Fic: When The Sun's Rays Glint (8/8)
Title: When The Sun’s Rays Glint (8/8)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Lana Lang, Clark/Lex, Brad Paine, Jonathan/Martha
Fandom: Smallville
Genres: Drama, Holiday, Horror, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Is Castle Luthor haunted?
Chapter Summary: The spell is cast.
Date Of Completion: November 1, 2020
Date Of Posting: December 17, 2021
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 2171
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All chapters can be found here.
VIII
STEEL VERSUS STEEL
When the sun’s rays glint
Off polished steel,
It hints of passion
After the evening meal.
When the sun sinks low
Behind the hill,
The convivial company
Enjoy their fill.
The sun goes down,
In the deepest deep,
The haunting begins
Of the castle keep.
Sir Roland Astaire
“Spirited Poems”
1899 C.E.
Lana opened up The Talon, her eyes scrutinizing the kitchen. Ready for action. Brandy would arrive soon and then Lana would head to school. The early morning coffee rush would start soon.
She went into the office and nearly dropped her purse. Lex was sleeping on the couch. Curious, she nevertheless was quiet as she put her purse and coat on a chair.
& & & & & &
The sound of Lana starting the coffee machines in the kitchen woke Lex. He had slept soundly after arriving at The Talon. He rubbed his eyes and shuffled out to the kitchen, his clothes rumpled and only socks on his feet.
“Late night?” Lana asked.
“Of sorts.” Lex sniffed appreciatively. “Can your co-owner get a cup of coffee?”
“Sure.” Lana poured a cup and handed it to him. “So?”
“So I’ve got some burglar troubles.”
“With all your security?”
“I know.” Lex took a long sip.
“What is it about you Luthors and your attraction for criminals?” Lana asked as she put croissants in the oven.
“Our sparkling personalities.”
She smirked. “Well, good luck catching him.”
“Thanks.”
& & & & & &
The day passed quickly as Lex returned to the castle, talked with Nancy Adams over the phone, met with his new security team, and was happily surprised to see Clark after school.
“Lana told me you had a burglar.”
“Of sorts.”
Clark waited patiently for Lex to explain. He gave a quick rundown of the evening’s events.
“The mace made all that damage?”
“Yep.” Lex pointed to the mace on his desk in the library. “Sheriff Adams sent it over with one of her deputies. The only fingerprints were yours, mine and Mrs. Hollander’s.”
“If this burglar was stealing, he wouldn’t keep coming back to pound on your door.”
“I’m not sure what’s going on?”
“Mr. Luthor.”
Clark and Lex looked at the man in a dark-blue suit in the library doorway. He was holding a small burlap bag.
“Yes, Mr. Paine?”
“I found this in the garden.” Placid brown eyes took in the surroundings as he handed over the bag.
“Thank you.”
Clark looked intently at the bag, suddenly relaxing. “Go ahead and open it, Lex.”
Lex was wary but Clark’s confidence boosted his own. He pulled open the drawstrings and looked inside.
“Looks like a lot of herbs. There’s a note.” He took it out. “‘Dear Lex, Use these to rid yourself of the castle’s spirit’.” It’s unsigned.” He handed the note to Clark.
“It’s Lydia’s handwriting.”
“Lydia? The Witch of McCready’s Marsh?”
Clark grinned. “That’s her. Looks like you’ve got a ghost.”
“Great. Who could be haunting me?”
“Bruce McDougall?”
“Why would he come after me?” Lex grumbled. “MacTavish killed him, not me.”
“Maybe he thinks you’re MacTavish.”
“Ordinarily I’d scoff at even discussing a ghost’s motivation, but I know better.”
“That’s right.” Clark looked cheerful, but he checked the contents of the bag. “There’s another note here.” He drew it out. “Ah, instructions.”
“For a spellcasting?”
“You’re a fast learner, Lex. The spell has to be performed on Halloween, but should result in a permanent exorcism.”
“Lovely.”
“Oh, c’mon, Lex, we’ve done weirder things.”
“That’s not a recommendation, believe it or not.” Lex frowned. “Wait a minute, we have to wait until Halloween? That’s a week away!”
“Want to come home with me?”
Lex shook his head, not wanting to put the Kents in danger.
“Guess The Talon office couch will have to do.”
