Power Ranger Ninja Storm, Heather Ray [best classic romance novels txt] 📗

she gives no explanation. So I demand one. "Why am I here?"

She shrugs absently. "You were wounded, so Uncle Lothor brought you here for treatment." A flash of white teeth gives a certain...edge to her grin. "Those Winds got you good down there."

Huh? The Wind Rangers? Managed to hurt me? Yeah...right

!

But...I can't deny the ache in my chest. I definitely was injured. Somehow.

"I don't remember any fight."

Her eyebrow quirks, and she pauses her filing. "You don't? Well, what do you remember?"

My response surprises me. "Blake and I were at the beach. It was after we found the Winds when we trashed their Megazord." I frown deeply. Something's not right with that -- as if there was something...fuzzy

afterward.


Flashes of rubble, fighting wraith-like creatures, a green crystal, ghosts with blurred features, an argument with Blake...but nothing concrete. Weird.

I look up, and notice Kapri's more-confused-than-usual expression. "That was two weeks ago."

I blink. And blink again. "That's impossible."

She approaches me, daring to reach her hand to my forehead. I level my most lethal glare at her, and she wisely steps back. "They obviously hit you harder than we thought."

My fingers trail through my messy hair, searching for bumps or clumps of blood that would support her theory. But while I can't find any physical evidence, I do have a killer headache, and my legs just don't want to keep me upright.

Something is wrong with me.

I scan the lab one more time. No second bed, and no chair other than the one Kapri had occupied. No sign of any other patient or visitor.

I keep my voice even with great effort. "Where's Blake?"

She winces visibly. "We should see my uncle..."

I grab her arm before she can turn away. "Where. Is. Blake?" I enunciate each word as if she were deaf and dumb.

Her cool blue eyes meet mine, trying to stare me down. My grip doesn't loosen.

"He's on Earth," she finally reveals, breaking eye contact.

But that doesn't satisfy me, as my tightened grip can attest. "We left him on Earth? Alone?"

It doesn't make sense. If Blake knows I was hurt, he'd stay by my side like a hawk. Unless, he couldn't...

"What happened to him?"

"He's not hurt!" Kapri squeaks, insistently tugging against my steel grip. "He's with the Wind Rangers."

My entire body tenses, only aggravating bruised organs and freshly-knit ribs. "The Wind Rangers captured him?"

She glances away. "No. He joined them willingly."

That's not possible. Blake would never abandon me. I know he has doubts about our plan to infiltrate Ninja Ops, but he'd never just leave me. We're family.

"We should go see Uncle," she states, her tone insistent. "He has a plan to repay the Wind Rangers, and to get your brother back."

A smart-ass comment leaps to my tongue, but I bite down against it. This isn't the time to get angry; not until I know who I should direct that anger toward. Right now, all I can do is cooperate...until I figure out what kind of game Lothor is trying to play.

I silently stalk behind the girl as we approach the throne, all the while concentrating on the scraps of memory that seem just out of reach.

I remember arguing with Blake, though I can't get a hold of the context or content. I remember frustration and impatience, and a touch of resignation. Like...I'd given up the fight? That's definitely not my style.

I try to bring that memory it into focus. How long ago did that happen? Is that the reason why Blake isn't here? Did it have something to do with the Winds?

"Hunter, so good to see you up and about!"

I glare at Lothor, folding my arms contemptuously. I can hear the rumbling growl of Zurgane, probably annoyed at my habitual lack of respect. He should know by now; I don't bow to alien psychos.

I cut right to the chase. "Where's Blake?"

"It looks like some of his memory has been lost," Kapri interjects. "He doesn't remember what happened with Blake or the Winds."

I grind my teeth, glaring at the pink-headed girl through the corner of my eye. She shuts up, and backs away.

Lothor shakes his head, grimacing. "Such a sad story, really."

"Cut the melodrama," I snap, stepping forward. "Where is Blake?"

Lothor lifts his hand, and an image slowly forms. "He's on Earth. And he's not alone."

I stare in confusion as the ball of light begins to clear. Green blurs take the shape of trees, and two blue-toned blotches come into focus in the center.

Blake. And the Blue Wind Ranger. And they're...laughing

?

"What is this supposed to be?"

"Your brother's loyalties have been tangled, it seems," Lothor responds, waving his hand. The image fades from view, but not from my mind.

"You're wrong," I state firmly. "The plan was for Blake and I to befriend the Winds, so we can find Ninja Ops and get their Sensei. If Blake thinks the Blue Ranger is the easiest target, then so be it."

I trust my brother; I trust him with my life. And if Lothor thinks he can shake that trust...he's more a fool than I thought.

