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

Affliction

"Bobo!" Kenzi whispered excitedly as she wrapped her best friend in her arms. Bo hugged her back enthusiastically but quickly pulled away so she could observe Kenzi at arm's length.

"What happened to you? You look pale." Bo looked Kenzi over and Kenzi just shook her head and pulled her over to the side of the entryway.

"We can't talk here. What alias are you using so I know what to call you?" She quickly glanced around and Bo studied her for a second before she answered.

"Call me Taryn, I'm supposed to be a dominatrix, specializing in deprivation/domination." She explained and Kenzi nodded.

"Cool, sounds plausible. It's so freaking good to see you." She hugged Bo again while Bo kissed her hair and squeezed her tight.

"Fill me in on the situation here." Bo requested and Kenzi took her hand and led her to Nandi's private drawing room, as secure of a space as they could get. Once there she directed Bo to the couch and shut the door behind them, being sure to lock it. then went to the couch and sat.

"Well...Another girl died yesterday, Nandi's scared and hurting and more desperate than ever to find out who's responsible. I have a nemesis...her name is Gracie and last night she snuck into Nandi's room and told me she was going to kill me. There's a creepy dude named Crispin who's like the Hugh Hefner of Fae, he tried to get me involved in an orgy. What else? Oh! There's this bloodmage named Simon. He looks creeptastic but he's awesome. He gave me this necklace and I think it saved my life." She took her necklace out of her shirt and held it out to Bo who took it for a second before she yelped in pain and dropped it.

"What is that thing?" Bo asked as she rubbed her hand against her skirt.

"Don't know but every time I'm in danger or something it gives me a sharp pain. It's the reason I woke up last night when Gracie was over me and when I was on the fifth floor with Crispin and his groupies." She explained as she tucked the necklace back into her shirt.

"Wait, did you say you were in Nandi's room when this Gracie threatened you?" Bo asked and Kenzi nodded.

"Yeah, I got a little Fae lovin; but that's not important right now. What's important is stopping this from happening to other girls.

"Ok, but you're spilling the details later. Where do you think we should start?" Bo asked, hoping Kenzi had a good lead they could follow.

"I think we should talk to Crispin's groupies. Frieda and...I think her name is Joanna. Yeah, we'll talk to them and I think you should talk to Gracie. If I go near her I'll get a stiletto in the throat." Kenzi held her throat for emphasis and Bo took her hand in her own.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you Kenzi." Bo squeezed her hand and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Neither will I." Both women looked up to see Nandi standing next to an open panel in the wall. "It's good to see you again Bo. I apologize for not being present to greet you."

She walked up to the couch and kissed Bo's cheek before she gave Kenzi a gentle kiss in greeting. She then walked over to the seat near the couch and sat, crossing her legs at the ankle when her skirt proved too tight to cross at the knee.

"Has Kenzi brought you up to speed?" Bo asked and Nandi nodded.

"I can't believe Gracie has become so dangerous. She's always been so loyal, so...obedient. I gave her so much leeway because she'd earned it. Now she's threatening you and strangest of all she's involved in an orgy. That's not like her at all." Nandi shook her head sadly and Bo shot Kenzi a look.

"What do you mean it's not like her. Don't you allow them to have sex with each other?" Bo was genuinely curious but Nandi shook her head.

"It's not that, they're free to seek comfort with each other if they wish. This confuses me because Gracie is a lesbian. She even gets disgusted at the thought of a naked man. To think of her actively engaging in sex with Crispin is ridiculous." Nandi explained and Kenzi put up a hand.

"Hold up, she's a member of the rainbow coalition? How does that work? She's a pro?" Kenzi had a confused look on her face that managed to bring a smile out of both Nandi and Bo.

"Her dates are women only, that makes this so much more confusing. Her new found proclivities seem to indicate a major change in character as do her threats and general malice. If there was ever an embodiment of southern hospitality and grace it was Gracie. She never would've been so cruel before." Nandi explained and Bo nodded.

"I see what you're saying. I'll talk to Gracie, get a feel for her. I think we should just talk to the people directly involved and see if we can find any more details. What about Crispin? You haven't mentioned him much." Bo asked and Nandi looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Crispin is an incubus who came to me about six months ago. He had amazing references and has the highest return rate for clients. He's a charmer and everyone cares a great deal for him but...no one knows his story. Not even Evony could find in depth information." Nandi looked down for a minute, utterly confused and Kenzi scooted over so she could place a hand on her knee.

"You ok babe?" She asked and Nandi gave her a small smile.

"I'm fine, just...confused. I have an extremely in depth dossier on every member of this house except for Crispin's. I keep meaning to research but...something always comes up. There's always some emergency drawing me away, or I just forget. This is so odd." Nandi's voice drifted and she shook her head again, trying to shake the cobwebs loose.

"We'll talk to them. Is there anything you'd recommend we do first?" Bo asked and Nandi sat up straight before she spoke.

"Yes, go to Simon and receive your talisman. It will be different than Kenzi's but for the same purpose. Once you've done that go about your investigation any way you see fit. I have to go, Danielle's father is arriving soon to discuss arrangements." Nandi told them before she stood and shook Bo's hand. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

With that she walked to the door as Kenzi got up and quickly walked up to her and stopped her progress.

