A large social area where you can discuss strategies, ward off others, hook up with hoes and have a drink or ten. Self service, since all products were, are, and will continue to be stolen.

::Warlock blinks in with Chloe in tow, leering happily at all the others in the Cavern.::

"Look what I gots me, a lubberly little witch."

::He shoved Chloe onto the floor and grins wickedly.::

"Who's wantin' to bargain for her powers?"

::A drunken demon gets off his stool at the bar, cheap, crappy ale in hand, and sloshes his way over to the warlock and witch.::

"A witch you say? I will pay for her. What are her powers?"

::Stooping, he stares into Chloe's face.::

"She doesn't look like she even has any... witch... show me what you can do!"

::Chloe pushes herself up off the floor, standing face to face with the demon.::

(Pfft. Yeah, right, basturd.)

::She decides to play stupid.::

"W... witch?"

::She squints.::

"P... powers?"

"No... don't play dumb with me, witch! I know you have powers! I tracked them!"

::The warlock looks at the rapidly dissipating crowd around him and gets desperate. Pulling out an athame, he grabs Chloe and holds it to her neck, uttering in her ear.::

"If you don't do as the nice demon says, I'll cut you ear to ear."

::Chloe automatically, grabs the hand that hold the knife.::

"Now, now.... Don't get all hasty... Let me go and I'll show you..."

(At least partially...)

::Chloe anxiously tries to rip the blade away from her throat, trying not to whimper.::

:: The drunken Demon sneers at the Warlock ::

"If this witch of yours doesn't show me her powers in the next five minutes I'll 'av your head"

:: In a rather amusing display of fumbling and grabbing the Demon eventually produces an athame and points it at the Warlock ::

"Now...powers or head?"

::Starting to shake now, regretting his somewhat hasty actions, the warlock holds the knife closer to Chloe's throat, a tiny line of blood appearing over the tip as he grazes her skin.::

"She's... she's fakin' it. She's a witch! I tracked her myself!"

::Leaning down, he utters into her ear.::

"Please, we won't hurt you, please just do your power."

::Chloe cries out a bit, at the blade begins to pierce her skin. She holds as still as possible, closing her eyes to concentrate.::

(Just do as he says...)

::She relaxes her muscle a bit to help make the change a little less painful. She still hasn't gotten the transition quite down-packed yet and the extra pressure isn't helping anything.

Once transformed, Chloe hop-flies to the corner behind the demon in a pathetic atempt at an escape.::

(Wall in my way... Move, dammit!)

::Seeing the wall all... not moving and everything, Chloe turns to face her captors, screeching.::

::The Warlock drops the knife and charges up an energy ball. He leers a the demon and laughs harshly::

"There! Ya see! POWERS! I told you. Now help me get the little bitch before she scratches my eyes out."

::He lowers the charge on his energy ball, intending only to knock Chloe out, and then throws it towards her::

(Scratch his eyes out? How could I...? Oh! I forgot about those...)

::Chloe glances down at her talons, but can't react fast enough to avoid the energy ball. Eyes blazing, she shrieks and falls in a feathered heap, unconsious.::

::The Warlock stares at Chloe on the floor and then walks over. He picks her up by the feet and then walks back to the demon, swinging her merrily as he goes::

"So she didn't put up much of a fight. That's just good. It has no bearing on her powers. At all."

::He stares around the cavern, looking for something to tie Chloe's legs together. He sees nothing and with a sigh begins to undo his shoe, taking the lace out when it's off. He ties it around Chloe's feet and then anchors her to the back of a chair::

"Now. Let's talk business."

::Lenin appears and double-takes in shock as he realises his location is chock-full of demons and other ugly people... no offence Cher. Immediately taking on a harsh but calm look on his face, he hopes that since his appearance can be easily compared to a warlock "blink", he will not stand out too much.::

(Other than the fact I'm not wearing any shoes.)

::Seeing the demon and warlock in conversations, he notices what they're talking about: the eagle which seems asleep, tied to a chair.::

(Nah...)

::Walking up to the pair, he smiles jauntily and tries to relax.::

"What's with the roadkill, boys?"

::Spinning around, the warlock gives Lenin the once-over and the appearance of the clone passes his judgements.::

"She's a witch. For sale. You interested? Power to morph into that bird you see there."

::Lenin looks at the sleeping eagle and grimaces.::

(I have no idea how she could get here, but whether that's her or not, she's in trouble. I should get Luke.)

