All right, chapter three is here.
Thank you to Hanyou Yarnball, RoxasIsReal13, and Kerii-chan for reviewing. You keep me writing. Thank you.
Suggested Listening - Africa by Toto
Now, let us begin.
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Neteryt Chapter Three
Written By MoonlightDewz
The next morning, sun was streaming in through the window. 1 (Well, at least as much sun can stream in England. I always had a slight dislike for England because of all the rain; Egypt is much nicer because it is warm and dry. Maybe I would return to the land of the Nile someday if I ever got a chance.)
I was on my back, still in cat form, if a little sloppy around the edges, and I heard Kitty's voice calling Ptolemy's name. I flicked an ear; opened my eyes and stretched, all four kitty legs lengthening as far as they would go. I fixed my shape, rolled over, got to my feet, and as I sat on the bed, I watched my master sleep.
I smiled. He looked so peaceful and beautiful, if things had turned out differently in Egypt, I wouldn't have had any complaints waking up to that face every day.
Kitty called again, and since Ptolemy didn't seem to be waking up, I decide that the task fell to me.
I padded easily over to his shoulder and proceeded rub my furry head into his side. 2 (If this had been Nathaniel I probably would have needled him in the shoulder or breathed cat breath up his nose, but since it was Ptolemy I went for the more gentle approach.)
My master moved a bit and raised a hand to pet me. His hand found the back of my neck and while his gentle caressing was exceedingly nice; he wasn't about to deter me from my task.
I purred and placed a soft kitty paw in his face.
That woke him.
"Good morning." I said, after he had opened those gorgeous dark eyes and I removed my paw.
He sighed and smiled softly at me, his body warm and his eyes soft, and I almost wished I had made love to him the night before.
"Good morning, Rekhyt." He said, fighting back a yawn.
"Your mother has been calling you." I smiled, driving my thoughts away, "You better get up before she decides to come up here."
Ptolemy sat up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and, after leaving the bed and bundling me up in his arms, moved out of the room. We walked down a short hallway, down some stairs and came into the kitchen, were Kitty was drinking coffee and reading the paper. 3 (Probably waiting until the papers started writing about the commoner's uprising, because we all knew it was going to happen eventually.)
Ptolemy let me onto the tabletop and I padded over to Kitty to look at the front page of the paper. I read some dates 4 (it was the 5th of June, 2027, Sunday) and checked to see if anything exciting was happening. My master sat down in a chair somewhere behind me, and I sat down, right were I was, as well.
The Uprising was making progress. Although not in the way I had originally thought.
"PENTACLE" ATTACKS GOVERNMENT BUILDING, FIVE INJURED, was the headline, and as I skimmed over the small print I learned that some rouge magicians under the name of the "Pentacle" had targeted the government, which was being run by magicians and commoners. 5 (That was new. Who would of thought that magicians and commoners could actually be equals? Most of the time they just overthrew each other.) The "Pentacle", by what the article said, were a group of magic users who disliked commoners and didn't like the way the government was changing to be an equal representation between the two parties.
I sighed and shook my head. Humans could never fully get along could they? They were always fighting over food or land. I was surprised that civilization had even been possible, because it didn't seem like anyone wanted to agree on anything.
"Good morning, mother." Ptolemy said behind me, and Kitty looked up from her paper.
"Good morning." She said, a smile on her face. She looked happy, and for that I was glad. She had tried so hard to change her world, and although she had gone through many hardships, she eventually succeeded. It was good that she was able to be so happy.
Then, she noticed me sitting on the table.
Her eyes settled on me, almost looking surprised that I was there.
"Hello." I said, looking at her.
"Hello again, Bartimaeus," she said, the smile coming back to her face, "Are you planning on staying around this time?"
"Yes," I said, nodding, before I turned around and moved to sit by Ptolemy's breakfast. 6 (Cereal, if you're curious.)
"Well, that's good to hear." She said, folding her paper, "With the way things are right now, we could use all the help we can get."
I didn't bother asking what "help" I'd be giving, I knew I would find out eventually. 7 (Most likely when I was being shot at and diving for cover.)
