Sorry AGAIN for the long wait for the update. I was away fighting a forest fire and just got back. I wouldn't have started this story if I had known how often I would be called out this summer. I am hopefully back for a while and can update more frequently again.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who have reviewed this story and maintained positive, constructive feedback. If there is something you wish me to address in my stories such as a disclaimer and or a warning please let me know and I will make the necessary changes to accommodate your requests. I appreciate both good and bad reviews as long as they are constructive and add value.

PS This is a fictional story and no way comes from the minds of the writers of Smallville. If you are still unclear as to the fictional nature of this story please visit my homepage. Also this chapter is a violent and contains rape…. Please read at your own discretion.

Clark woke up from his sleep with a start. He couldn't remember how long he had been sleeping or where he was momentarily until he looked around the room. He had been waiting for Lex. How long had he been asleep?

He squinted his eyes as he rubbed the sleep out of them. He figured he must have been jet lagged from the flight over, his body ached slightly and he had a mild headache. He looked around the room for the first time. The TV was a big screen with an assortment of movies and video games. There was a stereo and a pool table in the room. The kitchenette was small and had little counter space but would serve its purpose Clark thought as he walked into the bedroom.

The room was luxurious and lined from wall to wall with various shades of gold, orange and reds. The bed had more pillows on it than were on all the beds in his parent's farmhouse. It was a four-poster canopy with sheer curtains bunched at each post. Clark reached out and touched the material noting how see through it was. He ran a hand along the silk comforter as he walked past the bed to the bathroom.

In it he found a large soaker tub and shower but little else. It struck him as odd that there was nothing else in this room. In fact there had been none of Lex's personal effects anywhere in the apartment. He attempted to use his X-Ray Vision to look for cloths in the closet or a toothbrush, anything of Lex's, but found he couldn't. Instead of X-Ray Vision what he got was a piercing, sharp pain through his entire head. He had heard people describe migraines and was sure this was what one would feel like. He rubbed his temples and eyes until the pain subsided.

The panic began to build at that point. The sickness he had felt earlier, the aching and now the sharp pain when he tried to use his powers. There had to be kryptonite in the apartment somewhere. He quickly covered the distance to the door and tried to open it. He was somewhat surprised to find it locked. He attempted to use his strength the remove the door but nothing happened, his powers were useless. He tried again and again unable to believe they were gone.

He frantically began to search the room for the kryptonite and wondered why if it were so near he wasn't feeling sicker. The normal result of near by kryptonite was severe pain and inability to move. This was different, he wasn't in pain, he just ached. He wasn't curled up in a ball in agony but his powers were definitely gone. What the hell was going on?

"Lex! Lex!" Clark shouted through the door. "Mr.Luthor? Anyone?"

No one answered his calls and he eventually had exhausted himself with his efforts. If this were a hospital then where were all the patients, where were the orderlies and the hospital equipment. Lex's room looked more like a penthouse suit than it did a hospital room. Clark wandered the room looking for more answers.

Lex had signed the papers and was therefore granted the grace of enough links in the chain to be able to sit up again. He was in his cell with nothing but the pants he was given on. He sat on the ground and played with the material on the pants lost in thought. He thought about Clark and Lucas and his father. He thought about what the papers would say when his and Clark's deaths were announced. He thought about the funeral and secretly hoped that they would have a joint service so people would actually be in attendance for his funeral.

He knew Clark had lots of friends and family that would mourn his apparent passing but he didn't think there would be too many who would miss him to dearly. His father's associates would show up out of respect for Lionel but not one would care that he was gone. As for friends he didn't really have any, his only friend was stuck here with him and it was all his fault.

How stupid was he to think that he could outsmart and intimidate his father with the information he had given to Clark. Lionel was purely evil and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He wanted Lex out of the way and he had succeeded. Unfortunately for Clark, Lex had dragged him into the situation as well. He knew what he had to do now, he had to allow Joshua complete and total control of his mind and body. If he stood any chance of protecting Clark he would have to devote himself to his new role in life. He grimaced at the thought of what that would entail.

Just then the door to the room swung open and Joshua entered, obviously pleased with his successes of the day. He crossed the room and leaned down to kiss Lex.

"Oh I do like this." Joshua praised as he pulled away. "Seems you have learned some humility in the last few hours." He noted at Lex's attempt to return the kiss with as much vigor as it was given.

He leaned in and stroked Lex's nipple with his forefinger. "Your father seemed duelly impressed with your progress. He thought that your taming would take longer than it has. Granted bringing that Kent boy into the pictures does seem to have sped things along quite nicely, doesn't it?"

Lex didn't move. He didn't trust himself to remain passive if given a chance to continue to fight. He simply stared down at his pants still fingering the material.

"Do you like your new attire?"

