hair.

Lionel turned away and leaned over a table. "I have already spoken to Kal-El. I am to renounce our family's claim to the throne and give it to Prince Peter Ross and in exchange we will provide a bride for the King of Krypton." Lionel said thinking it best not to tell him the bride they had in mind.

"What?" Lex asked softly. "You went behind my back and that of your advisors and War Council! Why?"

"I will not burden you with the crown. You have a destiny son but it not to sit on that throne. This war had made us lose who we are. I do not want this life for you and your child." Lionel pleaded with him.

"I do have a destiny, father, and it is to sit on a throne. I will be King of Genesis and Thanagar. I want it all: Krypton, Star City, Gotham, Atlantis, Themyscira… I will not rest until I have conquered all these lands" Lex gave Lionel a bloodthirsty smile, which made Lionel take a step back from his son.

"I will not allow it whilst I am still breathing." Lionel said and Lex glared at his father. "I am making the treaty with Krypton and then Star City. You will obey my wishes for I will protect you no longer. I will not fight you, Lex, but if I must… I will stop you." Lionel said picking up the goblet and taking another sip.

Lex then saw red and grabbed his father by the throat. The goblet fell to the floor and wine spilt on the floor. He removed the dagger concealed at his waist and held it to his father's throat. "Lex… Lex, stop this." Lex then forced Lionel to the balcony. "If you do this son, there will be no redemption for you." Lionel pleaded.

"All my life, I was raised in your shadow… now you are going to die in mine. No one will even remember your name." Lex said. He then pushed Lionel over the edge.

Lionel could feel himself falling and he looked at his son, who hated him more than anyone. He fought at first but then he stopped. He held his arms out and let himself fall. For once in his life, he was free.

Lex watched his father fall and he felt nothing except freedom. He was no longer the son of Lionel Luthor. He would be remember as Alexander Luthor for he would rise over his father's shadow and become emperor of the world.

Kal-El was rubbing Lois's ring between his fingers thinking of her. At night, he could not sleep unless he imagined her beside him. He closed his eyes as he tried to picture her face and her scent but he was interrupted from his thoughts.

J'onn burst into his private chambers and Kal-El immediately stood. "What has happened?" He asked concerned as J'onn bowed.

"Lionel Luthor is dead." J'onn said.

Kal-El was taken by surprise so he had to sit down. He ran his hand over his face and through his hair. "How did it happen?" He asked.

"It appears Lionel was drunk and he fell over his balcony in his private chambers sometime in the night." J'onn said. Kal-El motioned for him to take a seat and he did. J'onn gave him a strange look.

"Do we know what really happened?" Kal-El asked knowing that Lionel never drank more than two goblets of wine a day.

J'onn leaned in. "According to our spy, Lionel and Alexander were arguing that night and that he left Lionel's chambers right after he fell." J'onn said softly in case someone was listening because someone usually is.

"Lex…" Kal-El whispered and stood. "By Rao!" He swore under his breath and rubbed his temple. "Jon-Tel!" Kal-El called and a servant entered the room. "Wine." Kal-El ordered. The servant bowed and left the room. "So much for our peace treaty… and my marriage." Kal-El sat down again.

"Are you sure that you want to marry Countess Lane? She has quite the reputation." J'onn said and Kal-El flashed a glare at him.

"I love you her, J'onn… and I know for a fact that she loves me." Kal-El replied.

"Do you know or do you think she loves you?" J'onn asked.

"I know. I know by the way she looks at me and the way she speaks to me. 'The one thing that never lies are the eyes', my uncle always told me. She loves me." Kal-El said with a grin.

J'onn began grinning too. "I felt this way once. Before the war that wiped out my people, I had a wife and a daughter. My wife was with child when she died." J'onn said. Kal-El leaned over and placed a comforting hand on J'onn's shoulder.

"I am sorry." Kal-El said.

"It happened before you were born. I have learned to move on and honor their memory for it is all I have left of them." J'onn said. Jon-Tel knocked on the door and entered with a tray of wine and two crystal goblets.

Kal-El nodded to him and motioned for him to leave. Jon-Tel bowed and left the room. "Everything now is going to be much darker with Lex ascending the throne." Kal-El stood and poured wine into both goblets.

"I know but we must be prepared and steadfast. You of all people should not succumb to the darkness that will come. You must remain a beacon of hope and peace for the people." J'onn said.

Kal-El nodded and handed him a goblet. "To Lionel Luthor, although a deeply flawed man… I hope he has found the peace and redemption he was searching for." Kal-El said and J'onn nodded. They drank to Lionel.

Back in Metropolis, Three Days After Lionel's Funeral

A groom helped Lex put on a red royal robe over his white tunic. Lex saw his official circlet on the table. He felt librated for he never had to wear it again for he was now king, which meant a crown, a throne, and more power.

Lex exited his quarters and everyone bowed, which made him grin. Helen was waiting for him at the entrance to the ballroom. She wore a white gown with a red royal robe around her shoulders as well. She bowed as she saw him approaching. "My lady." Lex said and held out his hand. Helen rose and placed her left hand on top of his right.

"His Majesty, King Alexander I of Genesis and Thanagar and Her Majesty, Queen Helen." A herald announced and then the oak doors opened to reveal a magnificent feast. They entered and everyone bowed.

Lois's arm was still in a sling but the rest of her wounds had healed. She, General Lane, and Lucy bowed before their new monarchs. Lex and Helen sat at the grand oak table and the sunlight from the setting sun reflected off the jewels on their crowns. "Let the feast begin." Lex commanded and everyone cheered.

Lex was rubbing his upper lip and was not aware of what occurred around him. "Lex? Is something wrong?" Helen asked rubbing his arm trying to comfort him.

"Nothing that needs concern you." Lex replied coldly and shook her hand off his arm. If Helen was hurt by his remark, she did not show it.

"You should not be so cold with me. I am your wife, now your queen, Lex. And I am carrying your child." Helen said softly so one would hear.

Lex caressed her face and then grabbed her throat subtly. "You were nothing more than a soldier's daughter when I met you. Do not forget, I can bring you down as fast as I have raised you, my love. And all I care for is that the child you are carrying is a boy." He whispered in her ear. He removed his hand from her throat and kissed her cheek.

Helen did not flinch at his touch because she did not wish to show any sign of weakness around him. She placed her hand on her flat stomach praying that the child was male or her fate as queen would be in danger.

Lois listened to every word they were saying. Hearing Lex being so cruel and cold to Helen made her miss Clark's warmth and tenderness. She closed her eyes as she thought of him and hoped that they would be together again.