Chapter 36 - Truth Serum
Lex knew it was a bit of a risk, but he took a trip down to the mansion to meet with Chloe. He was confident he could keep his security team far from their conversation; the real risk was that being in Smallville would trigger an irresistible desire to see his family again. It had been weeks now.
Lex sat at his desk while he waited for Chloe to arrive. Images of the gifts from his family kept flashing through his mind. It had been a heavy price to pay for the merger, but it was worth it. He took out the little box that held the compass from Jonathan and opened it. The surface was badly scratched and worn from his time on the island, but he wouldn't have had it any other way. It still pointed North, and somehow, Lex saw himself in it. Regardless of how damaged he might become, he knew who he was—the Kents had made sure of that.
Chloe entered the room a moment later. He carefully set the compass back into his desk and stood. "Chloe, thanks for coming," he said.
"I only have a minute. Clark just called me about a story that broke at the hospital, so—"
"Then maybe you can just give me the, ah, abridged version of your field trip to LuthorCorp the other night. Let me guess: somehow, no one can resist telling you the truth."
Chloe's jaw stiffened. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"This is why I asked you to stay out of this."
"I—I'm sorry—"
"I'm sure you've been having fun with this. The budding reporter. You could crack any story you wanted."
"Lex, I could use it to help you. I could meet with your father, get him to confess to the murder of his parents."
"He'd kill you."
"You could protect me."
"Believe me, Chloe, I'd do anything I could to try, but I don't know if that's a battle I could win." The words came out far more frankly than he had intended.
Based on the look on he face, the effects of the serum weren't lost on her. "Lex . . . do you know what Clark keeps hiding from me?"
"Yes." He blinked. "Chloe, stop."
"What is it?"
The words came out all at once and against his will: "He's an alien. He has the power of strength and speed and a few others. He mentioned X-ray vision and heat vision."
"Whoa." Her eyes went wide. "That explains a few things. Thanks for clearing that up."
"Chloe!" He should have realized this would happen. There were side effects to meteor infections. Every strength came with unrelenting ambitions and drives; the ability to find truth came with an unyielding desire for it, regardless of the means.
"But . . . if your father were to find out . . ."
"He'd have Clark dissected. Or worse, he'd keep him alive."
She hung her head, biting her lip. "Look, I care about Clark, too. I could get your father to make a confession and record it. That'd be enough to get him locked away, wouldn't it?"
"Yes." The serum forced him to answer the question truthfully, even though she already knew the answer.
"Well, then?"
He swallowed hard. He could protect her, if he could get things moving quickly enough. It was unlikely Lionel could do anything to Chloe once he was already in prison.
"Lex. Please."
"Clark wouldn't want me to put you in danger."
"Sounds like there are a few things we won't be letting the Kents know."
"I don't keep secrets from them. And if the Kents find out I put a minor in danger, they'll—" He'd wanted to say disown me or kill me, but the spell wouldn't let him, and he ended up spilling, "be very disappointed."
"You really do love them."
"With all of my heart." Being able to say that with the backing of the full confidence of forced truth almost made up for the embarrassment of the other confessions.
She frowned. "Is there anything I could say to convince you to let me help?"
He breathed in to say no, and said, "Yes."
"What is that?"
The words weren't even his own. "Suggest a plan I can't resist. Let me have eyes and ears on the room where you meet with Lionel, and accept any security measure I offer. Remind me that this will be a quick, clean victory, and I can go home to my family when it's over."
Chloe laughed. "Great. Then let's do this."
He sighed, lowering his head. "You win, Chloe. I'll let you help me take down Lionel."
She whistled. "First name basis with the old man, huh?"
"Jonathan Kent is my father in every way that matters."
"That's the truth, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."
Chloe grinned.
Clark only had a few weeks of school left before summer. For the first time since he'd started school, though, he really wasn't looking forward to the break. He knew it wouldn't be all that different from every summer he'd had so far on the farm, but he didn't like the idea of being an only child again. It was already miserable enough as it was to get through chores on his own. Not that his dad was bad company. It had just been nice, for awhile, to have someone closer to his own age.
Three and a half weeks after Lex left for Metropolis, Clark came home from school late to find the house empty. He'd spent longer at the caves than he had intended—that was how he was occupying much of his time, now that he was on awkward terms with basically all of his friends—but he didn't think he'd missed dinner, and there didn't appear to be dishes in the sink. If anything, he expected to walk in on his mother cooking, maybe help her, or at least set the table.
He checked the barn, but it was empty, too. He didn't see them in any of the fields. The truck was in the driveway, so he was pretty sure they hadn't gone anywhere unless someone had come to pick them up.
Clark wandered back into the house, running a hand through his hair and wracking his brain for where else they might be. He glanced over at the front door—he had come in through the side—and found a note taped to the inside:
If you want to see them alive, meet me at the Metron Labs in Metropolis. Tell no one.
If you want to see them unharmed, be here by six.
Clark felt like he'd just swallowed a meteor rock.
He took a quick over at the clock—it was five forty—and then he ran.
A/N: I'm not putting this on hiatus, but it's very likely the next couple of updates will be late/delayed as I prepare for my debut novel release in June. Apologies in advance!