Chapter Three

Confederacy

Lana dropped to her knees as the bullet whizzed past overhead, and despite her knew knowledge of the world beyond, there was still little she could do to help the situation. She only wished that she had awoken to some sort of power that would have been useful in their current situation.

The door suddenly burst open again, this time permitting a man and woman entrance. The man was carrying a large sword, and the woman flicked her wrists, causing daggers to appear out of nowhere. The men all turned to look at the new intruders, a couple tilting their heads in confusion.

"Catch you fuckers at a bad time?" Owen asked. He did not give them time to respond, instead pointing at the two who were holding Clark, who immediately dropped to the floor, dead. "GET OUT OF HERE!" he shouted at Lana and Chloe. The two women did not wait to be told again.

As Owen charged towards the men, Allie went the opposite direction. Chloe made the mistake of looking up as a series of odd colored light flashes emitted from the woman's hands, and she suddenly felt very sick to her stomach. The two girls grabbed Clark and dragged him behind the bar, waiting for the right moment to escape out the back door.

Owen landed behind one of the men, whom he promptly slit the throat of. Another sprayed bullets from a micro-SMG towards him, but the warrior deflected several of the shots with his Nordic sword before ducking behind cover. Another man stepped out from behind a pillar, double-barreled shotgun pointed straight at Owen.

Before he could pull the trigger, however, a bright flash of ultraviolet light filled the room, and the four remaining men instantly collapsed into piles of ash. Alamondria was absolute walking death to vampires, as was he. Only he had not thought to read their auras, which Allie had done the moment she saw them. He had been lucky she was there.

"Did they make it out?" she asked, running up to check and make sure he was okay.

"I think they went out the back door," Owen replied. "Come on, we need to get to them before they run off too far."

"You're hurt," Allie said, pointing to his arm.

"It passed through clean," Owen said. "I've had worse. That kid looked pretty bad though. We need to hurry and get him some help."

"Lead the way," Allie agreed.

Lana and Chloe groaned with the strain of trying to lift Clark into the former's SUV, but were having little luck with the Kryptonian's heavy body. After a few more tries, however, they finally managed to get him inside. Chloe jumped into the back seat, lifting Clark's head and resting it in her lap as Lana ran around to the driver's side door.

"Hey!" a female voice shouted from behind them. Lana looked back to see the same couple that had entered the Talon a moment after the gunfight started. She was not sure she could trust them, and she did not want to find out.

Lana panicked and jumped in the car. She turned the key to start the engine, and it came roaring to life.

"Would you come the hell back!?" Owen shouted in annoyance. When she refused to comply, he sighed and made a simple gesture at the front end of the vehicle.

The entire frame shook, and then vibrated as the car died suddenly. Lana was suddenly very afraid. She looked back at Chloe, who was doing her best to keep pressure on the wound in Clark's chest. Lana could tell she was crying, and she was having a lot of trouble holding back tears herself at the moment, but she knew they would do Clark no good.

She opened the door, not knowing what these people wanted or what she was going to do if they turned hostile, but wanting to save her fiancé at any cost. She stood between the car and the two strangers, and while small, she looked very imposing at the moment.

"We're not going to hurt you," Owen said quickly.

"We saw those guys go into your store and start shooting, and we knew we could help," Allie confirmed. "We need to get your friend help soon, though. That bullet could kill him."

More than you know… Lana thought.

"How can I trust you?" Lana asked suspiciously.

"We just saved your life, girl. There's nothing more we want than for your well-being. I promise we're just here to help," Allied said almost pleading. "Your friend is in there dying, now please let us help him."

Lana tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear as she contemplated her options. Deciding that these people might be better to take care of someone like her soon to be husband than a regular hospital, she nodded.

"Okay, just promise me one thing," she said. "No matter what you find on any tests you run on him, you cannot allow them to be released in any way."

Owen and Allie both smiled, exchanging knowing glances. "Sweetie," Allie said softly. "We're all about keeping secrets. Especially when it comes to special people like your boyfriend."

Clark slowly opened his eyes. He felt like absolute hell, but that was not the worst of it. The Kryptonian found himself laying in what appeared to be a hospital bed. Lana would not have taken him to a hospital, though. She was smarter than that.

