Standard Disclaimer applies. Just so everyone knows, I haven't a clue as to the following facts: 1) What Jamie's surname is. 2) What Series was the one that Millie came from. You know, the Arabian one? That was where I was thinking Helen was from in the Chrestomanci worldsystem, and I just called it Series Seven. I don't have the book, so I can't check. Help would be appreciated, dear reviewers. So would reviews themselves. Thanks all!

Jamie was in quite the predicament.

In his ceaseless movement about the Bounds, which he knew perfectly well he could fully blame himself for, he had completely forgotten the way to Helen's world. And what better way to annoy his friendly neighborhood enemy? He had promised, and Helen was not likely to forget.

He was currently sprinting his way to the next Boundary through the acidic rain of a world where war was raging between men in camoflauge, the very worst type. It was a queer sort of fighting, though. Both sides, instead of rushing at each other to gain small bits of ground and drilling trenches in the earth, seemed to engage in combat by slinging things at the other side from dark vehicles which sped about. It was lucky for Jamie that he was wearing black, because that seemed to be a fairly neutral color in the barren landscape and blended in much better than the green suits of the armies.

Yes! He had just made it, dodging a particularly nasty looking something which flared with a flash of light and heat and something that felt unpleasantly like a demon-ray a few feet away the moment Jamie disappeared through the gateway, leaving behind the mudstained, shocked faces of two soldiers hanging out the window of a gray automobile.

Looking about where he had landed, he couldn't believe his luck. There they were---the very bone-marked place where he had first met Helen. He hadn't broken his promise after all--also meaning that Helen wouldn't go after him once she had died, probably attempting to damn his very existance for his stupidity and going after him on judgement day itself. That would probably be welcome though, because despite her general, impersonal hostility, he missed her quite a bit.

It soon became apparent, however, that this was in fact I not Helen's world. Yes, it was quite barren and bland, but missing were the barbarian peoples that populated the world of Uqar. These people were more like Indians, he discovered, and much more apt to kindness. He had multiple offers for housing and food, and accepted one of them gratefully. It came from a woman called Pariminder, who stuffed him full up with rice and something that looked suspiciously like lizard meat, but he didn't really care that much. It also convinced him that these people were not cannibals, at which Helen probably would have scoffed. You could never be sure, she would say, but Pariminder and her family were nothing like the last cannibals he had met, and he was sure their kindness was genuine.

After a bit of trouble over language, Jamie found the right general speech (he was quite right, it was very much like the Indian of Home) and was able to convey the object of his search.

When he said the name Harquas Uquara, Pariminder's husband's head went up.

You work for Chrestomanci? said the man, with a small concerned frown.

Who was Chrestomanci? Wondered Jamie apprehensivly. Well, he certainly didn't work for him (or her).

said the man. Fadi, Jamie believed, recalling Pariminder's hasty and lengthy introductions. Then why are you looking for Harquas Uqara?

I could ask the same, Jamie said, growing suspicious. Helen--Harquas Uquara--is an old friend of mine, and I'd like to know what this Chrestohmanny chap is after her for myself.

Crestomanci is looking for your friend because she has nine lives, of course! Why else would he? He needs an heir to be the next one, even if they've never had a girl before.

He's an enchanter of some sort, then? said Jamie dubiously.

Of course! exclaimed Fadi.

But how do I find Helen? I mean-- he put in hastily Harquas Uquara.

Fadi looked even more suprised, if possible.

Just use the Place-In-Between. I'm sure you know it. We'll get you a nice place to sleep and you can just leave from there. She'll be at Chrestomanci castle by now, so you'll want Series Twelve.

Before Jamie could protest, a large bustle of many excited children and Pariminder made off with him and managed to get him to lie down on a large couch in a room off to the side.

called all the children and Pariminder and Fadi as one family entity, which was odd since he was merely going to sleep. But it was also clear that they didn't expect him back in the morning.

In spite of all the strange goings-on of the past twelve hours, Jamie fell asleep very fast, but soon woke to find himself somewhere entirely different.

There were rocks all about, slick with rain, and mud that was near ankle deep. It was no worse than some worlds he had been to, but there was a different-ness about it that was unsettling. Rocks are rocks, he reminded himself sternly. There's nothing going on here but my brain creating some weird dream. This is not some kind of fubbed-up parallel universe trasnsportation thing. I hope.

Of course, that was exactly what it was, and he was considerably shocked when he meandered off around one stone and found himself somewhere else entirely. Or rather, somewhere in Series Twelve, like Fadi had said.

This somewhere was a moor, just like the ones in the country at Home. But upon this moor was a castle, which sat in a lordly fashion over all a small village. He could also vaguely see ruins in the distance and sprawling gardens. It was all very much like Home, in fact, but perhaps a decade or two behind his original time, because autos were very, very few (in truth he only saw one, parked next to the back gate of the castle, inside of which there was a driver slumped over the wheel in an obviously very deep slumber).

Jamie himself was standing on a hill next to the building. Just as he was about to walk down to see who the castle belonged to, there was a flurry of activity at one of the doors, and a skinny dark shape hurtled out the door and into the garden, shouting things that were not quite clear but obviously rude at a redheaded lady who closed the door in the offender's face.

But Jamie's reaction to this was to run faster, because that shape was Helen, and he knew it this time. He must have gotten Fadi's instructions right after all, because here she was, and he was guessing that this was Chresto-whasit's castle.

Helen was oblivious to the overjoyed male hurtling down the hill at her until he ran right into her at full tilt and hugged her fiercely. Or at least, he tried to hug her fiercely, but she kicked him hard in the shin and yelped What the bloody hell do you think you're doing! I don't even...Jamie?

