"My world?" Sam asked, looking over at the cat with a raised eyebrow. Her lips spread into a small smile. "Hey, the sun comes up during the day and the moon at night there, too. We can tell the difference." Sam wondered where she could possibly begin. "My world is different. So, so different. In just about every way. Like I'm not sure how to begin to explain it to you..." She bit her lip as she thought about it for a minute then laughed softly. "There's no...at least where I live we don't have kings or castles. People don't ride horses except for, like, recreation? There's aren't any fairies or monsters or Prince Charmings where I live." She looked back over at Dorothea and shrugged. "There's no magic in my world. Until yesterday I always thought that magic was just something out of a fictional story. A fairy tale."

Sam took a breath before continuing. "My world's so big. There are all of these different continents separated by oceans and on each continent there are all of these other countries that I've never been to and each of them are different. But where I live, it's called New York. That's my home. And it's really fast? And noisy and crowded and huge. It's a little bit like the forest, except there are skyscrapers instead of trees. It's easy to get lost in if you don't know your way around. And it's always...alive. Things are happening in the city all of the time and there are so many things to do and place to go, even at night. That's why there are so many lights." Sam smiled fondly, and also with a hint of sadness. "It's a loud and busy place at any time of the day, but I like it. And I miss it. I'm just afraid that I'll never get back home. And if I never get back home then everyone I care about on the other side, my family and friends, they'll have no idea what happened to me. I'll just have disappeared. Gone without a trace. I can't put my parents through that."

~~~

Narissa's eyes were fixed upon the image of Marshal Derrick and her expression had turned dark and almost hideous. She could feel the livid rage welling up inside of her as he spoke. Not that she had any reason to doubt him. She was just tired of all of these delays. When she spoke her voice was soft, yet tense as she held back anger. "I've grown weary of these surprises, Derrick. No more. No more hiccups, no more delays, no more surprises. No more excuses. Complete the task that I have given you. Without further flaw. If you do not join the caravan within the hour I will know. I will be watching." Narissa smiled through her steely glare. "No more surprises. Do not let the girl slip though your clumsy fingers again. One more mistake, August, and I will retire you from my services." She felt like threatening him, telling him what would happen to him if he should fail. But he knew already. She regained her composure instead and give him a final look. "One last chance, Marshal Derrick. Do not be a fool and waste it." She shoved the mirror back into the drawer and closed it. She turned her back and leaned against the table, trying to take deep calming breaths. She could not fail, now. But if she did she took comfort in the fact that she would drag August Derrick down with her.