KISS and the Battle of GOOD vs EVIL
Part 35-F by Demoness.

Gene let out a sigh as he watched Gena pull a book 
out from her suitcase.  He had been sitting at the 
table for the last fifteen minutes, attempting to go 
over some things he was working on.  He managed to 
only watch Gena as she went about her business.  She 
tried writing, but gave up with a heavy sigh, 
tossing her notebook next to the papers Gene had 
spread out on the table.  She decided she was going 
to try to read.  The more he watched her, reading 
her body language, the more he wondered if Gena 
agreeing to miss the meet and greet was upsetting 
her more than she let on.  There was something off 
about her, something distant.  He swore she nearly 
pulled away from him several times.  Just when he 
would go to question it, all seemed right again with 
her, making Gene hesitant to mention anything.

He was finally unable to stay quiet any longer.  
"Gena, what's wrong?" he asked, his soft voice full 
of concern.  "If it's about the meet and greet ..."

"If it is, will you change your mind?  Will you 
agree to let me go?" she snapped.

"No.  It's the best thing you can do for a friend.  
It's something I need to do for someone I care about 
too."

"If you care so much about her, then why did you 
convince Peter that she needs to stay away?  Even 
knowing it might hurt her."

"It didn't take much convincing," Gene replied.  
"Peter does not want any harm to come to her.  This 
is the real thing for Peter, and he's not about to 
lose it."  He stood up and walked over to the bed.

Gena nodded.  "And no, it's not about the meet and 
greet," she admitted.

"Then what?" he asked as he sat down on the bed, and 
looked across the room at her.

"Nothing," she said, getting annoyed.  "Gene, I'm 
fine," she yelled.  "I'm still unsettled over the 
fact that I can suddenly toss fireballs and flames 
at people, that I had some dark mage posing as Paul 
attack you, and that at any moment, I can possibly 
lose you or any of my friends.  Don't you think I 
have a right to be just a little off?"

Gene picked up a pillow and started to toy with it.  
"I guess.  I did say it's going to take time.  But I 
want no secrets between us.  Not after all this 
time."

"For eighteen years, that's all I kept from you.  A 
big secret.  Of what you really meant to me."

"That wasn't a secret.  I knew.  And I found myself 
responding.  We just didn't move quickly, that's 
all."

"Eighteen years?  Yeah, I'd say that was slow-
paced."  Gena's eyes went wide.  "Oh shit.  Gene, 
I'm sorry.  I didn't mean it that way.  Hell, part 
of the problem was whenever you did look like you 
were going to make a move, I ran away.  It's not 
fair to blame you.  We both had reasons, good ones."

"And maybe now, you still think there's good reasons 
to run away."

"Not very likely.  All you need to do is call, and 
I'll be there for you."

"That's good.  But back to ..."

"Gene, if I'm keeping anything from you, let's just 
say I'm not the only guilty one here.  And yes, this 
does have something to do with the meet and greet."

"I don't want anything happening to you either.  
C'mon, Gena.  Give me a break for being just a bit 
protective over here.  I've had Shannon kidnapped – 
while I still had a Claim on her, and more than just 
the worry about her,  it affected me physically.  
Then I watched Calen and Dynasty die.  And Val being 
injured so badly, only Underhill could take care of 
her.  I don't know when I'll see Val again.  Then 
you show up because I invited you, and now you're a 
part of everything here.  I'm going to be a bit 
over-protective.  And don't expect me not to or 
apologize for it."

Gena had to smile.  "How do you do it?  You're a 
bastard, you know.  Because I can't deny you when 
you put it that way.  Or look at me like you've 
been."

"If I keep looking at you like that, will you 
finally tell me what else is bothering you.  I don't 
need a Mark, I know you too well."  He stood up and 
stretched.  And found himself dressed in what he 
picked out for the meet and greet, instead of the 
tee-shirt and shorts he was wearing.

"Go on and start getting out of here.  I'm sure at 
some point, I'll have a nice visit with Raven.  Have 
a great time."  Gena walked over to him and hugged 
him tightly.  "And please be careful.  If anything 
happens to you, I'm finished.  Now how's that for 
secrets.  And no Claims are needed for me to feel 
that way."

Gene returned the embrace.  "I'll try to stay out of 
trouble, if you do," he said then kissed her.

"I'll try too," Gena replied.  She watched as Gene 
left the room.

