Chapter 13
Kara walked through the corridors of the Crystal Palace. People bowed as she walked by and she nodded at them. She then reached her destination. She knocked on the door to Sir Peter Ross's quarters. "Enter," a male voice said from within. Kara entered and found Peter polishing his sword. He saw it was Kara and he immediately stood. The sword clanked against the table. "Your Highness." Peter bowed.
"Hello, Peter. I have just received a letter from Kal-El and he told me to tell you that 'it is time.' He said that you would understand the message." Kara said.
Peter nodded. "I do understand and I am afraid that I must leave Kandor to complete His Majesty's wish." He said.
"I am sure you two will tell me what is going on when the time is right so I will not ask any questions. You have my permission for you to leave Kandor. I hope Rao grants you a safe journey." Kara said.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Peter said and bowed. Kara bowed her head and left his quarters. "Prepare my horse. I am to leave immediately." He said and his servant rushed out.
A few minutes later, Peter exited the Crystal Palace in his dark blue gambeson with a brown hooded traveling cloak. His sword rested against his hip as he settled on top of his horse. He then caught someone out of the corner of his eye. Lana watched him from a window. Peter placed his fingers to his lips and raised his hand to motion goodbye. Lana placed her hand onto the window. Peter's horse stood on its hind legs and then took off out of the city.
One Week Later
Lois was blind-folded and shackled. Her guards had taken her out of her room and she did not know where she was going. Then she heard a door opened and then they sat her down into a chair. They removed the blind-fold and she saw Kal-El sitting across from her. She was sitting at the end of a dining table. A little boy in a red tunic sat next to him.
The guards looked at Kal-El and he nodded. One knight hesitated but then removed the shackles from Lois's hands. She rubbed her wrists. A knight stood guard at the door and two more outside. Servants entered the room with food and placed four plates out. Lois noticed this and must have made a face because Kal-El said, "I am expecting another guest."
"Papa, who is she?" Christopher whispered and Kal-El smiled.
"Oh, yes… Where are my manners?" Kal-El stood and Christopher stood as well. "Viscount Christopher Kent, I present to you my guest, Countess Lois Lane of Genesis… Greet the Countess."
Christopher bowed. "Countess…" Lois grinned and bowed her head at the young viscount.
They sat back down and began eating quietly. "Papa, may I learn how to fight now?" Christopher asked. Christopher was obviously unaware of the current situation of Lois's reason for being at the Fortress and he just believed Kal-El when he claimed she was a guest. Too be that young and innocent again. Lois thought to herself.
"We already talked about this. You are going to have to wait like the rest of the boys your age. We can talk about this again when… Does the age of eight sound fair, Christopher?" Kal-El asked him.
"Okay, I guess." Christopher replied and Kal-El ruffled his hair. "Countess, do you think I should learn to fight at eight?" He asked with a lisp.
Lois was unprepared to be addressed. She swallowed the piece of fruit she was eating but she coughed when he choked on it. "Eight is a good age to learn a great deal of things." She replied.
"If you say so... Papa, I like her." Christopher said and he smiled. Then there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?" Kal-El said.
"Your Majesty, Captain Ak-Var has returned with your guest." A knight said and Kal-El nodded.
"Christopher, Papa has to play king now. Go finish your dinner with Fara-Tal." Kal-El said and Christopher pouted. "I will see you in the morning." Kal-El kissed his forehead as Fara-Tal took Christopher's hand.
Christopher bowed to Lois. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Countess." He said.
"It was a pleasure to meet you as well." Lois said and he waved goodbye to her. "Now that I have met your son, what other surprises do have for me in this fantasized relationship you believe you have with me?"
"Just one more. Captain Ak-Var." Kal-El wiped his lips with a napkin as a knight and hooded figure entered the room. Lois noticed the sword at the stranger's waist and was thinking of grabbing it. Kal-El then motioned for everyone to leave so now only the three of them were left. Kal-El then stood. "I believe introductions are necessary. Captain Lois Lane, I present to you the leader of the Resistance."
Lois perked up wanting to see the face of the man who had been a thorn in her father's side for that last two years. The figure lowered the hood of the cloak and Lois jaw dropped in shock. She had to grab the ends of the table to steady herself as she slowly stood to face a ghost.
Chloe somberly looked at her cousin. "Hello, Lois. It has been a long time."
Lois lunged at her cousin and embraced her tightly as if to see if she were real. Tears streamed down both women's faces. Clark smiled in the background.
Lois was laughing but she stopped suddenly and looked at him. "How long have you known that my cousin was still alive?" She asked fierily.
"For some time now... I was just as shocked as you were." Clark said in his defense and threw his hands up in the air when Lois stared him down. "Would you ladies prefer some privacy?" He asked.
"Clark, you may stay." Chloe said and Lois looked at her.
"Why did you call him by that name?" Lois whispered to her.
"I have known Clark since we were children. I was shocked to find out that he was the heir to the throne of Krypton when we were seventeen." Chloe said and Clark rolled his eyes.
"You did say that you wanted the truth from me for once so… I told you the truth." Clark crossed his arms and leaned against the edge of the table.
"You are the leader of the resistance? Why?" Lois asked.
Chloe looked down and sighed. "Lionel Luthor is the one who murdered my parents, not Kryptonians." Chloe said and Lois went pale. Lois placed a hand on a chair and slowly sat down. "I escaped and formed the Resistance." Lois placed her hand over her mouth as if to prevent herself from screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Was any words from Luthor's mouth not a lie?" Lois asked holding back her fury.
"Luthor only lies when it benefits him but most of the words that leave his mouth are the truth." Clark said.
