Inheritance cycle 5th book: Islingr

Stone or egg?

I nod. Of course I know this I've seen enough movies to know but still. I've also played in wheelchairs all the time spinning around and flying down the street with Erik in it and me on the back singing The Ride of a Paul Revere. I almost smile at the memory.

It takes a lot of effort standing up but they did I should be completely healed in two weeks at the most. I have my backpack on my lap in the truck clutching it tightly. I make up a lie.

"Hey dad?"

"What?" he asks from the passenger seat.

"I found a stone while I was walking there and I was wondering if we could see what kind it was?" usually he'd say 'No we're not wasting gas money to go see what kind of stone you have." but now is not usually and I think I can use my injuries for sympathy. Although i hate sympathy. No, I don't hate it, I just don't like it, hate is a big word for four letters. In order to hate you need to fear. You need to fear it so much that you would kill it if you could.

"I suppose. Let me see it." I father tells me.

Oops Shoulda saw that one coming. I think about it for a second. What would he think? I carefully pull it out. It's not humming, good. But what if it does? And just my luck, it does.

"You gonna give it to me or not?" he asks impatiently. Oh crap. At least the radio is on... "Jade?" he reaches back and looks at it. "Where did you find this?" he asks amazed.

"Uh... uh.. I-in the woods." my thoughts are all scrambled.

He looks at me peculiar and then reaches out. Will he feel it vibrating? I reluctantly, slowly, hand it over and when it touches his skin if stops. Good. That would've been bad....

"I've never seen this before... it looks like a diamond."

Dawn looks back and had a shocked face on, "Watch the road!" I yell and he forcefully prys his eyes away.

"What is that?" he asks.

"Obviously it's some kind puff gem or rock..." my dad says turning it around. If only he knew. Dragons... Amusing. I really am crazy.

"When can we go?" i ask impatiently and try to take it back but he moves. "Can I please have it back." he continues to study it and ignore Mr. "Dad?!" I asked annoyed.

"One second." he scolds.

"Can we go now?" I ask excited.

"Sure. After we go to the grocery store and I call for an appointment or something. Dawn drive to sunset blvd." he finally gives my egg back. I mean rock! Not egg. Rock.

******

We arrive at the store and Dad makes Dawn stay in the car.

Were finally let to speak with one of the men. He does a lot of tests.

"Yes this is strange. Strange indeed..." he murmurs.

"How strange?" I ask curiously.

"Well... this type of matter or material or whatever you would like to call it doesn't exist on this planet." My mind can't help but think of my earlier conclusion... stop it jade!

"Then how is it on Earth?" I ask annoyed again.

"I don't know but I'm sure people would need to do some tests on it." No! No one can break it apart and destroy it. "I'm sure they would pay you a fair amount of money." he smiles.

"It's not for sale." I say before my Dad can. My dad's not stupid, he knows what the government Will do to it, even if it's just a stone.

He looks up and his smile falls, "Sir and miss you may not have the option." is he threatening us!?

My Dad has a deathly look on his usually calm face, "What do you mean by that?"

The man says ruefully, "I'm sure you know exactly what I mean." isn't this illegal?

"Jade? Take your stone back to the car." uh oh. Not good. "Now." he says sternly.

I give the man a glare and walk out to the car.

"What kind of rock is it?" Dawn asks. For some unknown reason even though I trust Dawn with my life something tells me not to tell my big neither the truth.

"It was..." I rack my brain for an answer, "Marble. That someone crafted."

He gives me a look as if I'm stupid but doesn't push. "Where's dad?" crap. Another lie.

"He needed to sign papers." I turn to see him walking out the entrance. "I'll be right back." I painfully jog to meet him. "I dunno why but I lied to Dawn and i said it was marble."

He gives me a slow nod. "What a scumbag." he mutters.

"You know who he reminds me of?" I ask and he already knows the answer.

"Steven?"

"Yep. Both are douchebags." I laugh. Steven is my uncle on my moms side and Is a sicko who does drugs and took showers with his daughters. Pedophile. He gambles, cheats on his wife although she's just as bad.

"What did he say?" I ask.

"The moron tried to force me to do something and you know me well enough to know I don't do anything that says I have to." he smiles.

"Well I get from you." he laughs because I don't take orders, even from him without being asks nicely. I know I should. He's my parent but I can't.

"I told him if he said or told any officials about it I would go to court about my rights and freedom." we enter the car and don't say anything.

"Where are we going?" I ask

"You're going to Erik's and Dawn's going to grandma's while I'm gonna go to Ivy's."

"Are you still babysitting Adam?"

"Yes, Ivy had massage school."

I sigh. "Am I going to school tomorrow?"

"Yes you can walk perfectly fine. The doctor gave me a note for your PE teacher, you can't do anything in there for about two weeks."

I sigh annoyed, again.

******

They drop me off in the front of Erik's house and I pull open the gate to the back yard, hop down the steps, and knock.

I wait. I can hear the tv. I know there here I'd usually walk in but seems how I haven't been here in almost a month I should knock.

I knock again.

Louder this time.

I here Alaska come barking the miniature Eskimo dog. She stops barking and comes through the doggy door and starts yelping and licking me. The door opens and I see Erik's dad, Evan.

"Jade?" he asks in bewilderment.

"Hi." I say awkwardly.

"Well come in!" I steps to the side.

"how have you been?" I ask him.

"Great. But what about you? Erik told us-"

I cut him off by saying, "No. The doctor was wrong im completely fine. Well mentally anyways." I add.

Erik's mom Diana enters the living room. "Jade?!" she asks shocked.

And that's how it went. Erik was in bed so I went up stairs to my room and got ready for bed. I slowly drifted to sleep. Ignoring my pain.