Clark saw two police cars outside of Lex's house and wondered what was up? He also wondered why he had trailed Connor here? Did he know Lex?
Clark stood back some distance. Connor had taken his car, while Clark had tailed him a safe distance back in his truck. Now, he watched as Connor drove up, then screeched off at the sight of the police cars! Clark's eyes narrowed, as Connor drove off. He had known something was off about that guy! Clearly the police cars had spooked him. But why?
Clark parked some distance away, then got out of the truck. He walked up to Lex's door and was let in by a familiar looking servant. It was not long until he made his way to the study, where he could overhear Lex and the police. One of the officers, was the same one that took Chloe's statement.
Clark hid in the hallway and listened.
Meanwhile Lex folded his arms, as he was shown a wooden stake.
"Well Mr. Luthor?" one officer asked.
"Well what?"
"Your fingerprints are all over this thing! We found this and Ms. Lane's digital camera near a disturbed grave. You had to have seen her."
"Yes, I was in the graveyard last night. No, I have not seen Ms. Lane."
The officer that dealt with Chloe, snorted in disgust!
"A young woman's life could be in danger, Mr. Luthor! And you have the nerve to stand before us and lie to our faces?"
Lex gave the man a cool look.
"Frankly, I'm amazed at your nerve....Officer...." Lex asked.
"Actually, it's DETECTIVE, Detective Owens. And I'm just doing my job here."
"I'm amazed that you have the nerve," Lex continued, "to speak to me in this fashion. I told you I didn't see anyone. And when you didn't get the answer you would've liked, you called me liar. Frankly, Detective Owens, I'm offended."
"Oh, you're offended, hey, Luthor? Let me tell you something...."
Clark stopped eavesdropping and looked around. Lex and himself had a complicated friendship. There were times when he was so disappointed in that guy. And now was one of them. Because Clark could always tell when Lex was lying.
And he was lying to Officer Owens right now. But why?
Clark began walking down hallways, using his x-ray vision to scan through walls to see if he could find a sign of Lois. He just found the usual servants in the kitchen working and few dusting, two things Lois would never be doing.
Clark then got to the stairs. He looked around again and headed up them, half running. Once on the second floor, he began his scan again.
It didn't take him long to find a figure in a bed. Clark hurried to the door and eased it open. Lois was tossing and turning in bed. From the door, Clark could see she was sick or something! He closed the door and hurried over to the bed.
"Lois? Lois, can you hear me?"
He reached down to touch her hand, and could feel it was quite hot! As she tossed, Clark frowned and moved so he could see her neck. There was a bandage on it!
Clark walked around to a table next to the bed. He found medications for infection sitting there. He picked one up, looked at it, then set it down again.
Lois had gotten hurt somehow....well, Clark suspected how, since the other murder victims had wounds on their neck. Somehow, Lois had managed to survive.
Or did Lois have Lex to thank for that? And if she did, then why was he lying to the cops downstairs now?
Lois awoke and looked up at him. She then began to cry, for whatever reason! Somewhat horrified, Clark made a decision. He grabbed Lois's medication and put it into his pocket. He then bent down and swept Lois up into his arms. Her whole body was warm, to say the least. He would take her to the farm, until he found out what was going on in this town!
"No.....no....." Lois cried, trying very weakly to push against him.
"Lois, it's Clark. You're going to be alright. I'm going to take you somewhere where you can get better, okay?"
But Lois seemed to pass out again. Clark, walked over to the bedroom door, looked around, then proceeded to slip out of the mansion without being seen.
Martha Kent closed the guest bedroom and walked down the stairs. Jonathan and Clark looked at her expectantly.
"I got her to take the required medication, just barely. If I don't see any signs of improvement...."
"Then we should take her to a hospital, Clark." Jonathan Kent finished, giving his son a stern look.
"Look, I'm sorry to inconvenience you both...." Clark began. But Jonathan put up a hand and Martha spoke.
"Honey, you're not inconveniencing us! But we're going to have to call Lois's father. The poor thing is delirious! She thought I was her mother!"
"I think we should call the police. People think that Lois could be dead." Jonathan said.
"Yeah, I know. Dad, I took her from Lex's place."
"Lex? What was she doing there?" Jonathan asked in a sour tone.
"Dad, I would've never even found her there, if it hadn't been for Chloe's boyfriend."
"Wait a minute! You're losing me. Chloe is seeing someone?" Martha asked.
