Note: Thanks again for the reviews! A couple of chapters more and this
story is finished. And Oh, I'm working on the sequel for Kindred (formerly
known as The Earth Angel). Special thanks to Kevin for believing that I
have the potential and telling me how good I am via email!
Chapter Seven
Lionel Luthor walked the grand hall of the WestFork Manor. Every time he passes by that certain area of the manor, he couldn't help but marvel at the astonishing baroque inspired paintings hanging on the fabulously carpeted walls. Age old portraits of his "wife's" ancestors mostly occupied the walls of the passageway.
Elizabeth Hoffman Thorul owns WestFork Manor. Liz, as Lionel would call her, is a multi billionaire in her own right. Even before she met and fell in love with Lionel, she already is someone.
She started the company called Furia, rival to leading cosmetic companies such as Max Factor, MAC and Maybelline. Because of her phenomenal success, she was branded as one of the extraordinary female business tycoon by the Ohio Business Society, Elizabeth has it all.
In everyone's eyes, they thought Elizabeth was living the perfect life. Success, Power, Popularity and an amazing family. What they failed to realize is that she could never have the one thing she ever wanted.
She could never have Lionel by herself.
Elizabeth has to live and accept the painful fact that Lionel has another family back in Kansas. Lillian, Lionel's legal wife and their son Alexander lives in Metropolis.
It seems crazy and twisted if you think about it, but for Elizabeth it was love. She was 2 months pregnant with their daughter Selena when she found out that Lionel already has a family.
As an initial reaction, she was devastated and furious. But for her daughter's sake and her deep love for the bastard Lionel Luthor, she learned to accept it eventually. When Lena (Selena) was born into the world, Lionel was not around to witness it. He was back in Metropolis, busy with his work as usual. Maybe that's why up until now Lionel's trying to give Lena everything that she would want. He was buying her love because he wasn't there for her.
Thus, because of this treatment coming from her parents and being an only child, Lena grew up to be a spoiled brat. Her every wish would be her parents command.
"Good afternoon Mr. Luthor." Greeted a chubby old woman shakily, dressed in servants clothes, when she bumped into Lionel by the hallway.
"Have you seen Selena?" Asked Lionel, not even bothering to say a simple 'Hi' or flash a small smile to the helper.
"Miss Lena's resting by the pool sir." Informed the old lady quickly. The sight of Lionel Luthor scared the heck out of her. Actually everyone in the WestFork household are still intimidated by him, with the exceptions of Mrs. Thorul and Lena of course.
He commenced walking, again not bothering to say 'thanks'. Lionel headed for the west wing of the manor where the Olympic size indoor swimming pool's located. He was excited to see his daughter. It's been nearly over a month since they last saw each other.
Lena Thorul had just come out of the pool when her father walked in. Her two piece Burberry swim suit looked absolutely perfect for her. She strode towards the pool table where Milagros, one of the servants of the manor, had a rich magenta colored bathrobe ready for her. Lena didn't make any effort of merely looking at her father for acknowledgement.
"Selena." Called out Lionel with a smile, reserved only for his daughter, pasted on his wrinkled face.
Towel drying her long damp crimson hair, she said coldly, "What are you doing here? Finally grew a conscience?"
"Now, now," He began to say, stopping at the other side of pool. "Is that the proper way to welcome your father?"
"What d'you expect me to do? Throw a party?" Lena commented sarcastically, finally focusing her sight on him with hate. "After what you did to me?"
"Well," He thought pretending not to recall the whole incident.
Lena became more furious. She put on her bathrobe and stormed out of place almost knocking over her own father in the process
Whenever something bad came up or he forgot something, he'd act like he forgot about it or that he has to pause for a moment and reflect on it. These actions irritate Lena so much.
"Selena." Lionel called out trying to catch up with his ballistic daughter by the hallway.
"No!" Lena turned around, tears threatening to escape from her glorious green eyes. "You don't know what it's like being in that crap hole they call Leesburg High! The food's unbearable and everywhere I look I see filth! You don't have the slightest idea what's it like to sit next to students who are so beneath me!"
"Honey I do." Replied Lionel, his heart growing soft just by looking at his beloved daughter. "How do you think I acquire farm lands for my business? I sit down with filthy farmers and I talk with them. I make them believe what they want to believe, I offer them money and by the end of the day their land belongs to me."
She stared at him, looking for sincerity in what he just told her.
"You're just saying that." Again, Lena stormed away with complete hate.
