Creatures of the night   von Aqua111
                              (Kiss (Rock Band))
================================================================================
                          Kapitel 1: Hide your heart
                          --------------------------


“…two people died, fourteen are injured. Detroit…”
“Can’t you turn that shit off? I’m trying to think”, Gene complained.
“Sorry, curly. I can write the better stuff when I’m surrounded by noise.
Lock yourself in the bathroom if you have a problem with it.”
“I can’t. The Beast King is drinking out of the toilet again. That’s more
disturbing than a stupid radio. Paul, I thought you already had him far enough
we could take him on stage again without having to explain why our drummer is
ripping his drums apart and biting his stick.”
The Starchild sighed. Why on earth had he let all three of them into his
apartment just for some quick song brainstorming?
“It’s not his fault Gene. He was stuck in his role for so long time. Do you
really think it’s so easy to get him out of this again? Sometimes he has a
relapse to his animal behaviour. I’m glad he’s just drinking and not
destroying it.”
“At least he isn’t peeing into plant pots anymore”, Ace cackled.
Meanwhile Peter had sneaked back into the room and started rubbing against
Paul’s legs like a cat would do. The problem: This was a very big cat. He
nearly knocked Paul off his seat.
“Do we really have to get back on stage or start making new songs, curly? Just
being the Four Who Are One is quite okay as well.”
“Do you think we live in a Power Rangers world?” Gene snapped, “Every day
some monsters will come and want to destroy the earth and we’re just here to
safe the day? Wrong thought, buddy. We’re still rock stars after all. And I
also want to be one in the future and not just stupidly sit around and wait for
some monsters to appear.”
“…and been attacked by some winged creatures in the inner city. Unless very
many people are drugged the same time there’s absolutely no explanation…”
“Welcome to Power Rangers world, curly.”
“What the fuck…?” Gene stared at the radio but they seemed to have missed
the biggest part. The reporter was already talking about something else.
“Do you think it would be interesting if I take the cat talisman this time,
curly?”
Gene gave him the death glare. “You stay with what you took from the
beginning. And stop with that ‘curly’ after every sentence.”
“C’mon, I wanna kick some monster butt”, the Beast King growled.
The Starchild sighed, “Okay, Ace, please teleport us to the inner city. And
please stop your fights against each other. We are the Four Who Are One and not
the Four Who Fall Apart. Let your anger out on the creatures.”
“Alright, c… guys”, Ace said. “Initiating teleportation.”

~~~***~~~

Being the Demon on stage or being changed to the Demon by the talisman, it was a
major difference. One was a role he played, just a game to please the crowds,
the other was dangerous, a play with fire. One wrong action could mean a sudden
death. Gene never knew what he liked most. One was his dream, his ladder to fame
and success, the other was the thrill he needed at some times.
Somehow those winged brown creatures looked familiar. The Demon burned his way
through them and had to avoid the Beast King’s claws – he was raging in what
looked like a brown cloud – and made it closer to Paul.
“Haven’t we already seen those things once?”
“I have thought the same. There’s something very familiar but I can’t
remember what. It’s like someone’s playing with my memory.”
“Oh how fleeting and volatile human memory is”, a voice echoed through the
empty streets. “And how easy to control.”
Gene looked up “I somehow know this voice …” He paid his second of
inattention with a slash through his cheek. “Hey you little creep, watch out
where you put those claws.” He grabbed the creatures head, whirled it around
and slammed it against another one somewhere close the – now rather crimson
– cloud around the Beast King who gladly took care of that enemy as well.
“It’s funny to watch you. Mostly because you’re now fighting more with
your own memories than against my minions. Do you remember? I am the shadows in
your mind. I am your childhood terrors solidified. I am the unholy agent of the
outer dark.”
The last remaining creatures now let go off the four and fluttered over to their
master.
“The Dark Czar”, Ace whispered.
“But that’s impossible”, Paul said, “We defeated him, locked him up in
another dimension.”
“Dark who?” Peter asked.
“You know, this guy who once had you under control”, Gene answered.
“He doesn’t know. His memory already is too modified”, the Dark Czar said.
His voice sounded familiar but it wasn’t the voice sounded familiar but it
wasn’t the voice they heard when they met him last time. Everything on him had
stayed the same, his armour, his cloak, even his horse Xanthus, but the voice
was different. He only made them forget where they knew it from.
“And don’t you know you can’t defeat me, foolish humans? My body might
have been damaged but after years my soul found a way to your world, gained
control over a new body. It was only a matter of time until I was back at full
strength. Back to destroy you.”
“But so far you haven’t done anything else than sending a few ugly birdies
and changing our memories”, Peter growled.
“You know, kitty, that memories can be dangerous as well. Some people even
went insane because they got lost in their memories. And even the best can hurt
you the most. I can show you.”
Gene noticed that Paul beside him stiffened. All of the others looked as if they
were hypnotised, just kept on staring at the Czar. And even Gene could barely
move anymore. Pictures from the past were passing by his inner eye. He found
himself on Bruce’s wedding party and danced with Eric cheek to cheek, was at a
photo session with the res of the band and cuddled the Fox as if he never would
have wanted to let him go anymore, saw Eric jumping around between the fans,
talking, shaking hands, giving autographs until the security nearly had to drag
him away because otherwise Kiss would have been late to their interview. And it
was hurting to see him so full of life while the same time Gene knew he was
dead, that there was no way to see him again, to talk to him again.
When the demon finally managed to snap out of those memories he noticed that he
was kneeling on the floor, arms clasped around his belly and his body slightly
bowed forward as if he had been close to barf.
“Awful, wasn’t it?” he heard Ace’s voice. Whatever memories he had, he
was gasping as if he had been running for miles. Paul who was kneeling next to
him looked as if he was close to tears. The Dark Czar was gone, only several
dead creatures remembered of the battle.
“Where the deuce is he?” Gene snarled, “Why didn’t he just finish us
off?”
Peter sniffed the air. “Where he was before the attack, I guess – in his own
dimension. I think this pussy wants to play with his prey a bit.”
“And that means a whole lotta work for us”, Gene sighed. “We’ll have to
follow him unless we want him to return to the city.”
Paul finally had found his speech again. “But the portal was sealed years
ago.”
“He must have opened it again somehow. I don’t know any other ways. Ace, can
you bring us to the tunnel?”
“You bet, curly.”
“Not that word again…”