"Yeah, a guy named Connor."
"Connor who? Maybe his family is from around here?" Jonathan asked.
"He's not from around here, Dad. And I still don't know how he figured out where Lois was."
"You didn't ask him?" Jonathan asked.
"No, that's the strange part. He took off when he saw the police were at Lex's."
"The police? Clark, what's going on here?" Martha asked, now more worried than ever.
"I followed Connor to Lex's. There were police there. Connor sees the cars and takes off. I go in and overhear Lex not only lying about where Lois is, but....I guess they found some evidence that proves that he was in the cemetery last night with her. I don't want to believe anything sinister is going on here, but I just don't like the feel of any of this."
"Neither do I, son." Jonathan said. "That's why we ought to call Lois's father."
"Mom, you saw that wound on her throat! Lois has survived an attack that was supposed to have killed her! The person that did this could be waiting to strike at anytime. I know her father would want to know, but I don't think we should say anything, to anyone, about where Lois is, until we can find out what this town is dealing with. Though...."
"Though what?" Jonathan asked.
"It's pretty obvious, isn't it? I mean, these killings never happen during the day, do they? And the blood being drained...."
Martha began to laugh!
"Honey, what are you saying? That what....Dracula has come to Smallville or something? What?"
"No, Mom....but close."
"Okay, son, why don't you get back to the University and we'll take care of Lois here. We'll do things your way, for now. But if Lois gets any worse then we're taking her to the hospital." Jonathan said in a no-nonsense manner.
Clark smiled gratefully.
"Thanks, Dad, Mom. You understand that I can't turn a blind eye to this anymore. Maybe if I had paid more attention, then Lois wouldn't be in the shape she is in now."
Martha walked up to him.
"Now, now! None of that. What happened to Lois is not your fault and...."
There was a sudden sharp knock at the kitchen door. Clark walked away from his mother and opened the door.
Lex was standing out there. He smiled warmly.
"Hey, Clark! Can I come in?"
"Well, this really isn't a good time...." Clark began.
"Oh, yeah, I figured as much."
"You did?" Martha asked nervously. Jonathan folded his arms and gave Lex a hard look. Lex stepped in anyway.
"Well, yes, Mrs. Kent. I mean it's a terrible thing when a person's vehicle is stolen."
Clark rolled his tongue around in his mouth. His truck! Damn! He had rushed Lois back here without his truck, since it seemed like it would be too slow. He had left his truck at Lex's.
"Uh....yeah." was all Clark could think to say. "We were just going to call the police right now."
Jonathan stepped in.
"That's right, Lex. I had to pick up Clark from school....someone just stole the truck off of the lot."
"Well, luckily for you, you won't have to go through the trouble of calling the police. I just happened to be talking to them, when they discovered your truck, Clark."
Clark could tell from the piercing look Lex was giving him, that he didn't believe the story. But Lex certainly couldn't account for why Clark was here and not with the vehicle, so Clark suspected Lex wasn't going to push it.
"You were talking to the police, Lex?" Martha asked. "I hope nothing is wrong."
"Well actually, Mrs. Kent, there is. They seem to think that I had a hand in what happened to Lois Lane."
"Really?" Clark asked, knowing he sounded fake, but unable to help it. "Do you know her?"
"No, I don't. But I was in the graveyard last night. Something I dropped got spotted by the police."
"Why were you in the graveyard last night, Lex, if you don't mind my asking?" Jonathan asked.
"Not at all, Mr. Kent. I was out looking for this killer."
"You?" Clark asked, now just as skeptical of Lex, as Lex was of him.
"Yes. The police are clueless and I figured someone had to do something. Clark, you can drive back with me if you want.....so you can get your truck."
"Actually," Jonathan answered, "I'll drive Clark to the truck. But thanks for your help, Lex."
Lex smiled tolerantly. His eyes roamed around the house, stopping at the stairs. But he did turn and leave. Martha went over to the window and watched as his car left the farm. She turned back to Clark and her husband.
"Did you get the feeling he knew Lois was here?" she asked. Jonathan shook his head.
"I hate to say this, but I think you were right son. His whole visit was strange. And he just outright lied about Lois. I hate to say this outloud, much less think it, but maybe the killer in this town just left our house."
When Connor returned to campus, the first place he headed was Chloe's dorm. He had to tell her that he had found Lois.
