Disclaimer: The characters of Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang belong to the franchises for Superman ™ and Smallville ™. I do not claim possession of any copyrighted characters. Any and all other characters belong to me and may not be used without my permission.

The premise for this fanfiction involve thematic elements that may not be suitable for young children. Dreams in particular recap memories of Lex's life and also visions for a possible future. Almost non-existent romance in this chapter, but some severe violent tension and threats.

If you read, please review. It inspires me to continue writing.

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"I don't care about excuses, Donnovan, just get it done! Find him by tomorrow afternoon!" With a brief moment of uncontrolled passion, Lex slammed the phone onto his desk. He was generally a patient man, but almost 48 hours had sped past since the arrival of the note, and though he wasn't nervous, neither was he entirely pleased with the informational delay. Luthors had a tendency to get things done and done right, but underlings did not generally possess the same drive.

He hadn't heard a word from anyone, not Clark and not Lana. Of course, were Clark in trouble it was none too certain that he would come to him anymore, but Lex knew that Lana would follow through on her promise. The mansion felt like a tomb, the walls closing in upon him. The glowing panes of multicolored glass darkened as the sun slowly sank out of sight, leaving the house dingy and Lex unwilling to move from the lounge in front of the idly glowing fireplace.

His eyes reflected the twilight with a glittering haze, hard and unwavering in the unsteady lamplight. Control was something he had always desired and it had always been kept from his grasp. His father had constantly pulled it away, as if yanking a rug from beneath a stubborn child who refused to sit when told. And once again he was in that same predicament of being helpless when threatened, depending upon others to do the duty he should have always shouldered.

His thoughts were morbid, and his eyes blackened in anger. The eyelids fluttered shut and his head lowered backward to rest upon the cushions. The fury was pulsing through his form, hard and hot and with every breath it grew until it became a living, breathing being within his soul. It would so effortless to just relax and allow it to possess his life.

The rage.

The malevolence.

And above all else, the longing.

The possibilities twined their way around his heart and mind, tugging him deeper into the pit he had formed with that fateful act so long ago. Todd was not going to win this war. Lex's eyes opened and the feral gleam would have sent any living creature shuddering in fear. Lex Luthor was a king among men and he would not be defeated by the past.

It took a supreme effort to pull himself back from the edge of his malicious half and Lex swallowed in desperation, gasping from the mental exertion. Perspiration beaded his brow and he began pacing in agitation, his shoes pounding a harsh rhythm in time to his heartbeat. It felt like being caged with the bars formed from memories and he was almost to the breaking point.

The nightmares were continually worsening, and he wasn't prepared for sleep. Over the last three evenings, he had awoken in a cold sweat. The visions were vivid and so tangible. Some were from the past and others had not yet taken place. He could still picture the one from the previous night.

It had been Lana's 20th birthday party, an event that would occur in the future. All her friends had been present and Lex had generously offered the mansion for the festivities. Lana had been dressed semi-casual, with glittering jeans and a paisley scarf for the belt. Her blouse had been a red button-down with the top two undone revealing the delicate curve of her throat and the barest glimpse of a gold locket gleaming against her bare skin.

She had been laughing, standing at his side, one hand resting on his coat sleeve in comfortable companionship. Clark and Chloe stood nearby, along with Lois Lane, whom Clark was desperately attempting to avoid. The room had been decorated especially for Lana's night, and she was truly happy for the first time in months. The celebratory crowd mingled happily amongst the tables of food and drink, their voices combining with the music from Lana's favorite local band. The side door had swung upon, smacking into the wall and a collective gasp had arisen from the crowd.

Michelle stood in the opening.

Her arms were outstretched, clad only in a dripping swimsuit, but most appalling of all was her appearance. She was deathly pale, her skin like parchment, ready to crack at a moment's notice. Lana had gazed at the apparition in horror, backing away from the door and inadvertently from Lex's side. Clark had recovered quickly from her appearance and he charged at Michelle's slender form, only to vanish right through her to the other side of the door.

She advanced slowly, her words emerging tremulously, "How could you do it, Lex? And now, here you are with another. I will not be betrayed this way; not by you."

Once again, he couldn't move, but only watch as Michelle passed through everyone who attempted to stop her and stepped directly in front of Lana. Her hands moved as if they were underwater, treading the air slowly, drawing out Lana's fear and his helplessness. They closed around Lana's throat, and through the petrified silence, Lex's heartbeat and Lana's gasping sounded loud in his ears. His stillness broken, Lex caught Lana's slender lifeless form before it crumpled as Michelle vanished in wisps of smoke; her task complete.

The dream.

Lex felt bitter gall rise in his throat. It had been a prophecy of what might happen if Todd were not stopped. Michelle was gone, but her brother still lurked in the background, and if Lex was right, he would be making a move on Lana before he contacted Lex again. Before he even completed the thought, Lex was out the door, clearing the final steps from the mansion in an athletic leap, and jamming the key into the ignition of his black Jaguar.

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Lana Lang sighed wearily as she locked up the Talon, pocketing the key and arching her back in an attempt to ease the kinks in her spine. The secrecy was grinding on her and her nerves felt wire thin and prepared to snap at the slightest altercation.

So many secrets.

So many lies.

With a supreme effort, she pushed the thoughts away and placed the final mugs and plates into their proper cabinets. Then she stood, silently listening in the semi-darkness. This place had always offered her a refuge from the world and its troubles. Oftentimes, troubles found her anyway, but this was still a precious stronghold, and now she could hardly wait to be away from it. Confusion clouded her vision and her brow creased as she rested one hand upon the immaculate counter top.

