Diana put her body between the advancing Lex and the bug-eyed Chloe. She watched the man's posturing, waiting for him to reveal his weapon, she knew he had one. In a swift movement, he reached into his jacket and withdrew a black handgun. He fired without hesitation. Diana brought her hands up, fists clenched. The bullets bounced off the silver bracelets, flying off in ricochets. Chloe could not suppress her small scream of surprise.
"Fool!" the witch shrieked ducking a wild bullet. "You cannot use a gun against an Amazon!" Diana had already moved to intercept him. She punched him square in the face, snapping his head back.
Miraculously Lex did not go down, he spit blood and struck her back. The blow caught the girl on the chin, making her step back two feet before backhanding him across the face. Chloe watched dismayed that Lex would attack this girl so viciously.
The witch circled around the fighting pair, eyes on Chloe. She reached out a hand, lavender light jumping toward the blond girl. When the energy reached Chloe it whip lashed back to the witch.
The woman hissed and stared at Chloe, red eyes wide with pain. She cast a quick look at Lex and Diana still beating the hell out of each other. The moment was what Chloe needed to pull out her garlic and brandish it at the witch.
"Back off bitch!" Chloe shouted, hoping she sounded tough. "I know what your weakness is." Circe's lip curled in an ugly grimace. She back peddled to the chair holding Clark.
"Try it little girl and I will kill him!" she shouted. Her hand lashed out again and pulled Lex from Diana's grasp. Lex was more then a little trounced, blood flowing freely from many lacerations on his face. He looked at Circe with utter obedience; she reached her other hand out and grasped Clark by the throat. Diana advanced on the trio.
"Princess, I suggest you stop right there." Circe said in a dangerous voice. "Unless you want to be the cause of both these men dying a agonizing death!" Diana stopped and watched the witch with caution. She knew a frontal attack would not benefit her at all. The Amazon needed to strategize. Chloe fretted, blue eyes flashing around the room, looking for anything that could help.
"Circe, you would do better to let them go and face me." Diana said sternly, stalling for time. The witch's eyes darted from Diana's tall frame to Chloe's smaller one. She made a gamble.
Circe's arm thrust hard against Lex's back, pushing him into the advancing Amazon. She turned on her heel and drove her hand back into Clark's head. Clark began to scream again, making Chloe almost sob.
Lex brought his knee up into Diana's stomach while grabbing a fist of her long hair; he brought her face down on the opposite knee. The girl tumbled back, stunned by the force he exerted. Wiping blood from her nose, she realized Circe was fortifying him. She jumped into the air and hung there for a moment confusing Lex. He stared up at her with a zombie like gaze before reaching out to grasp her ankle.
"Chloe, we must render Circe unconscious!" she shouted as she ascended higher lifting Lex with her. She swung her foot tossing Lex like a doll against one stone wall. Lex shook his head but got to his feet once again.
Diana descended swiftly, catching him and pressed her arm to his throat. If she was careful she would be able to cause him to pass out with out hurting him further. Clark's cries of torture were becoming unbearable for either girl to take much longer.
Chloe jumped from her safe spot and grabbed a massive silver candlestick. Skittering across the floor past Lex and Diana, Chloe brought the heavy item down on the back of Circe's head. The witch slumped forward over Clark's shoulders before limply falling to the ground.
Once the witch was unconscious, the bands of energy disappeared from around Clark. Chloe stepped over the fallen witch and helped her friend to his feet. Clark's eyes squinted in pain as he watched Lex slump in Diana's arms, passed out completely. The Amazon laid him down gently.
"Both of you step away from her." Diana said gruffly. She turned the woman over with her foot, her eyes sharp for movement. Chloe led Clark to the couch and comforted him as best she could.
"Clark, are you alright?" she asked her voice cracking. His gaze was glassy and he groaned. Chloe looked to Diana, her heart pounding.
"What now?" the girl demanded. "What did she do to him?" Now that her boldness had passed, Chloe began to get slightly emotional. Diana walked to the window and tore the tiebacks for the curtains down. She returned to Circe's side and trussed the witch up.
"Chloe, please remain calm. We are not out of danger yet." The princess reasoned. She went to another window and removed more cords, these she used to bind Lex. Once they were both secured, she came to inspect Clark.
Squatting down she looked at the young man, pushing the disheveled hair back from his face. She carefully turned his head, scrutinizing the place Circe's fingers had probed him.
"She was looking for information was she not?" Diana asked in a low voice. Clark focused bleary eyes on the girl and nodded. Diana cursed in Greek and stood. Chloe was outraged.
