Quietly Devoured

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

By the time Clark got back to Metropolis, Lionel's safe had been opened by the company who built it and the meteor rocks had been removed, as per his instructions.

Part of him had wanted to just rip the door off but he knew that was far too risky and he needed to be above board about this.

He dismissed the security who were guarding the safe and walked in. He had no idea of the treasures that Lionel kept in here because Lionel protected everything not only with thick steel but Kryptonite as well.

There were a lot of relics, mostly human, a few rare books, lots of jewellery and the jackpot, his collection of journals detailing all things Kryptonian. He quickly speed read through all the journals and discovered nothing similar to the sketch Chloe had shown him.

In one way that was good because he could give Chloe the journals to work on but in others ways it was bad, because it meant that the artefact was still out there, somewhere. Chloe still had a chance of returning home.

III

"Who are you?"

Chloe looked up to see Tess standing in the doorway of the office, though she looked far less well put together than her Tess.

"I'm a friend of Clark's."

"I somehow doubt Clark would be happy about you using his computer." Tess walked forward.

"He knows," Chloe said, getting to her feet. She came around the desk and held her hand out. "I'm Christine Sullivan but please, call me Chrissy."

"Tess Luthor."

"Luthor?" Chloe paled. "Oh god, you aren't Clark's wife, are you?"

"No," Tess laughed. "Try sister."

"Lionel adopted you too?"

"No," her laughter had faded and now she was suspicious. "I'm his love child. I don't mean to sound egotistical, but how can you not know that? We're like the Kennedys of our generation."

"I'm not from here," Chloe said, trying to come to terms with the fact that Tess was actually Lionel's daughter. Suddenly a lot of things began to make sense, like why a virtual unknown woman like Tess was left in charge of LuthorCorp on her world.

"Sullivan... I don't suppose you're related to Chloe Sullivan, are you? You look an awful lot like her."

"She's my twin sister but for some reason, I was put up for adoption and she wasn't. I came here trying to find my birth family."

"And found Clark instead." Tess gave Chloe a long, appraising look. "Clark was very close to Chloe and he doesn't think clearly when it comes to her. Be careful, Miss Sullivan."

"What? You'll hurt me if I break his heart?" Chloe couldn't help but smile at the juvenile threat.

"Yes, but also be careful of Clark. Like I said, he doesn't think clearly when it comes to Chloe. He has a lot of issues surrounding her death and I'd hate for you to take the brunt of that."

Chloe hadn't noticed any issues, beyond the pain of losing someone you cared about, but never the less, she vowed to be careful.

"Thanks for the tip."

Tess nodded. "So where is my brother?"

"He's in Metropolis, I'm not exactly sure where."

Tess gave Chloe one last long, assessing look. "Thank you." Then she turned and left the office.