::Trying to act macho, Lenin walks over to the eagle and prods her with his shoeless foot.::

"Seems a little rough around the edges. How about you sit tight and I'll be back with a decision in a few."

::With that, and a final forlorn glance at Chloe, or whoever it may be, Lenin disappears with a "thwip".::

::Chloe stirs slightly, here whole body stiff and sore. She opens her eyes.::

(Where...? Why the heck an I upside-down?)

::Her eyes widen in shock as everything comes back.::

(Shit...)

::She struggles a bit against her teather, eventually flying up and landing on the back of the chair, feathers ruffled in a defensive posture, the feathers on her chest blackened from the energy ball. Chloe's balance is very off, her feet being tied together. She sways a bit, but keeps upright.::

(To humanize or not to humanize? Will this... shoelace break or dig in even more?)

::She eyes the many evils in the room cautiously.::

"Pfft, like I'll wait for him if I get another customer. Oh, so now you decide to wake up? Just as my customer leaves? Idiot bird."

::The warlock takes a half hearted swipe at Chloe, before sprawling himself over a chair::

::Chloe falls off the back of the chair trying to avoiding getting hit. She flounders on the seat of the chair for a few seconds before righting herself, feathers now more ruffled.::

(Smooth...)

::She closes her eyes, having formulated a plan. She turns into her human form, stretching out the shoelace that now digs into her ankles. She sucks air into her lungs through her teeth.::

"Ouch..."

::She quickly closes her eyes again and becomes feathered again, the lace now being loose enough to slip her feet out of. She does so and changes back again, smiling, sitting in the chair.::

"It is a nifty little power, eh?"

::The Warlock jumps up and lunges towards Chloe, intent on stopping her from running... uh... flying away::

::Chloe stands quickly, running to the wall, not seeing an actual exit. Frantic, she looks all round, spotting a large dark crack in the ceiling. She gets her bird on and flies into the air, wiggling through the crack and following that passage into an empty booth at the market.::

::Cole shimmers in and looks around. He sees his 'friend' is not yet there, so strides over to the bar.::

"I'll have the usual."

::As a martini is soon in his hand, he walks over to a booth, energy-balling an annoying, squawking, chicken-like creature on the way, much to the angry roars of it's fellows. Seeing they might try to start something, Cole stares at them icily, flashes of his true identity in his eyes, and, confident he'll be left alone, seats himself in the booth. He checks his watch again. He waits.::

::The Informer scurries into the Cavern, spotting Cole looking placid at a booth. He hurries over to the bar and gets himself a pint of bitter, before making his way edgily to Cole.::

"Alright?"

::He mutters as he slips into the seat, looking nervously around him."

"How's it going, mate?"

::Cole glances him up and down, then looks at his watch.::

"You're... two minutes late. Not a good start, my friend. Not a good start at all."

::Before the informer can speak, Cole silences him and leans forward.::

"What news have you of the Charmed Ones?"

"Ah. Yes. The eh, Charmed Ones. Lovely bunch, them. Just eh... you know. A bit, hard to reach sometimes."

::He takes a gulp of his beer and looks around.::

"See cos eh, I lost 'em. One got kidnapped by this ponytailed guy, the other two? Disappeared and I couldn't track 'em. Haven't a scooby where they disappeared off to with them boys. Not their usual lads either. I thought the middle one was wiv you."

"..."

(Was Moony right?)

::Thoughts race through Cole's head at the horrible notion of Phoebe seeing someone else.::

(But do I even care? I shouldn't. I'm a demon, for crying out loud! I'm supposed to kill the witches, not care about them!)

::He sighs and looks across the table.::

"Never you mind about that, fool. You lost them? Then what am I paying you for? I ought to just kill you on the spot!"

"Sir, my apologies Sir, it couldn't be 'elped! Couldn't be 'elped."

::After a moment, he chances that Cole has perhaps calmed down.::

"Though eh, I did find my way around some other witches you might be interested in..."

::He leans forwards covertly.::

"One's called Justin. Got the power of premonition just like your Missus. He's alright, bit of a queerboy mind, so don't get too close, lives up at CW, got a boyfriend you might want to be wary of, but the way them two's at it, they'd do anything for each other which might be used to your advantage. Other one's called Andrea. Telekinetic just like the dead one. I reckon she'd be well useful in a sitch like this. I saw her in tears the other night. Looks like easy pickin's for the right kinda shoulder to cry on if you know what I mean. Real easy."