But still Lionel was trying to pacify her, he loves Lena that much. He couldn't sleep if he knew that she's mad at him. The complete opposite of how he would treat his legitimate son, Lex.
Lionel's cold and quite brutal when it comes to his son. It's no surprise since Lionel's own father treated him the same way. A vicious cycle, a curse inflicted at every man that belongs to the Luthor clan.
Just as the same though, Lionel loves Lex. There's no arguing about that. But he believes that by treating Lex this way, he would learn to be wiser and in control. Just like him.
Anyway, Lex would most likely take over the family business when he's old enough to do it. In Lionel's mind, he's actually doing his son a favor. He's training him to be a Luthor. In heart, mind and even in soul.
Well, with Lena on the other hand - Lionel would like to think that she would be his secret weapon. He gave himself and his 'wife' Elizabeth praise for creating the perfect female specimen. Lena was no doubt beautiful.
Lionel reckoned that no man could ever resist his daughter's alluring charm.
Just like Lex, Lena would play a vital role in the Luthor's future. She would take part in the further development and progress of the family business.
Luthor Corp has a lot of competition and Lionel expects that there would be more in the future.
Temps Corp is their number one competition at the moment. George Sloth Temps has a bachelor son, an heir, Julian. He goes for those beautiful, run way model types of women.
With Lena around, it wouldn't take long 'til he would fall completely in love with her. Although she does need a few changes, attitude wise, other than that she would be the perfect bait.
In due time, when everything is right, Julian Sloth, the heir to Temps Corp would be eating at the palm of Lena's hand.
When you think about it, it's like marrying two kingdoms. Only in this situation Lionel plans to outwit and outsmart the other one. Everything would fall into place ones again, according on how Lionel Luthor would want it.
Lena climbed the elegant grand stair case of the manor, a huge crystal chandelier from the Victorian era dangled from the intricately designed ceiling. Her father was on her tail, still.
"Selena." Lionel called sweetly again, hoping that his daughter would stop and listen.
"No!" Lena's scream echoed throughout the humongous manor. "Just leave me alone!"
Finally, Lena entered her glamorously decorated room, truly fit for a princess. She almost slammed the door shut behind her father.
Crashing down on her humongous Victorian bed, she buried her face on one of the moss green floral printed pillows. As if in utter and totally pain, Lena let out a few loud sobs.
A moment later she heard her father talking to someone. He seemed to ignore her dramatic display of torture suddenly because of the intruder. Slowly, she lifted her face from the pillow, pivoted her head and lo and behold, Elizabeth-I'm-the-perfect-mom-Thorul stood next to her father.
Both Lionel and Elizabeth had their arms crossed over their chest, looking straight at her like she's some kind of zoo animal for them to watch.
Mrs. Thorul wore an elegant royal blue business suit, with her long curly auburn hair neatly placed in a bun at the back of her head. Lena reckoned she pretty much inherited her flawless look and her smashing taste for fashion from her mother. Attitude wise, majority of the people she meets thought she got it from Lionel.
Determined, Demanding, Cunning, Straight Forward, Ruthless.
"That was definitely one of your best performance to date, Lena." Elizabeth mocked her own daughter. She could undoubtedly read her like a book. "You had a lot of practice I'm sure."
Lena gave her an evil look. Its times like this that she wanted the ground to open and swallow her mother up. Mrs. Thorul can see right through her and she hated it. The 'I'm-a-spoiled-brat-Everything-is-about-me' act never works on her.
"If only you could exert the same effort on studying and staying out of trouble, I'd be the happiest Mother alive." Continued Elizabeth. Her voice soothing and kind, with a soft hint of British accent charm in her tone.
"If only YOU could spend more time with your own daughter, then I'd be the happiest girl alive." Bit back Lena, sitting straight on her bed, facing her parents by her doorway.
Something in her mother's face told Lena she got to her.
"You meet powerful, well known people who share the same obsessions as you do, and yet you can't put me in a decent school!" Lena added quite harshly. Her father didn't say anything. He was just watching them talk.
"Believe me, your father and I have used all of our connections to get you back in a boarding school." Informed Mrs. Thorul, giving her best to explain everything to her daughter. "But sadly the boarding school councils throughout Europe had black listed you and two of your friends."
The image of a dying nun with a gaping knife wound on her throat flashed back in Lena's mind. Blood was rushing out of the wound. Remembering that scene sent chills down her spine.
