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A.J. didn’t see Jarred’s hand until it was an inch from the diamond. Gasping in shock, he jerked it away from Jarred’s prying fingers. “No! No one can touch the Forbidden Gems of Kinsod!” In his rush to jerk the jewel away, A.J. nearly dropped it. Jordan noticed it falling, and his hand shot out to catch it. A.J. flinched and covered his eyes, not wanting to see the coming scene.
He covered his face, whimpering softly. “No, nononononono. Don’t touch it Howie. Please, just don’t touch it. Leave it alone, D. I told you to leave it alone. He told us not to touch it. Why are you so stubborn? Please, D. Please.......”
“A.J.?”
“Brian?”
“No, it’s Bret. Remember? Bret Willits? What’s wrong? Who’s Howie?” It was Bret. Not Brian, Bret. Brian’s dead. Had to remember that. Brian was dead. He killed him. That mother fucker killed him.
A.J. shook his head to clear his thoughts. Couldn’t think of that. Not now. Maybe not ever. A.J. looked up at Bret, seeing his eyes filled with concern. The rest of the group had circled around him, eyes full of questions. Questions that they hoped A.J. had the answer for. Jordan stood off to the side, staring at the harmless gem lying in his hand.
“Right, of course. Bret. What are ya’ll staring at me for? Do you wanna know why you’re here or not?” A.J. barked, snatching the jewel from Jordan’s hands. The blonde stood staring wide-eyed at him, wondering what had just happened.
“What are the ‘Forbidden Gems of Kiksode’? And what do they have to do with us? And why did you freak when Jarred wanted to touch it when it didn’t affect Jordan in the slightest?” Sean moved up to face A.J., demanding answers.
J. sighed, and raised his eyes to meet those of the ‘leader’. “First of all, it’s Kinsod, not Kiksode. Second of all, it didn’t hurt your little friend because this particular jewel is dead. If it wasn’t dead, wittle Jordie wouldn’t have a hand right now. Hell, he’d be lucky if he still had an arm.”
“Dead? How can a diamond be dead?” Zach questioned, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
“And what the hell are the Forbidden Gems of Kinsod?” Sean repeated.
“How could a ruby have the power to destroy someone’s arm?” Claudia asked.
“It’s not a ruby, it’s a sapphire. But that’s not the point. Who is Howie? and Brian?” Bret challenged.
“Looks like an opal to me....” Jordan observed, eyeing the gem in his hand.
“You wouldn’t know what an opal was if it bit you in the ass.” Mandee retorted.
“Would too.”
“Would not.”
“Will you two shut up? Who cares what kind of jewel it is! Besides, its an emerald, everyone can see that.” LeighAnne butted in with.
“Oh for the love of God......” Jarred moaned.
“Ignore them.” Kristen advised.
“Who the fuck are you? And what right do you have to rip us out of our lives just for some stupid stones?” Amanda snapped, completely oblivious to the feuding trio.
“I do believe that I’ve already explained who I am, doll face.”
Amanda just rolled her eyes.
“Now, all your questions, and more, will be answered if you’ll just be kind enough to follow me down this here trail.” Thus, with a glance to be sure that the group had heard his words, A.J. started back down the trail they had come.