Chapter 17-C (by Demoness)

When he started to come to, Gene had a feeling of being in motion, and 
of suspension.  With effort he opened his eyes to find himself looking 
down at dark water, while he was quite a distance above it.  His eyes 
opened wide, in fear of finding himself falling.  Even if it was water, 
from the distance he found himself, it would still hurt hitting the 
surface of the water.  Eyes scanning what he could, he could make out 
some darker shapes which he assumed were islands.  He could not be sure 
which islands were what, or if they were even part of the same group of 
islands the castaways from the ship were on.  He was yet to gain a 
sense of direction.  It was too dark to even make an attempt.  All he 
knew was land was much too far from where he was, should he find 
himself in the water again, to hope to get to solid ground safely.

He suddenly realized that what he thought to be an island was moving 
out of his sight.  Studying the black surface of the water, his mind 
started to work a little more, allowing him to realize he was moving.  
Or more precisely, whatever had a grip on him was moving.  He managed 
to glance down to his chest to find what looked like an arm holding him 
secure, while he felt another body pressed against his back.  Something 
was flying and taking him for the ride.  He started to mentally fight 
the impossibility of it when he remembered the strange female he 
encountered.  His last memory before his present predicament was of 
seeing wings of fire unfurl as she pulled him to her.

He hoped she had no plans of suddenly dropping him and had a secure 
hold on him.  He decided his best course of action was to do nothing 
until they hopefully landed somewhere safe.  Any suddenly movement on 
his part would very well put him in the middle of the water below.  He 
was not sure if what he was going to face eventually would be better or 
not, but at the moment he was safely suspended above the water that 
could very well be fatal to him.

Before long, he noticed another dark shape which he thought was 
another island.  Whatever was holding him was going into a final 
approach for the island.  He let out a sigh of relief as land loomed 
closer.  She touched ground with a slight bounce and he found himself 
being gently lowered to the ground.  He had a sudden, crazy urge to 
kiss the rocky, dirty surface below his face.  He found himself 
wondering if, after this, would his old fear of flying kick in again, 
perhaps worse than before.

On his own accord, he rolled onto his back and looked up at what 
stared down at him.  He still could not make her out clearly in the 
dark night, and a part of him was fighting to stay awake.  Yet even in 
the dark he was able to know that all was not exactly as he expected 
when he glanced down below her waistline.  All he uttered was, "Oh 
shit."

"I see you are awake," the strange female said.  "Can you walk on your 
own from here?"

Gene sat up, still looking at her.  "What are you?" he demanded.

"I told you.  I am Samantha."

"Yeah.  Nice name, Samantha, but that still doesn't answer my 
question.  What are you?"

"I am what I am," she stated simply.  "You are Gene, are you not?" she 
asked.

Gene nodded his head.  "Yes.  Why are we here?"

"To keep me company for a while.  I will return you where you belong."

"When?"

"That will be up to you, once the light comes.  Until then, you will 
stay with me."

"But Shannon.  Misha.  What about them?"

Samantha shrugged.  "They are of no concern to me."

"They were in the fog.  Will they be okay?"

Again she shrugged.  "Who's to say?  They should have never gone out 
into the fog, if that is what they fear."

"They were worried about me," Gene said.

"Then you should never have gone out yourself."

"I didn't believe in any monsters lurking in the fog," Gene stated.

"And now you do?" Samantha asked.

Gene gazed up at her, trying to make out more of the what he knew was 
a creature standing over him.  A female creature.  Damn, he really 
attracted all types, he thought grimly.  "Lady, I find myself sitting 
here knowing you are not exactly human, that you flew us to this island 
and that you have wings of...flames?"  He questioned the last word 
thoughtfully.  "I have to admit that is a nice touch.  Better than the 
average ordinary wings.  Too bad KISS is past the point of my trying to 
figure out something like that," he babbled, the part of him that will 
always be KISS kicking into gear.  Shaking himself from his verbal 
musings, his look sharpened as he gazed up at her.  "So this is either 
some weird dream I'm having and you aren't real, or there really are 
things that go bump in the night."

"I assure you, you are not dreaming.  I am quite real."

"So I figured," Gene muttered.  His gaze rested on her eyes, realizing 
they shimmered red.  "Are you the beast everyone is afraid of?"

She snorted.  "I do not believe in that anymore than you once had.  I 
walk the fog.  I have not encountered any Beast in the Mist, as the 
others call it."

"Just because you never had a run in, doesn't mean it can't exist.  
And my friends are out there in that fog."  Gene knew what he was 
saying went against everything he had firmly believed in until only a 
short while ago.  His fear for the girls made him suddenly take on a 
new way of thinking.

"Chances are Kismet will find them and return them to her dwelling 
safely.  You are tired.  We will go to my dwelling now."  She held out 
a clawlike hand.  Gene did not notice the long talons that he 
remembered from before.  "I should check out your shoulder and make 
sure no harmful damage has been done."

