Chapter 23

Ptolemy

The girl—Kathleen, or Kitty—gave a cry of distress. "What's her name?" She asked the person behind the door.

"Jane Farrar of police. She wants to speak with you." The person hesitated. "You didn't do anything wrong again, did you?"

Kathleen sighed. "No, mom, I didn't. Send her in if you must." She turned to Ptolemy. "What are we gonna do with you?"

"What?" Ptolemy was worried. He didn't like the tone of Kathleen's voice. "I don't understand."

"Farrar doesn't know I've summoned you. No one but Bartimaeus does. She doesn't know I've summoned Bartimaeus, either. You guys are my secrets."

"Why don't you just introduce me?" Ptolemy was confused. None of this was making sense. And why was he having normal human feelings? Worry and confusion were human feelings. Why was he experiancing them when he was supposed to be dead, and only called back to Geb? He wasn't actually alive again, was he?

"I'm a commmoner," Kathleen broke through his thoughts. "I'm not supposed to be—"

"Wait," Ptolemy didn't like to interrupt, but he had to. "You're a commoner and you can summon Bartimaeus? I don't mean to be rude but—"

"I know. Here, hide under my bed until I give the okay. Try not to expose yourself." Kathleen motioned to her bed. Ptolemy hesitated. He most certainly did not want to hide under a bed. It was completely unorthadox! But, oh well. He relunctantly did as he was told.

Ptolemy scurried under the bed and was out of sight just as someone entered the room. It was a woman, if legs were anything to go by. He crept back up to the edge of the bed and was able to make out most of the details. She had jet black hair and deep green eyes. She closed the door behind her and smiled. Her teeth were sharp. Too sharp to be human. Ptolemy felt one of his pointed teeth. It wasn't half as sharp as the woman's—Jane Farrar. Hers looked as though they could slice through bone; snap it in half. Ptolemy shuddered and crawled back under the bed.

"Jane Farrar," Kathleen said. Although Ptolemy could no longer see her, he recognized the voice.

"Kathleen Jones," Jane replied. Her voice was deep, luring. Seductive.

"What do you want?"

The legs of Jane moved and walked over to Kathleen's desk. Ptolemy pulled forward again, saw that Jane was looking at her valuables. She picked up a small glass cup and studied it. "I've come for your help."

"Now why would I do such a stupid thing like that?" Kathleen's voice was full of sarcasim. She crossed her arms.

"Because I think you're the only one who can help me."

"Ironic. A noble and important member of the government, who just so happens to be a magician, seeks the help of a filthy commoner. Funny. So, what do you want me to do? Make a rope out of sand? Split the oceans?"

"No," Either Jane was good at blocking out all of Kathleen's insults, or they didn't mean anything to her. "I am aware that you read much."

"Yeah, so?"

"I have a…problem. I was hoping you'd be able to help."

"What's your problem? Haven't been able to seduce a man into sleeping with you?"

Jane growled, deep in her throat.

Ptolemy shuddered in his hiding place. That growl was definatly not human. Ptolemy crawled back further underneath the bed. Had the bed not been placed beside the wall, his feet would've been sticking out the other end. He closed his eyes and prayed Kathleen wouldn't do anything stupid.

"No," Jane growled. "My problem is that I'm part werewolf. But I don't want to be. I figured you were the only person who could help me—seeing as you read so much."

Deep under the bed, Ptolemy gave a little gasp. Werewolves. They were rare back home. But was there a way to reverse the process? Ptolemy didn't know. He never researched the topic much.

"I'm not sure I can do anything for that," Kathleen answered honsetly, her voice low.

"But you have to!" Jane exploded. "I don't want to be a werewolf!"

"Say I do find you your cure. What would I get?"

"Whatever you want! Fame! Wealth! Power! Anything!"

"And why should I help you, of all people?"

Jane growled again. Obviously, she had been gripping the glass too hard. Ptolemy heard it shatter, watched the pieces hit the ground. Ptolemy was growing more frightened by the minute. He had never met a real live werewolf.

"Because if you don't," Jane's voice darkened. "I'll make sure you're on my side by the end of the day." Ptolemy knew what she meant. If Kathleen didn't sucumb to Jane's request, Jane would turn her into a werewolf herself.

"No," Ptolemy whispered to himself. "She wouldn't. She couldn't…" His voice drifted off. He wasn't sure if she could or not. He had never really researched werewolves much. Only the rumors he had heard around the Palace, library, country, and what Bartimaeus told him.

Kathleen sighed. Ptolemy guessed she was standing in front of the bed. Her legs were visible. "Alright, Farrar," she caved. "At the risk of becoming a monster like yourself, I agree to help you. However, you have to keep all of the things you see and learn to yourself. And if you tell anyone—"

"I won't," Jane interrupted. "Now that you know I'm part wolf, there's just enough leverage on me as there is on you."

Another sigh from Kathleen. "Alright. I 'll show you one of my secrets." She stopped for a moment. "Come on out, Ptolemy." Ptolemy hesitated. Should he obey? Why not, though? Oh well. Might as well. Slowly, he crawled out from under the bed and righted himself. He corrected his loincloth and waited.

Jane was silent for a moment. "You look just like that demon John—"

Ptolemy bursted into fury. How dare that bitch refer to Bartimaeus as a demon? He burst into words, shouting every name under the sun, in Egyptian. She stared at him blankly, wondering what he was saying. He continued shouting at her until Kathleen broke through her stunned silence and slapped a hand over his mouth. He continued on ranting at her, although his voice was now muffled.

"Ptolemy!" Kathleen hissed. She looked back to Jane, grew a cheezy smile on her face. "Um…sorry 'bout that. He…er…doesn't like it when you call a djinn a demon. Er…yeah…you should go now."

Jane nodded, studied Ptolemy for a moment. "Keep him under control next time." She walked out. Ptolemy shouted after her, although he couldn't because Kathleen's hand over his mouth made it harder to breathe. He gave a final angry growl as the door closed and Jane was gone.

Kathleen turned to him. "Now, I'm gonna let go of your lips. When I do, try not to scream or anything, okay?" Ptolemy closed his eyes, recollected his normal self, nodded.

Kathleen let go of his mouth, he lightly kicked the floor, stared at the door and cursed after Jane as she left. He heard Kathleen laugh, but didn't look at her. Instead, he went to the window and gazed out of it like he used to. His mind slowly began to clear.

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Well, there's this chapter. Wondering what Ptolemy said to Farrar? You'll find out in the next chapter, Bartimaeus. He'll tell ya everything! Coming soon! Oh, and by the way, for everyone who doesn't know, Geb: Egyptian god of the Earth. Bartimaeus chapter coming next!