Trying to calm herself for a few minutes before 
going to face someone who was wishing to be 
somewhere else other than stuck in a room with her, 
Gena sat down and tried reading a few pages of the 
book she took out.  When that did not help, she 
tried to meditate.  

She snapped out of her meditation with a gasp, 
trying not to scream.  The images within her mind 
were nightmarish.  She also realized she had to calm 
down quickly or take the chance that Gene would be 
further alerted to her torment of late.

She stood up, pacing before facing the mirror again.  
This was definitely not a gift from the Goddess, 
Gena thought.  She was becoming something dark and 
hideous.  And it frightened her.

She sat down on the bed and started to cry.  What 
her and Gene had done only kept the inevitable at 
bay for a short time.  But it was back.  Her mind 
replayed the horrible images of the pain and agony 
of the poor man she had killed.  She had killed!  
Not for self-defense.  Not to protect Gene.  Or any 
of the other members of KISS.  Or any of her 
friends.  She killed because she wanted to.  Because 
it felt good.  Because she enjoyed every second 
while it was happening.

"Stop it!" she snapped, standing up and pacing 
again.  She caught herself drifting to feel that 
pleasure again.  She was not a bad person.  She was 
not evil.  The more she tried to convince herself of 
that, the more she felt everything she had believed 
in for so long being ripped to shreds.  It was 
almost freeing to her.  

She stood in the middle of the room as the fine line 
between right and wrong disappeared and there was no 
difference.  Once again, she felt the need to leave 
the room, get some fresh air.  Still trying to cling 
desperately to a small thread of what she used to be 
and use it to hopefully make it all right again, she 
remembered what happened the last time she left the 
room.

She killed an innocent man because she did not like 
the way he looked at her.

She started to cry again.  Sitting down on the bed 
once more, she willed her resolve to focus.  She 
managed to sit quietly for 10 minutes without any of 
those horrid images.  And amazed at what she was 
given insight to.  The very same thing she was 
doing, thinking it would help her, was not.  She had 
been fighting it, afraid of the darkness she was 
given sight to see within her.  It was a corner of 
the threshold that she never dared peek into.  She 
remembered what she had once been, and upon 
changing, refused to accept that darkness can ever 
be used for good.  She found herself thinking of the 
Star Trek episode where Kirk was split into two – 
one of his good side and one of his dark side.  In 
the end, the good side had to accept that he had to 
embrace and accept the dark side to be the person he 
was.

For years, Gena refused to accept there was a 
darkness within her.  Yet now she knew where her 
stubbornness came from.  Her resolve to overcome 
obstacles and forge ahead.  The rebellious streak in 
her, her impatience.  Oh there was a list all right.

So she just had to learn to accept that part of her, 
learn to use is accordingly.  Easy.  Not.

Still casually dressed, since she did not have to 
worry about making an impression at the meet and 
greet, and certain Raven did not care what she wore, 
Gena left the room.

As she came to Raven's room, she heard voices.  
Raven's and Peter's.  He was still there.  Gena 
decided there was no need to cut into the time Raven 
was sure to be enjoying.  She decided to walk around 
the hotel a little, and see what was going on.  
Maybe meet one or two of the others.  Try to find 
Eric Carr.  Another reason for her wanting to go to 
the meet and greet.

She turned the corner in the hallway, going toward 
the other wing when she noticed a young man walking 
toward her.  He looked barely out of his teens.  
Smudges of white make-up was on his face, along with 
the outline of black around his eyes.  It looked 
like he did a bad job at removing make-up.  She 
thought of the guy Mark thought was the imposter, 
and wondered if this was Andrew.

He smiled at her as he got closer.  "Hi," he said.

"Hello."  Gena studied him.  "Are you supposed to be 
here?" she asked.

He nodded.  "Oh yes," he stated happily.  "KISS gave 
me a room here."

"You're Andrew," Gena stated.

"Yes.  Wow, I'm well known now."

"Don't let it get to your head.  Only within the 
KISS circles in this hotel, you might be known."

"Which is a lot better than not being known at all.  
I was hoping to meet at least one of them, maybe get 
an autograph.  I didn't expect this."

"Be careful what you wish for," Gena warned, leaning 
against the wall.  "I once wanted the same thing.  
Now look at me."

"Are you with the band?" Andrew asked.