Gene accepted the offered hand and felt himself being pulled up to his 
feet.  "Are you able to walk on your own?" she asked him again.

"I think so."

"Good.  Then come with me," she said, turning and starting to walk 
away.  

Gene took a few quick, long strides to catch up with her.  "Aren't you 
afraid of my running away?" he asked.

"I'm not afraid of anything," she replied.  "Where can you go?  I know 
this island better than you.  My skills at hunt are excellent.  You 
cannot leave this island, and you will have nowhere to hide."  She 
turned her head to look at him.  "And if you hope to be returned to 
where your friends are, you will stay with me.  If I have to go looking 
for you, when I find you, that will be something you will regret."

Had this been a normal human Gene was walking with, he would have let 
her know exactly what he thought of her threat.  Taking a moment to 
think over his present situation, he wisely chose to remain quiet.  All 
he said was, "Fine."

She led him to a cave.  She pointed to an area just beyond the cave.  
"Bring us some firewood."  

Gene nodded and simply obeyed for no other reason than to not upset 
her.  He still had no idea exactly what he was dealing with.  The fact 
that he was still alive gave him hope that if he did as he was told, he 
might be able to come out of this alive and in one piece.  He carried 
the wood over to where she stood near the entrance of the cave, setting 
the wood for a fire in the place she indicated.

"Now stand back," she told him, as she bent down slightly.

Gene's eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped when she opened her 
mouth a little and fire came out of it enough to light the wood.  The 
glow of the fire illuminated on Samantha and he saw for the first time 
what she really was.

"Whoa!" was Gene's only response.

"Make yourself comfortable by the fire while I get you something 
warmer."  

As he moved closer to the fire, Gene realized that all he wore was the 
loincloth, and that he was in fact chilled somewhat.  He sat close to 
the fire, marveling over what he had just witnessed.  He had been 
abducted by and was now with a flying, fire-breathing dragon lady.

He noticed her approach from the cave, which was now glowing 
invitingly behind her.  His eyes took in all she was.  Considering what 
she was, he found himself thinking she was very attractive.  He would 
not mind doing what he thought she hinted at earlier.  It would be a 
conquest that would surpass any other, including the nun.  He smiled up 
at her as she came closer.

He realized that while a bit more sluggish than the normal female, she 
sat down next him with a grace that her lower hunches gave the 
impression of her not being able to.  She handed him some skins.  "You 
smile why?" she asked.

Gene let out a sigh, wondering where he should start.  He was so 
confused.  His thoughts were still on the safety of Misha and Shannon, 
and Peter.  It had been days since he first set out to search for 
Peter, and he still had no idea whether he was found, and how he was.  
But he also knew the possibility of at least the girls' safety, and 
perhaps that of the others on the islands they found themselves on 
depended on how he acted that night.  At the very least, the chance of 
him finding himself back with his own people depended on his actions.

Yet another part of him told him he was not unhappy at all at the 
moment.  "I find myself in a situation that never in my wildest 
fantasies I ever believed could happen," he simply replied.

She looked at him, her eyes glowing, her look almost a frown.  
"Explain."

Gene smiled again.  "You have to really know me to understand," he 
stated.  "I am in a rock band...."

"You do not look like a rock to me," she stated.  "You are trying to 
deceive me."

"I am a musician," Gene laughed.  "We play music and the style is 
called rock and roll.  Rock for short.  You do know what music is, do 
you?" he asked.

"Yes.  It is the sound of the wind as it goes through trees and other 
things.  It is the sound of the ocean.  It is the banging of drums."

Gene nodded.  "Yes.  And it can be recreated by playing different, 
what we call, instruments.  And we also use drums."  At his last 
statement, Gene's mind turned again to the missing Peter.  He glanced 
down, again wondering where the drummer was, and if he was all right.

"Drums make you sad?" she asked.

"One of my friends who played the drums for my band, he is missing.  I 
went out to find him several days ago, and I'm worried about him 
still."

She snorted.  "You worry about too many things," she waved off.

Gene looked up.  "Don't you have any friends you care about?  That you 
would worry if something happened to them?"

She shook her head.  "Losing one of those who live in these islands 
would be one less pest for me.  No one would care if something happened 
to me, why should I care about them?"  Despite her harsh words to Gene, 
she found herself thinking about one person.  Ace.

Gene opened his mouth to protest, but then heard what was said between 
the lines.  He nodded.  "I guess I would feel the same way then.  But I 
know there are others that are worried about Peter and, by now, worried 
about me."

"This worrying seems like a very bothersome thing," she scoffed.  
Turning slightly, she glanced at Gene.  "Let me look at your shoulder.  
I did not mean to hurt you when I did."