~~~***~~~

It was depressing to walk through a building that once was known as the Simmons
Foundation, but in this dimension it was just an ordinary dungeon. It was even
more depressing to see most of the cells had prisoners locked inside, some of
them in chains as well.
“The last time we were here, we were the only prisoners”, Starchild
whispered. “I feel sorry for them. Can’t we…?”
“We can’t let them free now”, Gene whispered back, “We don’t even know
which universe they belong to or if they would attack us once free. Besides we
won’t stay unnoticed much longer after.”
“Hey, look”, Ace shouted and made the others (and some of the cell
inhabitants) wince. He pointed into another cell. A small, nearly vulnerable
looking figure was cowering in an edge, tied to the walls with more chains than
an elephant with rabies would have needed. Long black locks were falling in his
face, his clothes were in rags.
Gene rushed to the cell, clasped the lattice bars as if he wanted to rip them
apart.
“Eric?!”
The Fox lifted up his head but they weren’t sure if he recognized them or if
he just looked because someone had started shouting.
“Nice, isn’t it? The jewel in my collection because he’s from the only
world I have been locked out before. Although he had already been dead before I
got him.”
Unnoticed the Dark Czar had stepped closer until he was nearly behind them.
“What do you mean, he ‘had been dead’?” Gene asked without turning his
gaze away from Eric who now looked straight at him, mouth slightly opened in
astonishment.
“Well, he is here so he can’t be dead. I found his soul floating between the
worlds many years ago. Recreating his old body was easier than gaining control
of my new one. So what are you doing here? Searching for a quicker death?”
“Actually we came here to lock you in your universe once and for all”, Ace
stated. “New body or not, we’ll destroy that as well.”
“I don’t think you would want to destroy that one…”

Gene didn’t even listen to the conversation behind him. He still was staring
at Eric whose eyes now nearly were screaming ‘Get me out of here’. He knew
they couldn’t win a fight. All they did last time was locking him up in his
world by destroying the tunnel. Their priority should be the same again. And
getting the Foy out of here. Suddenly he had an idea. He took a deep breath,
turned his head and spitted fire but not at the Czar. The locks of several doors
melted and the prisoners used their chance. The same way he opened some more
doors on the other side.
Even after the Czar called his minions they couldn’t get this hullabaloo under
control. Spitting fire against Eric was impossible but the Beast King ripped the
chains out of the wall.
“Ace”, Gene shouted, “get us outta here! Back to the tunnel!”

They landed harder than normally. When they looked around they only saw empty
streets and detritus.
“What the deuce… Ace, you have brought us somewhere in the middle of his
city.”
A little streamlet was dripping out of a broken pipe and wind was blowing but
else it was silent.
“It wasn’t my fault”, the Celestial defended himself, “I was kinda
ripped out of the air. And now I can’t teleport anymore.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Paul asked.
“It means what I said. I feel blocked. It might be the Czar’s fault. We will
have to walk to the tunnel.”
“Oh great”, Gene threw his hands in the air. “Does anyone know where the
deuce we are?”
They all looked around. Not a single street name to be found. A walk could have
lasted for hours, in the worst case for days.
Meanwhile Eric had started drinking from the pipe.
“Don’t do that”, Gene warned.
“The water looks clear enough”, Paul said. “Besides what else can we give
him? No one of us carries water or food.”
“Has anyone noticed that he hasn’t said a single word so far?” Peter
asked, “Not even ‘thank you’.”
“His gaze said a thousand ‘Thank you’s so far”, Gene said, “Maybe the
Czar didn’t recreate his voice or he forgot how to speak over all of those
years. At least he knows who we are. Maybe.”
So far he had no prove if the Fox really knew them or if he just followed them
because they got him out of his cell.
“Eric?”
The Fox turned his head.
“Uhm, you still know us? I mean our names and such things?”
He nodded.
“And you also know who you once were?”
Eric made a movement as if he was playing air drums then his fingers drew the
outlines of his Fox make-up on his face.
“See? He still knows.”
“I don’t want to interrupt you”, Paul said, “but it’s getting dark and
we still haven’t found the tunnel so let’s go.”