"I'll be around if you need me." Kenzi told her as she twined her fingers with Nandi's.

"I know darling Kenzi." She gave Kenzi a gentle kiss before she brought her other hand up and caressed the young woman's face. "Be safe."

Once she left Kenzi sighed and turned to Bo who was smirking. She straightened herself up and got a smile on her face.

"Let's go, we've got a case to solve."

…

"You were right, he's awesome." Bo told Kenzi quietly as she examined the stone in the ring on her finger. It looked like glass but felt..alive and pulsed on her finger. He'd told her that it would react differently to her Fae blood.

"Told ya, he saved my bacon more than once. Speaking of bacon, wanna get some breakfast, talk to Fred, then continue our investigation?" Kenzi asked and Bo nodded.

"Ok, we can go get some food." Bo said, more as a way to appease Kenzi and make sure she stayed calm than anything else. They walked into the first floor kitchen and Kenzi stopped her and walked her back out.

"That's Joanna, she was in the middle of the whore knot yesterday." Kenzi whispered harshly and Bo nodded.

"What do you want to do?" Bo asked as she noticed the pale, withdrawn woman sitting at the table staring out the window.

"We should just talk to her see what we can find out." Kenzi suggested and Bo nodded.

"Let's go." The women walked in and went over to the table where Joanna was still staring. While they sat one of the servants came and asked what they wanted for breakfast and, after giving their orders they looked over at Joanna who finally turned her head.

"Hi." Kenzi told her with a little wave and she nodded.

"Hi." Joanna answered quietly before she looked down at her plate then looked back at Kenzi. "You're Coral, Nandi's new favorite. At least that's what Gracie says."

"I don't know about being Nandi's favorite. I am Coral though. You're Joanna, right?" Kenzi asked and Joanna nodded.

"Yeah, I'm Joanna." She said quietly before she started playing with her food then she took a deep breath and blinked as tears came from her eyes. "I know you saw me yesterday. I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been there."

"What do you mean Joanna?" Kenzi asked as she moved to the seat across from Joanna.

"They said I could have my greatest desire if I...if I surrendered. I didn't mean to help them...the last thing I wanna do is hurt anyone, not Nandi." She started to cry and Kenzi took her hands.

"What do you mean Joanna? Did someone put you up to hurting Nandi?" Kenzi asked, desperation in her voice and Joanna looked at her with wide eyes.

"I didn't know...I just wanted a family of my own, a child, I didn't want to hurt her. Help me." Joanna begged and Bo moved closer.

"How can we help you?" Bo asked and Joanna's eyes turned desperate.

"You have to stop them, stop-" Suddenly Joanna's eyes rolled back in her head and her head fell into her plate.

"Shit! Joanna, Joanna?" Kenzi asked as she lightly slapped Joanna's face and Bo just stood by her, not knowing what to do. As they stood there, trying to wake her up Fred walked into the kitchen followed by Cocoa who looked at Joanna then at Kenzi and Bo.

"What happened here?" She asked and Kenzi looked at Bo as she shrugged helplessly.

"We don't know, we were just talking to her, then suddenly her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out."

"Shit, Fred get Colin and Marie to take her to the infirmary, then get Nandi to her." She ordered the man who nodded and left the kitchen before she turned to Bo. "Welcome to the house, you picked an interesting time to arrive."

…

"That was intense." Bo breathed out and Kenzi nodded as they stood in the hallway after talking to the onsite doctor about what happened.

"This is screwed up, completely screwed up." Kenzi said as she leaned against the wall and suddenly Bo started and she looked down the hall. Kenzi turned her head in time to see red hair disappear into the wall. She was sure the hair went through it. "Was that what I think it was?"

"Looks like." Bo told her before she walked to the wall where Gracie, there was no one else it could be, disappeared. As Bo touched the wall she jerked her hand away. "Damn it!"

"What?" Kenzi asked before she moved closer then jerked away. "Holy shitballs!"

"Is that what woke you up last night?" Bo asked and Kenzi nodded.

"Yeah, and I have an idea where she went." Kenzi jerked her head and Bo nodded as she followed her friend to the staircase. Once there they started their ascent until they reached the fourth floor. and Kenzi stared at the spot where the stairwell should've been. "Things have officially turned into a mindfuck."

As Kenzi started walking around, trying to find a cord or something that would release the stairwell she felt something like a caress on her skin and she moved toward the feeling. It felt like Nandi's hands had felt the night before when she had caressed the length of Kenzi's body. She shivered at the thought and her head moved when the pahntom hand took her chin in its fingers and pointed her toward a panel in the wall that started to move out."

"There." She whispered as she started to move toward the opening and Bo grabbed her wrist before she could disappear within.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked and Kenzi looked at her, her eyes glassy.

"Can't you feel it? They want us, we can have our dreams come true." Kenzi said dreamily and Bo jerked her arm and she still looked out of it. Then Bo noticed that her talisman was on her shirt, not under it. She took the necklace in her hand and, ignoring the pain put it under Kenzi's shirt and Kenzi suddenly clutched her chest.

