A/N: You know there's something wrong when you procrastinate from writing your NaNoWriMo novel by... writing fanfic. Oh well. :) BTW, I have a bit of an idea for something that could be a prequel to 'Promises'... I'll try to write it after NaNoWriMo :)
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"Bartimaeus?"
"Hm?
"Do djinn grant wishes?"
I glanced at her. Kitty was, I had discovered, fond of asking me strange questions at strange times, and today was no exception. What a random thing to ask. "What?"
"I read a story once, about an Arabian boy who had a djinni who could grant wishes." She tiled her head and looked at me curiously. " Well? Can you grant wishes?"
I shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Though it's not really any different than just giving us orders. Call it what you will, it's still slavery. Why? Do you have a wish?"
Kitty bit her lip. "I don't know. I don't think I have a wish you can grant."
Needless to say, I was insulted. How dare she doubt me in such a way! I was, after all, a fourth level djinni. Couldn't grant her wishes… I ask you. I sat up; puffing out my chest in what I hoped was an impressing manner. "I am Bartimaeus of Uruk! I built the walls of Prague! I have spoken with Solomon himself! There is no wish, Kitty Jones, that I can not grant!"
Kitty giggled, looking away from me and out the window. The sky was growing dark, as was the room we were in. Her smile faded, her eyes grew sad. We were silent for a long time, but somehow, I didn't mind it. I closed my eyes and listened to her breathe.
"I wish," she finally said. I opened my eyes and looked at her. She sighed. "I wish I was happy."
I hated hearing the words leave her lips, because she was right - I didn't know how to grant that wish. And I wished, more than anything, that I did.
She turned to me and tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Or," she said softly, "you could just hold me."
I smiled. That, I could do.