Bartimaeus

I lay on my back, staring up through the forest canopy to patches of clear night sky. Clusters of stars shone their light down onto me and Kitty, for she was lying curled up beside me. My arm wrapped around her back, keeping my jacket in place as her blanket and keeping her close for warmth's sake (obviously. Why else would I want the beautiful Kitty Jones snuggled up beside me?) Using my shoulder as a pillow, she slept soundly.

It was times like this where I wish I could've slept, but my mind was a swirling mess. I turned the events of the day over in my head over and over throughout the night, like an insomniac baker kneading dough.

First, the information Jess had carelessly slipped to me earlier. They were planning to gather people with magical resilience or ability throughout the country, gather numbers and then 'overthrow' the magicians. They didn't know when they were going to attack, but with all the unrest in the country, it couldn't be too far off. She'd mentioned at a 'massive underground network' but had also said that they weren't yet united in their efforts. No doubt because of the constant vigilance and threat of the night police. I hoped this information would be what my master was looking for, if not, he could go and boil his head.

Second, the information I had received from Kitty a few hours previous. She had told me briefly of her plans, which involved leaving to Prague to meet Jakob Hyrnek.

She'd also told me about Peanut's real name which was actually in fact (wait for it)... Alexander! I was shocked and appalled – it was far too normal a name for him.

Kitty had told me his story that evening. I was again shocked to hear that he had no parents at all, but that he'd been abandoned. Kitty told me that her and her network of friends in the commoner's alliance all looked after him. She told me about how he was stolen by the government and forced to live at the wicked magician's prison (this being my master's house, did you guess?).

"I'm assuming you've heard of the pompous brat John Mandrake?" she had asked, her voice loaded with dislike. We had both been sitting cross-legged on the muddy floor in front of the small fire, full from another delicious dinner: cheap canned chicken, a knob of sweaty cheese and some cardboard bread. I was feeling queasy and incredibly tired, but Kitty seemed wide awake. Alex was dozing in her lap, drooling contentedly onto her sleeve.

"Does anyone in this country not know him? He's saved the government twice over, the little butt kisser."

"Twice?"

"Oh, uh..." I'd completely forgotten that the amulet of Samarkand incident had been hushed up by the ministers, embarrassing as it was to have had the entirety of the British government saved by a snotty twelve year old boy. "I mean once, sorry I was thinking of the staff and the golem separately."

"Mm" she sounded thoughtful. She looked down, noticing the small pool of drool and not bothering to wipe it away. "It was the police who took him from us, but he was the one who imprisoned Alex and allowed people to experiment on him. The endless lies about the war are bad enough, but to allow an innocent child to be taken like that... who knows what they did to Alex there...It's horrific," she spoke softly. "They gave him new clothes; he was clean and well-fed when I rescued him. They were probably intending to raise him up a magician. No doubt to stop his powers from being directed against them in the future. I thought I couldn't hate magicians any more than I already did, but I was wrong."

The mood had slumped into a bitter melancholy. I had observed her closely, and to my surprise, saw an excess of moisture in her dark eyes. The way she was cradling the child to her, the emotion in her voice and the way in which Alex clung to her more than any other in the group; It was almost as if she'd become his replacement mother. I supposed in a way Kitty had. She'd found him and raised him with the other commoners, there was bound to be some maternal feelings there.

Knowing how endearing Alex could be, I found this idea rather likely.

"I'm sorry for what Mandrake did to him. He's a great kid." A great, rushing surge of want had overcome me. I had wanted to tell her that during his time with the magician, he had been well looked after and had made a deep impression on Nathaniel and I. I had wanted to tell her who I was and reassure her that everything was going to be alright. But of course, I had kept my big gop shut. My orders prevented me from any of this.

"Yeah, he is." I didn't reply, but let her contemplate. At length she spoke, "Johnny, I'll tell you a little about me, what you wanted to know earlier. You told me all about yourself today and you've earned my trust now."

Kitty had looked up into my eyes, the reflections of the campfire dancing mesmerizingly in her own. I had felt guilty at deceiving her, she was about to entrust information to Johnny Stoke, not Bartimaeus. If I'd been sitting with her in my usual Ptolemy guise, she wouldn't have revealed the smallest thing to me. I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm going to live in Prague with an old friend; I'm going to bring Alex with me. It'll be safe for him to grow up there. Then in the future, I'll come back to help in the revolution. I don't think this country will be ready for a good few years."

