“Meo redi,” Vinny flashed the Campione girl a vicious simper as he summoned the creature back to his side. He stroked the beast’s side and it lowered its head in resentful submission to his authority. He tilted his chin up in that cocky manner of his and shifted his weight to lean on one foot, stuffing his hands into his pockets in an almost mockingly casual fashion.

“You want to know who taught me to control this big guy, huh?” Vinny echoed with a scoff. “Well, I’ll tell ya: nobody. I learned how to command him all on my own. I guess I’m just a natural at manipulating monsters of the dark.” He laughed coldly, his knowing smirk spreading slowly across his face. “But I assume you’re really asking the big guy’s last master.” He held out a hand, palm flat and facing up.

“Apere.”

A thin black book materialized in his hand. Ancient symbols decorated the cover. Vinny nonchalantly thumbed through the old yellow pages, purposefully drawing out the silence between him and the girl before he gave her the answer she wanted. After a long moment, he closed the book again with a soft thump.

“This,” Vinny said slowly. “This is the old spell-book I got from him –ah, does it look familiar? You may be interested to know how I acquired such a treasure from him.” He reached up and traced a finger across his throat. “I don’t think I need to go into details. But enough small talk. I believe we have unfinished business.”

“E iterum.”

[b][i]Cum voluptate.[/i][/b]

The beast melted into a shadow to attack once more. Vinny glanced at Dante to check his progress and hoped they could end the fight quickly. The black vines on his arm were spreading halfway across his bicep. He had wasted too much time on his little psychological games earlier. He didn’t have much left for the battle. Nevertheless, he kept his face carefully neutral to hide his anxiety from the girl so she couldn’t read him properly. He resolved to end with victory favoring the Addario crew. He would not accept defeat.

---

[hider=Rough Latin Translation][i]Meo redi.[/i]
[b]Return to me.[/b]

[i]Apere.[/i]
[b]Reveal yourself.[/b]

[i]E iterum.[/i]
[b]Go again.[/b]

[i]Cum voluptate.[/i]
[b]With pleasure.[/b][/hider]