"It doesn't hurt," Gene said, shifting himself so she could look at 
his shoulder better.  Dried blood streaks ran down his arm.  He found 
himself smiling again as he watched her probe his shoulder with a 
surprisingly gentle touch.  'You do know how to care,' he thought, 
wanting to tell her, but knowing it might not be the right time.

"I will heal the wound," she stated.  "Then you should make sure you 
stay warm and rest.  We will talk more tomorrow.  I would like to know 
more about this rock band."

Gene nodded, smiling.  As long as he did not make her angry, he did 
not mind being where he was at the moment.  He reached out and touched 
her hair.  She looked up at him in question.  "You are very beautiful," 
Gene said in a low throated voice.

She went to snarl at him, at first thinking he was lying to her just 
to save his life.  Then she looked at his face, her eyes met his.  In 
his soul, she saw one who in another time could have been one of her 
own.  "This might hurt a little.  Or it might tickle you," she added, 
thinking of Ace's unexpected reaction.

Gene raised an eyebrow at her last sentence.  She lowered her head.  
Gene let out a gasp as she started to lick the wounds.  She was right, 
it tickled a little, but his laughter was lost before it could start as 
he started to feel waves erotic intensity.  His hand caressed her arm.  
As he stroked her, he marveled at her scales, and how soft they felt.  

He shifted his head, and when she lifted hers, he placed his other 
hand behind her head, bringing her closer so their mouths could meet.  
Her mouth opened to accept his tongue, her tongue coming into contact.  
Their bodies shifted so they could comfortably move closer, giving them 
more access to groping, probing hands.

Gene felt her hands change, felt the long nails graze along his back, 
as his own hands gripped her firmly by her shoulders, pushing her to 
the ground.  Hands grappled on his loincloth, yet he was not sure 
whether it was his or hers that succeeded in losing it.  He cried out 
when a nail broke the skin on his back.  It was painful, yet he found 
himself enjoying the sensation it bought.  He wanted more.  A fire 
started to burn bright from within his soul, consuming him.  His mouth 
roamed, his tongue caressing.  He wanted to explore and feel every part 
of this woman-dragon.  He noted what made her growl out in pleasure to 
repeat at another time.  He was crying out himself.  He found himself 
with his back to her, as her tongue lapped at the cuts she inflicted 
on his back.  Knowing when he was healed, he turned in her arms to 
seek out her mouth.  He tasted not only what he had come to know as 
her own taste, but his own blood.

He had no idea what came over him, only he wanted more and more, 
without end.  He begged for her nails to slice him, and her tongue to 
heal him, as his own hands and tongue brought her to heights of 
pleasure.  At some time during the night, he vaguely remembered her 
picking him up and carrying him into the cave.  She lit a torch as Gene 
watched with wonder at her method of lighting it.  

Samantha turned back to Gene after lighting the torch and noticed the 
flames reflecting in his eyes, as if it was a fire within him burning.  
She smiled as he sat up.  She knelt next to him.  They joined together 
once more, losing track of how many times that made.  At last 
exhaustion took him.  He slumped in her arms, out cold.  Samantha settled 
him comfortably on a pile of skins.  After checking him out, assuring 
he was unharmed, she covered him with more skins so he would stay warm.  
Settling herself next to him, she slept for a couple of hours.

When she awoke, she found he had turned in his sleep and his arm was 
draped on her.  Gently she placed his arm back under the covering.  He 
still slept.  His face was serene.  She placed her hand over his face, 
willing him to dream only good things.  Things that bought him joy and 
happiness.  She knew, though she did not know why, that this sleep was 
the first he had in a long time that was not filled with worry and 
fear.

Gene will be hungry when he finally awoke, she thought.  She must find 
them both some food.  Gene had expended much energy through the night.  
She was surprised to realize that so did she.  She added another dream 
for him, her way of him knowing she was getting something for them to 
eat, should he awaken before she returned.  She wanted to make sure he 
knew to stay close to the cave.  She did not want him dropping from 
exhaustion in the middle of the jungle not far from the cave.  Assuming 
he even had the energy to walk outside the cave.  

As she left the cave, Samantha's mind was already planning how they 
will spend the time before she had to take him back.  They will eat, 
and while they ate, will talk.  She wanted to know more about this rock 
band he called KISS.  Between rounds, he told her a little about how he 
played an instrument called a bass, and that he would dress to portray 
a creature that was called the Demon.  He told her that he would spit 
fake blood and breathe fire.  Gene laughed at her look when he told her 
that, and explained how he did it was much different than how she 
could.  He told her of his clothing he would wear when he played and 
how his boots looked like dragons.  That sometimes others would refer 
to him as a dragon.

It made sense to her now.  Why she saw a dragon in him.  In a part of 
that which was his mind, heart and soul, he was one.  Her face fell 
when she realized after they ate, she would have to take him back.  He 
will want to be returned to those he called friends.  And she would 
lose the only other creature she had ever come across that she could 
imagine herself always being with.  She enjoyed her time with Ace, knew 
she cared about him, and would like to see him again.  But she knew in 
a heart that she was relearning in the last couple of days what it 
felt, he was not a mate for her.  She never gave thought to such things 
before, except how nice it would be to have a companion she could spend 
some time with.  She felt Gene would make an excellent companion.  In 
his own way, in his soul, he was part her own kind. 

