Smolder Chapter 17

The car ride back was suffocatingly tense. The hum of the engine was the only sound as Aiden pushed the car to its limits, the tires whining on the sharp turns of the deserted back roads. The golden afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting long, flickering shadows across Jade’s face as she gripped the seatbelt tight against her chest.
The silence was thick, but Jade couldn’t hold back any longer. “They’re going for Crystal River,” she blurted, her voice tight with fear. “I don’t know how, but they are. We have to get back now.”
Aiden’s knuckles whitened on the wheel. “Crystal River’s prepared for this,” he said, his voice steady but clipped. “The defenses are strong. We’ve trained for years. Everyone knows what to do.”
“Then why are you driving so fast?” Jade demanded. Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the dread clawing at her chest.
Summer, turned around to face Jade. Her usual smugness was gone, replaced by a forced calm. “Jade, the town has protocols for this. The UV wall is up, and everyone knows to gather in the square. Crystal River is safer than anywhere else in the world right now.”
Isa nodded from the front passenger seat, though her tear-streaked cheeks told another story. “Even the kids are trained,” she added quietly, her voice trembling. “They’ll be okay.”
But Jade wasn’t reassured. If Crystal River was so impenetrable, why was Aiden driving as his life depended on it? Why did his voice shake ever so slightly when he said the town was prepared?
Her thoughts churned, images flashing unbidden in her mind: her grandmother’s warm smile crinkling the corners of her eyes, her grandfather’s steely gaze softening only for her. Nina, laughing and sparking tiny flames in her hands, surrounded by other children playing on the grassy fields of Crystal River.
Jade pressed her forehead to the cool window, trying to block out the darker images that threatened to take hold demons breaking into homes, and children screaming as they were dragged into the night. Her hands clenched into fists at the thought. They’ll be okay, she told herself. They have to be.
Suddenly, Aiden slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, tires smoking against the pavement.
“Benjamin, get out. Now!” Aiden yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Jade’s heart lurched as Benjamin moved instantly. Without hesitation, he threw open the door and leaped out, landing on the road in a blur of motion. She barely had time to yell before the car surged forward again, the gates of Crystal River looming ahead.
The car rocketed through the gates, and a wave of scorching heat engulfed Jade. It wasn’t painful instead, it was exhilarating. Warmth filled her entire body, a radiant glow that made her skin hum and her senses heighten. It was sunlight, pure and powerful coursing through her like a surge of energy. For a moment, her fears melted away, replaced by euphoria.
Summer gasped, her hair standing on end as static electricity crackled around her. “It’s the Roentgen,” she whispered, her voice awed.
As quickly as it came, the heat dissipated, leaving Jade feeling hollow and disoriented. The car jolted to a stop, and the silence returned.
“What was that?” Jade asked, her voice breathless.
Aiden loosened his death grip on the wheel and exhaled shakily. “The Roentgen. It incinerates any demon who tries to enter. It wasn’t on the last time you came through, but if it’s up now, it means the town’s on high alert.”
“Roentgen?” she asked, glancing toward the gates.
Isa, for once, spoke up confidently. “We’ve harnessed sunlight. It’s stored and released as a barrier of pure UV radiation. Demons can’t survive even a touch of it. That’s why Sonnyville’s always warmer than the surrounding areas. It’s one of the best defenses we have.”
“What about Benjamin?” Jade’s eyes widened, and she bolted from the car.
She ran back toward the gates, skidding to a stop just before the heat hit her. Extending her hand, she felt the scorching air brush her fingertips. Steeling herself, she stepped through, the energy surging through her again as she emerged on the other side.
Benjamin caught her, steadying her as she stumbled forward. “You alright?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Yeah. What about you?”
He flashed her a lopsided grin. “Action movie solo stunt, I love jumping out of moving vehicles…” He chuckled. “…what just happened?”
Jade explained the wall, and Benjamin’s smirk widened. “Great. So now I’m stuck out here like I’ve been grounded.”
Her chest tightened. She could see the frustration in his eyes, the way his shoulders tensed. He hated being left out, especially when it came to her.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
He brushed a hand over her cheek, his touch soft. “It’s okay. We knew this wouldn’t be easy. This is just one of those moments.” His expression shifted, a mischievous glint lighting his eyes. “Besides, I might test this Roentgen out. I bet there are a few demons in the woods who’d love to meet it.”
Jade groaned. “You can’t just… I don’t know, stay low?”
“Would the man you love just sit on the sidelines?” he teased, wrapping his arms around her.
She sighed, smiling despite herself. “No. Go have fun. But please, be careful.”
She kissed him quickly, her heart aching as she watched him sprint off into the woods with a grin.
Back in the car, Aiden sped toward the town square. The tension in the car was palpable.
“What other defenses do we have?” Jade asked, her voice sharp with urgency.
He shook his head. “The Roentgen is the best. If it’s active, some demons must’ve already made it inside.”
Summer turned to Jade, her expression grim. “We’ve drilled for this. Everyone forms a protective circle in the square, shielding the children while the adults rotate fighting.”
Jade’s stomach twisted. “How long can that hold? Demons don’t tire out. Vindicators do.”
“We have weapons,” Aiden added. “Swords, daggers, things to finish the job. It’s not ideal, but it works.”
Summer’s voice softened. “Even though we’re Vindicators, sometimes… there’s no other choice but to kill.”
Jade stared out the window as the town square came into view, her heart pounding. The demons were here. The town was ready... but was she?