Smolder Chapter 3

Jade jerked awake, her body shooting up faster than her mind. She moved to stand, only to smack her forehead right into Aiden’s chin.
“Ow,” she groaned, rubbing the sore spot on her head. “Aiden, ever heard of personal space?”
He cupped his jaw, working it around as if trying to realign it. “Hey, I was just trying to wake you up. How was I supposed to know you’d pop up like a Mexican jumping bean?”
She ignored him, this time easing herself out of the seat more carefully. She grabbed her things and followed him off the plane.
The first thing that hit her when she stepped outside was the heat. Scorching, oppressive heat. Almost instantly, a light sheen of sweat rose on her arms, and without a hint of breeze, the still air let the sun bake her relentlessly. Great, she thought, fanning herself as she glanced around the small airstrip.
The airport was barely more than a landing strip. Just one runway, one tiny building, and a couple of small planes resting under the glaring sun. She spotted a car parked a few yards away, its engine idling, waiting for them. She assumed it was there to take them into Crystal River and started walking toward it.
“Excited to be home?” She asked as he slid into the backseat beside her, closing the door.
“More than you know,” he replied, a spark of energy lighting up his expression. His excitement was almost tangible, crackling in the air between them.
A driver sat down in the front seat and revved the engine. “Where to, Mr. Francis?”
“The town square, please,” He responded, flipping through some papers in his bag.
She raised an eyebrow at the formal use of Aiden’s last name. Mr. Francis? To her, he was the goofy, slightly cocky best friend but here, in his hometown, he seemed to carry a different status. There was an air of respect toward him that she hadn’t seen before. Watching him now, with his serious, focused demeanor, was strange. He looked… grown-up.
“What?” he asked, catching her staring.
“Nothing,” she muttered, quickly turning her gaze to the window.
For the first few minutes, everything outside seemed normal. Trees zipped by, the sky stretched clear and blue above them, and the road was a simple gravel path marked with yellow lines. It felt like any other quiet, rural town. But then, they stopped outside a pair of tall, ornate, scroll-topped iron gates.
She watched as the driver pressed a button on a remote, and the gates slowly creaked open, allowing the car to inch forward.
For some reason Jade expected something monumental to happen as they crossed into town. But the deeper they drove, the more ordinary everything appeared. White picket fences, shingled roofs, perfectly manicured lawns—it looked like any picture-perfect suburban neighborhood. The unsettling part, though, was the eerie silence. No children playing outside, neighbors chatting on front porches. Just an empty, sunlit street that seemed frozen in time.
“Where is everyone?” she asked, her voice cutting through the stillness.
“They’re waiting for you,” he replied with a laugh. “You’re kind of a big deal, Jade.”
“Me? Why?”
“Jade, you’re the only Seraphina ever heard of who’s a mixed breed and everyone’s curious. You’re a huge deal.”
A knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. The last thing she had ever imagined was being the center of attention. Training with the Conclave, sure. But being some kind of spectacle for the town? Definitely not. Stupid, she chastised herself. Of course, it’s a big deal.
As they pulled into the town square, her nerves intensified. Every citizen of Crystal River seemed to be there, packed into the grassy park surrounding the square. The excited chatter of voices filled the air, and the scene was a sea of blonde heads Vindicators of all ages. Now and then, she saw streaks of flame shoot into the sky, only to land softly in someone’s open palm, absorbed back into their skin.
They look so… happy, she thought, taking it all in. These people were comfortable with who they were, and content with their lives. She felt like an outsider crashing into their world.
Aiden stepped out of the car first, and the crowd began to quiet. Jade followed him, and when her feet hit the pavement the silence was deafening. She had never felt so self-conscious in her life. Her fiery red hair stood out like a beacon against the sea of blonde. Her flame-tinted blue eyes were the same as theirs, but that similarity felt insignificant compared to how she stood out.
“Well,” he whispered, taking her hand, “you sure know how to make an entrance.”
She couldn’t even respond. She let him lead her through the crowd, which parted for them like the Red Sea. Everywhere she looked, people avoided her gaze. Children clung to their parents, wide-eyed and nervous.
Are they scared of me? she wondered, but she didn’t have time to dwell on the thought. He had stopped walking, and when she looked up, she saw them: the Conclave.
