The Keepers
Part 10
by Elizabeth


    "...massive explosion took place at the 
hospital. Officials have tracked the cause to the 
mishandling of several oxygen tanks. The explosion 
destroyed nearly half of the building, including the 
cafeteria and several patient floors, yet 
miraculously no one was injured. Reports indicate 
that 'not even a cut' can be found on any of the 
victims."

    "In entertainment news, KISS legend Gene Simmons 
is in Los Angeles on an extended stay in order to 
help plan the band's comeback tour. Sources tell us 
that he was recently joined by rhythm guitarist Paul 
Stanley, who announced just hours ago that a press 
conference to officially debut their tour plans is 
already in the works. Still no word on whether this 
will be a gathering of the original lineup in 
makeup. KISS's history began in 1973 under the band 
name of WICKED LESTER..."

**********

    "I never wanna do that again." Jim moaned, 
sagging back into the plush leather sofa in 
exhaustion.

    The beautiful blonde next to him laughed. "I can 
imagine! That was an impressive feat if I ever saw 
one, Tiger. Translocation is a difficult ability to 
use, and you two teleported six bodies all 
together."

    Gene strolled up behind the blonde and tugged on 
her hair. "And here I thought you thought I was the 
most impressive thing you'd ever seen."

    Shannon Tweed reached back and lightly smacked 
Gene's chest. "Well, above average."

    Rhea sat in a nearby chair, shaking her head in 
amazement. "I still can't believe you're actually in 
on this whole thing, Shannon."

    Shannon turned to Rhea and smiled 
conspiratorially. "It's like I told you, I'm in a 
similar situation to yours, the bonds of destiny and 
all that. I'm a Sensitive, a Spellcaster. I'm 
descended from a rather long line of witches sworn 
to The Elder's service. How do you think the KISS 
phantoms were created?"

    "So all the women who were ever involved with 
the band are like you?"

    "Pretty much. We've each inherited this through 
the oath of our ancestors. It started as an oath of 
enslavement, but has become one of willing servitude 
through the generations." She shot Gene a heated 
look. "Very willing."

    Rhea chuckled. "I can imagine...I'm looking 
forward to serving him myself."

    "You may be his new girl, but I don't intend to 
give him up completely.  I'm still the mother of his 
children, even if it was by a mere shadow of his 
true self."

    "I'd never ask you to do that, Ms. Tweed. You 
can have him on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 
The rest of the time, I get him."

    "That sounds pretty fair to me."

    "WAIT!" Gene crowed, laughing as he took a seat 
beside Rhea. "What am I, a love slave?"

    "Yes," both women said at the same time.

    "Face it, buddy," Mike croaked wearily from an 
easy chair next to Rhea's, "you're in over your 
head. Two women who are after your body twenty four-
seven. You'll never sleep again."

    Gene gave Mike a lecherous grin. "A mortal man 
might be worried, but I'm a god made flesh. I don't 
sleep."

    Rhea and Shannon both smiled.

    Across from Shannon and Jim, on another couch, a 
dark-haired man grinned.  Stretched out on the couch 
with her head resting in his lap was a startlingly 
lovely woman.

    Jim managed to open his eyes long enough to gaze 
at the new member of their group. He was clearly an 
older man, but looked good for his age. His muscular 
body was trim, and his long, curly jet-black hair 
bore not a single trace of gray. His dark eyes were 
lively and intelligent, sparkling with humor as his 
pouty lips curved into a grin of amusement.

    "I only wish I had your problems, Gene." Paul 
Stanley laughed.

    Jim stared at the beauty resting beside him. 
"How's Julia, Paul?"

    Paul stared down at her. Just as the elderly 
man's body had morphed into that of Paul Stanley's, 
Julia had undergone some drastic physical changes as 
well. Her tan skin had turned to pale porcelain, and 
her beautiful blond hair was now platinum, with a 
thick streak of black running through it.

    "She's just fine." Paul assured him softly, 
gently stroking her hair.  "She'll wake up pretty 
soon."

    Jim nodded, sinking even further into the 
leather sofa. He could barely move a muscle...damn, 
it was even an effort to breathe!