From my place on the table, the cat's tail lazily swinging back and forth over the edge, I studied Ptolemy and Kitty. When I had first seen them the other day, I couldn't find any resemblance, but now that I could get a good look, I realized that there were similarities between them.
They both had the same dark hair, and the same nose. It was strange that I have never noticed before. Maybe that was the reason I had been so open with Kitty the first time she and I had a civil conversation. She reminded me of Ptolemy. Ptolemy was Kitty's son, at least in this life.
For the rest of breakfast, Kitty and my master discussed what they were both going to do for the day. Kitty was going to a government meeting of some kind, 8 (she didn't look like she wanted to attend the meeting but had forced herself into going) and Ptolemy was going to the library to do research.
I smiled. Same old Ptolemy, always had to know everything under the sun, and a good amount that wasn't.
The meeting over, Ptolemy bid his mother goodbye and left to get dressed, leaving Kitty and me alone as she collected her wallet and keys to leave. However, before she left the house she looked directly at me and told me, very seriously,
"Bartimaeus, protect my son."
I told her I would, and as she left I hopped off the table and followed Ptolemy up the stairs to his room.
I heard the front door close when I reached his retreating feet in the hallway. Kitty was gone.
He entered his room and I sat down outside the doorway. I was perfectly comfortable staying out of the room while he got changed. If it would make him feel uncomfortable with me watching him undress I'd be fine outside the room.
He didn't give me a choice.
"Rekhyt?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at me when I didn't follow him, "Is something wrong?"
"No." I said as I shook my head, "Nothing's wrong."
His face relaxed, he smiled and said, "Then please come in."
I stood and walked forward. If my being in the room wasn't going to make him feel uncomfortable then all the better for me. I'd hate for something to happen to him while I was locked on the other side of the doorway. Besides, none of this made a huge difference to me. I had spent two years watching Ptolemy walk around in a loincloth, for goodness sake. I would have no problems what so ever watching him.
Oh, how wrong I was.
I entered the room, Ptolemy closed the door behind me, and I hopped onto the bed. Simple. Then he started undressing and the second my eyes fell on the exposed skin of his collarbone I had to grit my teeth.
We were in England, not Egypt, two thousand years since the death of his first life and, still, he was so beautiful.
I watched him as his soft hands worked patiently on the buttons of his pajama shirt, slowly reveling more of him to me. I would have looked away if I could, but I couldn't stop staring, thinking of how badly I wanted to slip that shirt from his shoulders and make love to him. I even caught myself rising from the bed a few times as I watched him; but I suppressed my feelings and sat down again.
No matter how much I wanted him, no matter how much being around him drove me mad, no matter how much I wanted to kiss him, I would not give in to my desires. It was not yet time. As long I remembered that he didn't remember me, then I could keep my memories and my reality separate and not trip myself up.
Then, a thread on the inside of his pajama's snagged and twisted around a button and he frowned. I watched as he moved to a desk in the corner of the room, looked in a draw of the desk, but didn't find what he was looking for. He sighed, frustrated, and then his eyes locked on me.
I knew what was coming. Ptolemy was going to ask a question.
Then, possibly the worst thing that I could imagine happened, the worst question he could have asked me was spoken.
"Could you help me, Rekhyt?" he said, looking at me, his soft, thin hands scrunched in his pajama shirt.
I hopped off the bed and moved closer, my form shifting as I walked. The young yellow-eyed man looked down at my master and asked what he could do to help.
Ptolemy said what I already knew. His shirt was caught, he didn't want pull the thread loose incase it pulled and ripped the shirt, and he had no scissors.
Could I cut the thread?
I looked at my hands, the nails nice but short and dull, not adequate for cutting anything. My essence wouldn't like shifting again so soon, and besides, even if my nails were sharp enough, I would not use them so close to Ptolemy's tender flesh.
I gulped quietly and shut my eyes for a moment.
I had no choice. I would have to use something else on my person.
I could only hope I wouldn't do something I would regret.
Ptolemy was relaxed as he watched me kneel down, and stayed relaxed as I eased his hands away. I examined the offending, jammed thread for a moment and then, before my master changed his mind, took the thread gently between my teeth.
