I am the owner and proprietor of Persepolis, an underground network of demonic lairs and properties. You must speak to me if you wish to purchase or rent space here. I can offer caves, coffins and magnificent buildings that replicate those above ground to remarkable detail.

::Katarin shimmers in, landing and taking a step forward, her footing more secure now than the first couple times she tried this form of transportation.::

(Isn't there supposed to be a Gatekeeper here?)

::She takes a shiny athame out of the waistband of her pants and looks at the blood-red handle. It was a gift from a very old friend, given to her right before he died. She twirls it on the palm of her hand to amuse her while she waits.::

(This is un-eventful.)

::Finally notices the sign that says "Out to Lunch."::

"Damn! How could I have missed that? Oh well."

::Shimmers off to the forest.::

::The gatekeeper looks bemused.::

"Well then."

::Katarin shimmers back in, delighted that the sign has been taken away.::

"Hello?"

"Welcome back."

::The gatekeeper looks Katarin up and down.::

"May I help you?"

::Katarin feels a little awkward, being appraised by the Gatekeeper and checked out, but she smiles anyway.::

"Um, yeah, actually. I just got in - heard you were the go-to... person if I wanted a place."

::Katarin gets out her athame again, spinning it on her palm just as she had done before.::

"What kind of 'place'? I can offer you a simple cave, a luxurious coffin... an average apartment..."

::Katarin smirks.::

"Money isn't a problem. I'm probably going to be using it a lot, so an upper-scale apartment would be perfect. I'm sure you could get me one of those, right?"

::Katarin's face falls slightly, the athame becoming slightly more menacing as she twirls it, letting the Gatekeeper know that she is only there to do business, at any cost.::

"Perhaps."

::The gatekeeper swivels round retrieves a key, seemingly from mid-air. It has an orb attached to it on a keyring.::

"If you'd like to follow me."

::He leads her to Katarin's Apartment.::

::Katarin follows the Gatekeeper to her apartment.::

::A mess of flames enter the chamber as Wynter's petite form steps out. One would think that with such innocent looks she was in the wrong place. She takes a couple of steps forward, still picking at her fingernails silently.::

::The Gatekeeper motions for Wynter to come forward.::

"What can I do for you?"

::Wynter takes a couple steps forward, watching the Gatekeeper with interest.::

"Home."

::The word is simple, and said barely above a whisper. She tilts her head to the side, watching him and continuing to toy around with her fingernails.::

"Oh?"

(She's young, attractive. She'll want some place nice.)

"And what kind of home would you like? Perhaps only the finest of manor homes? More rooms than you could visit in a lifetime. A human lifetime, that is."

::His lips twitch upwards at the corners, trying to tempt her into spending a lot of money.::

::Wynter thinks it over for a couple of seconds, then nods her head multiple times.::

"Yes. Big. Big and beautiful. Expansive. Large...."

::Her voice trails off, stopping the adjectives that are flowing freely from her lips.::

"A place fit for a dream such as yourself. Come."

::The gatekeeper takes one of Wynter's hands lightly, touching only her fingertips as he flames her to Wynter's Mansion.::

::Julie blinks in with Sera.::

"Just try not to look too good."

::She walks up to where the gatekeeper is and stares.::

::The gatekeeper raises his head and fixes Julie with a long, cool look before speaking.::

"What? Is there something on my face?"

"Just there, did you know?"

::Julie points on her own nose to show the gatekeeper.::

::The gatekeeper responds by throwing open his book, a large, dusty tome filled with accounts and various writings in a strange language.::

"What can I do you for, ladies?"

::He looks up and adds, suggestively.::

"If that's what you are..."

::Julie gives him a smirk.::

"Well, what does a lady have to do around her to get some information on some long lost friends?"

"Heh."

::The gatekeeper chuckles.::

"Right, 'friends'. Sure."

"Let's just say, that we've gotten a lot closer than we ever wanted to. My buddy and I here, need to find them to take back what they've stolen from us. Now, how much for the information?"

::Sera folds her arms across her chest and attempts to look badass. I'm not going to say whether she succeeds or not.::

(Should probably be getting my wallet out. Why am I always the financial backer?)

::The gatekeeper looks from Julie to Sera, having learned a long time ago never to judge a book by its cover.::

"What've you got?"

"What do you want?"

::Julie puts on her business face.::

"Hah; don't play games with me. I have a duty to my tenants and it is not one I will easily break."

::The gatekeeper closes his book. A magical lock snaps shut around it, hiding the information within.::

(Well, shit.)

::Sera makes a face and looks at Julie, clearly expecting her to remedy their problem, also known as kicking the gatekeeper's multicolored ass into a rainbow.::

"Listen, you know that we can do this the easy way or the fun way. Now, I'll give you enough money to get you out of this place and into safety if you do it the easy way or my beautiful partner here, can just crush your spine until you're paralyzed without having to even touch you and then we'll proceed to blow down your whole business."

::She is really not bluffing.::

(Julie called me beautiful? Holy shit!)

::Sera redirects her gaze onto the gatekeeper and narrows her eyes, trying to mimic Julie's expression. She really hopes that said spine-crushing will not be required, but readies herself anyway.::

::This disconcerts the gatekeeper. He shifts his weight, looking decidedly less comfortable now.::

"I see."

::The ninja nods.::

"I'm glad you see my point. Now,"

::Julie smiles sweetly.::

"we're looking for a group of two women and two guys. One of the women is about this height, long dark hair, light skin and dark eyes..."

::She goes on to describe the other demons whom she remembers quite well from having such a fresh memory of them killing Paige.::

::The gatekeeper had listened carefully throughout all of this, and when Julie finishes, he leans back and straightens up.::

"Those descriptions could be anyone."

::He shakes his head.::

"I've not got four people matching those descriptions in a place together. And that's the truth."

"Then I guess you'll just have to start showing us the places that we can't track them in."

"I would, if I knew where they were. Perhaps you don't understand the nature of my accommodations."

(Paige has Melinda, she is safe. Come back to the school.)

"You must know where they are or else how would you rent out the cave? Very well, I'll give you some time to find the hidden ones and we'll be back. I suggest you change your answer by the time you return."

::Julie moves away and grabs Sera before blinking out and back to the school.::

::The gatekeeper makes a call.::

"It's me. I might need to call on that favour."

::He walks away for now to continue the conversation.::

::Dante and Veronica flame in. He's immediately on guard and feels power straining to fly from his hands at whatever demon pops up::

"Is it clear..?"

"For some reason, I expected Moira to be here."

::Veronica glances around.::

"It's clear."