“Yeah, keep it to yourself, will you? I don’t want this getting around.”
“Okay.” Clark read over the instructions. “You’ll need orange and black candles, by the way, and a mortar and pestle. “
“Let me see that.” Lex took back the note.
“You’ll have a week to get it all together. I can supply the mortar and pestle.” At Lex’s look, he explained, “Mom uses it for cooking sometimes.”
“For herbs, I suppose.”
“Actually, yes.”
& & & & & &
The next morning, Lex greeted Lana again in The Talon’s kitchen and asked for her discretion.
“Sure, Lex. Hope you find out who this burglar is.”
Lex’s security guards would be with him at the castle during the day, and a team would keep watch on The Talon at night. They were looking for a human burglar, not a ghost, and Lex decided not to tell the truth. He doubted these practical men would believe him, anyway.
“Thanks, Lana. I think we will.”
Lex picked out a pumpkin muffin from the glass case out front. He wandered back into the kitchen.”This is good.”
“I should say so. It’s one of our bestsellers at this time of year.”
Lex took another bite. “Makes sense. Pumpkin is popular this time of year.”
“I love pumpkin. The pumpkin lattes are doing great, too.”
“Good to hear.”
The tiny bells over the door jingled, announcing a new customer. Lana went out to the counter.
“It’s only Clark!” she called back to Lex.
“‘Only?’” Clark complained.
Lex came out and smiled. “What’s up, Only Clark?”
“Ha, ha.”
Lana returned to the kitchen and Clark leaned over the counter . “Did you get any of the ingredients?”
“Candles, bowls, salt.”
“Good.”
“I’ve got to get an iron pot.”
“A cauldron?”
“Not a big one. And a little tripod if I can get one.”
“Sounds like we’re on our way.” Clark rubbed his hands in anticipation.
“You sound like you’re enjoying all this mumbo-jumbo.”
“Why not? Gotta roll with it.”
“Yeah, but you’re not the one who’s living with a ghost, who, by the way, is trying to brain me with a mace.”
“It won’t be long now.”
“I hope not. I’m getting too used to the office couch.”
Clark brushed his hand over Lex’s. “We’ve got to get you back to your own bed.”
Lex flushed and said, “A sound goal.”
Clark smiled and straightened up. Had his eyes glittered? Lex doubted his friend was as innocent as he seemed.
“I’ve to get home. Sleep well, Lex.”
Clark left and Lex watched him walk away. He took an ice-cold Diet Coke out of the cooler and started gulping it down, trying to cool off.
& & & & & &
Smallville prepared for Halloween. For weeks, stores and homes were decorated, and plans for the Festival went ahead at a fast clip.
Lex did his best to put in a full day’s work at the castle, trying to ignore any strange noises he might hear. He continued to gather what he would need for the spellcasting, and Clark helped.
During the days Lex walked around looking for a place to cast the spell. Lydia’s instructions said to perform the spell outdoors, though Lex thought it was odd. Wasn’t the resident ghost inside the castle, not outside? He shrugged mentally.
The guards were around while Les made his sojourns around the estate. He frowned as he noticed some branches cut up into neat logs under various trees. He checked with Brad Paine, and the man reported seeing no one.
“It’s strange, though. No one’s ever around, but the men sometimes hear a chainsaw.”
“A chainsaw?”
“Yes.”
Lex wondered about this report. He saw a few hedges razed as if by a chainsaw.
When Clark came over after school, Lex asked, “Are your parents sure that Chainsaw Elmer is the shy type?”
“Huh?”
Lex explained what he had learned, and Clark was surprised. “Maybe ol’ Elmer is coming out of his shell.”
Lex rolled his eyes. “Could I have two ghosts?”
“Maybe.”
“Great.”
“Don’t worry, Lex, everything will be all right.”
Lex certainly hoped so. He was starting to get stressed out.
& & & & & &
Halloween dawned bright and clear, excitement filling the air as children looked forward to trick-or-treating and last-minute touches made to Festival preparations. Lex and Clark were checking to see that they had everything they needed for the spellcasting.
Lex needed to make a quick trip to the castle to pick up his costume. As he passed his father’s study, he thought he heard something. Cautiously, he opened the door.
Shadows dwelled in this grim room. Lex could swear he could hear whispers. He shuddered and backed out, closing the door behind him.
