AN: This was literally made because of a picture.

Princess of Desolation (High School DxD - Rias Gremory SI Chapter 1)

It was a dark and stormy night upon the ancestral home of the Leviathan Clan. It always was. For it's the True Leviathan homeland, the Isle of Melaketos.

At least according to Katerea Leviathan, and obviously anyone from the True Satan Faction, politely--forcefully--called the Old Satan Faction in modern times.

It's why it was always raining on the island. Although calling it an island was a misnomer as it was the size of the Human World's Australia. The rain did serve a purpose, it's suppose to alert the Head of the Leviathan Clan of a threat to their ancestral home, and act as a defense system as well.

It was also suppose to be active only during wartimes.

For the past 500 years, and even long after the Devil Civil War had ended, the rain didn't stop. Close to three quarters of the Leviathan Clans treasury was constantly being fed to maintaining the territory defense system.

A subtle snub to the current Underworld governing body that while complying, the True Leviathan was not bowing to their false authority.

Katerea always slept with a smile know that even the False Satans, hadn't dared met or confront her on her ancestroal home.

Yet, her current mood was not a happy one as she ripped apart a letter with her magic aura.

"Amon, those filthy coward!" Katerea slammed her hand down on the desk of her personal office.

The wood held, a testament to the quality and craftsmanship it was made with. This one was lasting through three years now, withstanding her rants of righteous anger.

"'Demilitarize our forces to truly enter the era of peace among Devilkind'? What kind of worthless warrior clan is that!?" Katerea spat out. She raged at how the Amons were now, no longer part of the military, and thus away from the important decision making in the current government.

They might as well be saying they don't believe in our Faction anymore, and would rather listen to the False Satans, with how blatant this is! Katerea scowled at the thought.

Another once-upon-a-time ally, had given up their quest, the True Satan Faction's quest, to regain their former power, deciding to tuck their tails between their legs, and kowtow to the current regime.

After their regrettable loss from the Devil Civil War, the Original Satan Houses had lost a lot of power. Demonic, financial, political. All of their lands were taken by the winners like vulture, leaving nothing but the ancestral lands the True Satan descendants all originally inherited.

For hundreds of decade Katerea had been working to restore the great might they once held. It was an uphill battle, as no one wanted to be associated with the "warmongers".

A foolish thought. Did everyone think the other Factions, Angels and Fallen alike, would just sit on their laurels and do nothing?

The Great War would happen, one way or another. They had to be in the best position to fight it.

And yet many of their kind were tired, they simply wanted to be done with fighting. With losing more of their population, that their race was in actual danger of extinction, had things The War gone on forever.

Yet isn't it better to go with a blast of glory? Either rule the world or leave your mark upon it!

Katerea used to believe that, and to some extent she still does.

Are Creuserey and Shalba right? Should we accept working with those Khaos Brigade? It would give us a solid base, but will it be enough to slice the False Satans in one full swoop?

She understood the wariness of war, but she also knew that as long as Heaven and the Grigori stood, Devilkind will never truly know peace. They will never be safe.

Her father learned that. He learned it when he was slayed by a Fallen, when the Three Factions where supposed to be in a "ceasefire".

What a joke.

Katerea sat back down in her comfortable chair, and let her mind wander, as the rain's weak pattering calmed her nerves.

Then there were the Reincarnated Devils.

Unlike her comrade of the other Original Satan Clans, she didn't' really mind them. She understood the necessity. Katerea just simply hated being indebt to Ajuka or any of the False Satans.

She also hated what they represented.

Change.

Of ideas, believes, customs, lifestyles and even structures.

And in turn many of the tradition Devilkind once held were being eroded.

The False Satans made a fricking moon to appease the Former Human's frail psyches.

Would you even recognize the world if you were to wake up, Ingvild?

And with that Katerea's mood soured even further. Not even the sound of the rain could...

Why is the rain weaker?

Rage crawled up from her chest as she stood up.

"Who fucking dared to turn off the isle's defense?" Katerea gritted her teeth as she looked at the massive window behind her, framing the office, only to blink in confusion.

The rain was still present. However there was a hole in the clouds. A hole that was slowly moving toward her castle, and thus the rain was growing weak due to it. Across the whole isle the rain still went strong.

