Chapter 25 #2
Rowen swallowed. “I know. But I need to.”
“Nothing will harm you,” Bronwyn said, overhearing them. “The monster tried to break through, but it didn’t.”
“It couldn’t,” Ferne stated.
Rowen noticed how Bronwyn gave her a quick look. Did that mean the monster—or whatever kind of fiend it was—could get through? That it just didn’t happen the last time?
“Something got through if it attacked Finn,” Mason pointed out.
Neither of the women replied to that as they walked to the left.
Rowen’s heart began to beat rapidly, her breath quickening.
She stared at every door as they neared it and sighed once Bronwyn walked past. When they got to the second-to-last door on the right, Bronwyn finally halted.
Nothing about the closed door announced that it led to anything but a room. And that’s what made it so scary.
Rowen moved to stop Bronwyn as her hand closed around the door handle, but the door swung open before she could.
Rowen’s breath caught in her chest the moment her gaze landed on the empty room.
Bronwyn walked inside, followed by Ferne.
Mason trailed them a few seconds later. Rowen hung back as she continued to inspect the room that was devoid of furniture.
She had to physically lift her foot and place it across the threshold.
She stilled once she was in the room, waiting to see if something would suddenly come for them.
But nothing happened. She turned in a slow circle, looking more closely at everything.
It all looked untouched until she turned and found herself facing the opposite wall.
A jagged crack split the surface, drawing the others’ silent attention.
Mason stepped forward, running his hand along the fissure before turning to his sister.
“Yes, that’s exactly where Theo and the others brought me back through from The Grey,” Ferne explained.
Rowen shivered at the thought of being taken by something unseen and dropped into another dimension, stranded and exposed.
Ferne’s story had left her shaken yesterday.
Rowen hadn’t had time to freak out about any of it before the others had moved on to the next encounter.
“How are you still standing after all of that?” she asked.
Ferne smiled softly. “Theo.” She then looked at Bronwyn. “And the rest of the Druids here. We’re a family.”
“We look out for each other,” Bronwyn confirmed with a soft smile.
Mason took a step away from the wall. “You were taken once. Can it get to you again?”
“I believe it’s moved past me,” Ferne replied, her face lined with trepidation.
Bronwyn wrinkled her nose and sighed. “With every defeat we’ve given the evil, they ramp things up. It could try to take anyone at any time.”
“Its focus is on Kirsi, at the moment,” Ferne said.
Rowen thought of the younger woman. “Kirsi is who brought you to Skye to begin with?”
Ferne nodded. “Because she will be the one who fights it in the end.”
“Why her?” Mason asked. “Why not someone else?”
Bronwyn walked toward the door. “She was chosen. By what or who, I can’t say.
We all have parts to play.” She turned to face them.
“I was the one who first opened the portal between the dimensions and hid my unsuspecting, unconscious cousin, Beth, there. I believe that putting her there weakened this particular section between our worlds.”
“You can’t know that,” Ferne argued.
Bronwyn’s smile was fleeting. “My part also brought the Knights to Skye, giving us more allies. I wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for Elias and the others.”
“Don’t forget the manor,” Ferne pointed out.
Bronwyn touched the wall reverently. “That’s right. This house has also played an important role.” Her hazel eyes landed on Mason and then Rowen. “You were brought here, which means you’re both a part of the story now. I can’t wait to see what parts you will play.”
“I think I’ve done my bit by saving Mason,” Rowen said.
Ferne laughed softly. “While that was an important part, for which I’ll never be able to properly repay you, I think there’s more in store. You’ve decided to stay, remember?”
They quietly filed out of the room. Rowen shot Mason a quick look, but he was deep in thought. Ferne led them down the corridor to another room. Even before they approached, she heard voices from within, as multiple conversations were happening at once.
At the doorway, Rowen saw tables set up in a U pattern with chairs lining the outsides.
There were several whiteboards situated around the room, a corkboard with a map of Skye and pins stuck in areas, and a large screen hanging on one wall.
Everyone was already seated and waiting.
Upon closer inspection, she realized that Kirsi, Theo, and Ariah were missing.
Rowen took one of the empty chairs beside Mason and settled into it, unsure what was about to happen.
“Good, you’re here,” Rhona said when she noticed them.
“Let’s get right to the matter at hand. Mason is concerned about his staff at Crawford Estate and any leverage London might attempt to take.
I’ve spoken at length with Carlyle about this.
I don’t take Mason’s request to return there lightly.
However, I won’t be the one getting us there, so I thought it only fair that the one risking the most gets the final vote. Balladyn?”
Rowen looked around at the faces, but she recognized all of them. Suddenly, a man materialized beside Rhona. He stood tall and imposing, his black and silver hair falling well past his shoulders in a thick curtain. It was his silver eyes ringed in crimson that caught her attention.
That, and the fact that he was staring directly at her.