Chapter 3
Chapter Three
The longer Rowen remained in the building, the more she felt as if she needed a shower. There was something wrong with the London Druids, but she couldn’t lay her finger on what it was. The meeting was part sermon, part social gathering. And all ick.
“I need the restroom,” Rowen whispered to Ella, who hadn’t let her out of her sight.
“The toilet is down the hall to the right.”
Rowen bristled at the subtle correction. She bit off a curt response and turned away. Three steps later, she whirled around when she noticed the woman behind her. “I can find it on my own, thanks.”
“You could get lost.”
“I don’t need my hand held,” she stated plainly.
Ella’s lips, stained red with lipstick, pinched slightly. “This is a large building, and you aren’t allowed in some areas.”
“Perhaps I’ll pee right here, then,” Rowen snapped.
Ella jerked back as if slapped. “I’m merely trying to be civil.”
“You’re hovering, and it’s rude.”
“Fine,” Ella stated and lifted her nose. “I’ll wait here.”
Rowen turned on her heel and found her way to the bathroom.
Twice, she looked over her shoulder to make sure Ella hadn’t followed.
Once inside, she closed and locked the door and rested her forehead against it.
Then she walked to the sink and splashed water on her face.
It was only when she looked up that she saw her mascara running.
“Great job, Rowen,” she mumbled while cleaning under her eyes.
She paced the small room, thankful she had it all to herself.
Ella was superglued to her side, and that would make sneaking out difficult.
It would be in her best interest to stay until the end.
That way, she wouldn’t draw more attention to herself.
But she hadn’t gotten through the first hour.
How in the world could she get through the rest?
Especially since she didn’t know how long the meetings lasted or if they would let her leave.
They had to, though. If she didn’t get on her return flight, her mom would know.
But what could her family or any of the Salish Druids do against a group the size of London?
Nothing. And London knew it. It had been a mistake to accept the invitation, and an even bigger one to attend the so-called meeting.
“Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck,” she whispered.
Rowen’s head whipped around as someone jiggled the door handle. It was a reminder that she couldn’t remain in the toilet forever. She could fake an upset stomach and say she ate something that didn’t agree with her. That was plausible.
There would likely be Healers around to handle that, though.
Her lips twisted. That meant the migraine idea wouldn’t work either. Ella probably had an answer to every excuse Rowen might conjure. So, her only option was to go with her original plan and sneak out. She had gotten past her mom and aunt many times. She’d get past Ella.
Rowen flushed the toilet for anyone who might be listening, and checked her reflection in the mirror as she looped the strap of her purse over her head so it lay across her body.
Then she opened the door to find two girls, no older than ten or eleven, standing with their heads together, talking.
They didn’t spare her a look as they shoved past her into the room.
She stepped into the hall, expecting to find Ella waiting.
Others stood clumped together in the short passage, talking.
She slowly wove her way through them while keeping her eye out for Ella.
When she saw a doorway leading to another room on her left, she took it, hoping it would get her back to the front.
It wasn’t that her group of Druids didn’t mingle, because they did.
And they did it after meetings. But this seemed to be more about who you knew and what you could gain from that connection than forging bonds that strengthened and nurtured magic.
A gathering of Druids was much like a coven of witches.
A single Druid could be powerful, but a cluster that joined their magic could be invincible.
Thankfully, Rowen was barely noticed as she worked her way through the room and found another doorway.
To her delight, it led her closer to the front door.
A cautious glance proved Ella wasn’t around.
Rowen knew getting out of the building would take every devious and crafty tactic she had—without using magic.
No sense in turning the attention of every Druid in the building on her.
As she moved about the building, she walked with purpose, as if she had every right to go wherever she wanted. The crowds hid her from Ella, but it also made it more difficult for her to find her way to the front. She meandered casually while keeping an eye out for any hint of Ella’s purple shirt.
Elation soared through Rowen when she caught a glimpse of the entryway straight ahead. She had to keep herself from sprinting toward it. She had made it this far. She would make it the rest of the way.
Believe it, and it will be.
Her mother’s words whispered into her mind.
Rowen kept moving forward. A burst of euphoria filled her chest when she finally stood in the foyer.
She was about to grab her coat when she spotted purple out of the corner of her eye.
Rowen decided to leave her favorite trench and hurried to the door instead.
She opened it only wide enough to slip through.
The cool evening air hit her heated skin, and a smile split her face.
Relief zinged through her as she paused.
The drizzle from earlier had stopped, and dusk was fully upon them, with the streetlights and business lights reflected in the puddles and beads of water everywhere.
It was only once she was outside that she let herself be thankful that the door hadn’t been locked.
Rowen eyed the cabs passing in front of her.
She could race out and flag one down, but what if someone came out and saw her?
What if Ella checked outside? No, she couldn’t chance that.
She didn’t want a confrontation. All she wanted was to get to her hotel, grab her belongings, and go to the airport.
She’d sleep there if she had to. Because she wouldn’t take the chance that Ella or anyone else from London might come to her room.
She hurried away from the door and headed to the side of the building toward the River Thames.
Twice, she looked back, but she didn’t see anyone coming after her.
The smile she wore faded when she remembered the CCTV cameras everywhere that would be able to track her.
She could use her magic to disable certain cameras, which might buy her a little time, but not much, since she’d never get all of them.
Better to take her chances for now. If she were backed into a corner, she would turn to her magic.
Because no one was going to force her to remain in the city.
Her steps slowed as the river loomed ahead of her.
She looked to the right, then to the left.
Her instincts told her to go right, even though that would take her along the backside of the building she had just escaped from.
It didn’t make sense. Nor was it safe. She tried to go left, but only got a few steps before her intuition had her looking to the right again.
Rowen shook her head in defeat and turned in that direction.
She was jogging along the sidewalk when she saw a door open about fifteen feet in front of her.
Her heart seized as she thought someone might be coming for her, but then a man staggered out before falling to his hands and knees.
She started to hurry past him, but the agonized groan of pain brought her up short.
She stood there, telling herself to keep going, to forget him or whatever trouble he might be in.
She had her own problems. Yet his labored breathing reached her over the sounds of the city.
Rowen reluctantly turned her head toward him in time to see him struggling to use the side of the building to pull himself up.
The light above the door cast his face in shadow, but not the dark, wet stain against the left side of his shirt.
Blood. She dug her nails into her palms as she lowered her gaze, spotting the belt tightened around his thigh as a tourniquet.
He managed to get to his feet and kept his shoulder pressed against the building as he clumsily hobbled forward an inch at a time.
Rowen didn’t know who he was or what had happened, but he was obviously trying to flee the organization.
Someone would come after him, just as they would her.
If she were smart, she’d forget all about him and worry about getting home.
Then she remembered how her instincts had led her right to him.
“Shit,” she murmured and pivoted to head to him.
Suddenly, his leg gave out, and he crumpled to the ground with a laborious grunt. Rowen ran the last few feet to him as he attempted to get to his feet again. She dropped down to one knee. “I can help,” she told him.
He looked up at her and blinked twice as if not really sure she was there. Only half his face was illuminated by the light, but she recognized him from the meeting. He was the same man Ella had been oohing over.
He shook his head as he drew in a labored breath, sweat beading his brow. “You shouldn’t get involved.”
“If I don’t, you’ll bleed out before you get to wherever you’re headed. Trust me, it’d be better if I did. But…I can’t leave you.”