CHAPTER NINE: 'She Knew, She Knew, She Knew'
"I'VE DECIDED ON MY JOB." It was the second time Kara had repeated these five words. The first time, to Cat Grant. And now, to Lena Luthor. It was now Thursday, that the two was finally able to find some time to 'grab a coffee,' after multiple rainchecks and rescheduling, due to Kara's hectic week thus far. Unfortunately for both, they did not hear the end of it from Sam and Winn.
"Are you sure, this isn't a date?" Sam asked that Saturday night, when she successfully found out who was making Lena smile, like a fool everytime she looked at her phone.
All she got in response, was a pillow thrown at her face.
For Kara, she was confronted by her best friend who barged into her office with his iPad. On it, line graphs and multiple numbers displayed on full screen.
"This, is the speed and patterns of your typing that I've analysed when you text everyone else in your contacts list." He pointed at a blue line on the line graph like a madman, to a very confused Kara. "And this, is the speed your typing when you text this number I've never seen before." He then pointed to a red line that showed a higher increase than the blue and next to it in bold, was Lena's number. (And three question marks.)
"Who is he?" Winn asked, with a big smile, "o-or she, you know, I've always thought you were a bit gay." He stuttered with his hand gestures flying, when he finally noticed Kara's unamused glare.
"Journalism was an option, if I remember correctly." Lena said, as she scooped a bit of the froth on her coffee onto her spoon.
"It was, yes." Kara confirmed, "but, my calling is reporting. I'm a reporter! It's officially my new job!" She said with excitement, practically bouncing up and down in her seat.
Lena smiled brightly, "well, that's great! I'm happy for you." she said genuinely. "So, do you have any stories you're hunting down?"
The blonde's pearly white smile only grew, and Lena loved the way Kara spoke so passionately about what she loved. "Well, there's good news and bad news." The human said, as her smile turned guilty looking.
"Uh oh, what did you do Danvers?" Lena said in a teacher tone, not thinking it would be a serious matter anyway.
"Well, the bad news is that Miss Grant isn't really my boss anymore. Me being a reporter, means I'm in the research department. And that means that I have Snapper Carr as my new boss. The editor in chief."
"I take it that Snapper isn't one of your favourite people." Lena guessed, as she watched Kara's mood drop.
"No! He's such a jerk...guy." The reporter said lamely. "I've tried writing stories, sending him draft after draft and all he says is that it's not good enough!" She sighed, and Lena decided that she hated a gloomy Kara. "Maybe reporting isn't—"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Kara Danvers. You're the best reporter I know." Lena reached over the table to give Kara's hand a light squeeze. "Not to mention, personal assistant. And one day, CatCo Magazine is going to thank you for all these amazing articles and stories you'll write." Lena offered Kara support.
As a friend, she thought. They've haven't even known each other for a full week. She would never want anyone to feel the way she did when her mother would discourage her of her dreams. Least of all, Kara.
And just like that, Kara's smile returned, "thank you, Lena." Kara squeezed her hand in return.
"Always."
Kara turned her attention back to her coffee, as the silence prolonged longer than expected. "So, what is the good news?" Lena asked, clearing her throat as she retracted her hand from the girl's, realising it over welcomed its stay.
"Well, I'm kind of going behind my new boss' back." Kara said in the rim of her cup, as she took a larger gulp than usual.
Lena arched her brow, quite amused and surprised. She didn't think awkward Kara would sleuth behind Snapper's back. "And you think that's good news?"
"Well it is, for me!" the girl defended, "kinda."
"How so?"
Kara played with the rim of her cup, "it's kind of like, a personal project of mine." She looked up at Lena, "what do you know about the killings in Midvale ten years ago? Or the killings in Metropolis City last year?"
Lena furrowed her brows, genuinely confused. "I've never heard, honestly."
Kara's eyes widened slightly, "oh." The girl was quite surprised Lena didn't know, it was news everywhere. By the way Kara's shoulders slumped slightly, Lena sensed it was something personal too. Perhaps about her parents, but she remained silent and waited for Kara wanted to continue the conversation if she wanted. And she did.
"You must've moved from somewhere exotic, huh?" the girl teased, "well, there were these killings that happened in Midvale and Metropolis City. They say it was a mountain lion, but I don't think it is."
Lena's confusion slowly turned into suspicion. "They all had bite marks on their necks, completely drained of blood." Kara explained, "the reporter in me says to find out what it is. I think, I owe them that much."
"Owe who?" Lena asked, carefully.
The reporter froze for a second, a flash of hurt and nostalgia somehow made her blue eyes appear more dull. Lifeless. "My parents."
Sympathy filled Lena's heart for the girl, "Kara, I'm so sorry to hear."
Kara shook her head, a visible crinkle on her forehead as if to say it's not your fault. "Thank you, Lena. It's okay, really. I was young."
But you still lost your parents. Lena wanted to say, it's not okay. But she remained silent for the second time today.
"Do you want to order some food?" The vampire asked, and Kara lit up like a Christmas tree.
"If you ever need someone to eat with, I'm your girl." The blonde said, as she pointed her thumbs at herself. Her blue eyes widened, "I mean, I'm not your girl. I meant it like, I can eat out with you whenever you want." Kara's eyes might as well popped out of her head. "Oh gosh, I didn't mean eat out, like—"
Lena put her hand up to stop the girl from embarrassing herself any further, while she laughed at her rambling. "Kara, it's fine. We can go out to eat whenever you want." She corrected.