But when he got to her room, the door was open and she was being comforted by Lana Lang. Lana saw him first and let go of Chloe. Chloe sniffed, saw him and jumped up. Connor's arms immediately went around her.
"Hey, Connor." Lana said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. She found that odd, since she had never felt this way before. And she usually had very limited interaction with him. Lana suspected it was Clark's earlier words, about Connor, that had stirred these feelings.
Connor set Chloe away from him.
"How are you holding up?"
"Not well." she sniffed again. "I think we've given Lois long enough. I should call my uncle."
"Chloe....wait. Listen, uh, I think I've found her."
Chloe stared at him, then glanced over at Lana, who moved closer to him.
"You think you've found her? What are you talking about?" Chloe asked.
"It's just what I said....Lex Luthor has her at his place."
"What?!" Chloe began to squeal. "How do you know this?! Have the police been over there?"
"I know that the police are there now. Whether they find Lois there...."
Lana interrupted.
"Wait a minute! Why wouldn't the police find Lois there? And why would Lex even have her with him? I mean.....I guess I'm not getting this at all."
"Well none of us will if we don't get over to the Luthor mansion." Connor said calmly. He liked Lana Lang, well enough, but she was not his type. Her eyes bothered him. They were cat like or something.
He looked from her to Chloe. Chloe, who he had felt an instant connection with, from the first day he had met her, in the college library.
"Let's just get over there, okay?" he suggested softly.
Chloe nodded and began to leave with Connor, but Lana stopped them.
"Hey! Wait a minute! You're saying what, that Lex is keeping Lois there against her will or something? I mean, Connor, you just said the police are there. They will bring Lois back."
"Not if Lex Luthor lies about her being there."
"Did you see her there, Connor?" Lana asked. Chloe began to feel irritated. Why the hell was Lana giving her boyfriend the third degree?
"Lana, Connor would not lie about something like this! And Lex is shifty! Now I'm going to trust him and go and get my cousin! Please close my door when you leave."
"Sure." Lana said softly, as Connor and Chloe headed out. Lana walked out into the hallway and watched them leave She was still staring after them, when Clark walked up behind her, lifted some of her hair and kissed the back of her neck! Lana jumped and turned around, smiling up at him.
"Hey, you!"
Clark grinned back, but eyed Chloe and Connor's backs.
"Where are they off to?"
"Oh, Clark! I think you could be right about that Connor guy."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, he came here swearing up and down that Lois was at Lex's! He's also hinting that Lex is keeping her there against her will or something! I mean I think Chloe is about to be severely disappointed here. And Connor was just so weird about the whole thing."
Clark said nothing. For yes, Chloe was about to be disappointed. They would not find Lois and Lex's. He looked back at Lana.
"Uh, Lana, tonight with my parents...."
"Yeah, like I said, I'm really looking forward to some home cooking."
"Uh, well, my parents had an emergency. So we're not going over there tonight."
"Oh....well I hope it's nothing too serious?"
"It could be. Look, we'll do it some other time, okay?"
"Fine." Lana said, trying to shake the familiar feeling, that Clark was not telling her everything. She didn't want to think that. That little issue had always been a sore spot between them.
"Well then maybe we can eat out?" she suggested.
Clark bit his lip.
"Lana, this emergency involves me too. I can't get into it now, but I won't be able to do anything tonight."
"This really must be serious."
"It is, Lana. Believe me, it is." he said. What he did not say was that he planned on patrolling the graveyard, this campus or anyplace else he had to, to bring these killings to an end, tonight.
Connor pulled up outside of the Luthor mansion and frowned deeply. He had had the same feeling, as soon as they began to get close to this place, that he was having right now.
Lois's scent was no longer here. She was not in that house.
Chloe began to get out of the car, but Connor grabbed her arm.
"She's no longer here."
Chloe's eyes became huge!
"Connor, we haven't even went inside! How do you know...."
Connor let go of her arm, and enfolded her face in his hands.
"I love you, Chloe."
Chloe blinked. It was not as if Connor had not told her this before. It was just that now his timing seemed off.
"Uh, I love you too, Connor. But...."
"I need for you to trust me. I know how important Lois is to you. I would never let anything happen to her....or you."
Chloe reached up and touched one of the hands on her face.
"I know that. I've always known that."
Connor smiled. He then stopped and removed his hands from her face.
"Lex has moved her. We need to find out why he's so interested in your cousin in the first place."