"Lady Leviathan!" Marcury, one of family's many servants burst into the room, behind him were a group of servants just as gibbered.

Marcury was an old hand, that serviced her family for generation. It's why she didn't attack him for such disrespectful act. The panic on his face, showed his reason was probably valid.

"What?" Katerea snapped back.

"I-It's..." He took a moment to breath. "It's her! It's Rias Gremory!"

The fire in her chest turned cold. It wasn't because she was afraid. Katerea was still angry, but she needed to act calmly here.

"So the False Satans finally dare to send someone into our lands, and it's a little girl."

At her brave words Marcury and the other servants grew calm, and awe lit up in their eyes at her reply.

As is right of course. Katerea smiled and walked forward, confidence radiating from her, as normal for a leader, for one of her status.

"Go back to your roles." Katerea order, as the servants, and guards went back to their posts. "Now, let's see what the 'Princess of Desolation' wants." The Head of the True Leviathan Clan sneered at that title. "Who did she bring with her? What's the size of her army that she's trying to intimidate us with?"

The Gremory child had call ahead about wanting a meeting with the True Leviathan Heir. Katerea however had dismissed it as some child's ignorance. There was protocol to be follow. A Devil of a different clan does not enter someone's territory until they are given approval by the owners first.

It was a basic concept that even a child should understand.

Apparently not Sirzechs pampered princess. Katerea scowled. She wondered what possible idiotic thought came to that child's mind for her to come to Katerea's territory. No matter, regardless of whose with her, if she tried any intimidating or aggressive actions, she would be the one at fault, and I could use that against her and her brother.

"It's only her." Marcury answered her.

Katerea stopped in her path.

"What?" She turned to the flinching Marcury and said pointedly.

"S-She came alone, my Lady."

Katere gritted her teeth and went on her way with her servant following behind her.

Arrogant child.

x=

Rias Gremory was standing aloof in the main hall that was lined up with arts and portraits of great and notable Leviathans of the past. Her black buiness suit and tie, along with the shirt as red as her hair seemed in contrast to the purple and violent color decorating the interiors of the castle.

The Gremory scion was standing at the portrait of Katerea Leviathan herself, with her back to it staring at the view of the castle town outside, along with the surrounding nature view and weather.

Beside Rias was another servant, one who Katerea didn't bother to remember the name of. One of the commoners in her lands. From the tray he held and the champagne glass in Rias's gloved hand, Katerea deduced he was the wine server. She faintly recalled that he was enthusiastic about working the castle. Eager to serve as one of her subjects should be.

"Lady Gremory," Katerea smiled and spoke with an amicable smooth tone. "What a surprise to have you in our grand home. We couldn't even prepare a...proper welcome." Katerea stood close to the child with her chest held high, regardless of the power she could feel from Rias--which Katerea supposed was admirable for her age, as is right for a Pure Devil.

"Thank you, Lady Katerea Leviathan." Rias said back, her voice holding a relaxed sultry quality to it, that Katerea supposed was something to appreciate if she is forced to hold a conversation with this child. "However, I made sure to call ahead."

It's only when Rias turned to face her, that Katerea noticed the cigarette in Rias's mouth. One that oddly enough doesn't let out smoke, but had a burning glow at the tip.

Power of Destruction. Katerea noted. A threat or a show of power? That she can control her birthright gift to such an extent without exerting any effort. Katerea supposed she could respect the image Rias Gremory was presenting, if nothing else.

"I suppose for one as young as you, you may not had the training yet, but for one of the Satan Houses, you wait for their invitation to accept you. I suppose I can forgive a small mistake like that this time." Katerea smirked at putting the Gremory child in her place.

"Ah, I see. My bad. Thank you for your kindness." Rias said back nonchalantly.

A twitch came to Katerea's eye that she instantly put down to maintain her calm image.

'My...bad'? Does this child not realize who she's dealing with?

Then a loud stomach growl then echoed in the hallway. Katerea raised an eyebrow as she looked from Rias's stomach to her bored face.

"So should we have our meeting during lunch?" Rias asked without care. Or shame.

...This brazen brat. Katerea couldn't quite stop her eye from twitching this time. Is she here to fucking mooch off of me? This isn't your damned restaurant, you little shit!

