Don't you just love making cliffhangers in your own stories? 8D I do.
Turns out Flamel's house is pretty normal, too. Though, Kitty could have probably guessed that, since he didn't really stick out like she thought he would. They couldn't take public transport, because it seemed the police were panicking a bit that their freak had disappeared. They walked through tons of backstreets, snaking their way through the city of Prague to one of its suburbs. Kitty tried not to feel surprised when they came to a stop in front of a homely little white house that seemed fit for an old couple. Nathaniel was antsy the whole way, and only slumped in defeat when Flamel pulled out a key, unlocked the front door, and strolled right in like he owned the place. Which, apparently, he did.
"Don't worry," Bartimaeus whispered to him, wrapping an arm around Nathaniel's shoulders, "I'm sure they're secretly cannibals. You'll find something weird about them eventually."
"Flamel was wearing white socks with his black pants, which clashes horribly. Does that count?" Kitty asked with a grin. Nathaniel glared at her, but didn't say anything. Bartimaeus led the way inside, everyone else following along shyly like a bunch of ducklings.
Once again, it was almost boringly normal. They walked into the living room, which had a medium-sized television, a slightly battered couch, and surprisingly clean carpet. There were a few pictures up on the wall of people who Kitty didn't know, and probably would never know.
She glanced up when a motherly and slightly harassed-looking woman with graying hair walked into the doorway of what looked like the kitchen. She glanced at the four strangers only once with a confused look, but soon stared on to her husband. There was an awkward silence.
"Uh… I'm home, honey…?" Flamel offered weakly. The woman's eyes narrowed. She ran forward and threw her arms around his neck, pecking him on the cheek, muttering about how she was so worried and such. Flamel blinked. He looked as if he suddenly didn't know this woman. Kitty jumped when she pulled away and slapped him across the face.
"Nicholas Flamel! If you ever scare me like that again, you will be in for a whole world of hurt!" she shrieked, looking like a ruffled, angry mother duck.
…What was with the duck analogies, anyway? Kitty contemplated this as Mrs. Flamel shoved Mr. Flamel into the kitchen, alternating between smothering him with kisses and glaring murderously at him. She sat through the whole explanation-of-the-plot-so-far process wondering if a duck's quack echoes. She didn't really like that stage in a story, so she happily erased it from her mind.
"So you want the Stone?" Mrs. Flamel asked uncertainly, tightening her death grip on her husband's hand. She was, apparently, reminding him that he didn't have the right to give away the Stone's powers like that. He got the message.
"I didn't guarantee it to them," he mumbled half-heartedly. "The girly-looking boy wants to be immortal like his boyfriend. Can you honestly say no to that face?" he asked his wife, silently pleading Nathaniel to look as adorable as possible so he wouldn't get in trouble.
Nathaniel pouted. "Not girly…" he muttered. It worked, actually. Mrs. Flamel's expression softened a bit and she looked on the edge of breaking into very fangirl-like squeals. Bartimaeus smiled proudly and snuggled up closer to Nathaniel, who was the only one comfortable enough to sit at the kitchen table like the Flamels.
"It's only Nathaniel, not any of the rest of us," Jakob added. "Bartimaeus is mad at Kitty and probably won't let her become immortal because she annoys him too much. So, obviously, I'm not using it either. Though, it would be nice if you showed us all how to activate the Stone," he said casually.
Kitty zoned out. Haha! Her boyfriend is way more selfless than Nathaniel's, giving up immortality like that! Jakitty: 1, Barthaniel: 0.
"…and that's it," Flamel ended simply.
"Huh. Well, that sounds easy," Bartimaeus mused, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Kitty asked blankly. Everyone turned to look at her like she was stupid. "Sorry, I wasn't listening," she said, as if that made it any better.
Mrs. Flamel sighed. "Basically, you whisper the Words of Direction while holding the Stone. Then it kind of… glows and gets really hot, and then you feel all tingly for a moment."
Kitty blinked in confusion. "What are the Words of Direction?" she asked hesitantly.
Everyone groaned and said at the same time, "Appear, Remain, Listen, Submit, Obey, and Return!"
Kitty pouted. "What am I, Bartimaeus? I thought we were all supposed to group-yell at him!"
The Flamels glanced warily at each other. "Don't ask," Jake advised.
"So that's it? Really?" she asked skeptically.
"Yes!" Nathaniel snapped. "Why can't you keep up? Just this once, Kitty?"
"I think it's a woman thing," Mr. Flamel stated.
"How do you know?" Bartimaeus asked.
"Huh? What did you say?" Mrs. Flamel asked, previously staring at the wall. All the males glanced briefly at her.
"It's a woman thing," they all announced. Kitty went to sit by Mrs. Flamel. Someone who understands.
"So, where do you keep the Stone?" Bart asked, before World War III could break out.
"Uh, well, we have it in a safe under the stairs," Flamel answered.
"What? Anyone can crack into a safe! That isn't exactly the best place for it…"
"It has a twenty-six digit code and two key locks."
"Oh."
"…You don't want to do it now, do you?"
"Huh? Oh, well, I think it's up to Nathaniel." Bartimaeus glanced at said person.
"Um, well, I don't know, I could. I want to. But… well, obviously, I'm nervous here," he mumbled, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"We could come back another day?" Bart suggested.
They sat in silence for a few moments, until Nathaniel made a determined face. "No. I want to do it now. Who knows what could go wrong in just a few days?"
Flamel nodded and got up. He left the room and came back after a few minutes holding a boring-looking dark red rock delicately, as if it were glass. He handed it to Natty-boy, who also seemed to treat it like a newborn baby.
"Remember, the Words of Direction, then glowing, and a tingly feeling," Flamel said seriously. Nathaniel nodded, and grinned slightly.
"Hey, can I call you Nick from now on?"
"Not a chance."
"You're just stalling now," Bart threw in helpfully. Everyone waited in tense silence as Nathaniel took a few deep breaths, looking rather worried. "Remember, you could do this another day," Bartimaeus said, concerned for Natty-boy's sanity.
"No. Shush. I'm giving myself a pep talk," Nathaniel snapped. After a few more deep breaths, more silence, and much awkward shuffling, he opened his mouth, finally, to begin the Words of Direction, his eyes slipping closed.
Only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. Nathaniel quickly chucked the rock to Flamel, who shoved it in his pocket, paling slightly. Bartimaeus went to the door, opening it cautiously while everyone else waited in the tensest silence in the history of tense silences.
They could see the front door from the doorless doorway into the kitchen. Outside stood a bored-looking, well-built man with dark eyes, neat, black hair, and most suspiciously, a dark trench coat that came down past his knees and blew ominously in the slight wind.
Bartimaeus blinked. "Hello, um, do I know you from somewhere?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"I saw him outside the hotel once," Nathaniel said slowly, "and at the hospital, remember? He was harassing the nurse."
"I spotted him skulking around across the street when you left today," Jake added.
"He follows me around sometimes," Flamel declared with a shrug, as if it didn't matter.
"Ah." Bartimaeus looked him up and down warily. The man was staring at the people behind Bart, struggling to keep a dull look on his face. "Can I help you?" Bartimaeus asked, eyes narrowing.
"No," the man said, "you can't." Then, from somewhere in the depths of his trench coat, he pulled out a handgun and aimed over Bartimaeus's shoulder and directly at Nathaniel's forehead.