KISS in Paradise
Part 17B (by Demoness) 
Samantha went to Paul's island next. From a distance, she  
watched that Stephanie approach the stranger who was in charge there. Seeing the  
new creatures a different way because of her short time with Ace, she almost  
found Paul attractive. She was deciding on whether she would spook him a little,  
or a lot, when she noticed Stephanie. So instead, she stood off in the distance,  
unseen by Stephanie. With a sardonic smile, she trailed Stephanie with Paul  
until they disappeared from her view. 

Samantha figured that Stephanie had taken Paul to her  
fortress, where ever that was. She vowed that one day she will find it, and  
watch. Then when Stephanie would leave, she would go in and see what she could  
take for herself. She knew Stephanie had to have many things that Samantha or  
most of the others did not. She would start rebuilding that of what she called  
hers, since the last pillage of her cave dwellings left her with  
nothing. 

That would be at a later time. At the moment, she went  
wandering about the island. Feeling carefree and liberated, she raided a large  
tent in the settlement of the new creatures. It turned out to be a food tent.  
There was a man preparing some fruits and vegetables and no one else. When the  
man looked up, she opened her mouth, which suddenly did not appear as the pouty  
lips that looked almost like a normal female's. She showed teeth and let out a  
roar, sending the cook running and screaming out of the tent. She grabbed some  
of the food and ran out the back of the tent to the forest beyond When she  
entered the tent and realized it was food, she was reminded of the workout she  
had with Ace and that she was hungry. Sitting in the woods, eating what she was  
able to grab, she hoped that someone was feeding Ace. He was going to need  
plenty of nourishment to gain all his strength back. She found herself sadly  
smiling as she thought of Ace. 

Finished with her meal, she stood and stretched. She  
could hear the other creatures, coming in her direction. The cook must have  
pulled together a search party to find her. They will never catch her, she  
thought, a wicked smile on her face. 

She took flight again, circling around the islands. She  
was bored, being stuck in her cave for most of the time it rained, and to see  
Darkraven with that pet of hers. It made Samantha restless. Not even the hunger  
she shared with Ace was enough to completely relieve her of the deep feelings of  
being trapped. That was something she always felt when there was one of those  
storms that would last for several days. 

She came in closer to one of the smaller islands,  
scanning for something interesting. She noticed that interfering, annoying  
Aurora Dawn with one of the newcomers on sacred grounds. A male stranger at  
that. Aurora Dawn seemed to be playing with enough havoc about to be unleashed  
without any 'help' from Samantha. That ditsy girl actually had a male in  
an area forbidden to males. It would be interesting to see what develops from  
that. Samantha decided to keep tabs on this from time to time. But from a  
distance. She was not going to take any chances on fingers being pointed at her,  
finding a way to fit her into the sacrilege Aurora Dawn was committing. She  
decided to go see what the others who infested this island was up to. 

She noticed the female who always seemed to accompany the  
male who was with Aurora Dawn approach the settlement. Smiling, she knew she  
could have some fun with the one she overheard being called Tiger. She took to  
flight again, circling, watching her prey. With the precision of a strafing run,  
she swooped down and grabbed the female, flying her to the other side of the  
island, far from everything. She dropped the stranger on the ground with a thud.  
The girl was unconscious. Samantha smiled as she sat down a few feet from the  
strange female. Her tail thumped the ground a few times while Samantha decided  
what she was going to do next. 

This one needs to dream, she thought, focusing her  
concentration on the form before her. She implanted an image of the one called  
Eric Carr and that meddling spirit creature with a kiss that too many times in  
the past undid what damage Samantha had inflicted. 

She watched as the dream grew. She was surprised when she  
sensed a link form between Tiger and the strange man. In'Yan? Had this In'Yan  
somehow made the dream reality?

Ah, if only dreams can come true, Samantha thought,  
standing up and turning away from Tiger. Because if they did, Tiger would have  
lifted the curse from that Aurora pest and Samantha would not have to watch her  
come to the rescue of the males, especially of those she would take pleasure in  
causing them pain. 

Samantha turned to look back at Tiger a sad smile on her  
face. If dreams did come true, then Samantha would wake up one day and discover  
she no longer had to live with the cursed form that was her body. There was once  
another time, in a life long ago. Samantha was no longer sure if it was real, or  
something she just dreamed long ago. It had been so long since she dreamed of  
it, that she could not remember what she looked like in the dreams. Except that  
she was desirable and attractive. Like the way Ace made her feel. She found  
herself smiling at the thought. 

Ah, she was just feeling sorry for herself. She dared go  
into a place within herself that she had locked away so long ago. Her time with  
Ace seemed to provide an opening. Another reason why she could never take him  
for a mate. He was dangerous to her. Because of him, she was letting down her  
defenses, showing her weakness. She never realized until that day that she had  
any weaknesses. She knew she would have to find a way to lock up that part in  
her and hope it could never be opened. She would build her walls around her  
stronger. She would be more ruthless and fearsome. Weakness had nothing to do  
with her. She would never have survived this long if it had. 

