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eyed him with both worry and sadness, as she knew exactly what he was thinking about.
                “Another thing about that box,” Sir Jedalf said, hobbling closer to Amelia. She lifted her eyes to give the eccentric man her attention. “It will only work for you and not before reaching the bay. You must be at the bay when you open the box so you may go home.”
                “What do you mean it will only work for her?” Connor chimed in.
                “She is the only one who can open the box on the bay. If you try to be sneaky and open it yourself, it will not activate the portal into the mortal world.”
                “But,” Amelia began, trying to make sense of it all, “why does it have to be at the bay? Why can’t I just open it now and go home?”
                “Because I said so!” he exclaimed. By their blank stares, the wizard could tell they expected a better answer. Sir Jedalf sighed and slowly led them towards the front door as he explained. “There is a great body of water where you are from, correct?”
                “There’s a big lake just north of my town,” she replied after some thought.
                “You must open the box at a landmark that connects the two worlds. You can’t here because this mansion does not have a counterpart in your world. Nor does Esmeralda’s house, nor the hole from which you came from.”
                Amelia remembered how she had tried to stand up in the burrow only to find that from where she had fallen had been filled in with dirt, blocking her way back. “But, where is Gastro Bay? How will I get there by myself? Do you have a map?”
                Sir Jedalf’s boisterous laugh rattled the ceiling rafters above them. She couldn’t understand what was so funny about her questions. “Connor will guide you there, of course.”
                All eyes turned to the demon, who was suddenly paying attention to the conversation. “Me?” he questioned. “Who said I even wanted to go?”
                “You didn’t have to say it. Your eyes did for you.” Sir Jedalf came to Connor’s side and herded him away from the ladies. “I know why you want to go,” he whispered, “and I think it’s a good idea.”
                Connor looked at the serious countenance of the wizard, and then glanced back to the others who were edging towards the foyer to make their exit. “Are you saying that because my destiny is intertwined with this human?”
                “Not only that, but I can see the longing in your soul to leave this place. And it’s time for you to go. You’ve been here long enough.”
                Connor’s eyes grew dark and a shadow passed over his face. He scowled at the old man and muttered, “I have no soul”. He broke away from the wizard and joined the girls in the foyer.
                Esmeralda looked to Connor and could sense the turmoil within him. She turned back to look at Sir Jedalf. He nodded and spoke to her in his mind. The vampire understood and left the house with the others.
                As they made their way back to Esmeralda’s house to gather some meager supplies, Amelia’s mind reeled with so many questions and reservations. All of which having to do with Connor. Sir Jedalf’s words repeated in her mind about how their destinies were linked and how it was so obvious that Connor should take her to the bay. She didn’t understand why it was such a cut and dry solution.
                How could a nobody from Saxondale have connected fates with a demon from another universe? It made no sense and was puzzling, disturbing and thrilling all at the same time. She wanted to know why. Her natural instinct to learn and discover drove her to ask these questions. But, she couldn’t simply pull out a textbook and search for the answers in words on