It now really was dark and they still hadn’t found anything. A ruin should
give them a bit protection for the night. Not even the Four Who Are One had the
ability to see in the darkness so moving on would have been hard. They had found
some burnable things to make a small campfire. Big enough to keep them warm,
small enough so that enemies wouldn’t notice it too quickly. After this
universe was very similar to theirs they had searched something in the ruins
that looked like it could have been stores in their own world and found some
drinkable water and food that hadn’t already started to rot away, mostly dark
chocolate – emergency ration for soldiers.
Eric was lying between Gene and Paul sleeping. The four others alternated in
getting some rest.
“Why haven’t we found anything?” Gene asked. “I mean we already know
those streets, we were able to find stores.”
Paul shrugged. “This is his world. I don’t think he can seal the gate and
also don’t think he wants to. But maybe he has switched around the streets or
the buildings. Maybe he is still in our heads and controls us a bit so we
won’t be able to see the tunnel.”
Eric sighed in his sleep and pressed himself closer to Gene’s legs. The Demon
resisted the wish to strike through Eric’s hair.
Why on earth? He was the ladies’ man Gene Simmons so why could he have
feelings for men? No, not really men, just one man. He still would go for the
ladies. But somehow that little Fox had caught him.
“I know what you’re thinking”, Paul suddenly said.
What the…? Had the Starchild really read his mind?
“We also have a little problem with Eric now. I mean he’s dead or at least
should be. We can’t just take him with us.”
Gene suppressed a sigh of relief. No, Paul would never read the minds of his
friends without their allowance.
“But now he’s alive”, the Demon said, “and if we wanted to send him back
where the Czar took him from we would have to kill him. Look into his big brown
eyes and then tell me you can do that.”
“I didn’t mean it that way but the other problem is we also can’t send him
anywhere else.”
“Where’s the problem? Give him another name, a new haircut, let him wear
glasses and we can say he’s a new roadie. We started our careers with hiding
our personalities.”
“What if he wants to see his family again or old friends?”
“Well … lemme think … Let’s give the people some more time to realize
the Four Who Are One are back into action. One year was still too short. And
then when there’s another mighty enemy we have defeated we’ll just tell them
the truth how we got back Eric but add the other enemy instead of the Czar.”
Paul still didn’t look convinced but at least he didn’t insist on further
discussion and changed the topic. “We have to split up tomorrow so we might
have a higher chance of finding something. Each one of us four – Eric should
go with one of us – takes a different quarter of the city. And we’ll need a
spot to meet again. I’d suggest one of our houses. Even if they are destroyed
in this world all of us will find the way to them.”
“I’d say your house after it was the last place we’ve been before this all
started.”
Ace yawned. “Isn’t it already napping time for you chitty-chatters? Feels
like half of the night is already gone. I’ll wake up Peter so you two will get
some rest as well.”

~~~***~~~

It still was too dark to even consider getting up when Gene was woken up again.
“Move your ass, curly.”
For the Demon Ace sounded too happy for that time of day although he was
speaking with normal voice, not sounding any happier than some hours before when
he had to wake up Peter.
“It’s dawn and we should use that bit of darkness to walk around undetected
for some time.”
The only one of them who might have gotten enough sleep was Eric. Not the best
condition to survive the day but they couldn’t lose more time.
“I think Eric should go with you, Gene”, Paul said. “Neither me nor Ace
could compete with you or the Beast King when it comes to fighting or pure
strength. But the Cat might get a bit too enthusiastic in battles and
accidentally hurt Eric. Besides you can fly so you have the better chance to
quickly get away from danger.”
Gene suddenly felt his heart pound so hard he actually was afraid that Paul
might hear it. So often he had wished for some inconspicuous time alone with the
Foy and now he finally got the chance.
“Alright, it won’t we too much of a problem.”
Hide your heart; don’t show your feelings, especially in this case.

They all departed. Eric followed Gene like a shadow, silently and
inconspicuously. For some time they just walked until the complete silence was
growing awkward for Gene.
“You can’t tell how happy we were to see you again”, he started, “Not
even in my dreams I would have expected that. But at least for some time we have
to keep your real identity a secret. People might think we’re crazy if we tell
them Eric Carr is back alive.” He shortly paused when he noticed that Eric’s
lips were moving as if he was silently repeating Gene’s words. “You’re
learning how to speak again?”
“Uh-huh.” It wasn’t really a word but still it was the first time he heard
Eric’s voice after so many years.
“Well, you’ll have enough time when we get out of here. I can tell you Space
Ace had to learn it again as well after he had returned form whatever planets he
had been. I can tell from your face you’re confused. Don’t worry; I think I
have enough time to tell you the long story about the Four Who Are One. Beside
the more I talk the more you learn to speak. I hope your don’t mind if I
can’t offer you popcorn.”
The Fox chuckled.

He told about the talismans, the time they fought together as Four Who Are One,
when they started to go separate ways – the Celestial travelling through the
space, Starchild and the Demon concentrating on their careers and other
problems, Peter unfortunately never finding out of his Beast King role – and
about their reunion – Ace had to learn their speech again, Peter had to be
freed from the Czar’s control and regain knowledge about behaving like a
human. The Fox still tried to lip synch from time to time but mostly he just
listened.
Now it was afternoon and the awkward silence returned. Gene desperately tried to
find something he could talk about but it was hard to find anything where no
answering conversation partner was needed. The last thing he had said was when
he offered Eric a piece of chocolate for lunch. He self couldn’t see any
