Disclaimer: I don't own the Bartimaeus Trilogy. If I did, Nathaniel wouldn't have died. Obviously.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Ch. 1~

Kitty

Kitty skimmed through another of Mr. Button's books about Ptolemy's works. The effects of Ptolemy's Gate had all but worn off, and she was as good as new, but even with her regeneration, she hadn't the energy to read through the entire manuscript again. She was looking for something about ways to get to the Other Place besides Ptolemy's Gate --- but so far she'd had no luck.

In reality, though, if she was honest with herself, this wasn't the only reason that she'd immersed herself within the magician's collection. It had been several months since Nathaniel and Bartimaeus had died, and truthfully, she still hadn't come to terms with that. Nathaniel had promised her…

But they couldn't find his body, and he had been declared dead. There was no way he could have survived, they said; the body must have simply disintegrated with the sheer force of the Staff's power.

Much to Kitty's irritation, all of the remaining Council members had taken that at face value. None disputed it, likely because it made sense, logically. But with Bartimaeus and Nathaniel in the body at once, it seemed like the two combined should have been able to find some way to escape before the Glass Palace collapsed upon Nouda.

However viable the Council's advice was, Kitty refused to accept that the pair was gone. She was so sure that there had to be some way for them to come back, somehow. But it had been, what, three or four months now? She was losing her sense of certainty. Maybe…maybe they were…

No. The Council had given up; she would not. She reopened the book with a newfound resolve. Unfortunately, she recognized the entries on the ancient pages: she had already gone through this one numerous times. Mr. Button had a large collection, but there were precious few books on Ptolemy and the Other Place. She needed to visit the library.

The bus ride took minutes. Kitty nearly incapacitated the elderly lady beside her in her urgency to enter the library. The library she went to was one of the largest in the city, but she came so often for Mr. Button that she already knew her way around. Even the librarians recognized and greeted her as she passed. (This is not to say that she responded.)

Kitty found the section she needed quickly. Since most people completely disregarded the efforts of Ptolemy, she was able to find what she needed. She piled a few of the books into a stack in her arms. As she turned the corner, she accidentally collided with someone. As Kitty bent to collect her dropped collection, she glanced upward at the person she'd unintentionally assaulted. The person was wearing a cloak, with the hood up. His —or her, she couldn't really tell— face was concealed in shadow.

This inscrutable person --- while Kitty was sure that they had never met, something about him (or her) seemed mysteriously familiar. Picking up the last book off the floor, the person held it slightly out of reach.

"I know what you are looking for," said a feminine voice from underneath the hood. "I, too, search for someone lost. Perhaps we can help each other."

Kitty was intrigued, but not enough to listen to a stranger chatter. "I'm sure we've never met, and I need to go." Kitty took back her book and attempted to step past, but the person blocked her path.

The person coughed; it sounded almost awkward. "I apologize for your confusion, but it's best if no one knew I was talking with you. And I disagree: we have met." The person lifted the hood back slightly from her head, revealing the face underneath.

Kitty barely managed to conceal her inner displeasure. "Ms. Farrar." The magician nodded coolly. Kitty fixed her eyes on her. "Er, what do you want?"

Jane pursed her lips, doubtless from the torment of having to speak with a commoner. "I…have contacts, and they tell me that you do not accept Mr. Mandrake's death." Kitty eyed her suspiciously and nodded coolly. "It would be…. beneficial….for myself as well as for you, if you are correct. Therefore, I would like to make you an offer."

Kitty brushed past her. "I'm not interested in dealing with magicians, thanks." Jane somehow was able not only to keep up with Kitty, but also to bar her way for the second time. Kitty looked up at her in annoyance. "You know, this is not the way to get on my good side."

Jane allowed a half-smile. "Perhaps not. However, I don't need your goodwill so much as your attention."

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "Well, you've got it. What do you want?"

Jane drew a book from within the depths of her cloak. "If you have not given up your search for Mr. Mandrake, I have something that may be of some interest." Kitty could not read the title, which was in some foreign language. "But this is in ancient Egyptian, and I don't suppose you can read or translate it. I can help you in that area."

Kitty drew herself up to her full height of five feet five inches. "What makes you think I want your help? If I remember correctly, the last time we met, you were, ah, less than pleased to work hand-in-hand with me."

Jane smiled charmingly. "This time I can try to be agreeable. As said previously, Mr. Mandrake is of use to me. This book" --- here she held it out tantalizingly--- "will bring him back to earth, if he is able to come."

Kitty's eyes followed the document. "It could bring him back?" she asked uncertainly, her anti-Jane resolve wavering.

Jane was aware of this, and her smile widened. "It has the potential."

Kitty sighed and stared at the ground. "I suppose it couldn't hurt. "

Jane put the book back under her cloak and slid the hood back over her head. "Good. Now, you will need to come to my home, as discreetly as possible. You do realize what my fraternizing with you could do to my career?" Kitty couldn't resist rolling her eyes; Jane caught it. "I will see you in an hour." She slipped Kitty a fragment of paper with an address written on it.

A thought occurred to Kitty. "Ms. Farrar, how did you come across that book?"

Here Jane's poise faltered, just for a moment. She quickly reclaimed her self-confidence. "That does not concern you. What matters is that I have it, and you need it. Good day, Ms. Jones." She silently turned and exited the library.

Kitty checked out her books and walked outside, only to see the last bus of the day pull away. She shrugged her jacket over her shoulders and began the two-block journey back to Mr. Button's home.

Later, boredom left Kitty lounging on the floor, skimming through her books. At the bottom of one page there was a footnote mentioning Bartimaeus (well, one of his many names).

(4) There were many djinn that worked under Ptolemaeus, some of the most notable being Affa (deceased) and Rekhyt (fate uncertain).

Despite herself, Kitty found herself flipping back to the beginning to see the publishing year. If it was anytime recent…. Yes, at the beginning, before the inner title page. She slid her finger down the page, looking for that elusive number: there! It had been originally published in…Wow, a long time ago. But it also said it had been edited and republished ---- this year, after the Glass Palace incident? Kitty bit her lip in nervous excitement. Likely her theory was all in her head, but there was a chance, however slim and footnote-ish, that Bartimaeus had not been killed in the collapse. Moreover, if Bartimaeus might have escaped, then why could not Nathaniel?