Into the Pantheon: Of Gods and Angels
::Chapter Two::
After Clark got out of school, he had gone to the Talon for a little while and then back to the farm. While he had a room in the house, he preferred the loft. It was like a den for him, and sometimes he even slept there. There had been some surprises waiting for him in the loft before, but as he topped the stairs - he was far from prepared for the sight that awaited him.
There was a strange girl laying asleep on his couch. She had on a long white dress and her deep red hair lay spilled all around her. Streams of late afternoon sunlight poured in and lit parts of her fair skin in a luminous glow. She looked ethereal in her serenity and for a moment he almost thought she was a figment of his imagination, although he had never suffered from an over-active imagination - reality had at times been stranger than just about anyone's imagination.
Clark backed away and was about to turn and dash down the stairs and ask his parents if they knew why a stranger was in his loft. He'd barely moved when the girl's eyes opened. He started out anyway, when he heard her voice, "...You must be Clark."
Clark turned back around and saw that she was looking at him with half-closed lids.
She opened her eyes fully and sat up.
"Who are you? And how do you know who I am?" Clark asked.
"I guess ...you could say I guessed." She said as she studied him.
Upon first meeting a person, Catherine always studied them - not just the physical shell, but what lay below. As far as the physical shell, however, Clark was as handsome bordering on pretty as she had surmised upon seeing pictures of him from her father. His huge eyes that looked blue from where she sat, were in contrast to his short black hair. He was certainly above average in height and his build was strong. Dismissing his features, she sensed a beautiful essence emanating from him, and she didn't even have to concentrate with this one. It was just there. She felt no ruthlessness or cruelty, as a matter of fact he 'felt' clean. Not dirty. Not like so many. Not black or gray, but white.
"Who are you?" Clark asked again, staring at her, puzzled - but not feeling threatened.
"I'm Catherine Luthor." -Catherine.
"I don't understand." -Clark.
"Lionel Luthor's my father - it's obvious your parents haven't told you anything yet." -Catherine.
Clark barely heard anything past the 'Lionel Luthor's my father' bit. "That can't be." Clark said, his eyes widening. "I've never heard of Mr. Luthor having a daughter."
"Well that can be expected." Catherine winked and stood up. "It seems I'm a well-kept secret...mostly." She held out her hand to him in greeting.
Clark, still with wide eyes and a bit puzzled, took her hand, albeit hesitantly. With the contact, there was a twinge of something... Catherine drew her hand back slowly. "It seems one of us is wired today." Even at her taller than average height for a woman, 5 feet 8, she had to look up at him.
"Static electricity." Clark said in explanation, but somehow he doubted it. When she smiled openly, he threw out the moment as a coincidence. "So ...how come you've been a 'secret'?"
"I suppose my father has his reasons." -Catherine.
Clark looked at her closely after her last words. He was curious and he looked at her closer now, like that would give him answers. She had a heart-shaped face and full lips, high cheekbones and a light freckle-less complexion, and stunning green eyes. Not large or overly large eyes, but ... something about them was different. A little off or a little more...
"..But it's not scandalous - of course there are people that know about me." -Catherine.
"What are you doing up here - and does my parents know you're here?" He squinted at her slightly with a skeptical glint.
Clark was going to ask another question when he heard his dad's voice. "..Clark!"
Clark went and leaned over the loft railing. "I'm up here, dad!"
From below, Jonathan looked up at his son. "It's time for dinner."
"Okay, dad." - Clark said and Jonathan said, "Oh and by the way - we have a guest."
After he walked away, Clark turned back to Catherine. "You wouldn't happen to be that guest would you?"
"That would be me. My father made arrangements for me to stay here a little while." -Catherine.
"How long is a little while?" -Clark.
"As in a matter of week." -Catherine.
"Why??" Clark asked, feeling that didn't make any sense. He already felt like he was in the dark with this girl's proclamation that she was Lionel Luthor's daughter - a complete surprise, and now she was saying she was going to stay here for a while.
"It's rather simple. My father underestimated an enemy of his and now he's learned just how capably dangerous they are and that since they can't get to him, they've sent lackeys to kill me. This is the last place they'd think to look for me." -Catherine spoke in a frank manner.
Clark shook his head, he was at a momentary loss for words. He had to talk to his parents. "I'm going down. Aren't you coming?"