chocolate anymore. It was making him sick. But it was all they had since one
day.

Suddenly Eric gave a surprised – and also frightened sounding – call and
pointed at the horizon. A swarm of winged creatures was coming closer. Gene
tried to guess how many. At least less enough for a very close win. But then he
thought about Eric. Fighting and protecting the same time against this amount of
enemies – no way.
“Fucked about it… we better do what Starchild suggested.”
Gene wrapped his arms around Eric’s waist and spread his wings. First he
feared that he wouldn’t be able to carry the extra weight but the Fox was
lighter than he had thought. He even could fly at full speed. He could feel Eric
shiver and it surely wasn’t because he was afraid of height or because he was
fearing to slip out of Gene’s grip-
“Don’t worry”, the Demon called. The headwind made it hard to speak.
“Before I let them get you again I rather fight until death.”
He turned his head to see if their enemies already had lost trail.
“Gene!”
Just in time he could avoid the giant claw.
“Holy crap! What the fuck is that?”
The creature in front of him looked like a mix between a giant bat and a
dragon… And it looked as if it was out for blood.
“Hold on, this flight might get a little rough.”

A few times he tried to spit fire against the dragonbat but he always ran the
risk to set Eric’s hair on fire. Beside the Fox made it hard to breathe
because he was clinging so tight to Gene. All he could do now was flying as fast
as possible and avoiding the claws. The ruins – if he could only manage to let
one collapse over dragonbats head.
“Cover your eyes!”
He rammed a wall – Eric buried his face into his shoulder – and shot out of
the way again. The dust made it impossible to see but a furious scream told him
that he hadn’t missed his target.
‘A bigger wall might do the job but I can’t ram that down alone.’
Gene shot through a window, dragonbat right behind him crashed through the wall.
He tried to fly around as many barriers as possible to see if his plan would
work and the dragon really did as expected, rammed it all; broke through
everything just to be faster than the Demon.
‘He’s destroying the supporting walls so let’s bring this damn house right
down.’
The ceiling showed more and more cracks, first only small boulders were falling
then they got bigger.
Gene’s eyes were fixed on the window in the distance. Their only way to
safety. Rocks were raining down. Dragonbat roared behind them. And then they
were out again, flying over the city. The building behind them collapsed.
The Demon landed on a more or less stabile looking roof and let down Eric.
Longer he wouldn’t have been able to carry him. The Fox was still shivering
and for a second Gene thought about pulling him into embrace. But then he just
put a hand on the other’s shoulder.
“Everything okay? We’ve made it. This thing is gone.”
Eric looked at him then reached out a hand and stroke over Gene’s cheek.
For a moment the Demon was stunned then he also noticed the slowly dripping
blood the Fox tried to dry with his sleeve.
“Oh, this was from an earlier fight. The wound must have opened again. Stupid
flutter things. This was my favourite cheek.”
Now that the adrenaline rush was over the awareness of how close they had
escaped death had time to sink into their minds. And Gene came to the conclusion
that he didn’t want to go any further without having told or shown Eric how
much he cared for him. It still could be a long way out of this dimension and
who knew if there wouldn’t be another attack.
He gently placed his hands on Eric’s cheek – the Fox just blinked at him in
confusion – whispered, “Forgive me, but I have to do this. Can’t carry on
without”, and kissed him. He had awaited for Eric to back away in disgust but
instead he returned the kiss, gently, carefully as if he was afraid of hurting
the other one. Gene could still taste the slight hint of chocolate but this time
it wasn’t making him sick at all. First he still tried to push the Fox into
his rougher kissing style but then he just gave in. Why pushing him into
something he didn’t want to do when this style was quite perfect as well?
Shyly Eric placed his hands on Gene’s hips. If only the place was a different
one. Something more romantic.
After what seemed to be too short and too long the same time they broke apart
again, still looking into each others eyes for a few seconds until Eric’s gaze
wandered down to the floor.
“Uhm … well … yes”, Gene cleared his throat. “We better move on. The
sun is going down again and maybe we should try to search some more. Or at least
to find a place for the night. We can fly if you want to.”
Eric nodded and a few seconds later Gene took off, the Fox clinging to him
again.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, it made Gene wonder if they still were in the same
city. Or if he would be able to find Starchild’s house after they were done
scanning their area. The landscape seemed to change every few minutes, they
suddenly passed streets which should be located in the north of the city while
they were heading south, half destructed buildings that should have been in
other districts – or even other cities (“I can’t remember the Eiffel Tower
standing in the south of New York”, said Gene, “The Czar must be completely
insane.”).

If at least moon or stars had been there. Just a little bit of light and they
could have wandered through the night. But not a single light was seen. Gene
hadn’t even lit a campfire. The risk of being attacked again seemed too high.
Eric was sleeping cuddled into the other’s arms. After Gene couldn’t watch
him sleeping he was just listening to his breath. The more he was thinking about
it the harder it was to believe that this was really Eric Carr he was holding in
his arms. One of his greatest dreams might have come true but no one ever should
learn about his feelings for him. What would the people say if they knew what
Gene Simmons felt for another man? No, he would have to hide it away.
A few times the Demon dozed off but not for long. The night remained calm though
and so did the next day.
On the late afternoon Gene decided that they had searched the whole quarter.
Paul’s house was easier to find than he thought at first. He had taken that
way so often he knew it by heart, no matter how many times the landscape
changed. Two of the others already waited there as well. Paul’s body had so
