Uhh….Hey guys I'm back!
Bartimaeus: It's about time.
Uhh yeah sorry for the wait but the next chapter is here!
Random gruff guy: Great job, kid.
Enjoy!
Nathaniel
Nathaniel awoke to see Kitty sitting next to him in a chair, reading a book. He coughed and she looked at him. She smiled.
"How are you doing?" She asked him.
When he spoke his voice came out raspy. "I'm fine, just a little bit sore. How long has it been since I blew up?" He asked.
"Not that long," She answered. "Your magician friends tried to kick me out, but I reminded them that it was me who saved their sorry asses." She grinned. So did Nathaniel. He could defiantly imagine her saying something like that.
"How are you doing?" Nathaniel asked her. He noticed that her physical appearance had improved overall. Her warts were less visible and the bags under her eyes had gotten much smaller. Her face had fewer lines than the last time he saw her. She must have gotten some rest, he thought.
"Better than ever," She said, grinning. "Some magicians are actually afraid of me now. Next thing you know they'll be like djinnis for me."
The door opened and in came someone that neither Nathaniel nor Kitty wanted or expected to see. It was Farrar. An awkward silence overtook the room as Farrar and Kitty glared at each other with a mutual dislike and disgust. Farrar was the first to look away. She looked at Nathaniel and spoke.
"Ms. Jones, could you please leave the room?" She asked. She said it like one would issue an order. "I need to speak to Mr. Mandrake in private."
Before Kitty could respond with a rude word, Nathaniel spoke.
"Ms. Jones will hear anything she wants to hear, Farrar." Nathaniel said. Kitty smirked at Farrar and resisted the urge to stick her tongue out. Farrar was fuming. Nathaniel swore he could see smoke coming off her head. Farrar bottled up her anger and responded.
"Very well," She said. "In three days there will be a meeting in the Houses of Parliament in which a new Prime Minister will be chosen. You are among the candidates. There will be some commoner candidates as well." Farrar said the word commoner the way Bartimaeus would say 'Nathaniel's underwear'. "I assume you will attend?" She asked. Nathaniel's mind raced. PRIME MINISTER! If he became Prime Minister, he would hold such power! He would be treated with much respect. If he was told this a few months ago he would not have hesitated.
But now it was different. Now he cared about things other than power and rank. Things like Kitty. He wasn't sure he wanted to be a magician anymore. For the first time he was considering leaving the government and quitting his job. He tried to lock eyes with Kitty but she wouldn't look at him.
Farrar looked at Nathaniel expectantly, confused at why he hadn't responded yet. She knew his chances of being Prime Minister were high, and when he became Prime Minister, she would get in a relationship with him, which would allow her to climb ranks faster. She had it all planned out. So why wasn't he answering? Did it have something to do with the commoner, Kitty?
Kitty spoke out unexpectedly. "How many other magicians will be running for prime minister? Will commoners be voting?" She asked venomously. Farrar was taken aback. She looked at Nathaniel. He nodded.
"You heard her. Answer the questions. I'm curious." He said. Farrar grinded her teeth. Her patience was running thin.
"Fine. Sholto Pinn will be running, along with two commoners." Farrar said. Nathaniel vaguely remembered Pinn as the man with a overly attached servent named Simpkin. He noticed that Farrar sneered as she said the word commoner. "Commoners will have a third of the vote."
Kitty
When Kitty heard this, she was furious. One third? The other two thirds would be magicians! There was no way a commoner candidate would be chosen as Prime Minister. Maybe other positions, but definitely not Prime Minister. There was only one way this government wouldn't end up the same as the last. And that was if Nathaniel became Prime Minister. She looked at him. He looked back. He spoke to Farrar without looking away from Kitty.
"Farrar, could you please leave the room so Ms. Jones and I can talk in private?" Nathaniel asked politely. Farrar sighed and left.
"You need to run for Prime Minister," Kitty said. Nathaniel nodded.
"I understand. It's the only way," Nathaniel said, sighing. "Farrar!" He called. Farrar entered the room. "Tell the council that I will attend and run for Prime Minister." Farrar tried to contain her excitement. Her plan was going as she expected! She was glad that that brat Kitty wasn't able to keep John from becoming Prime Minister. She was giddy with almost childish excitement.
"Very well," Farrar said seriously. "I will inform them. Make sure you have your speech ready. I'll see you at the election." And then she left.
Neither Nathaniel nor Kitty noticed how exited Farrar really was.
I'm planning on bringing Bartimaeus back next chapter, but no promises. I do promise that he'll be back though. Please take a minute or two to review, and please let me know whether my characters are out of character. I'm sorry about taking too long to update, and it was the reviews that kept this story going. I read every single one of the reviews that you guys post, just to let you know. Thanks!
Have a nice day!
