Well, sorry that this has taken so long to get up. I injured my wrist and couldn't write or type, and then I was working on writing this, writing my other fanfics, and catching up on my reading, so I really didn't have much time. But here's the last chapter anyway! Thanks to Joe and Conception and everyone for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Bartimaeus Trilogy

Rated T for violence and torture

CH. 17

Kitty stared over the top of the grass-swept hill, the dirt smudging her clothes in her laying position. Rain clouds were moving in, low and oppressive, and the cool wind they brought whipped Kitty's brown-gray hair around her face. The air smelled of rain, and the sound of the rustling grass and passing birds drifted to her.

Algus, beside her, shifted his weight unhappily. "The situation is not good. One move into the open and we'd be caught."

Stephen, sitting further back, sighed. "I hate to give him credit for doing something good, but . . .this is good."

Kitty fixed her eyes on the Taj Mahal, looming near enough to be tempting. But the array of spirits Gaia had guarding it dissuaded them. The spirits stood about lazily, taking on an all manner of frightening forms, but Kitty knew better than to be fooled by their positions. The grandeur of the Taj Mahal was offset by the small black roof it now possessed. To Kitty it seemed that she could feel Bartimaeus inside there, and she was growing impatient.

Stephen sighed. "One way or another we have to get in there before all the armies in the world arrive."

Algus raised himself to his knees, shaking his blonde hair which rapidly became a mane as he shifted into a golden lion. Kitty watched with awe as his sharp teeth shone in the dull light, and eagle-like wings unfolded from his back, flapping once to create an extra gust of wind.

The lion looked to her. "Do you still have the Elemental Spheres from that little magic shop?"

She nodded.

"Give me two."

Stephen raised to his knees, obviously interested. Kitty fished out two of the destructive spheres and Algus gripped both with his teeth. Then he motioned for them both to get on his back.

Kitty climbed on first, twisting her fists in his mane to get a good hold. Stephen mounted behind her.

As Algus crouched low, Kitty tensed up. She was a mixture of being terrified and excited. She fixed her eyes on the Taj Mahal, the wind sweeping back her hair.

Then the lion spit out the two Elemental Spheres with alarming speed to the opposite sides of the army of spirits. As the orbs impacted there were two giant explosions and spirits were thrown from their feet.

Kitty barely had time to take in what Algus had done before he launched himself off of the hill, hurling high into the air with astounding velocity. All she could hear was the roar of the wind as they approached the curved building with disorienting speed.

Algus sent a Detonation that blasted a hole into the black roof. The pieces flew past them, sounding as if they were tearing through the wind.

And then Algus took them straight into the Taj Mahal.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I was minding my own business, leaning against a gray wall, and trying to see outside through the upper windows. Gaia was in a corner, reading a book. As you might have guessed, it was quiet and boring inside the mausoleum. The false tombs that were surrounded by the intricate jali screens in the center sat silently. Dull shadows were splayed on the floor, and the only sound was Gaia's insistent page-turning.

Just when I was about to be convinced that it was medically possible to die of boredom, two explosions sounded outside. I straightened Ptolemy's body, and Gaia looked up.

And then the roof was broken into. The pieces rained down with thuds and I glimpsed a rather large lion carrying two people before it crashed into the screen, tearing it apart. The pieces shot out to the sides and screeched across the floor, making white slashes.

The whole thing was very dramatic. It was an entrance that would have put the greatest party-crashers to shame. I at once recognized the subversive lion as the usually calm Algus. And one of his cargo was my Kitty.

A blonde man whom I assumed to be Stephen Hack hopped down and made his presence known to Gaia (In other words, he called him a bad name).

Gaia stood up, dark robes swirling. "How dare you show your face here! You ruined my chances at power once, and you won't do it again!"

The immediately enraged Stephen and he started yelling back.

I ignored the magicians, turning to the beautiful girl that was carefully making her way from the winged lion. She hopped down with a heavy thud, and smiled at me.

I don't think that girl's aura could have gotten brighter or tinged with more happiness than it was when she looked at me. There was just something about being loved that way that made my essence want to melt into a happy puddle.

Kitty and I embraced roughly, standing in the center of the Taj Mahal. There was a background noise of the magicians arguing, Algus stepping away from the mess he'd made, and the wind outside, but I only focused on Kitty's heartbeat, overjoyed to have her back.

"Bartimaeus!" Gaia suddenly shouted, rudely disrupting the moment. "Kill Hack!"

"No," I growled, put off by his interruption.