"What the hell could Clark know that would warrant such…such…violation?" Chloe's tone was dripping with malice. Clark, his strength returning placed a hand on his friend's arm.
"There is a conversation we need to have Chloe." He said slowly. "But not right now." He gave her a small smile. She looked into his eyes, searching for an explanation. Clark patted her arm and attempted to stand. Diana was pacing like a caged animal. Clark reached out a hand to stop her. At that moment, there was a groan from the bundle that was Lex Luthor.
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All three pairs of eyes focused on Lex. Diana held a cautioning hand out to Clark and Chloe. She moved toward him slowly, watching. Lex groaned again and began to struggle.
"Do not struggle." Diana said in a stern voice. "You will only make the bonds tighter." She stood over him like an angry Goddess; Lex blinked trying to make sense of the situation. He looked the tall girl up and down in wonder.
"Can I ask who the hell you are?" his voice like ice. Diana peered at him, searching for deceit. She crouched next to him; one slender hand grasped his face.
"I am Diana, I am here to retrieve what you stole from the shrine." She answered, her words were heavy. She held him still though he gasped in pain.
"You have made a very bad mistake. Circe should never have been released." She pulled away from him, anger plain in her body language. Clark stepped into Lex's line of sight, his face dark with mistrust.
"Why Lex?" he asked in a broken tone. "Why did you do it?" Chloe appeared at Clark's elbow, her eyes stormy. Lex was lost, no clue what had happened. His eyes swiveled from the two friends to the Amazon and back.
"Could some one please tell me what the fuck is going on?" he demanded, temper flaring at last. Chloe's snapped as well, her small frame darting around Clark to stand over Lex in a tower of rage.
"You want to know what happened Lex?" she spat his name. "You fucked up again!" she circled around him while Diana and Clark looked on in shock.
"You took something that was not yours, you tampered with it and let a lethal force loose on this town!" Her eyes flashed. Clark's jaw dropped, Diana grinned as she was growing to like this girl increasingly.
"Your experiment nearly got Clark and your self killed. Not to mention that you attempted to murder Diana and me!" she gave him a contemptuous look.
"Lex Luthor you make me sick!" Chloe finished, her anger spent she returned to Clark's side. The boy stared at her with amazement, almost smiling. She looked at him, shrugging. Diana laughed aloud and clapped her hands.
"Well said Chloe." The Amazon replied. She moved back to stand over Lex. She looked down on him a few moments longer before stooping to untie him.
"You do not show anymore signs of being under her sway." She said tossing the ropes aside. "Maybe now you can help us to fix the havoc you have wrought." Lex sat up rubbing his wrists and squinted. Bringing his hands to his head he moaned. Looking at his fingers as they came away with blood, he was further stymied.
"Guess I really missed something." He mumbled looking at Clark sideways. Clark averted his face and shook his head. Chloe openly glared at Lex. He turned to look at Diana, slightly bewildered by the tall formidable girl. She ignored him and bustled about around the hog-tied woman at her feet.
Looked down at the woman in question Lex saw the purple hair and full-sculpted lips. Closing his eyes he got flashes of images, the woman licking his thumb, her eyes flashing brilliant purple, the feeling of lassitude and great pleasure.
Sucking in a deep breath Lex turned away from them, his eyes falling on the discarded gun on the floor. He walked over and picked it up, glancing around at the stony faces.
"Would some one please tell me what happened?' he asked in a quiet voice.
Diana told Clark and Chloe to explain the missing time to Lex while she took a few minutes to 'take care' of something. Clark nodded but was curious, Chloe refused to look at Lex anymore. Diana placed her bulb of garlic on the witch's chest before walking out into the garden. Clark began relating the story; Lex's face remained blank until the end.
Meanwhile, Diana kneeled in the grass, clearing her mind, she fell into a meditative state. She began sending out a message.
"Arisbe, this is Diana, I need to speak with my mother." She projected calmly. Several minutes passed and then a gentle voice sounded in the girl's mind.
"Diana, we were beginning to worry. I will alert your mother give me a few moments." The voice replied. Diana sat still and waited, her mother would know what to do.
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"Then she choked you till you passed out. While you guys lay there she tied you up.' Clark finished looking at Lex with a shrug. He had relayed the story, leaving out anything he didn't want Lex to know.
"And currently we are here, are you caught up Lex?" Chloe asked sarcastically. Lex sighed and held his hands out before him.