"I see. As I said, we weren't quite expecting you, so we don't have a meal prepared for...one such as you." Katerea said, the implied insult so obvious she might as well have slapped Rias. "Of course, we can wait in my study while my servants prepare something hastily. For your sake, as I'm sure it had been a long trip for you."

After all, one can't teleport onto the island. Something nagged at the back of Katerea's mind.

Rias didn't even seem to have noticed the insult, if her slight smile at the mention of food was any indication. Katerea anger and caution--not fear--was beginning to fade, and in it's place was annoyance.

Without waiting for a reply half turned to walk away, to force the Gremory brat to run after her to catch up.

"One thing I would like to mention, your ladyship." Rias said as she place the champagne glass back on the wine server's tray. The glass only had one sip taken from it. "Your server tried to poison me." She said casually as she walked toward Katerea has in her pocket.

Tension swiped up into the room like a sudden rising tide.

"My child, if alcohol isn't to your taste," Katerea smirked at the baseless accusation. It's likely that the wine server had done this on his own. Katerea would have to reward him, once Rias Gremory was made vulnerable to her machinations, and at her mercy. Not that the child wasn't already for foolishly coming to her territory, the True Satan as oppose to her False Satan brother, all alone. "There is no need to lie and throw a tantrum about it--"

"It's rat poison." Rias said back.

"Excuse me?" Katerea thought the rude brat really was throwing some childish tantrum, and was trying some sort of pitiful power play, rather than actually being poisoned. The smirk on the wine server however suggested otherwise.

"It's Human World, mundane, rat poison." Rias clarified.

Katerea blinked at that. She slowly turned to the server to see him foolishly, eagerly giving a single nod that he likely though was subtle.

She shot him with a magic blast killing him on the spot.

"I am...terribly sorry for that, Lady Gremory." Katerea said with a hand on her chest, and gave a slight bow while pushing down her embarrassment. A slight flush could still be seen on her face. "He was a..." She couldn't say 'retard', 'idiot', or 'incompetent' as her staff hired him and thus would look badly on her. "A very foolish opportunists."

"Yes, well..."Rias took a moment to try and think something before looking away. "I don't really mind but the taste was atrocious."

HE DIDN'T EVEN FILTER THE TASTE, THAT FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!

"He was a stupid, incompetent retard, hired as a charity case." Katerea all but deadpanned.

"Your magnanimity is boundless." Rias nodded solemnly.

"A feast will be prepared posthaste with the best quality the Leviathan Clan has to offer." Katerea said before straightening up and giving a sharp look to Marcury.

Her loyal servant gave a sharp nod in turn and headed on his way. A mutter of "Dammit, Fred" said under his breath.

"And your hospitality is sumptuous!" The Gremory child said, brightening up at the news.

Katerea nodded and headed with Rias to the dining room.

After all, they were the Leviathan Clan, they were Devil royalty, and they sure as heaven wouldn't use FUCKING HUMAN RAT POISON to kill their enemies. They had class goddammit!

They would use the best ingredient within their lands. After all, they True Leviathans aren't cheap nor want for money!

x=

"Please send my compliments to the chef, Lady Katerea. The Markupo vapour steamed into the steak was practically undetectable. In fact, I would say this is the best cretan meat I'm ever had." Rias praised Katerea and her household as she raised a glass of pure Basilisk venom (Rias's request), before casually drinking from it and continuing her meal.

"Thank you. I'm sure he'd appreciate it." Katerea said dryly through gritted teeth as took in the Gremory child's taunting of her.

When they had went to the dining area, Katerea took the time to ask Rias why she came, and it seemed the child had some delusions about some compromise that she, as a scion of the Gremory, could reach with the True Satan Faction, or rather Katerea and the Leviathan Clan specifically, so that as to begin to mend relationship between the the True Satan Faction and the New Satan Faction, so that Devilkind as a whole would be more unified, rather than fragmented. (Even if Katerea in the very back of her mind acknowledge that her faction was increasingly become an even smaller minority.)

They didn't talk about anything specific, just talking about frivolous nothing, but mostly Katerea used the time to get the measure of Rias Gremory. All that she could tell was that the child seemed uninterested most of the time. It seemed to be her natural state.