many scratches as if he hat been through a fight with a cat tribe. “Those
winged things”, he explained, “First it looked like they were heading south
but then they changed their route and came right after me.”
Ace looked so dreamy as if he had just stepped by Paul’s house by accident.
“We also had some little problems with a dragon or whatever it was. But the
tunnel we found nowhere.”
“Neither.”
“Ack!”
“Well, we still have to wait for Peter”, Paul sighed. “It seems like the
Czar is testing us or something. Why else wouldn’t he have sent out more
troops to get us?”
“He’s playin’”, Eric said.
“You can speak again?” Starchild ask.
“Yeah, told him our story”, Gene said, “and he tried to copy my words. But
so far he’s only saying tow or three words a day.”
“I found it guys.”
“What?” Four heads were spinning around.
Peter was balancing over a fence any other person would have fallen off
immediately.
“The tunnel, our way out, I found it. After hours of searching I decided to
trust my instincts, close my eyes and just start walking. My feet have walked
this way so often they should have been able to find it again. I ran against a
few walls – one of them looked like part of the Great Wall of China, and that
in the middle of New York – but I finally found it and I’m sure I can lead
you there again.”
“Then what are you waiting for, you big kitty? Bring us there.”

Peter had closed his eyes again while he was running through the streets.
Sometimes he walked through what was looking like a solid wall but when he
passed through it immediately changed into a street. It got foggy now and harder
to see anything.
And then it suddenly was there, growing out of the floor in front of them, the
entrance to a tunnel with glowing light in it.
“We have to destroy it like we did last time”, Gene said.
“And then?” Ace asked. “You saw what happened. He just created another one
after he found a new body.”
“Your friend is right”, a voice echoed through the streets. “Destroy this
one and I’ll make a new one. You’ll have to destroy my body again to stop
me”, it now sounded as if he was getting closer, “but I don’t think you
want to do that.”
“And why not?” Gene shouted.
Xanthus stepped out of the fog and stopped a few meters away. The Czar got off
his back, went closer and took off his helmet while walking.
“Because of him.”
“Vinnie…”, Paul whispered.
“Haven’t you once said he has some demons inside of him?” Vinnie, the Czar
asked, “And that they sometimes come out to hurt him? You know for sure
what’s inside his soul now. Kill me and you also kill him. But you can destroy
this entrance if you at least want to stop me for some days.”
“And you just would let us go like this?” was Gene’s question.
“I spare your lives because you have impressed me. I thought you would need
longer than this. But still you were interesting enough. Go, but we’ll meet
again.”
“And what if we don’t care what body you are in and still attack you?”
“Gene”, Paul held him back, “we can’t kill someone innocent.”
The Czar suddenly vanished and the world around them got blurry and darker.
“And now we can’t go anywhere else than back to our world”, Peter said.
“He started to destroy this one again, or at least our memory about it. We
have to wait for him to return if we want to do something against him of help
Vinnie.”
Gene sighed. “You’re right although I don’t like to give up so easily. But
we will get our chance.”
They all entered the portal and the Demon spit his fire to destroy the way
behind them.



                  Kapitel 2: Somebody's waiting for your love
                  -------------------------------------------


No one beside the four Kiss members seemed to know what the new roadie Eric
Tyler actually had to do. He just was there. Whenever someone in the team needed
a helping hand he was the first one to come. And besides he was around with the
band even more often than their manager.
They just had changed his last name so that they still could call him Eric. His
hair now was cut to chin length and coloured light brown and he always was
wearing sunglasses.

Gene was on his way to the studio although it still was very early in the
morning. They still had to do some rehearsals and a lot of recording for their
new album.
“Morning, little caesar”, he greeted before he even had entered the room. He
didn’t need to see if Eric really was there because he knew it for sure.
Wherever he was going the Fox was already there. Maybe he should start to think
if there really was just one Eric Carr existing.
“Oh, hi Geno. I just worked on this text. And I played on your bass a bit. I
hope this is not a problem.”
Gene slightly smiled. He had given him his allowance weeks ago and still Eric
did as if he had caught him on something illegal.
“And what a big problem that is.” He placed a quick kiss on Eric’s lips.
“I will have to think about a proper punishment.”
Then he noticed the other’s gaze. “Is something bothering you? You look
kinda sad.”
The Fox shrugged. “Well, it’s just… I hate this whole hiding. I know, you
can’t just tell the world that Eric Carr has risen from the dead but that’s
not the only thing. I also hate hiding my feelings.”
“It would also sound strange to the people if the great Gene Simmons is in
love with a guy. I have an image to lose.”
“Just because of your image? Not even your family?”
“Believe me, Shannon would think I’m crazy – or lying – if I told her I
never cheated on her. She knows me, she knows my job and a few groupies are
allowed. Not that you are just a groupie”, he quickly added.
“I wished we could at least tell it to our friends. At least to Paul. I know
we could trust him that he would never say anything to anyone. Maybe he might
already know it.”
“I don’t think Paul would read our minds.”
“He’s your best friend. I think he can feel that there’s something going
on. Gene, I don’t want to be just your dirty little secret anymore.”
Gene sighed. “I don’t want to tell anyone. Not even Paul. I sure trust him
but it still can happen that something slips out of him accidentally.”
Eric just nodded but it didn’t look as If he wanted to give up on that topic
so fast.
“Listen”, Gene changed the topic, “What do you think about going to some
clubs together after we’re done here for today. Or we can just go to any ice
cream salon. Whatever you want.”
The Fox finally gave it up, at least for now. “Okay, sounds fine to me.”