---
Dinner was a pretty quiet affair. Catherine was mostly quiet and the rest were silently observing her now and again. There was a strain on conversation. It was obvious to Catherine that Jonathan was less than thrilled about her staying here and Clark sensed this as well. He kept looking at his parents and then to Catherine.
Martha tried to lighten up dinner with little questions to Clark about his day: fine, or to Catherine about attending Smallville high for a while: yes, and she was a junior. Not much answers from anyone, though Martha tried again and asked Catherine if dinner was okay.
Catherine looked across the table at her squarely for the first time. "I've never had anything like it. Country food." The fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes and apple pie were mostly firsts for her.
"Not good enough for you?" -Jonathan asked.
"Actually, it's delicious. Amazing, really." -Catherine.
Everyone was surpised, not the least of which was Martha. "Well thank you." She smiled at Catherine and was rewarded with a pretty smile in return.
Catherine was sensing mixed emotions in reaction to her presence. Wariness from Jonathan, curiousity and something else from Clark and -- Martha, well Martha was the surprise. She was sending out a jumble of emotions. Apprehension, hesitation, anxiousness; and warmth: a warm kindness. Catherine assumed it was just her nature for the most part, but there was more to it and she had no idea why.
When dinner was over, Catherine went back to the loft.
-------------------
Martha Kent came moments after Catherine returned. She was carrying a load consisting of a sheet, a cover and a pillow.
Catherine watched as she went over to the couch and proceeded to put the sheets and cover on it. "I hope you'll be okay up here."
Catherine nodded and watched, as after a glance to her Martha went about her task.
When Martha was finished, she patted the couch and said, "Now there - I hope that won't be too rough of a sleep for you."
"It's fine." -Catherine said and turned back away as she opened her suitcase.
"I know your father's arranged for you to start school tomorrow. Don't worry about being new, Clark's going to show you around." -Martha.
"Okay." Catherine said and continued going through her suitcase.
Martha watched her, wanting to say more, wanting to know more - wanting to make conversation but she merely asked, "Are you going to be safe out here by yourself?"
Catherine smiled in almost a smirk, but numbed the expression when she turned around to face Mrs. Kent. "Of course I will. I'm not scared of the dark or anything. I know too well what's in it."
"...But your security people. They're not around are they? I haven't seen them..." Martha said.
"They'll be around in a couple of days. They're still in Europe. I'm sure I won't need them, though. And anyway, you and Mr. Kent won't have to worry about them hanging around here and bothering your privacy - they'll be staying a little ways off into town, probably." -Catherine.
Martha nodded. "Okay. If you need anything, you know where we're all at."
"I'll keep that in mind." Catherine said.
Catherine watched Martha as she left. She had the feeling that Mrs. Kent wanted to talk to her more. It was more than kindness: even more than usual curiousity or prodding; though that was there too. As a matter of fact, these people surprised her. They were...good. From what she had seen of them so far. Even Jonathan; even with the wariness towards her. But that wasn't an unusual reaction to her; she was a Luthor after all. The name emitted strange reactions from people- from the fear of what lurked below that name or what could be done in the name of that name.
- - -
Just a little while later, after she had taken a bath in the house and gone back to the barn; she was straightening some of her things when she heard Clark's voice. "Knock..knock."
She looked over to the loft as he was nearing the top of the stairs- one hand on the railling and one arm covering his eyes. "Are you decent?"
Catherine was actually amused and she laughed. "Yes."
Clark took his arm from his eyes and looked at her. He saw that she was indeed decent in a long peach robe. After dinner, he had just briefly talked to his parents about her, of course- but he still had questions; and for that matter: how could he not?
Catherine sat down on the couch and patted the cushion. "You can come sit. Contrary to the notion of what people conjure when they hear my last name; I won't bite."
Clark smiled a bit shyly, but didn't move.
"Do I look threatening?" -Catherine.
Clark came over to her and sat down. He studied her face for a moment and smiled. "No. Not at all." He said in a tone that seemed to say, 'that's ridiculous. of course not.'
"Good." Catherine simultaneously thought and said out loud. She smiled at Clark and said, "So what have you come to ask me?"
"Is it that obvious?" -Clark.
"It would be odd if you weren't curious. What do you want to know?" -Catherine.
