Page 5 of Ramiel

“She knew I’d never be coming back,” the cambion said sorrowfully.“They’ve probably found Luca’s body and will leave the area so I’ll never be able to find them.”

Before the Rapture, their clan had roamed all over the country, searching for towns who would welcome their show.Each member of their clan possessed skills to entertain people.A few trained animals to perform.Some were acrobats or jugglers.Others were trained in sleight of hand and passed it off as magic.A few were fake fortune tellers.Only Granny Blaze and Caterina had real magic.

Caterina used her innate skill with fire during her performances.She was an acrobat who breathed fire and always drew a crowd.Like the rest of her clan, she was attractive and had olive skin, black hair and dark eyes.They were exotic to normal everyday Americans and they’d used it to their advantage.

“Then the Rapture came and our audience either vanished or died,” she said, picking up her speed so she was running at a steady pace.“We’re skilled at hunting and gathering, so we’ll never starve, but life hasn’t been easy,” she muttered.They’d been attacked over a dozen times by desperate starving mobs during the past nine months, but they’d always prevailed.Most of them knew how to shoot both pistols and rifles.

Caterina had never been to a normal school.The Blaze clan taught their children everything they needed to know.Her education had been wide-ranging and she didn’t feel like she’d missed out on anything.They’d moved around too much for her to form any relationships with anyone, but she’d briefly dated two guys.Luca had been enraged when he’d found out she’d slept with two outsiders.He’d wanted to be her first.

A shudder wracked her even though he was now dead.Growing up with her close and distant cousins had put her off dating any of them.She would have been expected to marry one of the single guys soon.The Rapture had spared her from having to choose someone to shackle herself to, at least.

Sometimes, following traditions that had been in effect for hundreds of years could be stifling.Caterina realized she was free to make her own decisions now that she’d become an outsider.The thought didn’t fill her with joy, but with more despair.What was she supposed to do with the rest of her life now?What would happen after she met this alien?Her great-grandmother hadn’t given her any details.She would just have to find the extraterrestrial and follow her instincts.

“Sure,” she said sarcastically.“What could possibly go wrong with that scenario?”

It was cooler to the northeast of America than it was on the west coast.Summer just wasn’t as hot here.Her dark olive skin helped her avoid getting sunburnt as she followed the roads ever northward.Wild animals like deer, foxes and even bobcats scattered, or ran and hid when they saw her coming.She avoided the houses she detected humans lurking in.The last thing she needed was to be followed.Her great-grandmother had told her to stay out of sight and she knew it was wise advice.

Caterina continued her journey until the sun began to set, then searched for somewhere to spend the night.It would be safer for her to travel during the day from now on.People who’d been left behind could be downright evil.Some liked to set traps and lie in wait for victims to get themselves caught.

She chose a house and made sure it was vacant before breaking in.Once again, she searched the pantry for supplies, then made herself at home.

Chapter Four

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RAMIEL SHADOWED FATHERIngle, staying out of sight as the priest finished his speech and headed for a church.His congregation scattered and returned to their homes.A once thriving community, only a fraction of the populace remained now.The stores were empty and the humans were far too gaunt, except for their spiritual leader.Their preacher didn’t look like he was wasting away.

Eyeing the tall church, Ramiel’s hearing was acute enough to hear everything that was going on inside from an empty house next door.He peered through the curtains as the priest chatted with someone.The parishioner left and Father Ingles was alone.

It was mind-numbingly boring listening to his target amble around inside the church.Visitors were too frequent for the knight to ambush the priest.He preferred to have as little contact with the townsfolk as possible.Humming at times when he was alone, the human practiced speeches as he paced up and down.There were too many houses for Ramiel to search without being spotted, which was the only reason why he persevered.The former occupant of this home had been far smaller than the knight when he checked the closets and dressers for clothing.

Keeping one ear on the preacher, Ramiel picked up a book that had been left on the coffee table.His eyebrows rose when he saw an alien with gold skin and horns on the cover.The female he was clasping to his chest was staring up at him in adoration.

“Am I really going to put myself through this?”the warrior asked incredulously.He looked at the bookcase standing against one wall to see it was full of novels in the same genre.Heaving a sigh, he saw he had the eleventh book in the series and crossed to grab the first book.

Plonking down onto the couch, Ramiel grimaced as he opened the novel and began to read.Hours passed and he became riveted in the story of an alien warrior who was trying to woo his fated human mate.