"We need to talk to my brother," Lena said firmly.
Kara shook her head slowly. "You don't really think...I mean, could Lex really have done this?"
Lena thought for a moment before answering her. "Yes," she said. "I do think he could do something like this. Why he would do it, I have no idea. But he's certainly capable."
"Lena-,"
"Kara, I'm going to talk to my brother. You should stay here and help Eliza with Mon-el."
"Lena, you can't speak to him alone," Kara protested. "If he did do this, he's dangerous. He could try to hurt you."
"Kara, I don't want to put you in harm's way. Please, just stay here," Lena begged. She couldn't imagine something happening to Kara, her sun, her everything. If Lex was dangerous, there was no way she'd let Kara anywhere near him.
"That's exactly why you shouldn't go alone," Kara shot back, her voice rising. She paused at the surprise on Lena's face. Kara rarely raised her voice, especially at Lena. "Just...please at least bring James," Kara said, lowering her voice. "Please don't speak with him alone."
"Okay," Lena relented. "Okay, I'll bring James and another guard. Will you please stay here with Mon-el?"
"Of course," Kara said. "I'll go check in with Eliza. Just...be careful, okay?"
"I will," Lena said. She took a step forward, wanting to reach out to Kara, to hold her, just for a moment. But Kara turned away from her, walking back into the bedroom. She looked at Lena one last time before closing the door behind her.
Lena stood there for a moment, gathering herself before she turned on her heel and strode out of the room. Out in the hall, there were two guards posted outside Mon-el's door, but James was nowhere in sight.
She turned to address the taller of the two guards. "Please find James as soon as possible and ask him to meet me in my brother's chambers." He nodded and she turned to face the other guard. "You, come with me please."
The guard tasked with finding James walked in the opposite direction down the corridor, while Lena and her guard began to walk back towards Lex's chambers. They walked in silence, the flickering flames of the torches casting long shadows down the hall. Soon, they reached Lex's door. They entered the antechamber and Lena turned to her escort.
"Please wait out here while I speak with my brother," she requested.
Without waiting for a response, she continued to the bedroom door. She knocked once before opening it and letting herself inside the dark space. She lit the lamp on his bedside table.
"Lex," she said loudly. "Wake up. We need to talk."
Lex stirred under the covers, sitting up and blinking at the newfound light in the room.
"Wha...Lena, what are you doing in here? What time is it?"
"Mon-el is dead," she announced, ignoring his question. She looked carefully at his face as she said the lie. Something flashed in his dark eyes and he couldn't contain the look of triumph that briefly flashed over his face. Then, just as quickly, he slid on another mask, one of grief.
"Oh, god, that's terrible. I'm so sorry, Lena," he said, throwing off the covers and standing. He began to pace back and forth between Lena and the bed. "We must send word to Krypton. With Mon-el dead, Daxam will surely declare war. They will blame us for his assassination. Krypton will come to our aid against Daxam. And the council," he continued. "We must call a meeting immediately."
"You did this," Lena said, her quiet voice interrupting Lex's musings. "You planned all of this, didn't you?"
Lex stopped pacing, turning to stare at his sister. "What was that?" he asked. He was doing his best to try to feign innocence, but Lena could see right through him. She'd been able to since they were children. He was lying, faking grief for Lena's fallen fiancé. When Lena had told him of Mon-el's death, he hadn't been able to contain the triumph he felt.
"You heard me, Lex," Lena said, a little louder this time. "You did this. You had him poisoned."
"I- I don't know what you're talking about," Lex protested, a look of shock passing over his face. "I did no such thing."
"Corben confessed, Lex. He told us you were the one who hired him." She was bluffing. And she desperately hoped he couldn't tell, praying her face masked the fear she felt welling up inside her.
Lex's mask slipped. The calm, even demeanor changed as his face distorted into disgust. "That bastard," he spat. "How dare he? How dare he betray me?"
Lena nearly fainted in disbelief at Lex's confession. "I can't believe you. Why? Why did you have Mon-el poisoned, Lex? Marrying him, allying with Daxam, this whole thing was your idea!"
"Don't be so stupid, Lena," he spat. "You were never supposed to marry that ass. He was always supposed to die. That would get Daxam pissed off. I knew if their prince was murdered, they'd threaten us with war."
"How is that a good thing?" Lena asked, incredulous.
"Because," Lex spat impatiently. "As soon as Daxam threatened us, other kingdoms would come to our aid."
"But we'd be in the middle of a needless war!" Lena objected. "What could be the good of that?"
"Yes. We'd be at war and I would finally lead," Lex barked. "The council would appoint me as King as soon as they realized you weren't cut out for leading a war effort."