The Kents took care of trick-or-treaters who came to their door, then Jonathan and Martha went into town while Clark went to Castle Luthor.
Lex was waiting in the garden with a large plastic bag and the small burlap bag. Clark also carried a bag and laughed delightedly when he saw Lex.
Lex had a grin on his face as he regarded Clark. “Dashing, Clark.”
Clark bowed. His cape swirled behind him. “Zorro at your service.” He brandished his sword in the air, creating the letter ‘Z’. “Typecasting, Lex?”
Lex spread his arms. He wore a black, hooded cloak that Witches wore for their rituals. “Hey, I’ve got a cauldron.”
“Ha, ha. Let’s get this party started.”
“The sooner the better.”
Lex led Clark to a small section of the garden, surrounded by boxed hedges. The duo sat on the ground, Lex setting up a tripod and placing a small iron pot on it. The bag of herbs was set beside it. The tripod was located between them.
Lex led Clark to a small section of the garden, surrounded by boxed hedges. The duo sat on the ground, Lex setting up a tripod and placing a small iron pot on it. The bag of herbs was set beside it. The tripod was located between them.
Clark produced the mortar and pestle. He ground herbs and placed them in the pot as Lex quoted the words that Lydia had written out after lighting the candles.
“‘Casting the circle (he used a wand to draw a circle) North and South, East and West, spirits hear me, grant me rest. The house is haunted, but I remain undaunted, as I bid farewell to the spirit who dwells in my house.’”
Lex lit a match and dropped it in the pot. Smoke curled up, sweet and beguiling, and they kept watch on the castle. It was dark, no lights showing in the windows. Lex continued the incantation while Clark kept adding ground-up herbs. The candle flames flickered as a soft breeze blew. A bright moon silvered the garden, quiet settled over the countryside.
Suddenly a screech sounded, and Clark and Lex paused in their actions. Lex started up again but Clark held out a hand to stop him.
“Look,” he whispered.
A suit of armor came around the corner, stiff in its movements as it clanked, carrying a mace.
“Start it up again,” Clark said quickly.
Lex started the incantation again as the knight continued its haunted journey. It was headed in their direction.
“Uh, Clark?”
“Yes?”
“McDougall’s heading right for us.”
“Appears so.” Clark was calmly adding ground-up herbs to the mini cauldron.
Lex marveled at his friend’s cool facade. “You know, that mace is making dents in us in a minute.”
“Well, keep incanting.” Clark stood and looked ready to do battle. Lex opened his mouth to protest when the loud roar of a chainsaw rent the air.
Jaws dropped as Clark and Lex watched a ghostly figure appear, cut to ribbons but able to move with alacrity and carry a chainsaw.
“Elmer,” Clark whispered.
The farmer made a beeline for the knight. Mace hit chainsaw, sparks flying. It was a wild battle as the spectral combatants fought across the lawn, bathed in the light of the moon.
Lex kept chanting while Clark kept grinding up the herbs and hastily threw them in the pot.
The fight was titanic as armor creaked and the chainsaw buzzed. The mace clanged and the knight keened as he drove forward. The farmer pushed back, the teeth of the saw screeching against the steel armor.
The smoke rose up from the pot, thick and sweet. The curling column blotted out the stars. Both men watched the fantastic fight while continuing the spell.
And that’s when it happened. On this night of magic and mystery, the battle royale was titanic until the knight began to shake violently. A terrible screech split the air as the helmet visor snapped up and a spectral figure shot up into the sky. The figure disappeared, dissolving into wisps as the armor clanked to the ground. The ghostly farmer raised a triumphant fist (it wobbled on the sliced wrist) and faded away with one last chainsaw growl.
Clark and Lex looked at each other wordlessly.
& & & & & &
Clark and Lex never spoke of that Halloween night. They simply packed up their magic paraphernalia, dragged the suit of armor inside the castle, and joined the good citizens of Smallville at the Festival.
In the days following the Festival, the sadly-neglected grave of Elmer Shockley was spruced up and flowers planted every spring and pumpkins brought every fall. No one ever knew who the anonymous benefactor was who paid for it all.
In Castle Luthor, a scratched and dented suit of armor stood in the main hall…without a mace, which was locked away in the armory.
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