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The Crimson Predator

The weight of the past years had forged Athena into a new incarnation of herself-distant, cold, and calculating. The guilt of her actions, though ever-present, had become a backdrop to her newfound purpose. Over the course of a year, she had honed her skills, her once hesitant demeanor replaced with an unyielding resolve. Her servants, though treated with an efficient kindness, received only what was necessary. The warmth that once characterized her interactions had faded, leaving behind a stark professionalism.

Her transformation was also physical. Her hair, now a cascade of black reaching down to her waist, was streaked with crimson highlights that seemed almost like a warning. Her wardrobe had evolved into a collection of black and crimson attire, each piece chosen for its practicality and its ability to make a statement. Her makeup was minimal, applied with precision, enhancing her features without drawing unnecessary attention. She had become a figure of both beauty and danger, embodying the predatory grace of a hunter.

The task of avenging her family and rescuing Milo had led her to a new target-Thomas Greaves' youngest son. The boy, a college student, was known for his arrogant demeanor and his reputation as a player. He was the weakest link, a man whose hubris made him vulnerable. Athena had chosen him for his ease of access and the opportunity his death would present to further unnerve Greaves.

On the evening she planned to strike, Athena slipped into her cat form, a sleek, black feline with a predatory grace. She prowled the city streets, her eyes sharp and alert as she tracked her prey. Her movements were silent, calculated, as she followed the boy from his campus to a nearby club where he was known to frequent. He stumbled out of the building hours later, clearly intoxicated and blissfully unaware of the danger stalking him.

Athena watched him with a cold detachment, her feline eyes following his erratic path. The boy was a typical young man of privilege-entitled, reckless, and easily swayed by his own desires. He wove through the darkened streets, his steps unsteady as he headed toward a quiet alley, a shortcut he believed was safe.

As he entered the alley, Athena shifted her form with fluid precision, slipping into the shadows. She crouched low, her body coiling like a predator preparing to strike. The alley was narrow and dimly lit, the perfect environment for a swift and discreet attack.

The boy leaned against a wall, pulling out his phone to check his messages. His back was turned to her, making him an easy target. Athena's movements were a blur-a silent, deadly approach. She struck with the swiftness of a cobra, her bite precise and lethal. The poison of her venomous fangs rendered him unconscious before he could even react, his body slumping to the ground in a lifeless heap.

The entire encounter was over in mere moments. Athena checked to ensure there were no witnesses and swiftly moved to cover her tracks. The boy's phone, now in her possession, would be erased of any incriminating evidence linking her to the crime.

With her task complete, Athena shifted back into her human form and slipped away from the scene. The weight of the boy's death was already a familiar burden, but she pushed aside the remnants of any lingering remorse. Each life she took was a step closer to their ultimate goal, a necessary sacrifice on the path to avenging her family and rescuing Milo.

As she made her way back to the fortress, Athena's thoughts were cold and calculated. The plan was progressing, and each move she made brought them closer to their final confrontation with Thomas Greaves. She would continue to dismantle his world piece by piece, breaking him down until he had no choice but to surrender Milo and face her wrath.

The fortress, with its blood-red glass and sprawling halls, awaited her return. It was a place of power and control, a fitting backdrop for the final stages of their retribution. Athena entered the great hall, the crimson light casting long shadows that danced across the walls. She stood alone in the center, her thoughts focused on the next steps.

She knew that the time for action was drawing near. The pieces were falling into place, and soon, she would confront Thomas Greaves directly. The path of vengeance had been set, and Athena was prepared to see it through to its bitter end, her heart hardened by necessity and her resolve unshakable.