The only response he could think of was Nice to see you too, while he nursed his ankle, hopping up and down on one foot until Helen took her turn to knock him over with a huge embrace and begin to babble.

Really, sneaking up on me like that!

I wasn't--

Of course you were, else I'd have noticed you earlier. Anyway, I was sure you'd broken your promise and was having quite the bad time of it when--

But I wouldn't--

--this Chrestomanci fellow showed up and called me his heir, which, of course, is ridiculous. I've been trying to tell these people that, but they won't listen to me. But they say the most extraordinary things. Mr. Chant--- that is, Chrestomanci, says I have nine lives!

So I've heard, agreed Jamie. Could you perhaps let go of me now?

Helen pulled her hair in front of her face and said carefully, Oh--yes. I'm sorry.

But then the moment passed, and she seized his hand in a death grip and dragged him towards the castle.

I suppose you'll have to meet Chrestomanci. He's nice enough, just don't tell him exactly what you do, else he'll want to study you.

Study me?

For magic and such. Or, I should say, what type of magic you have. He loves that type of stuff. There's a man here from Italy (where is Italy, anyhow?) who just does reinforcement magic, called Signore Tonino. Him and his wife Angelica sing spells, too. It's all very interesting, but...

Inside the main hall, the redhaired young lady awaited them, looking first anxiously at Helen and speculativly at Jamie, who remembered suddenly that he was still holding Helen's hand. She seemed to notice as well, and quickly dropped it.

When the woman spoke, there was no doubting that she was Italian. Her voice was on the scratchy side and her accent wasn't too heavy, but you could still tell.

she swooped down upon Helen and Jamie like a falcon. Signorita Helen, who is this...boy? she said the last word a little oddly, and it took Jamie a minute to realize that he hadn't gotten a haircut in at least a year, or perhaps two, and his locks reached well past his ears and nearly to shoulders. He had forgotten about it because he had taken to wearing it in a ponytail in the back and hardly every took it out. It must have come unbound during his dream-journey to the castle, and the woman was most likely pondering whether she had an extremely masculine looking girl on her hands or a slightly feminine-seeming boy. Helen nodded, proving that it was the latter (hardly any comfort to Jamie, though).

said the lady, recovering. I am Signora Angelica, and you must know Signorita-- she shot them a rather pointed look and continued. And you are?

Um...James, uh, Keene, He couldn't remember his last name for the life of him, not that it really mattered. If he was James Keene here he could just as well be James Bond in the next world, for all he cared.

Hm. Signore Keene? What brings you to Chrestomanci castle?

He almost pointed at Helen, but recalled just in time that that was probably not proper, so instead said in his most educated voice, To visit, um, Miss Helen. Signora.

was Signora Angelica's only response.

It was a moment before Signora Angelica seemed to gather herself again and then briskly beckoned them to follow her up the stair.

The stairs were an extravagant affair all by themselves, and Jamie found himself studying the trim and the polished wood. He hadn't been in a place so posh for at least a century. Signora Angelica looked at him as if she could tell, and Helen poked him sharply in the back.

Ow! Quit it! he yelped as quietly as he could, though Helen still shushed him like a worried librarian. A worried librarian without a face.

Don't you feel it? she said cryptically.

Jamie began, but as he said it, he did feel something. A sort of pressure, like the air was pushing down on him. he ammended, I do.

Mr. Chant laughed at me when I told him that. He's nice and all, but sometimes...

They walked in silence for a few moments, footfalls softened by the thick carpets. When Signora Angelica stopped, Helen had to yank Jamie back by his coattails (he had a rather nice suit he had purchased a couple worlds back, and now was glad of it, though it was dirty) to keep him from running into her. He would have completely knocked her over if he had, because she was very small.

The Signora rapped quickly on the door and pushed it open, revealing two young men sitting in armchairs and a desk full of papers. Both of them were blonde and handsome, though one's hair was yellower than the other's. That one was the more exravagantly dressed one.

It was the one with the un-yellow hair that stood up first and spoke. His voice was like Signora Angelica's, with a very small Italian accent. Jamie thought this must be Signore Tonino, the reinforcement magician. That would mean the other one was Mr. Chant–Chrestomanci.

Angelica– what–

Signorita has a visitor, Tonino.

A visit–

Chrestomanci stood up too, in a flourish of large sleeves and papers, which were at this point flying everywhere.

Excuse me, Tonino, he said, pushing past him to the doorway and standing in front of Jamie, Helen, and Signora Angelica. Jamie was shocked to find that Chrestomanci wasn't as tall as he appeared to be. It was just that he seemed to radiate power and height, even if he did seem a bit apologetic and uncertain.

Now, could someone please explain? he seemed to suddenly notice Jamie, and exclaimed Oh! I see. And you are?

James Keene.

A friend of Helen's? Yes, thought so.

Signore Tonino rubbed a hand through his hair, looking agitated.

he said to Chrestomanci, Where will he sleep?

This seemed to get Chrestomanci, and he visibly wilted. Oh. I never thought of that.

It will be taken care of, said Signora Angelica. Chrestomanci seemed to liven up a bit at that, and announced cheerfully that he and Tonino had work to do and shut the door in their faces while Tonino attempted to blow Angelica a kiss around his friend. Signora Angelica sighed with a small smile back at her husband and started to walk again.

Jamie and Helen had to scramble to catch up with her. She walked very fast. Jamie asked her where they were going, and her reply definitly caught him off guard.

Dinner, of course, she glanced behind her to Jamie's mudstained finery. After you wash up a bit, of course.

Damn.