As I held his hands, using my teeth and tongue to assist him, I hoped Kitty would not appear unexpectedly. My essence would not be in the best position if she thought I was undressing her son with my teeth. I didn't know if she had other spirits at her command or if she'd given all of that up after Nathaniel's death, but I would be at the end of a woman's wrath if she misunderstood our position. 9 (Not saying at I didn't want to use my teeth to undress him, but now was not the time or the place for such actions.)
Using just my eyes, I looked up at my master. He was still relaxed, eyes soft with a kind smile on his face, and I had to look away from him.
Internally, my essences twisted almost painfully. I was so close to him; the warmth of him brushing against my skin. I yearned to lean forward and brush his stomach with my lips, to feel him shiver in pleasure and gasp faintly against me as I held him. However, I could feel the warmth from his hands as I held them kindly, reminding myself that he would remember anything I did to him. If my actions made him uncomfortable, then he may act awkward around me, or possibly dismiss me all together.
I shut my eyes.
Why was it that he tortured me so?
Ptolemy did not use lances or other forms of spiritual punishment but the pain he was making me suffer was torture in itself.
Ptolemy kindly tightened his grip at my hands, so I gently used my teeth and-
Snip.
It was done.
I pulled away, but he didn't let go of my hands. He bent closer and said, a smile on his face,
"Thank you, my friend."
I didn't speak, I couldn't, not when he was still so kind, and I began to wonder what the future would hold for us. Would my life in the human world be peaceful for once? 10 (Not likely.) Or would it be filled with danger? 11 (Again) Could I protect Ptolemy in his new life or, when things went fatally wrong, would he send me away again? I could only question, and follow.
After dressing, my master and I headed off to the city library. The library was only a few blocks away so we walked. 12 (Or at least, Ptolemy walked; I had taken the form of a sparrow, easily perched on his shoulder) Then, for a change of pace, I asked questions.
"So," I said, ruffling my feathers, "Is Kitty your only family member?"
"Yes." my master said, nodding.
"Any cousins, rivals, jealous girls?" I asked, looking at him with my dark bird eyes.
"What?" he said, looking almost startled, "No, nothing like that."
I smirked at his reaction and kept asking.
"Any enemies at all?"
He sighed.
"Why are you asking all these questions, Rekhyt?" He asked, looking at me.
"Oh no reason," I said, overlooking the fact that he hadn't answer my last question, "It's just that your mother asked me to protect you and I'd like to know what I'm up against."
I expected a reply, but only received silence. I knew he wasn't telling me something, but I wouldn't make him tell me what it was. Sooner or later I would find out what he didn't want to say.
When we arrived at the library I had to change form again. 13 (Since I don't think the librarian who be happy about a sparrow perching on the book shelves.)
Deciding that I would only use this new form to get into the library, then shift to my yellow-eyed human once we were settled, I became another boy. Seventeen or eighteen, with pale skin, black hair, and gray blue eyes, he was another one of my masters I hadn't been able to save.
Nathaniel.
If she had been there, Kitty possibly would have been cross with me for using Nathaniel's form. However, she may also have understood why I used it for that one instance.
I loved Ptolemy, but I also missed Nathaniel.
My late master had not existed in either of Ptolemy's times, so my lover did not know that my form had been someone I had known. I could see the question he wanted to ask deep in his eyes. His lips moved slightly, but he did not ask.
We entered the library, the women at the counter smiled and waved at my master when we came in, and he waved back. When we arrived near the back of the library, I changed into my yellow-eyed disguise, Ptolemy pulled some books off the shelves, and we sat down at a table. Then, looking at me as I sat across from him, he started asking me questions. Lots of questions.
When and where was I first summoned? Where did I go in the world? Who had I met? What had I seen? Did I enjoy my time in the human world? How had I been treated? Had I ever been unbelievably unhappy?
His questions didn't surprise me, I was getting close to being five thousand thirty eight years old by human standards, I should think that I had some good information to give.
So I told him my past.