Again, she reminded herself that even so, such a thing cannot be.  
Gene will want to be with his friends and fans.  He desired to return 
to the faraway place he called home, and to leave these island behind 
forever.  With those islands, he will leave her, alone and without a 
friend.

She shook such thoughts from her head.  She was being weak again, and 
once she returned Gene to where he belonged, she could not allow that 
weakness.  It could mean her very existence even more than it had for 
even she did not remember how long.

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

(by Raven)

 Gene sat waiting impatiently. There wasn't much else he could do. He 
had no idea where he was, where Samantha was, or what might be roaming 
around. He also had no idea if Shannon and Misha were okay, how the 
rest of their party were faring, or if they would ever get rescued. If 
he ever got back to civilization, he was most definitely going to start 
a class action suit in the name of KISS, the rest of the guys, and all 
their guests and sue that company for every asset it had. 
 
If he got back. If any of them survived this. They might have already 
lost one. 
 
"Peter," Gene moaned. "This was my bright idea and I talked you all 
into this and where the hell are you? Are you even alive? You've GOT to 
be alive!" 
 
"What he to you?" a voice asked behind him. 
 
Gene spun around. The first thing he saw was the gorgeous female body 
in little clothing. Then he saw the fangs and bat wings. "Oh great. 
Another one." 
 
Darkraven narrowed her eyes. "Another what? What Peter Criss to you?" 
 
"You know Peter?" Gene asked eagerly. "Do you know where he is?" 
Suspicion clouded his relief. "Are you why he disappeared? Did you do 
something to Peter?" 
 
"Why I tell you where Peter is?" she asked, obviously antagonistic. And 
maybe a little guilty. 
 
Gene clenched his fist, sure now this bat-winged woman had something to 
do with Peter's disappearance. "He's my friend and you better tell me 
where I can find him and he better be okay." 
 
Darkraven snarled slightly. "You threaten? Peter mine. I protect. You 
not protect from Enforcers. You not protect from Beast. Beast make you 
easy meal."  
 
"Lady," Gene growled, determined to find the missing drummer. "I don't 
care if you are something that looks like she escaped from a creepshow, 
you're going to tell me where Peter is and tell me now." He stepped 
forward, automatically raising his fist. 
 
Darkraven chuckled darkly. She darted one way, caught Gene off-guard, 
and ducked around him. She backhanded him as she dashed past him. 
 
Gene crashed into a bush. He grabbed a fallen limb as a club and rose 
to his feet. Saving his breath for the fight, he charged her. 
 
She stood, hands in front of her, waiting. She dodged as he swung, but 
not enough. The club clipped her side, sending her tumbling. 
 
Gene stood over her. "I don't want to hurt you but you WILL tell me 
where Peter is. Make it easy on yourself." 
 
She snarled and leaped to her feet and then up into the air, her wings 
raising a dust cloud that blinded Gene momentarily. 
 
Gene felt something strike him in the back and he stumbled forward, 
fire burning along a rib he feared was broken. He turned only to be hit 
in the face with a wingtip that cracked his cheekbone and opened a wide 
gash across his face. He stumbled back as wings, hands, and feet struck 
him, driving him back, breaking bones. 
 
"You not take him," Darkraven hissed, eyes red with rage. "Peter mine. 
Not alone. No more alone. Never more alone." 
 
Gene tried to stop her assault but blood and dust choked him. He 
realized what he had thought was guilt may have been fear. He tried to 
stop her, wanted to explain they both wanted Peter safe, but the blows 
kept coming. He fell and covered his head with his hands, and wondered 
if this was where it would end for him. 
 
Darkraven stood panting over the still body. The stranger wanted to 
take away Peter. She could not let him take away Peter. Now he would 
not take away Peter. 
 
Her head jerked up. Peter. 
 
Darkraven hurried back along the path. She should not have revealed her 
presence to the stranger. She should have just done the fast scouting 
she had planned. She had left him alone too long. This was how she lost 
the one. If the Enforcers found Peter...If the Beast found Peter... 
 
She stepped into the clearing and gave a soft sigh of relief. 
 
Peter smiled and finished tying vines around the bloody hide holding 
the butchered haunches of the wild boar. "I'm done. You sure we can 
carry this much stuff? It'll be heavy." 
 
Darkraven chuckled deep in her throat and pressed close to his body, 
enjoying the way he caressed her hair. "I carried you then. I carry 
dead pig now." 
 
Peter laughed. "True. At least you don't have to lug me around 
anymore." He spread his bat wings, still glorying in the sensation. His 
eyes lit with joy as he remembered this, his first flight. 
 
