Hi everyone…I'm feeling energetic today, so here goes another chapter…oh, and anonymous reviews are now on, sorry about that. Part 6 at last! Hooray!

In this chapter, our trio finally reaches their destination and begins their journey; Kitty and Nathaniel attempt to have a civilized conversation and are greeted by someone familiar…

Disclaimer: I still don't own the Bartimaeus trilogy. I do, however, own the little poem. Happiness! Yes, I know it's random…


Beings of Air and Fire

"I wake to the sound of bluebirds,

And sleep in the light of the moon.

I dance beside the scarlet sunset,

And lie in the grass at noon.

I fly to the stars on silent gold wings,

And sing to the beings of light.

I fall from the skies to the world below,

And I'm lifted up by night."

- MusicaDiabolos (sorry, can't tell you my birth name or an afrit will get me)

The darkness faded, and Kitty opened her eyes slowly.

She sat up so quickly she was almost dizzy, gazing around her in awe. She was in the most beautiful place she had ever seen.

Nature was surely at its most dazzling in this place, she thought to herself. Everything had a place, and it was a handsome one. Something seemed not quite right, though…one could almost feel that this was a place of spirits, of beings of air and fire.

Bartimaeus sat beside her as the Egyptian boy again, clapping. When she looked at him questioningly, he grinned.

"You win," he said. "Nat's still out of it, look."

Sure enough, the young magician was unconscious beside her, his eyes screwed up tightly.

"We're really there?"

"Yeah. Easy road trip, isn't it? No gas stations or any of that junk you humans dreamt up this century."

"Phasma Mortuus," Kitty whispered to herself. She had always though the words made the place sound like something magical, or out of dreams, but it was more than that.

"Yep," said Bartimaeus, gazing around with her. "Kind of nice, isn't it? Makes you feel like it wouldn't be so bad, dying in battle in all, if this was where you were sent afterwards."

"But if this is for dead spirits, how did you get here so easily?"

The djinni sighed.

"Kind of hard to tell. Someone in the Other Place told me how to get here once, but I don't understand it any more than you do. And it seems you and Mandrake know a lot."

"My friend Jenson did some research…very loudly, apparently, since the magicians found out about it…"

"Yeah, I'm sure Nat there had got something in his heap of papers…he brings the library around with him everywhere…"

The boy groaned and stirred.

"There, he's coming around now…you know, you'd think he'd have a better recovery speed with his history…nothing on me, of course."

Nathaniel was mumbling something.

"No…no, of course I can speak Coptic…hey, Clarice, come back!"

Kitty and Bartimaeus looked at each other. The djinni shrugged, grabbing one of the water bottles from her pack and dumping the contents on his head. He woke up at once, spluttering angrily.

"Hey!"

"Yeah, I know, reminds you of the good times, doesn't it? Remember when I dumped you in the Thames after you ran away from those kids? Oh, that would be you, Kitty."

"Shut up," they both said, Nathaniel looking murderous and Kitty troubled.

"Don't start agreeing again," Bartimaeus said dully, "you're ruining my fun."


Nathaniel's head ached, but he got himself up soon enough.

"So, Ms. Jones…shall we pool our information?"

"I rather think you have it all, Mr. Mandrake."

He took out his papers and searched for a map.

"Here's something…a map by an Alexandrian magician, who is said to be one of the only ones to have ever travelled here…"

Bartimaeus made a convulsive movement, but soon settled down, his face blank. Nathaniel glanced at him, then returned to his papers.

"It should say somewhere here where the Amulet is to be found…" he broke off and scanned the page, his lips moving silently. Kitty snatched it from him.

"It's no help to me if you read to yourself. Allow me:

"The aforementioned amulet, with powers of protection and fulfillment of one's desires, was placed by the deceased spirits in the center of the island, in an urn on an altar made of obsidian. This altar is in a glass tower in the middle of a field of daisy-like flowers native to Phasma Mortuus. The field itself is surrounded by dark forest on all sides, with mountains to the north and the Sulphurous Marsh in the east. The easiest path is from the south-west, and it is best to avoid the south-east, where dragons roam."

Nathaniel grimaced. This did not sound good at all.

"Well, this is just lovely," he said sarcastically, more to himself than the others. "Dragons; a dark, creepy forest; a dangerous, stinking marsh…and I think I might be allergic to daisies."

"Stop being such a prat," said Kitty, who had heard every word. "If you were going to be so petty and afraid, why are you even here?"

Nathaniel stiffened and stood up.

"I represent my government in thwarting the plans of terrorists like you who intend to destroy this country's good leaders!"

Kitty stood, too, her hands shaking. Then she slapped him with an echoing sound like a gunshot.

"Thank-you!" said Bartimaeus happily. They ignored him.

"I don't recall us being here to argue good morals," she said angrily, as Nathaniel struggled to get up from the ground yet again. "I could say a few things about the country's 'good leaders' myself…which includes you, unless I'm very much mistaken. And we all know how honourable you can be."

Nathaniel glared at her, one side of his face stinging. It was almost as if she knew how much it haunted him…

"So tell me, Mr. Mandrake," she said menacingly. "Why do you persist in calling me a terrorist? Do I invoke terror? Are you afraid of me?"

"Um, as lovely as this conversation is," said Bartimaeus pleasantly, "unless you two lower your voices we're going to attract some unnecessary attention."

"I'm not afraid of dead demons," snapped Kitty, her temper getting the better of her.

"Those dead demons are more dangerous than you might think," said Nathaniel. "They are invulnerable to all magical attack by live demons -"

"Typical."

"Shut up, Bartimaeus! Your opinions are not wanted and I would stipple you if I could."

"Ooh, I'm scared now!"

"Anyways, Ms. Jones, they are completely invulnerable to everything but silver, which we don't have."

"That's where you're wrong," said the girl, opening her pack. "I brought a stash with me."

"Ow, it hurts, it hurts!" cried Bartimaeus dramatically. Nathaniel bent over the pack, his eyes popping.

"Did you rob the silversmith's?"

"Yesterday. And be quiet, Bartimaeus, they're not even touching you."

"Huh. I love you too, kid."

But just as the djinni spoke, a dark shape swooped over them – or was it dark? – and a translucent figure landed in front of them. Nathaniel heard Bartimaeus swear in Egyptian; he felt a cold sweat break out on his neck. He recognized the jackal-headed form, although he had seen it four years ago…a shape rising from the flames of Arthur Underwood's study…

"Hello, Jabor," said Bartimaeus tentatively.


Hope everyone liked the chapter, thanks for all the reviews! Sorry to leave it all in suspense there, more coming in the next couple of days. Love you all!