I told him of the countries I had seen, the times I had witnessed, the people I met. I talked about Solomon, Galdstone, Nathaniel, and Kitty, among others. I omitted his past life, and anything about his gateway. I didn't know what Kitty had told him, if anything, but I felt that the less he knew about it at the moment, the safer he would be. If he was suspicious about the gaps in time or the lose ends in my stories that I tried to tie up, he didn't say anything.
As I spoke he would write. His pen to paper he would jot down my answers, my history, and occasionally, when I didn't know a date, he would open a book and, using the information I could give him, find the point in time I was talking about.
And, just like in his last life, Ptolemy's dark eyes would light up as he listened to my every word, and I felt peaceful and happy.
When I finished, Ptolemy made a trade, and told me something of himself.
He had not been born in England, but in Cairo, Egypt. His mother, Kitty, had traveled to Egypt on a pleasure trip when she was near her early twenties and due to the year she spent there, she became heavy with child. Worried for the child, she decided to stay in Egypt until her son was born. After he had come into the world and was strong enough to make the trip, she took him with her and they returned to England.
Ptolemy didn't know who his father had been, but it didn't matter to him. He said he was content with not knowing who the man was, but had decided early on that he would visit Egypt when he was older. 14 (I'm sure he would feel right at home.)
When I asked why, he said that he didn't really know, just that he felt he should see it. I hoped he would be alive to follow through with his plans. He hadn't seen much of the world when he was alive the first time.
After spending a good amount of time at the library, Ptolemy and I packed up and started heading home. That's when the trouble started.
As we traveled down the street, I perched on Ptolemy's shoulder as a sparrow once again; I felt the presences of some djinni following us with murderous intent. Hiding behind buildings as pigeons or in sewers as rats they didn't feel very powerful but there were seven of them.
I could handle six, I had done so before, but seven was kind of pushing it.
I brought them to my master's attention as they began to close in.
"Master?" I whispered in his ear so only he could hear.
"I know." He said softly, looking straight ahead, his eyes narrowed. His fists clenched and he kept walking.
"Don't worry," I soothed, tenderly squeezing his shoulder with tiny bird feet, "I'll protect you."
He nodded, and said, quietly,
"I have every faith in you, Rekhyt." Then fell silent.
I looked around quickly. The closest form of cover was an antique store so I whispered to Ptolemy and we entered.
There was an old man at the counter, but he didn't care about us so we slipped in between the shelving that almost reached the ceiling. The place was rather cluttered, but that would help us in the long run. 15 (At least I hoped it would.)
The seven djinnis, now in the disguises of tall, slim ghouls in black cloaks with blank, white faces, followed.
The old man saw them enter his store and did the smart thing. He went to hide in the storeroom.
While the djiinis were checking the planes to make sure the retreating old man was just an old man and not me in disguise, I had just enough time to change my form and hide Ptolemy in a somewhat safe corner cluttered with large pottery and a large tribal mask.
As his copy, I smiled down at him and then cast a concealment over him to hide him, just incase one of the seven decided to do a quick once over of the planes. Walking silently over a couple of aisles, I stepped out from between the shelves, and in front of the djinnis. The storeroom door closed.
"Hey," I said, smiling widely at them, "Looking for me?"
All spirit heads turned, looking at me, blank, featureless faces locking onto me, and the slaughter began.
I jumped back nimbly as one of the djinni in the front lunged and made a grab for me, trying to impale me with the foot long claws on its hands, but it missed, and the others came after me.
I expected them to use denotations or the like, but when they did not, instead trying to go hand to hand with me, I dodged. Hand to hand fighting is all right by me, but not if I have to take on seven opponents at the same time.
I had chosen this place and my form of Ptolemy because they gave me the advantage. The room was cluttered but I was small and fast, able to dodge around and not get caught by the items around me. Unlike the ghouls who were fast, yet were too tall to get around easily. I supposed they could have changed into other forms to get around easier, but I could tell by the way they all looked the same that there was something keeping them from changing now that they were in battle. 16 (I didn't look a gifted horse in the mouth and ask them why they were unable to change though. I just took it as a stroke of my good luck and kept fighting.)