Darkraven watched Peter lick the blood from his arm, his lips curled up 
from his elongated incisors. She knew when he developed the fever the 
second day that she had broken him. Somehow she had taken a Pureblood 
and broken his code and made him one of the Changed. First had been the 
wings and fangs, and soon he would know the Hunger. She never meant to 
but she always broke them.  
 
And she knew she must hide him now because if the Enforcers found out 
what she had done they would come after them. Peter would be taken from 
her. Taken like all those she had broken. Taken like the babies some of 
the females had borne. The Enforcers imposed their Law with whip and 
blade and claw and fang, protecting the mysterious 'code' they held 
sacred as the key that defined Pureblood, Changer, and Changed. She 
hated the self-appointed Enforcers of the People. The Enforcers decided 
who got what, who lived where, what pairings were 'allowed' to preserve 
the divisions of Changed, Changer, and Pureblood. Decided what female 
the Enforcers took. She was on their prohibited list ever since she had 
slashed the face of Enforcer Minotaur when he attempted to force her to 
become his property. She lived alone, away from the society of the 
People. She was a strong enough fighter they did not try to capture 
her, but they did come and steal anything she had including any 
companion. Minotaur always took great pleasure in returning her 
companions when he was through with them.  She buried the remains near 
her cave where she could still visit them and remember a few days she 
was not alone.

Peter handed the bundle of meat to her. "We need to visit several of 
the islands so we can warn them about the Beast. Can I handle that much 
distance?" 
 
Darkraven nodded. "We rest on each island. Hunt here, no need hunt 
there." She had drained the boar so she would not need to feed for 
several days. Peter had the meat he could cook, and if his Hunger 
demanded satisfaction he could have her blood. She shivered, 
anticipating the time when Peter would sink his fangs in her flesh and 
share his Hunger. 
 
Peter had been insistent on this trip. He would have flown to the other 
islands on his own once the fever broke and he realized he could now 
fly. She had to protect him. So she did what she could. "Remember, tell 
but do not reveal yourself." No whisper of another of her kind could be 
allowed to pass through the strangers, for the Enforcers would be 
watching and listening. 
 
Peter glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, I'd probably freak a few of 
them." He chuckled. "Although Gene would probably ask me how to get a 
pair." 
 
"The kill will attract predators. We should leave." And they needed to 
get away from the stranger. Darkraven watched Peter jump into the air 
and labor to climb into the sky. He was still clumsy but soon he would 
learn to match her in the sky. Soon she would have a partner, a 
companion, a lover, a friend. Soon she would no longer be alone. If she 
could keep Minotaur from finding out. If she could protect him from 
Beast and Enforcers. 
 
She wished she knew where Drakken Fyre stood in the complex society of 
the People, but no one ever knew where Drakken Fyre stood. 
 
As she rose into the air after Peter, she considered trying to contact 
Calista. Maybe Calista would understand and help. Maybe there would 
even be someone among the strangers. She would ask Peter when they 
landed if there was any among his people they could ask for help in 
keeping him safe. 

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

(by Demoness)

Samantha landed not far from the cave, shifting the net she held in 
her hands.  The hunt had been good, she had plenty for Gene and her to 
eat.  He will be pleased.  She found herself smiling as she thought of 
the creature who was waiting for her return.

She approached the cave, and looking in, she did not see him.  
Dropping the netting on the floor, she rushed out to the entrance 
again, looking around.  "Gene?" she called out.

Anger overcame her.  He had run the first chance he had.  Even after 
the night before and her promises that she would return him to his own 
creatures, he did not trust her and left.  She stalked around the 
immediate area, hoping to pick up a track from him.  

She noticed the strange track he made.  She followed it, vowing that 
when she found him, she will make him regret it.  His end would come 
long and slow.  Like the others, he will know what it meant to cross 
her.  Especially him, the one she dropped her defenses for and trusted.

On the thought she lost all her fury.  It was a ruse anyway.  The 
anger was building to hide the grief and agony she felt with his 
leaving her as he had.  She almost decided to leave him on his own.  
His punishment would be he would be trapped on this island, the only 
one that did not have the newcomers crawling on.  She will let him 
suffer for a day or two on his own, then find him.  She'll scare him 
and then drop him back where she found him.

She came across a clearing about 100 yards from her cave, still 
following his tracks when she noticed it.  At first it looked like a 
mangled carcass, but she suddenly recognized it was Gene.  She let out 
a scream, rushing to him.  She felt guilty for not trusting him.  She 
found him well within the safe zone she had suggested to him in his 
dreams.  She dropped to the ground next to him, turning him over.  
There was blood all over the place.  He was still bleeding.  Gathering 
him carefully to her, she lifted her head and roared, flames shooting 
up in the sky.  She will find who had done this to Gene and make them 
pay.  She will inflict pain and torment upon whoever as she never had 
before.

