Summary: The Rangers discover a Nighlock symbol branded into Jayden's back after the events of "The Master Returns." Hurt / comfort, friendship, angst, drama. Jayden / Mia, Mike / Emily.

Author's Notes: This story takes place minutes after "The Master Returns."

Marked For Blood
PenPatronus
Chapter One
Xandred's Revenge

When Emily took a good look at how pale Jayden's skin was, how saturated his blue eyes were with pain, she couldn't stop crying. She told herself – over and over – that Jayden needed her to be strong, just like Serena did. But this was Jayden – Jayden. Their friend, their leader, the glue that held the team together. No, more than that. The sinew. At some point Emily had subconsciously come to the conclusion that he was indestructible. Even on the rare occasion that he went down he didn't stay there for long. But not only had he not improved yet, the burns and cuts and bruises were getting worse.

As if his blood refused to clot.

Emily ached for Serena's comforting embrace. She wrapped her arms across her chest, hugged herself, and imagined that her big sister was there.

"Emily. Help me," said Mia. The Pink Ranger knelt beside the couch and opened up a medical kit. The guys had bathed Jayden and even managed to get a few bites of food in him before he collapsed again. Now Mia unbuttoned his clean shirt, slipped it off and dabbed ointment onto his chest. "Hand me a bandage, will you, Emily?"

Emily wiped the water out of her eyes and retrieved the gauze. Jayden hissed at her when she touched the wound, then mouthed, "Sorry." He swallowed, cleared his throat and whispered aloud, "Thanks for staying with me on the island, Emily. I know it must have been hard to watch the others fight without you."

That started the waterworks again. Emily felt her throat constrict and cut off her response. She forced a smile and nodded.

"Hang on, Jayden, this might hurt," Mia said. Emily watched the Pink Ranger roll Jayden onto his side. He cut off a cry by biting his bottom lip but the tremble in his body revealed how much pain he was in. "Oh no," Mia whispered. "Oh, God."

"What is it?" Emily asked. She sprinted around the couch and knelt beside her friend. "Is that – Mia, is that a–"

"A Nighlock symbol. It's burned into his skin." Mia held her palm over the blistered marks on Jayden's spine and Emily was shocked to see that the symbol was as big as her hand. "Jayden, I…" Mia stretched her neck over his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "Jayden, I don't know what to do."

"Mirror," he gasped. "Get mirrors. Show me."

Emily ran into the girls' bathroom and grabbed two round, long-handled mirrors. She held one in front of Jayden's eyes while Mia pointed the other at his back. Jayden gasped when the mirrors aligned. "Can't be…"

Mia put the mirror down and grasped his arm. "Do you know what that symbol means?"

"No." He closed his eyes and squeezed them so hard that his eyelids turned white. "But I've seen it before. On my father's dead body."

Mia and Emily stared at each other. Both opened their mouths to speak but couldn't summon any words.

"Master Xandred branded him with that symbol in that exact same place," Jayden said. "The night that they fought. The night… The night that my father died." He coughed, then. Hot blood splattered across Emily's pale yellow shirt.

"Jayden!" Mia rushed over and dabbed the blood from his lips with a towel. "Jayden, lie still, I'll get Mentor." She was halfway across the room when, suddenly, she ran back and kissed Jayden on the cheek, right below his eye. She left before he blinked.

Emily stopped trying to hold back the tears. "What can I do?" she begged.

"Nothing." Jayden's coughs sounded like Serena's. He spit more blood onto the floor. "Nothing, just… Emily? When your sister was sick… what did you do?"

"I played music for her. I played my flute." Emily's lower lip trembled and she rubbed her fingertips through his hair.

"I bet it was beautiful," he whispered. "Will you play for me?"

The other Rangers suddenly stampeded into the room. Someone – Mike, Emily thought – helped her to her feet. Jayden's white face disappeared in the crowd.

Emily ran into her room and threw herself face first onto the bed.

To Be Continued