She was afraid.

Lex had frightened her dreadfully those two days ago. Was it only two days? It seemed an eternity of worry and fear lurking in the back of her mind. Lex hadn't telephoned with any updates or even visited her to reassure, and it felt like her fears were building in the deepest recesses of her heart.

He had terrified her before. Only once and it hadn't truly been Lex that time, though everything about him had sent her emotions into a tailspin. She could still recall his kiss that evening, forced upon her and a slap for retribution, but her body had trembled in response and for the briefest of moments, her blood had sung through her form in desire. In spite of the situation, he had been gentle, though his words were harsh. And now, he didn't or couldn't remember their encounter and she would not tell him. And to her shame, Jason had not once entered her mind when Lex, or Alexander, had made his advances.

The memories were useless to her and she shrugged them away, stepping toward the stairs and the switch to dim the lights further. Her hand was still outstretched six inches from the wall when the lights vanished, engulfing her in utter darkness.

Her breath exhaled in a whoosh and Lana pressed her spine to the wall in silence. The gloom was complete. There was barely a sliver of moon to light up the night sky and it did not penetrate beyond the glass doors of the Talon, doing nothing to ease the inky blackness.

A footfall.

Than another.

They came steadily onward from the back room, advancing to her position with a decisiveness that made her fear complete. Inching her way slowly around the tables, Lana crouched behind one of the pillars, her eyes straining in the near nonexistent light to make out a form, anything to offer her a steady target. Her gaze flickered toward the stairway leading to her apartment.

The steps sounded loudly in the room, creeping closer and closer to her shivering form. Lana was not going to wait another moment. Gathering her feet beneath her, she closed her eyes for an instant, opened them again with determination glimmering in their depths and sprang toward where she knew the stairs stood. Her ribs connected loudly with the stairway railing and she exhaled in brief agony before bolting up the flight of steps to the landing above, her hands fumbling for the doorknob to her flat. The feet were following her in haste, and just as she wrenched the door open and tumbled inside, the force of a bull rammed into the door, nearly tearing it from her grasp as she struggled to shut it. Bracing her feet, Lana lunged with all her strength at the door and it slammed into the jam as she slammed the bolt home.

Her adversary wasn't about to yield to her display of self-preservation and Lana snatched her cell from her pocket, lifted it to her ear, than stopped. She licked her lips, brushing a strand of dark hair from her eyes. The door was shaking from the sheer brute strength of whoever lurked on the opposite side. She had to get out now, no questions asked and no time for phone calls.

There was no doubt in Lana's mind about that character's identity. Lex had warned her and she was now grateful that she had heeded his words. Throwing up the dash, she cautiously slipped through the window and stepped onto the steeply slanted roof. Grasping the shingles with both hands, Lana slid carefully down the side and grasping the drain pipe, swung to the ground, landing silently on the balls of her feet.

And than she ran.

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The slender form racing along the sidewalk in the darkness caught Lex's attention and he applied the brakes, not caring as they locked in a piercing shriek. Slamming the car door behind him, Lex sprinted to the sidewalk and snatched at Lana's arm as she bolted past him. She whirled and her foot lifted in an attempt to connect with his groin. Blocking her kick, Lex grabbed her foot and whirled her around in an expert move, wrapping one arm around her neck in an attempt to keep her quiet.

"Lana, it's me."

Her adrenaline was still pounding and it took a few moments before his voice sank into her subconscious and she allowed her muscles to relax. Than the trembling took hold and as Lex released his grasp she turned and clutched at his shirt, clinging to him in a need for protection.

He gently wrapped her in his arms, holding her close and shutting his eyes, allowing himself this brief moment before he pulled away.

"Lana, come on, we have to go. You can tell me about it on the way to the mansion."

Within moments, the Jaguar spun around and was speeding back down the main thoroughfare of Smallville. She turned to him, and her eyes creased in amazement as she asked, "Lex, how did you know I was in trouble?" A small smile hinted at the corners of his lips as he teasingly responded, "Would you have preferred I didn't have telepathic abilities?" She rolled her eyes and indulged his playful response with a reply of, "Well, I always suspected, but I never thought your ability could be this strong. Honestly though, how did you know? I didn't call anyone." "Lana, just tell me what happened."

It didn't take long to recount past events and as they pulled up to the mansion's winding drive Lana ended her dialogue with, "I'm just glad you were there. He, she, it would have found out I was gone within seconds. Lex, was it the man you warned me about two days ago?"

"Lana, I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Until than, you're welcome to stay up at the mansion." He could see a refusal forming on her lips and continued before she could interrupt, "I would feel better if I knew you were safe. This has something to do with my past, and your safety in this matter is my responsibility. Please, do this for me."

Her lashes lowered as she contemplated his words, than her shoulders sank as she sighed in acquiescence. "All right, Lex, but this is only temporary. I'll allow you to play guardian for a short time, but I can't let whoever this creep is to chase me from my home and my job. You would never give in to such fear, so how can I?"

Lex emerged from the car and opened Lana's door with the flair of a gentleman, reaching in and taking her hand to assist her from the vehicle. Their eyes locked briefly, and Lex said softly, "Lana, you could never be accused of cowardice. He'll be caught, but through experience, you already know that it's better to be safe than dead."