Lex failed to answer and Joshua reached forward grabbing his chin. As an after thought the grip loosened and Lex's chin was gently directed upwards.

"I believe I asked you a question."

"What are they?" Lex asked not too sure how to answer.

"In my house this clothing is reserved for slaves, but not just any slaves. The color of the pants denotes your status within your class. Your pants for example show that you are a slave but that you are of particular importance to me. While you wear those pants no harm will come to you and no one is allowed to claim you as theirs. Now your friend Clark, it is Clark isn't it?"

Lex nodded in answer.

"Your friend Clark will not be permitted cloths, similar to how you were when you first arrived. He will remain without a class until one is chosen for him."

"Who will chose it for him?" Lex asked already knowing the answer in part.

"I will of course but it will be decided largely on your behaviour over the next while. Tonight I will have a ball and you will be at my side. You will be on your best behaviour and do as you are instructed or your friend will suffer the consequences. Is that understood?"

"Yes." Lex answered quietly not looking into Joshua's eyes.

"A fate far worse than yours awaits him if you fail to carry out what is expected from you tonight. You will kneel at my side and remain quiet and still unless ordered to do otherwise. Your resolve will be tried and tested to the furthest reaches of your imagination this evening. Fail in this and your friend will be sold at auction to the highest bidder. I have no doubt who that person will be and trust me when I say that you do not want your young friend being sold to him. He will torture, maim and possibly kill him to appease his desires. I have seen it happen and will allow for it to happen to Clark."

Joshua had stepped around Lex and pressed his body up against his back. His forearm had reached around and closed around Lex's throat tightening with emphasis at each new sentence. Lex held his breath and tried not to struggle.

"Do you trust me?" He heard Joshua's voice from behind as he placed kisses along Lex's cheek.

Lex struggled to nod his head with the only answer he thought would be acceptable.

"Good, then trust that what I tell you is true. Tonight you will show your loyalty to me to save your friend."

"If I do this will you let him go?" Lex asked as Joshua loosened his hold on his throat.

"No." The words were like ice running through Lex's blood. Joshua leaned forward and licked his neckline up to his jaw and rested on his earlobe. He stayed there nibbling and sucking before pulling away slightly.

His breath was still warm on Lex's now cool earlobe as he spoke, "The mansion and all who are invited this evening are looking forward to seeing the newest addition to my collection. Don't disappoint me for your friend's sake."

He pulled away leaving Lex to recover his balance and pride. As he walked towards the door he turned to look Lex over once more. "You certainly are a fine specimen." He noted and disappeared through the door.

He heard the lock click and his stomach sank. He had always been stubborn and full of pride, could he swallow his instinctual behaviour for one night. He would have to in order to save Clark he reasoned and his resolve was set once again.

That evening two men had come and cleaned him up, taken him for a shower and washed him in scented soaps. He was given clean pants, identical to the first, and cringed at the gold collar laden with diamonds that was placed around his neck. Attached to the collar was a thin gold chain that acted as a leash. His hands where secured behind his back with gold cuffs lined with red silk to match his pants.

Next he was taken to the door to Joshua's bedroom and made to wait for his appearance. Joshua showed up a good twenty minutes later dressed in the finest silk robe, shirt and pants. Around his waist was a black cloth belt and a machete was tucked into the waistband at his side. Lex noted he was cleanly shaven and smelled like the soaps he himself had been washed with.

As Joshua exited the room he took possession of the leash and continued to walk down the hall. It only took a moment for Lex to be jerked into motion behind him. Lex remembered to walk a good five feet behind with his head slightly bowed as he was instructed by the men who had arrived to wash him. It took every ounce of will power he possessed not to make a break for it. He rationalized that it was his nerves prompting these thoughts and not his overwhelming tendency towards self-preservation. He had to think of Clark, it was Clark who had come all this way for him, it was Clark who risked his safety and future for him. Now he had to do what was expected for Clark's safety and future.

He stopped momentarily at the scene that faced him when the doors to the large ballroom swung open. All the guests inside the room went quiet as Joshua entered the room with a swoosh of robes. Lex noted his dislike for Joshua's flare for the dramatic especially when it drew more attention to his situation than already existed.

There was the hum of whispers that filled his ears as he was lead through the room along a red carpet to the dining table on the stage across the dance floor. Lex dared a few quick glances around as he drew nearer to the table. In the far corner he saw a cage that held one of the two tigers from the 'zoo'. One of the falcons was tethered in place on a beam that reached out over a waterfall against the back wall. The roar of one of the bears caged in the center of the room could be heard echoing against the walls. Lex realized exactly what this ball was about. It was an advertisement for Joshua's collection. A way for him to show off his collection and possibly entice others to view the remaining specimens.