Sheryl Finny, Lilith Du Lyonnet and herself got booted out of their old boarding school in Switzerland (St. Bernadette) because of a ritual they did at the night of the red moon. The three of them had always been fascinated with witchcraft, sorcery and the occult.
They would read books of spells and black magic even while having classes. It became their obsession.
One time Lilith came across an ancient Egyptian ritual that promises power to whoever would perform it. She shared it with Lena and Sheryl and instantly they planned everything. It would take place at the night of the red moon, an event sorted out by Sheryl who is a whiz when it comes to translating ancient text and codes.
They had everything figured out. The stuff they need, the words and spells they'd chant but they were missing one thing.
A sacrifice to the blood goddess, Aria.
The text said specifically 'The blood of the one who serves the cross.'
Sheryl and Lilith were pretty high when they voted for the headmistress of St. Bernadette, Superior Yvette Reichen. Lena objected of course but when Lilith promised her power and love, she gave in.
"Ones we achieved what was promised, you can do anything you would ever want, Lena." Lilith told her with that strong French accent in her tone. "Power, Fame, Love. You can have everything and anyone you like. That is what you desire, am I correct?"
Lena gave that a nod. If she'd have the power, she can have everything for herself. Wealth and her parents love. She'd make them proud.
Now, as she sat there in her bed, arguing with her parents about that incident, she convinced herself that she didn't do anything. She merely was on the look out while Sheryl and Lilith performed the task of collecting blood from the nun.
She never realized that they would actually try to kill her. When she saw the headmistress's dying form on the floor with blood gushing out of the knife wound, she froze in absolute shock. Lilith and Sheryl had to drag her out of the room.
"The immense popularity of your stunt even got to local shores." Lionel Luthor finally spoke up, head bent down, a little disappointed with her. "That is why we can't get you in any boarding school in America, Selena. No one would admit you after-."
Mr. Luthor stopped upon seeing tears in Lena's eyes.
"Say it!" She uttered, her voice shaking while anger was evident in her teary eyes. "After we almost killed that stupid nun!"
"Almost?!" Elizabeth was enraged by her daughter's words. "The poor nun is on life support because of you and your friends! She's immobile, unable to talk or even merely open her eyes! She's as good as dead, do you know that?!" More tears spilled from Lena's green eyes, she didn't bother to wipe them. Lionel meanwhile wanted to rush to her side and comfort his grieving daughter.
He would probably careless if it was his son Lex who was crying. He'd probably ask him to stopping acting like a wuss and get over it. Or maybe he'd think of something more cruel and heartless to say to him.
Then again, Lex never showed any weak emotions since her mother, Lillian, passed away. He became cold.
"You're lucky we were able to bribe the Swiss authorities and the religious congregation Sister Yvette is involved in, to stop the charges and dismiss the case." Elizabeth Thorul muttered, her tone slowly going back to its normal volume.
It pains her to see Lena suffer as well, but sometimes you just have to make her feel that way so she would learn.
She went on, "Frankly Selena, I don't know where you get your fixation on the occult and sorcery."
"Do you really need to ask?" Lena answered with sarcasm, her flushed cheeks wet from tears. "You scour the entire world for your obscure collections! You gather books about the unexplained! You have those weird idols and totems lined up in your precious chamber!"
Mrs. Thorul massaged her forehead, suddenly. She cannot believe they're actually having the discussion again about her collection chamber.
"That's it exactly! Collections! They're nothing but collections!" Elizabeth pointed out. "I do not do or perform rituals with them! They are merely for my entertainment. Collecting them is my passion."
Lionel moved closer to her 'wife', holding her by the arms to calm her down.
"Maybe sorcery's my passion as well!" Their daughter started to say mid shout, her voice stronger and her eyes fiercer. "Maybe that's what I want to do all my life! Create magic! Maybe I don't want to freakin' study anymore and be the most powerful sorceress the world has ever known!"
Those words stunned her parents more than anything. They could not believe that Selena would say such a thing.
A moment of silence followed that.
"You frighten me Selena." Elizabeth mumbled softly, tears were threatening to fall from her sad eyes. "Sometimes it's like I don't know you anymore."
With that she left the room. Lionel stared at Lena for a few seconds. Lena maintained a brave face for him. She wanted to know what he was thinking. Is he mad at her?
He walked out of the room shortly, definitely off to follow his 'wife' and console her.
"They won't understand our need for magic." Sheryl's voice still echoed inside Lena's head, months after they parted ways.
