Page 55 of Ramiel

“So it would seem,” his advisor said.“His mind was beginning to fracture from the amount of mind control we’ve been using on him.I’m surprised he’s retained enough self-awareness to realize we’re manipulating him.”

Rahab hated dealing with petty problems like this.Usually, he’d just kill the humans who didn’t play along.Things were trickier this time.Oliver Giamano was the one who was drawing the humans to Manhattan with his promises of a better life.They expected him to save them from their starvation.Getting rid of him before they’d gathered the army Rahab needed would be unwise.“Do you have any suggestions?”he asked sourly.

Xathan inclined his head, of course.Far too clever, he always had a plan.“We should pretend we don’t know about the order he gave to his staff,” Xathan said.“Everything is going smoothly at the moment, so we don’t have any need to tamper with Mr.Giamano’s mind.We should be able to maintain stability for a few months, as long as Creel Lawson doesn’t throw any spanners into the works.”

Scowling at the prepper’s name, Rahab nodded in agreement.“Creel’s been quiet since you slit his lackey’s throat right in front of him,” he said.“He knows his own life is at stake if he crosses us.I doubt he’ll do anything stupid for a while.”

Xathan’s walky-talky crackled, then one of the soldiers spoke.“GG has just been spotted in Brooklyn!”he reported.“All available soldiers need to head there before she goes back into hiding!”

A snarl lifted Rahab’s upper lip as he snatched the device from his companion’s pocket.“Where is she?”he growled, fury already rising.

“She was seen near an abandoned skating rink, Lord Rahab,” the male replied.

“I’m on my way,” the commander of the Soldiers of Chaos said.“If you lose her, you’ll lose your life.If anyone touches her, I’ll tear them apart.”

“Yes, Lord,” the soldier said, but his leader was already on the move.

Xathan caught the walky-talky before it could hit the floor when Rahab dropped it.He raced after his commander with their guards trailing behind them.

Still shirtless, Rahab’s focus was absolute as he zeroed in on the location he’d been directed to.He’d memorized maps of all five boroughs by now and vaguely remembered the skating rink.Sprinting to the venue, he saw a cluster of his men further along the road.He scanned the large building and couldn’t detect anyone inside it.

One of his men saw him and waved, then pointed.“She went that way!”he called out.

Xathan caught up to Rahab just as he took off again.“Phul, do you copy?”he said into his walky-talky.

“I’m here,” the second in command replied.“I’m on my way to Brooklyn,” he added.“Only a few guards are watching our base.Everyone else is enroute to your location.”

“Hurry,” Xathan urged him, then raced after his boss.

Rahab caught sight of a blonde female turning at the far end of an alley to his left.Racing after her, he sent out his senses when he didn’t spot her.Picking up on someone fleeing back the way he’d come, he grinned in fierce delight.“I’m coming for you, Glory Gold,” he said, barely recognizing his own voice.

He ran back towards the skating rink and saw the female dart into the neighboring property.Warehouses were lined up side by side.She ran over to the closest one and tried the door handle.Sunglasses hid most of her face.She was skinnier than he remembered, as if she’d lost her muscle tone from not working out.Going without the luxuries he’d provided for her had obviously worn her down.

Spying him standing there, glaring at her, GG screamed shrilly and ran towards the next warehouse.Watching her running away from him again was enough for his rage to break free.Roaring in profound fury, Rahab lost the ability to reason.He rushed towards the female who’d dared to abandon him.Grabbing hold of her arm, he slammed her into the metal wall of the warehouse.Her scream was much louder and filled with agony this time as he heard some of her bones snap.

Laughing in crazed delight, Rahab picked her up and slammed her to the ground.She weakly tried to crawl away and he stomped on her hand, smashing her fingers.He kicked her hard enough to cave her ribs in and she slammed into the warehouse again.

Moaning in pain, GG didn’t have the strength to crawl away this time.She curled into a defensive ball and put her arms in front of her face, trying in vain to protect herself from his wrath.

Xathan, Phul, Lachial and Vetis were the first to reach their commander.Rahab was lost in one of his uncontrollable rages again.He was a danger to everyone when he was in this condition.Phul waved at their guards to stay back.“It’s over,” he said into his walky-talky.“Everyone can return to their duties,” he ordered.

“It’s always an inspiration to see our commander in action when he’s insanely vicious like this,” Vetis said in fascination.He grinned when Rahab pulled one of GG’s arms off.“I bet that hurt,” he said with a giggle.

“He’s making a hell of a mess,” Lachial said in wistful admiration, wishing he could help end the life of the female who’d caused their boss so much mental anguish.

“That’s not GG,” Xathan said quietly, instantly destroying their relief.

“What?”Phul asked as his belief that the beautiful blonde had finally been dealt with was shattered.“How can you tell?”he asked.

“Look at her face,” Xathan said.His companions all turned just in time to see the blonde’s head being ripped off.

“Her sunglasses just fell off,” Lachial said, then smirked.“Heh, you’re right.That’s not GG.”

“Maybe Rahab won’t be able to tell,” Vetis murmured.

Rahab sank down to his knees, heaving for air as his fury began to subside.Bathed in the blood of the woman who’d dared to flee from him, he grasped GG’s head by her now sodden hair.It had turned scarlet with her own blood.His triumph changed to confusion when he saw her face.This female was plain rather than beautiful and her terrified, sightless eyes were brown instead of blue.Dropping the head, he roared in renewed rage that his revenge had been denied.

“I think he can tell,” Lachial said gravely, then the two blond warriors laughed soundlessly.