KISS in Paradise
Part 22 D 
By Kori/Jessi

Nicodemus smelt the air. Trouble was brewing amongst 
the strangers. One of their own had been 'napped by 
one of the "corporation".  He ran as fast as he 
could though the small underground Basalt tunnels. 
He reached one of the archways that carried him up 
to level ground and walked though the waterfall that 
concealed it.

He found himself on the Island that belonged to Paul 
and heard the discussion that a few fans were 
having. The leaders were on another Island. He once 
again rushed into the tunnels, running as fast as he 
could. The Beast was involved in this, he was sure. 
He had to do something. It was not time to reveal 
the rocks.

**

It filled its host with rage and evil. This host was 
a good host, it fed its hunger for blood easily. It 
had killed twice before with this host. One was the 
female on the Island and another was Goerl, one of 
the 'others'.  Goerl was like it, an entity which 
could attach itself to another and bend it to its 
will, but Goerl was good.  Goerl told the others 
about the stones.  He was the one who had set in 
motion the curse that fell upon it.

This entity which it wanted to kill lay on the 
wooden structure the host had used to cover the 
water. It couldn't go near the entity without 
feeling the color.  It was not one of the four, but 
it was tainted with blue.  Whenever it approached 
the entity it was slammed into a wall feeling of 
water and sky. It was a tainted, a descendent. It 
could not harm him like the true four, but He could 
not enter it.

It had fiqured this entity to be Female, like its 
host, and human, like the host and the strangers. It 
was dangerous for it to go near it so it used its 
host to command the others to tie the girl up and 
wrap cloth around her mouth to make sure no sound 
escaped but she could breathe. It would relish in 
the death and blood of this one, but not now, it 
needed to be at the altar.

**

"GENE!!" Gene sat up as soon as he heard the call. 
It was Ace, that was for certain, but as it was late 
at night, Gene had no idea why he was being called. 
He stood up, careful not to awaken Kismet. Kismet 
had arrived the day before and had not let him go 
since.

"What is it Ace?" He asked, coming out of the tent.

"Something is wrong, I just know it."

"Ace, your getting paranoid in your old age. Go back 
to bed."

"No, really. Something is wrong. I felt it."

"Why is everyone up this late?" Came the voice of 
Samantha. She exited Gene's tent and walked up to 
him and Ace.

"Ace said he 'felt' something was wrong." 

Samantha sniffed the air. She suddenly turned and 
ran towards Peter's tent. She awoke Scarlet and 
brought her out.  The two stood silent for a second, 
testing the air.

Suddenly Katie came running out of her tent, calling 
Krista's name. It had been an hour since Krista had 
left, and she had not returned.  Krista wasn't one 
to wander off like that and when she said she was 
coming back she was.

"Katie." Gene called and motioned her over to the 
group that now was congregating. "What's wrong?"

"Krista is gone. She went to take a walk an hour ago 
and then never came back."

"I told you something was wrong!" Ace said. Paul and 
Peter had now joined them and both Erics were soon 
to follow.

"She's not here." Samantha stated.   "Scarlet used 
her sonar and she is the only person we can't find 
of those on the Island."

"How could you tell the difference?" Gene asked

"The sonar hits differently on different people." 
Peter explained.

"Well, then we need to find her."

"Angel." Vinnie commented.

"What?"

"I think Angel did it. Her prints are on the sand 
over there on the beach.  I'd recognize that 
designer sandal tread anywhere."  

Gene glared at Vinnie for a moment and then turned 
his head to the beach. A search party had to be 
started.  "We need to start a search. I'll lead the 
search group. Paul, you should stay here and watch 
the fans, and Katie and Liz should stay here as 
well."

"I'm going. You could use the sonar from me and 
Scarlet."

"Ok, then, Scarlet, Peter, me."

"I am going," claimed Jeren.  "I can see in the 
dark, and I know her scent."

"You're in.  Scarlet, Peter, Jeren, me."

"I'm going."

"Ace, you need to stay here."

"No! This is my daughter we are talking about! I'm 
going." 

Gene was about to say no when Nicodemus came up to 
the group.

"Are you the strangers?"

"They are." Samantha replied, knowing who it was.

"One of your own has been taken. I sensed the Beast 
was out tonight."

"The Beast is just a superstition." Samantha 
commented

"Say what you wish, unbeliever, but evil reigns 
tonight. I can lead six people though Volcanic vent 
tunnels to the Island on which I sense the Beast has 
taken your young one."

"That would be Me, Peter, Scarlet, Jeren, Shandi 
should go for night vision, and Vinnie."

"I am going. If you don't let me go, I'll find my 
own way and get to Krista."

"Ok, Ace is along as well so he doesn't get himself 
killed.  Vinnie, you're stuck with Paul and Bruce. 
Eric Carr and Eric Singer, you two are in charge of 
creating a boat attack. She'll expect something.  
And you're our backup if anything goes wrong.  Our 
main goal is rescue Krista."

"This misnamed Angel has many things to use against 
you; weapons, tools, and Enforcers. Be careful in 
your plans." Nicodemus commented. "Do not take her 
lightly. It was she who killed one on the Altar of 
the Beast and therefore awoke Him from his deep 
slumber."

"Boy, does this sound like one of Gene's movies more 
every day." Eric Singer commented. Gene just glared 
at him.

"Calista and I shall create some air support and 
attack from there." Samantha added.

"Alright. Lets break up. Both me and Paul have the 
emergency walkie-talkies, so we can communicate to 
each other, at least as long as the batteries last."

To be continued.