"I am a knight in the King Lionel's favor, sitting in a room with the King of Krypton and the leader of the Resistance… It is obvious what you want of me." Lois said and rubbed her temple.
"The choice is yours. If you wish, I can arrange for you to live comfortably anywhere in Krypton… or you may remain my prisoner." Clark said the last offer sarcastically.
Lois gave him a dirty look and Clark's grin disappeared. "I wonder if this is what marriage feels like." He whispered to himself.
Chloe looked at the two of them looking at each other but she shook her head. "We need another spy in Luthor's court. Mine was discovered so we are now left in the dark. I need your help, Lois." Chloe placed a hand on her cousin's shoulder.
Lois placed her hand over her cousin's and looked at her somber eyes. "For two years I served the House of Luthor without question and now all I fought for was a lie." Lois stood. "You do not even have to ask, cousin… No one crosses a Lane."
Chloe smiled and patted Lois's shoulder. "Now the new problem is how we return you to Genesis without suspicion because it is said that it is impossible to escape a Kryptonian prison." Chloe said and looked at Clark.
"I wish it was impossible and then I would not have to worry about the House of Zod returning from exile. I am sure Captain Lane and I can devise a plan for her escape." Clark said.
"I believe you two will be a great team. Now I must return to my men. We were planning a sabotage mission when I received your message." Chloe said.
"Captain Ak-Var will take you back to Krypton and I am sure Peter will escort you back to your men safely." Clark stood and hugged Chloe. "I hope we see each other soon"
Chloe embraced her childhood friend. "We will." They broke apart and Chloe hugged Lois. "When you return to court, I will contact you." Lois nodded and they hugged once more.
Chloe lifted her hood back up. "Captain Ak-Var." Kal-El said and he entered the room. "Our guest must return to Krypton."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ak-Var said and bowed. They left.
Lois's smile disappeared and her tears dried so fast. She turned to face Clark. "So, Clark… You owe me an explanation for all of this. And I want it now." Lois said and slammed her palm on top of the table. The knights standing guard outside heard the noise and rushed in with swords drawn.
Kal-El shook his head and motioned for them to leave. They glanced at Lois and sheathed their swords. They bowed and exited the room. "Perhaps, we should go somewhere more private for this conversation, Captain." He motioned to the door behind him.
Lois walked past him and opened the door but stopped. She was angry and had just realized that she did not even know where she was going. "Show the way, Your Majesty." She said with a forced smile.
"You may call me Clark." He said and led the way out flashing a devilishly handsome grin.
"And you may call me Countess or Captain." Lois said demanding. Clark chuckled. "And what, might I ask, is so funny?" She asked.
"I reunite you with your cousin and you still do not trust me. You are a hard woman to please, Countess." He said and opened a door not far from where they were eating. They entered a private sitting room.
"How do I know that you did not arrange this just so I can be your spy? My cousin could have been your prisoner for years without my knowledge. My mind is telling me that this is some sort of trick." Lois said.
"But your heart is telling you that this is all real and you have your chance to avenge your family." Clark approached Lois. They stared deeply into each other's eyes. "For once, do not think… just let your instincts guide you." He said softly in his smoky voice.
"My instincts guide me every day and that is why I am still alive. And I think what I want... when I want. Just because I am now your spy does not me I will follow your orders." Lois said softly leaning in, taking in his scent.
"I would never presume to give you orders when I know you will only disobey them." Clark said leaning in as well.
"Then we have an understanding?" Lois asked. Her lips were inches away from his.
"I guess we do." Clark said and he gently pressed his lips against hers. It was short but so sweet. Both their breathing increased as they contemplated what to do next.
Then their passion and desire, which they denied and ignored for so long, consumed them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he ran his fingers through her hair. He then pinned her against the wall and he felt her run her fingers through his hair.
They broke apart from their passionate kiss for lack of air and they were breathing heavily. "We can't do this." Lois said out of breath.
"I know." Clark said out of breath as well. Lois then pressed her lips against his once more. Neither one of them resisted the fire between them.
They crashed through the door leading into his bed chamber. Lois pinned Clark to the wall and ripped open his shirt. Clark loosened the strings on the back of Lois's black gown. Lois removed his ripped shirt and it fell to the floor.
Lois felt her gown fall to the floor leaving her only in her thin undergarments. She ran her hands over his bare chest and her fingers rested on his old battle wound. Then Lois felt her undergarments fall to the floor leaving her naked before him. Clark lifted Lois off of her feet and walked them over to the bed, their lips never parting. She shuddered at the warmth of his bare skin against hers.
Their lips finally parted so he may lay her down gently onto the soft bed. Their lips met again and he began applying light kisses down her neck. She moaned in pleasure as he went lower. She then lifted his head with her hands and moved him back up to her lips.
Lois then flipped him so now she was on top. He caressed her face and then he pulled her down for another passionate kiss. She pinned his arms above his head and began applying light kisses down his neck and chest, especially along his scar. Clark shuddered and grunted for could not take it any longer.
He grabbed her shoulders and flipped her so he was on top again. He then jumped off the bed and stood up to admire her body. She placed her left foot on top of his right shoulder and he grabbed her leg. He kissed her ankle and applied light kisses up her leg. She laughed and then began to moan.
Clark stopped kissing her leg to remove his boots and Lois kicked off her slippers. Then Clark slid out of his pants and Lois raised her eyebrow impressed. Lois laughed as he lay down on top of her. He smiled at her and kissed her gently but passionately.
They stared at each other as waiting for the other to say something. Somehow, words were not necessary for them. Their eyes said all that they needed to say to each other.
Their lips met once more and they let the full extent of their passion take control.