Gena nodded.  "Yeah.  But I would have flown out for 
the show anyway, even if Gene didn't invite me.  
Gene's invitation just made it a little easier."

"That's cool.  I can't believe I'm going to see KISS 
as a guest of theirs and backstage.  I'm still 
pinching myself."

Gena shook her head.  Yup, she was once there 
herself.  But that was such a long time ago, she 
could only feel Andrew's disbelief and excitement.  
She had forgotten how she first felt back in those 
early days of getting to know KISS.  Had it always 
been that way for a while, or was this another part 
of her latest predicament?  She wondered if she was 
getting cold and unfeeling.  Her mind flashed on 
Gene smiling at her, how it felt to be in his arms.  
She felt herself flush as a tender smile curled her 
lips.  Either she was not as bad as she feared, or 
Gene was her anchor to completely losing touch with 
her feelings.

"I should be going.  I was invited to the meet and 
greet, and I don't want to miss a thing."

"Lucky you," Gena muttered.

"Guest of the band, and you can't go?" Andrew said 
with a laugh.  "Probably because Gene doesn't want 
all the other women to be intimidated and not 
approach him with you there."

Gena's eyes narrowed.  "What do you mean?"

"I mean a woman as beautiful as you, with a powerful 
presence.  Can make some ladies turn the other way 
and not go near Gene."

"I don't care if they go up to Gene or what he does 
with them."  

"Then why doesn't he want you there?"

"Because I'm more important than stupid meet and 
greets, you fool!" Gena growled, dark eyes flashing 
at him.  

"Then why are you getting all defensive?  Don't tell 
me.  Gene fed you all those sweet lines he knew you 
wanted to hear, and now you're realizing you've been 
had."

"Gene isn't like that.  I know exactly what he 
expects to do at the meet and greet.  He doesn't 
play stupid immature games of your level."

"Hey, I'm sorry if I upset you.  I'm just calling it 
as I see it.  Maybe you're right."

Gena grabbed Andrew by his arm and flung him face 
first into the wall.  "I am right, you little shit!"  
She slapped him a few times, using her newly 
discovered power full force.  "Can't take care of 
myself, huh?  Right.  You know something, kid?  If 
you suddenly didn't show up because you went and got 
yourself killed, no one would miss you.  You know 
why?"  She kneed him in the groin and he let out a 
cry.  "Because you're an insignificant slug, that's 
why?"  She released him and watched as he doubled 
over.  She kicked him with her booted foot and 
started to walk away.  She looked over her shoulder 
at Andrew.  "So don't let me see you again, or 
that's exactly what is going to happen to you."

"I'm telling," he gasped.

She turned around, a fireball in her hand.  Her eyes 
flashed red, and she had a sinister smile.  "Go 
ahead.  And I'll find you.  And I won't make it 
quick and painless.  Trust me."  She tossed the 
fireball at him, and he let out a yell.  "That was 
mild.  Screw up what I've accomplished with KISS and 
you're a dead man.  I'll find you, no matter where 
you hide.  Do we have an understanding?"  She held 
another fireball in her hand.

Andrew nodded.  "Y-yes."

"Good.  Just stay out of my sight and keep your 
mouth shut and you'll live."  Gena turned away and 
changed into a bat.  Behind her she heard Andrew 
running and a door opening and closing.  Seems the 
little fool could not wait for the elevator and used 
the stairs.

She changed back and walked a few more steps and 
then stopped, putting a hand to her eyes.  She was 
supposed to stop fighting this?  What would she be 
capable of if she did stop fighting it?  She could 
not take that risk, because someone might die before 
she was able to get better control of it.

She continued on her way, deciding to walk around 
the floor and check to see if Peter left when she 
reached their room again.  She roamed in the silent 
empty halls, except for sounds of people getting 
ready in their rooms, and music coming from some of 
the rooms.  Many of the rooms were quiet, meaning 
others had started to gather already where the meet 
and greet was being held.  Most of the others were 
with someone, and she was there in the hallway 
alone.  Almost as if no one wanted to see her, as if 
they all knew she was dangerous.

With a sigh, she decided to take the quicker way 
through the halls, and turned into a bat.  While she 
flew, she lost her fears and worries.  She practiced 
doing maneuvers and generally having a blast with 
the sudden freedom of being able to fly.  She 
continued to fly around the hallways, giddy with her 
newfound freedom.  Until she turned a corner again, 
and noticed Gene down the hall, standing in front of 
a room door.  Cautiously she made her way closer to 
hear what he was saying.  Apparently whoever's room 
that was, was not opening the door for Gene.