No guesses who this old friend was. Although a little sad at the idea of her being so far away, I wanted her and Alex to be safe. It was at this moment I knew I couldn't complete my charge. I would not drag the two of them back to Mandrake, I would let them escape – even if it cost me my life. I was half dead anyway.

I had taken her hand without thinking, pressing it firmly between my own. The depth of my sincerity was surely in my eyes as I told her, "I wish you the best of luck Kitty. Wherever you go, I'm sure you'll kick butt."

I looked up at the stars, stopping my contemplation. Breathing gently near my ears, Kitty was safe. I knew that Alex was on the other side of her, bundled up warm with Jess. I made firm my decision. I would continue to stay with them until I had to leave in two day's time, but I would not be bringing them back with me.

I would shower Nathaniel with information on the commoners scouting those with resilience, but I would not say a bean about Kitty and Alex to Nathaniel. They deserved a good life, far away, safe and sound.

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Two days later and I was preparing to leave. It was dawn of the fourth day; the sky was a pale orange to the east. Everyone was asleep, excluding Kitty who had been on watch duty for half the night. She'd seen me wander into the forest with my excuse of 'needing to stretch my legs' and remained in the campsite, dutifully listening for any signs of danger.

Of course, I wasn't lying – I was going to stretch my legs (and the rest of me) into a new form for my getaway. I stood in a small woodland clearing, suddenly wondering what they'd all do once I disappeared; I hope they wouldn't waste time trying to find me. They all had places to go, Kitty especially. We were only a mile or so away from Dover, where the ferries waited at the docks, ready to set sail with Alex and her onboard. Laura had already left us to find her family, and Matt and Jess were going to head west after Kitty and Alex left. I was meant to be going with the two of them to 'rally the forces'. I almost felt a little bad for letting them down, but what was I to do?

I was just about to launch into the sky, when Kitty emerged from the buses to my left. She was blushing profusely, and looked a mixture of angry, embarrassed and uncertain all at once. She stopped a few feet away from me, shifting her weight from one leg to another. She opened her mouth to talk but then closed it. I assumed something was troubling her.

"Are you alright?" I stepped closer to her, placing my hands on her bare arms reassuringly.

She averted her dark eyes; I could feel her heartbeat increase beneath her creamy skin. "Johnny, I... I want to tell you something before I leave today."

"What is it?"

"Well, I, I really want to tell you that I've had fun with you for the past few days, more fun than I've had in years. To you it may not seem like much but I'm really going to miss it, and I'll miss you."

Oh no, I think I could tell where this was going. I felt guilt weigh down its terrible weight on my back like a bag full of bricks. She didn't know the person she was addressing was a living lie.

She continued, gingerly placing her delicate hands on my forearms so that we were joined together, "I'm leaving, but you could always come with Alex and me."

I gazed down into Kitty's beautiful, hopeful face, not knowing how to gently let her down without hurting her. I wondered briefly if by this she meant she felt anything a little deeper, but I quickly dismissed it. It would do no good to dwell on the hidden meanings women strew about the place like seeds in a field (believe me on this one.)

"Kitty, thank you for your invitation. I don't know what to say." I laughed, bringing her a little closer towards me.

"Think of something, I need a proper answer from you." She smiled nervously, batting me on the arm.

"Kitty..." I considered my wording carefully, "I would love to come with you. But, I don't think I can. I need to be where the action is, I want to help the others and fight the magicians."

Kitty's smile faltered a little and she let out a hollow sounding laugh, tucking a loose curl behind her ear, she stepped back from me. "That's alright, I thought you'd say that."

"If circumstances were different" here I paused, realising the truth in what I was saying. "Then I would. You're good company Kitty, shame it's wasted with this lot."

"Oi. Don't let them catch you saying that." She laughed a little more genuinely.

There was a lull in the conversation, with neither of us knowing quite what to say. I absent-mindedly placed my hands behind my back. After a good few moments, she spoke up again. Her voice seemed back to usual.

"Well I should probably get back, if anyone wakes up they'll think I've been killed" I smirked a little at the casual way in which she said this. "I'll see you in a minute."

"Mm, see you." I gave her a little salute and then she was gone from the clearing. All was silent for a few moments. For the millionth time that morning I decided my choice was the right one. I wouldn't turn them in, they would both be safe far away, where nothing could harm them anymore.

A falcon departed from the woods, soaring high above the land and heading straight for London.

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