"I don't know what to say. I was obviously not my self." He said trying to keep his voice even. Chloe made a rude face and looked away. Clark sighed knowing he had used these same words him self on more then one occasion. There was a deep well of uncertainty inside Lex's chest. He stood slowly and moved across the room toward the bound witch. He stood several feet away, observing her.
"I want you both to know I had no idea what was happening." His tone expressed remorse. Chloe harrumphed but did not scold him again. Diana reappeared, her face calm.
"We need to remove her from the building." She said walking to the witch. As she got close, the woman began to struggle. Diana jumped back watching the witch writhe under the ropes, twisting to knock the garlic off her chest.
"When I get free I will take great pleasure in torturing you little princess." Circe hissed. Her head snapped to the side and she locked eyes with Lex. The man began to sway on his feet. Diana reached for the witch.
"Chloe the Moly! She is trying to re-enchant him!" Diana hollered to the blond girl. Sprinting from Clark's side Chloe took the bulb and grabbed Lex's arm turning him to face her. His mouth was slack, eyes glazed looking for all the world as if he was about to start drooling She hesitated not sure how to disrupt the spell. Franticly she did the only thing that came to mind and shoved it into Lex's open mouth.
Lex gagged stumbling back into Clark, who caught him. Knowing he could not help Diana, Clark pulled his dazed friend to the far side of the room. Chloe looked at him wondering why he was retreating. Clark caught the bewilderment and his shoulders slumped.
"I am…more susceptible to her," he said. "You'll have to help Diana." She shuddered realizing Clark had taken the first step toward trusting her with his secrets. Nodding Chloe went to see if she could assist the Amazon.
Diana tossed another bulb from the bag to Chloe and then reached down to grasp the witch's bonds. Chloe caught the garlic and stared wide eyed as the lithe girl hoisted the woman off the ground with little effort.
Diana walked to the garden doors with Circe held at arm's length. She kicked the door open and dumped the woman on the lawn. The Amazon rolled Circe a few times with her foot attempting to confuse her. When she was on her back once more, Diana pressed her boot to the witch's throat. She cracked open the garlic in her hand letting the juice drip down onto Circe's face. The woman screeched so loud Chloe felt a moments pity for her.
"Know this Circe." The princess spoke in a low voice laced with steel. "No matter where you go or what you do, I will find you. And I will win." She bent her face lower and smiled at the witch. Circe's skin was turning an ugly red everywhere the garlic had touched her.
"For I am the new champion of Themyscira." She said watching Circe's eyes glaze over. The girl stood to her full height, arms stretched over her head. She cast her eyes to the heavens and spoke in a commanding voice.
"Great Hera Hear My Plea! Intervene On Behalf Of Your Servant. Circe The Witch Must Be Judged!" her prayer sounded loudly across the rolling grounds. Chloe trembled hoping and dreading what could come next.
The sunny sky clouded up in an instant, wind whipping the trees causing leaves to whirl about the women. There was a crack of thunder and a regal golden haired woman in a silken toga appeared before them. Chloe's mouth dropped open, her heart slammed against her ribcage as the Goddess Hera looked at each of them in turn.
"YOU CALLED CHILD AND I ANSWER." The Goddess said in a musical voice that made Chloe want to weep. Diana bowed low to Hera and cast a hand toward Circe.
"The witch has been captured, Oh Mother." The princess replied. "I ask that you instruct me on how to dispose of her." Hera's beautiful face looked down on Circe as if she were scum.
"WELL DONE PRINCESS. YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT OUR FAITH IN YOU IS RIGHTLY PLACED." The voice wafted over the girls again. She nudged Circe with a gilded sandal. The witch groaned and averted her face from the Goddess.
"I BRING YOU NEWS THAT MAY NOT PLEASE YOU MY CHILD." Hera said looking at Diana with serine continence. Diana stood erect and obedient.
"I CANNOT DISPOSE OF THE WITCH. FOR SHE IS ARES CREATURE." Diana felt her heart sag. She should have known this would happen. Knowing the girl's thoughts the Goddess held up a white hand.
"YOU HAVE NOT FOUGHT IN VAINE. I CAN SEND HER AWAY FOR NOW. TO A PLACE IT WILL TAKE HER MANY YEARS TO RETURN FROM." Hera smiled and Chloe sank to her knees as the beauty drenching her heart was overpowering. Diana inclined her head to her Goddess.
"Thank you Oh Mother." She said in a respectful tone. The goddess smiled and rested her hand on the girl's forehead.