"Cool." Kara squeaked, finally relaxing. All this talk about her job made her curious about Lena. What was it did the girl do? And suddenly, she thought of her conversation with Alex at the bar.
She wondered why her sister didn't trust the raven haired girl sitting across her. It was Lena, how could one not find her dark green eyes alluring. Then, her sister's words echoed in her head. "I just don't think she says who she says she is."
Before she could stop herself, Kara's mouth opened on its own. "You're not like a mob leader are you?"
"Excuse me?" Lena asked, looking up from the menu. (As if she had an appetite anyway.) She brought her coffee to her lips.
"Or like a murderer?"
Lena choked on the hot liquid. "Can I ask how you've made these conclusions about me?" The green eyed girl asked, after she recovered.
Realisation dawned on Kara's face on how rude she was being by prying into Lena's profession. "Oh, Lena I— I'm so sorry."
Lena let out a light laugh, "it's okay Kara, really. But, what's gotten you so interested in what I do?"
"It's just, my sister's work stuff."
"Work stuff?" Lena asked, growing all the more curious. It was like being left out of an inside joke. Although, it seemed as though she wasn't the only one who didn't get the joke either.
"I don't know much about what she does, all she says it's that it's similar to the FBI." Kara recited the words like a prayer.
"I see." Lena said shortly, "well if it puts your mind at ease, I am in fact, a notorious mobster." Lena said with a straight face.
Kara blinked twice, feeling dumbfounded before chuckling nervously at Lena's dark humour, "I'm sorry, I asked." Kara laughed at herself, relieved as Lena joined in on the laughter.
"It's fine, Kara." Lena assured, "let's just say, I travel a lot." Lena settled on.
"A travel journalist?"
"Not quite." Lena paused, "I'm just living life I guess. I love seeing history being made and changed."
Kara nodded thoughtfully, half out of admiration and half out of curiosity.
"What can I get for you ladies today?" A waitress approached their table, pen and notepad ready in her hands.
Lena gestured her hand for Kara to order first. "I'll have the…"
Lena entered her apartment, now furnished with monochrome coloured furniture. After a nice coffee which turned into a little brunch with Kara, Lena actually felt quite tired.
She realised it must have been the lack of feeding. Her eyes were darker than usual, and her pale skin didn't have its usual glow, as it appeared more translucent.
The door of her apartment quietly clicked shut. Out of instinct, Lena sped to the intruder and pinned them against the wall. Her hand clamped around their throat, but not forceful enough to cut off their air supply.
"Sam?!" Lena shouted, before exhaling a relieved sigh. "Jesus Christ, have you heard of knocking?" She let go of her friend's throat. "How'd you even get into the building?" Lena asked, frustrated at her friend.
"The doorman and I go way back." Sam groaned, as she rubbed her neck.
"Oh, Sam I'm so sorry." Lena apologised, knowing that she hurt her friend.
Sam shook her head, "don't apologise, it was my stupid mistake." She took a look around the apartment. "Cleaned up well."
Lena looked at her space with her. It was like stepping into a black and white movie. Not one speck of colour was in place as the furniture and decor were either, white or black.
"It's okay, I guess." Lena mumbled, not really expecting much of it. "What are you doing here?"
The human shrugged her shoulders, "I finished my last meeting with HR and I wanted to check in on you."
Lena knew what that meant. What she meant was how was your date with Kara?
"We just had brunch." Lena said vaguely. Oh, but it meant so much more to the vampire.
It was special, and with every passing hour, Lena only wanted to stay with Kara longer. Cling onto her, and listen to her rambling. Latch onto her and watch her fidget with her glasses once more. But she would never admit that to Sam.
"Right." Sam drawled out, not wanting to pry since she walked in unannounced. "I caught up with Alex today."
Lena perked up at the name, "did you?" She asked, as she didn't realise the two were as close.
"Yeah, we went to highschool together so it wasn't weird or anything." Sam explained. "She's hurt."
Lena frowned, "like, emotionally?"
"No, she has bruises all around." Sam said, "part of the job. She said there was another death in the city. Mountain lion."
Lena's frown increased, "that can't be a coincidence." She mumbled to herself. "What happened in Midvale ten years ago?"
Sam's brows rose a little, as she pieced half of the puzzle together. All of it sounded familiar to her now. "Mountain lion." She whispered.
"It's happening again, isn't it?" Lena asked, and Sam nodded.
"But it's happened every ten years? It's only been a year since the last killings in Metropolis."
"We don't know that." Lena said quickly, her suspicion rose, but she kept to herself. But she knew deep down, she was right.
"I'll look for the trends. I can get newspaper clippings, old articles…" Sam's voice seemed to fade out, as Lena pieced the other half of the puzzle herself.
She knew, that Alex Danvers was most certainly a vampire hunter.
She knew, that mountain lion attacks were not the cause of death.
She knew, that no mountain lion would leave their victims drained of blood, and their corpses scattered so carelessly.
She knew, it wasn't a coincidence that the killings began again upon her arrival.
She knew, it was her brother Lex.