The druid was the embodiment of balance - it could not be swayed, duped or angered.  Roman, however, was merely a man and could be as petty as any - and when told to go chase himself by some hopped up little flapper, he took to it none too well.  With a savage grimace marring his normally reserved features, he flicked his cigarette at the open window before descending upon the girl with long strides, thrusting her against the bed, leaning over her with one arm bearing considerable weight down on her sternum, the other poised wide in preparation for a slap.  "<span style="font-style: italic">Rough</span>?" he growled.  Instead of slapping her, however, he leveled a pointed finger at her nose.<br/><br/>"We'll see how rough you like it when those men come for you," he warned.  "Give me what I want and I can protect you from them - if not I'll let you dangle, huh?"  It was true that he'd led the men to her by his actions tonight, but it was also true that they'd have found her soon regardless.  Roman's contact at the city morgue had tipped him off about the body being found, but such a sensational story would be on the front page of every newspaper come the morning.<br/><br/>Of course, although the temptress didn't know this, Roman was in no position to 'let her dangle.'  His only advantage on his enemies had been this one night's head start which he'd already lost - if he left Johnnie to their ends he would be giving them the best link to finding what Gregory Markham had discovered, while gaining nothing for himself.<br/><br/>Calming visibly, Roman gave one last push against her chest for emphasis before he leaned back up and collected himself, although he made no effort to apologize to the temptress.  Instead he gathered his dinner jacket and slipped it back on, straightening it and his cuffs after.  He moved to the closed door and pressed his ear against it, listening.  After a beat he came back to the center of the room.  "Alright kid, here's the new plan.  If you're not coming with me then there's no point in slipping out some back window.  I'm leaving through the door here, and I'm taking them with me.  Wait for us to leave and then get out yourself.  Don't go back home, don't go to any place you normally frequent.  Disappear."<br/><br/>At the small side table he grabbed a slip of paper and pencil, writing a quick note before handing it to the succubus.  "My address, should you change your mind and get tired of hiding, or, should you feel them closing in on you again..."  He didn't mention that he'd lifted the brooch from her evening dress when he'd manhandled her earlier, thus securing a means of finding her later himself.<br/><br/>"So long, Johnnie," he said as he turned toward the door a final time.  With his hand on the doorknob he took a calming breath before donning the druid's mantle.  Nothing changed in his outward appearance except perhaps he stood up a little straighter, but to those attuned to such things his aura veritably exploded, like from a guttering candle to the high-noon sun.  The druid closed the door behind him as he left the room, and as he strode down the hallway the sounds of thunder and ruin followed after as surely as his shadow.