It was almost funny, Alicia thought during dinner, that everyone now knew about her ability yet she still had to keep it a secret. She'd removed the lead bracelet, but was as restricted in the use of her powers as ever. More so in fact, as even the people she should be able to be herself around – Clark and her parents – didn't know what she'd done.

"So how was your date with Clark?" her mother asked finally, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them.

"I had a really good time. Actually, we…"

She trailed off when she heard a knock on the door. Her mother got up to answer it, looking somewhat anxious as she did. Most likely she was expecting trouble. There had been a fair number of messages, all of them delivered quite clearly: Get your freak daughter out of our town.

After fearing the worst, Alicia nearly burst out laughing at the stunned look on her mom's face. Her mouth hung wide open like she was in the middle of a song and just couldn't get the words out.

"Mr Luthor?" she gasped finally. Lex simply smiled, not put out in the slightest.

"Mrs Baker," he replied smoothly. "Sorry to disturb you, but I was hoping to have a word with your daughter. I promise I'm not here to cause any trouble."

Alicia rose as Lex entered the room but he gestured for her to sit down. Her mother was tugging at her skirt restlessly, looking eager to please. She looked rather like she could be one of Luthor's servants; fittingly, she asked if there were anything she could get him.

"I'm fine, thank you. I won't be staying long," said Lex. After a moment he added: "Perhaps you could give us some privacy?"

"Of course. I'll be upstairs if you need me," she said, smiling falsely. Alicia recognised it, with some regret, as the one she had worn through much of the past few years.

Lex stood silently as her mother left, his eyes seeming to be measuring her. He put his hands in his pockets and began nodding his head, as if in response to his own thoughts.

"So, how have you been holding up?" he asked finally.

"You don't have to worry. Clark takes good care of me. As long as I have his support I can get through anything."

"I'm sure he does all he can," said Lex, keeping his voice casual. "But there are some things he can't help you with. School, for example. Smallville High will never take you back."

"I have other options," she said. Keeping what Clark told her firmly in her mind, she wanted to get rid of him as quickly as possible. She knew she couldn't trust him, but his charisma was a little overwhelming.

"All of which are beneath you. I don't think working in a coffee house is quite your thing. As I understand it, you were very promising in your science classes. Had quite a career ahead of you."

"Well, there's not much chance of that now," she said. With all her other problems, her career plans had been forgotten to some extent, but it still hurt to lose one of your dreams like that.

"Not necessarily," said Lex, picking up a framed photo of Alicia and her parents. He inspected it carefully, perhaps noticing her mother's big fake smile, and the stress lines on her father's kindly face. "You could always come work for me."

Alicia shifted slightly in her chair.

"I really couldn't…"

"You seem uncomfortable, Alicia," said Lex, interrupting her. "You were fine at The Talon. Has Clark said something to you about me?"

"He said you were a good friend."

"So he didn't tell you I had him investigated?" Lex asked, sounding amused.

"I – "

"It's alright. I can understand you both being cautious. But I want to help you, the way I've helped others like you."

At first she thought she'd misheard. It just sounded too unreal.

"Like me?"

"You're not alone, Alicia. The meteors infected a small yet significant portion of the town. All of them were made outcasts, trying to hide their powers just as you did. I've been bringing them together, giving them a place to belong."

Alicia nodded, hoping she was managing to hide just how nervous she felt. She had no intention of being released from Belle Reeve only to spend her life being experimented on by Lex Luthor (her 'experimenting' with Clark was another matter, of course).

"How many of… us… are there?" she asked. Lex was standing right next to her now, half his face obscured in shadow as he leant on the table.

"At the moment, just over twenty. We're finding more all the time."

A short gasp betrayed Alicia's surprise, though she recovered quickly. Not so long ago she had known of only her and Clark possessing unusual powers. During her time in Belle Reeve, however, she'd heard about others like her. And one or two of them were apparently there thanks to Clark Kent. It was incredibly risky for Clark, leaving behind people who knew about his powers, even if people did think they were just crazy. She thought she vaguely remembered screaming at a couple of them, screaming that Clark didn't have any powers, they were liars…

They're a danger to Clark, as long as they live, said a treacherous voice somewhere in the back of her mind. People would listen. People like Luthor. But she knew that voice was wrong; Clark had just told her himself that he couldn't let anyone die just to protect his secret.

"What are they like?" she asked finally.

"Why don't you find out for yourself? We can go right now."

"I don't know… I should probably call Clark –"

"If I were planning on abducting you, this would be a remarkably careless attempt at going about it," said Lex. "And you of all people should understand the need to keep this quiet."

Alicia was puzzled; Lex must know she would tell Clark, no matter what he said.

"Clark would never betray you," she said, choosing her words carefully. She was suspecting she was out of her depth with this man, powers or not.

"I daresay," said Lex, rubbing his finger absently across his brow. "But this isn't your secret to tell; or mine either, really. I think you'll understand better when you see it with your own eyes."

Tempted though she was at the chance to meet people that might not judge her – might even understand her as much as Clark did – every instinct told her not to go with him.

Then Lex grabbed her wrist. Alicia froze, shocked, as Lex pulled up her sleeve and took a good look at the bracelet that wasn't there. His expression barely changed, but Alicia was almost certain she saw a measure of triumph in his eyes. He'd managed to gain power over her.

And Luthors always knew how best to use it.