I don't own anything you recognize. Only original characters are mine as well as the storyline.

Regroup

Kenzi walked into the large imposing mansion feeling like an outsider for the first time since she'd woken up in the room upstairs. It had been a week since she'd fled and she knew she had to see Nandi again and explain herself and explain the painful truths she'd realized over the week that she'd been away and had dodged calls and a concerned visit from Cocoa and Lucy. She had to work out her issues herself and she'd done that. Now she just had to go ahead and do what she had to do.

"You don't need me to take your coat, do you Miss Kenzi?" Fred asked as he walked silently behind her and she shook her head.

"No thanks, I don't plan on being here long." She said and he nodded his head sagely, if not a little sadly.

"Sometimes emotions become a flood and the only thing to do is swim or drown. You allowed yourself to drown. Your fear was like an anchor strapped to your foot." Fred told her and she stopped in her tracks, his words had echoed what she'd been thinking but as she turned to speak to him, ask if he'd been in her brain he was gone. Shaking her head she walked up the stairs and made her way to Nandi's room. Once there the Fae positioned outside nodded once and opened the door and Kenzi walked in, suddenly unsure of her footsteps. She saw Nandi on the bed and was about to turn around when she was called over.

"Are you going to leave again without talking to me Kenzi?" Nandi asked quietly and Kenzi took a deep breath before she walked to the bed. Once there she looked at Nandi whose eyes were sad. "I have a theory about why you're here but I'd rather hear it from your lips rather than let my mind give it depth."

"I'm sorry...I should have talked to you sooner, given you something but I couldn't. It was all too much and I couldn't handle it. I still can't handle it." Kenzi said in a voice that sounded defeated and Nandi swallowed thickly.

"What did I do wrong Kenzi? Didn't I love you enough? Didn't I give you enough of myself?" She asked and Kenzi shook her head.

"That's just it. You gave too much, put too much weight on my shoulders. I can't handle it. Maybe someday I'll be able to but right now it's too big for me to even think about. I'm still figuring myself out, how can I also be responsible for keeping you hinged. I know I should've told you I was overwhelmed but I love you too much, I couldn't hurt you." She said and Nandi chuckled darkly.

"Well you certainly changed in that regard. I'm hurt that you didn't think you could come to me with those feelings. I've never deceived you Kenzi, the thought to do so never crossed my mind. Maybe I should have lied, played down my feelings but I warned you Kenzi, I'm intense and I love fiercely. I love you fiercely." She told Kenzi who nodded and tried to keep herself strong and not break down. "What do you wish to do?"

"I still love you, I love you so much but I need some distance from us, some space. I want to find me again and that might mean being with other people. I still want you Nandi, I just need to see the other sides of me before I can plunge into that commitment. I'm sorry." She apologized and Nandi sighed but spoke.

"If this is what you wish then I'll grant it. Just know that by severing this relationship I'm also severing my fidelity to you and yours to me. If you see me with another do not be surprised. I cannot remain alone, it's not in my nature. I will give you the space you desire Kenzi." She said with a finality that was like a dagger to Kenzi's heart but she nodded but was unsure of what to do and Nandi made up her mind for her. "Would you please leave Kenzi? It's time for my bath."

Kenzi just nodded and walked out of the house. As she got into the car she took several deep breaths to compose herself before she drove off. She did the right thing, she knew she did. Why did she feel like scum?

As Kenzi drove away Nandi gave into her sadness and weeped as the realization hit her. She'd lost her love, a piece of herself and she knew it had the potential to destroy her. She took a kerchief out of the drawer on her nightstand and dabbed her eyes before she composed herself. She was strng and after she found a willing partner to share their lifeforce with her she'd be stronger.

"Hey Kenz, how're ya doin'?" Bo asked as she found her best friend sitting on the couch watching an episode of the safari show she liked. The topic of the day was hyenas.

"For spotted hyenas they have a different clan structure. In their world the females are dominant, that means they have queens instead of kings." He said and Kenzi nodded as she ate a large bowl of cereal and Bo saw a package of cookies and a half full tub of ice cream sitting on the coffee table. She sighed as she sat next to her friend.

"You did it huh?" Bo asked and Kenzi nodded as she put her ceral back on the coffee table, her comfort eating had suddenly lost its appeal.

"I don't know what's worse, feeling like my heart's been carved out of my chest or the fact that Nandi was so calm about it. No crying, no screaming or throwing things. She didn't even try to feed from me. It was like she didn't really care." Kenzi said and Bo hugged her tight as she kissed her hair. "It was like I never mattered to her."