"So, you're going to tell me anything I ask?" -Clark.
"I wouldn't go that far." -Catherine.
"Ooh..secrets." Clark said in a half-way teasing voice.
"Do you think I have secrets, Clark Kent?" Catherine asked in a light voice, but she studied his face.
"Not to be stereotyping or anything, but what Luthor doesn't?" -Clark.
"Well, I think it's more like - *who* doesn't? You too...I'm sure." -Catherine.
"Not me, I'm an open book." -Clark.
Catherine highly doubted that was true, but she changed the subject and said, "Ask me something, if you must."
"Who's your mother?" -Clark.
"I don't have one. Lionel is all ..." -Catherine.
"But--" Clark started.
"I'm adopted. And Lillian's dead, so I didn't get much of a chance for her to be my mother. Even when she was wasn't, she was either ill or I was away." Catherine interjected.
"I had no idea you were adopted. I wouldn't have thought." -Clark.
"Why not?" -Catherine.
"Well for one, I just assumed - maybe the hair made me think you were a blood Luthor. I mean Lex had red hair when he was a kid..." -Clark.
Catherine just smiled at the red hair reference and then said, "Lex is a friend of yours isn't he?" -Catherine.
"I guess you could say he's my best friend." -Clark said and then a thought dawned on him, "He's never mentioned you."
"Well, that's probably because he doesn't know I exist." -Catherine.
Clark feeling surprised again, started to speak and Catherine said, "And he can't know right now."
"Why can't he know?" -Clark.
"Rather, he shouldn't know right now. I have my reasons. One of them being the fact that he doesn't know I exist and another being the issue with my being targeted by an enemy of our father." -Catherine.
"But, Lex could help. Once you meet him, you will see that--" -Clark.
"I've met him before. He just doesn't remember." -Catherine said and then, "Please do not tell Lex about me. My father and I want to do that. We're family and it should be done in our own time, not someone else's. Your parents aren't going to say anything, neither should you."
Clark sighed and thought on that for a couple long moments.
Catherine watched him. "Okay?"
Clark finally looked up. "Alright."
Catherine smiled and he couldn't help but return the smile a fraction. "I guess you're still a secret for a little while longer."
Clark stood and headed down. "I should probably get some sleep. See you in the morning."
Before he left, Catherine called, "Oh... and if *anyone* wants to know.... I'm Catherine Lancaster."
Clark looked back at her, and Catherine was quick to explain, "For safety's sake."
Clark nodded reluctantly and left.
----------------
Although it was dark and she was laying covered up on the couch, she was still waiting for a phone call. Around midnight, her cell phone buzzed quietly.
"Yes, father?" She answered the phone, knowing well who was calling her.
"How is the Kent farm?" -Lionel.
"It's...different." Catherine said, not saying whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Tell me how the Kents are relating to you." -Lionel.
"Jonathan Kent is wary, but I suppose that is to be expected." -Catherine.
"Yes.." Lionel said, waiting for her to go on.
"Martha.. for some reason she likes me." -Catherine.
"I'm not surprised." -Lionel.
"Why is that?" -Catherine.
"Never mind. And what about Clark?" -Lionel.
"On some level we connect. I think he could come to see me as a friend." -Catherine.
"A 'friend' or more?" -Lionel.
"Does it matter?" -Catherine.
"Perhaps." Lionel answered on the other end of the line, in his ambiguous way.
"How's Metropolis?" -Catherine asks, a tint of sarcasm barely tinging her voice.
Lionel picked up on that, "I know you're not accustomed to Smallville, a god-awful farm no less - but you'll adjust. Remember your reasons for being there."
"Oh, the reasons other than being safe from villains?" Catherine said, a tinge of irony touching her voice now.
Laughter came from the other end of the line. And then, "This is small potatoes for you, young lady. I'll be checking in periodically. Enjoy Smallville." The phone clicked and when the dialtone sounded, Lionel and Metropolis seemed very far way all of a sudden; another world.
"Goodnight to you too, father." Catherine said and clicked the phone off.
---------------
END of Chapter Two
next chapter should be up within a few days.
Note: This whole fictione won't be about Catherine living at the Kents. It's just a plot point for the beginning. A lot will be revealed over the course and there will definitely be twists, and not all is what it seems...
