Clark Kent sat in the back of the university lecture hall, legs restless, thoughts swirling like a storm. Professor Fain lectured about the fall of ancient Rome, about decay, fear, and lost purpose.
"In the last days of Rome, wealth and power consumed the minds of rulers. But what of ordinary citizens? Did they rise up to defend their world? Did they abandon comfort for courage? No, they wasted their lives away, and while they grew soft and careless, darkness crept in to destroy all they once held dear. In your own lives, you may face similar choices. The question is this: will history remember you, or will your footsteps be lost beneath the march of greater forces?"
Clark found himself absorbed by the lecture in his own way. Professor Fain was the first instructor at Metropolis University who had not only been kind, but had tried to bring him onto his research team. That offer had meant more to Clark than the professor could know. He had come not just to listen, but to find the right moment to ask an important question.
Once class ended, Clark waited until Professor Fain had packed his bag. Then, careful not to interrupt anyone else, he approached.
"Professor, may I ask you something?" Clark's voice was calm, but urgent.
Professor Fain looked up, eyebrows raised. "Clark, your attendance record has been unusual lately."
Clark swallowed. "I know. I'm sorry. Something… complicated has been happening. There's something I need to ask."
Professor Fain nodded once. "Go on."
Clark took a breath. "Do you think vampires could be real?"
The question seemed to unsettle the professor. He blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in topic.
"Vampires?" Fain repeated carefully. "Stories of blood‑drinkers exist in myths and folklore across the world, but in reality? There's no evidence that they exist outside fiction. In fact researchers compare supposed cases to rabies in animals more than any supernatural phenomenon. Clark, are you conducting some kind of research into this?"
"No," Clark said, steady but sincere. "I only suspect that they might be real."
He reached into his messenger bag and pulled out the Star Scepter Adrian had given him, along with the letter that came with it. In that letter, Adrian had warned him to be extremely cautious of vampires. Clark didn't understand why the warning was there, but he intended to follow every clue.
Professor Fain's face grew serious. "Clark, I understand curiosity, but as far as science and history can tell us, there are no vampires."
Clark hesitated, then said, "But a friend of mine claims he saw something he believes was a vampire. Maybe there are things we don't understand yet."
Fain paused, studying Clark with an expression that was difficult to read, then nodded.
"That's true. Humans always chase mysteries beyond their reach. They risk pain, but sometimes they uncover real truth. If you want answers, perhaps you should speak with Lex Luthor about Project 1138. He might know more than he lets on."
At the mention of Lex Luthor, Clark's eyes widened. But before he could ask anything further, Professor Fain turned and walked away. Clark watched his retreating back, a sudden heaviness settling in his chest. Something about Fain felt… different. More than just a professor.
Clark didn't waste another moment. He left the campus and headed straight to Lex Luthor's penthouse in downtown Metropolis.
Inside Lex's high‑security apartment, Clark found the billionaire genius seated behind a massive glass desk.
"Lex, what can you tell me about Project 1138?" Clark asked immediately, urgency in his voice.
Lex blinked, surprised to be asked directly.
"1138? I'm not familiar with that name," he said after a moment.
Clark frowned. "My brother is suspected of murder. I need answers."
The mention of Adrian made Lex's expression change, just barely, but enough that Clark noticed.
Lex motioned him to a chair. Once Clark sat, Lex spoke without preamble.
"Six years ago, a girl named Buffy Sand was trapped in a cave outside Smallville," Lex began.
Clark nodded. "I remember the reports."
Lex's gaze darkened. "There were things that were never reported at the time. When LuthorCorp led the rescue efforts, we found unusual evidence."
Clark leaned forward. "Like what?"
"Meteor rock fragments contaminated the underground water. They formed crystalline structures that infected the local wildlife. Bats in particular mutated into aggressive creatures."
Clark's eyes narrowed. "So you're saying my brother might have encountered something like that? That vampires are real?"
Lex exhaled. "Not vampires in the supernatural sense, but there was a pathogen. One researcher was bitten. His strength increased, his stamina improved, but he developed an aversion to sunlight and elongated incisors. He became violently cannibalistic."
Clark asked what happened next.
Lex hesitated. "Months later, the infected researcher vanished. Every sample, every vial, every bit of data from that research facility was stolen. Someone cleaned us out."
Clark didn't fully believe Lex's answer. Over the years, Lex had always kept his cards close to the chest. Their friendship was real, but so was mistrust.
"Lex, Adrian is being framed. If you could produce some evidence, we could help clear his name."
Lex shook his head apologetically. "I want to help, but I don't have evidence to offer. I can assign the best defense attorney I know, if we can locate him. Clark, do you know where Adrian is?"
Clark's heart sank. "I don't."
Leaving Lex's penthouse, Clark didn't stop. He sprinted back to Metropolis University. No matter what it took, he would uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, in an alley in Gotham City, a figure clad in black landed silently against a brick wall. Adrian's cloak rippled as he pulled another figure from the shadows.
Gripping the vampire by the collar, Adrian's cold eyes bored into the trembling creature.
"I know you're one of them," Adrian said, voice flat and unnervingly emotionless. "Who is your leader? What are the Blood Red Moon vampires planning?"
The smaller vampire, thinner and gaunt, quivered under Adrian's intense stare.
"Adam Smith," he whispered, voice shaking, "I don't know much. Elder Mary is dead. The clans are fighting for territory. I swear I haven't hurt any humans."
Adrian slammed him against the brick wall, watching pieces of brick crumble. "For your kind, I don't make mistakes. I kill."
Just as Adrian's eyes began to glow with heat vision, a voice echoed from the alley entrance.
"You should not kill him. That would make trouble for both of us."
In the shadows stood Batman, watching with solemn eyes.
Adrian lowered the vampire, letting him slump to the ground. He faced the Dark Knight coolly.
"I never pictured Batman worrying about mystical threats," Adrian said, voice calm but sharp.
Batman stepped forward, expression guarded. "I know what happened in Metropolis. The creature in your hand isn't tied to your situation. He's just one of the infected."
Adrian's lips curled slightly, almost a smirk. "I assumed the Bat did not pursue the mystical."
Batman's stance softened, but his gaze was firm. He glanced at the wounded vampire on the ground.
"Where are Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Supergirl?" Batman asked.
"They're unreachable right now," Adrian said. "More or less."
Adrian turned to leave, but paused.
"If I were you, I would avoid Gotham in a tight suit with structural damage. And when the Bat signal appears next time, ignore it. Let him rest. I'm showing you mercy tonight."
With that, Adrian vanished into the night sky.
Batman watched him go, eyes narrowed.
Back in Metropolis, walking toward the Justice Society headquarters late at night, Adrian came across a young girl on an empty street. Her short dark hair and violet eyes made her unmistakable.
She rushed toward him, handing over a drawing.
"Sir, have you seen this person?" she asked, fear in her voice.
Adrian looked down at the sketch. He shook his head.
"I don't know him."
Something about her aura caught his attention. Using x‑ray vision, he scanned her body. Her anatomy wasn't ordinary.
"You're not human," he said quietly.
The girl flinched, then whispered, "My name is Jena. My brother's name is Zan. I used to sense him, but now I can't. I'm scared. We've never been apart."
Adrian processed what he saw. The siblings were not from Earth.
"You're Exxorian," he said, recognizing the signs. "Your powers… they make sense now."
Jena's eyes widened.
Her brother's shapeshifting and elemental control, her own animal transformations, and their telepathic link when together. That explained her unique physiology.
"Where do you live?" he asked.
"We wander. We have no home now," she said, voice trembling.
Adrian nodded. "I can help you find your brother. Come with me."