CHAPTER FIVE: 'Luthor Women Do Not Cry'

LENA DIDN'T REALISE HOW much her blood thirst had accumulated, until Mike had cut his hand. Sitting in a bar full of humans was like being seated at an unwanted buffet. She knew she had to get out of there, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she'd hurt any of those people. Her new acquaintances. Kara.

So, Lena got out of her seat and walked quickly as humanly possible to the exit, while trying to be being discreet about it. As Mike's accident caught the attention of most in the bar, Sam managed to keep tabs on Lena and followed her out without being noticed.

Once outside and out of sight, Lena sped her way in the alley, heaving to suppress her bloodlust.

"Breathe, Lena." Sam's calming voice was heard, as the human slowly approached the vampire.

"Get out of here, Sam." Lena choked, as her fangs began to reveal themselves. Lena leaned her arms on the wall to steady herself, hiding her face in the comforts of her arms.

Sam put her arms up, showing her defenselessness. "And leave you here all alone?" Sam half heartedly joked. "I'm not leaving you, Lena." She spoke more sternly. "When's the last time you've fed?"

Lena hated when Sam asked that question. It reminded her of what a monster she was. Someone who had to drain the life out of another just to selfishly survive.

When Lena didn't answer, Sam walked closer to the vampire. The human felt nothing but sympathy for her friend. She felt nothing but sorrow at the misfortune that Lena had dealt with in her past. About what Lena was, and hating herself for it. That she was left with nothing but a poisoned legacy that goes by the name of Luthor.

"Here." Sam offered Lena her wrist. It wasn't the first time this exchange has happened. It was times like these, when Lena was in desperation of blood to be able to function, (but she was too stubborn to admit it) that Sam would willingly allow Lena to feed off her.

Lena lifted her head from the solace of her arms. She looked at Sam, the greens of her eyes now dark and the whites of them now bloodshot red.

Sam nodded unafraid, before Lena grabbed her wrist and bit into her veins. The human winced at the pain, as the familiar metallic taste filled Lena's mouth. Her thirst grew stronger with every mouthful, and Lena was afraid she wouldn't control herself.

Hesitantly, Lena knew she was hurting her friend, so she pulled herself away. She didn't realise she had to resolve to her vampiristic strength to to force herself off of Sam, until her back hit the opposite brick wall of the alley.

"S-Sam, I'm so sorry." Lena breathed out. Her lips still stained with Sam's blood.

Sam shook her head, her brows furrowed in understanding as she clutched her wrist. It wasn't easy for Sam to get Lena to trust her. She didn't tell a living soul of who, rather what, Lena was and allowed Lena to drink from her when needed. It was often that Lena would and has pushed Sam away because of the guilt she felt.

"Lena. It's okay, I'm your friend." Sam promised, over and over, from time to time again. "I'll always be here for you."

Sam reached out to hug Lena, who took a step back. "I have to go."

"Lena… don't push me away again."

"I won't stay away." Lena promised this time, putting Sam's mind at ease. "Tell the others I had to go. That I felt sick, okay?"

Sam nodded at Lena's instructions, before a small breeze hit Sam's hair. And Lena was gone into the night.

Lena walked into her apartment, her heels clicking loudly but sluggishly against the neatly waxed floorboards. She flicked on the lights and sighed. "Great." Lena mumbled to herself, realising that all there was to her apartment was emptiness.

No bed to slump onto, no couch to lounge on, no television to binge. Nothing.

Lena rubbed her temples, as if trying to soothe a headache. It had been a long night, and she knew that going out was a bad idea. The vampire remembered the taste of Sam's blood in her mouth and walked over to the bathroom. Spotless and empty as expected.

She looked at herself in the mirror, her mouth still stained with blood and her hair disheveled. She splashed water on her face and wiped her mouth clean, and stared at herself again. She tried to search for human qualities in her features, but all she saw was a ruthless predator staring back at her. Her face was just a pretty mask to hide behind.

The memories of her killing, draining people of their lives resurfaced. Although many of her victims were found guilty, they were once innocent too. Lena bit her lip to stop it from quivering, as her mother's voice echoed in her mind. "Stop crying, Lutessa. Luthor women do not cry."

But she cried.

She crumpled up into a small ball with her back against the bathtub, brought her knees up to her face, and she cried.

Cradling herself as her sobs grew louder, all Lena could think about was how her fate was the promise of complete and utter loneliness. Cursed with immortality, Lena was inevitably destined to remain lonesome. Should she make friends, all she can do is watch as they grow old and build a life of themselves.

Lives that consisted of having children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lives that promised a happy marriage with someone who loved them wholeheartedly until they die of old age. Lives that involved planting pink roses in the front yard of their house, surrounded by a picket white fence.

Lives that were nothing but a dream, that Lena would never get to have.

Across the city, Alex was busy cleaning and bandaging Mike's cut on his hand, tutting and scolding him like a mother, in the back room of the Alien Bar.

"Didn't I tell you not to get so excited over things?" Kara asked, her arms folded across her chest, as she stood by the doorframe.

"Well, it kinda sucks when your friends are celebrating and you're stuck working." Mike responded, not really feeling much pain to the antiseptic.

Kara sighed, "How's he doing? Does he need any stitches?" She asked her sister.

Kara was surprised to know Alex had a medical degree, something that "came with the job."

"No, he should be okay. Just some pieces of glass lodged in the cut but I've managed to get them out." Alex explained. "Alright, all done."

Mike smiled a thank you, before hopping off the bench to tell his boss, Megan, that he'll take a few days off from work.

"Kara, can I talk to you?" Alex asked, as she removed the rubber gloves and chucked them in a nearby bin.

"Yeah." Kara said, just as she was about to leave. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to check in on you." Alex smiled.

"Well, I'm fine. I think?" Kara chuckled to herself. "What's this about, Alex?" The younger sister asked, finding it a little suspicious about the sudden care. It wasn't like she was the one who'd just split their hand with glass.

"What do you think of that Luthor girl?" Alex asked.

"That 'Luthor girl', has a name. And that name, is Lena." Kara said slowly, unsure as to why she was quite defensive about it.

Alex let out a small laugh, as if she wasn't surprised by Kara's response and mumbled something to herself.

Kara furrowed her brows. "Don't you like her?"

"I just don't trust her." Alex admitted. "Where'd she run off to anyway?" The redhead asked.

"Well, you barely spoke to her all night. Just give her a chance, Alex and you'll see how great she is." Kara reasoned, ignoring Alex's question.

"I'm not opposing a chance for her." Alex said, "I just don't think she is who she says she is."

"What do you mean?" Kara asked. "I don't understand, Alex."

"You don't, it's just—"

"Work stuff?" Kara finished the sentence. Kara shrugged her shoulders defeatedly, knowing she wouldn't get anything out of Alex. "Yeah, I thought so." The blonde said quietly, before leaving the room.

Alex watched her sister leave, hating the feeling of guilt for having to omit the truth from her sister. To lie to her face. She's gotten used to Kara being upset with her, but it doesn't get any easier. Alex fished out her phone from her back pocket and dialed a number.

"Hank. I need to look into the Luthor files. I think we've got one."