•§• 2. Scarlet Vertigo

                                    

                                          
2. Scarlet Vertigo

Rias felt lost. Tonight she had plans to resurrect a new member for her peerage and kill the fallen angel that unjustly took his life.
Now she was on the verge of falling to her knees before a most unexpected arrival. Gripping tightly onto her pawn pieces as if they were her life support. Oh the deep rooted irony. It would have made her laugh right then and there if her body allowed it.
"Did you not hear my request?" She heard him speak. His voice was rather soft as if genuine. Was it? She couldn't face him properly anymore so reading him was out of the question.
His presence felt oppressive and otherworldly.
But she had dealt with similar experiences. Rias had fought and killed strays, fallen angels, exorcists and even other devils. She was no slouch and she was no coward. She could— no, would, face the man before her.
Finding that her confidence slowly returned to her little by little— while squashing down the fear and shock; Rias straightened. Flaring her famed Power of Destruction, her unique ability tethered and primed for absolute domination. She manifested an aura; thick and dense. Her hands start to glow in power and her body takes a natural defensive stance. Ready to make her move.
The man before her would have no choice but to—
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Laugh in her face. He took the full force of her aura and audibly laughed in her face.
"I think you may have been mistaken when I said to make your move. I meant the boy. You were going to resurrect him. Were you not?" Anos spoke, after letting the tickle at the back of his throat out. Hand waving the young devil's pitiful show for intimidation.
It seemed that all the magical creatures of this world were fond of comedic theatrics. The very least he could say was that her instincts were decent.
"How did—"
"We're wasting time. Are you going to bring him back or should I?" Anos now points to the boy who was, by all definitions, a reeking corpse.
In Anos' words did Rias' senses come back to her in a rush. His overwhelming and suffocating presence had dimmed considerably. Hesitant and awkwardly, Rias moved to her target. She placed a few Pawns upon his chest. Anos was right beside her all the while, simply observing. She would talk to him after this was done.
Rias chanted the ancient incantations, instructing Issei to rise from the dead and serve as her precious Pawn. The pieces glowed, and a circle formed before disappearing. A smile threatened to overcome her face at the first failed attempt. Placing all eight Pawns upon his chest, her body tingles when the process completes. Freedom was within arms length.
A breath that she didn't know she was holding had finally let itself out. Her chest feels lighter. But... she turns back to Anos. His gaze was laser-focused on Issei's body. It was like he was uncovering all its secrets and Rias thinks that assumption was anything but.
"He's no longer human," Anos comments after some time. He was casual with no hint of carelessness.
"Reincarnation tends to do that to you," Rias spoke when the atmosphere had finally settled. Though she was still tense. A complete contrast to the man that was next to her.
Rias was trying, and failing, to figure out what to do with him. He was a human but he carried a presence that overshadowed and made her devil heritage submit. Not to mention, he had bypassed all her anti-magic protections.
"I'm familiar with the concept," He said. She had no idea how true his statement was.
"Look, Voldigoad—"