Chapter 25 [Next Morning]
The next morning dawned majestically over the northeastern countryside. Sol shone through the broken clouds. A gentle yet brisk breeze rustled the multicolored foliage and propelled the cottony bales through their powder blue sea. Farmers mowed the grass and baled it in preparation for the winter ahead.
And at the resident five star inn, a certain trio had settled in preparation for the day ahead…..
[Hillside Café—Sunderland, MA—7:15 AM]
Lana sat in her wicker seat and savored her breakfast. The foliage-frosted landscape appealed to her. The warmed apple cinnamon muffin and fresh cider assuaged her craving. She smiled warmly at the rustic hubbub about herself. Much like a kid on Christmas morning, she held off her sleep to walk about with her phone and snap a few pictures for Clark and Miranda's consideration.
Besides the aforementioned Farm Boy would be back within the hour after deciding at 5 AM to super speed back to Kansas and check the chores for himself.
He is being responsible. I'll give him that! She sipped on her cider enjoying the tangy taste on her tongue. Clark, how are you coming back there?
A pleasant chuckle echoed back over the link. I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm just wrapping things up now. I'm actually craving some pumpkin bread. Mom didn't make any before she and Dad left. Maybe you can get some for me?
Twist my arm, Mr. Kent. But you owe me a kiss for this! she snarked back playfully.
Okay. Just got the milk strained and put away! Give me a few minutes to shower and change. Then I'll be heading back. Give me forty five minutes?
Sure. The scenery's great. Can't wait for you to see it! See you soon. Love you! she cheered.
Love you too! he concurred before going silent.
At least he's keeping up appearances. Can't fault him for that! She considered the menu at her table. Forty-five minutes? You *really* know how to keep a girl waiting, Clark. She rolled her eyes impatiently.
Then a chill went down her spine. She felt tremors and vibes from the area.
What the…? She surveyed the still quiet nondescript café. Her still-developing senses struggled to discern the developing dissonance. It buzzed at her tugging at her sensibilities. She looked around anxiously.
Whatever it was…it felt familiar.
Is this supposed to happen? She started to get up only to stop dead in her tracks.
"Something bothering you, Miss Lang?" Lionel supposed tersely. "Now why would you be up here when you have a café to run?" He slowly and deliberately sipped on something from his own mug.
"Clark and I are doing research," she replied honestly. She probed the arrogant industrialist with her senses while trying to discern the answers she needed. The iciness from earlier felt more palpable than before….
…it was now two sources….
What? It isn't Lionel? She stared at him incredulously.
Lionel quirked an eyebrow not understanding the full context. "Is there something with my suit? You are staring and drawing attention."
"I'd say the same of you, Mr. Luthor. Lex…is here with us. We're researching an article. That's all," she asserted.
LANA LANG, BE AWARE OF LACHLAN'S SON. HIS FATHER KILLED LOUISE! Jor-El asserted.
As if I needed to know that? She winced and bit her lip. Another thing that his family did? Really? Then she shivered hard. Her skin dimpled Static energy made her hair stand on end.
Lionel gripped his coat tighter. "Now you're making me cold. Stop that. I…." He looked past her and toward the back booth. His eyes went wide.
"Mr. Luthor?" she queried.
He froze and stared incredulously. His hand forgot about the mug in his hand allowing it and its javanated cargo to shatter across the floor. "My…God. You're dead."
She turned slowly. Whatever aura loomed behind her, she could feel a menace…a seething anger. Before she did the same thing as Lionel, she set her own coffee back on the table. She sucked in efforted breaths. C…Clark!
Lana? WHAT? Clark called.
Clark, we've got trouble! There's something bad here! She followed her senses and Lionel's eyes toward the booth in question. She saw a couple sitting there and just enjoying breakfast. At first glance, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Their auras jumped out at her….
The picture from Lex's library….
Miri's sweater….
The woman put her hand on her companion's forearm and shook her head. "Don't please. We don't need the scene."
The dark haired man adjusted his glasses. He spasmed noticeably before shooting Lionel the most vicious glare imaginable. Then he slowly stood and patted his female companion's hand. "I won't make a mess." He frowned and sighed through ground teeth. "Miss. Get behind me. You don't need to be dealing with the likes of him."
"Excuse me?" Lana queried incredulously. "And you're not threatening?"
"He's insane, Miss Lang. I wouldn't trust him," Lionel pressed.
"And I trust you, Mr. Luthor?" Lana supposed sarcastically. She slowly made her way across the room to where the auburn haired woman still sat. She could feel the other almost pleading with the strange man not to do anything….