"I hope Stephanie at least has what she wants to 
wear with her," Gene said to the door.

"Don't worry about us," Paul's voice floated back.  
"We'll be there shortly.  Go on ahead."

Gene shook his head.  "Don't forget, you two."

"We won't," she heard Stephanie's voice.

So Stephanie found Paul, and were reluctant to come 
out of Paul's room to play with others for a while, 
Gena thought amused, and happy for Stephanie.

Gena realized that she didn't see Gene during her 
other passes through this part of the hotel.  He had 
to have been in another room.  Andrew's words came 
back to her and made her realize that a new emotion 
had sprung up with his words.  One she refused to 
acknowledge all these years of knowing Gene.  But it 
was there now.

She decided to play around with him a little, 
letting him know he wasn't alone.  She made a 
straight run for him.  She suddenly came to a stop, 
resting on a lamp on a table that held a phone and a 
notepad, staring in amazement beyond Gene.  On the 
other side of Gene, sitting on the top of a plush 
chair was a strange looking winged creature that 
watched Gene.  It looked like nothing she had seen 
before.  It looked like a cross between a 
prehistoric lizard and a bird.  It turned its 
attention from Gene and looked at Gena.  The bat and 
the odd bird stared at each other for several long 
seconds, as Gene, unsuspecting, walked toward Gena 
in the hallway.

The creature spread its wings and flew towards Gene.  
Gena decided to do the same.  Both creatures were 
closing in on Gene, who was checking the time on his 
watch and pulling out a small notebook from his 
shirt pocket.  They passed each other several feet 
above Gene's head.   The creature did not seem like 
it was going to harm Gene.  In fact, Gena felt the 
opposite from it.  She turned and went after the 
creature and both ended up in a winged version of 
tag.  Gene continued to walk on, scribbling 
something in the notebook.  Gena and the creature 
soared dangerously close to Gene.  As Gene lifted 
his head and went to put the notebook away, the two 
winged creatures flew circles around Gene's head.

Gene stopped suddenly.  "What the hell?"

The creature circled Gene's head again, and flew 
behind him.  While Gena flew between Gene's legs 
from behind and flew upward.  The two creatures 
stared to soar in dizzying circles around Gene, 
until Gene leaned up against the wall.  "Stop it!"

The strange creature landed on the table Gena had 
been on.  Gena landed on Gene's shoulder and nipped 
his ear. 

"Ouch!" He looked over at the other creature.  
"Meatball!  What are you doing out?" he asked the 
creature.  He turned his head, lifting a hand to rub 
the bat's head with a finger.  "And why aren't you 
with Raven?"

Gena left Gene's shoulder and turned human again.  
"What's a meatball?" she asked.

Gene pointed to the creature that stared at Gena, 
it's head cocked.  "That is Meatball.  The creature 
I told you about that was Shannon's pet."  Gene 
looked at Meatball.  "And supposed to be with 
Shannon in Shannon's room and not flying around by 
yourself."  Meatball snared at Gene in defiance.  
Giving up momentarily on Meatball, Gene looked at 
Gena.  "And you're here why?"

"Because Peter and Raven were still having some 
private time together."  She grinned at Gene, then 
looking back at the door to Paul's room, added, "and 
it seems so is Paul and Stephanie.  Looks like we 
finished too soon."

"Looks like we got more in this afternoon than 
anyone else.  So are you complaining?"

Gena shook her head.  "No.  Just observing."  Gena 
wanted to ask where Gene was during the time since 
he left the room, but found she could not. 

They heard a door open and Peter came into the 
hallway.  He walked toward them.  "Hey, you wearing 
those old things to the meet and greet?" Peter asked 
Gena, then stared at Gene.

"I was waiting for you to finish," Gena stated 
annoyed.  "And cut the crap, Pete.  You're probably 
aware that I'm part of the crew now."  She glared at 
Gene and started to walk away.  "I'm a babysitter."

"Gena," Gene sighed.

"Go.  Have fun.  I'll think of something that me and 
Raven can get into to amuse ourselves while everyone 
else is having a great time with each other."  She 
turned her head, her eyes dark and angry.  "And pay 
more attention to what's going on around you, you 
moron," she admonished Gene.  "Or else you won't be 
around to close those deal you're working on unaware 
of the tag game me and Meatball were having over 
you."  She stalked away.