"You know that's not true. I know Nandi, she's heart broken right now. She was acting calm because she couldn't do anything else or risk hurting you. She loves you Kenzi and this has to be killing her. If it will make you feel better I'll go check on her later this week. Give you a report back." Bo said and Kenzi nodded but didn't say anything as the tears started to pour from her eyes as Bo held her, knowing it was the only thing she could do.

Two days later...

"Mistress, you have a visitor." Cocoa announced and Nandi straightened the top of her gown and teased her hair a bit. She wanted to look alluring, not like she'd just started to come back from the brink of death.

"Send him in." Nandi said with fake cheer as Cocoa opened the door and let the man in. He was younger than Nandi expected and looked fit. He was rather attractive and seemed to ooze confidence. It was going to be far easier than she'd expected.

"Ms. Van Der Livre?" The man asked and she nodded so he continued. "I'm Dong Hai, I was told you were interested in making a business arrangement. It seems odd to be conducting it in your bedroom."

He spoke in an accent that was the peculiar mix of British, Chinese and French that many in Hong Kong had and she would have found it enticing if she'd forgotten his purpose, but she had not.

"I'm sorry for the impropriety of this. I was injured a few weeks ago and am still recovering. If you'd be willing to wait we could conduct this meeting in my office, it would just take some time to transport me there." She suggested and he shook his head.

"No, no, it's fine if we conduct our business here." He said as he took the chair by the bed and faced Nandi, his eyes going to the cleavage that peeked out of her bodice and Nandi smiled, this was going to be easy. "I understand you wish to purchase some of our lovelier exports."

He spoke using the code Nandi knew well and she tried not to grimace at the thought. She was well aware of what he was exporting and it made her sick but she would play along until she got what she desired.

"Yes, I need three if possible. i would like them to be young, attractive and I would prefer them to be of Asian descent. I understand you deal almost exclusively with Chinese and Thai "merchandise"." She spoke quietly and Dong Hai nodded.

"Yes and I have exactly what you're looking for. You understand that there are several steps to take before the acquisition can take place?" He asked and Nandi nodded. "Good, now I want you to tell me about your business here and why I should trust you with mine."

"I run an escort service out of this house. Full service, if you will. I need more variety, there isn't enough color within these walls and I can't stand that oversight. My money's good, I have the police well under thumb and I have many different business arrangements with others in position similar to yours. Do I pass the first test?" She asked and he smiled a smile that had turned sleazy and lecherous.

"You passed it well. I have another test to conduct before I go and make the arrangements. I need to see how much you truly desire my services." He said and Nandi smiled, she had him and he thought it was his idea.

"I can tell you now, Dong Hai, I desire your services greatly. Unfortunately, I can't show how truly grateful I am but I think we can make compromises." She said and he nodded as he stood but as he started to unbutton his pants Nandi put her hand on his and used her persuasion. "First kiss me, then we can truly have fun."

He eagerly joined her on the bed and brought his mouth to hers. She kissed him thoroughly and with skill as he tried to take control with his probing, thick tongue and she soon grew tired of him and began to drain the chi from him. He was lost in euphoria and when she pulled away to drain more he crashed their mouths together again and she felt like laughing. Stupid horny boy, he was just hastening his demise. Soon his chi became merely a thread and she pulled away as the last of his lifeforce drained into her, leaving him a lifeless husk on the floor. She quickly removed her nightgown and tore off her bandages. As she watched her wounds heal she let out a bark of laughter. She was healed!

"Thank you for the gift of life. Know that your miserable existence was snuffed out for the greater good." She told his corpse before she got out of the bed and danced around nude for a few moments before the door opened and Cocoa came in.

"I take it that went well?" She asked with a gleam in her eyes and Nandi smiled at her friend.

"Better than well it was wonderful. Look, my skin is as smooth as it was before the Trials!" She said excitedly but her smile faltered a bit as she looked at the dead man on the floor. "I need to take a shower. Can you take care of that before I come back?"

"Of course Mistress." She said solemnly and Nandi grinned at her friend before she walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Once the door was closed Cocoa removed her clothes and transformed into her hyena form. She sniffed the dead man before she whooped and began to feast. Waste not, want not.

...

Nandi took in a deep breath as she stood in her room of power. The walls thrummed with energy, both welcoming her home and demanding to be fed. She moved to the wall and ran her hand along it as she walked to the altar, feeling the jolt of each garnet that hit her skin. She needed this communion, the presence of these stones that formed a bit of her soul. Soon she came to her altar and felt the same mix of anticipation and regret that she did every time she had to perform this ritual. chained to the altar was a beautiful hyena, a juvenile female, with her eyes shining with ferocity and Nandi's heart ached as she ran her hand along the beast's coarse fur. The young female tried to bite and snarl but Nandi looked in her eyes and the hyena immediately got in the submissive position and remained submissive as Nandi picked her up and placed her on the altar. Once she was secure Nandi reached to the far end of the table and picked up a machete that had been with her as long as the altar had, on its blade was the collective blood of hundreds of sacrifices, not all of them animal.

