Well, just two more chapter, this and the next one!

Shadowfire: Coauthoring, that sounds like fun! Thanks for reviewing!

Conception: Haha, yeah, sorry, no big plot twist, but I'm glad you're enjoying this! And don't worry, questions about Gaia will be answered in this chapter. XD Yeah, it took me FOREVER to finally decide. I kept juggling different ideas in my head. I do love to research for fanfics, I have one I'll post for Xiaolin Showdown that I had to move to a separate binder because I had so much research papers in it! Thanks for the review!

Joeylejoker: Aw, thank you! XD Yeah, I hate it when they're shorter, but it had been so long since I posted. Good luck with yours! Thanks for your review!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and this title is a song by Dragonforce

Rated T for violence, language, torture, and darkness

CH. 16

I was summoned into the center of the Taj Mahal. Literally, the center. Around me was the exquisite silver curves of the building, the intricate designs mostly Persian in origin, but containing elements of Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic. (They call that fusion Mughal. I should know, I helped Ustad Ahmad Lahauri build it.) Shafts of golden sunlight trickled down walls and pooled on the floor, letting in a fresh air smell.

Like most mausoleums, it was peacefully silent. The grandeur of the place was awe-inspiring. Beautiful, luxurious, majestic--no words could sum up how the Taj Mahal looked. I'm sure it would have looked even better, if it still had its huge dome roof. But alas, Gaia had had us destroy it and apparently recently replaced it with a triangular black one. (Guess he didn't feel like getting rained on.) This just adds to the fact of how destructive humans are.

Gaia had drawn the pentacles inside the screen (or jalis, as they're called here) that surrounded the angular sarcophagus of Shah Jahan and his wife. (His third wife, mind you. People back then couldn't seem to make up their minds.)

I stared at the dark magician that stood on the other side of the tombs.

He stepped out of the pentacle, sighing. It wasn't a weary sound, more of a happy relief. I stepped out took, leaning on the intricate jali. "Why here?"

Gaia's cold green eyes had a distant look as he faintly smiled at the wall. I could tell I was finally about to get answers, so I stayed silent.

The magician decided to draw things out a little, running his hand over the tombs. I shifted Ptolemy's weight impatiently, crossing my arms.

At last he spoke. "Here is where Shah Jahan and Mumtac Mahal are buried." (I wondered if he knew that their actual tombs were below this floor.) "Not here, of course, their bodies are under us." (Huh, I guess he did.) "But just imagine being so important, so revered, that this entire building, this masterpiece, is built to house your body. And to have the power to order something like that. I've always admired powerful people."

I was going to make a comment, but knew that probably would make him stop. So I stayed quiet, fidgeting with my jacket.

He looked at me. "When I was reading about this emperor I first came across your name, Bartimaeus. I became interested in you, this fourth level djinni, that helped build the tomb of Shah Jahan. I couldn't find much mention you, but when I did it was rather impressive. Then I came across John Mandrake, and I knew you were perfect to help me. You're inventive, resourceful, rebellious . . ."

I nodded. "Handsome, powerful, legendary . . . Don't forget I spoke with Solomon."

Gaia laughed. "And here I am. You've been good to me, djinni. I chose right."

I made a face. "I'm not a friend, Gaia. In your research over my glorious deeds you must have come across the fact that I destroyed three consecutive masters by use of the Hermetic Quibble."

He just chuckled again. "Such bravado for a little demon. You and I are the same in that way; we know we're better than everyone else."

I twisted Ptolemy's dark fact into a glare. I didn't like to be compared to him. "I'm nothing like you. You magicians are selfish and power hungry. You think that with magicians in control the world could be a paradisiacal place, but you're wrong. All magicians have ever done is bring suffering. And it always comes back to get them."

Gaia made a dismissive gesture. "I don't belong to them anymore. I was going to receive great power in Parliament once, but Hack stole it from me. He's still trying to reap revenge, as you can see."

"And what are you trying to do?"

He spread his arms. "Proving my power. Because of my attacks, this world is in chaos. I'll rule form the Taj Mahal and establish my own order. Parliament didn't think I was good enough. Now they'll see."

Whether he could actually take over the world or not, I wasn't sure. Naturally I wouldn't have cared except this was Kitty's world too.

"Once I'm finished, you'll be dismissed," he said.

"You think that's all I care about?" I snapped, decide ding to make my sentiments known. "What about Kitty? I know you don't care because you tried to kill her."

"I won't harm her. You two can be reunited, if that's what you like."

I didn't trust Gaia. He had an unpredictable temper. (My essence was still sore from his punishment when I refused to destroy the pyramids. I smelled faintly of burned toast, a fact I didn't think Kitty would appreciate.)

However, I knew Algus, Kitty, and this Hack fellow were coming after me, and they were taking their own sweet time about it. And I knew Gaia's birth name. I wondered if this was how archers must have felt when they had the arrow drawn back, eyes fixed straight on their prey, preparing to shoot. That intense waiting feeling plagued my essence. One way or another, this was ending today.

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