Chapter 11
Bartimaeus
The change had relieved some of the pounding and ringing in my head. But it was still there, knawing at my paitentice. It would subside soon enough. I'd been through this before.(1) But until then, I might as well find something to do.
The crow landed in a dark, deserted alley and took the form of a woman.(2) The woman stealthily crept out of the alley. She fit in well with the rest of the commoners. No one gave her a second glance.(3)
Hmm, what should I do?
Kitty's overused figure and deathly dull aura flashed in my mind. She desperatly needed sleep and food. I could tell she had been neglecting both for a long period of time.
I don't mind doing favors for friends.
The woman stole into a bakery shop and made her order. 2 large cheeseburgers with everything on them, and 2 extra large mocha lattes. When the waiter had the bag filled with my order, I snatched it up and rn off before they could look up from the cash register.
I ran into a dark alley and took the form of the crow. I flew off back to Kitty's place.
Bartimaeus Ptolemy Kitty Nathaniel
I flew through Kitty's window and took the nessacary change to Ptolemy. He set the bag of goods on the windowsill and looked around.
Nothing had changed, really. Everything was in its proper place. Kitty was awake now. She was reading through her books and scribbling something down on paper. But there was, however, one major change, Kitty's aura was lucky if it lit off light an inch of her body. And it was diminishing slowly. She had no idea she was killing herself.(4)
I picked up the bag of food and brought it over to Kitty. I dropped the bag on a pile of books. Without looking up to me, Kitty spoke. "What's that?"
"Food and something to drink."
"Thanks, but I don't need it."
"More then you think."
Kitty sighed. "Bartimeaus, I--"
"Don't worry about me." I amswered as I down on the floor, scribe position. "I'm fine. But you...The summons are totally draining you of what lkittle energies you have left. You haven't eaten or slept in days. Your aura is barely visible anymore. You don't even have enough energy to work your won resilance! Kitty, you're killing yourself."(5)
"Fine," Kitty breathed. She looked up to me. "If you'rereally that uptight about it, I'll eat something."
"Thank you!"
Kitty relunctantly put her studies away and cleared the table.(6) She pulled out the contents of the bag one by one and set them on the table. She looked down to the food as though she loathed it.
"Kitty, you have to eat something."
"Why do you care?"
A heavy sigh. I looked away in thought. "I'll tell you after you eat."
"Kitty sniffed as the smells of the food below her drifted upwards. "Mmm," She said in delight. "'Bartimaeus, what's in these sandwhiches?"
"Cheeseburgers, actually. Grilled over a fire. Well done. Bones toasted slightly. Tomatos, lettuce, nustard, ketchup, onions, and extra pickles."
"How'd you know my favorite sandwhich?" Kitty asked as she began to unwrap one of the burgers(7).
Truth be told, I had picked up on a lot of things when Kitty gave me thatwonderful vision of her master. It was kind of like when Nathaniel and I fused together. Kitty had subconscienceously shared everything with me. I didn't answer.
Just as Kitty's mouth was over the burger and she was about to take a bite, I spoke. "You've been talking in your sleep. About Nouda. About Nathaniel."
Kitty stopped at Nathaniel's name. She was just about to take a bite too. She lowered the burger away from her mouth and set it on its wrapping. "Thanks Bartimaeus," She began softly. I could swear she was tearing. "but I'm not hungry. I'll save it for later."
"Kitty, you've got to let him go."
"I never had him!"
"Yes you did, or at least that's what you wanted. You didn't want him to die, did you?"
"Shut up!" Kitty shouted. "That's an order!"
Kitty rose to her feet. I did as well. Ptolemy was just her height. It was a perfect match-off. "You're never going to get over him if you keep it to yourself!"
"I was never under him!"
"Your years of the Resistance has hardened you. You'reafraid of showing emotions!"
"And what do you know about emotions? Your years of working for magicians has hardened you as well! You think you're too high and mighty and wise to care for anyone!
"Oh yes, of course! The terrible djinni never feels! He never has any emotion! Well guess what Kitty, we do, whether you like it or not!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Kitty and I turned our backs on each other and sat down where we were standing. Our backs were resting on the other's. We were both riled, but for some reason, we didn't have our spirit into it.
I crossed my arms and folded my legs. I stared out in space, deep in thought. This was our first real fight since we met. Kitty had gone to the Other Place with me. She had summoned me before. I really thought we were closer then that. Close like Ptolemy and I used to be.
And worst of all, she knew my one weakness. Ptolemy.
My thoughts were broken when Kitty's resilance started counteracting my magic. The prickling feeling came back(8). I didn't mind it, though. I was too lost in thought to care.
I could feel Kitty move position. Only then did I feel her back begin to shudder.
Bartimaeus Ptolemy Kitty Nathaniel
(1) The same thing had happened once with Ptolemy. But then again, the vision I had with him wasn't HALF as gruesome.
(2) she was the same one I had mentioned before. The virgin in Rome, remember?
(3) Execpt for interested single men. If they came too close, I made sure to put them in their place.
(4) I've known (and served) magicians who literally dropped dead from lack of energy. Honestly, I didn't want to see the same thing happen to Kitty.
(5) I haven't felt this sort of affection for a human since Ptolemy. But they were so similar.
(6) She cleared it enough for room to eat. She didn't actually put the books away.
(7) They were individually wrapped. Didn't think you'd know.
(8) It felt as though a limb had fallen asleep and the blood came rushing back. It felt like ticklish pricks of pain.
Bartimaeus Ptolemy Kitty Nathaniel
Well, there's chapter 11. Wow, 2 chapters in one day. I hope you guys are happy. Kitty's chapter is coming next