"Hey," a soft voice said from beside him. He turned his head towards the sound, and smiled softly when he saw Lana's beautiful face smiling worriedly down at him. She had only seen him sick once before, and that had nearly ripped her heart out. He could only imagine what she was feeling right now.

"Hey, is everyone okay?" he asked.

Lana tenderly smoothed his hair out of his face before placing a soft kiss on his lips. "Shh. Everything is fine," she soothed. "You gave us quite a scare, you know. If they hadn't gotten the bullet out when they did…"

Clark saw tears forming in her eyes, and suddenly felt a deep stab of guilt. He reached up and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her head to rest on his shoulder. Her slender form shook with sobs as she finally allowed herself to stop being strong. Clark lovingly cradled her in his arms and rocked her back and forth, taking everything she was pouring into him. After a few minutes, he finally felt her relax against him. When he looked down at her face to see if she was okay, he saw that she had fallen asleep.

Clark could not help but smile. She looked so beautiful when she was at peace. Her deep, contented breathing helped him relax as well, despite his surroundings. As long as Lana was there, he knew that everything would be okay. Clark closed his eyes and lay there awake, simply enjoying the feeling of her being close.

The door opened a moment later, permitting entrance to a very large man. He stood around 6'4" and looked to weigh around 285 pounds of pure muscle. His short, spiky blonde hair offset his dark brown eyes, and he wore simple dark clothing. The figure walked over to Clark's bedside and checked his vital signs.

"Looks like you're healing well," the man said in a thick Norwegian accent. "My name is Wolfe. I am a friend of Owen and Alamondria's. I'm here to help."

"Who are Owen and Alamondria?" Clark asked, his brow furrowing.

"They are the people that saved your life, my friend," Wolfe replied. "They run a small operation full of people like you and I. Well, I should say like me, you are an entirely different breed, Mr. Kent."

Clark did not like the sound of that. "So am I a prisoner?"

Wolfe chuckled. "No, far from it, my friend. You are a guest in our small corner of Metropolis. We do however, think you might be persuaded to help our noble cause."

Clark suddenly recognized the voice. He remembered that accent from the night at Lex's house. It was one of the terrorists. He dared not move, for fear of hurting himself and Lana, but he immediately tensed, and Wolfe noticed the jump in his heart rate.

The man finally looked Clark in the eyes, and Clark realized that he could not put an age to the man's face. It alarmed him at first, but he hypothesized that it could be due to meteor rock exposure. Wolfe sighed, placing his handheld computer on the bedside table.

"You recognize me, don't you? Or my voice at least," he said.

Clark furrowed his brow. "How did you know that?"

"Reading people is something I've become very good at. It helps when dealing with Demons."

"Wait… did you just say Demons? Aren't they just fairy tales?"

Wolfe laughed. "A legend at best, truth at worst."

"And you associate with them?" Clark continued.

"I do when it is necessary in my work. Not all of them are bad. Some even work to improve our world."

"By killing Corporate Executives?" Clark countered.

"Your friend's father is not a good man," Wolfe said. He was not defensive, calmly stating it as fact.

"And killing him makes you better, I suppose?"

"When it ensures the survival of my friends and the discontinuation of experiments on those like us, I am all for doing what is necessary," Wolfe replied. "We are not bad people. In fact, we are just like you. We hide quietly in the background, fighting the evil out there that threatens our continued existence or this world itself."

"I don't kill people," Clark said, gently stroking Lana's hair.

"Not yet," Wolfe said. "But the time will come when you are forced to take a life to protect one you love, and then you will know why killing is sometimes necessary."

"Taking the life of another is never necessary, but sometimes it is unavoidable," Clark admitted defiantly. "There's not a point to argue, I won't help you kill people."

"Regardless of what you might think of our practices, we do serve the greater good. We are on your side, unless you should choose to oppose us. But I think your dear girlfriend will want to know more about what she's become."

Clark suddenly realized why Lana must have been so upset. They had changed her, turned her into something like they were. "Change her back. She doesn't deserve to be hidden away like we do. She deserves a normal, happy life."

