"I'm out."
Gazen stood up as he said that, letting the chair he was awkwardly sitting on, slam into the wall behind him as he stared at Ranit who didn't even bother to meet his gaze.
"To no one's surprise son, to no one's fucking surprise." Ranit muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I don't even know why I came here. My time was wasted and, and...what were these jackasses even doing here?" He pointed to the suits on the opposite side who flinched.
"They were of no use and contributed zilch to this stupid charade. And you know very well where our group stands with regards to government policy on Awakeners. Then why even call us?"
Ranit sighed, "you done? I need to talk to the adults now."
Gazen slapped the table and stormed out of the room, muttering under his breath.
The reporters waiting outside immediately scrambled for a scoop as soon as Gazen walked out and he squinted at their raucous shouts.
"Get them off me," he hissed at his guards who quickly made a way for him through the crowd. He reached for his phone and dialed a number.
"Hey boss."
"You slimy fucks! Who hired those idiot smugglers again?"
The voice on the other end stuttered, "b-bb boss, I'm sure we can find some...oh, sir I'll give the phone to your junior."
A more stoic voice spoke through the line, "what's the problem?"
"The warehouse is gutted, but I'm sure you already know that." Gazen grit his teeth in frustration, "and its put me in a bad mood. Care to clean up the mess?"
"It has been taken care of. Already. Isn't that why you hired me in the first place Gazen?" The voice seemed to calm him a bit.
Gazen and his entourage were on the street now, further swarmed by even more reporters before he got into one of three grey SUVs waiting for him.
He covered his phone and said to the nearest guard, "HQ."
The guard relayed it and the cars started moving.
"Listen, we've been in similar spots earlier what's so frightening now? Have you heard something new?" The voice asked, a little tensed this time.
Gazen sucked in his teeth and looked out at the passing city, "well yeah. There was another guy there. He got away and—why the hell was there a security camera in there?"
The voice paused, "was there? If there was one, it's definitely not ours."
"Well then some insect planted it. And its a whole different mess now. The 3A's getting involved and god knows how many different agencies."
"It won't get back to us. We're clean. That much I can assure. Although..."
"What?" Gazen barked with impatience.
The voice paused, a little hesitant, "can we trust the new client? My opinion is that it all started when we branched overseas and brought in with it new attention."
Gazen sighed and sat back on the leather seats of the car his mind hurting.
"You're talking about the European?"
"Yeah."
Their faction had multiple inroads outside the country but this had been their first time letting an outsider use much of their infrastructure.
If there was anyone to blame for whatever happened next, Gazen could only point his finger at himself.
"I think we need to have a sit down with the European."
"Understood. I'll make arrangements."
"You know I always had the feeling that I was being played by him, I just couldn't figure out how."
"You think this is deliberate? Should we look into our rivals then?"
Gazen sighed, "no this feels more calculated. More measured. Not street level rivalry."
"How are the bugs working? Any good?" Gazen changed the topic.
He was referring to one of the technology swap given to him by his newest overseas partner as a bonus for his services.
Listening devices that could be as small as dots but powerful enough to catch the smallest sounds. And one of them was underneath the desk right where Gazen had been sitting for the meeting reluctantly.
"Hear it for yourself when you get here. Oh and," the voice cleared it's throat a little hesitant, "our resident is in a bit of a mood today."
Gazen shook his head in frustration, "be right there." He ended the call and sat back.
'What's it's problem now?'
The cars stopped at a multistorey building not far from the financial district and he got out, hurrying to the doors while being flanked by his guards.
The lower floor receptionists quickly stood up but he ignored them all and took the elevator, his men dragging out the ones going in.
It took him to the topmost floor where he had a penthouse that overlooked his work area which was visible through a giant glass roof right where his floor was. Essentially letting him to walk over his employees.
The door opened and he was immediately greeted by a bloodcurdling scream and his guards flinched.
"Leave. Now. All of you." He said and they obeyed, shutting the door behind him.
A very thick girl hung upside down from his roof, with a rope dangling precariously as she batted her eyelashes at him from her position.
"You're back, thank god, she's been driving me nuts." A sharply dressed man sauntered over to where Gazen was and both men looked up at the hanging girl.
The voice over the phone belonged to this man who was Gazen's longest serving member.
He went by Quent short for Quentin. A short black man, with shoulder length curly hair, shaven face and a pair of glasses in his side pocket at all times.
He sighed inwards, "what do you want to do?"
Gazen could only gaze up at the girl in a mix of fascination and fear, "give me a second."
"Hey!" He shouted to her as he walked right below where she was hanging from the ceiling and she snapped towards him, her pupils haunting.
"Zaya, get down here this instant."
She didn't respond at first simply staring at him before rocking herself on the rope around and around, her silhouette dark from the lone light shining on her.
Then she laughed out suddenly and increased its intensity before throwing herself off the rope and landing on the ground with a thud.
"Ow, I think I broke something," she sounded in pain.
But Gazen didn't bite. "I know your tricks, get up and get a hold of yourself."
Her face darkened and she crept to him on all fours like a spider, into the light.
She was wearing almost nothing, her large breasts almost spilling out of her dark purple colored v-cut top that only covered her nipples and the same dress criss-crossing to her navel which further parted to reveal her fleshy thighs and went round her back to meet at her crotch.
A unique and glorified one-piece was all it was. But the wearer pulled it off like it was a much more darker outfit.
Without her boots she seemed almost nude, her bare feet sliding against the toughened glass floor, just the netting on her legs making her seem more dressed.
Her face was remarkably innocent looking, pale in complexion, buttery skin, except for her eyes which stood wide open and menacingly playful.
Her short hair gave her a boyish look and she stuck her tongue out to him, "come and play you fool."
Gazen went closer to her and hunched down to where she was lying on the ground, legs bent over the other and she yelped in excitement when he grabbed her chin to force her to meet his gaze.
"We'll play all you want later, my fucked-up friend. Right now we need to be professional."
She opened her mouth wide to reveal her teeth, her canines a bit longer in the dark which Gazen brushed his finger against and she licked his invading appendage with relish.
"I'm always professional partner," she said through her teeth and purred as he withdrew his fingers and stood up, "next time then."
He nodded and looked longingly at her before turning to Quent, "lead the way."
They both walked to the doors that led away from the large hall and into a control room where a technician was seated.
"Increase the volume of the bug," Quent commanded and the voices filled in.
"What have they been talking about so far?" Gazen asked.
"Some lookout notice for the guy who escaped from our burning warehouse. Before you ask–no they haven't traced him yet."
Another voice began to speak up and Rudy brought it into attention, "they have all gone silent now. I think its the demon speaking."
"Let me have a listen," Gazen sat down with the headphones and locked in to the voice.
"...all I'm saying is this, when you make a hole you don't just make an entrance, you also enable an exit. It always goes both ways. Same applies for any realm opening. You welcome anyone or thing from the other side as much as you venture out."
The voice paused and took a deep breath, "the ascension theory is very much in play. Once a realm opening has been triggered beings from such places will know and will come for their own purposes. And not all are unthinking beasts. The sentient ones will be upon us sooner or later. You mortals will be put to task by your own people once that happens. Be very prepared."
Gazen put down the headphones back, "transribe everything you hear," he told the nearby technician without even looking at him.
"What's he saying?" Quent asked, his voice eager.
"He's saying we're doomed. That's what I could make of it."
He balled his fist and gnawed against it in tension, "what the fuck did that European bring upon us?"