Samantha gathered Gene in her arms and took him to the cave, where 
she placed him on a pile of skins.  He had not moved since she found 
him.  He lay limp.  His chest barely rose and fell as it had when she 
watched him both the night before and that morning when she woke up.

She placed hands on him, and cleared her mind.  She let out a wail.  
He was dying.  Samantha was not sure if she could save him.  She rushed 
about the cave, gathering items and bringing them next to the still 
man.  Tears glistened in her eyes.  She did what she could to clean him 
of the blood, so she could inspect his wounds.  The blood still flowed 
rapidly from a couple of spots as soon as she cleaned them.  The wounds 
went beyond surface.  She did not know enough about his body to know 
where she should begin.  She decided to start with the ones that still 
bled.  She licked and lapped at the wounds, finding herself having to 
drink some of the blood in order to continue what she had to do.

She lost track of how long she worked on him when at least she sat 
back, and checked his body out again, in case she missed anything.  He 
still did not move.  She did not expect him to so soon.  She only hoped 
that he would again in the following hours.

She covered him and lit several torches she had along the corner 
where she placed Gene.  She came back to his side, brushing his blood 
soaked hair off his face, then kissed him softly on his swollen lips.  
A finger traced across his cheekbone.  It still looked bad. The right 
side of his face drooped a little.  It would take time for the bones to 
heal themselves, if she was able to reach that deep.  All she could do 
now was wait and hope.  At least her healing also provided a 
painkiller.  Or else when he woke, Gene would be in much more pain than 
he would feel.

To take her mind off the possibility of him dying, she went outside 
the cave with her net and started to prepare a meal.  She tried to 
think positive, telling herself that when Gene woke up, he will be weak 
and need food to help bring his strength back.  

As she prepped the carcasses and fruits she found, she decided that 
when she knew he would be okay, she will seek out and kill who had done 
this to him.  And if he never woke up...tears fell from her eyes.  If 
he never woke up, they will all pay.  No one or nothing will be safe 
from her wrath.  Including the Enforcers.  She will set the islands 
ablaze and watch them all die.

While the meat cooked, she went back into the cave.  She shivered.  
Grabbing a skin to wrap around her, she sat down next to Gene.  
Samantha closed her eyes willed dreams to herself that Gene will wake 
up and become healthy again.  Maybe just once, her dream would come 
true for her.

Her eyes opened when she heard a moan.  Her head snapped up.  He was 
becoming restless, but at least he slept now.  She knew it was still 
uncertain whether he would survive his injuries or not, but at least he 
moved.

She took one of his hands, so cold and clammy now in hers and held 
it.  She would gladly give up all her fire if for once she could 
breathe it into him, to give him the internal warmth she knew he so 
desperately needed.  She did the second best thing she could think of.  
She lay next to him, and pulled him to her, trying to enclose him as 
much as she was able to.

Shortly after, he started to kick out and thrash.  His skin was 
warming up.  She jumped up with a start when Gene start screaming out, 
blindly striking at something, and then covering himself in protection.

She moved away from him a little.  "Gene," she called out softly.  
"You are safe, Gene."

He stopped his thrashing and he turned slowly.  He opened his eyes 
halfway.  "Samantha," he slurred.   "Wha...?"

She grabbed his hand, with her other hand, she stroked his face.  
"Ssshh.  You still need rest.  You are hurt."

"Bat lady," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

A low, deep growl came from Samantha's throat.  "Darkraven," she 
growled.  "When you are well, I will find her and prepare her as a meal 
for us."

A low chuckle came from Gene, before he started to cough.  "Thirsty," 
he said, his voice low and cracked.

"Of course.  There is fresh water not far from here.  I will get 
some."  She grabbed his hand again, and cradled his head.  "But you 
must promise me something."

Gene made an attempt at nodding his head.  

"Promise me you will not go anywhere while I am gone."

His eyes opened again, and he gazed at her.  "How can I?"

Her grip on his hand tightened a little.  Her eyes pierced into his, 
conveying her meaning.  "Promise."

"I'll try but..."

"No buts.  Promise."

Gene let out a sigh, then coughed again.  She cringed when she 
noticed the blood welling up from his lips.  "Promise," he stated.

She licked his lips clean, and planted a kiss.  "Good.  I trust you, 
Gene Simmons.  I will never break a promise to you, and you will do the 
same.

Weakly, Gene nodded his head.  "Now rest, while I get water," she 
said softly, kissing him again.

On the walk back with the water, she knew her heart had changed in 
the last couple of days, because she felt it breaking.  Somehow letting 
him go back to his own did not seem so bad to losing him to death.  
Yet, she knew what her life will be when he will be gone from it.  She 
had an idea of that life when she first found him and thought he was 
already dead.  Until she found Gene, she did not know the true meaning 
of lonely.


