Chapter 10

Lex careened around the corner and onto Main Street. Urgency lent weight to even his lead foot's impact on the pedal. After Lana's call, he'd touched base with Abdul about Jasmine's safety. He wondered about Clark's condition. He had money prepared for the Kents' barn if they'd accept his help. Doctors would come running if needed as well.

Still Arighatto had ended his peaceful co-existence. Much like a dormant volcano, he'd traveled to Japan, New York and back there on financial business. When in town, he remained in his office to the back of the old house on the town's edge. He eschewed company. He wouldn't even be seen with Miranda in public. And now he attacked the Kents? He used magic and a fancy kitana against Clark?

Seems that Dave had known what he was talking about….

Dave. Lex frowned. He recalled how Virgil Swann and he had worked so hard to conceal his friend and the latter's wife. What had started as a birthday party turned into a gory nightmare. Wooden furnishings were slashed and splintered. Blood puddled across the floor. Soot charred the walls. Ozone reeked in the air. The party goers reportedly didn't survive….

…that was the story at least….

I give Dave a chance to strut his stuff here again. We find Miranda. It should be a celebration. Then that bastard would get wind of it. I can't believe Miranda's been here all of these years! He sighed. Arighatto was stupid. Now he may know Dave's alive but the Child knows about him too. He turned into his preferred parking spot. If Arighatto pulls something here, God help him. He set the parking brake. Just let it be quiet tonight.

Abdul approached him. "Mr. Luthor? What is the matter?"

"We might have a situation." Lex checked his watch. "Let's get the café closed. We've had trouble across town."

"Trouble?" Abdul reached under his blazer. His fingers brushed across the pistol's handle in its holster.

Lex turned toward the café. Luck wouldn't be on their side however…..

[Ten Minutes Earlier]

Miranda wiped down the front counter. The cafe had been largely empty for the previous two hours. For once it didn't matter. She busied herself with the little chores. The tables practically sparkled. The floor had been swept. The glass case in front reflected the overhead lights. The clock slowed in its ticking to a dead crawl slower than maple syrup in the dead of Vermont winter. Excitement played tag with Anxiety over her Uncle's impending visit. Not that she didn't want to see him mind you.

Question was what Arighatto would do…..

He tried to kill Uncle Dave with everyone else back East. Oh please! Let him and Auntie be okay! Miranda glanced at the clock again. Still fifteen minutes. Maybe Lana and Mr. Luthor would let me call? Jasmine and Byron would understand. She rubbed her forehead while trying to deal with a headache. Then she considered the remaining coffee in the pot. "Did you want any more? I'm about to throw it out."

Byron shook his head. "I am most satisfied with your previous service, Miranda."

"I'm content as well. Thank you." Jasmine sipped on her mug. She'd studied English and French. In between, she'd conversed with Miranda. She struggled with the cultural differences between East and West. From the bag resting under the table, she felt Security's bliss. Still she contented herself to observe the interactions between her classmates. As with any diplomat, she wanted to learn more about her surroundings. As a classmate and friend, she wanted to understand and empathize with the other teens.

That is if there'd been other classmates to watch in the café on that night.

"Consideration sometimes needs solitude, Princess. Both our wondrous barista and you have more than your share in that regard," he advised. His fork broke off a piece of chocolate fudge cake. "How I wish Sandra could have met us tonight. Alas Duty is a harsh mistress."

Jasmine shook her head. She smiled at him. "You are right. How heavy our tasks rest on us. You and I both deal with the world. Those around us seek us out for what we can do for them rather than who we are."

"Tell me about it." Miranda sighed. She marveled at how Jasmine understood her exact meaning almost instinctively. She relaxed. "We're people not commodities or robots."

"Alas. The modern age sucks away the marrow of humanity away from life," he lamented. "We persevere and take what pleasures we may. The poetic muses of yesteryear will illuminate our halls next week for an evening at least. Perhaps their light will bring more if we allow it. Who knows what fruit such beauty will bear?"

"In this case, family, Byron." Miranda blushed. She looked around. "Jasmine and Lana know already. My uncle's alive. He's reading with you all next week."

"Truly so?" He grinned. "From Lex's illumination, he is quite the follower of the poetic muse in his own right. I shall anticipate our meeting now doubly so."

"Yeah. He can shake things up especially if my stepfather's around." Miranda frowned. Nausea unsettled her stomach and left a bad taste in her mouth. Even the thought much less the spoken reference to her kidnapper in that way burned her. "We really need to be careful, Guys. I'm hoping that we can have a great time without that creep finding out. The standoff will happen." She exhaled sharply.

"Have faith." Jasmine rubbed Miranda's arm. "It was meant that your uncle found us."

"I can hope." Miranda shivered. Her skin reddened and dimpled. "Great."

"The air gets so chilled? Truly the Underworld opens its maw for us." He noted Arighatto standing by the staircase. "And now he slips from shadow to light?"

"You do have a way with lyrics. I shall remember that for your eulogy," Arighatto growled. A deep frown carved grooves through his face. His eyes flared. "How like fools you are! Did you think I wouldn't know?" He sniggered. "It seems the Demon Brat stalks your friends."

"Demon…?" Jasmine's eyes went wide. She'd encounter Jinn in her native land years before.

Miranda shook her head. Defiance spread a smirk across her face. "He beat you. Didn't he? Well, CREEP, it's almost over! I have my family back! PERIOD!" She pointed toward the door. "GET LOST!"

"One bruise won't stop me." Arighatto's eyes glowed. He clenched his hand.

Miranda floated into the air. She recalled such scenes at numerous points over the past decade. She braced herself knowing the pounding she was about to take. Her throat gasped to pull air into an increasingly constricted path. "Do…your…worst."

