Page 47 of Ramiel

Chapter Twenty-Eight

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CATERINA FROZE WHENshe saw the box that was sitting on the picnic table.About eight inches long and six inches wide, it was black and glossy.A picture of a hawk had been engraved on it.It was the box she’d dreamed about.The one her great-grandmother had tossed into a bottomless pit.

Crossing to the table, the cambion lifted the lid with a shaky hand.Her jewelry, photos of her mom and other precious mementos were inside, along with a folded note.She picked up the note and recognized Granny Blaze’s handwriting.Reading the note, she dropped it and put her hands over her face.Her body became wracked with sobs again.

Once more, Ramiel folded her into his embrace.The huge warrior held her tightly as she cried in relief and sorrow.“What did the note say, female?”he asked her gently when her tears began to ebb.

“You were right,” she said, pulling away to wipe her tears with the hem of her t-shirt.His gaze dropped to her toned abs and he jerked his gaze away.He sat at the picnic table in an unsuccessful attempt to hide his desire.Picking up the note, she sat down across from him.“Granny Blaze saw a vision of Luca attacking me and me defending myself,” she said.“They found his body and buried him, then had to move on.“Someone would have spotted their caravans and attacked in a large group if they’d stayed.”

“Why didn’t the humans find the box?”he asked.

“The caravans left, so no one had any reason to search the campsite,” she figured.“My family is fine and Granny Blaze said she’s sure we’ll meet again one day.”

Caterina felt like a weight had been lifted off her now that she knew she hadn’t been banished from her clan.Luca was the outcast instead of her and she knew she would see her great-grandmother again eventually.

“We should continue on to Manhattan,” Ramiel figured.

She could tell he was disappointed that his questions would remain unanswered.“I wish I had the sight so I could fill you in on what Fate’s plan for us is,” she said.Tucking the note back into the box, she started putting her jewelry on again.The gold and silver bracelets, anklets and necklaces made more noise than she’d realized once she’d donned them.“I’ll have to take these off if I need to sneak up on anyone,” she said ruefully.

“I’m glad your family is safe and well,” Ramiel told her when she got up to leave.“I’m glad they buried Luca near the toilets,” he added.

Caterina snickered as she tucked the box with the note in it beneath her arm.“It’s kind of fitting,” she agreed.

“Do you know the way to Manhattan from here?”he asked as they got back into the pickup truck.

“We just need to get onto a nearby highway, then follow the signs,” she replied.“It’ll take a few hours to get there, since we’re inland a bit.”

Ramiel took off and she guided him to the highway.They wended their way around obstacles as he asked her questions about her life.Nomadic people had been around in previous eras, so her lifestyle didn’t seem all that strange to him.

“I don’t think we can go any further,” Caterina said when she saw a huge pileup ahead.“We’re pretty close to Manhattan now.I think most of the roads will be clogged with traffic.We should probably park somewhere and go the rest of the way on foot.”

Ramiel nodded in agreement, then peered around.He spied an open double garage that only had a small sedan in it.The spot next to it was vacant, so he deftly reversed inside.“The truck should be safe here,” he figured.

They got out and she shoved the black box and some supplies into a backpack.“I’ll have to remember where this house is so I can come back for the rest later,” Caterina said.

“With luck, we’ll find my brothers and they can take us to their base,” her companion said.

“It’s getting cloudy,” his female noted.“I think it’s going to storm before too long.

Shouldering their gear, they ran along the sidewalk, passing stalled traffic and skeletons.Few of the houses were occupied as they raced past them.Caterina guided Ramiel to the Bronx.“I have a bad feeling about this,” she murmured.“Where the hell is everyone?”

“The area is far too deserted,” Ramiel agreed uneasily.“We should climb up high and scout the city from afar.”

“It’s lucky I stole these from the cannibals,” Caterina said, taking binoculars from a duffle bag.She’d found them in the town hall.Ramiel’s grin made her heart flutter like one of the heroines in his beloved romance books.

Snickering to herself, she followed the warrior to one of the tallest buildings in the neighborhood.They climbed the stairs to the rooftop, then loped over to the side facing Manhattan.