"You did all this just to be King?" Lena asked, feeling slightly horrified. She'd known her brother was upset at being passed over by their parents, but she hadn't known the depths of his indignation.
"Of course I did," Lex growled at her. "Our parents were fools to name you as their successor! I had to make it right."
Lena took a step back from her brother, whose eyes had grown dark and wild. She was growing increasingly afraid of staying in his presence.
"I can't believe you, Lex," Lena said again. "I can't believe you would betray our kingdom like that, betray me. I'm sorry our parents chose me and not you, but-," Lex cut her off.
"But nothing! I should have gotten rid of you when I took care of them."
Lena staggered backwards in shock. "Wha- when you 'took care of them'? Lex...what did you do?" Lena began to inch backwards towards the door, but Lex saw her movement. He lunged forward, grabbing her by the wrists and pinning her against the wall. He snarled in her face.
"I got rid of those weak excuses for rulers and I should have done the same to you," he roared.
Suddenly, the door flew open and James burst into the room. In one swift move, he tackled Lex to the ground. Lena stood there in shock, trembling against the wall.
"Lena!" a voice called. Kara came running into the room, avoiding the tousling bodies on the floor. "Lena, are you okay?" Kara reached out to grab Lena's shoulders. "Lee?"
"I- I'm okay," Lena gasped out. She was in complete and utter shock. Her breaths were coming out fast and shallow and she felt on the verge of panic. But as she looked into Kara's piercing blue eyes, she felt herself anchor to the girl in front of her. She did her best to slow her breathing.
"I'm okay," she said again.
James hauled Lex to his feet and dragged him out the door. Lex's muffled cries receded into the hallway and left the room oppressively silent.
"Here," Kara said, pulling Lena over to the bed. "Sit down for a moment. Catch your breath."
Lena did as she was asked, sitting herself on the end of Lex's bed. Kara knelt in front of her and grasped her hands tightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Lee," Kara said softly. "I can't believe...I'm so sorry he did this."
"He killed our parents," Lena said softly. Kara's hands froze in hers.
"He what?" she asked, her voice incredulous.
"He killed them, Kar. I think he thought that with them gone, he'd be King. And then, when they had actually named me as next in line, he came up with this whole plan."
"God, Lena, I'm so sorry." Kara surged forward to hug Lena tightly. She rubbed Lena's back soothingly and, feeling safe in her embrace, Lena felt herself break down. The tears began to fall and once they did, she couldn't stop them. Kara gripped her tightly through it all.
"I've got you, Lee," Kara whispered in her ear. "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere."
Lena sobbed into Kara's arms, her tears falling on Kara's shoulders and soaking her dress. They sat like that for a long while, before Lena's breaths began to slow and the tears began to subside. Finally, she pulled back, looking up at the girl who could make her feel better when her entire world was falling apart. The girl who was everything to her.
"Thanks, Kar," Lena said, hiccuping slightly.
Kara squeezed Lena's shoulders. "Of course, Lee. I'll always be here for you." She moved to sit beside her on the bed and Lena leaned into Kara's shoulder, feeling the damp cloth beneath her cheek.
"I got you all wet," Lena said apologetically.
Kara let out a short, bright laugh. "That's okay," she reassured her friend. "I don't mind."
"Will you stay with me?" Lena asked her friend.
"Until you're tired of me," Kara joked.
"What if I never get tired of you?"
"Then I'll stay with you forever."
They stayed like that, sitting silently side by side, until the sky outside began to lighten. Finally, Lena withdrew her head from Kara's shoulder and took a long look around the room. She stood, reaching for Kara's hand and pulling the other girl to her feet as well.
"Come on," she said wearily. "Let's go back to check on Mon-el."
They walked back to the guest chambers, passing a few servants in the halls. It was early morning now and the castle was beginning to wake up.
"How is he?" Lena asked upon entering the bedroom. Kara walked over to his side as Eliza stepped back from the bed.
"Good," she said. "His fever broke and the paralysis has subsided. It may be awhile before he wakes up, but I think we're out of the woods."
Lena sighed in relief. "Thank goodness for that. Thank you, Eliza, for taking care of him."
"Of course, your Highness," Eliza said warmly. "I'm just glad he's going to be okay." She paused for a moment. "I've got this covered," Eliza said. "You two should really think about getting some rest."
Lena nodded and Kara stepped back from the bed. The girls looked at each other and, without a word, moved silently out of the bedroom. Lena reached for Kara's hand as she led her friend down the hall. Before they knew it, they were in Lena's chambers. Neither spoke a word as they entered Lena's bedroom and collapsed down on Lena's bed.