Chloe just nodded. Lex was nowhere near as bad as his father, Lionel, but he was capable of anything. And she felt safe with Connor. She knew he was telling her the truth. Connor started the car and drove off, back towards the university.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As far as the 'Angel' plot goes, none of that nonsense that happened when the series ended, occurred. I'm sorry, but I really hated that storyline!!!
When Connor was alone, he took out his cellphone and called Los Angeles. Specifically, the law firm of Wolfram & Hart.
He now knew that his real father was a vampire named Angel. He knew what he had done for him, giving him a new life.
But memories of his old one, were mixed in with the new memories. Memories of demons and vampires. Memories of the strength he possessed.
Angel and himself, had managed to establish a cordial relationship. One in which Connor knew he could come to him, when he needed help.
And he needed help now.
A vampire had come to Smallville. And whoever this was, was making more vampires. Connor didn't want this peaceful community to end up like L.A., or God help them, another Sunnydale.
Connor hung on, and was more than a little surprised to find himself speaking to Wesley Wyndam-Price.
"Connor, hello. What can I do for you?"
"Uh, you can let me speak to Angel....my father?"
There was a long silence.
"Wesley? Wesley, are you still there?"
"I'm here. Connor, I can't let you speak to your father.....he's not here. We're not sure where he is."
"Okay, tell me what's wrong? Now!" Connor snapped, feeling on edge.
"He's gone, Connor. Just on a little getaway. I will put you in touch with him when he returns." Wesley said, hanging up. He then picked up the part of the green rock, that someone had sent to Angel, a few weeks ago. Who this person was, or how this being had gotten past Harmony, and into Angel's office, was beyond comprehension. The security tapes just displayed a black robed figure wearing a hood.
But the effect of this strange stone, unfortunately, had the worst effect on Angel that was deemed possible. It gave him a false sense of pure happiness....bliss really. Much like one other time, when some actress that Angel had been working for, slipped him some sort of drug that had turned him back into Angelus, without removing his soul.
The same thing had happened with Angel. The security tapes had shown the robed figure, from the back, give Angel a ring with this stone in it, which he unfortunately, put on. So while he still had a soul, it was almost as if the ring were just making Angel 'high'. Residue from the stone, had been found on the floor.
Angelus had killed 3 employees on his way out of this office, and off to God knows where.
Wesley did not know how much Connor remembered about Angelus, but for now, he figured maybe it was best, not to involve the lad in any of this. But he was worried. They had used their resources at this law firm to try and track down Angel.
They had had no such luck. Where could he have gone?
Lex stared at the video of Connor and Chloe outside of his house earlier. Connor was quite a unique boy. He could be invaluable to Lex.
Lilah Morgan walked into Lex's study, smiling. He had no idea that she was really dead, or of just how much the Wolfram & Hart Senior Partners were helping him to fulfill his goals. They had represented Lionel Luthor for years, and Lex decided to keep them on as the Luthor family attorneys.
"Where is that animal?" Lex asked coolly.
"By 'animal', do you mean Angelus?"
Lex stood up.
"I think you know that his killing spree was not part of the plan. I suggest you reel your boy in. I just need him to bring Connor to me."
Lilah smirked and touched his lips.
"I'm not a fool, Lex."
"I never said you were."
"No, you would never be so impolite. You want BOTH Angel and Connor. That's why you had that green rock sent to Angel. You knew what it could do."
"Correction, dear, your R & D department, knew how it would affect him. But yes, I do want them both. The son of two vampires, who is not a vampire, and his father, the vampire with a soul."
"He's not the only one with a soul." Lilah corrected him.
Lex waved a hand!
"I know all about that other one. He's not the one I'm seeking. I can feel it."
"Ah, well, if that's all....."
"No, that's not all. I want to meet with this Angelus. It's time to get the ball rolling here."
"And you want me to somehow make this miracle happen? You know, all you had to do was leave that girl here, not bind her wound and the smell of the blood would've drawn him back here." Lilah said sarcastically.
Lex smiled thinly.
"Well, apparently I attracted other people without doing all of that. Lois was taken from this house....but I have a good idea where she is. And I have no intention of using her as bait. Now, bring me Angelus....by tonight."
Lilah shrugged, then nodded. She walked out of his study, now more suspicious than ever. Why was she getting the feeling that Lex wasn't being straight with her? Why did she get the feeling that this 'containment' of Angelus and Connor, was not about profit to Luthorcorp?