One of the more intriguing characters in the series, "Smallville", is that of Lex Luthor. While people familiar with the comic-strip and movies know that he is Superman's arch-enemy and a master criminal, the show takes a strange twist by having young Clark Kent rescue Lex from drowning and the two become best of friends, for Lex, a younger brother he never had and for Clark, the older brother he always wanted.
Yet at the same time, the series does a superb job showing the twisted, dysfunctional family life of Lex and his manipulative, "Donald Trump" stereo-type father and how Lex is truly his "father's son". It is easy to see the mastermind blossoming inside young Lex and how easily the exercise of power comes to him. Because of his friendship for Clark, it is easy to forget that Lex is much more ruthless than his father, a true meglomaniac and a force to be reckoned with.
This story is about Lana Lang, and how she learns, to her regret, the price one has to pay to be powerful. In one of the later episodes, she convinces Lex Luthor, or so she thinks, to back her in the purchase and refurbishment of the "Falcon", an old movie-house downtown that has nostalgic ties to her deceased parents. The ease in which she changed Lex's mind has convinced her that she is on her own way to becoming one of the mover's and shakers of the land.
SMALLVILLE: THE PRICE OF POWER, Chapter 1
The limosuine came over the crest of a small hill and the lights of Metropolis sprang into view. Lana Lang, sitting in the back and looking out the window, caught her breath at the beautiful sight. The man seated next to her smiled slightly.
"Driver, stop the car", he barked curtly. The car immediately slowed and pulled off to the shoulder of the road in a swirl of dust. Before it had come to a complete stop, the man reached across the young woman and opened the door. Lana smiled at him and unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out into the cool night air. She walked slowly toward the shimmering lights of the city spread out before her, her arms wrapped beneath her small, though firm breasts.
"It is so beautiful", she whispered softly. "Like a City of Magic!"
"Only at night", the man said from behind her, his tone sardonic and just a touch bored. "During the day it is like every other big city. Dirty, crowded and smelly. Darkness becomes her. But then again, darkness favors many things in life. Surely you've been to the city before, Lana? I mean, your parents must have taken you once or twice, or have you forgotten that?"
Lana turned to observe the tall, bald-headed young man behind her. He was slender, but not thin, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist that hinted at athletic prowess. His dark eyes studied her, powerful, probing eyes that made her shiver slightly. She always felt as if Lex was several thoughts and sentences ahead of her when she spoke to him, as if he could read her mind and already knew her answer.
"Of course I've been to Metropolis before, Lex", she said gently. "Lots of times with my parents when they were alive, and after their death, with my aunt. A couple of times with my boyfriend Whitney. But I never tire of looking at it at night. Don't you believe in magic?"
Lex Luthor shook his head and walked back to the car. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at the beautiful young woman in her elegant, black evening gown, a simple strand of pearls around her neck and the glint of diamonds at the base of her ears.
"I believe in money and power", he said simply. "You look out there and see magic. I look out there and see a waste of energy. And the potential for enormous profit for whoever controls the source of that energy. Come on back inside now, we don't want to be late for the Governor's Ball."
Lana looked back one more time at the glittering lights, trying to see it the way Lex saw it. It was still magical and she grinned to herself and hurried over to the car and got in. Lex had been sweet enough to invite her to the Governor's Ball, her first opportunity to meet the leaders of Kansas society and business. He was right. There would be time later to think of magic. Tonight, she had to begin to "network" and meet the people who will be important to her future, whatever that future might be.
Lex sat quietly across from her in the back of the limo, a laptop resting across his thighs. His eyes danced across the information on the screen and he would frequently type something into the attached keyboard. Every so often, a wolfish smile would cross his face and Lana could imagine another business competitor suddenly losing everything. Lex scared her, and intrigued her at the same time. He was one of the most driven men she'd ever known and she had come to appreciate his wit, intelligence and business acumen since becoming a "silent partner" in the refurbished Falcon Theatre and Coffee Shop.
The car slowed and turned off the highway and Lana saw that they were by a high-walled residence. The heavy metal gates slid open slowly and the limo powered smoothly along the winding blacktop driveway, through a screening copse of trees and then out into the lights of a beautiful, impressive looking mansion. A circular drive swung across the front of the house and a uniformed man was opening the doors of the cars in front of her, helping the beautifully dressed men and women out of the car.
Then it was her turn and Lana's heart beat faster as she accepted the man's hand and stepped out of the car. Lex followed after her, and he put one hand under her elbow, steering her up the steps toward the open double-doors. Lana could see the ever-present laptop held in his other hand. She shook her head slightly, wondering if Lex ever did anything for the sheer enjoyment of it all. Probably not, unless there was some form of profit in it.
The inside of the mansion was more beautiful than Lana had imagined. Everything reeked of money and power! She'd felt it at Lex's mansion in Smallville, but this was far beyond the aura of his relatively new home. That was the point, Lana guessed. The Governor's Mansion was at least a hundred years old and the years had impressed the very wood and fabric of the building with the exercise of power. She wondered what Lex's mansion would feel like, a hundred years from now.
Lex seemed to know everybody and he smiled and nodded to most of them, introducing Lana to a select few others. One of the first men she met was Senator Mackey, a tall, heavy-framed man with a full head of jet-black hair, bright blue eyes and a smile that made the young beauty feel as if she was the most important woman in the world. He had huge, soft-skinned hands and the backs and first two knuckles were covered with a thick matting of jet black hair. It made Lana think of an animal and she felt a vague sense of disquiet the longer the Senator held her hand, much longer than propriety would allow.