She considered going back to the island where that one  
called Vinnie was, but decided against it. Too far a flight. That one was the  
most repulsive of the newcomers. He made even her scales crawl. Besides, she  
remembered that Kismet had been up to something and Samantha wanted to  
investigate what. But first there were the others she wanted to look at  
closer. 

By the time she arrived not far from Kismet's cave it was  
starting to get dark. The fog was returning. Samantha found a spot to sit,  
cursing the fog. Nobody dared to go out in it. Cowards, all of them. Even then  
Changed and the Changers. They all feared what they could not see. Samantha was  
the only one who was brave enough to be out in the fog. Unless she took to  
barging into the others' dwellings, she would find herself alone with no chance  
of coming closer to any of the other strangers. 

She sat on a rock, staring out into the murky gray of the  
fog, not noticing those, to her, forbidden feelings possessing her again. She  
found herself thinking she never should have bought Ace back and left him to go  
off with his people. She sighed. At least not so soon. Then she would not have  
to face the duration of the fog alone again. She smiled thinking of Ace, her  
smile genuine. For the short time he was with her, she did not feel like the  
outcast she was treated as by all the other inhabitants of the islands. Nobody  
liked her. Those she had come in contact with ostracized her because of what she  
was. They tormented her. At times when she was on the other islands, some would  
come into her cave and destroy what she had. For as long as she could remember  
she had to fight to keep whatever little she had as hers, had to steal from the  
others because they always got first. She became a scavenger, never settling in  
one place for long, keeping them guessing. She finally convinced the other  
inhabitants to stop getting in her way and attacking her. She made examples of  
those who dared, and left their remains where the others would see. For  
coupling, she took by force, and when she was done, she would make a meal of the  
unfortunate male. 

Normally she did not allow what the others thought get to  
her. She would tell herself they were jealous because she had both grace and  
power, agility and strength. Her eyes were unlike any she had seen on the  
others. And her wings. Her wings were her pride. Fully expanded they looked like  
no other. Of course, having fiery wings had its downfalls. She could not fly  
when it rained. Her ability to move about the ground was limited, her endurance  
before needing to seek shelter depending on how little or much the rain  
fell. 

She realized once again she was being weak. But after so  
long of being stuck in a cave, she enjoyed finally being able to get around and  
toy with the newcomers. She had a few hours beyond her greatest expectations  
thanks to her time with Ace. She had meddled and created havoc in a few other  
places along the way to this island. She was hoping to find some more of those  
new strangers to torment. Now with the fog, she might as well find a cave that  
was not occupied and spend another night alone. 

She stood up, preparing to leave when she heard a sound  
coming from the area near Kismet's cave. Curious to see who was not taking heed  
of the fog, she quietly made her way toward the sound. At the same time she went  
to push aside some branches, so did whoever was on the other side. She found  
herself face to face with one of the creatures Kismet kept in her  
cave. 

********************************************************************** 

Damn the fog, Gene thought, making his way from the cave.  
The girls were sleeping soundly when he left. He did not like the idea of going  
out alone in the dark, with the fog so dense he could not see more than a few  
inches before him. But when nature calls, you follow. Besides, he realized as he  
first stepped out of the cave, he was feeling a little stir crazy being stuck in  
or around the cave for so long. He needed some fresh air, even if it was not a  
clear night. The fog was so thick, he almost felt it crawl on his skin. Closing  
the animal hide he had draped over his shoulders closer to him for warmth and to  
have something between flesh and fog, he stumbled through the fog looking for a  
place where he could go about business. He realized he could not dare to hope to  
find the appointed bathroom, but he could find some place away from the cave he  
found himself living in for the last few days. The others would be upset if they  
discovered he was out and about in the fog, worrying about the Mist Beast or  
whatever they called it. He let out a snort, shaking his head. Superstitions, he  
thought. There was no such thing as creatures that lurked in the mists, anymore  
than there was a Loch Ness monster or UFOs. 

Finding what he felt was a suitable place he took care of  
his business. He adjusted his skins and turned to go back to the cave. Taking a  
step forward, he discovered the ground was slippery and he lost his footing. He  
found himself sliding and then rolling down a slope and came to a stop up  
against the trunk of a tree. Cursing, he stood up, only to discover he had no  
idea which way was the way back. 

Great, he thought, trying to see through the fog, hoping  
to catch a glimpse of the cave entrance. The cruise seemed like a great idea at  
the time. Now he wasn't so sure. Especially at that moment, being forced to wear  
crude dead animal pelts, going to the bathroom in the woods and sleeping in a  
cave. He decided more than just the fans were getting their money back. He was  
going to make sure he got his money back from the cruise line they booked with.  
Maiden voyage of a state of the art ship. Sometimes he wished he was a  
superstitious man. Everyone knew of the fate of Titanic's maiden  
voyage. 

Determining he was not very far from the cave, he decided  
to walk a bit in one direction, and if he did not find the cave or the rock that  
he could use to feel his way back, he would back track and try another direction  
until he found it. 