Gene stared at Peter.  "I never saw her like this," 
Gene said softly.  He stared again at Gena.  "I owe 
you big time, sweetheart."

"Yeah.  I'm looking forward to it.  I'll think of 
something to make up for this," Gena replied, 
without looking back.

"Will she be all right?" Peter asked as they watched 
Gena go to the room Peter left from.

Meatball flew and landed on Gene's shoulder.  Gene 
nodded.  "Yeah.  She knows it's the right thing to 
do.  Besides, with her and Raven safely in the room, 
they should be all right."

Peter nodded.  "Yeah.  Raven's warmed up to the idea 
some.  But I don't know if she's going to take it 
well when she realizes why Gena is with her."

Gene shrugged.  "It's for their own good."  He 
started to walk away.

Gena paused before the door, and glanced back to 
Gene and Peter, realizing they were still within 
earshot.

"I'm going to have to take Meatball to Shannon's 
room, and make sure he stays with her if he doesn't 
stay in the room."

Gena saw green for a moment.  Damn this dark side 
where her powers came from.  She knocked on the 
door.

"Who is it?" Raven asked cautiously.

"Gena.  Can I come in?"

Raven opened the door a little and peered out.  "I 
hear you're stuck having a party of your own," Gena 
said. 

Raven opened the door to let Gena in.  "I wasn't 
planning on a pity party," she stated coolly.

Gena held up her hands as she entered the room.  
"Hey, don't blame me.  This is all Gene's doing.  
And he's pretty insistent that I hang out here with 
you."

"A babysitter?" Raven asked incredulously.  "On top 
of everything else, Gene sends me a babysitter?  
When I see him, I'm going to kick his ass so hard 
..."

Remembering what Raven can do, Gena quickly said, 
"Whoa.  Calm down.  Before you go getting your 
panties in a wad, remember that I'm not at the meet 
and greet myself.  Even if I was planning on being 
there until Gene gave me this assignment."

"How did he get away with it?" Raven asked.

"Puppy dog eyes.  A big warm smile and those 
beautiful eyes of his.  I hate to admit it, but I'm 
a sucker for them.  I'm not any more thrilled about 
this than you are."

Raven sat down.  "I hate it when they get over 
protective on me."

"Peter loves you," Gena stated.  "There's no doubt 
about that.  So your dealing with it."

"And you?"

"I love Gene," Gena sighed.  "And I know he cares.  
I won't push him for more and it has to be enough."

"Is it?"

Gena shrugged.  "I shouldn't be complaining.  I'm 
just pissed off.  I was having some fun flying 
around and testing my wings to the limit while I was 
waiting for you and Peter to finish what you 
started," Gena noted Raven started to blush.  "And I 
came across Gene who marched me over here."  Gena 
leaned back in her chair.  "So I figure it this way.  
We can either sit in silence until Peter comes back, 
staring at the walls.  Or we can figure out 
something we can do to make the wait more 
enjoyable."

Raven nodded.  "I'm not sure I'd be happy with 
silence."

"Neither would I.  And while I'm here, do you mind 
if I ask you a few questions about some things 
around here?"

Raven shook her head.  "No.  I don't mind.  
Especially if it helps."

"Here's my biggest question.  Why did the tattoo of 
Gene's make up disappear?"

"It did?" Raven asked.  "That's a relief.  It means 
you were Marked by Gene, but not Claimed."

"Why is that a relief?" Gena asked.

"Well, it's not as bad as it was before, but a Claim 
is still permanent.  It's a Special Mark that can't 
be broken."

"Kind of like a bond of some sort, huh?"

"Yeah."

"And it's somewhat stronger than a Mark?"  Raven 
nodded.  "And obviously special."

"Yes," Raven replied uncertain, worried at where the 
questioning was leading.

"And Peter Claimed you."

Raven nodded.

"And Gene Claimed Shannon."

Again Raven nodded.

"And Gene just Marks me," Gena spat out in 
annoyance.  She stood up and walked to the window.  
"Bastard."  She looked out the window, hoping the 
tears would dry up before she had to turn and face 
Raven.  This wasn't her style.  And crying over it 
made it worse.  Even if a part of her was thankful 
for the tears.  It meant there was still some 
humanity in her.