For Lena, only Sheryl and Lilith understood her. They all came from wealthy families who treat their children like accessories. They don't have any freedom. For all they know their parents are the ones who maps out their future for them. 'You'd be this, you'd be that.'
Parents like Lionel and Elizabeth.
"They'd look at me and decide what I will be someday. When I myself am still figuring out who I am, what I want to be, what I wan to do." She brushed her tears with the back of her hands gently. For a split second she wondered if Sheryl and Lilith are experiencing the same thing.
Where are they?
Lena wanted to stop crying, though weird enough she couldn't.
Raged, guilt and a lot of painful emotions swirled inside her. She wanted it out.
An idea popped momentarily.
Her mother's chamber.
She sprung out of her bed with elegance. Marching for the chamber located at the upper east wing of the manor, Lena was careful not to bump into anyone. Just the thought of what she is about to do excited and brought freedom in her heart.
Her mother would probably be outraged when she finds out, but what the heck. It's not like there's any worse punishment than going to a school like Leesburg High.
On the hallway leading to the chamber, she spotted a sealed up bottle of red wine settled on a sterling tray. She grabs the bottle by the neck and commenced on walking.
"Lucky me." Lena murmured to herself when she got to the chamber's door and realized that it wasn't locked.
With enough effort she was able to push the heavy doors open.
The chamber was huge. The chandelier that dangled from the ceiling was turned off and only the ample amount of sun light that leaked from the huge glass windows of the room illuminated the place entirely.
From each side, idols, dolls and totems from different remote regions of the earth were lined up, as if chess figures ready to do battle with each other. From the opposite side of the room, stacks and mountains of books were carefully placed in shelves.
On another area weird tribal costumes and shaman staffs from Africa, Southeast Asia and Southern America were on display. Her mother must've probably spent millions and millions of dollars to have all those stuff.
A long mahogany table stood in the middle of the rectangular room. Things dating back from the ancient times were caged in glass with golden strips serving as their labels.
A metallic hand that most likely was a part of a complete armor was on top of the table. Diamond shaped emerald stones were planted on each knuckles.
"Hand of Poseidon."
It reads. "Believes to have the power over water."
She almost snorted when she finished reading that bit. Her mom's definitely a wacko to ever believe that.
Lena walked a long and saw another interesting artifact. A golden knife with an Egyptian lady engraved on the side.
"Dagger of Osiris."
Below the word was some sort of Arabic or Egyptian writing.
"Power to revive the dead." It says. Then there's a short explanation on how it could bring someone to life again.
"Stab deceased by the heart." Lena read out. She gave out a giggle. Reading this weird thing's already making her feel better.
They're so stupid that they're funny!
Shaking her head, she did not bother reading the other pieces. She has seen some of them a long time ago.
At the center of the spacious room a wide dark sheet of velvet covered something. Whatever is in there must be priceless.
Slowly she removed the fabric, revealing something she had never seen for a long long time.
The glass sphere.
As a kid she would refer to it as a massive fish bowl because it looks like one, only it's sparkly and thicker. No one, not even her mother's team of experts knows what it is, or what it is for.
Lena checked the golden label at the wooden nest like base of the sphere. It's still blank. It doesn't say anything. From way back her mother had that deep obsession of unlocking the secret of the sphere. She hired people to investigate privately but they could only speculate that it was a ship or some sort.
The material that was used in creating the ship was not even glass. It mimics glass but is completely a different material all in all. Earth doesn't have that kind of thing. They all concluded that it must be from another planet.
From what planet?
They don't know exactly.
"The 'thing' who used that ship is the only one who can answer that question, Mrs. Thorul." One of the experts said.
When asked where Elizabeth got it from, she chose not to answer.
"The black market." Was always her reply.
No doubt this glass sphere before Lena was her mother favorite collection.
She could already imagine the look on her mother's face when she sees this 'thing' smashed into bits. It would be priceless.
A Kodak moment for Lena.
Lena took a couple of steps backward, maintaining a safe distance. She raises the bottle of wine, grabbing it firmly by the neck like a bat.
With hate she swung the bottle and smashed it against the glass sphere.
A loud sound that almost seemed like a shriek followed that. It's like someone or something got hurt. Lena had to close her eyes and cover her ears to prevent her eardrums from popping out.
Goosebumps came, then she checked.
To her absolute disappointment, the sphere never even produced a small crack. The bottle got smashed and wine cascaded at the side of the sphere, but it was not damaged at all.