He sent a punishment spell to me that I quickly reversed, adding "Gaias", his real name, to the end. It sent him hurling back into the wall.

Apparently this was the opening Stephen was waiting for. From his pocket his yanked out a dagger and plunged it into Gaia's stomach. His face went pale and cold green eyes wide as he fell off the dagger and onto the floor.

Algus bared his teeth to show his disgust, then turned to me. "I took care of Kitty for you."

I pursed my lips. If he wanted a show of appreciation, he wasn't getting it (Honestly, what did he expect? A hug, a pat on the back, me to carry him around the Taj Mahal on my shoulders?).

"Well," Stephen said, striding over to us. "Now that that's done." He took up the bloody dagger and swiped.

I shoved Kitty back, and the dagger sliced across my collar bone. That would usually be all well and fine, but it was silver.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kitty cried out in protest as Stephen lunged for Bartimaeus again, but Algus bit onto the djinni's jacket and flung him across the room.

Kitty backed up, mind spinning. She couldn't say that she had trusted Stephen, but this was certainly not what she had expected. Algus hovered at her side, trying to protect her but obviously held back by the silver.

"What are you doing?!" Kitty demanded.

Stephen sneered. "I said you couldn't trust anyone in this world."

"But we helped you!"

He made a dismissive gesture. "Magicians don't abide by that code."

Stephen sprung forward. Algus roared in warning, but Kitty didn't want him to get hurt. She jumped to the side, away from the afrit.

Stephen repeatedly swiped at her as she backed up, eyes wide. Algus came running at him, but he flicked the dagger, cutting the lion's ear.

Kitty gripped a piece of the broken jali and held it forward. He stabbed at her and she knocked it wide, spinning around to hit him in the back. The broken edge of her weapon sliced him and he cried out.

Kitty desperately looked for her bag of weapons, but realized it must have been flung away when they crashed in.

Stephen roughly kicked her shin. Her leg was forced back and she fell to her knees. She tried to guard herself with the jali, but he kicked again from the other side, catching her in the ribs.

She was thrown back, uttering a cry. He came down at her but she made a wild swing with the jali. The edge cut his hand and blood flung out. The dagger flew across the room.

Kitty barely had time to process what to do next when Stephen was thrown off her, tackled by Bartimaeus.

The two rolled a few feet away until the djinni ended up on top, growling and baring a set of sharp teeth. Then he snapped at Stephen's throat, and Kitty looked away so she wouldn't have to see the blood.

Algus walked over to her, a man again. He offered a hand and helped her up.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She nodded, then turned as Bartimaeus walked up.

"Bartimaeus," she said, but the name was repeated from Gaia.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I turned to look at the old magician. He was still on the floor, blood under him. Pausing, I reluctantly walked over and knelt by him.

"I'm sorry it ended like this," he said hoarsely. "But thank you for all you've done."

Now what was I suppose to say to that? What do you say to someone that, despite all your efforts to hate, still liked you? I didn't say anything, simply meeting his eyes unemotionally. He stared back until his last breath escaped him.

And then I was swept off into the Other Place.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The journey back to London was a long one for Kitty and Algus. Both were exhausted, but they didn't want to do anything else until they were returned home.

The lights and buildings of London never looked more amiable as they finally came to the city. Kitty wanted Bartimaeus immediately back, but she figured that he needed rest as much as she did. They would both have to wait until morning.

Once in her apartment, Kitty dismissed Algus. She made sure to tell him how grateful she was. And he had said, "Summon me any time you need to, Kitty Jones. Bartimaeus was right, you're special."

Then she had flung herself into bed and didn't wake up until noon.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I felt myself being summoned. Although my essence was still sore, there was no desire to resist the call (Unless it wasn't Kitty, of course. These days you never know).

I appeared in her cluttered apartment, the sound of the city coming from the window, and facing the most beautiful girl that ever was. Before I even had time to properly say hello she tackled me (Not all too lovingly, either) and kissed me hard with fiery passion.

Well, I had no argument against that. After being enslaved by a crazy magician bent on world domination who happened to like me and hung around with a ball of fat named Jard, I could use a kiss.

Needless to say I was glad to be with Kitty again. She'd always be Just What I Needed. And that, undeniably, would never change.

The End

Well, that's it! I am seriously considering writing a third one and wrapping this up as a trilogy, I even have an idea, but that won't be for awhile. I'm still busy write now, but once things quiet down I guarantee it!

Again, thanks to everyone for reviewing. And thanks to those who will discover this fanfic a year from now and still care enough to review. XD

I'll see you guys!