Raven's eyes opened as she looked at Gena.  "Are you 
okay?"  She watched Gena shiver.

"No.  I'm not okay.  I've been dealing with all 
these negative and dark emotions for a while now and 
they are making me crazy.  And included with all the 
rest of the nasty, sinister thoughts lurking in my 
head, is this other thing called jealously.  
Something I swore I'd never be.  But I can't get rid 
of it.  Just like all the other things."  She 
finally turned to look at Raven, feeling foolish.

"What other things?" Raven asked softly.  She stood 
up.  "Hey, let me pull out some cold drinks for us 
and we can talk about it."

Gena ran a hand through her dark curls.  "I'm not 
sure it will help.  I'm not sure I can talk about 
it.  But I can try."

"That's good enough for now," Raven agreed, going to 
the room fridge.  At least she now felt useful, 
which made not going to the meet and greet easier to 
deal with.

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Raven sat back in her chair.  "I really hate that 
Peter seems to think I can't take care of myself," 
she said.

"I understand.  Look what I'm capable of doing, and 
there's Gene thinking the he has to take care of 
me."  Gena looked a little worried.  "I just wish he 
could understand that if he wants me to accept that, 
then it's going to have to go both ways.  If it's so 
dangerous to be there, then why is he there?  I 
don't have a right to worry about Gene's well 
being?"

"You have a point.  And there's Peter too.  But I 
guess because they are in numbers, they figure they 
could handle it."

"Then why are we here alone and everyone else is 
with everyone?" Gena asked.  "Especially since we 
still have that Drow loose."

Gena and Raven looked at each other.  Frowns turned 
to amused smiles.  "Would you even dare to bring up 
that point to Gene?" Raven asked.

"Depends.  I'm thinking about it," Gena admitted.

"So am I," Raven agreed.  "Are you feeling any 
better?"

"A little.  It's good to have someone else 
understand.  Makes me feel like I'm not completely 
losing it.  It's also good to have someone help put 
it perspective."

"Maybe you should tell Gene," Raven suggested.

Gena sighed.  "Well, first I guess I'm going to have 
to see Gene to tell him.  And for all intent and 
purposes I don't expect that to be anytime tonight.  
This is Gene we're talking about here, not Peter.  
Besides, I'm afraid telling Gene would only make him 
more protective.  And if it was just me, I might 
consider dealing with it.  But there's others Gene 
has to think about too."

"He might surprise you," Raven said.  "I got to know 
Gene very well."

"Then you know him enough to understand that I don't 
want him to over expend himself by over protecting 
too many people at the same time.  That places Gene 
in a vulnerable position.  I can't let that happen."

"Protecting Gene?" Raven asked slyly.

Gena nodded.  "Yeah.  Only he doesn't have to know 
so.  So unless it becomes absolutely necessary, I 
don't tell him a thing."

Raven had to wonder how soon necessary would be, but 
decided not to bring that point up.  "So now what?" 
she asked.

"You still don't have any idea on how to get rid of 
this jealousy thing, do you?" Gena asked hopefully.

Raven shook her head.  "No.  Sorry.  Like everything 
else, it's just a build up of everything you chose 
to deny you are capable of."

"Great.  Okay, we think of something else to do 
until Peter gets back and I go to my room alone."

"You will go back to your room?"

Gena nodded.  "Yeah.  To Gene, it's the safe thing 
to do."

"And you'll wait for him?"

Gena sighed.  "Whenever that would be, yes, I would.  
Why?  Because when he finally shows up, he'll be 
worth the wait.  Because when I see him and feel him 
pressed against me, I'll be assured that he's safe.  
And because after we have a little fun, I'm going to 
whoop his ass for being so stupid."

Raven chuckled.  "Then going back to your room to 
wait sounds like a great idea."

"You bet it is!" Gena stated firmly.

The two women decided to play cds and talk about 
books.  Gena wanted to hear a particular cd that 
Raven did not have, so Gena said she was going to 
her room to get it, and come right back.

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Andrew was returning from the meet and greet.  It 
was great to meet all the members of KISS and get a 
chance to talk to them.  Mark St. John apologized 
for a while about the mix-up.  Andrew looked around 
the room, and knew if Mark did not jump him, he 
would not be there with all the band members and 
their friends.  It was especially wonderful to talk 
to Eric Carr, grateful that the whole death thing 
was just a ruse to keep himself alive.  