That was not the only thing that gave her the creeps. She stood there asking herself,
"Who the hell shrieked?"
Chapter Seven
Lionel Luthor walked the grand hall of the WestFork Manor. Every time he passes by that certain area of the manor, he couldn't help but marvel at the astonishing baroque inspired paintings hanging on the fabulously carpeted walls. Age old portraits of his "wife's" ancestors mostly occupied the walls of the passageway.
Elizabeth Hoffman Thorul owns WestFork Manor. Liz, as Lionel would call her, is a multi billionaire in her own right. Even before she met and fell in love with Lionel, she already is someone.
She started the company called Furia, rival to leading cosmetic companies such as Max Factor, MAC and Maybelline. Because of her phenomenal success, she was branded as one of the extraordinary female business tycoon by the Ohio Business Society, Elizabeth has it all.
In everyone's eyes, they thought Elizabeth was living the perfect life. Success, Power, Popularity and an amazing family. What they failed to realize is that she could never have the one thing she ever wanted.
She could never have Lionel by herself.
Elizabeth has to live and accept the painful fact that Lionel has another family back in Kansas. Lillian, Lionel's legal wife and their son Alexander lives in Metropolis.
It seems crazy and twisted if you think about it, but for Elizabeth it was love. She was 2 months pregnant with their daughter Selena when she found out that Lionel already has a family.
As an initial reaction, she was devastated and furious. But for her daughter's sake and her deep love for the bastard Lionel Luthor, she learned to accept it eventually. When Lena (Selena) was born into the world, Lionel was not around to witness it. He was back in Metropolis, busy with his work as usual. Maybe that's why up until now Lionel's trying to give Lena everything that she would want. He was buying her love because he wasn't there for her.
Thus, because of this treatment coming from her parents and being an only child, Lena grew up to be a spoiled brat. Her every wish would be her parents command.
"Good afternoon Mr. Luthor." Greeted a chubby old woman shakily, dressed in servants clothes, when she bumped into Lionel by the hallway.
"Have you seen Selena?" Asked Lionel, not even bothering to say a simple 'Hi' or flash a small smile to the helper.
"Miss Lena's resting by the pool sir." Informed the old lady quickly. The sight of Lionel Luthor scared the heck out of her. Actually everyone in the WestFork household are still intimidated by him, with the exceptions of Mrs. Thorul and Lena of course.
He commenced walking, again not bothering to say 'thanks'. Lionel headed for the west wing of the manor where the Olympic size indoor swimming pool's located. He was excited to see his daughter. It's been nearly over a month since they last saw each other.
Lena Thorul had just come out of the pool when her father walked in. Her two piece Burberry swim suit looked absolutely perfect for her. She strode towards the pool table where Milagros, one of the servants of the manor, had a rich magenta colored bathrobe ready for her. Lena didn't make any effort of merely looking at her father for acknowledgement.
"Selena." Called out Lionel with a smile, reserved only for his daughter, pasted on his wrinkled face.
Towel drying her long damp crimson hair, she said coldly, "What are you doing here? Finally grew a conscience?"
"Now, now," He began to say, stopping at the other side of pool. "Is that the proper way to welcome your father?"
"What d'you expect me to do? Throw a party?" Lena commented sarcastically, finally focusing her sight on him with hate. "After what you did to me?"
"Well," He thought pretending not to recall the whole incident.
Lena became more furious. She put on her bathrobe and stormed out of place almost knocking over her own father in the process
Whenever something bad came up or he forgot something, he'd act like he forgot about it or that he has to pause for a moment and reflect on it. These actions irritate Lena so much.
"Selena." Lionel called out trying to catch up with his ballistic daughter by the hallway.
"No!" Lena turned around, tears threatening to escape from her glorious green eyes. "You don't know what it's like being in that crap hole they call Leesburg High! The food's unbearable and everywhere I look I see filth! You don't have the slightest idea what's it like to sit next to students who are so beneath me!"
"Honey I do." Replied Lionel, his heart growing soft just by looking at his beloved daughter. "How do you think I acquire farm lands for my business? I sit down with filthy farmers and I talk with them. I make them believe what they want to believe, I offer them money and by the end of the day their land belongs to me."
She stared at him, looking for sincerity in what he just told her.
"You're just saying that." Again, Lena stormed away with complete hate.
But still Lionel was trying to pacify her, he loves Lena that much. He couldn't sleep if he knew that she's mad at him. The complete opposite of how he would treat his legitimate son, Lex.
