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Disclaimer: I don't own this trilogy, of course not, and I don't own this title

CH. 11

Kitty frowned at the old building. It was barely held together, way out in the middle-of-nowhere India.

"What is this place?" Kitty asked.

Stephen Hack started up the steps. "A magic shop. It has the best stuff because no one goes here. I discovered it after my banishment, when I first trying to track down . . . Anyway, let's see if we can find something helpful."

As they opened the door Kitty was assaulted with a strong incense. Shelves like in a library ran down the small shop, and every inch was filled with items. The place was dimly lit.

Algus whistled. "Nice shop."

Stephen nodded, starting to browse.

Kitty's eyes roamed over jewelry, clothes, weapons, skulls, and other trinkets. "Do you know what we're looking for?"

"Somewhat," the magician answered. "You should arm yourself. There are Elemental Spheres and such here."

Algus pointed to some in a corner. They went to the weapons, looking them over.

"Hey," Stephen called, "Kitty-cat, can I ask you something?"

She glared across the shop at him. "What?"

"How close are you to this djinni?"

" . . .Very close."

He beckoned her with one finger. She and Algus went up to him and saw he was holding a necklace. It had a dull silver chain and a red stone heart.

"What's that?" she asked.

Stephen bent closer to them. "This is called . It was meant to be used to locate demons, but it didn't work right. You had to have a bond with the demon, and who does? Besides you, of course. But if you really are attached to this . . . Bartimaeus, we can find out where he is. You can see him for a moment."

Kitty's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yep. Wanna try?"

She nodded, excited.

As Stephen payed, Algus whispered to her, "He isn't lying. I've heard of those."

"Do you think it will work?"

"We'll see."

After they'd bought , they headed outside.

Stephen started drawing a pentacle. Once done, he said, "Now just put on the necklace and say the summoning words. Should work."

Kitty pulled the heavy necklace around her neck. She took a deep breath and stepped into the pentacle.

A warm wind blew the grass and their hair as Kitty brought herself to a focus. The light layer of clouds gave the Indian country side a gloomy look.

She let the words spill from her mouth, making no mistakes. She closed her eyes and finished, waiting.

The stone heart started to pulsate power and suddenly heat hit her skin.

She opened her eyes and bright light flooded her vision. She immediately shut them, moaning.

"Kitty?"

She opened them again, squinting against the harsh sunlight that baked her. She was in a desert, the sand stretching forever in all directions.

In front of her stood Bartimaeus. He was still Ptolemy, which strangely didn't surprise her. The sun made a golden gleam on his dark skin. A light breeze ruffled his hair and dark clothes. He crossed his arms, cocking a grin.

"Bartimaeus," she breathed.

"It's about time you showed up. Do you have any idea how infuriating it is to be around crazy people? You're the only sane one in the world, and even that is a stretch."

She bounded to him and hugged him tightly. He laughed, spinning her around. Her heart hammered with the same happiness she saw in his eyes. She had found him! And she never wanted to let him go.

"Oh, one of those," he said, eyeing her necklace. "That's interesting. Where'd you find it?"

"A magician named Stephen Hack took us to this little magic shop. We're helping each other; he's after Gaia Black."

"My master? I can think of a few reasons for going after that guy." He sat her down.

"Has he hurt you?"

"Me? No. So, where are you guys?"

She sighed. "We're in India. Where is this?"

"Egypt."

"What do you know about Gaia?"

"Not much. And what I do know I can't talk about."

She touched his face. "We'll save you."

He laughed, but she could hear a tone of ancient sadness. "Save me? I'm a spirit, Kitty, I don't have a choice."

She felt a tug on the necklace, and realized she had little time. She kissed him forcefully, hungrily, as if he was food she'd been starved from. Her necklace started to pulsate faster.

Bartimaeus pulled her back, and she could see pain in his beautiful eyes. "Seems you have to go, jewelry is so impatient."

"I love you!" she cried.

He winked. "I love you, Kitty Jones."

And then India came back around her. Algus and Stephen Hack looked at her expectantly. Her bottom lip trembled so she bit on it, but she felt hope rising in her.

"He's in Egypt," she told them.

Stephen nodded. "Let's catch a plane."

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