"It is not us who chose her fate, Clark," Wolfe said. "She came to that understanding all on her own. It is she who, if there is any blame to be had, to take it. She protected you and herself, whether she realizes she did anything or not."

"How would you know that?" Clark asked, arching a brow.

"Because," Wolfe said. "I've been doing extensive research into your incredible physiology. From what I've discovered, your weakness to the Kryptonite would have killed you long before Owen and Alamondria ever brought you back here. Lana healed you, or staved off your death long enough for someone who knew what they were doing to finish the work."

Clark knew he had been beat. Still, he did not have to like it. "So she's not a meteor-freak?"

Wolfe laughed at this. "No, my friend. None of us are your so-called meteor freaks. We are all supernaturals by birthright or understanding or even a sire. In any case, it is never by freak occurrence that we come into our abilities. I told you we weren't so different. We descend from different worlds just as you do."

Clark had to admit, the man had a point. It still did not make him any more comfortable, however. He only hoped that Chloe was safe.

"Excuse me, but what happened to Chloe?" Clark asked.

Wolfe had just begun to exit the room, but stopped and turned around. "She's doing fine. We are having to keep you all in containment for right now, but I promise you will be released to do as you please shortly, we only want to ensure both of our safeties."

With that, the large, strange man left the room. Clark wondered how such a man could kill without hesitation. He had seemed so… down to earth and human. He could only imagine how many people he would have to kill before he would be able to deal with it like that. But he knew the answer before the question even popped in his head. He would not. Clark could never be comfortable with ending a life, no matter how many times he might be forced to do so. Even then, he had not come to terms with the fact that lethal force was sometimes necessary.

A little while later, Lana stirred and groaned, stretching into Clark's warm body next to her. Clark smiled down at his fiancé, and gently stroked her hair back, revealing her angelic face. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, and her eyelids fluttered open before closing again as she accepted it. The two drew closer, instinctively encircling one another in their arms.

This was nice, but Lana was aching for more. She took the initiative and, when Clark's lips parted, seductively slid her tongue into his mouth. Clark quickly responded, deepening the kiss and eliciting a muffled moan from Lana. She gently ran her fingers through his hair, her nails lightly scratching his scalp as he placed a hand on her lower back. The two continued their passionate kiss until they suddenly heard the door behind them open. Lana broke away quickly, burying her face in Clark's neck. She was definitely not embarrassed to be caught kissing that man, but at the same time she was naturally shy.

Clark could not help but turn red as Owen walked into the room. He had a soft smile on his face as he drew up a chair and sat down in front of Clark. The older man, regarded the two for a moment before speaking.

"Before I begin, I just want to apologize for the way you met my friends the other night. We don't enter into somewhere with an objective like that lightly. If things work out the way I hope, you'll come to understand why we came to that conclusion, and how no other option was possible."

"There's always a way to avoid killing someone," Clark replied.

"Clark, try to be civil," Lana whispered in his ear.

"That was a most unfortunate conclusion, but one we were forced to come to. Had we simply shut down Level Three, Lionel would have just opened it elsewhere. There was simply no other option but to cut the head off the snake, figuratively speaking," Owen said. He could tell this would be a major point of contention.

"Luthorcorp has killed so many people, mortals and supernaturals, alike. What do you think they would do if they ever got a hold of you? You'd be just another one of their lab rats, same as I would." Owen paused for a moment, looking down at Lana. "And now she would as well."

Clark remembered Ryan, and felt a deep pit of anger that had been buried for so long begin to well up within him. He gently rubbed Lana's back as she lay against him, ideas bouncing inside his head faster than even he could run. Owen watched him closely. He could tell he had struck a nerve, but he still was not sure which.

"Kid, there's a big world out there, and you may think you've seen the worst with your 'meteor freaks,' but I promise you, there are many layers beneath that. We are but one of them, but there are worlds beneath us that are even more frightening. If you expect to keep the world safe, and judging by your intervention the other night, you do, then you're going to need help. We need you, Clark, more than you could know. We are but one part of a much larger Confederacy that rules the supernatural world. Your friend, Arthur Curry, joined us not too long ago. He said that if I ever ran into you, to encourage you to do the right thing."