"That was the plan," Lothor concedes, "but much has happened that you probably don't remember. Blake has been manipulated by the Wind Rangers. They are more devious than we initially thought. They must be dealt with."

My eyebrow rises. "That's not part of our deal, Lothor. We target the guinea pig, period. If you want to kill the Wind Rangers, do your own dirty work."

"Oh, I don't think that's such a good idea." Lothor rises from his throne, walking past me at a leisurely pace. "You see, Hunter, your brother has betrayed me, and I do not take such disloyalty lightly. If I send Zurgane, or my other servants, to destroy the Wind Rangers, I fear Blake will get caught in the crossfire."

He turns to me, a smug smile on his masked face. "You wouldn't want that, would you?"

My eyes narrow as I lean closer to the space ninja. "You're threatening me?"

He slowly shakes his head. "Not at all. I'm merely giving you...an opportunity, if you will. You help me destroy the Wind Rangers, and perhaps I can show some leniency."

At first, red-hot rage makes it incredibly difficult to hold back from leaping at the mocking freak. But I manage to stay in control; I have to figure out how much of what Lothor's saying is the truth.

How much danger is Blake in? How do I get him out of it?

I decide to negotiate. "I'm not your attack dog, Lothor," I snap, grilling him with my best glare. "I don't kill just because you say so."

The amused smirk returns. "Then don't kill them just yet. Draw them into my trap, and then see how far you are willing to go to stay in my good graces."

His hand emerges from his cloak, revealing a narrow circlet. "This will open a portal to Vertical Island, my own personal piece of real estate on Earth. You will deliver the Winds an invitation for me." His smirk becomes exceptionally mocking. "And since Blake will most likely try to help his new allies, I suggest you consider joining them on Vertical Island. If you can't persuade him to see reason and stay out of my affairs, I'm afraid he won't be spared."

My grip tightens on the magical ring. "Swear to leave Blake alone, and I'll do it."

"Oh, I could give my word... but it's so hard to control monsters in the heat of battle." A toothy Cheshire smile appears, giving me a strange sense of déjà vu. For some reason, I'm...disturbed

by that expression. I itch to take a step back, to get away from that sinister smile, but pride roots my feet in place.

I won't back down to this maniac. Ever.

I do catch his drift, though. Lothor seems eager to get me to fight the Winds personally. I don't have anything particular against them (at least, unless what Lothor said about them manipulating Blake is true)

, but if it's a matter of protecting my little brother, I can live with some collateral damage.

I take a breath, and lay out my terms. "Fine. You and your goons stay out of it. I'll send the Rangers to Vertical Island, and I'll deal with Blake."

His dark eyes watch me for a long moment, before he finally inclines his head. "A deal. However, if I see that you're not dealing with the Rangers to my satisfaction, I will provide reinforcements."

"Your flunkies cramp my style, Lothor," I growl. "They'd do well to stay out of my way."

"If you efficiently eliminate the Rangers, or at least restore your brother to his senses, then you'll be long gone when I send the clean-up crew," he answers.

He then pauses at the wall, and pulls two narrow objects down from display. When he holds them out to me, I can't keep my stony mask. My jaw drops in surprise.

It's...my Thunder Staff. Broken in half?

What the hell??

"You were injured in your last battle against the Wind Rangers," Lothor continues, "Unfortunately, Blake was unwilling to harm the Blue Ranger, which, of course, meant you were occupied fighting Red and Yellow while keeping an eye on your wayward brother." He leaves the broken pieces in my startled grip.

I swallow to moisten my dry throat, staring at the broken staff in disbelief. The Winds broke my staff?? That's impossible!

But who else could've done it...?

Lothor then steps closer, definitely invading my personal space. I glare at him, but once again I don't back down.

His hands guide the broken staff together, until the frayed edges are touching. Then, with a flash of energy, the broken steel is mended.

"Don't underestimate the Wind Rangers, Hunter. They will kill you if given the opportunity. Don't let them get an opening."

I give a curt nod as I turn to leave. I trust Lothor about as far as I can throw the Megazord, but I can't deny it's good advice.

I glance down at my renewed Thunder Staff with a strange sense of dread. If the Winds did break it, then they're definitely stronger than I anticipated. And if...if Blake really is starting to be swayed by Tori -- and that's a big "if"

-- then I don't know how he'll act if I confront her.

There are just way too many "ifs"

floating around. I don't know what is going on!

But there's one thing I do know for sure: Blake's in danger

. Definitely from Lothor, and from the looks of it, probably from the Winds, too.

Blue Bay Harbor, here I come.

Chapter Ten