Fic: When The Sun's Rays Glint (5/8)
Title: When The Sun’s Rays Glint (5/8)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Gabe Sullivan, Clark/Lex, Anna Hollander
Fandom: Smallville
Genres: Drama, Holiday, Horror, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Is Castle Luthor haunted?
Chapter Summary: Clark helps Lex decorate the castle for Halloween.
Date Of Completion: October 15, 2020
Date Of Posting: November 13, 2021
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1224
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All chapters can be found here.
V
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
Things that go
Bump in the night,
Are most likely
To give you a fright.
Renee Kelsey
“Halloween Poems”
1959 C.E.
“So there you go, Mr. Luthor.” Plant manager Gabe Sullivan wrapped up the report.
Lex nodded at the older man as they stood on the factory floor. The machinery was working smoothly and there were no problems, so why did Lex feel so unsettled?
It was that moron with the chainsaw, disturbing people’s sleep.
The broken sleep made him feel tired and cranky. He kept hold of his patience. Gabe Sullivan was not guilty of anything. In fact, he had given a good report.
“Sounds good, Mr. Sullivan. How’s Chloe?”
Gabe beamed. “She’s doing fine. She’ll be a star reporter someday.”
“I think so.” Lex stifled a yawn. “Let’s go to your office.”
“Yes, sir.”
The meeting lasted about a half hour. Lex was very pleased with the plant’s progress. He said as much to Gabe. Unlike his father, Lex preferred to give praise when it was due. Lionel preferred ruling by fear.
He drove back to the castle and worked until late afternoon. As the mantel clock struck four, he looked up and was delighted to see, “Clark!”
“Hi, Lex.”
“More produce?”
“Nope, just thought you might like a break.”
“I sure could use one.” Lex closed his laptop, suddenly not so tired.
“The weather’s great. How about a walk?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Lex put on his long, black duster and let Mrs. Hollander know he was going for a walk with Clark. She nodded approvingly.
Clark was right. The weather was extremely pleasant, and perfect for walking.
“So, did you get a good night’s sleep?” Clark asked as they walked down the driveway and out onto the road.
“Actually, it was interrupted around midnight by some inconsiderate nut using a chainsaw.”
“What?”
“Yeah, at full throttle!” Lex said indignantly.
“That’s odd. I didn’t hear anything.”
“Well, it was probably too far away. I suppose everyone around here owns a chainsaw.”
“Pretty much.”
“A farmer with insomnia?”
Clark laughed. “Maybe. I wouldn’t worry about it. I doubt it’ll become a regular thing.”
“Better not. I’ll call the sheriff.”
“You should. That’s really disturbing the peace.”
“It‘s really weird. Why would somebody use a chainsaw in the middle of the night?”
Clark shrugged. “Maybe he’s carving a giant pumpkin for Halloween.”
“Hmph, that wouldn’t surprise me.” Lex watched a squirrel scurry across the road. “There’s going to be another carving contest this year?”
“Oh, sure. Some of the farmers grow giant pumpkins to compete at the State Fair, and others like to apply creativity in carving.”
“Oh, the lives of Kansas farmers,” Lex teased.
“They can get pretty wild, especially this time of year,” Clark said cheerfully.
“Well, I just hope the Kansas Chainsaw Killer keeps quiet tonight.”
& & & & & &
Lex was relieved that his sleep was undisturbed for a whole week as September turned into October. Well-rested, Lex enjoyed significant progress with the plant. Mrs. Hollander baked more apple pies and added pumpkin pies, and Clark brought over a batch of pumpkins and helped Lex decorate.
“You have a good eye for this thing,” Lex said.
“Comes from watching Mom work her magic. She’s got a real talent for decorating.” Clark put a large pumpkin on the stoop in front of the front door. “You definitely need another one to even things out.”
“Okay, Pierre.”
“Who’s Pierre?”
“My interior decorator in Metropolis.”
“Well, I’m more of an outside decorator.”
“True.” Lex chose a pumpkin and put it on the other side of the stoop. He stood back and surveyed everything. “Looks good to me.”
“Great. You putting any pumpkins along the walkway?”
“They should be small ones.”
“Mom calls them baby pumpkins. Seems you’re an outside decorator, too.”
Lex smirked. He and Clark carried armfuls of small pumpkins, and they spaced them out along the walkway on both sides.
“Hear any more chainsaw noise?” Clark asked.
“Luckily, no. It’s been pretty quiet around here.”
“Maybe someone had a little too much corn squeezin’s,” said Clark.
“Yikes, and he was using a chainsaw while drunk?”
“It happens.”
Lex was surprised at Clark’s matter-of-factness. Country folk! Who knew?
“Any costume ideas for this year?” asked Clark.
“Oh, no. I have to dress up again?”
“Sure, that’s what Smallville folks do.”
“Even when it’s not Halloween?”
“Ha, ha.” Clark looked around. “Any other places for pumpkins?”
“You’re the outside decorator. You tell me.”
“Okay.” Clark surveyed the front yard. “Are you planning any displays?”
“No, I thought I’d stick with natural decorations,” Lex said dryly.
“Then I’d suggest putting some pumpkins in your garden, and choose some for inside.”
“Okay, Pierre.”
They decorated the garden and went inside. Clark said, “The foyer needs pumpkins!”
“Okay. Let’s go get ‘em.”
Pumpkins of various sizes were placed around the foyer. Lex had to admit that it looked good.
“Spruces the place up,” Lex said.
“Makes it less gloomy.”
“A definite improvement.”
Clark looked around the foyer. “Wonder what the history of this place is? Your father shipped it from Scotland, didn’t he?”
“Lock, stock and suits of armor.”
Clark looked down the hall. “Speaking of suits of armor…” He walked over to one and picked up the fallen mace.
“I might have to put that one in storage. It keeps dropping the mace.”
Clark replaced the mace in the knight’s glove and bent the arm. “There, all set.” He sauntered over to Lex. “How about coming over to supper tomorrow night? Mom’s going to bake pies tomorrow.”
“Well, how can I turn that down?”
“You can’t.” Clark smiled. “Sleep well, Lex.”
He’s doing that deliberately!
But Lex didn’t care. He did intend to get a good night’s sleep.
& & & & & &
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Lex awoke, fuzzy with sleep. He heard the clanking sound and groaned. Why was he being awakened with all these noises?
He rolled out of bed and put on robe and slippers. He opened the nightstand and drew out a handgun. He listened at the bedroom door.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Whatever was causing the noise, it was going away. He quietly opened the door.
The hall was dark and empty as far as he could see. He eased out cautiously and crept down the hall. No more clanking noises.
He went down the staircase and checked out the foyer. Just the pumpkins. Sighing, he made a quick sweep of the first floor but found nothing.
No one could be in here, unless they made it past my state-of-the-art alarm system.
Shaking his head, he returned to bed.
& & & & & &
Coming downstairs the next morning, Lex noticed the mace on the floor. He blew out an exasperated sigh and picked it up. He was about to put it in the suit of armor’s glove when he realized that the armor was several inches out of its usual place.
I must be mistaken. Mrs. Hollander wouldn’t have the strength to move it. Maybe Clark did yesterday.
Lex replaced the mace and went to the kitchen for breakfast as the armor glinted when a shaft of sunlight hit the steel glove. It trembled slightly.
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