Thanks, Nightwing - for reviewing!
::Chapter Two::
After Clark got out of school, he had gone to the Talon for a little while and then back to the farm. While he had a room in the house, he preferred the loft. It was like a den for him, and sometimes he even slept there. There had been some surprises waiting for him in the loft before, but as he topped the stairs - he was far from prepared for the sight that awaited him.
There was a strange girl laying asleep on his couch. She had on a long white dress and her deep red hair lay spilled all around her. Streams of late afternoon sunlight poured in and lit parts of her fair skin in a luminous glow. She looked ethereal in her serenity and for a moment he almost thought she was a figment of his imagination, although he had never suffered from an over-active imagination - reality had at times been stranger than just about anyone's imagination.
Clark backed away and was about to turn and dash down the stairs and ask his parents if they knew why a stranger was in his loft. He'd barely moved when the girl's eyes opened. He started out anyway, when he heard her voice, "...You must be Clark."
Clark turned back around and saw that she was looking at him with half-closed lids.
She opened her eyes fully and sat up.
"Who are you? And how do you know who I am?" Clark asked.
"I guess ...you could say I guessed." She said as she studied him.
Upon first meeting a person, Catherine always studied them - not just the physical shell, but what lay below. As far as the physical shell, however, Clark was as handsome bordering on pretty as she had surmised upon seeing pictures of him from her father. His huge eyes that looked blue from where she sat, were in contrast to his short black hair. He was certainly above average in height and his build was strong. Dismissing his features, she sensed a beautiful essence emanating from him, and she didn't even have to concentrate with this one. It was just there. She felt no ruthlessness or cruelty, as a matter of fact he 'felt' clean. Not dirty. Not like so many. Not black or gray, but white.
"Who are you?" Clark asked again, staring at her, puzzled - but not feeling threatened.
"I'm Catherine Luthor." -Catherine.
"I don't understand." -Clark.
"Lionel Luthor's my father - it's obvious your parents haven't told you anything yet." -Catherine.
Clark barely heard anything past the 'Lionel Luthor's my father' bit. "That can't be." Clark said, his eyes widening. "I've never heard of Mr. Luthor having a daughter."
"Well that can be expected." Catherine winked and stood up. "It seems I'm a well-kept secret...mostly." She held out her hand to him in greeting.
Clark, still with wide eyes and a bit puzzled, took her hand, albeit hesitantly. With the contact, there was a twinge of something... Catherine drew her hand back slowly. "It seems one of us is wired today." Even at her taller than average height for a woman, 5 feet 8, she had to look up at him.
"Static electricity." Clark said in explanation, but somehow he doubted it. When she smiled openly, he threw out the moment as a coincidence. "So ...how come you've been a 'secret'?"
"I suppose my father has his reasons." -Catherine.
Clark looked at her closely after her last words. He was curious and he looked at her closer now, like that would give him answers. She had a heart-shaped face and full lips, high cheekbones and a light freckle-less complexion, and stunning green eyes. Not large or overly large eyes, but ... something about them was different. A little off or a little more...
"..But it's not scandalous - of course there are people that know about me." -Catherine.
"What are you doing up here - and does my parents know you're here?" He squinted at her slightly with a skeptical glint.
Clark was going to ask another question when he heard his dad's voice. "..Clark!"
Clark went and leaned over the loft railing. "I'm up here, dad!"
From below, Jonathan looked up at his son. "It's time for dinner."
"Okay, dad." - Clark said and Jonathan said, "Oh and by the way - we have a guest."
After he walked away, Clark turned back to Catherine. "You wouldn't happen to be that guest would you?"
"That would be me. My father made arrangements for me to stay here a little while." -Catherine.
"How long is a little while?" -Clark.
"As in a matter of week." -Catherine.
"Why??" Clark asked, feeling that didn't make any sense. He already felt like he was in the dark with this girl's proclamation that she was Lionel Luthor's daughter - a complete surprise, and now she was saying she was going to stay here for a while.
"It's rather simple. My father underestimated an enemy of his and now he's learned just how capably dangerous they are and that since they can't get to him, they've sent lackeys to kill me. This is the last place they'd think to look for me." -Catherine spoke in a frank manner.
Clark shook his head, he was at a momentary loss for words. He had to talk to his parents. "I'm going down. Aren't you coming?"