"Get away from her, Wizard!" Jasmine reached for her bag. From it, she pulled an elaborate sheathed scimitar. "Stay back, Byron." She slid from the booth and to her feet. "I can defend myself." She drew the blade. With a single motion, she flung the scabbard onto her former seat. She held the blade up in first position. "YOU ARE CHALLENGED! FACE ME!" she barked in Japanese.

Arighatto raised an eyebrow. Surprise grabbed his attention. "Where does a spoiled harem girl get such a pretty blade? No matter. Let Luthor deal with your sire." He drew his own blade. "Let this be your lesson, Miranda!" He motioned with his head.

Miranda struck the staircase. She slumped to the oak floor.

Fury echoed throughout the café as Jasmine's scimitar clanged against Arighatto's several times. Sparks flew through the café. A crimson hue lit up the area with each exchange. Appliances flickered on and off.

"Don't count chickens before hatched!" She touched the floor. From her hand, cobalt energy lit the oak.

Arighatto stumbled and slid back several feet. He glared at the Princess.

"I have my own abilities, BAKA! You've done enough!" Jasmine narrowed her eyes. Her feet whispered around the edge of her ice patch. "No matter what demons you stir, I will not fall!" Her mouth wrinkled. "And now the Jinni stench?"

"Demon…?" Arighatto stiffened. His current adversary represented a serious but manageable challenge. He rolled his eyes. "And now him? AGAIN?" He turned away from Jasmine toward the café's far corner.

"YEAH! ME 'GAIN!" Dubois snapped. He stalked into the light. His open left eye took in the entire scene. He hustled over to Miranda's side. Rage frothed and boiled inside of him. "GONNA PAY!"

"Professor Dubois, stay back! It's…" Byron started to advise.

"Dubois isn't listening, Brat. That thing doesn't care." Arighatto rushed the newcomer. He held his scimitar high overhead.

Dubois frankly didn't care. The Talon's residue irritated him. It burned across his psyche. He screeched paining all in the area. His hands glowed in tune with the area's crimson hue. Then he blasted Arighatto across the area. "PICTURE PLACE! HOME! AIN'T HURTIN' IT OR MIRI NO MORE! AH WON' HAVE IT!"

"Allah be merciful!" Jasmine stared at the apparent savior. Frankly she didn't know what was worse…Arighatto or a possessed poet for that matter. She stood between Byron and the two antagonists. She saw Lex and Abdul barge into the café. "Alex, stay there!"

Lex shook his head at Abdul. "Do what she says."

"Mr. Luthor, we…." Abdul started to aim his weapon.

"Trust me. Just don't." Lex frowned. First the Kents and now here? "Watch the door." Memoria prompted several such instances from his childhood. It reminded him of Dubois' standoffs both there and back East. His heart lurched remembering his mother's efforts to prevent such an event from happening.

"Yes. Watch it. We will have words soon enough, Luthor." Arighatto spat. Disgust and Defiance propelled him forward…. "Dubois, you're…."

"AIN'T…BIG…BRO! CHILD!" The Dark One scorched and burned his tormentor with several more fiery bursts. His eye glinted deeper emerald. Ebon energy outlined his form. His breathing grew ragged. Snarls escaped his lips. He stomped toward his staggering opponent.

Arighatto slumped against the wall. He'd grossly underestimated the situation. His skin and soul screamed from their burns. His strength had all but left him. His eyes burned into his enemy's. Then he melted back into the shadows.

Jasmine studied the Child. She felt the eldritch energies crackling through the chamber and deduced his role in that. "What are you?"

"Jasmine, stand down. If you don't threaten him, he won't hurt you," Lex directed. He moved toward his friend. Halting steps punched a slow trail toward his old friend.

"Alex, it's a demon! Don't be foolish!" Jasmine protested.

"SHADDAP!" The Child leaned over Miranda. He brushed her hair back. Tears squeezed their way from the closed right eye and flowed from his left one. "Miri Ma."

"We tried to keep her safe." Lex kept his hands where the others could see them.

"Yeah, Lexie. Ah git it." The Child swiped at his eyes. He detested his own show of weakness. "Safe."

Miranda stirred. Her eyes fluttered open. "What? I…." Her mouth dropped. Instinct flung her arms around him. "Uncle! I knew you'd come!"

"Ah'm 'ere." The Child grabbed onto her as well. He rocked her as he had when she was a toddler. "Lo..ve ya."

"I do too. If only the others could see this." She pulled him against herself. "And Auntie?"

"She's okay, Miranda. So's Clark," Lex noted. He glanced up toward the ceiling. Mom, I'd almost swear you're behind this. He sighed and held his arms out. "Can I get a hug too?"

The Child curled his lip. Still he untangled himself from Miranda. He grabbed onto the billionaire. "Na' Lie-Boy. T'anks."

"You're more than welcome." Lex returned the embrace. "That's what family does for each other."

"Lie Boy?" Jasmine wondered. Disbelief stunned her. She stared at the scene unfolding in front of herself.

"He's talking about my father," Lex explained. He shook the reference off. "The less said of him, the better." He rubbed the Child's arm. "Come back to the mansion? I can get that ale you used to like."

"Wanna be with Miri." The Child's eyes turned back toward his niece.

"I'll go too. Maybe we can get Auntie to come early?" Miranda supposed.

"I think we can do that," Lex agreed. "Let's lock up." He surveyed the chamber. Given what had just happened, the melting ice on the floor and a few overturned tables proved a minor price to pay.

Reunions would lighten every mood it seemed…..