Lionel's cold and quite brutal when it comes to his son. It's no surprise since Lionel's own father treated him the same way. A vicious cycle, a curse inflicted at every man that belongs to the Luthor clan.
Just as the same though, Lionel loves Lex. There's no arguing about that. But he believes that by treating Lex this way, he would learn to be wiser and in control. Just like him.
Anyway, Lex would most likely take over the family business when he's old enough to do it. In Lionel's mind, he's actually doing his son a favor. He's training him to be a Luthor. In heart, mind and even in soul.
Well, with Lena on the other hand - Lionel would like to think that she would be his secret weapon. He gave himself and his 'wife' Elizabeth praise for creating the perfect female specimen. Lena was no doubt beautiful.
Lionel reckoned that no man could ever resist his daughter's alluring charm.
Just like Lex, Lena would play a vital role in the Luthor's future. She would take part in the further development and progress of the family business.
Luthor Corp has a lot of competition and Lionel expects that there would be more in the future.
Temps Corp is their number one competition at the moment. George Sloth Temps has a bachelor son, an heir, Julian. He goes for those beautiful, run way model types of women.
With Lena around, it wouldn't take long 'til he would fall completely in love with her. Although she does need a few changes, attitude wise, other than that she would be the perfect bait.
In due time, when everything is right, Julian Sloth, the heir to Temps Corp would be eating at the palm of Lena's hand.
When you think about it, it's like marrying two kingdoms. Only in this situation Lionel plans to outwit and outsmart the other one. Everything would fall into place ones again, according on how Lionel Luthor would want it.
Lena climbed the elegant grand stair case of the manor, a huge crystal chandelier from the Victorian era dangled from the intricately designed ceiling. Her father was on her tail, still.
"Selena." Lionel called sweetly again, hoping that his daughter would stop and listen.
"No!" Lena's scream echoed throughout the humongous manor. "Just leave me alone!"
Finally, Lena entered her glamorously decorated room, truly fit for a princess. She almost slammed the door shut behind her father.
Crashing down on her humongous Victorian bed, she buried her face on one of the moss green floral printed pillows. As if in utter and totally pain, Lena let out a few loud sobs.
A moment later she heard her father talking to someone. He seemed to ignore her dramatic display of torture suddenly because of the intruder. Slowly, she lifted her face from the pillow, pivoted her head and lo and behold, Elizabeth-I'm-the-perfect-mom-Thorul stood next to her father.
Both Lionel and Elizabeth had their arms crossed over their chest, looking straight at her like she's some kind of zoo animal for them to watch.
Mrs. Thorul wore an elegant royal blue business suit, with her long curly auburn hair neatly placed in a bun at the back of her head. Lena reckoned she pretty much inherited her flawless look and her smashing taste for fashion from her mother. Attitude wise, majority of the people she meets thought she got it from Lionel.
Determined, Demanding, Cunning, Straight Forward, Ruthless.
"That was definitely one of your best performance to date, Lena." Elizabeth mocked her own daughter. She could undoubtedly read her like a book. "You had a lot of practice I'm sure."
Lena gave her an evil look. Its times like this that she wanted the ground to open and swallow her mother up. Mrs. Thorul can see right through her and she hated it. The 'I'm-a-spoiled-brat-Everything-is-about-me' act never works on her.
"If only you could exert the same effort on studying and staying out of trouble, I'd be the happiest Mother alive." Continued Elizabeth. Her voice soothing and kind, with a soft hint of British accent charm in her tone.
"If only YOU could spend more time with your own daughter, then I'd be the happiest girl alive." Bit back Lena, sitting straight on her bed, facing her parents by her doorway.
Something in her mother's face told Lena she got to her.
"You meet powerful, well known people who share the same obsessions as you do, and yet you can't put me in a decent school!" Lena added quite harshly. Her father didn't say anything. He was just watching them talk.
"Believe me, your father and I have used all of our connections to get you back in a boarding school." Informed Mrs. Thorul, giving her best to explain everything to her daughter. "But sadly the boarding school councils throughout Europe had black listed you and two of your friends."
The image of a dying nun with a gaping knife wound on her throat flashed back in Lena's mind. Blood was rushing out of the wound. Remembering that scene sent chills down her spine.
Sheryl Finny, Lilith Du Lyonnet and herself got booted out of their old boarding school in Switzerland (St. Bernadette) because of a ritual they did at the night of the red moon. The three of them had always been fascinated with witchcraft, sorcery and the occult.
