Chapter 4

Athena made her way to her meeting. However, due to the nature of the business one of her brothers insisted on going along with her. Of all people, she never expected Hunter to tag along!

"I can do this on my own!" she insisted.

Hunter however made a face as if he considered the notion but wasn't going to really follow through. "Nah, I don't want people coming after my little sis. Besides, businesses like these tend to eat people alive if they aren't prepared. Remember this is your first venture. It's not a bad thing to have someone watching your back." He explained.

She sighed and allowed it for now. Besides she had to meet with Vestor on her latest fashions.

Athena walked through the studio, but not before getting this stink eye from various designers. Hunter however turned and glared back at them. "You got something to say… SAY IT!" he demanded.

Suddenly they froze and back off and went to their work once more. "Hunter, please!" Athena whispered.

That alone embarrassed her.

"Keep your guard up." He whispered. "I have no doubt they are going to try and make a move sooner than later…" he kept close at the time, his eyes were focused on those around her. When they managed to get to the back of the studio, he took a deep breath and said. "You got your work cut out for you… those guys are aiming to get you out of here and fast."

"How would you know that?" she demanded.

Hunter sighed. "Little sis, listen to big bro for just a moment… I've seen that look more than once in my lifetime. One when I was at the Heroes association and I started at the bottom in C rank, only to quickly get promoted. When that happened, I got that very look those people are directing at you!" he said. "They are going to do ANYTHING to keep you from succeeding… just be made aware of that."

She sighed aloud and nodded her head in agreement. "I will."

"ATHENA DARLING!"

The voice of a very strong yet flamboyant man filled the room. Suddenly, all eyes were on her. "Athena! Why didn't you tell me you were bringing company? Who is this young man in the scale suit?"

Athena smirked as Hunter sighed. "That's my actual skin." He muttered.

"Mr. Vestor, this is my older brother Hunter," she said.

Suddenly, those in the room looked quite pale. Vestor on the other hand didn't even flinch at the news. "Brother you say? He's the son of Garou is he not?" he asked.

She nodded. "He's my father too." She said proudly.

Scissors and other fashion tools suddenly hit the ground. No one in the building moved at all!

"So I see, you command a crowd to say the least. Just the reaction I am looking for! Come darling we need to talk! Mr. Hunter, please come and join us!" They were guided to a room just outside the back of the studio. When the door closed, Vestor sighed aloud. "I must apologize for that reaction. You see this business is quite cut throat, a lot of people who are working under me have talent but not the vision I desire… until now. I have seen your designs, slow fashion as it is called is taking off quite well. In fact, we have been asked to see if we can make clothing from monster skin. Rather than harming the local wildlife for the sake of fashion."

Hunter gulped a little. "Uh… am I here to get skinned?" he asked.

Vestor snickered. "Of course not dear boy! However, I know for a fact that you and your family can take down beasts with ease and yet can keep the pelt intact!"

"Slight problem… we eat them… so… how is this gonna work?"

Vestor smiled.

"Young man, for the past few years we have trained some of the finest hunters in the world to skin monsters for their pelts. We can leave the meat for your family, that is no issue. It would be a perfect cycle if you consider it. No waste what so ever of a fallen beast that is set on harming the cities!"

Athena was impressed with the notion. "I like the idea! However please consider my friend. Snek and his children, they are serpents and tend to eat everything before them, pelts and all due to their nature. We wouldn't be able to secure materials from them, but the rest of the family I am certain we can make arrangements."

Vestor clapped rather joyfully. "Wonderful! Follow me then!"

They were taken out of the studio and into an awaiting limo of all things. Hunter was getting more uncomfortable as this day went on. Athena tried to keep the mood light by going over her designs with Vestor and explaining the practicality of her designs. When the limo stopped, they were outside of the city, in front of a massive warehouse. She could already smell blood from where she stood. "Mr. Vestor…"

"We are processing them here." He explained. "I thought it would be best if you saw it all first hand. Are you comfortable with the notion?" he asked.

The two nodded.

They were invited into the warehouse, they were instantly walked out onto a catwalk of sorts as the process done blow. The place was remarkably clean to say the least. The pelts were stripped off and tanned with ease as the rest of the monster bodies were taken to another area. "As resourceful as this is I know this isn't going to please everyone… for some monsters were once human beings… and we are turning them into product…" Vestor explained.

"I never considered that before… however they lose all sense of themselves and their urges to kill and destroy over take that of their true selves." Athena said, she was at ease with it, after all, she has eaten more than her fair share of monsters. Hunter too.

"We are dealing with a great backup due to the fact we have no way of getting rid of the remains…" Vestor paused. "Where did your brother go?"

She smirked and pointed. "I think he's solving your problem. He did skip lunch today to accompany me."

In the far corner of the room, the skinned monster bodies began to decrease and vanish. Until none remained. Hunter slurped down the last one before unleashing a massive burp throughout the warehouse.

The people paused, but then. There was a round of applause for him! "Finally, we can get work done!" One decreed.

Vestor was amazed. "How many tons was that?" he asked himself.

Athena however smirked to the question. Her brothers can eat. Hell if Tempest was in his serpent form and missed lunch he could do the very same thing! "No matter, Mr. Vestor, when do we start working together?" she asked.

He snapped out of his daze and smiled to her. "I do believe we need to start right away, for you see, Amai Mask is going to be doing a new reality show and insists on new outfits for it! Are you up to the challenge?"

She smiled and nodded. "Good, now… I think you need a designer name. Athena Brawler sounds just too… gruff for my liking."

She sighed, she has the perfect name in mind. "How about Amelia Amai?" she asked.

His eyes widened, Vestor suddenly grabbed hold of her shoulders and said. "It's perfect! Amelia Amai… it rolls off the tongue doesn't? How perfect is this!"

'Too perfect…' she thought, for she is certain it would have been the name given to her if Amai Mask raised her!