He was restless when she returned.  She helped him sit up a little, 
using herself for him to prop himself against, while she let him sip 
the water.  He slept for a while more.

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

She was resting against him, when she heard his voice.  "Samantha," 
he said.

"I'm here," she assured him.  She sat up, once again looking him 
over.  His eyes were open, wider than the last time.  There was a bit 
of the glow in them that had been gone since he was attacked.  But they 
were still too dim to be any hope.  "How are you feeling?"

He shrugged.  She studied him further.  He was pale and it did not 
look like his strength was returning as it should have.  He should have 
been a little stronger if he was going to be okay.  He made a move, and 
she assisted him in sitting up.  She offered him some water, which he 
gratefully drank.

"Easy," she scolded him gently.  "Not so fast. Are you still cold 
inside?"

"Yeah," he replied.  She already knew his answer.  He was still 
shivering.  Gene started to cough again.  The blood came to his mouth 
again.  No matter what else she tried to do, whenever she thought she 
healed that part of him which caused it, it always came back.

It had been a day since Gene was attacked.  He slept most of the 
time.  She managed to get some water in him, and had him eat a little.  
He had no appetite.  He would take a couple of bites and then was 
unable to eat more.  He needed food to gain his strength back.

She tried again to feed him.  Again the same thing.  Frustrated, she 
tossed the meat at the wall.  "Are you ever to get your hunger back?" 
she cried out.

He stared at her with haunted eyes.  He was fading again.  She knew 
he was.  She was not sure if he would be with her come the next 
sunrise.  "Is there anything I could do that I did not think of?" she 
asked him, dropping on the floor before him.

"I lost too much blood," he told her slowly, his voice weak.  "If it 
were not for your healing abilities, I probably would have died 
already."

She let out an anguished cry.  "You will not say that word, do you 
hear me, Gene Simmons.  You will not die on me.  You will not!  Your 
friends await your return.  I will not return your carcass to them as 
you requested before.  When I bring you back, I will bring you back 
alive!"

She looked at him.  "Why do you smile like that?" she demanded.

He gave her a lopsided grin.  "I thought you did not care about 
anything?" he asked.

She snarled at him, before dropping her head.  To Gene's surprise, 
she started to cry.  To Samantha's surprise, arms wrapped around her.  
She fell against Gene's weak body and cried in his arms.  At last she 
said, "I will give my life if it will save yours."

"That wouldn't work," his low voice stated.  "Because if you did, 
then I will be the one crying as you are."

What she said presented an idea in her head.  It might work.  It 
worked with the others, but she had never attempted it with any other.  
Not in this circumstance.  When she did it with Ace, his life was not 
in danger.  And it was not near the amount that would be needed if it 
did work for Gene.

She sat up, taking his hands in hers.  "You need blood to replace 
what you already lost," she stated.  "Blood is life for you.  I give 
you mine."

His eyes opened wide at her statement.  "It doesn't work that way.  
Transfusion.  In a hospital with doctors..."

"I can heal," she said.  "Doctors are healers?"

"Yes."

She gathered him in her arms.  "You are still too weak to survive 
flight.  I cannot take you to the other islands where you say they can 
help you.  You will die before we reach the nearest island.  Earlier I 
thought about taking you for help to your own creatures, but I realized 
you cannot withstand the shock of any long travel, especially flight.  
I know, but did not want to admit it.  You will die anyway if you do 
not get the help you need."

"So no matter what, I'm a dead man."  His voice was flat as he 
dropped his head in defeat.  Her words acknowledged what he felt since 
he woke up after the attack.

She nodded.  "If that is true, then what is the harm of trying the 
way I know?"

Gene nodded.

She smiled.  "You are a fighter, Gene.  A survivor.  That is good.  
In my world, that makes you a great warrior.  Like myself.  That too 
keeps you alive so far.  We will not give up now."

Gene let out a sigh.  "What do we do?"

She smiled and left his side, returning with a hunting knife.  She 
sat so they were face to face, bodies close.  "Close your eyes," she 
told him.  When he did as he was told, she made a gash on the junction 
of her neck and shoulder.  "Remember, I can lose more blood and 
survive than you can.  Do not fear for me.  Only concentrate on what 
you must do to survive," she said in a soft voice.  Her hand went 
behind his head, fingers caressing, and pulled his head to where she 
bled.  "Drink it, Gene.  Drink it, and feel it as life."

His lips touched where she bled, his tongue starting to lap at it.  
Tasting her blood was not new to him, but the amount he found himself 
drinking up was.  Human reflexes kicked in for a moment as he realized 
what he was doing.  He gagged on her blood, and tried to pull his head 
away.

"Let go of old habits, Gene Simmons," her voice said, almost in song.  
"Pretend it is something else.  Whatever it takes, but drink from me."

He was hesitant at first, but to her relief, he started to relax as 
he drank her blood.  Releasing his head, she wrapped her arms around 
his body, stroking him.  He started to drink the blood faster, almost 
frantically.  His hands grabbed her shoulders, holding her.  He started 
to moan, and even growl as he drank the blood.  