They would read books of spells and black magic even while having classes. It became their obsession.
One time Lilith came across an ancient Egyptian ritual that promises power to whoever would perform it. She shared it with Lena and Sheryl and instantly they planned everything. It would take place at the night of the red moon, an event sorted out by Sheryl who is a whiz when it comes to translating ancient text and codes.
They had everything figured out. The stuff they need, the words and spells they'd chant but they were missing one thing.
A sacrifice to the blood goddess, Aria.
The text said specifically 'The blood of the one who serves the cross.'
Sheryl and Lilith were pretty high when they voted for the headmistress of St. Bernadette, Superior Yvette Reichen. Lena objected of course but when Lilith promised her power and love, she gave in.
"Ones we achieved what was promised, you can do anything you would ever want, Lena." Lilith told her with that strong French accent in her tone. "Power, Fame, Love. You can have everything and anyone you like. That is what you desire, am I correct?"
Lena gave that a nod. If she'd have the power, she can have everything for herself. Wealth and her parents love. She'd make them proud.
Now, as she sat there in her bed, arguing with her parents about that incident, she convinced herself that she didn't do anything. She merely was on the look out while Sheryl and Lilith performed the task of collecting blood from the nun.
She never realized that they would actually try to kill her. When she saw the headmistress's dying form on the floor with blood gushing out of the knife wound, she froze in absolute shock. Lilith and Sheryl had to drag her out of the room.
"The immense popularity of your stunt even got to local shores." Lionel Luthor finally spoke up, head bent down, a little disappointed with her. "That is why we can't get you in any boarding school in America, Selena. No one would admit you after-."
Mr. Luthor stopped upon seeing tears in Lena's eyes.
"Say it!" She uttered, her voice shaking while anger was evident in her teary eyes. "After we almost killed that stupid nun!"
"Almost?!" Elizabeth was enraged by her daughter's words. "The poor nun is on life support because of you and your friends! She's immobile, unable to talk or even merely open her eyes! She's as good as dead, do you know that?!" More tears spilled from Lena's green eyes, she didn't bother to wipe them. Lionel meanwhile wanted to rush to her side and comfort his grieving daughter.
He would probably careless if it was his son Lex who was crying. He'd probably ask him to stopping acting like a wuss and get over it. Or maybe he'd think of something more cruel and heartless to say to him.
Then again, Lex never showed any weak emotions since her mother, Lillian, passed away. He became cold.
"You're lucky we were able to bribe the Swiss authorities and the religious congregation Sister Yvette is involved in, to stop the charges and dismiss the case." Elizabeth Thorul muttered, her tone slowly going back to its normal volume.
It pains her to see Lena suffer as well, but sometimes you just have to make her feel that way so she would learn.
She went on, "Frankly Selena, I don't know where you get your fixation on the occult and sorcery."
"Do you really need to ask?" Lena answered with sarcasm, her flushed cheeks wet from tears. "You scour the entire world for your obscure collections! You gather books about the unexplained! You have those weird idols and totems lined up in your precious chamber!"
Mrs. Thorul massaged her forehead, suddenly. She cannot believe they're actually having the discussion again about her collection chamber.
"That's it exactly! Collections! They're nothing but collections!" Elizabeth pointed out. "I do not do or perform rituals with them! They are merely for my entertainment. Collecting them is my passion."
Lionel moved closer to her 'wife', holding her by the arms to calm her down.
"Maybe sorcery's my passion as well!" Their daughter started to say mid shout, her voice stronger and her eyes fiercer. "Maybe that's what I want to do all my life! Create magic! Maybe I don't want to freakin' study anymore and be the most powerful sorceress the world has ever known!"
Those words stunned her parents more than anything. They could not believe that Selena would say such a thing.
A moment of silence followed that.
"You frighten me Selena." Elizabeth mumbled softly, tears were threatening to fall from her sad eyes. "Sometimes it's like I don't know you anymore."
With that she left the room. Lionel stared at Lena for a few seconds. Lena maintained a brave face for him. She wanted to know what he was thinking. Is he mad at her?
He walked out of the room shortly, definitely off to follow his 'wife' and console her.
"They won't understand our need for magic." Sheryl's voice still echoed inside Lena's head, months after they parted ways.
For Lena, only Sheryl and Lilith understood her. They all came from wealthy families who treat their children like accessories. They don't have any freedom. For all they know their parents are the ones who maps out their future for them. 'You'd be this, you'd be that.'