The exception was obviously when Rias focused on Katerea herself, there was a glint of interest in her eyes when she did. It was something the True Leviathan accepted with causal pride. Obviously the child had never seen a True Satan before, so it's only natural that she would be interested in Katerea.

Katerea even entertained the thought of seducing the Gremory scion to her side. She could admit that the business look Rias sported did highlight her supple figure well, and that tie looked like a good leash to tug the Gremory girl by. What a blow that would be to Sirzechs, taking his little princess away.

Then the food arrived and Katerea had to reevaluate her assessment of the Princess of Desolation.

Rias was eating slowly, her dining etiquette leagues better than her manner in interacting with Clan Heads. Then Katerea's servants got to work.

At first it started with some sleeping potions, but that didn't work. Then some paralysis poisons, and nothing changed.

Then some outright lethal poisons. Nothing worked. The more nonchalant Rias acted at being unaffected, the more the attempt to knock her out escalated, till it became abundantly clear that trying to use a stealthy method of subduing against Rias plainly doesn't work.

Now Rias had requested a bowl of Hydra poison to freely pour on her chicken pine and rice, because it gives it a "spicy kick". She was drinking poisons by the glass full because it has a sweet taste.

Katerea began recalling and reviewing what she knew about the Princess of Desolation.

Years ago, Katerea only knew about Rias Gremory in the abstract. She was Sirzech's little sister, and was given the usual labels of "prodigy", "once a millennia child", "the second coming of a Super Devil like Lord Lucifer" and so on and so forth, all because Rias manifested the Power of Destruction at birth or something equally ridiculous. That was likely just an exaggeration.

The only solid piece of information that anyone had about Rias, one that was consistent enough to be true, was that the girl was obsessed with training. Anyone who had met her in the Gremory home or outside of it, would mention that she was constantly exercising with her demonic power, and constantly trying to grow stronger. Katerea didn't see any evidence of that here, but that's likely due to the girl having enough common sense, to not rudely use her demonic power in the presence of the True Leviathan, in Katerea's home.

Ignoring that she likely did so to arrive here.

At the thought, Katerea realized what was nagging her about Rias since her arrival.

Her clothes were dry. There wasn't so much as a drop of water anywhere on her.

The Isle of Melaketos didn't just have the rain defense system. As a natural consequence of maintaining the rain defense system for centuries the weather and water around the island had transformed into a much more violent environment. The weather around the island was one of constant water twisters and thunderstorms. There was a hurricane wind dome covering the isle with such ferocity that it can't even be pierced from the top. The sea creatures left in the waters around the island were only the strongest, most vicious, or have the greatest density of magical energy.

Entering or exiting the island require someone of the Leviathan Clan as the weather and the very water had become attuned to their demonic signature. It's partially why Katerea doesn't accept visitors off hand. The other was obviously to leave the ones who ask for her attention to stew, till she deems them worthy of it.

Rias Gremory however had came to the island, all on her lonesome, and supposedly without any help. Her power even parted the sky as she came her, so as not to drench herself from the rain. The level of power to do so, Katerea would almost begrudgingly say that Rias was likely an Ultimate Class Devil. Obviously not as strong as herself, but Katerea supposed she shouldn't mentally dismiss Gremory as a child anymore.

It also led credence to the validity of when Rias had been given the title 'Princess of Desolation'. A few year ago, Nekoshou Slaughter had happened, due to the fear caused by the then Stray Devil Kuroka, who had killed her master and his other Peerage members, all while not losing herself to her own power running while. Kuroka had not transformed into a hideous monster due to her complete control of her demonic power, using senjutsu. Naturally, this led other Devils with Nekoshou in their Peerage to be wary of their servants, as they can turn on them without consequence.

Nothing happened at the start, but eventually a Devil King ended up jumping the gun of getting rid of their Nekoshou servant, which led others to start doing the same. That's when Rias Gremory's name entered the public scene in a way, that the True Satan Faction took note.

Rias had went to the Barbatos and launched an attack personally so as to stop them executing their Nekoshou Devil, and then threatened to do the same to anyone else who does so. Then when went and demolished the mansions of five other Pillar houses who had killed their Nekoshou servants.