At the moment though no one was paying any attention to the other predators. Lex was sure that all eyes were focused on him as he felt the embarrassment rise into his cheeks. He straightened his posture and tried not to give off the impression that he was intimidated by all the commotion. Soon they would be bored of staring and return to their previous conversations Lex reasoned to himself.

Joshua took his seat at the center of the head table and motioned for Lex to kneel at his side on a pile of pillows that were there. Lex did as he was told realizing this was a small expectation compared to what was forewarned to come.

"Ladies and Gentlemen please take your seats." An announcer called across a microphone system at the end of the table.

Once everyone was seated and the head table was introduced, all except Lex that is, the meal was served. The smells of the food filled the air as it was placed on the table in front of him. He was not provided with any food as it was clear he would not be eating. He sat watching the flag on the far wall sway in the slight breeze as he attempted to draw his attention from the food in front of him. His stomach growled and protested but he didn't dare move.

After the meal there was dancing and conversation throughout the hall. Lex's feet and calves had long since gone numb and he began to fear that he would be unable to stand to leave when directed to do so. He eyed an older man with suspicion as he approached the table and whispered in Joshua's ear.

Joshua laughed and patted the man on the back. "Yes, yes dear friend. We will commence the bidding shortly."

Lex's heart skipped a beat. What bidding? No sooner had he thought the question when the doors to the hall opened again and as the crowd parted he saw Clark strung up by his wrists hanging from a pillar. He was dangling, naked, and unconscious. At the base of the cart he was being wheeled in on was a decorative arrangement of flowers and rocks. Lex immediately recognized the meteor rocks that gave off a green glow.

He must have let out an unchecked sound at the sight of Clark for he felt the tug of the chain at his neck. He turned his attention momentarily to Joshua who gave him a questioning glare as if daring him to continue his behavior. Lex turned back to look again at Clark and a thousand questions surged through his brain. Hadn't the arrangement been that Lex would behave and this wouldn't happen? Lex searched his mind frantically to figure out what he had done for this to be happening. He wanted to ask but feared this was a test to see if he could follow the rules.

"Spectacular isn't he?" Joshua's voice broke his thoughts.

Lex turned to Joshua and was about to respond when he was interrupted.

"Don't." Joshua cautioned, "don't say a word. Nod if you understand."

Lex simply nodded once staring his capture directly in the eyes.

"Are you ready for one of your tests?"

Again Lex nodded.

"There are seven men at this head table. I will loosen your leash and you are to slip under the table and satisfy each of them. Once you have brought them all to orgasm using only your mouth you are to return to my side. If you have not completed this task in one hour your friend will go up for auction."

Joshua waited for Lex to think through the thought. "Begin." He simply stated as he looked at the time on his watch.

Lex didn't know what to do. Surely this was a joke. There was no way he was going to carry out this request. He stared at Joshua who simply looked over towards Clark who was dangling in obvious pain. The man who had whispered in Joshua's ear earlier was over inspecting Clark, poking and prodding at him. Others were gathered around attempting to get a closer look at his muscles.

The decision was made when one of the men in the crowd pulled Clarks head back by his hair and inspected the inside of his mouth and teeth, nodding to his friends.

"Time is running out." Joshua prompted.

Lex crawled under the table and was surprised to note that all the men were already exposed and waiting. 'Was this something that they received at all of these parties?' Lex wondered as he attempted to crawl under the table without the use of his hands.

He separated his thoughts from the task at hand. His past history at clubs in Metropolis gave him the encouragement he needed to know that this was a task he was capable of completing with some effort. He had thought he had left this stage of his life behind him when his father had moved him to Smallville. Maybe this was all he would ever amount to. People like Clark had inspired him to be something other than what he was. He felt driven and compelled to live up to the expectations set for him in the eyes of his new friends in Smallville.

Now here he was doing something he swore he would never reduce himself to do again but this was far worse. The times he had performed these types of acts were few and far between, when he had dug himself a hole and didn't want to turn to his father to dig him out. He had used his abilities to pay off a bookie he owed money to, he spent his efforts on a teacher who threatened to expel him if he didn't work for his marks, and once he had been beaten at a party and forced to perform acts similar to this. He really had to question the people his father's money and influence had surrounded him with.

He crawled carefully over to the first man and began working the short, thick penis with his tongue. He went straight to work from there. There was no foreplay or enticement just simply achieving the goal laid out. His throat took a while to relax but once he was able to entice it to accept the foreign object the risk of gagging became less.

Within the hour he was back at Joshua's side. He felt dirty and used and his stomach turned with the fluids he had swallowed. He had to remove himself from what he had just completed or he would definitely throw up here and now.

"Nicely done." Joshua reached over and stroked his scalp as if petting a dog. The other men at the table barely noticed his reoccurrence from under the table as they continued their drinking and socializing.

