Zeus had been in the middle of a meeting with a leader from a notable fire demon family when word reached him that Laurent had entered the property. With a vampire. This forced him to cut the meeting short, and Chtahzus'aak was not pleased. Fortunately, there was little left to discuss with the fire demon. There was rumors of a very special fire child--something that would need to be further investigated--that was to be coming of age (and strength) over the course of the next few months. There was much that the shadow demon had left to do. There were several meetings he had yet to handle, as he had insisted on meeting with each of the scattered clans himself individually. An interruption was the last thing he wanted tonight, and he sincerely hoped that whatever Laurent needed to say to him would be worth his time.
The vampire with him was another matter entirely. Bringing a vampire into a building serving shell-shocked demons was insensitive. Had Zeus been made aware of this visit, he would've closed for the evening. From what he saw of the camera footage on his computer, he didn't like the look of the man. Greasy and shifty looking. Precisely the type of ilk that Laurent associated himself with.
Zeus had seen the fire demon politely to the door and watched her enter the elevator before turning back into his office. He sighed with agitation and crossed back over to the front of his desk where he stood with arms folded over his chest. As much as he disliked the other shadow demon, Laurent was good at finding dirt. He was good at finding people who were good at finding dirt. His specialty was torture, twisting it out of unwilling individuals and prying into their minds like pulling back the lid of a can. So long as he kept the mess contained and ensured that nothing would lead back to his doorstep, Zeus had a use for him. They had known each other in hell and he had seen how Laurent worked there. It was malicious but effective. He had a reputation for getting results.
The time it took for the elevator baring the fire demon to descend, unload, and for Laurent to get on was short. Not three minutes passed before the elevator returned to the second floor. Zeus glared at the door as it opened, maintaining eye contact with Laurent as he approached the desk, watching as the other demon's expression went from confident to pensive.
"Why did you bring a vampire in here?" Zeus' tone was deceptively calm.
"I have brought you information--"
"And you lacked the forethought to clear this with me prior to leading him straight in here?"
"He's fine you can trust--"
"No, I can't." His steady, challenging stare forced Laurent to look away out of supplication. How could he trust a vampire he hadn't met?
"What's the problem? I found you some dirt on Jake--"
"And it better be fucking good for you to be coming in here when I have a lobby full of demons and a to-do list longer than your prick." Zeus barked, turning angrily and stalking to his chair to sit.
Laurent remained standing, hands clasped behind his back and expression carefully containing any emotional reaction. Zeus could spy a slight shaking--as if the other demon's fists were clenched violently. Laurent was thinking quickly, assessing his options, enduring the interruptions and insults as best as his pride would allow.
"He fought with McCloud. The insight could be--"
"So you brought me someone who is already known to McCloud, who fought him, and you still fail to recognize what a risk bringing him here is?" Zeus spoke lowly.
"We used the back entrance. No one saw us." Laurent was sure of that much. He was careful in that regard.
"So he now knows of the existence of that road." Zeus sighed in frustration, leaning back in the chair and rubbing his temple.
"Next time send word ahead. Is there anything else you wish to tell me before you go."
Laurent licked his lips and tentatively looked up at Zeus. "I've promised him protection in the West in exchange for the information."
Zeus was deafeningly silent, staring at the other demon in disbelief. The information that this vampire had couldn't possibly be worth that sort of thing.
"You what?" he spat, standing again and leaning forward with both palms flat on his desk.
"He knows--"
"You do not have the authority to be granting that kind of immunity." He slammed his hand down to punctuate the point, and Laurent flinched.
"Chtahzus'aak--"
"Don't," He warned, "I leave you to gather information, to do what you wish provided it stays out of the city and does not jeopardize what I am doing here. I don't care about whatever the fuck you do in order to get the information I require but do not think for a second that it means you can make these kinds of decisions above my head." There was a long pause as he stared Laurent down. "Do not bring your trash to my doorstep again." And with that he sat back down, turning his attention to the computer monitor in front of him.
Laurent stood there for a moment, containing a seething rage beneath. He knew that Chtahzus'aak was the stronger demon, and it would be suicide to try to challenge him. He hadn't forseen this reaction. Something else must be going on that Laurent was unaware of. Now was not the time to ask. It was clear that he had been dismissed.
He gave a respectful nod to his superior, a nod that was left unseen as Zeus focused abruptly on other work. Like a scolded child, Laurent turned and walked out of the office. His steps were deliberately calm as he entered the empty elevator, carefully keeping his composure in front of the shadows teeming in the hallway. As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, Laurent punched the back wall once. The material, unearthly in its construction, reverberated with the force and gave with a slight dent.
Zeus had made him look like a Complete Fucking Fool.
The elevator came to a stop at the first floor and Laurent stepped out, keeping his composure now. Mitch had been left waiting less than ten minutes, sitting in an unoccupied dark corner. Laurent's face gave nothing of the exchange away, though his smile was tight.
"There have been some complications in regards to your protection in the city." He began, rather diplomatically and devoid of the usual cocky playfulness. "I'll be working things out, not to worry." He assured Mitch with a wink.