I escaped from the advancing hoard of djinni by a series of dodges, feints, and jumps. 17 (Which included ducking around a number of shelving, squeezing between the wall and a table and hoping over a footstool). The ghouls tried to follow me, but some got jammed where I had made it through and others tried to find other ways around. They became so confused by my antics that when I soundlessly climbed on top of one of the shelves, they didn't even think to look up.
I sat there, watching the enemy trying to find me, and decided to end this battle quickly. Raising both of my hands I planned to throw some denotations into their midst's, but stopped before my power ignited.
If I used any of my powers then not only would I hurt the enemy djinnis but I could possibly hurt Ptolemy as well, not to mention myself and a good amount of the old man's antiques. Now I understood why the ghouls were not using denotations. They were worried about the safety for themselves and their comrades.
I frowned. I couldn't use my powers, but I couldn't fight them hand-to-hand on my own. I needed some type of weapon, yet still be able to dodge.
As I was looking around for something to use, one of the djinni spotted me and almost caught me when he came soaring up to the top of the shelf. I dodged, but I hadn't had time to look to where I would leap and I landed in range of another djinni.
This one rushed at me from the side, and I had no time to escape. Its claws wrapped around my throat as it plowed into me and we both went sailing into the counter.
As I was pressed against the glass, kicking and struggling, trying anything to get free, the other six djinnis came from their places within the store and made their way towards me.
I growled to myself. This was not good. If these djinnis killed me then all they'd have to do would be to tear the place apart to find Ptolemy and then they would murder him.
My eyes narrowed, pupils slit.
The darkness of the temple, suffocating and stale.
Hisses and growls, begging for death.
Blood of my lover, red on white.
Dismissal words with a dying breath.
Screaming as a million voices screamed with me, all feeling the same pain.
Then, loneliness among millions, drained anger, heartbroken.
I had been heartbroken.
I grit my teeth.
No, I couldn't stand the thought of Ptolemy being taken away from me, his life snuffed out like a candle flame. Not again.
I would not let any of my lover's blood be spilt.
I would not let them have Ptolemy.
I would not let my love kill him. Never again.
My essence suddenly prickled, a cold, sharp feeling near my side. My body automatically tried to move any from the item that was creating my discomfort.
I looked behind me.
In the case, behind the glass, was a curved Egyptian sword. It was nothing special. Just a piece of metal that started out straight at the tip then curved into a half moon near the middle of the blade before straightening again for the leather bound hilt.
Even though it was old, it had been kept in good condition.
Also, it was made of one of the materials spirits could not stand.
Iron.
The claw on my windpipe tightened, and before the ghoul could suffocate me, I twisted and crashed my fist through the glass casting.
My essence twisted and shivered, wanting to pull away from the iron, but I force myself to grab the hilt, and when I came back around, the deadly weapon in my hand, the other djinni shrank back, the one holding on to me shuddering at the close proximity of the iron.
"He is mine." I hissed, right before I brought the sword down on the ghoul who held me. The blade flashed.
The djinni dropped like a stone, essence spilling from its fatal wound.
I had slit its throat.
The others tried to flee, but I was much too angry. My memories fueled my anger, enraged me, and I attacked, a wicked smile on my face.
The blade was burning the palm of my hand but I kept going against the pain. I could feel the bloodlust rushing through me, reminding me of that final battle I had fought, bonded with Nathaniel. Ptolemy would not be pleased when I went for him, but I felt that if I left even one of the ghoul djinni alive then I would fail.
I would never fail again.
I didn't stop until the seven djinni were nothing but hissing puddles of essence on the floor.
I dropped the blade, heard it clang to the floor, and looked at my hand. Luckily, the leather around the hilt had kept my essence mostly safe. My palm was smoking a bit and felt a bit sore, but it would be all right after a short rest in the Other Place.
I waited until I stopped smoking before I went to fetch Ptolemy.
I removed the concealment and pushed the tribal mask out of the way, changing into the yellow-eyed disguise I only wanted to show to Ptolemy as I worked.
Ptolemy looked up at me from his sitting place on the floor, the anxiousness on his face dying when he saw I was unharmed. Then, he saw the puddles behind me, dropped his gaze, and sighed sadly.