---
Dinner was a pretty quiet affair. Catherine was mostly quiet and the rest were silently observing her now and again. There was a strain on conversation. It was obvious to Catherine that Jonathan was less than thrilled about her staying here and Clark sensed this as well. He kept looking at his parents and then to Catherine.
Martha tried to lighten up dinner with little questions to Clark about his day: fine, or to Catherine about attending Smallville high for a while: yes, and she was a junior. Not much answers from anyone, though Martha tried again and asked Catherine if dinner was okay.
Catherine looked across the table at her squarely for the first time. "I've never had anything like it. Country food." The fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes and apple pie were mostly firsts for her.
"Not good enough for you?" -Jonathan asked.
"Actually, it's delicious. Amazing, really." -Catherine.
Everyone was surpised, not the least of which was Martha. "Well thank you." She smiled at Catherine and was rewarded with a pretty smile in return.
Catherine was sensing mixed emotions in reaction to her presence. Wariness from Jonathan, curiousity and something else from Clark and -- Martha, well Martha was the surprise. She was sending out a jumble of emotions. Apprehension, hesitation, anxiousness; and warmth: a warm kindness. Catherine assumed it was just her nature for the most part, but there was more to it and she had no idea why.
When dinner was over, Catherine went back to the loft.
-------------------
Martha Kent came moments after Catherine returned. She was carrying a load consisting of a sheet, a cover and a pillow.
Catherine watched as she went over to the couch and proceeded to put the sheets and cover on it. "I hope you'll be okay up here."
Catherine nodded and watched, as after a glance to her Martha went about her task.
When Martha was finished, she patted the couch and said, "Now there - I hope that won't be too rough of a sleep for you."
"It's fine." -Catherine said and turned back away as she opened her suitcase.
"I know your father's arranged for you to start school tomorrow. Don't worry about being new, Clark's going to show you around." -Martha.
"Okay." Catherine said and continued going through her suitcase.
Martha watched her, wanting to say more, wanting to know more - wanting to make conversation but she merely asked, "Are you going to be safe out here by yourself?"
Catherine smiled in almost a smirk, but numbed the expression when she turned around to face Mrs. Kent. "Of course I will. I'm not scared of the dark or anything. I know too well what's in it."
"...But your security people. They're not around are they? I haven't seen them..." Martha said.
"They'll be around in a couple of days. They're still in Europe. I'm sure I won't need them, though. And anyway, you and Mr. Kent won't have to worry about them hanging around here and bothering your privacy - they'll be staying a little ways off into town, probably." -Catherine.
Martha nodded. "Okay. If you need anything, you know where we're all at."
"I'll keep that in mind." Catherine said.
Catherine watched Martha as she left. She had the feeling that Mrs. Kent wanted to talk to her more. It was more than kindness: even more than usual curiousity or prodding; though that was there too. As a matter of fact, these people surprised her. They were...good. From what she had seen of them so far. Even Jonathan; even with the wariness towards her. But that wasn't an unusual reaction to her; she was a Luthor after all. The name emitted strange reactions from people- from the fear of what lurked below that name or what could be done in the name of that name.
- - -
Just a little while later, after she had taken a bath in the house and gone back to the barn; she was straightening some of her things when she heard Clark's voice. "Knock..knock."
She looked over to the loft as he was nearing the top of the stairs- one hand on the railling and one arm covering his eyes. "Are you decent?"
Catherine was actually amused and she laughed. "Yes."
Clark took his arm from his eyes and looked at her. He saw that she was indeed decent in a long peach robe. After dinner, he had just briefly talked to his parents about her, of course- but he still had questions; and for that matter: how could he not?
Catherine sat down on the couch and patted the cushion. "You can come sit. Contrary to the notion of what people conjure when they hear my last name; I won't bite."
Clark smiled a bit shyly, but didn't move.
"Do I look threatening?" -Catherine.
Clark came over to her and sat down. He studied her face for a moment and smiled. "No. Not at all." He said in a tone that seemed to say, 'that's ridiculous. of course not.'
"Good." Catherine simultaneously thought and said out loud. She smiled at Clark and said, "So what have you come to ask me?"
"Is it that obvious?" -Clark.
"It would be odd if you weren't curious. What do you want to know?" -Catherine.