That forced Clark to think even harder. If AC, while brash and impulsive, had thought the cause worthy enough to join, then Clark's respect for his friend forced him to seriously consider his options. He wondered what had convinced AC to help out, and where he could be right now.

"I have my family, friends, and Lana to consider, too," Clark said. "I don't want to leave any of them behind. They need me."

Lana, who had been keeping quiet up till then, chose that moment to sit up. "Clark, don't let me or anyone ever hold you back. You're destiny is far greater than mine or anyone's back in Smallville. You have a wonderful gift, use it to help the world," she said, gently caressing his face with her hand.

"You wouldn't have to leave them behind," Owen said softly. "We have already paid off the debt to your farm and bought the land in your parents' names. The deed is theirs, and they never have to worry about losing their home. They will also see a portion of your income, which may seem very generous, but your worth is far greater than any price could afford. I'm not telling you this to pressure you. Your family will keep the house no matter what, and all the other benefits will still apply, other than the salary, of course, should you choose not to help us."

Clark's gaze met Lana's and the discussion was over. He knew that to turn these people away, would also be turning his back on her. If they knew what had happened to her, and what new abilities she possessed, then they could possibly help her learn to control them. It would not be easy, but she would have a better chance than on her own.

"I have a few conditions," Clark finally said.

Owen was ecstatic, and though he had a master's poker-face, his excitement was becoming more difficult to hide. "Name them," was all he replied.

"First, Lana and I are to work together," Clark said. "We haven't been together this long to be torn apart now. It's a package deal. If you want me, then she has to come, and she needs to learn either to control these new abilities, or have them removed if she so chooses."

"Done," Owen replied. "But you don't have to decide right now, Clark," he added. "We only brought you here because you were dying. I don't want you to feel any pressure at all. In a little while I'd like it if you and Lana went home and discussed it with your families. Of course, there will be certain things that need to be kept a secret-"

"No," Clark said, shaking his head. "My parents, Pete, and Chloe have to know. They've known my secret all along, and I won't keep them out of this."

Owen sighed heavily. "That's going to be a little harder to manage, but I think we can do it. What about you?" he asked Lana.

"As long as I can keep going to college and speak with my Aunt Nell, there won't be a problem. She doesn't know Clark's secret, and I'm not really sure it's a good idea to tell her."

"That helps," Owen said with a nod. "Well before you leave, I do have something that I hope you will sign. This isn't a contract, it is merely for both of our protection. Once signed, neither side can harm the other until the contract is either finalized or abated. I don't want you to feel uneasy, but remember that we have to protect ourselves as well."

Clark watched as he brought out two rolls of parchment and handed one to each of them. He thought it odd that they would use that instead of paper, but he understood once a small dagger fell into his lap as the parchment unrolled. Blood kept better on it, and blood was used to seal magical pacts. At least, that was what he had seen on television.

The two read carefully over the contracts, almost memorizing every line to make sure that there were no loopholes for either side. When satisfied, Lana painfully pricked her finger, signing her name in blood on the parchment. Clark looked at the knife for a moment before looking up at Owen.

"It has a Kryptonite edge," he explained. "It's not enough to do any harm, but enough to prick your finger with. I will destroy the blade as soon as you are finished."

Clark looked at him suspiciously for a moment before signing his name as well, the cut causing him to feel even weaker than he had when he awoke. He barely managed to finish before falling backwards against the bed, which was thankfully still upright. Lana cast a worried glance at him, but he smiled to let her know he was fine.

The scrolls suddenly jumped to Owen's hand before vanishing into thin air. "Good, now that that's taken care of," he said with a sigh, picking up the dagger from Clark's bed. "Time to get rid of this." he held it in his hand, palm up and spoke a strange, musical word. An instant later, the dagger dissolved into ash.

"You two rest up, I'll have them send Chloe in so that you can talk to her before we present her with the contract," Owen said, rising to his feet. "Take care, you two," he added with a smile. The kindly man with violet eyes turned and briskly strode from the room. As he left, Clark could only wonder just what he and Lana had gotten themselves into.