Disclaimer: I do not own The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye and definitely not the Ptolemy's Gate.

He drifted. He was having trouble keeping awake now – the energy was draining unhindered from his side – but with a final effort of will, he kept speaking the necessary words.

Nathaniel -

I shut my mind to Bartimaeus's protests. It would do nothing now. My mind was made up. I smiled. Kitty was right. All magicians were stubborn, me included. Kitty, her name brought a frown onto my already battered face. I'd miss her. All the hope, purity – and though she may not know it – strength, in me during this time was all her doing. She let me see light even when everything was clouded over with darkness. She was a special one… that was sure. A little naïve maybe, but definitely a hero. I chuckled inwardly, I'm sorry, a heroine. In my mind, the fiery, miniature Kitty laid back to rest at my correction. I smiled at the thought of her. Everything about her set my heart racing. Her flawless face, those willful eyes, and that amazing personality that made her into what she was. I recalled earlier when she requested a mirror. When she had returned to her body from the Other Place, it seemed that her body had aged. To her horror, she swallowed it down and coped with it anyway.

"I can dye the hair."

"Yes."

"And as for the rest – I'll kind of grow into it."

"Yes."

"In about fifty years."

"Its just line, Kitty. Just lines. Lots of people have them. Besides, they might fade."

"You think?"

"Yes. They look a lot less bad already than when I first found you."

"Really?"

I felt a spark of hope surging through her because of my compliment. And because of it, the spark caught me along for the ride too. My face flushed a deep crimson but she didn't seem to notice.

"Definitely. Anyway, look at me. Check out these blisters."

I cursed myself for drawing attention to myself, but at least I managed to swerve into another topic.

A goofy grin pulled at my lips as the memory started to fade. Then I froze. The realization hit me harder than the white power of the Staff ever could.

I loved Kitty.

A silent tear rolled down my cheek as I spoke the last syllable of the Dismissal.

I loved Kitty. From now, until the end of time. Which, unfortunately for me, was soon. The Staff broke, and I watched as the glowing power engulfed the raging Nouda and me as well.

Say hello to Kitty for me…