Destined for Death

PenPatronus

Chapter Three

Mia's Secret

It was a life-or-death situation. Mia knew that. She was also helplessly hog-tied with nothing to do but watch and shout, "Jayden!" or "Look out!" or "Oh no!" over and over. She couldn't even sit up or roll over because of the muddy rain puddles. She also couldn't help but watch and think – damn – Jayden. Shiba. Is. Beyond. Sexy. His wise blue eyes, his plump lips, his sharp cheekbones and hair that looked perfect no matter the length. Those strong shoulders and arms with streams of rain and sweat flowing over the muscle. The way the tendons in his neck flexed. The way his jaw set and his teeth clenched in concentration.

The way he defended her with his life.

Mia kicked herself mentally – and probably would've physically if she could. She couldn't afford to think of Jayden that way anymore. Not after what she heard. Not after she accidentally eavesdropped on Ji and Jayden's conversation on the patio. She'd been walking around (moping, actually) for almost two weeks with the weighty knowledge that Jayden wouldn't / couldn't be with her because, soon, he would die. She barely talked to him, barely looked at him. Not for the first time Mia wondered what would break her heart first: keeping the secret or shouting it?

Red fog erupted geyser-like from every pore of the grounds. Mia squinted. Something materialized in the air – a hundred somethings. Power symbols. Power symbols covered in flame, melting, disintegrating. Jayden's gasp of pain lassoed her attention. Deker's sword flung droplets of hot blood across the yard and a few landed on Mia's cheek. The Pink Ranger's mood shifted like the storm clouds above. Fear replaced all conscious thought. The duel seemed to unfold in slow motion.

Jayden took a hit. He dropped to his knees. The sword descended and Mia screamed.

None of them heard Antonio coming. The Gold Ranger tackled Deker around the waist and they both rolled out the gate. A stampede of footsteps, splashing through the rain, followed. The others were awake and chasing Deker away. Jayden looked relieved, but then he swayed and clutched his side. The pain distracted him but he pivoted and crawled across the yard. His fingers, shaking with pain and slippery from blood and water, fumbled with Mia's bonds.

"Are you all right?" Mia whispered. He nodded, but didn't speak. "I was asleep in bed – he came through my window – he jumped on me – Jayden, I tried to fight him off but I couldn't… I was so scared, I'm so sorry."

His grey sweatpants were turning red from all of the blood running down his body. "It's ok," Jayden whispered. "I'm just glad you're safe – so glad."

He freed her hands and Mia embraced him. Every recent thought of avoiding him to spare her own feelings went out the proverbial window. She kissed his cheek and rubbed her hands down his back. "You're shaking. You're cold."

"You're safe," he sighed against her neck.

Mia sat back, sniffed, and then leaned in and kissed him. Gently, she used her tongue to part his lips. The heat of her mouth made Jayden forget all about the cold rain and the pain in his gut. He closed his eyes, clutched Mia's waist and thrust his tongue between her teeth. His soft, moist lips massaged hers with frustrating gentleness.

"Wait," Jayden suddenly gasped, "I – I shouldn't do this. Mia, I've been meaning to talk to you…"

"Don't bother," she said, sharper and less patient than she intended. "I mean, I know. I heard you and Ji talking. I know you don't want to be with me."

"What? It's not that," Jayden said as he touched her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I want you – I want you, Mia, but –"

"But you're going to die." Mia was shocked by the deadpan in her voice. "I heard that, too."

Jayden's jaw dropped. Any comment he would've made was interrupted when Ji, Antonio, Emily, Kevin and Mike ran over. Emily almost knocked Mia over with a hug. Antonio knelt behind Jayden so that the wounded Ranger could lean back comfortably against him. "Oh, man, not again," Mike said when he saw Jayden's wound. "That son of a bitch!"

"Did he get away?" Jayden asked.

"He jumped into a gap," Kevin reported. "He's gone."

Ji tore off one of his sleeves and pressed the fabric against Jayden's side. His eyes almost glowed red with anger. "You're going to need stitches," he said.

"Mentor, I saw Deker cast some sort of spell," said Mia. "I think I saw the power symbols that guard the house."

Ji looked up at the clouds and frowned. It almost looked like he smelled something but couldn't pinpoint the source. The mentor shut his eyes and breathed deeply. "I don't sense them," he whispered to anybody and everybody. "The protective symbols surrounding the Shiba House, the symbols that keep the Nighlock out… They're gone."

Mike spoke aloud what everyone was thinking: "Oh, crap."

"How did Deker figure out how to take down those symbol powers?" Kevin wondered.

"He didn't do it on his own," Jayden said through gritted teeth.

Ji had a theory. "This is why Serrator attacked the Tengen Gate. He probably confiscated some of the archives, including the protection spells."

"I wonder what else he got," Jayden whispered hoarsely. "Could be anything…"

"How are the Samuraizers coming, Antonio?" Ji asked.

"Faster than I thought," Antonio said, "but it will still take some time."

"Concentrate on Jayden's, all right? I'd rather have one completely fixed as opposed to all of them half-way done. If Deker took out the protection symbols, the Shiba House is no longer safe."

Kevin frowned. "You don't know how to reestablish them?"

"Believe me, if I knew how to summon those symbols I would wrap them around each of you like bubble wrap."

"If it's not safe here," Mike wondered, "does that mean…"

Ji ducked his head. "It means that we have to leave, at least for now. Clearly the Nighlock know where we live and Deker, at least, knows you don't have your powers."

"Where are we going to go?" Emily asked.

"I'm not sure yet. I just want us to get on the road as soon as possible and we'll figure it out from there. We need to pack up by dawn, at the latest – essentials only. Kevin, I want you to oversee that. Make sure that all of the weapons, books, food and supplies are in the car. And then-"

The gap alarm suddenly wailed.

To Be Continued