He was just letting current situation get to him a bit,  
he told himself, starting to walk in a direction that he believed was in the  
general direction of where he had come from before he took a tumble. It did not  
help ease his mind any when he remembered that there were some very real natural  
beasts around. If there wasn't, he would not have any skins to wear. He was  
close to deciding that when he finally got home, he was going to swear off  
leather for a long while. 

One hand outstretched, he came across some branches. The  
fog seemed to be letting up a little just on the other side of the branches. He  
went to move the branches aside to go pass when they moved on their own. Before  
he had a chance to react, a face peered at him, red eyes gleaming in the  
darkness. 

The Mist Beaster! Gene thought, or whatever they called  
that thing.  They said it had large red eyes.  The face looking up at  
him looked almost human.  A bit demonic, he noted.  But female.   
Definitely female.  She stepped out from behind the branches.  He  
could not make out very much in the fog, but he knew this was no ordinary  
female.  Not human, anyway. 

"W-what are you?" Gene asked, taking a step back, yet his  
eyes never leaving her, trying to see the rest of her body. 

"I call myself Samantha, but the others call me many  
things, less flattering." 

"I can't imagine why," he said, deciding that the only  
chance he had for escape was to use his charm. He never had to try it before,  
but he was hoping it worked on non-human females as well. 

"You speak only what you believe I wish to hear," she  
replied. Her arm sprang up and a claw-like hand dug nails into his shoulder. 

Gene winced as the nails pierced through both animal skin  
and his. They were not deep in his skin, and would leave little marks on him.  
Yet he knew if he moved, it could get worse. Then again, he had no guarantee it  
would not happen by just standing still. 

"I am Gene," he said. "We are marooned..."

"I know of your fancy ship and how you all left it to  
infest our islands of your type. I watched from the sky." 

"Sky? You have a plane?" he asked hopefully. 

She snorted. "I can take you almost anywhere you want to  
go." She dug her nails in just a little more. He bit his lip to keep from crying  
out. "But first you will go where I want you to go." 

"Okay. But first help me find the cave and let me tell  
the others..." 

"Ah, Kismet!" she snarled, her voice suddenly deep and  
gruff. Gene smelled smoke. The nails dug in deeper. This time he did cry out in  
pain. "You see, you make me hurt you. I did not intend to hurt you." 

"Then let me go," he pleaded. 

She gazed at him, licking her lips. "I don't think so.  
You will come with me. When I am done with you, I will take you anywhere you  
want to go. Within reason, of course." 

"Of course. What do you mean done with me?" 

Her other arm reached out and grabbed him under his  
loincloth. "Oh," was Gene's reply, not actually sure he was willing to do that  
with this creature. The hand on his shoulder released him and just as quickly  
went around his back, holding him to her. From behind her, he saw the massive  
wings unfurl to her full expanse, and suddenly the night was being lit with  
fire. His mouth dropped open as he realized this she-demon had wings made of  
flames. 

From a distance he heard someone calling him. It was  
Misha and Shannon. "Gene?" he heard Shannon call out. "What's going on out  
there, Gene?" 

"Are you okay, Gene," Misha cried out. 

"Get back into the cave," Gene yelled out to the girls. 

Samantha growled, looking over her shoulder in the  
direction of their voices. The two women came into view and she snarled at them. 

Just as they took flight, Gene passed out. 

********************************************************************** 

Misha and Shannon watched as the creature took flight,  
taking Gene with it. They stared in awe for a moment at the site of the fiery  
wings, the flames dancing in the gray/black night. They had never seen anything  
like that before. It was impressive. 

"Gene!" Misha suddenly cried out. "It's got Gene!" 

Shannon grabbed onto Misha's arm and starting to pull her  
in the direction of the flames going up to the sky, said, "C'mon." 

Both girls started to run through the fog, stumbling and  
falling over stones and obstacles they could not see in the fog. They did not  
care, pushing on in their pursuit, helping each other along the way. The flames  
started to grow distant, further away from them. Yet they ran into the night,  
deeper into the fog. As long as they could still see the flames, they had a  
chance of finding Gene. They watched to see if the creature would land, giving  
them a clue where they had to go. 

"What the hell was that thing?" Misha asked as they ran. 

"I don't know. Or exactly that. It looked like a demon from hell." 

"And it's got Gene," Misha said, as the flames grew further and dimmer. 

"And is taking him off the island," Shannon observed as they no longer saw the flames. 

"What do we do now?" Misha asked, dropping to the ground. She was tired, miserable 
and had some stinging cuts and scrapes. 

Shannon sat down next to her. She looked around and noticed that the only thing she was 
able to see was the fog. She was in pretty much the same condition as Misha. "Get out of 
the fog?" she suggested. "We shouldn't be out here. It's dangerous." 

Misha nodded. "Any chance of finding Kismet's cave?" 

Shannon shook her head, getting up on her feet again, and  
waiting for Misha to do the same. "Too far, and I have no clue which way to go.  
We could miss it completely in this. Let's just keep moving and hope we find  
another cave or something to get out of this. Hopefully tomorrow we can find our  
way back." 

"I'm with you," said Misha, and the two started to walk in the fog hoping they could find 
some shelter soon. 
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