~~~***~~~

It was just past midnight when the two were walking back home again. Still too
early but they both knew they would curse the next day thanks to a lack of
sleep. Getting up early in the morning and staying up late in the evening never
was a good combination.
Gene had insisted on accompanying Eric back to the hotel where he was living at
the moment. The Fox was a grown-up man but still Gene would have felt bad if he
had let him wander around in the darkness all alone.
It was a chilly night although the evening had been mild and now it also started
raining.
“Oh great”, Gene muttered. “And no one has an umbrella.”
“Oh please, it’s just some water. Or are you made of sugar?” Eric laughed.
“Or are we just a little crybaby that’s afraid of water?”
“Mind your words or the Demon will get you”, Gene said with a grin.
“Aw, then let’s see if the demon is fast enough to catch me.” With that he
started running, the other one close behind.
It didn’t take too long for Gene to get close enough and grab Eric’s arm.
“Gotcha!”
For some seconds they were just standing there in the rain panting.
“So what will be your punishment for my sassy words, oh demon?”
“Hm, don’t know.” He placed a quick kiss on Eric’s lips. “But first I
will have to get you in there”, he nodded to the entrance of the hotel not too
far away, “not that you’ll get a cold.”
“And what about you? We’re both soaking wet? It doesn’t really matter
anymore. Besides when we enter the hotel lobby people will see us and I won’t
be able to do that anymore.”
Eric stood on the tips of his toes, dragged the other down a bit and gave him a
passionate, yet soft kiss.
Had he ever kissed someone in the pouring rain? Gene didn’t know it anymore,
couldn’t remember. All his brain was filled with at the moment was standing
right in front of him. He wished that he wouldn’t have to leave already,
wished that they could have stayed together the whole night. Not now, not yet.
After a few more seconds they separated again.
“Good night”, Eric whispered, “See you tomorrow.”
Gene stood there and watched him leave, still looked at the doors some time
after they had closed behind the Fox. He wasn’t sure about this last gaze Eric
gave him shortly before he entered the hotel. Hadn’t there been a hint in his
eyes? As if he was planning something? But then again Gene could also be wrong.
He just shrugged it off and decided to go home as well.

~~~***~~~

It was time for another rehearsal. The melody to that song still sounded worse
than it did in Gene’s head.
Eric still hadn’t shown up and at first the Demon was a bit worried but then
Paul told him that he had seen the Fox earlier that morning so he had to be in
the same building at least.
They had already decided to take a break when Eric finally came in.
“Hey, little caesar, where have you been? We already missed you”, Gene said.
Then he noticed the same strange gaze he had the night before.
Without saying a word the Fox went over to Gene and gave him a kiss.
The Demon stood like stunned. Part of him desperately wanted to return the kiss
but the rest was alarming him that there still were three persons watching. He
pushed the other away, maybe a bit too brutally.
“Fuck, Eric! That’s disgusting!”
He could have cursed his words the second they were out. Eric looked at him
hurt, then turned and ran away.
Fuck. Why on earth had he done this? Gene felt a hand on his shoulder.
“You should go after him”, Paul said.
“But…” he looked over to Ace and Peter who still blinked at him stupidly.
“I’ll take care of that. It’s still morning, they still had no coffee and
it all happened too fast. Maybe I can tell them that it was just some stupid
idea on Eric’s side, you’re out to get your revenge and right now I’m just
holding you back to give Eric some seconds of headstart. And now go.”
Gene gave him a thankful smile and ran out of the room as well. Had Eric been
right and the Starchild had already known it for some time or did he just get
the message faster than Peter and Ace? But that didn’t really matter right
now. He still could hear the Fox running then heard a door being slammed. It
didn’t sound like any of the exit doors. Gene only had to pen a few doors to
find Eric in an empty rehearsal room.
It seemed like he had wanted the demon to follow him, else he would have taken
the straight way out instead of standing in the middle of a room. He had crossed
his arms and turned back to the door.
Gene locked the door after he had come in. He didn’t want anyone to disturb
them in their private talk.
“So I’m disgusting, huh?”
“Eric… I didn’t want to say that. It was out before I could think about
something else to say and I feel so sorry for that. But why on earth have you
done that?”
“I … you know that I don’t want to hide everything and anything anymore,
at least not from our friends. What else could I have done to tell them what I
feel for you?” He finally turned around and looked into the others face. His
eyes had started flickering but he chocked back his tears so far. “When I came
to the band the first time I had to hide my persona as well, okay, but at least
not from my family and my closest friends and I could openly show the world what
I felt. And now? Now I have to play the role of another person, I’m not
allowed to see my family and most of my friends and I can’t even show my
feelings to the only friends who are allowed to know who I really am. That bit
of hiding during my old life was hard enough and I don’t want to repeat it in
my new life.”
“I know. I also finally want to tell the world who’s back but the time
hasn’t come yet. It still would be too early. But we will do that for sure.
Only our love will have to stay a secret.”
Eric tried a little smile. “I never wanted to make that public. But at least
the others know about it now.”
“Yeah, unless Paul’s plan works. But he knows for sure.”
For some seconds they just looked into each other’s eyes. Eric’s lips still
were trembling but at least his anger seemed to have disappeared. Then Gene
pulled him into embracement.
“Oh come here, little caesar.”
The Fox buried his face in the other’s shoulder. Gene carefully stroke through
his hair.
“Everything will be alright. I promise we won’t wait for too long anymore
until we introduce the revived Eric Carr to the world.”

~~~***~~~

It was hard to tell if Peter had believed Paul’s version of the whole story or
if he had decided to live with the truth. For Ace it was to say either he had
forgotten what had happened earlier or he didn’t want to think about it any
further. Anyways Gene was relieved that they didn’t talk about it anymore. The
day continued and ended unspectacular. Gene wanted to ask Eric out again but he
already felt too tired and wanted to go back to the hotel so the Demon just
accompanied him there and then went home as well.

This morning Gene shot out of his sleep as if a canon had been fired next to
him. The alarm clock told him that there were just five minutes left until it
would have gone off but he hadn’t woken up because it was close to his usual
wake-up time. Something bad was going on, he could feel it. This time he grabbed
his talisman before he left the house and headed for the studios because
something inside of him told him he would really need demon power.

On his way he met the Starchild in full warpaint, the talisman hanging around
his neck and before they could enter the building Ace and Peter teleported there
as well. They all had had the same feeling that had led them here.
The first thing they noticed was the complete silence. There were no other
people in building except two.
“Have you already missed me?”
The Dark Czar was standing at the end of the corridor, his hand in a tight grip
around Eric’s arm.