When complains came to Sirzechs about his little sister abusing her powers, with the five houses who killed their Nekoshou Devils being the most vocal, Rias taunted them openly on live television on being too weak and pathetic so as to be fearful of their servants. When calls for disciplinary actions be taken against the Gremory scion came, Rias asked Sirzech to simply let the five offended Pillar houses fight her in a Rating Game to their satisfaction.

Then Rias Gremory requested a rule change allowing her to fight all five Peerages the Pillar houses would send at the same time. Katerea and many others thought it was bravado. Sirzechs however approved the rule, with the offended Pillars unable to complain without losing face, as that rule was to their advantage.

The Rating Game happened and Rias Gremory destroyed them. It was not a victory of technicalities, it was not a hard-won fight. Rias had completely defeated them, with such obvious margins that no one could question it.

Thus the Nekoshou Slaughter was cut down, preserving and saving the lives of dozens of the Reincarnated Devils.

That's when she had gained her title, 'The Princess of Desolation'.

Katerea personally thought the story might be embellished. Maybe Sirzechs or one of his friend had done something or other behind the scenes. Maybe the victory wasn't as cut clean as officially recorded, edited post-match.

The biggest reason Katerea was skeptical of the events at face value, was because Rias Gremory had been 10 years old when this had happened. Sitting oppose to Rias however, Katerea admitted that maybe there was a grain of truth to the matter.

All too quickly the meal had come to an end, and Rias and Katerea had retired to Katerea's study.

"Wine, my dear? I'm afraid we've run out of poison." Katerea said humorly, as she offered Gremory a glass. She was mentally wondering how many of her solider would die as they take down Rias. Powerful genius or not, she was still Sirzech's sister, and a powerful leverage to hold.

Yet still for now she'll entertain Gremory and see what deal she wanted to negotiate.

"Yes, thank you, Lady Katerea." Rias smiled and took the glass. "As gracious as your hospitality had been, I wouldn't want to intrude any longer. So shall I present my proposition?"

"Go ahead." Katerea nodded as both Devils took their seat by the fire place, a window on the opposite wall with the curtain open adding to the atmosphere of the room. The rare occasional lightning coloring the room and the Devils as their shadows dance from the different sources of light.

Both Devils sat opposite to each other, legs cross, and a glass in their hand.

"Before we begin, I have to ask though, why would you come here alone?" Katerea inquired. "Aren't you afraid of being the territory of one who so...disagrees with your brother's rule?"

"Why would I have anything to fear?" Rias tilted her head, her smile almost seem to have an edge before going back to being relaced. "I'm perfectly safe in the honorable hands of Lady Leviathan."

"Quite." Katerea said back, hiding a grin behind her glass as she drink.

These hand would like nothing more than to play with your body, till you submit and cry out my name, little girl.

Katerea had to admit, there was a certain charm to the girl, that made the Leviathan Heir want to break her and remake her into a pet to keep by her side. Maybe it's the nonchalant attitude, or how her lazy mannerism gives off a feeling of lewdness, as if Rias was ready for her circumstances to turn sexual at the drop of a hat.

All in all, even if Katerea disliked the styles and customs from the Human World, in this case clothing, she can admit Rias made her appreciate them. She wondered what it would be like to remove them off of Rias. It could do as a sutable payment for the annoyances Katerea felt during her meeting with Rias Gremory thus far.

"I've been granted by the Lord Lucifer the power to negotiate a treaty with you, Katerea Leviathan, Head of the Leviathan Clan of the Old Satan Faction, in the hope of reintegrating you back into Devil society, and as part of the governing body of Hell once more." Rias started, her words sounding rehearsted, as she was more interested in her drink than what she was saying.

"Truly?" Katerea held back a snort at the proclamation.

"Yes, we are willing to offer you a seat on the Pillar House Council. It would be worth three votes due to your clan's prestige and history, and you would get first view of any new military bill." Rias turned her eyes from the drink to view Katerea's reaction. "In return we ask that you stop using your influence with Houses Paimon, Purson and Beleth to push for more aggressive war bills, and opposing peace treaty initiatives, as well as blocking the advancements of Reincarnated Devils through our rankings through influencing the Class Rank Exam judges."

Katerea laughed. Nay, she guffawed. It was very much against noble etiquette, but she had never expected to be offered something so ridiculously pitiful in return for her submitting to the new government.