"MY BLESSING ON YOU DIANA." She said before turning her celestial attention on Chloe. She glided to the girl and actually crouched down at her side. Her eyes were like two perfect blue sapphires. She placed her hand on Chloe's forehead as well.
"YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FORSAKEN, DAUGHTER. WE KNOW OF YOUR GOOD DEEDS. BE STRONG, FOR THE SECRETS YOU MUST GAURD WILL BE GREAT. BUT KNOW YOU HAVE THE GIFTS TO BARE IT." Hera stood and smiled at them for a moment. The wind whipped up again and when it died down the Goddess and the witch were gone.
Clark had witnessed the entire exchange between Diana, Chloe and the Goddess. Of the incredible things he had experienced over the past few years, this ranked high on 'Holy Shit!" list. The boy chuckled to him self at the duel nature of that title. Holy was right.
He turned to look at Lex who was just sitting up shaking his head once again. Clark felt a dizziness and then a melodious voice rang in his head.
"YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES, KAL-EL. REMEMBER THAT YOU DO NOT WALK ALONE." The Goddess' said. He felt a glowingly warm feeling in his heart making him smile his billion-watt smile. As he raised his eyes to Lex, his smile fell just a little.
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The red and blue streaked sky created an almost glorious backdrop for Diana's noble figure. Clark had stopped mid step as he came up the steps of the loft, catching her framed by the open half door. He felt a little flushed and wondered if he would be able to speak. She turned her head slowly.
"Clark, are you going to stand there and stare or are you going to come up here and enjoy the sunset?" she said in a saucy tone. He startled and hurried up the last few steps.
"Sorry I didn't mean …to…stare." He said in a sheepish voice. She looked at him with her clear, crystal blue eyes and he noticed that he didn't have to look as far down to look her in the eye. It made a nice change. She smiled a sly little smirk and moved ever so slightly closer to him. Clark was sure she could hear his heart as it battered against his chest.
"You are a very fascinating being Clark." She said. "I hope we can be allies." Clark took a short breath and leaned even closer, taking that chance that Lex was always encouraging.
Clark pressed his lips against Diana's, finding them soft and warm. His hands slipped around her waist pulling her suddenly closer. Her lips parted to his deepening kiss and Diana felt strangely light headed, her own arms wrapping around his neck pulling him closer to her.
Lana turned a stunned face to Chloe, hazel eyes enormous with confusion. The girls were standing in the same spot Clark had stopped to look. Chloe felt a pain that passed a little quicker then it used to and she whispered to Lana.
"Well, her name is Diana." She said feeling more confident now that she was Clark's confidante. "But I call her Wonder Woman." She said pulling the dismayed girl back down the steps.
Diana kept her eyes closed for a brief moment after the kiss broke, as if she was making sure to remember this. Then she looked at him, taking his breath away. Being this close to her, he could smell her scent, she smelled like amber and cinnamon, his head swam. She smiled and he took her mouth again.
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Clark was sad to see Diana go, he had enjoyed her company. To say the least. What he had really liked was being able to talk to some one who could do the impossible things that he did. They promised to keep in touch as best they could. Diana had to return to her home and finish her training. He was very amused that she had developed a soft spot for the "World of Man" as she called it. She said she would explain to her mother and the other amazons that she had to come back and help fight the good fight.
The best thing to come out of the whole experience was that Chloe now knew. Clark was not alone in his head any more. He could tell her the real things that happen to him and not censor him self. She took it better then he imagined.
She had blinked three times her face blank and then she had thrown her arms around his neck.
"Clark that is the coolest thing I have ever heard!" she said sweetly, hugging him as hard as she could. She had not done anything he had feared his friends might do. She didn't treat him like he was a freak, she treated him the same as she always had.
Lex was another story; Clark felt his mood darken at the thought of his difficult friend. Since they had left the manor that day, he had heard little from Lex. The Talon was being repaired; Lex gave the staff a paid vacation. Clark had not spoken to him at all until now.
Clark walked into the study his hands deep in his pockets. Lex jumped up from his desk and crossed to him. The charming and grateful façade he had seen so many times was firmly in place. Clark's heart gave a twinge at the knowledge that Lex would never be honest and only seemed to be getting more dishonest. He gave a halfhearted smile and accepted the fake apology Lex offered, being flattered that he was giving an incomparable performance.
When Clark left, he did his best to keep his distance from Lex. However always something drew him back into Lex's circle of darkness. As history would tell in years to come, the friendship never ended…it mutated.
Please check back for the epilogue.