Spring Break is over now, so I'll be getting back to my normal schedule…that means still one chapter a week, as long as I don't have too much to do. This story's coming along great, thanks for all the reviews! Hopefully I'll surpass my goal for my last story! I really appreciate the people who write reviews with comments on what they liked or wanted more of. Thanks a lot you guys!

In this chapter, Kitty and Bartimaeus try to figure out why she's having visions, what really happened to Nathaniel, etc. All Kitty-centered chapter…I'm not in a Bartimaeus mood today (ahem, I'm reading the third book for the third time and am feeling rather depressed about it). And a conundrum comes up about the new summoning laws that seems unfixable…sorry, no more Nathaniel in this chapter, but next time I'm going to center it on him! Geez, I've written many blurbs today…

Disclaimer: The Bartimaeus Trilogy does not belong to me, nor will I ever say it does. Just in case somebody out there hasn't figured it out yet.

Messages

"So they told me, everybody hurts,

But why does it seem like it's only me?

They all act like the world's lovely,

When you died, you hurt me, why didn't you see?"

- Twisting Again

"So you definitely didn't see him die? He just – disappeared?"

"Yes, Bartimaeus, I've said that at least ten times already."

It was late at night. Kitty couldn't sleep at all, but that was hardly surprising; with all the dreams she had been having lately, she felt as if she were asleep half her life.

"People don't just voluntarily disappear, Kitty. Are you sure he wasn't…I don't know…hit with a Detonation or something?"

"No, I told you…Nouda touched him, and they both vanished. Like…like they were teleported. But what is this supposed to mean, Bartimaeus?"

"Search me. For all we know, it could be a fake incident intended to play with your mind, like that golem vision."

"Yes…I suppose…" Kitty frowned. This one had seemed so much more real than some of the others, like there was a message in it for her…something she had to know…

"In which case you should probably forget about it and move on."

She looked at him. Ptolemy's expression was almost worried.

"Why?"

"Listen, Kitty…have you – well – been dwelling on Nathaniel a lot since he died?"

"We don't know for sure he's dead!" Kitty cried out desperately. This was her hope, her only hope…

"Yes, Kitty, we do. Do you see him walking about anywhere?"

"No, but -"

"These visions aren't good for you! You need to find out how to stop them, not find out what delusional messages they're sending to you!"

Kitty felt rather as though Nathaniel had died all over again; Bartimaeus was shutting down any hopes and dreams she might have had for the last hour or so, just as he had done when she had first summoned him.

"Why do you think I'm having visions then, if someone or something's not sending me messages?"

The djinni opened his mouth and closed it, frowning. Before he could answer, the phone rang. Kitty got up to answer it.

"Kitty?"

"Hi, Kevin."

"You all right? You didn't phone yesterday."

"I – wasn't feeling well. Why?" Kitty bit her lip, but she didn't feel up to sharing again just now.

"Oh, nothing…I just wanted to maybe, you know, get together again sometime."

Kitty sighed, but not loud enough so he could hear her.

"That sounds great, Kevin…how about, erm, Friday?" It was Sunday today. That gave her lots of time to figure things out.

"That's perfect, Kitty! Well, I better go…hope you're feeling better…"

"Thanks, Kevin. Goodbye."

She hung up and sunk against the wall. He was so kind, and it hurt her to think she might have to just abandon him, get him to leave her alone with her troubled feelings…

"What's up?" Bartimaeus was raiding the fridge, for some reason.

"Nothing. It's…complicated. What are you doing?"

"Nothing. It's…complicated. For goodness sake, Kitty!"

She sighed.

"I'm going to bed," Kitty said, although she still wasn't tired.

"OK…but be careful."

She turned to look at him incredulously.

"Be careful of what? The monsters in my closet?"

"You know what I meant." The djinni turned away to examine her television.

The moment she got inside her bedroom, Kitty collapsed onto the bed. Why couldn't life just be simple?

It just didn't want to be for her.

Nathaniel floated above Nouda, the Staff pointing towards the spirit and exuding an immense amount of energy in a huge burst of white light. She could hear nothing.

He grimaced, trying to hold on as long as possible, but it seemed the Staff did not affect Nouda as it should. Kitty saw a demon, the one in the form of the fish-faced man, sneaking up behind him.

Come on, she thought desperately. Look behind you!

But it was too late. The demon let forth a Detonation that she saw Nathaniel/Bartimaeus try to dodge, but it clipped them on the side. She saw, but did not hear, Nathaniel's cry of pain as he was thrown against the wall; his eyelids fluttered, but Bartimaeus sent the Staff's energies out again, spearing the demon's questing form.

Their arm collapsed limply to the side, the eyelids closed. What was going on? Why did Bartimaeus not wake him up? It was all wrong…he hadn't died here…neither of them had…

The dream dissolved into mist…

Kitty opened her eyes slowly, only half aware of the dull, pounding pain behind her eyes; she was used to it by now. Sitting up, she spoke to the room at large.

"You won't break me this way. I will find the truth, and I will find Nathaniel."

There was no answer; she had not expected one.

Some hours later, the phone rang again. Kitty groaned and opened her bedroom door, walking into the living room where Bartimaeus seemed to be watching the blank television screen intently. It probably had a fascinating aura on the seventh plane.

"My, don't you look bedraggled," he said amusedly, eyeing her.

"Shut up," she said. "Why couldn't you get the phone?"

"What, you honestly want a wicked demon taking your calls?"

Kitty said nothing, but answered on the fourth ring. It was Piper again.

"Hello?"

"Kitty! I need your help!"

"You needed my help yesterday, and I passed out. What is it now?"

"It's about the summoning laws…"

"Oh, not again."

"We just checked the British Constitution and…well…we can't make any new amendments without the approval of a magician of at least the sixth level…"

"What? Damn!" Kitty swore so loudly that Bartimaeus looked up and grinned at her.

"Erm…Kitty?"

"Sorry, Piper. Bad day. Who wrote that law, anyway?"

"That would be Gladstone. And we do have a lot to thank him for…the Staff, for instance." Piper's voice was mildly reproachful.

"Yes, yes, but never mind that now. What about Mr. Button?"

"We considered him straight away, but apparently Mr. Devereaux deregistered him several years ago for not being "active", so he doesn't have a level."

"Well, what can I do?" Kitty asked incredulously.

"Look for a sixth-level magician?" Piper pleaded.

"Where? Abroad?"

"Yes, don't you have a friend in Belgium? Perhaps he could track someone down…"

"Yes…perhaps…well, I'll look into it." Kitty bit her lip.

"Thanks, Kitty…we're all searching, keeping our hopes up."

"I should think so. See you."

"Goodbye, Kitty."

She hung up the phone and looked at Bartimaeus again, wondering if things could possibly get any worse.

Kind of shortish chapter…but oh well. Nathaniel's coming back in the next chapter! Yippee! And a surprising revelation…well, not so surprising for those of you who have read my title and my other story. Meh. Review please!