"Ha~aahaa, haha, aaaah, t-that's, ahahahahaha," Katera took a moment to compose herself. "Oh...oh wow, Lady Gremory, I must admit I haven't laughed like that in quite a while." Katerea said, her smile now a bit hardened in anger. "To be honest I wouldn't have even considered a treaty unless your starting offer was a seat on the War Council, a seat on the Pillar House Council worth nine votes, and Serafall Sitri's head on pike." Katerea hissed the name of her family's usrper, her demonic aura flaring a shaking the room, in response to her emotions.

Katerea took a deep breathe to calm herself, while Rias silently watched her, the Gremory's smile never wavering. Katerea now centered, looked at Rias to see what the girl would say in response.

"Yes, I did think the terms were joke as well." Rias finally said.

Oh? Katerea rested her head on her palm, intrigued by Rias's response.

"But it works well enough as a reasoning for me to be here." Rias mirror Katerea's pose but with her other hand. "Since I'm the one who wanted to meet you, Lady Katerea. I have my own deal I wish to make."

"...Really?" Katerea grinned and leaned forward. Well, well, well, how very interesting. Katerea thought at this sudden twist.

"Yes," Rias then took a item out of her breast pocket. "But first I would like for you to watch this."

It was a magic item that projected a pre-recorded image. The device lit up an showed a hologram video of a room, with a brown haired woman sleeping on her bed.

"Huh, I believe that's..." Katerea tried to put a name to the face.

"That is Misla Bael." Rias told her.

A slight frown came to Katerea, as a feeling of anticipation and worry came to her from this unexpected situation. After all, why would Rias show her a video of--

Someone with the Sleeping Disease.

Katerea's head snapped to Rias, looking at her intensely behind a calm façade.

Does she know about Ingvild? But how would she?

"Here's what I wanted to show you, Katerea." Rias just kept her polite smile, while gesturing with her eyes to the recording.

Katerea ignored the act of Rias using her first name without a title, watching the video hoping and dreading what she was going to see. She also made sure kept an eye on Rias all the while.

The video showed Rias and Sairaorg Bael enter the room. The two discussed something that Katerea couldn't hear as the video was without sound, before Rias walked over to the sleeping Misla.

The recorded Rias then held her hand above Misla's body, and made a Power of Destruction orb over her. The orb released lasers moving all over Misla's body, like those of a laser scanner as seen in movies. After very few seconds, the orb stopped and vanished, and Rias stepped back.

After what could very well be, the moment Rias moved away, Misla started to wake up.

Katerea ignored the scene afterwards of Sairaorg crying in joy and hugging his mother, as the hologram turned off anyways. She simple sat back down taking the implications of all of this.

"So, Katerea." Rias spoke, pulling Katerea's attention back to her. "Here's my offer, the chance to get your sister back."

x=

"Are you absolutely sure?" Asked one of her servants through an arcane mirror for long range communication.

"Yes, my Lady. It took a bit of work, and burned through some favors to do this on such short notice, but one of the men working for an associate was able to catch a glimpse of her walking throughout the Bael estate. The demonic signature is the same as well, and it seems Lord Bael would be making a statement about this 'miracle' soon." Jarnel Purson, one of her most trusted vassals, said. "I'm...actually surprised, nay, astonished that you managed to discover this so quickly, my Lady."

"Yes," it had been three hours, but Katerea finally had confirmation. Misla Bael was cured of the Sleeping Disasese. "That will be all, if anything new happens you are to inform me." Katerea turned off the connection, making the mirror return to a regular mirror once more.

The Leviathan Heir turned to look at the redheaded Devil, watching the fireplace without a care in the world. Immediately sensing eyes upon her, Rias turned and smiled to Katerea.

Katerea frowned, no longer being as composed as before, but after such news, she thought 'to hell with decorum'.

When Rias had shown her that recording, Katerea first question was to ask how Rias had found out about Ingvild.

"Is that really what you want to ask?" Rias had told her.

And she was right, what Katerea truly wanted to confirm was if the video was real. Rias had stated that she would patiently wait as Katerea used whatever means she wanted to see if the video was true or not.

All the while Katerea had been letting her demonic aura loose, letting it wash all over the castle and showing her displeasure at the idea that she might be toyed with.