Seven men were seated on large, carved thrones, each looking more serious than the last. Jade assumed this was where town meetings were held, but after seeing the modern airplane they’d arrived in the sight of this archaic wooden platform felt jarring. There was an air of ancient authority about them, and her legs wobbled as she climbed the steps.
“Aiden Francis,” a booming voice called out. Jade jumped at the sound and glanced at the man who had spoken. He sat in the center, his hair shockingly white, his presence commanding. “Won’t you join us?”
Aiden smiled reassuringly at Jade and ascended the steps beside her, calm and collected.
“Councilmen,” he greeted them with a respectful bow. Jade resisted the urge to roll her eyes no way she was bowing. She wasn’t going to let on how scared she was not when all eyes were on her.
“Hello. Nice to meet you all,” she said, trying to sound confident. But to her ears, her voice came out like a squeak. Aiden shot her a look, his eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and concern.
“Miss Cooper,” one of the men said, his voice cold and authoritative. “We are aware you are not familiar with our customs, but when the Conclave is in session, you are expected to address us with respect. We are a society built on tradition, and though you are new to our ways, we expect you to follow them.”
Jade stared at him, stunned by his arrogance. He looked down at her as if she were some insignificant insect under his boot. His hair was slicked back, his skin weathered, and his voice grated on her nerves.
Who are you to judge me? she thought, her anger rising. After keeping my entire life a secret?
Aiden reached for her hand, sensing the shift in her mood, but she swatted him away. Her fear had vanished, replaced by fury.
“I meant no disrespect,” she began, her voice steadier than before. “But considering I had no idea you people even existed until recently, maybe you could cut me a little slack.” Her eyes bored into the man who had spoken. “I’ve spent my whole life in the dark, and if it wasn’t for Aiden, I’d still be clueless about who I am and what I can do.”
The man’s face tightened, but Jade pressed on, her anger fueling her words.
“You were the ones who failed, not me. You kept everything from me. Aiden was the one who saved me he taught me to trust myself when I had no one else.”
Her words hung in the air like a challenge. The silence around them was thick. No one dared move, and the crowd held its collective breath.
Just then, Jade caught sight of an elderly woman in the crowd, her face glowing with a small, knowing smile. Her white hair gleamed in the sunlight, and something about her expression felt familiar and comforting. She felt a wave of calm wash over her.
But the moment was short-lived. The man from the Conclave stood slowly, using a cane she hadn’t noticed before. He descended from his throne, his steps heavy, and stopped directly in front of her.
“You remind me of my daughter,” he said after a long pause. Jade let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “She, too, struggled with following the rules and it killed her.”
Jade's heart clenched. The man’s eyes were full of sorrow as he turned and walked away, supported by the woman who had smiled at Jade moments before. Together, they disappeared into the crowd, leaving her stunned.
“Aiden…” she whispered, turning to her friend. “Were they…?”
He nodded solemnly. “Your grandparents.”
Jade’s legs gave way, and she sank to the ground, the weight of the revelation crushing her. Her fingers closed around the locket around her neck, her thoughts racing. How hadn’t I realized? The woman had her mother’s eyes and the same gentle smile.
“Miss Cooper,” Councilman Byrne called, breaking through her thoughts. His tone was firm but not unkind. “Shall we continue?”
She glanced at Aiden, who offered her his hand. She took it, tucking the locket back under her shirt. There will be time to process this later.
“Now,” Byrne said, addressing both Jade and the crowd, “you were brought here to learn about our society and strengthen your abilities but before we can begin your training, we must test your current skills. In two days, we will gather here for a formal examination.”
Jade’s stomach dropped. Two days? That hardly seemed like enough time to prepare for something this important.
“You will stay with Mr. Francis and his family until then,” he continued, his eyes flicking back to Jade. “Is that agreeable?”
She nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything. Her mind was still buzzing from everything that had happened the confrontation, the reveal about her grandparents, the looming test.
“I call this meeting to an end,” he said. “ Om Bhaskaraya Vidmahe Mahadutyathikaraya Dheemahi ”
“ Tanno Surya Prachodayat,” the crowd echoed, their voices rumbling in unison.
Jade heard Aiden murmuring the words beside her, and the foreignness of it all hit her once again there was so much she didn’t know that separated her from these people.
“Ready?” he asked as the Conclave members exited the platform.
She took a deep breath, following his lead. “I guess.”