He briefly considered telling someone about the 
crazy woman he encountered in the hallway.  He 
remembered her threat.  Whenever he decided to take 
his chances, believing there was no way she would 
find him, and that the members of KISS would protect 
him, he found himself looking into the shadows of 
the room.  How was he sure that she was not there 
lurking in the dark in the small form of the bat 
that she had changed into?  And she obviously did 
know the band well.  He overheard Paul teasing Gene, 
telling some of the others that Gene now had a pet 
bat.

After a while, it started to get frustrating for 
him.  All those women, and their attention was all 
on the members of KISS.  He felt as if to them, he 
was invisible.  He decided to go back to his room 
before his fragile ego was further shattered.

He had just gotten off the elevator and started to 
walk toward his room when he saw her again.  She had 
stopped before a door, taking out a key.  Andrew 
picked up his pace, hoping to get to his room before 
she noticed him.  Unfortunately his room was down 
the hallway in her direction.

He was almost at his room when she looked up and 
noticed him.  She smiled and waved.  "Hi, Andrew," 
she greeted.

Andrew stopped, not sure what was going on.  Maybe 
she was more insane than he thought.  Not taking 
chances of getting her mad again, he forced a smile 
and waved.  "Hi."

She gestured for him to come over to her.  All 
Andrew wanted was to run into the security of his 
room and avoid her.  But if he got her mad, he knew 
his room would not be a safe haven for him.  He'd 
have to try to get back to the party and KISS, 
knowing she would get him before then.

Gulping, Andrew passed his room, giving it a glance, 
until he stood a few feet from the woman.  "Hey, I'm 
sorry, Andrew," she said.  "About earlier.  It was 
just a touch of PMS and you just happened to be 
there."

Andrew just nodded.  "It's okay."

"No, it's not.  It's been a rough day for you, 
hasn't it?" she asked as she opened the door.  She 
held the door, looking at him.

"I've had better, and I've definitely had worse," he 
replied.  He realized she meant for him to enter the 
room.  "I should be going back to my room," he said 
to her.

"Back from the party already?" she asked.  "Don't 
tell me, it's so boring, I'm not missing much."

"It's plenty exciting if you're a member of KISS," 
Andrew replied.  "For peons like me though..."  He 
let out a sigh.  "It started to be the girls were 
interested in KISS and KISS was interested in the 
girls.  So I left."

"Hey, me and my friend are hanging out in her room, 
listening to some music.  I'm just grabbing my cd 
case and going back there.  Maybe you would like to 
hang out with us for a bit.  It's better than 
sitting around here alone, you know."

"I don't know," Andrew replied as they walked in the 
room, the door closing behind them.

She went toward a table that had a cd case on it.  
Andrew looked around the room and noticed some of 
the clothing was not hers.  His eyes settling on the 
denim shirt on the chair, he knew who the other 
things belonged to.  "Is this also Gene's room?" he 
asked excited.

She shook her head, picking up the cd case.  "Not 
really.  Gene's room is being repaired, so he's 
boarding with me until then."

"Still ..." Andrew said.

"Yeah.  That's how I'm feeling.  I mean, I knew Gene 
for a long time, but I never figured I'd end up 
having to share a room with him for a while."  She 
walked over to Andrew.  "By the way, my name is 
Gena."  She held out her hand.

Andrew smiled at her.  If she was going to kill him, 
she would have done so by now.  And in his mind, she 
was somewhat Gene's girl, and Gene would never allow 
himself to get involved with someone who would hurt 
people.  He started to relax and reconsider her 
offer of going to her friend's room with her for a 
while.  At least then, he'd have the attention of 
two women, rather than sitting in his room alone, 
mending a bruised ego.

He reached out and took her hand in a handshake.  
"Hi Gena."

To his surprise, her grip on his hand tightened as 
she dropped the cd case.  She let out a growl, her 
eyes flashing red.  Andrew let out a whimper.  "A-
are you all right?" he asked her, trying to pry his 
hand from her.

"You bastard," she roared, flinging him across the 
room.  He slammed into a dresser.  Before he had a 
chance to recover, she was on him, lifting him 
roughly by his shirt.  "You're dead meat," she 
remarked too calmly for his liking.

"W'what?"

She shook him roughly until he thought his head was 
going to snap from his body.  "Give me one good 
reason why I should answer you."  She flung him 
across the room again, and he crashed into a wall, 
the vibrations sending the framed picture on that 
wall to go crashing down.