…pleading telepathically much as she might have done with Clark….
"Good call, Miss," the strange man concurred. "Angie, just watch out for her."
"Dave, don't," Angie requested.
Lana shook her head. She picked up on something else….
…the strange man's aura…it was blurring almost like it was changing….
Lionel stood his ground firmly. "You won't scare me with your act, Dubois."
Dubois' eyes glowed at Lionel. "A'ter wha' ya put us through, Lie Boy, ya'll wish Ah was jus' actin'! WHERE IS SHE? AH FEEL HER! YA KNOW WHERE HE TOOK 'ER!"
"Took her? Took…?" Lana wondered.
"She's dead to you." Lionel snorted disdainfully. "I should've known you'd survive." He narrowed his eyes to meet the other's. "Lillian favored you. I never did."
"Don' wan' yer crap! YA DID THIS!" Dubois spat menacingly. "Jus' GIT!" He wheeled around and stalked back toward the booth. Suddenly he glared over his shoulder and shouted, "WHERE IS SHE? WHERE'S MAH MIRI MA?"
Miri-Ma? Lana gaped as the realization hit her. Could he be…?
"I have no idea," Lionel lied coldly. "Tell him and invite worse trouble on your head and Clark's, Miss Lang. Have a nice day if he doesn't kill you first." He left abruptly determining to make a certain call at the first opportunity.
"Stinkin' coward!" Dubois hissed disdainfully. He stomped across the café pinning the few other patrons to their seats. He tersely grabbed the mugs before marching up to the counter.
A mediumly-built blonde woman in her early fifties filled the mugs. "Calm down, David. He's gone."
"Ah…I…know. Jus' so much. Stuff from 'fore." He glanced at Lana again…and through her….
…as if feeling a connection….
"Did he call ya, 'Miss Lang'?" Dubois pressed Lana.
She nodded anxiously. "That's right. That's my name…I'm Lana Lang. I'm visiting the area from Kansas."
Angie shot her companion a knowing look. "You wouldn't happen to be related to Lewis Lang, would you?"
"He was my Dad." Lana considered Angie. "And you? You're Angie Dubois?" She clapped her hands to her mouth. "Unbelievable!" She got up and made herself join the shuddering man at the counter. "She's alive, Mr. Dubois. I just saw her day before yesterday."
"WHA?" He turned around quickly and stared her in the eye. "Don' lie ta me!"
"Miss, please," the blonde waitress implored her as if not to set the angry man off further.
Lana raised her hand soothingly and reassuringly. I'm not. If you're like her, you can hear me. You can feel her through me. Right? she supposed telepathically.
Yeah….I can. Yer also La…ura's kid. Ain't ya? Dubois deduced. He bowed his head. Tears of gratitude and relief streamed down his cheeks.
I am. Yes! Please don't be angry with me. I'm sorry to upset you Lana apologized. "Miri's never going to believe this! You're both alive! Wait'll Lex sees you! He's with me."
At that moment, Clark rushed into the café anxiously. He was braced for trouble of any kind. He glanced around in confusion. "Lana? I got here as fast as I could." He embraced his girlfriend in relief.
"It's okay now, Clark. Thanks though for getting here to back me up. It seems we have friends here," Lana assured him. "Meet Miranda's uncle and aunt." She motioned with her head toward the Duboises.
Clark stared at the couple not knowing how to take this moment either. He stuck his hand out toward the resident couple. "Sorry. I'm Clark Kent. You're really…?"
"I'm Angela Dubois. He's my husband, Dave. How did you both recognize us?" Angie asked as they all shook hands.
"Lex showed us a picture of you both with his mother and him by a hay wagon years ago," Clark explained. "And then there's other stuff." He continued on telepathically. You have the same vibes that I felt on Miranda's sweater. Just…umm…don't hurt us.
"It's okay…now. You're not Lionel, Kids," Angie assured them. "Have you both eaten? We have so much to talk about!"
"I did have a muffin. Clark hasn't had anything yet. I don't think Lex has eaten either. Maybe he might join us for breakfast? That is…okay…right?" Lana replied albeit hesitantly.
"I'd definitely welcome seeing Alex again. He isn't his father," Dubois agreed. "And I'm sorry too. Can't stand to see Lionel threatening friends…or children of old friends. Maybe we can do breakfast?" He shrugged and allowed an almost apologetic smile across his face.
"I'll get him. He's at the inn next door. Be back!" Clark rushed off not believing this turn of events.
Seems that morning was off to quite the start after all….