"Oh, Bartimaeus," he said softly, shaking his head. Ptolemy was a scholar at heart, not a warrior or a hunter, and he disliked death and bloodshed. I felt guilty for making him disappointed in me, which made me feel like I had let myself down, but it couldn't be helped.
"I had to," I said, firmly, "They would have killed you if I didn't."
He sighed again and whispered, "I know."
I reached out my hand to help him to his feet.
"Come." I said gently, and when he took my hand I lifted him to his feet.
I expected him to let go of my hand once he had gotten his balance, but he didn't release me. Something about our position must have reminded him of something because his dark eyes locked on to me and he stared for a moment. Then, before I had a chance to react, he came closer to me and kissed me.
I froze.
It was a quick kiss. His lips only lingered for less then a second against mine, but it was enough to surprise me.
I wasn't the only one. As he quickly pulled back, my master looked surprised at what he had just done, and as I watched, the surprise was swiftly replaced by a look of disappointment. However, the disappointment was not directed at me, but at himself.
"I shouldn't have done that." He said, looking away, confused by his actions. "Why did I…?"
He turned back to me, still standing close, still holding my hand. He was confused, but he didn't pull away completely.
"Rekhyt," he said, "I am sorry I…"
While he was speaking my hand, the one that wasn't holding his, came up to gently rest under his chin and tip his head. He trailed off and didn't finish what he was going to say, as I smiled softly.
"Hush," I whispered against his lips and then I kissed him back, tenderly.
I wouldn't run away this time. I wouldn't leave him.
His grip on my hand tightened softly for a moment before he relaxed, melting into my arms, my touch. My lips brushed against his in a lover's caress, soft and smooth, and he breathed, opening his mouth for me. His other hand came up to rest against my shoulder, and I warped my arm around his waist.
We didn't let go of our clasped hands.
I went slowly as I kissed him, and gently deepen the kiss. The hand on my shoulder tightened its grip on my shirt, and for a moment I thought he might pull away.
I should have waited, but I couldn't wait any longer then I already had. I couldn't stand not being able to kiss him, to share my love with him. I had waited so long already.
I had been driven mad by him.
He sighed as I held his warm, delicious body against me and he did not pull away, but I decided to withdraw. I wanted to continue. To kiss him and claim him and make him mine, but I didn't want to go so fast that we did something Ptolemy would regret. When I broke away, I rested my forehead against my master's and listened to him breathe. It was a beautiful sound.
"L-let's go home." He breathed, eyes closed, panting lightly. It seemed like I had stolen his breath away.
"All right," I whispered, and as I held his hand, I lead him out of the antique store and back to the house.
I wasn't sure what he was thinking. He was probably extremely confused about the whole thing because he didn't talk to me until sometime after we got back to the house. He just had this thoughtful, confused frown on his face, eyes hard and focused and I knew better then to interrupt him while he was thinking.
Kitty was home when we got back and she asked us how our day had gone. Ptolemy told her.
Luckily for my sake he left out our kiss, but Kitty was rather disturbed by the seven djinnis who had tried to kill her son. She spent a good amount of time checking Ptolemy over and asking questions, which Ptolemy gracefully answered. When she learned that I had killed all seven djinnis she asked if I was all right.
I told her I had injured my hand, but I would be fine as long as I was dismissed.
She hugged Ptolemy; glad for his safe return, and then to my amazement, hugged me as well.
"Thank you, Bartimaeus." She said, and then let me go.
It was early evening by the time my master went to retire to his room and I moved quietly behind him. The look on his face had eased while talking to Kitty, but now it was back in full force. Eyes hard as obsidian, his mouth pulled down in a frown, I could feel his discomfort, but I wasn't sure how to ease it and it made me feel on edge. He wouldn't speak to me.
Finally, after Ptolemy entered his room and closed the door behind me, he sighed and spoke.
"All right," he said, not turning to face me, "Please stand in the pentacle so I can dismiss you. I just need to make some adjustments before you can be sent back."
I did what he asked me, being quiet as I sat down. Tension was high and my essence felt like it would snap from the nerves. I had no idea what he could be thinking and it made me feel uncomfortable.
