Note: This takes place after Ptolemy's Gate, so it will, and does contain spoilers.

Note 2: For my Alex Rider readers: good news! I am half-way through the next chapter, so expect it soon!

Background:

The rules for summoning are different for vampires. The djinni is not forced to obey. He is also able to move freely in and out of the pentacle. It in no way tires out either party.

The magicians thought the vampires using magic was dangerous, so they banished them, both from the cities and from using magic. The punishment for breaking either was death. After several centuries, the vampires were forgotten, the younger generation of magicians were taught nothing of them, and considered them myths.

Rochelle

I sunk my teeth into the girls neck, feeding for the fifth time that week. Normally I wouldn't need to feed so often- once or twice a week was more then enough for vampires. But, as djinni severely disliked my kind, I wanted to be at my full strength to fight.

There was also the matter of the legality of what I was about to do. I was promised I wouldn't get caught, but the word of a magician means nothing. I wanted to be able to run if things went badly.

I dropped the body onto the dirty pavement, feeling little guilt. Killing was the fast, easy way to gain strength. Again, killing wasn't necessary, but it was common enough that I thought little about it. The high-ruling, picky family wouldn't even blink an eye about it. Actually, I thought, it may actually help my standing, as it was a magician's apprentice I'd killed, should I get caught.

I had been given a flat for my services. Although London was not one of my favorite places, I was not the type to turn down a free apartment, even if it was small for my taste. A flat, a $30,000 advancement, and a promise that I would not get caught was my payment for raising a djinni for an unmentionable reason-hence my reason for agreeing. I say "unmentionable" because I'd asked the magician why he'd hired me- a loathsome vampire- to raise this thing when he could have done it himself. Or had another magician do it. He hadn't answered.

My cell phone rang, startling me. "Tonight." He said, not bothering with a hello. "Tonight at midnight. I'll be over in a few hours with the equipment."

"Now, wait a minuet, Nathaniel." I snarled angrily. "I want some answers before I put my life on the line for you."

He sighed in frustration. We'd had this argument before- I'd threaten to not do this and he'd threaten to tell the council. "Fine." He conceded through gritted teeth. "Fine. As long as I get what I want, you shall get what you want."

Time has no meaning for my kind. A minuet, an hour, a day, all seems to same. To me, it was like I'd just gotten off the phone with the crazy magician when he showed up at my door.

He bustled in like he'd paid for the place or something. Actually he had, but he'd given it to me and I felt very violated by his not knocking.

"You know," I said, watching him run around from my perch on the leather sofa, "You really need to work on your manners."

He turned to face me. I was surprised to find he wasn't dressed like a magician. No fancy clothes, or robes. He was dressed like a commoner, and a poor one at that. Very poor. "You complain a lot for a vampire. Aren't you lot supposed to be the strong silent types?" He ignored my glare. I, and every other vampire, hated stereotypes.

"You said you wanted answers. Answers to what?"

"Why me?" I asked. "Why a vampire at all? You could do this yourself, or have another magician do this with much less trouble. Why pick me?"

"The magician's think I'm dead. I can't go to them: there would be far too many questions that I cannot answer.

"As for why I picked you . . . The djinni I plan on you summoning will be staying for a while. You won't get worn out but this and neither will he. That wouldn't be the case if I'd hired a magician. He will also be able to cross the pentacle, which is what I need."

"Those are the only reasons?" I asked. I knew he was keeping something from me, he was purposely blocking his thoughts. "Why not do this yourself, or is he too great for your power?"

He hesitated. "My powers aren't working. I can't do even simple, small spells without something going wrong. That's why I need to speak to this djinni."

I threw a bolt of power at him, reaching into his mind. He was telling the truth, but there was still something he was keeping from me.

"Very well. What lowlydjinni am I ssummoning"

"His name is Bartimaeus."

I laughed. "You weren't a very well-educated magician, were you Nathaniel?"

He stared at me, black faced. But a tiny spark of amusement glittered in his eyes. "And what makes you say that, Rochelle?"

I was still chuckling, not focused on his thoughts. "Because Bartimaeus is a very powerful and very ancient djinni. He wouldn't help you."

"Too powerful for you to summon?" He inquired.

I snorted. "Hardly. But as I have no clue how to fix your . . . problem, I can't make him fix it."

He stared at me for a long time. "Don't worry about that," He said, turning away and grabbing a piece of paper. "You just worry about getting him here."

I shrugged. "Whatever. Just don't complain to me when you don't get what you're looking for."