Parents like Lionel and Elizabeth.
"They'd look at me and decide what I will be someday. When I myself am still figuring out who I am, what I want to be, what I wan to do." She brushed her tears with the back of her hands gently. For a split second she wondered if Sheryl and Lilith are experiencing the same thing.
Where are they?
Lena wanted to stop crying, though weird enough she couldn't.
Raged, guilt and a lot of painful emotions swirled inside her. She wanted it out.
An idea popped momentarily.
Her mother's chamber.
She sprung out of her bed with elegance. Marching for the chamber located at the upper east wing of the manor, Lena was careful not to bump into anyone. Just the thought of what she is about to do excited and brought freedom in her heart.
Her mother would probably be outraged when she finds out, but what the heck. It's not like there's any worse punishment than going to a school like Leesburg High.
On the hallway leading to the chamber, she spotted a sealed up bottle of red wine settled on a sterling tray. She grabs the bottle by the neck and commenced on walking.
"Lucky me." Lena murmured to herself when she got to the chamber's door and realized that it wasn't locked.
With enough effort she was able to push the heavy doors open.
The chamber was huge. The chandelier that dangled from the ceiling was turned off and only the ample amount of sun light that leaked from the huge glass windows of the room illuminated the place entirely.
From each side, idols, dolls and totems from different remote regions of the earth were lined up, as if chess figures ready to do battle with each other. From the opposite side of the room, stacks and mountains of books were carefully placed in shelves.
On another area weird tribal costumes and shaman staffs from Africa, Southeast Asia and Southern America were on display. Her mother must've probably spent millions and millions of dollars to have all those stuff.
A long mahogany table stood in the middle of the rectangular room. Things dating back from the ancient times were caged in glass with golden strips serving as their labels.
A metallic hand that most likely was a part of a complete armor was on top of the table. Diamond shaped emerald stones were planted on each knuckles.
"Hand of Poseidon."
It reads. "Believes to have the power over water."
She almost snorted when she finished reading that bit. Her mom's definitely a wacko to ever believe that.
Lena walked a long and saw another interesting artifact. A golden knife with an Egyptian lady engraved on the side.
"Dagger of Osiris."
Below the word was some sort of Arabic or Egyptian writing.
"Power to revive the dead." It says. Then there's a short explanation on how it could bring someone to life again.
"Stab deceased by the heart." Lena read out. She gave out a giggle. Reading this weird thing's already making her feel better.
They're so stupid that they're funny!
Shaking her head, she did not bother reading the other pieces. She has seen some of them a long time ago.
At the center of the spacious room a wide dark sheet of velvet covered something. Whatever is in there must be priceless.
Slowly she removed the fabric, revealing something she had never seen for a long long time.
The glass sphere.
As a kid she would refer to it as a massive fish bowl because it looks like one, only it's sparkly and thicker. No one, not even her mother's team of experts knows what it is, or what it is for.
Lena checked the golden label at the wooden nest like base of the sphere. It's still blank. It doesn't say anything. From way back her mother had that deep obsession of unlocking the secret of the sphere. She hired people to investigate privately but they could only speculate that it was a ship or some sort.
The material that was used in creating the ship was not even glass. It mimics glass but is completely a different material all in all. Earth doesn't have that kind of thing. They all concluded that it must be from another planet.
From what planet?
They don't know exactly.
"The 'thing' who used that ship is the only one who can answer that question, Mrs. Thorul." One of the experts said.
When asked where Elizabeth got it from, she chose not to answer.
"The black market." Was always her reply.
No doubt this glass sphere before Lena was her mother favorite collection.
She could already imagine the look on her mother's face when she sees this 'thing' smashed into bits. It would be priceless.
A Kodak moment for Lena.
Lena took a couple of steps backward, maintaining a safe distance. She raises the bottle of wine, grabbing it firmly by the neck like a bat.
With hate she swung the bottle and smashed it against the glass sphere.
A loud sound that almost seemed like a shriek followed that. It's like someone or something got hurt. Lena had to close her eyes and cover her ears to prevent her eardrums from popping out.
Goosebumps came, then she checked.
To her absolute disappointment, the sphere never even produced a small crack. The bottle got smashed and wine cascaded at the side of the sphere, but it was not damaged at all.
That was not the only thing that gave her the creeps. She stood there asking herself,
"Who the hell shrieked?"