Summary: Sequel to "Marked for Blood." The time has come for Jayden to face his destiny! As the Red Ranger prepares seal the Netherworld with his own life, Deker destroys his home and kills his closest friend. The Samurai Rangers are on the run – powerless, hopeless, and knee-deep in the Sanzu River. Can they save the world without sacrificing Jayden? Hurt / comfort, adventure, romance. Jayden / Mia, Mike / Emily.
Author's Note: This is the sequel to my story, "Marked for Blood." You don't necessarily have to read that story to get this one, but I recommend it. Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Destined for Death
PenPatronus
Chapter One
Deal With Deker
Dear Serena,
Hey, sis! So sorry I haven't written in a few weeks. Antonio hijacked my laptop so here's some old-fashioned snail mail! I'm glad your garden is finally getting some rain. I want to plant something here – maybe some tomatoes or strawberries – but I just haven't had the time. We've been busy lately – I have so much to tell you, I don't know where to begin. I'll start with the good news. Remember Mike, the Green Ranger? Well – guess what – we are officially boyfriend and girlfriend! We went on our fourth date yesterday. He wanted pizza but I wanted Chinese, so we got take-out from both places and had a picnic on the beach. With the guys, he's this tough comedian but when it's just the two of us, he's so sweet and gentle. He said that my smile could cure a rainy day.
Guess I should get the bad news over with. Maybe writing about it will be therapeutic for me. We had a scary couple of days recently. Master Xandred attacked us. He dried out quickly but, boy, he kicked our butts. Jayden got really beat up. Xandred put some sort of curse on him and he almost died. Well, he did die, actually. Mike, too. It's a long story but in the end, Mentor and Antonio figured out how to save them. We lost a few Zords in the process and all of our morphers. Antonio is working hard to fix the Samuraizers and I hope he finishes before the Nighlock attack us again. There's only so much we can do without our powers!
The Tengen Gate was destroyed. We held a funeral for the Guardians. I hope that my flute playing comforted Mentor Ji. Since then we've been cleaning up the grounds and salvaging what we can. We boxed up all of the surviving texts from the library and any important artifacts. Kevin found pieces of a lost power disc buried in what used to be in a wall in the temple. We never would've found it if the Moogers hadn't knocked it over.
Right now Mike and Jayden are training, Antonio is working on the Samuraizers and Kevin is trying to figure out how to combine the remaining Zords. I need to finish this letter and go find Mia – she's been really quiet lately – I think she's upset about something but she won't talk about it. It probably has something to do with Jayden. I thought that they were going to, you know, get together, but they've both been really distant. Please pray that Xandred and Serrator leave us alone until we get our powers back! I almost lost two of my best friends and I don't think I could handle that again.
Hope to hear from you soon! Tell everyone back home that I said hi and that I'm all right. Hugs, kisses, and best wishes!
Love,
Emily
Serrator crumpled up the letter and tossed it into the fire. His six eyes glowed happily at the man standing across from him, beside a cliff overlooking the moonlight-soaked water. "Well done, Deker. I didn't think that following the Red Ranger to the post office would bear fruit. Their Zords and morphers are out of commission… This is the perfect time for my new plan."
"He must not have known that such sensitive information was in that envelope, otherwise he wouldn't have just dropped it in a mailbox for anyone to snatch." Deker fingered the weapon in his hands. "You have the information you need and I have my sword. Now, we part ways."
"Not so fast. I have another job for you."
"You restored my weapon. There is nothing else I want."
"How about your humanity?"
Deker rarely showed emotion but this unexpected offer fractured his sphinx expression. Foreign hope appeared in his eyes. "You have the power to restore me to a full-blooded human?"
"I do." Serrator walked around the fire and stood nose to nose with Deker.
"Then I will do anything." Deker knelt in front of the Nighlock and bowed his head. "I will do whatever you wish."
"I thought you'd say that. Rise." Serrator stood on the edge of a cliff and glared at the moon. The silver light made his armor look twice as strong. "The Red Ranger… he is part Nighlock, like yourself. As was his mother. And yet, despite the symbol power protection surrounding the Shiba House, both of them could enter it. Full Nighlock like me can't breach the grounds, but half-Nighlock can."
"Stabbing the Red Ranger in his sleep is not an honorable victory. It would bring me little pleasure."
"Observe the Rangers closer, Deker, and you see that their own safety is not their greatest concern. If you really want to hurt the Red Ranger, hurt his friends."
"What do you have in mind?"
Serrator's grin widened. He knelt on the earth, drew shapes in the sand with his forefinger and explained his plan.
To Be Continued