"So, you're going to tell me anything I ask?" -Clark.
"I wouldn't go that far." -Catherine.
"Ooh..secrets." Clark said in a half-way teasing voice.
"Do you think I have secrets, Clark Kent?" Catherine asked in a light voice, but she studied his face.
"Not to be stereotyping or anything, but what Luthor doesn't?" -Clark.
"Well, I think it's more like - *who* doesn't? You too...I'm sure." -Catherine.
"Not me, I'm an open book." -Clark.
Catherine highly doubted that was true, but she changed the subject and said, "Ask me something, if you must."
"Who's your mother?" -Clark.
"I don't have one. Lionel is all ..." -Catherine.
"But--" Clark started.
"I'm adopted. And Lillian's dead, so I didn't get much of a chance for her to be my mother. Even when she was wasn't, she was either ill or I was away." Catherine interjected.
"I had no idea you were adopted. I wouldn't have thought." -Clark.
"Why not?" -Catherine.
"Well for one, I just assumed - maybe the hair made me think you were a blood Luthor. I mean Lex had red hair when he was a kid..." -Clark.
Catherine just smiled at the red hair reference and then said, "Lex is a friend of yours isn't he?" -Catherine.
"I guess you could say he's my best friend." -Clark said and then a thought dawned on him, "He's never mentioned you."
"Well, that's probably because he doesn't know I exist." -Catherine.
Clark feeling surprised again, started to speak and Catherine said, "And he can't know right now."
"Why can't he know?" -Clark.
"Rather, he shouldn't know right now. I have my reasons. One of them being the fact that he doesn't know I exist and another being the issue with my being targeted by an enemy of our father." -Catherine.
"But, Lex could help. Once you meet him, you will see that--" -Clark.
"I've met him before. He just doesn't remember." -Catherine said and then, "Please do not tell Lex about me. My father and I want to do that. We're family and it should be done in our own time, not someone else's. Your parents aren't going to say anything, neither should you."
Clark sighed and thought on that for a couple long moments.
Catherine watched him. "Okay?"
Clark finally looked up. "Alright."
Catherine smiled and he couldn't help but return the smile a fraction. "I guess you're still a secret for a little while longer."
Clark stood and headed down. "I should probably get some sleep. See you in the morning."
Before he left, Catherine called, "Oh... and if *anyone* wants to know.... I'm Catherine Lancaster."
Clark looked back at her, and Catherine was quick to explain, "For safety's sake."
Clark nodded reluctantly and left.
----------------
Although it was dark and she was laying covered up on the couch, she was still waiting for a phone call. Around midnight, her cell phone buzzed quietly.
"Yes, father?" She answered the phone, knowing well who was calling her.
"How is the Kent farm?" -Lionel.
"It's...different." Catherine said, not saying whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Tell me how the Kents are relating to you." -Lionel.
"Jonathan Kent is wary, but I suppose that is to be expected." -Catherine.
"Yes.." Lionel said, waiting for her to go on.
"Martha.. for some reason she likes me." -Catherine.
"I'm not surprised." -Lionel.
"Why is that?" -Catherine.
"Never mind. And what about Clark?" -Lionel.
"On some level we connect. I think he could come to see me as a friend." -Catherine.
"A 'friend' or more?" -Lionel.
"Does it matter?" -Catherine.
"Perhaps." Lionel answered on the other end of the line, in his ambiguous way.
"How's Metropolis?" -Catherine asks, a tint of sarcasm barely tinging her voice.
Lionel picked up on that, "I know you're not accustomed to Smallville, a god-awful farm no less - but you'll adjust. Remember your reasons for being there."
"Oh, the reasons other than being safe from villains?" Catherine said, a tinge of irony touching her voice now.
Laughter came from the other end of the line. And then, "This is small potatoes for you, young lady. I'll be checking in periodically. Enjoy Smallville." The phone clicked and when the dialtone sounded, Lionel and Metropolis seemed very far way all of a sudden; another world.
"Goodnight to you too, father." Catherine said and clicked the phone off.
---------------
END of Chapter Two
next chapter should be up within a few days.
Note: This whole fictione won't be about Catherine living at the Kents. It's just a plot point for the beginning. A lot will be revealed over the course and there will definitely be twists, and not all is what it seems...
Thanks, Nightwing - for reviewing!