Disclaimer: Smallville is NOT mine...though i wish it was...

Chapter three: Sneaking in

Lex crept up to the Mansion as quietly as possible. Hoping not to attract attention from anyone. Namely, his father.

As soon as the front door was shut, he strained his ears, listening. Trying to hear his father sneaking about. The house was as silent as a grave.

Frowning, the young billionaire made his way to his study, usually he'd find his father there, sulking or plotting. Either way it was bound to be bad. But once again, opening the door he found the large room empty.

'Ok, this isn't like dad. He's probably waiting to pop out, and scare the crap out of me.'

Lex thought looking around, trying to see if anyone the shadows made about.

Finally, he shrugged. 'Guess the demon when to sleep.' He said to himself and quietly made his way to his room. Still trying not to make a sound. He didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but still. He was wary that Lionel would appear out of no whe-

'What was that?'

He whirled around. He could have sworn he had hear a yelp. Or some sort of human cry. But all he could hear was the sound of the crickets, chirping.

"Huh…"

He said softly before entering his room. Unaware of the trouble his dad had gotten himself into.

In the rose maze

Lionel coughed as he resurfaced. Taking in a lungful of air before he made his way back to the shore.

"Damn crap."

He muttered pulling his green covered body out of the pond. The stuff stuck to him like glue to paper. For over ten minutes he tried to get it off. The glowing made him a little more than nervous.

"Great, I live through assassination attempts and gang fights, even hostile takeovers! And gotten nary a scratch. I fall into one lone pond and I get covered in this stuff."

He growled as he pulled off his over coat, dropping it onto the ground.

"And that was my favorite shirt."

He grumbled as he stood up, the stuff dripped off him and pooled onto the ground. Lionel looked at his hands, he could have sworn…

"Naw, just my imagination."

He told himself as he made his way back to the Mansion so he could clean up properly.

He spotted Lex's car being put away by one of their many servants. Sighing with frustration, he knew he wasn't going to be able to talk to him tonight about the plant. Perhaps tomorrow morning, over breakfast.

Quietly he went into the house and hurried to his room. He didn't want to let the help see him like this. It was a tad embarrassing.

Sides, he knew if they saw him, they'd most likely tell Lex everything. He didn't want to give his son ammunition to us against him in one of their many arguments.

Entering his room he shucked off all his clothing and went to take a shower (A/N: EWWW! The images burn!)

After he was sure it was all off he dressed quickly in a pair of silk PJ's.

"What the-?"

Lionel once again looked at his hand. He could have sworn he saw something moving under his skin. The thought that a leech or something else might have gotten under it made his back hairs stand up.

Shrugging such thoughts off he got into his LARGE king size bed. Reaching for the covers he winced. His stomach growled and suddenly he started getting craps.

Curling up into the fetal position, Lionel let out a soft whimper. (A/N: Snickers I couldn't help it, had to make this guy suffer)

The pain in his stomach increased. It felt like something was trying to claw its way out. Holding his hand up in front of his face he watched with a morbid fascination as his skin rippled and mottled.

His large and wrinkled hand seemingly shrunk, little by little. It lost all signs of old age right before Lionel's eyes. Soon, though, he passed out from the pain.

TBC...

A/N: Dun dun dun...what was really in that green pond? will Lionel die? God i hope so... Plz R&R!