What's The Price

Lois Lane's mind raced. Baldy was Lex Luthor. It made sense now...this whole operation must be one of his schemes. But what is Crimson K? What happened to the missing women?

And how much will it cost me to get some more? The reporter thought.

"I like this side of you, Lois," Luthor said. The smile didn't fade. "Maria was only supposed to get you downstairs to the party, but your reaction has far exceeded my expectations."

"Cut the crap, Lex," Lois said. "Are we going to deal or not?"

He slid a hand into his pocket and came up with a little baggie of red crystalline powder.

"Is this what you want?"

Lois Lane had never known addiction. Not from the inside. Yet just the sight of the **** made her jump a little. She wanted it. Wanted it in her mouth, smoke hitting her lungs. But she didn't need it. Not yet. Her body and mind didn't depend on it.

Yet she liked the feeling of...freedom. Power. Indulging her whims, dominating others. When she thought of how she had been before Maria had given her that glass pipe... Prudish, weak. The reporter didn't want to go back to that. Wanted to stay in the moment, to be a bad girl.

I can live without it, Lois knew. But I don't want to.

"Yes," she said, nails scratching at her palms.

"Then let's start with something simple," Luthor said, as his free hand unzipped the fly of his pants.