Her servants would be able to work without too much of a problem, they are used to her aura and her fury. Someone in close proximitry to her however she find it difficult, even mentally pressuring. Even if they are near, or are, an Ultimate Class Devil, feeling a sufficating aura for hours on end should at least make them uncomfortable, like not feeling right in their seat.

Yet for three hours straight, Rias Gremory was unflinching. Rather, one could almost argue that she hadn't noticed Katerea's aura at all.

Katerea wasn't stupid, she could be hot-headed when she got going, but when calm she can analyze things well. It's how she kept the True Satan Faction logistics going, despite the expenses that her pride told her must be upheld.

Rias Gremory was likely, maybe, stronger than her, but Katerea still held the advantage. They were on her territory, in the heart of her seat of power. If it came to a fight, while likely gruesome, Katerea was sure she would be the winner. The damage of their fight however might end up devistating.

What if the damage reached Ingvild's hidden room?

The thought alone diswayed Katerea from the idea of battle.

Katerea had told Rias that she wouldn't hear her offer till she comfirmed the validity of the video. It also gave her time to think, on what she will do if when the video turns out to be real. After all, coming all the way to enemy territory, even if she was confident in her power, meant she likely had something real to offer.

She couldn't threaten Rias, as it's a horribly bad idea to threaten the person you need to heal someone dear to you. Quadruply so, when it seemed like that healer used the Power of Destruction somehow to cure the disease.

Katerea had run the negotiations in her mind over and over again, during the waiting period. There are two things she wanted. For Ingvild to wake up, and for the mole, or moles, to be named. There was no other way, Rias or her brother, or who else, could have found out about Ingvild otherwise.

Still, as Katerea sat down opposite to Rias, now a firm strict look on her face, opposite to Rias's relaxed apathic smile, she wondered what pound of flesh she would have to pay for her sister's life.

"Fine, it turns out, it's real." Katerea spoke. "For me, I want Ingvild healed, and the name of all the moles within my lands, as well as who else knows about my little sister. I want all of this under a Contract." Katerea said. The magic of a Devil Contract, powered by both Devils, would make sure that the terms are obeyed.

"Well," Rias began. "I'll answer the other things free of charge, and you can verify with the Contract later, as they honestly aren't as important." Katerea raised an eyebrow, but wasn't about to object to a free gift. "First, about who knows about your sister, I would say anyone who knew about her a hundred years ago, would likely to know now. I certainly didn't tell anyone on my end, simply convinced the Lord Lucifer that I would visit with a treaty that you would most definitely accept."

"Dangling Ingvild's cure for my cooperation, is that it?" Katerea's curled her lips.

"Oh not at all," Rias waved her hand once like the effort was took much to repeat it, and placed it back on the arm rest. "You don't have to sign a treaty or anything like that."

"...What?" Katerea blinked in surprise, taken aback.

"Now where was I? Oh yes, moles!" Riase smirked, like she had a private joke Katerea wasn't privy to. "There are none. ...At least none that I know. I certainly didn't hear it from anyone."

"Then how could you have known about Ingvild?" Katerea demanded.

"Ah, ah, ah," Rias waved a finger back and forth. "You asked me if a mole told me, and I said no one did. How I found out however," Rias playfully laid her finger on her cheek and continued. "That I may tell you if you agree to my offer, and after the Devil Contract is signed."

"You little..." Katerea gritted her teeth, and forced herself to calm down. She didn't want to jeopardize her half-sister's chances of awakening on a moment of anger. "Fine." Katerea said through her teeth. "Now, what do you want?"

Rias's lips stretched wider, her smile now having a slight cruel edge to it. The lightning strike outside, hide her face behind shadows in the light, and her eyes look redder than Katerea remembered them being. Katerea hated how well timed that lightning was, as she looked at the normal smiling Rias, whose face was lit by the fireplace.

"You." Katerea blinked, almost not registering the words said for a second. "I want you, Katerea Leviathan."

AN: And this was suppose to be a much larger chapter, so this is technically Chapter 1 Part 1, rather than the full thing I imagined. But I'm bored, straved for social interaction in my hobbies, and oh yeah, procrastination is slam dunking me.

At least I'm writing something. I'll finish this up in one or two more chapters, then it's back to Peaceful Retirement.

Fuck I hate myself.