Nathaniel had just dismissed me and the power of the staff was released but for some unknown (1) reason, I was not being drawn back to the Other Place. I was being sucked back down to Earth and in a moment or pure habit I changed into my most familiar form. Ptolemy.

Third Person POV

Nathaniel's survival instinct must have been stronger than his exhaustion for the second he dismissed Bartimaeus he threw the staff with whatever energy he had remaining in the direction of the demon(excuse me) djinni, known as Nouda. The burst of energy the long sealed djinni within the staff released was enough to effectively destroy the cloests demon (for it suits him far better) , which in this story was Nouda. Despite the brunt of the explosion having been taken by Nouda, Nathaniel and the newly appeared Bartimaeus were blown out of the Glass Palace and through the surrounding woods, unconscious, bleeding, and seemingly dead.

Bartimaeus POV

Pain, pain and more pain. Why is there so much pain? Reminds me of that time when Faquarl and I had had that great (2) idea about the toad and the tennis ball (3)…Anyways, the pain. Bearable, but only just. I was slowly coming to and along with consciousness came the memories. But that really only confused things further. Hadn't Nathaniel dismissed me? The Other Place never held this much pain for me before. Then I heard that incompetent fool calling my name. Oh man, when I'm really awake that boy is going to get it. I had even begun to think he was an okay guy, maybe a little bit on the vain side (4), but an okay master nonetheless. He was even going to let me live when I'd fully accepted my fate to die by his side but no, he couldn't even do a proper dismissal! He had dismissed me so many times before but the moment it really mattered he just had to fail. Oh man, oh man is that twerp in for something. (5)

Nathaniel POV

That damn djinni won't wake up. Was all that was going through John Mandrake's head as he tried to wake up the lying form of Ptolemy.

"Bartimaeus, you stupid, incompetent demon, wake up this moment, or I'll come in there and get you myself and I won't be gentle either," John said. While he really had no way to wake the demon up himself he thought that the djinni would respond to threats and name-calling as he usually did. And, despite the fact that it was all said in a shaky, fearful voice, it worked.

"Will you just shut the fuck up, Nat. My head is killing me, every part of my body I can feel hurts like hell…Do I even have legs still?" Bartimaeus was silent for an imperceptible pause, while his mind took in what was said (it only took that long even because his mind was still all jumbled, remember he thinks on a different level than humans)"…DID YOU JUST CALL ME AN INCOMPETENT DEMON!?!?!?! "He managed to roar in a threatening voice despite his earlier complaints." YOU COULDN'T EVEN DISMISS ME PROPERLY SO NOW I'M STUCK HERE IN THE MOST PAIN I'VE BEEN IN IN MY ENTIRE GODDAMN EXISTENCE , AND YOU DARE TO CALL ME IMCOMPETENT?!.." His rant however was cut short when he opened his eyes and saw the look on his master's face. He had never thought to imagine such a look as the one which currently occupied his face, let alone seen it in real life. It was one of pain, confusion, relief, but the overriding emotion was anger.

"I failed to dismiss you. It's my fault that you're in pain?!" he was attempting to control his voice but he had only been awake for a few minutes and was shocked by what he had heard. Suffice to say even if he did get his voice under control the look on his face would have spoken legions. It was enough to shut Bartimaeus up and he took notice of the fact. Taking his opportunity he continued his rant his voice getting louder and louder with each word spoken.

"You think I wanted you to be in pain? Do you think I didn't try to dismiss you? Did you even THINK about the fact THAT I WAS TRYING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE? THAT I WAS USING EVERYTHING I HAD TO GET YOU AWAY BEFORE YOU COULD BE HURT?! DID YOU EVERY CONSIDER HOW I FELT KNOWING I WOULD DIE WITHOUT EVERY SEEING ANYONE I CARED FOR EVER AGAIN!? NOT BEING ABLE TO SAY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY, TO APOLOGIZE TO KITTY AND HER FRIEND, TO THANK HER FOR WHAT SHE DID FOR ME , to tell you how I…." He cut himself off realizing what he was about to say.

Unfortunately, Bartimaeus had already come to his senses and was completely aware of what was about to be said.

"To tell me what. Nathaniel?" His question was barely above a whisper. The same volume of where Nathaniel cut himself off. Almost blown away by the wind that was sweeping through the valley. Almost. But not quite.

1: at least to me, I'm sure somebody somewhere has an explanation for it

2: Well it seemed it at the time. You humans wouldn't understand anyways.

3: But that's a story for a whole nother time.

4: well there was also that dreadful sense of fashion. I got chills whenever I saw those horribly clashing colors…Ugh

5: And not a good something, either, A very, very, very BAD something. I just don't know what that something will be quite yet.