"Holy shit! What did you just do to me?" Kenzi asked and Bo glared.

"Someone was working their mojo on you. What happened?" She asked and Kenzi clutched her head.

"I don't know...I was standing here, then I felt like hands were touching me. Hands like Nandi's but not. It felt good, really good and as I got closer to the doorway they felt better and the voices...they said I could have anything I wished if I just came to them. Didn't you hear it?" She asked, her eyes clear and confused.

"No, but my finger feels like it's caught in an electric current. Shit." Bo looked over and Kenzi's eyes widened.

"How the hell did we miss that?" She asked as she walked toward the stairway she'd taken to the fifth floor the day before.

"I don't know but I don't like it. Let's save the trip up until we figure out what happened to you." Bo said with authority and Kenzi nodded before her friend threw her arm around her and they turned, only to come face to face with Crispin.

"Dear Coral, I was hoping to see you today. Who's your lovely friend? I didn't think the Mistress would allow you to take dates." He spoke in a charming way and Bo had to resist the urge to deck him. There was something about him that made her skin crawl.

"I'm Taryn, the dominatrix. Nandi's taking advantage of my talents while I'm in town." Bo told him before she extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you..."

"Crispin, I'm one of Nandi's escorts. It's a pleasure to meet you Taryn." He greeted but looked at the ring on Bo's finger and subconsciously curled his lip. "I'm sorry, but with the...flu that's been going around I'd rather not shake hands. I hope I don't offend you."

"No offense taken. If you'll excuse us we need to find Nandi and talk about some things." Bo said as she kept a grip on Kenzi who was champing at the bit to attack Crispin.

"Of course." He nodded to both of them before he hung a left and went down the hallway. Once he was out of earshot Bo turned Kenzi to the stairwell and took the steps quickly.

"Something about that guy gives me the creeps." Bo said as she looked back and Kenzi nodded.

"Major heebs. Shit." Kenzi stopped and Bo looked up to see their path blocked by a vicious looking redhead that she assumed was Gracie.

"Well now, looks like the new girl's makin new friends. Mistress know your steppin out?" Gracie asked and Bo resisted the urge to punch her in the throat.

"It's none of your business what she is to me." Kenzi smirked, feeling brave since Bo was at her side. "I dare you to go to Nandi. Just one more check in your con column."

Kenzi smiled but that smile disappeared when Gracie launched herself at Kenzi and managed to get her hands on her throat faster than either Kenzi or Bo could react. After the shock wore off Bo had her arm around Gracie's neck while her grip on Kenzi refused to weaken.

"H-hel-" Kenzi started and Bo kept adding pressure but she was no match for Gracie's freakish strength.

"You won't take it from me! My greatest wish is to take back what's mine and I'm going to take it back now. Die you little whore!" She shrieked and Kenzi started clawing at her hands. She was close to blacking out. Gracie pulled her close to her face and Kenzi's eyes widened as she saw blood start to trickle out of Gracie's eye sockets, so she pointed at Gracie's eyes while Bo fought for control.

"Stop!" The voice rang through the hallway and Bo glanced over to see Simon standing at the end of the hallway before he made his way forward. "There's still time to heal you Gracie, to take back this terrible bargain. Please, let go of Coral, she means no harm, only love. You were the one that lost Nandi, she wasn't taken from you." Simon reasoned and Gracie loosened her grip enough for Kenzi to get air to her starved brain

"No! This little bitch took her from me! You don't understand. I need to do this, I love Nandi and I won't lose her love." She pleaded as the insanity began to take over her voice and more blood poured from her eyes and started to trickle out of her nose.

"You know this is wrong Gracie, you've always had a good heart and a good head on your shoulders. Let go of Coral and I can help you. Please." He continued to plead and Gracie letgo of Kenzi only long enough to grab her hair and use her momentum to push her against the wall and start bashing her head while Bo changed her tactic from trying to knock Graci unconscious to trying to make her let go of Kenzi.

"I kill you and I get what I want most." Gracie said in a voice that had lost all ties to reality. Before Kenzi blacked out from the pain she saw blood start to flow from Gracie's eyes and nose in a torrent before some trickled out of her mouth as she tried to speak and was unable to form words.

"Enough of this...I'm sorry child, truly sorry." Simon spoke softly before he placed a hand on Gracie's arm and suddenly Gracie went still and let go of Kenzi before she dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. While Kenzi tried to breathe Bo took her into her arms and held her while tears leaked from her eyes. Kenzi had truly thought she was going to die. While Bo caressed her hair she looked down at Gracie and her eyes widened. Gracie was pale and the blood that had been pouring out of her orifices was conspicuously absent.

"What did you do?" Bo asked and Simon gave her a solemn look before he sat on the floor.

"The only thing I could...I ended her pain..." As he said the words he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

"What happened here?" Bo looked up to see Nandi in the hallway, Her face a mask of devastation and grief as she took in her injured lover, her dead favorite and her still bloodmage. It was too much for her brain to process at the moment and Bo took pity on her.

"The list of suspects just got shorter."