Lex searched the room again for Clark and noticed him still surrounded by a group of men and women still very interested in his features. Lex couldn't look away and continued to stare even as Joshua began to speak again.

"Do you want him to remain here with you?"

Lex turned his attention back to Joshua who was waiting for a reply. He simply nodded his head in the affirmative again.

Joshua signaled to a servant who promptly raced over and unlocked the cuffs at Lex's wrists. The bands were still circling his wrists but they were no longer joined. Lex brought his arms forward cautiously from behind his back. He rubbed his shoulders gently and rolled them forward and then backwards to loosen them a bit.

As he attempted to regain movement in his shoulders he was lifted to his feet by two servants who had approached to stand behind him. He wobbled slightly as the pins and needles worked their way out of his legs.

A whip was gently placed in his palm and Joshua reached out and closed his hand around Lex's hand causing his fingers to circle the whip.

"You must demonstrate to all in this room that you wish to possess him." Joshua nodded his head in the direction that Clark was hanging. "Everyone must see that you are powerful and dominant and will rule him with a strong hand. If you show weakness they will demand that an alternative caregiver be provided for him and he will be sold."

Time seemed to stand still as Joshua waited for his words to register. "Take this whip and deliver 12 strokes to his back, one for every month of the year that you will provide for and care for him. Then you must have sex with him for all the room to witness, thus laying claim to your territory."

Seeing that Lex was about to speak Joshua raised his finger to his mouth, "Shh. Silence. Remember the rules." Lex shook his head.

"I am offering you the chance to save your friend. You will have to hurt him in the short term to save him in the long run. I picked you for my collection because I believe that you have the necessary resourcefulness to get what you want. You want your friend with you and I am offering you an opportunity to have him. Fail in this and he will be sold. You have one minute to make your decision."

Lex couldn't believe what was being asked of him. He turned to look at Clark again and felt the stiffness of the whip in his hands. His hands were sweaty and he felt sick to his stomach.

"Your time is almost up. Have you made your decision?"

Lex turned his steel eyes on his captor and nodded as he turned and walked away from the table slowly and methodically. The stairs off the stage seemed steeper than he remembered them as he descended and hit the cold tiled floor below. He walked barefoot across the dance floor towards Clark. All the time he walked he doubted his ability to do what had to be done.

After what felt like an eternity and a thousand pairs of eyes drilling into his skin, he reached Clark. He looked up at the boy and felt a flood of emotions that made him want to scream. His mouth watered with threatening nausea and his eyes clouded over with tears. He heard Joshua clear his throat from across the room as silence fell on his ears.

He pulled the whip back and struck it forward across Clark's back. He had tried to be as gentle as he could be and yet still be believable. The gasp from Clark combined with the trail of blood trickling down his back unnerved him. He had thought Clark was unconscious but as the whip fell again he began to think Clark was more awake than he first hoped. The twelve lashes fell as a resounding sound of pain from Clark's lips filled the hall. Lex tried to his credit to make it as quick and as gentle as possible but when he was finished the marks on Clark's back proved he wasn't successful.

Lex tried to stay out of view of Clark while he positioned himself for his next task. He didn't dare make a sound as he prepared Clark for what came next. He didn't think he could bare it if Clark knew if was him. He had no doubt that Clark would remember the events and would discover what he had done but he couldn't bare to have him know now while it was happening. He would deal with Clark's anger and hurt later. At least there would be a later he thought as his eyes locked with the man who so desperately wanted to buy Clark.

The remaining few moments were a blur as he mentally removed himself from the actions his body was performing. He tried not to focus on the faint moans from his friend as he pushed into him again and again. It only took a few minutes but it felt like an eternity to Lex who knew Clark's innocence was destroyed with this single act.

When he was finished he turned from Clark and walked back towards the stage. He didn't think that his legs would carry him the distance. He was relieved that he didn't fall in front of everyone and had finally reached the table to kneel beside Joshua. He didn't hear the first few words that Joshua spoke but caught the disappointed murmur from the audience on the dance floor below.

"There will be no auction. It is my decision that the boy will remain in my care with his new owner." Joshua continued as he motioned towards Lex. "He has proven his love and desire to remain with this boy and that fact can not be disputed as you were all witnesses to this desire."

Lex sat and watched as everyone in the room became settled with the decision. Everyone that is but one, the man who had originally approached Joshua about the bidding. Lex watched him as his face turned red in anger and he stormed from the room, knocking over a servant in the process.

"Never mind him," Joshua whispered to Lex. "He will find another to fill his needs."

If there was any doubt in Lex's mind that what he had done to Clark was necessary it was cleared up with that man's display of anger. As he watched Clark be wheeled out of the room he dreaded what he had earlier on hoped so desperately for, his first chance to talk to Clark.