                       Kapitel 3: Creatures of the night
                       ---------------------------------


Eric didn’t make a single sound. His wide-opened eyes were staring straight at
them, his mouth opened for a quiet cry for help.
“I saw you still have something that once belonged to me. After it’s your
fault that I have lost my whole collection, allow me to take back the first
part.”
Gene wanted to rush forward but the Czar pulled Eric closer.
“Make a move and he goes where he still should belong if I hadn’t recreated
him. I’m not here to battle you. Not yet. I just want to have my possessions
back.”
The four stood like paralysed. They wanted to help Eric but there was nothing
they could do. Then suddenly the Demon stepped closer again.
“Hold it, Czar; I don’t want to attack you. I want to make you an offer. You
want something human for hour collection and you want to get rid of us.” He
took his talisman off his neck and let it glide down to the floor. “Without
me, the team is weakened. Let him go and you can take me with you instead.”
“No, Gene, don’t do that! You can’t let him win!” But the Fox was
already pushed forward.
“You go back while he comes to me. But no tricks. I still can gain control
over Eric anytime.”
Eric tried to catch Gene’s gaze when he passed him by but he just stared at
the Czar.
“Don’t worry”, Paul whispered when the Fox had finally reached the group,
“we will find a way to get him out.”
“That might be a bit harder than thought”, Ace said, “I can’t feel
anything. It’s like my powers had been sucked out of me.”
The Czar laughed. “Well, it isn’t called Four Who Are One for nothing. The
fourth chosen one is missing. With his talisman he has thrown away his powers.
The talisman has chosen its owner and won’t give its powers to someone else.
You are doomed.”
Gene’s head shot up. What had he done? He had left his friends vulnerable. But
before he could do anything he felt the Czar’s hand on his shoulder and the
world around him disappeared. Only smoke remained. The three remaining members
still stared at the place. Eric picked up the talisman and pressed it against
his chest. He knew it wasn’t his fault and that there had been nothing he
could have done but he never had felt guiltier before.
“Oh great”, Peter said despaired, “What are we supposed to do now?”
“I don’t know.” Paul shook his head. “I just don’t know.”

~~~***~~~

The three were sitting around in the control centre of the Simmons Foundation,
staring at the floor or the ceiling. Eric had wandered off. It was his first
time in this building and maybe some exploring would help him to get his head
free. He had the talisman hanging around his neck but it was nothing more than a
nice looking accessory now, completely useless without the fourth of the Four
Who Are One.
At the moment he was looking through a shelf. A book of legends about the Elder
caught his gaze. He somehow had the feeling it could be helpful. And if not the
reading would at least be a nice distraction.

“I think we should look after Eric”, Paul said.
“Why?” Peter asked, “I don’t think he will damage anything.”
“This is the Simmons Foundation after all. Some things can cause harm if you
just look at them. And besides my intuition tells me that there might be trouble
ahead.”

~~~***~~~

Gene was slammed against the wall of his prison. He wasn’t in chains like Eric
so he could move around more but it also meant that the Czar could move him
around like a puppet.. And he had done it often enough within the last few
hours.
“What have you thought about letting my prisoners free? It’s not very nice
to destroy someone’s precious collection. How would you feel if someone did
that to you? I asked you a question, so answer it!”
He was slammed against another wall. Wherever the Czar was, he couldn’t see
him, just hear his voice. And he felt his force. Now it wasn’t playing with
minds anymore. The Dark Czar was more than just angry although he had no reason
for it. The Four Who Are One had lost, one of them was imprisoned, and no one
could stop him. Or was he just playing the angry one? A way to heat himself up
so that he was able to punish Gene even harder.
“At least you now have your friend back although you didn’t see him for very
long. Say thank you to your master.”
He was forced to his knees. Now he could see someone coming closer to his cell.
Gene stared at the floor. It was already embarrassing enough to kneel before
someone he couldn’t see but did that one really had to come to watch him do
so?
“As far as I can remember you only saw the prisons whenever you came here. I
have decided to guide you around a bit more so you can see what I made of your
Foundation in my universe. Don’t worry; I’ll control every single one of
your steps.”
Gene was still staring at the floor.
“And look at me when I’m standing in front of you and talk to you.”
The demon now finally lifted up his head.
“Kiss my perfumed Jewish ass”, he hissed.
He was dragged against the cell door. His face was just prevented from being
slammed against the lattice bars because he had quickly crossed his arms in
front of it.
“I tell you something”, the Czar whispered. Now the anger in his voice was
real for sure. “I won’t kill you but you can prepare for a life of pain. You
will move your ass out of here, perfumed or not and while we’re on our way
I’ll let you bleed, physically and mentally and you will wish I had left you
dead in your cell.”

~~~***~~~

Eric was sitting in the middle of a circle made of burning candles. Four tarot
cards were lying in front of him, a dagger beside him. Blood was dripping from
his wrist into a receptacle. The book of Elder had mentioned a golden goblet but
he hoped a coffee cup would do the same job.
“I call to the north, in the name of the Starbearer, prince of hearts, he who
drinks deep from the twin wells of spirit and emotion. I call to the west, in
the name of the Beast King, lord of the hunt, protector of all nature’s pride.
I call to the east, in the name of the Celestial, scion of the cosmos, keeper of
universal balance. I call to the south, in the name of the Demon, lord of the
wastelands, black-hearted bringer of doom and destruction. I am ready. The
circle is closed. The sigil sealed in blood. I call upon the gods of the Elder,
the Four Who Are One.” He didn’t say “the dark gods of the Elder”
although the book told him to do so but it just sounded wrong when he thought
about his friends. And he also didn’t want to summon any dark forces. Just
something to bring the Four Who Are One back to life, something to help Gene. He
felt pain in his face as if his Fox warpaint was burned into his skin, every
single muscle of his body was strained but he tried not to cry out in pain. He
just repeated one thing in his head now. “I want to help Gene.”

“Do you feel that as well?” Ace asked.
They were still walking through the corridors and looked for Eric.
“My strength is returning”, the Beast King growled. “I have the urgent
need to bite someone’s head off and that one is better calling himself Dark
Czar.”
“But how can that be possible?” Paul said. “We’re still just …
Eric!”
He turned around and started running. “I saw what he’s doing. We need to
stop him before he can do harm to himself.”
“Wait, I know a better way than running curly.”

When they teleported into the room Eric was already gone.
“How did he manage to get out of here? Only one of us should be able to
teleport”, Peter said.
“Because he was typically Eric”, the Starchild explained, “I mean he was
nice. Even his thoughts might have been nicer than nice. People who aren’t
chosen and call the Elder make the mistake that they want to control them. You
can’t control a god and your try will only make them angry. But I guess Eric
didn’t even think about controlling them a single second. He called them to be
led by them and they also helped him. I think he’s now where Gene and the Czar
are but he will need some more help if he wants to stay alive. We have no tunnel
to this alternative universe so far. Ace, do you think you could teleport us
there?”
“I already teleported myself to another sun system. An universe that’s lying
directly above ours shouldn’t be a problem.”
“If you can really do that I’m wondering why we always needed that stupid
tunnel to switch between the worlds”, the Beast King growled.