Shaken and terrified, he tried to reason with Gena.  
"If I'm going to die, don't I deserve to know why?"

Gena produced a fireball, glowering at him.  "You 
don't deserve shit.  In fact, you don't deserve to 
die so quickly."  She threw the ball at him.

He cried out from the pain, feeling it burn through 
his clothes.  He got hit with another one, then 
another.  He fell to the floor, gasping for air, 
trying to find a place he could crawl to in hopes to 
get away from her.  Another fireball hit him, this 
one stronger than the others.  He opened his mouth 
to cry out, and found no sound coming.

"Silence!" she commanded, hovering over him again, 
and lifting him.  He knew she did something so he 
could not make any sounds.  When she grabbed him, he 
felt the heat burning through him, as if a fire was 
raging out of control from his inside, burning him 
up slowly and painfully.  She threw him again.  
Andrew crashed into the wall unit that held the 
television.  Before he landed, he was hit again with 
stronger fireballs.  He tried screaming out, begging 
for her to either stop or kill him right then.

He lifted his head in time to see flames shoot from 
her hand toward him.  He ducked, managing to avoid 
most of it.  He balled himself up, shivering, in 
pain, waiting for her next attack.

To his surprise it didn't come.  Hands roughly 
grabbed him, fingernails digging into his skin 
through burned cloth.  He was being lifted and 
dragged.  He picked up his head enough to find a 
closet door opening before him before he was shoved 
into it.  She mumbled some words he could not make 
out, and she waved her hand in his direction before 
she closed the door on him.

He curled up into a ball again in the darkness of 
the closet, waiting for a more permanent darkness to 
settle over him.

----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

  Gena placed her hand over the closet doors, 
welding them shut with heat.  She had to make sure 
the bastard would not get out until she was ready to 
deal with him again.

In her mind, there was only one thought, like a 
litany, over and over, as she allowed the darkness 
to fill her completely.

Die.  They all had to die.  And she would be the one 
to do it.

She turned on her heel, and left the room, the CD 
case still on the floor forgotten.

She knocked on the door and Raven opened it.  Raven 
looked down.  "Couldn't find them?"

"Found something else instead."  Gena nodded towards 
the room and Raven let her in.  She waited until 
Raven closed the door behind her.  "I know where we 
can find one of the supervising agents of E.V.I.L., 
one of the guys who is in charge of the teams of 
small fries they keep tossing into the hotel."

Raven's eyes lit.  "I'll tell Peter and . ..."

Gena shook her head.  "No.  I had a vision about 
this.  That's how I know about where he is.  He's 
planning an attack on Gene and Peter."  She heard 
Raven gasp.  "Gene and Peter will die if they get 
involved.  They'll die if we don't get this guy.  
And he could be setting up his attack right now."  
She touched the arm of the pale woman.  "But my 
vision showed me that the two of us can take him.  
He won't expect trouble from us.  Especially if it 
looks like you're unconscious.  But we have to act 
NOW."

Raven frowned slightly.  "So I fake being 
unconscious, you carry me in, and we both jump him?  
It's still a big chance."  She took a deep breath.  
"But Peter won't die if I do.  And they can't use me 
against him like before.  Plus I can always have 
Peter give me some of his Irish luck and I change 
odds in our favor if anything happens."

Gena nodded.  "You're the one reason this could 
work.  You're the key to my whole plan."

Raven felt a familiar chill down her back.  The 
ghosts had been quiet for a while.  Why were they 
becoming active again?  "So what do you need me to 
do?"

"Just don't dodge," Gena said.  "This will leave a 
residue of magic on you so they'll believe I cast a 
sleep spell on you.  You'll actually black out for a 
little bit, but trust me, I know exactly what I'm 
doing.  After tonight 
Gene and Peter will no longer be in any danger."  
She cast her spell.

Raven collapsed.

Gena looked down at the woman lying on the floor.  
Her eyes glowed red and a sinister smile hardened 
her features.  This was going to work.  It had to 
work.  She'd show them all.  She'd take care of 
them,  and kill anyone who tried to stop her.  And 
having Raven would give her stronger bargaining 
power to obtain her goals.

She bent over and lifted the unconscious Raven in 
her arms.  As she stood up, flames surrounded them 
both and they disappeared from the room.