What "adjustments" was he going to make? My eyes widened as I realized that he may be planning to lock me in the pentacle for future summonings, or maybe even erase my name so he would never summon me again.
If either of those things happened I wouldn't be able to bear it. I would be better off dead if it came to that.
The more I thought about it the more worried I became and when Ptolemy came to make his adjustments I just stared at the floor.
I thought that I could handle the fact that Ptolemy didn't remember me. I thought I could keep my memories and reality separate. I thought I could control myself. I was wrong.
I had made a mistake. I had gone to fast with him, made him uncomfortable, and now this was my punishment. I was going to lose him again, and this time the pain would be worse then before.
He came to stand in front of me and when he began the dismissal, I looked up at him, sadly. It may be the last time I saw him, and I didn't want to leave with bad blood between us.
"Ptolemy," I said, trying to keep my voice from cracking with sadness, "I am sorry."
He blinked and stared at me, the end of the dismissal I hadn't been listening to on his lips.
"What?" he asked, a questioning look on his face.
I closed my eyes and bowed my head. "I am sorry," I said again, "I displeased you and made you feel uncomfortable, I didn't mean to upset you, I just…it's just…"
Why must you torture me?
I trailed off, my mouth pressed into a line. I wanted say what I felt but couldn't bring myself to say it so I just fell silent and waited for my master to finish the dismissal I had interrupted.
He spoke, hesitantly, confused, "Why are you…?"
I wasn't looking at him but I could tell when realization hit. I could tell by his little hitch of breath, and the way his body shifted the air currents. I waited for my punishment.
"Look at me, Bartimaeus." He said suddenly. His tone left no room for objections so, even though I didn't think I could stand it, I looked up.
He was crouched down on the floor in front of me, and he reached out towards me with both of his hands. I almost moved back, almost winced when he touched me, his arms coming to wrap around my neck. He was so beautiful with such a kind heart and I felt worthless and ashamed. The one person I loved had been pushed away by my impatience.
"Listen to me." he said, gazing at me with those dark eyes, his fingers curled into my hair, trying to keep me there, just like when I made love to him the first time.
I didn't want to listen. My essence coiled, twisted, tried to back away yet stayed, unsure if I wanted to do this again. I couldn't take any more rejection. My essence would shrivel and die if I was rejected again. I wanted to pull away from him, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I had to listen.
"I am… confused, my friend." He said as he came closer, moving into my pentacle with me, "I acted on impulse back at the store and I do not know why. That is all. I am not displeased with you in the least."
He fell silent for a moment and I didn't speak, I wanted to hear what he had to say. A spark of hope flared inside my essence. Perhaps all was not lost.
"But now, I believe I am starting to understand."
He tipped his head.
"Rekhyt," He whispered, softly, "Please let me kiss you."
Then he brushed his lips against mine again, and I closed my eyes to hide my heartbreaking and my hope.
Had I possessed any body fluid I would have cried, but as I had no blood, sweat, nor tears, I could not. 18 (Which I am glad for thank you very much. Most of the humans I have seen that have lost body fluids usually were in a state of distress and died shortly afterwards.)
My master's kiss was slow this time, more sure, comforting. He pressed himself close and tightened his grip when I did not response right away.
I want this. His actions said, I want you. Please let me have what I want.
I indulged him, my arms slowly wrapping my arms around him, feeling his warm form curled in my arms, and I kissed him back, timid, slow, and he accepted.
I hadn't been wrong, and for that I felt my heart would burst. There was still hope.
The kiss didn't last long, after all Ptolemy needed to breathe, but he stayed in my arms, content and soft. He was no longer puzzled by either of our actions, and when he dismissed me with an open pentacle so I could return when I healed, he was serene and happy and so was I.
I just hoped that, for the small amount of time I'd be gone, something would not happen for us to lose these pleasant feelings.
I would return as quickly as possible.
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Across town, in the dark and the rain, a lone imp flew back to its master. It wrung its hands nervously. It had seen the fourth level djinni take out seven of its masters and his comrades' djinnis. It hoped that the news it brought would not earn in the unfortunate hug or worse, the shriveling fire!