~~~***~~~

I can’t say that I really like it. All those balconies on the way up make this
room look like a theatre and what is that giant chandelier doing there? I’m
not philistine but I liked the Foundation more with all the electronics.”
Maybe Gene wasn’t allowed to move around without being controlled all of the
time but he still could speak and he also used that remaining ability as often
as he could, if the Czar liked his sassbacks or not.
A bruised body and bleeding lips were the clear signs how much the Czar had
really appreciated them.

A shadow raced through the hallways. The Elder had given him the speed and the
claws and brought him here, the rest he had to do alone. They also would have
given him a bow as weapon but Eric never had used one and now it wasn’t the
time to learn how to handle it. His feet nearly were flying over the stone
floor. He just had one try. The Czar heard him and turned around. A leap and
Eric slammed himself against the Czar, snatched him from Gene and tried to dig
his claws into the other’s chest. A blast hit him, sent him flying a few
meters high. He could just grab the edge of one of the balustrades before he
could fall down again and climbed up. Eric was just standing on top of the
balustrade when the Czar appeared on the balcony as well.
“Nice try but now you’re doomed. Your only way to escape is leading down.
Very far down. Or do you want to attack me again?”
The Fox looked back. Behind him there was the chandelier. It only had to be wide
enough… He jumped. His fingers missed it by just a few centimetres. Claws came
from above, dug into his shoulders and dragged him up.
“Sorry”, he heard Peter’s voice, “But I had no other chance.”
Eric now was kneeling on top of the chandelier, breathing heavily. His shoulders
were bleeding but that was nothing compared to the other option.
“It’s … it’s okay. I’m fine.”
“Did you really think we could let someone completely inexperienced walk into
this fight alone?”
The Czar wasn’t following. He now was busier with Starchild and Ace.
“They can’t attack him too much. It’s still Vinnie’s body. They should
stop”, Eric called.
“Let me explain … wow, I never talked that much without letting the beast
inside of me getting the upper hand again. Maybe I can still manage to be fully
human one day. Alright, Paul thought that our combined powers can rip Vinnie and
the Czar apart. But we still need our fire elemental back. Without the life
power of his new body he will be vulnerable to our attacks.”
“I need to get down and give Gene his talisman back. Ace!”
They teleported beside Gene who had gotten out of the way as good as possible
and now just could watch the fight.
“Eric! Oh I can’t tell how happy I am to see you again.”
“We don’t have much time. Here, take this back.” He handed over the
talisman and quickly tried to explain what Peter had told him.
When Gene finally held his dragon sign in his hands the wonderful feeling of
power was rushing through his veins again. Even his wounds were starting to
heal. The Demon was back.
“Starchild, Beast King, wherever you are, combine your powers. Same counts for
you, Ace, and I don’t think it will be wrong if you help as well, Eric.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Then just stay back.”
The Dark Czar was hit by the force of the elements. A scream of rage was heard.
For some seconds it looked like his body doubled then the armour of one
disappeared and Vinnie fell to the ground. A blinding light filled the area and
when it was gone the Czar had vanished as well.
“I hope this was really the end and he is gone forever now”, Gene said.
Paul knelt beside Vinnie. “His pulse is weak but I think he will be able to
recover. We should take him to a hospital. I don’t think he will remember too
much.”
“And what should we tell him?” Eric asked. “I mean the Czar had him under
his control for such a long time. He will want to have an explanation what
happened to him and why he lost months, years when wakes up.”
“Don’t know”, the Starchild meant, “Maybe an accident or…”
“No”, Gene said, “We tell the truth.”

~~~***~~~

Several journalists had gathered in the room waiting for the announcement Kiss
wanted to make.
“You know that everything between us still has to stay a secret?” Gene asked
shortly before he wanted to go out.
“I’m aware of that and it’s still okay as long as I don’t have to hide
myself anymore”, Eric said, “You have decided to do that quite fast.”
“Well, the right time has come quicker than I thought.”
The Demon never had felt so nervous before a public speech. Eric squeezed his
hand to comfort him.
“Don’t worry. They will believe you.”

His nervousness was gone when Gene was finally standing in front of the
microphone.
“By now you all should know that the Four Who Are One are back and maybe you
also know about the latest attacks of the Dark Czar. He should finally be gone
now but what I wanted to say was that he had kept some people imprisoned. People
from different times and worlds. Amongst them there also was someone we knew
very well. He once was a member of the family. I don’t know if he ever wants
to play for us again or stay a roadie. That’s something he and Peter would
have to arrange among themselves. But for now say welcome back to our former
drummer Eric Carr.”
With the last words Eric came out of the backstage area as well. Gene saw the
camera flashlights, heard the buzzing voices. Maybe the people would need some
time to digest the information now but then he caught Eric’s gaze and knew: it
had been the right step. He now was alive for real.




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