While she spoke quietly, chanting the ancient words that bonded her chi to the stones she used the machete to cut her wrist deeply and collected the blood that poured forth in a small stone bowl. Once it was full she wrapped a piece of linen around her wrist and went to the wall while the hyena struggled in vain against her bonds. Nandi closed her eyes and let her feet carry her along until a stone called out to her. She went to it and used the blade to work it free, once it was in her hand she brought it with her to the altar and placed it on the raised dish under the hyena's neck. She lifted the bowl and began chanting anew as she poured some of her blood over the stone then poured it along the back of the hyena before she placed it next to the stone. Breathing deeply she waited until the power she'd called forth reached a crescendo then she quickly drew the blade across the hyena's throat, ensuring that it wouldn't suffer. Once the blood entered the bowl, warm and thick she brought it to her lips and drank deeply before she picked up the stone and machete. As she breathed in she took the machete and thrust the blade into her chest. Once the wound was large enough she removed it and pushed the stone into her chest. As her skin knit together over the stone and her chi commingled with the chi of the sacrifice she ran her hand over the head of the animal and thanked it silently for what she had taken.

She was dizzy with power and was forced to rest against the wall for some time before she could get up and when she finally stood she looked sadly at the animal that had been another gift from her father. She had wanted to keep this one as a companion for Zami but she needed it, the sacrifice would mean nothing if there was no love to link them together and Nandi loved all of her hyena sisters and brothers dearly. It was the price to pay for the power gained and she'd been paying the price for nearly a century.

Nandi ran her hand one more time over the head of the young female before she reached into her pocket and withdrew a pouch. She poured a quantity of the powder into her hand before she dusted the remains with it. As the powder began to dissolve the hyena she said her thanks once more before she left the altar. It was time to bond with her lovelies once more.

...

A month later...

Kenzi sat at the bar nursing a concoction the bartender had called an electric nipple. She didn't know what was in it but she knew it was yummy. While she drank it she looked around for Bo, the succubus had gone off to find the owner and left Kenzi to talk to the staff. Since the club was a Fae business it was a better idea to have Bo go for the big dog. As Kenzi waited for the bartender to give her a refill her ears perked up as she heard a remix of Dancing Queen start. In a moment her mood turned sour as she remembered how much Nandi liked the song and tears came to her eyes. She missed her and more than that she loved her but she knew she couldn't go crawling back. Nandi didn't deserve someone so fickle but at the same time Kenzi couldn't think of being with anyone else. Her pathetic misfire two weeks ago had proven it. She'd me a hot guy at the Dal, just looking for a good time but when he kissed her she felt nothing, less than nothing and she put the kibosh on it. She needed to feel and she felt it all with Nandi, even if it was overwhelming.

Once the bartender refilled her drink Kenzi moved away from the bar, he hadn't had anything new to add to the investigation so her next stop was the coatroom attendant. As she moved toward the room she neared the VIP area and stopped in her tracks. There, sitting on the lap of one of the hottest guys Kenzi had ever seen. She was frozen as she took in the sight of her lover, ok former lover, getting touched and caressed by someone else. She made a noise like a squeak and suddenly Nandi's eyes met hers and the pain she saw in them caused her stomach to drop. At that moment the man slid his hand up Nandi's thigh and the Fae got up violently and turned on the man. She pushed him to the floor then made a mad dash to the ladies room as Kenzi followed. She was going to corner Nandi and they were going to talk this out in the way Kenzi had avoided the first time. As her heart hammered in her chest she opened the door. Tonight this thing between them was going to end. She just hoped for the positive outcome.



Author's Note: So sorry for the delay and the cliffhanger. This was just the perfect place to end the chapter. I hope you weren't too put off by Nandi's darkside. Too often I show her compromising herself for Kenzi and I feel that I needed to show that she is indeed Dark Fae but even so she feels for others. I tried to convey that and hope that I did so. From now on the story will focus on original plotlines. I'm scrapping the Garuda storyline and re-envisioning some of the plots from the show. I'd rather not just rehash on the show. I hope this doesn't alienate my wonderful, beautiful readers. I appreciate you guys and hope you don't mind a Nandi heavy chapter.