::Cole listened intently as the informer spoke about the two witches, finding the new information very interesting indeed. Once the man has finished, Cole nods his approval.::

"Okay, you can live for now. But I want you to keep following the Charmed Ones."

::He takes a paper bag, stained red with blood, and slaps it onto the table. The contents make a squelching sound.::

"Eighteen year old cheerleader. Still pumping when I pulled it out."

::Cole stands up, and finishes his martini.::

"Don't eat it all at once."

::He shimmers out to his apartment.::

"Heh, that went well..."

::The informer continues to slurp at his beer, keeping an eye on his surroundings for any threats. He is, in some places, a rather sought-after spy.::

::Cella arrives with Mraz, hauling her up to the bar.::

"My good friend whatsherface would like to buy a few blood rums."

::After being served, looks expectantly at Mraz.::

"Well? Pay the man!"

:: Mraz looks at the blood rum in disgust ::

"You know what... You can have both of them... And I shall have a long vodka please."

:: As the drink is set down in front of her, Mraz hands over enough cash to pay for the drinks ::

(Time to lay down some rules)

"Ok Cella, let me give this to you straight. I know you think you're gonna use me against whichever bitch did this to you. But get it through your head right now, that I am nobodies servant. I may not seem especially evil to you, but believe me when I say you could die in front of me and I wouldn't care. Hell, I'd probably be the one that killed you!

Don't get me wrong, I will protect you should you need it... If you're with me. But all this 'Pay the man!' stuff has to go... It's better you didn't have an attitude with me. I'm very patient, but even I have my limits.."

:: As Mraz finishes talking her eyes turn black, and she raises her hands out in front of her focusing on conjuring a dark vortex ::

::Cella goes silent, having been put in her place already.::

"Well okay but... I really don't have any money."

::She looks up and starts at Mraz's blackened eyes.::

"Woah, hey! The hell are you doing?"

:: Mraz doesn't answer but instead stares at the small dark ball that is growing in her hands. Before it has a chance to grow any larger, she extinguishes it, and her eyes revert to normal ::

"Sorry... I couldnt help myself.

Don't worry about having no money... Forget about it. Want another drink?"

(Wow... I can still feel the power flowing through me... That was so cool!)

::Cella stares, baffled by the ball of darkness and suddenly how tired she's become. It passes, though, and she perks up in a matter of minutes.::

"Eh yeah. Please."

::Sipping another drink, she pauses and looks at Mraz thoughtfully.::

"You didn't really mean it when you said you'd probably be the one who killed me... did you?"

(Well.. It depends on how much you annoy me!)

"No, of course I didn't. I was on a rant. I limit myself to killing witches and kittens. I'd have to be extremely pissed off to kill someone."

(So if I were you, I wouldn't piss me off... again.)

:: Mraz takes a long calming drink before smiling at Cella ::

"So tell me, who the hell made you bleed?"

"Uh..."

(She won't know who Cole is so the entire backstory is worthless. She DOES, however, seem to have a killer mind on her, even though she said she limits her strengths only to witches... but I need to spend more time getting her to like me, so she'll be loyal and not go off with that bitch once they meet... that'd be just my luck. Then I'd have to kill this one as well. Because naturally I'm powerful enough to kill that slut, I just don't WANT to.)

::Cella shudders a little, remembering the way Moony totally screwed with her head with those strange displays of sadistic affection and torture.::

(She must be fried.)

"This uh, warlock. She's after me and I dunno why."

:: Mraz raises her eyebrows a little at Cella's hesitation, but drops them as Cella visably shudders ::

(Hmmm, there's obviously an interesting back-story here)

"Whats her name? And whats her power?"

::Cella drinks a little and thinks back to the fight with Moony.::

(She only seemed to make use of her blinking power... hmm...)

"I think just standard warlock powers. Blinking, energy balls or something like that, maybe not even. She seemed far more reliant on a certain kind of..."

::Recalls the kissing and licking.::

"... she likes to disorient the enemy..."

::Swallows hard, fresh confusion cropping up.::

(Did she do that to just me?)

"Her name's Moony..."

"Don't worry about her anymore... We can take her... I'll drain her of her energy and you can kick her ass as payback. In what way did she disorientate?"

"Uh... noparticularway..."

::Cella feels herself going pink and drinks quickly.::

"Anyway... yeah... how can you do this energy draining thing?"

:: Mraz shrugs ::

"Its suspose to be a power draining thing, but its so weak, that all it does is makes people tired."

(Why so interested dear one?)

"Hopefully it'll grow... I havent had much practice with it yet..."