Gene was becoming lost in the act.  His tongue caressed her neck, 
teeth nibbled, and he drank even deeper.  She held him tighter, gasping 
out in pain and pleasure.  Her head fell back to give Gene better 
access.  She let out a low, throaty moan.  He grasped her tighter, 
fingers digging into her scales.  She let out a cry, feeling his hunger 
grow.  And with it, so did her pleasure.

She knew to let him do what he wanted, just as long as he continued 
to take her blood into him.  He would know when it was enough.  Already 
she noticed his shivering stop, his flesh warming up to her touch.  It 
was working, she thought joyfully.  He was going to be all right.  She 
found herself crying again, this time with tears of joy.

Time ceased to exist for them as Gene continued to feed off Samantha, 
until at last, he moved his head away from her.  Bright eyes gazed at 
her as he licked his lips.  Her blood was smeared on his face and 
hands, running down his bare chest.  He swayed a little, his hands 
tightening their grip on her again.  Her hold on him tightened.  "Did 
you get enough?" she asked.

He nodded.  "Yes."  Then his eyes closed and he slumped forward. He 
was going to be fine, she told herself again.  As he slept, his color 
returned.  That which had been withering from him was now returning.  
She could feel his body vibrate and hum as it did the first night.  She 
settled him on the skins, then healed herself. 

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

She did not want to leave him, but it was growing light again.  Gene 
still slept, but he moved in his sleep, let out moans.  It was not in 
pain, she knew.  It was from the rush of the blood giving him life.  

Samantha's stomach growled.  She would be needing food after giving 
Gene what she had.  He will be needing food.  His appetite will return 
and he will be starving.  She did not go far to hunt, circling the 
cave, checking the area to make sure no one else invaded her area, and 
no more harm would come to Gene.  She would return regularly to drop 
off what she already caught and go out again.

She would feed him and make him rest more.  By the next day, he 
should be healthy enough to go back to his own creatures.  She felt 
sad.  Even more now, she did not want to let him go, but she made a 
promise to him.  And she vowed she would never break any promises she 
made to him.  

Samantha came around the bend from the other side of the cave on 
foot, carrying more food for them.  She smelled something in the air.  
It was of an animal being cooked.  She ran the distance to the cave and 
saw Gene standing there, looking down at the fire.  He wore only a 
loincloth.  She dropped the netting and ran to him.

"Gene!" she called out, laughing, glad to see him on his feet, 
looking healthy.

Gene turned and held out his arms.  Samantha ran into them, hugging 
him.  "You look very well," she stated.

"Thanks to you, sweetheart," he said with a smile, then kissed her.

She moved her head away far enough to study him.  Even his cheekbone 
looked healed under the warm glow of his skin.  His face was even, the 
right side no longer drooping.  His bones had been repaired as he 
slept.  "You didn't have to," she stated, looking down at the carcass 
cooking in the fire.

He hugged her again, and moved away from her a little.  Taking her 
hand, he led them to the fire.  "I was getting hungry," he said.  
"Besides, it's about time I did my share of work around here."

She went to protest, but saw the determined gleam in his eyes.  They 
were shining brighter than he remembered them since they met.  He was 
healthy and happy.  She let it go.  "Then don't complain later when I 
assign you chores," she told him.

He laughed.  "Aw, it's not like there's any dishes to have to wash," 
he joked.

"Dishes?" she asked.

"What we use where I come from to put our food on when we eat," he 
explained.

"Oh."

While their meal cooked, Samantha took Gene to a stream where he 
washed up.

Samantha was right about them both being hungry.  Gene ate more than 
even she thought he was capable of.  And yet she found herself going 
out one more time to hunt before it got dark, while Gene went to 
collect fruits and vegetables.  While they ate, she asked more about 
this KISS he seemed to be so proud of, and about other things from 
where he came from.  He asked questions about her, and she answered 
what she could.  Some things she could not answer, such as how long she 
had been there, and where did she come from.  He spoke of the other 
band members.  

When he mentioned Ace, Gene noticed that she ducked her head and then 
looked away.  Gene asked about it.  She told him about her taking and 
having Ace earlier in the day she found him.  At first he looked 
shocked, and muttered something about, how dare Ace get to his pickings 
first, and then laughed, assuring her there was nothing to worry about.

That night they joined again.  It was different than the first night.  
She not only made him bleed and drank his blood, but he insisted on 
more of hers.  He was more aggressive than he had been the first night.  
The hunger in them grew in fervor as they joined, sharing blood and 
body until they both thought they would not survive it.  She growled at 
the top of her lungs, he howled louder than ever.  They both roared, 
the sound carrying out into the night beyond.  They did not stop until 
they fell in an exhausted pile of bodies and limbs, sleeping where they 
dropped.

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