    Paul, who was still looking in his direction, 
frowned. "Gene? You sure these kids didn't use too 
much energy with that little stunt they pulled?"

    Gene shook his head. "They shouldn't have. We 
were the only ones they teleported. They should be 
wiped out, but in no danger."

    "We did more than teleport." Jim murmured 
through the black haze that threatened to overwhelm 
him. Somehow, he was sure that the blackness was a 
lot more than sleep come to take him.

    "The rest of the hospital was in danger." Mike 
whispered. "We...had to...protect them."

    "Oh my God." Shannon gasped, casting terrified 
eyes at Gene. "They're nowhere near powerful enough 
for such large scale psychic shielding AND 
teleportation...not yet!"

    "Everyone's...safe." Mike managed to sigh before 
he finally did pass out.

    "Shit!" Gene swore, crossing the room quickly to 
check Michael. His eyes fearfully locked with 
Paul's. "He's not breathing, and I can't find a 
heartbeat."

    Paul gently shifted Julia out of his lap and 
rose. "He's a Lazarus, he can't die a second time."

    "He can if he's drained of his energy. The 
Lazari have no link between life energy and spirit, 
there's nothing tying him to his body. We don't have 
much time."

    //No.// Jim cried silently. He could no longer 
speak, only watch through half-shut eyes as his 
brother slipped away a second time.

    //I got you killed once, Mike...I'm not going to 
do it again.//

    Jim saw Shannon leaning over him, shouting 
frantically as he slipped into The New York Groove, 
and into oblivion.

**********

    //Mike?//
    \\Jim? That you?\\
    //Yeah, it's me. Time to come back.//
    \\How'd you get here?\\
    //Found you through The New York Groove. Now 
c'mon, it's time to go back.//
    \\Back where?\\
    //Just shut up and grab on. Damn it, you already 
died once because of me and I'm not gonna let it 
happen again.//
    \\Jimmy, you bring me back and you take my 
place! That's how it works over here.\\
    //I know. I think that whoever was behind that 
hospital explosion knew too. He's trying to kill us, 
but he's gonna fail. He's only going to kill one of 
us.//
    \\Jim, no!\\
    //Okay, I've got you. Tell Julia I'm sorry...and 
whatever you do, protect The Elder! They die, so 
does everyone else. Looks like with Great Grandpappy 
Dragon gone, you'll get all the goodies.//
    \\Goddamnit, Jimmy, don't do this!\\
    //Love you, big brother.//
    \\JIMMY!!!\\

**********

    Paul and Gene flinched back when Mike's body 
shuddered, his eyes flying open.

    "Shh," Rhea soothed, pressing him back into the 
chair when he tried to sit up. "Take it easy."

    "Let me up!" Mike moaned weakly, gasping for 
air. "I have to help Jim...he brought me back..."

    Rhea frowned. "What do you mean, Mikey?"

    She looked up to ask Gene and Paul, her heart 
freezing when they exchanged a knowing, sorrowful 
look.

    "What is it?" she asked.

    "The Dragon was not just capable of 
translocation and large-scale psychic shielding," 
Gene whispered, "he was also capable of transferring 
life energies to the dead."

    "Feeding the spirit with his own life." Paul 
added.

    All three turned to Jim.

    He lay limply on the couch, eyes half open. 
Shannon kneeled beside him, holding her fingertips 
against his throat. After several moments, she 
reached up and shut his eyes completely.

    "He's gone," she said quietly. "James Riley is 
dead."

    There was a thud as Rhea hit the ground.  Gene 
and Paul were knocked aside.

    Mike knelt on the corpse's other side, opposite 
Shannon. He reached out and laid a hand against 
Jim's chest.

    An eternity passed in silence.

    "Not if I can help it." Mike hissed. "James 
Riley, I call you back to life. In the name of the 
Lazari, rise."

    As Rhea got to her feet with help from Gene and 
Paul, a flash of iridescent light filled the room. 
Though it was startlingly bright, it didn't affect 
anyone's vision.

    At once, the corpse's eyes opened.