It shivered. Its essence would not survive if the shriveling fire was used on it.
Flying down to its master's lodging in pushed its way in through an open window and presented itself to it master and the masters comrades as they sat at a table.
"What news do you bring?" the master said.
The imp wrung its hands and kept its head down.
"The seven have failed, master." It said.
"All seven?" a woman's voice said, sounding disbelieving, "Nonsense, the imp must be lying."
"My imps never lie." The man said, as he pointed to a large mirror on the wall, and then commanded the imp, "Show us."
The imp nodded and moved to the mirror. It sent a quick thank you to the Other Place that mirrors were no longer made of silver, just pressed glass, and as soon as the imp touched the glass it was sucked into the mirror. It then proceeded to show what it had seen, commentating for it master and his friends.
"This is the djinni Bartimaeus," the mirror said as the polished surfaced showed the form of a Egyptian looking boy dodging the seven ghoul djinnis, "Fourth level, is under the charge of Ptolemy Jones."
"Yes, yes," said another man, this one with a beard, waving his hand, "We know all of that imp. Show us something that would interest us."
The imp cleared its throat and continued, showing the djinni Bartimaeus jumping from a high shelf to get away from a ghoul only to get knocked into and pinned by another against the store's counter.
"It doesn't look that strong," the woman sneered, "I still say we use the shriveling fire and get the truth."
"Don't be stupid," the imp's master said, glaring at the woman, "If you used the shriveling fire then the information would be lost. Continue imp."
The woman grit her teeth but said nothing.
The imp continued, showing Ptolemy's djinni slowly being suffocated by the ghoul djinni. Then, something changed in the captured djinni's eyes; it smashed the glass counter behind it and grabbed something.
"What is that?" the bearded man asked, "What did it take?"
The woman answered. "An Egyptian sword," she scoffed, crossing her arms, "Possibly iron. This demon must have a death wish. It's own essence would be injured by the metal. Why is it torturing itself, it must be insane."
She had to swallow her words, for what the imp showed next caused all the occupants of the room to stare in disbelief.
It was a massacre.
The seven ghouls dropped like flies and Bartimaeus almost looked possessed.
"Oh God." The bearded man said, his hands tightening to fists on the table.
"He's so strong." The imp's master mused, staring at the bloodlust in the djinni's eyes.
"Impossible." The woman said, her eyes wide as she shook her head, trying to deny what she was seeing.
"Why is it doing that?" the man with the dark beard said, "It should be letting our demon's kill the boy. It gets nothing for its service."
"Not true." The imp said, the mirror showing the end of the battle turned bloodbath, "There is a reason for its actions."
They saw.
The djinni changed form into a tan, yellow eyed human with burgundy hair, and helped Ptolemy Jones to his feet. The two stared at each other for a moment, still holding hands, then the master quickly kissed his slave.
The people watching the recording sucked it their breath, but, for them, it was about to get worse.
Both human and djinni seemed confused for a moment but as the boy spoke, his djinni's eyes softened and its hand rose. The magician fell silent as his djinni tipped the boys head. Then it smiled, and deeply kissed the boy back, holding its master's body securely in its arms.
The women stood, her back straight as a board. "That is disgusting!" she raged, a snarl on her face to show her disgust.
"Now," the master of the imp mused, stroking his chin as he thought, "That is interesting."
The women turned on him, looking shocked and angry.
"Interesting? Interesting!" she raved, "What is so interesting about that?!"
She pointed an accusing finger at the mirror as the playback ended, and the imp wisely stayed quiet.
The bearded man suddenly laughed from his chair, the sound deep but nasty.
"Don't you see?" he said, chuckling, "The demon is in love with its master. That's why it had such power. It was protecting its lover."
The imp's master smiled like a snake, "Like a lion protects its kill. We could use this to our advantage."
The women sat down, and the Pentacle began to plan.
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Preview of next chapter -
"What is your desire?" I whispered gently in his ear, my other hand coming to support the back of his head.
He smiled, his eyes dark and deep as his arms wrapped around my neck. He pulled me down, so I lay over him on the bed and he said the words I wanted to hear.
"You. I want you, Rekhyt."