Chapter 21

Bartimaeus

The Roc flew high into the air, to avoid watching eyes. The howls were getting louder, more desperate. Death was on the warpath. "Where do we go?" I boomed.

"My parent's place!" Kitty yelled back.

"Where is it?" Kitty guided me to her former home. All the while, the howels were dying away. Whatever was on the rampage had gotten what it wanted. We were safe—for now. All the same, I could help but feel worried. With Ptolemy summoned and Kitty weaker, either one of them were exposed—prone—to danger. I didn't want them to get hurt.(1)

We landed in front of Kitty's former house. The lights were still on. "Thank goodness," Kitty started. "they're still up." She turned to me. "You might wanna change your guize or something. Just a suggestion." She was right. Entering a commoner's house in the form of a two ton giant fluffy bird might scare them, just a little. I nodded. The Roc dissapeared and took the shape of a midnight black cat with dark sea green eyes. Ptolemy's eyes. It was once his pet, too. He named it Anubis.(2) Don't ask why he gave a cat the name of a god with the head of a dog. Just one of his old ways. My fur glistened in the moonlight.

Kitty knocked on the door of her parent's house. Everything was silent for a moment. But then a dark appeared. It was a female shape, a woman wearing an apron. Kitty's mother, perhaps. The figure hesitated for a moment, then—somewhat relunctantly—opened the door. I was right. The figure was a woman. She looked just like Kitty.(3) "Kathleen!" She squealed as she hapilly hugged Kitty as tight as she could.

"Hi mom," Kitty managed. Her breath was strained, she used every last bit of air she had to speak. So, her mother had a strong grip. "Can my friend and I stay here for a while?"

Her mother backed off her immediately after Kitty said this and studied Ptolemy and myself. After about five seconds, she said, "Of course! Come in, come in!" With that she ushered the three of us inside.

Much to my surprise, Ptolemy picked me up and held me close as he walked inside. It was as though he was afraid of something and I was his only protection. But what was there for him to be afraid of? Well, this was his first time alive and on his own feet in a while…I guess I wouldn't blame him.

Kitty's mother called to someone. "Alfred! Come down here! We have guests!" She turned to Kitty. "So, who's your friend?"

"Oh, he's uh…" Kitty turned to the two of us. She bit her lip and turned back to her mother. "Nathaniel." The cat had to fight back the urge to hiss. The mere thought of him made me sick. Bastard.(4)

A man walked into the room. He had Kitty's aura. Strong, vigalent, independant. It looked exactly like hers before she went to the Other Place. Wow, Kitty really took from her parents, no matter what it was. "Who is it, Iris?" His eyes met Kitty. "Oh, hello Kitty."

Kitty nodded. "Dad."

"So," Iris started. "can I get you two anything?"

Kitty turned to Ptolemy. He shook his head. She turned back to Iris. "No thanks mom. We're fine. We'll be in my room, okay?" Iris and Alfred remained silent and let Kitty show Ptolemy to her room. Alfred and Iris went to their original buisness when Kitty and Ptolemy mounted the stairs.

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Kitty's room was nothing special, but it would do. It was pretty much blank with a window, desk, dresser, and bed. Again, nothing special. But then again, beggers can't be choosers. As soon as the door was closed, I jumped out of Ptolemy's arms and took his form.(5)

Kitty looked around. "Wow, this place hasn't changed a bit. We can manage here a while."

"And what was that bit about Nathaniel? Almost made me sick."(6) I added in, scrunching up Ptolemy's face in disgust.

"It was the first name to come to mind."

"Yeah, well…You insulted Ptolemy!"

"Don't bring Ptolemy into this! You know very well you liked Nathaniel at some point! You never would've agreed to fusing into his body if you didn't!"

"I agreed into fusing into his wretched little body because you found my one weak spot! You brought Ptolemy into it!"

"I was trying to do the better thing for all humanity! It was that or the world was destroyed! I had to do something!"

I was silent for a moment, thinking of a good comeback. I folded my arms. "I never said I wanted to do it."

"Of course! You only agreed because it was my idea! Because I went to the Other Place with you!"

As wont of Ptolemy, his eyes glittered at the mention of the Other Place. In a sense, I felt embarrased, perhaps even ashamed. I've never fought with anyone in front of Ptolemy. And I've hardly ever fought with Kitty. And to think I started it. Oh well. I have to finish it, too.

I opened my mouth to answer, only to find Ptolemy say something first. "You went to the Other Place?" He was talking to Kitty. He must've been proud of himself.

"Yeah, yeah." I said haistilly. For some reason, I was more interested in fighting with Kitty. Perhaos to prove to Ptolemy that I shall had my old vigor; my old fighting spirit. "Yeah?" I was disreguarding what she had just said. "Two can play at that game! I know you had feelings for Nathaniel. And not hatred, either. I know you loved him. Otherwise, you wouldn't have cried so hard when I took his form!"

The base hit home. Kitty's once frothing aura stopped dead. She was stunned into silence. Even her aura didn't know what to do. She was literally shaking with rage. Her fists were balled and her teeth were clenched. "Get out," She ordered through clenched teeth.

"Why should I?"(7)

Ptolemy broke in. "Because she told you to. Leave, Bartimaeus."

With a frothing fury of my own, I obidently left through the window.

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(1) You can picture my point, right? I just don't want the two—and only—people I've ever cared about in my lifetime die because of me. Take Nat for example. I sorta, kinda, maybe, put up with him when I first met. And look what happened to him. Dead. Well…Not that his death was unenjoyable…I'm rambeling here. Read on.

(2) Anubis: A jackal headed Egyptian god of embalming the dead.

(3) Except for the small mole underneath her cheek. And her mother's aura wasn't dragged down almost to the point of death. But other then that, they were like twins. Well, then again, the age gap between them was noticeable…Damn. I'm rambeling again. Read on.

(4) And by definition of Bastard—if you look it up in the dictionary—it says a person who lives with one single parent. But then again, his parents dumped him. So…would he actually fit into the description of a bitch? No, I don't think so. That's a compliment.

(5) Out of habit. I was a little embarrased, since I had always told him I didn't like taking a person's form—they were too complicated. But I did my best to hide it.

(6) I just had to add the last bit.

(7) I know I was being a jerk, but for some reason I couldn't help it.

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Well, there it is! Another Kitty/Bartimaeus fight! It proves that even the best of friends have their moments. So, this is chapter…22? 21? I lost track. Kitty's next, with some earthshaking events to come!