Chapter 42

Bartimaeus

The first scream should've been enough. But no, Ptolemy and I froze and waited for the blood curling scream. Then we ran out of the room and downstairs to the bar.

Pandemonium was obvious. Several tables were tipped over, and right in the mass of it was my master and Kitty, fighting like wolves. Kitty looked over my way and caught my eye for a moment. She had a stern but pleading look to her eyes. But she soon looked away and turned back to George. She let go of his hands and grabbed hold of his neck. Her thumbs pushed down as hard as they could into his air pipe and esophagus.

George wailed and socked Kitty in the stomach. She was winded. She fell limp, gasping for air. She caught herself faster then George thought she would and again clenched down on his throat, only tighter then before.

George responded by grunting and gripping Kitty's throat tighter. She let out every last bit of air she had in a squeal. She looked over to me again, the look in her eyes genuine plead.

But then, her squirming ceased. Kitty went limp. Her eyes rolled to the top of her head, her arms fell to the ground. For a moment, everything was silent.

But then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Ptolemy was missing. My eyes darted back and forth, looking for him. Where was he? There was no sight of him.

Ah, there he was. Off to my left side, out of the shadows. He must've hid there for the time being. He was only a few feet away from George, whom was still choking an already dead Kitty. He bent down a little, ready to spring.

In a split second, Ptolemy sprang and tackled George off Kitty. "Get off her!" He shouted as they both fell to the ground, going at it as Kitty had with George. I realized then that if Kitty couldn't handle George, Ptolemy would never be able to. He wasn't a fighter; he couldn't hold his own for long. But I was bound to George's will; there was nothing I could do to help Ptolemy or Kitty.

I decided to break the rules a bit, since George never told me not to interfere with his plans. While the two of them were busy, I casually walked over to Kitty, so as not to draw attention to myself. Kitty's body was lifeless. I bent down to her, checked her neck and wrists for a pulse. There was none.

I placed my hands on her chest, just below the breasts. I tried my most powerful Restorant on her. (1) Nothing happened, but I continued on. Maybe there was still something I could do.

Nothing happened. Kitty remained still. She was gone.

But wait; there was still one option left.

I moved my hands to either sides of her heart, waited about five seconds, gave her a small Electro. Her body lurched. It took my hands away and checked her pulse. Still nothing.

Again, I put my hands on either side of her heart and gave her another Electro, this one stronger then the last. Kitty's body gave another lurch upward. I removed my hands entirely from her body and checked her pulse.

It was weak, but it was there.

It was there.

Kitty was going to live.

George rushed past me. The tug on my essence started to lift. The Other Place started to welcome me. But—for only the second time in my life—I rejected it. I couldn't leave Kitty now, she needed me. I stayed with her until the tug the Other Place was giving me was too strong to bear. I reluctantly let my essence soften and left.

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(1) Too weak wouldn't affect her because of her resilience.

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A/n

Kitty lives! Yay. And the best part is Bartimaeus saved her. Hmm…Maybe it would've been better—not to mention more romantic—if Ptolemy saved her. But then again, he fought off George. Sooo….Uh! I can't think strait. Wait…I never do.