Another chapter! Huzzah! Please enjoy and review! I'd love to hear any advice or comments you have to give!

Blind to the Truth

Angel stopped and smiled when she saw Jaden standing in the center of the grassy area, pulling his arm back and then throwing the Frisbee far away. His motions were so smooth, and everything was so serene, she was almost afraid to interrupt him. She watched Crimson let out a happy bark and then chase after the Frisbee, leaping high into the air to catch it in his mouth. He then trotted back to his master and dropped the Frisbee at the blind man's feet.

"Good boy, Crimson. Go long," Jaden said, patting the dog's head before he threw the Frisbee again. "Come on over, Angel," he spoke, turning to face her.

"How did you know I was here?"

"Oh, just a guess," he smiled, moving towards her. "Are you okay? I know there was a mess over at your studio last night."

"I was encountered by Ghost, but I'm fine," Angel said, moving to meet him. "How about you? You look more pale than usual."

"I still feel really bad," Jaden sighed. "I don't know what's wrong with me, though."

"Have you gone to the hospital at all?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't like hospitals. You know that. Hey, some of my friends are coming over for Thanksgiving in a few nights. Would you care to join us? I know you said your dad is coming, and he's more than welcome to join the party."

"I might do that," Angel nodded.

"You seem really quiet," Jaden commented, noticing that she wasn't speaking as much as she usually did.

"Last night was just…terrifying."

"What exactly did Ghost do?" Jaden asked worriedly, throwing Crimson's Frisbee again.

"He just about got me," Angel whispered.

"What do you mean? How?" Jaden asked, complete seriousness in his voice.

"He tried to bite me. He pushed me up against the wall and tried to get a good hold on me. I threw a candle in his face. That's how the studio caught on fire and I escaped."

"Do you have someone to stay with you all the time now?" Jaden asked, his eyes dark behind his glasses.

"I have Crystal, a police officer, to stay with me at night," Angel said easily. "We have a full dress rehearsal tonight, Jay. That should be cool."

"Mm…you'll look gorgeous in your dress," Jaden said sadly.

"Jay, can you really not see?" Angel asked.

"I will always be able to see you," he said gently, putting his hands to her face. "But I won't hide it any longer. I can't see a thing. No shadows, no different shades of gray…nothing."

"Oh Jaden!" she gasped, taking his hands in hers. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's all right," he smiled. "The worst thing about it is not being able to see into your gorgeous eyes."

"You really are too nice," Angel whispered.

"We should probably go get ready for rehearsals," Jaden smiled. "Afterwards, we can go out for dinner or something. Sound good?"

"How about just out for coffee?" Angel asked. "There's a lot I'd like to talk to you about."

"Sure thing."

Play rehearsals went well, and afterwards, Jaden and Angel bought their drinks in "Starbucks" and found a seat near the fireplace.

Angel then poured out everything to her best friend, her worries about Ghost, the fear she had of being killed. She explained to him how upset she still was over Rachel, how she was terrorized she would have the same fate. He never spoke, but listened to her quietly, letting her pour out her soul to him. When she was finished, she took in a deep breath and gazed into his eyes. Her eyes immediately widened with fear when she saw that he was flushed, terribly flushed, far more flushed than just the heat from the fire would have made him.

"Jay!" She gasped, putting her drink down and grabbing his hand. "What is wrong?"

He opened his mouth, trying to speak as sweat trickled down his forehead, but words refused to come. He let out a choke and then slumped, his eyes closed.

"Help!" Angel screamed, dropping to the floor as Jaden did and catching his upper body before his head could hit the hard floor. "Someone help! Call an ambulance! He's unconscious!"

She opened his shirt slightly and pressed her ear to his chest. Panic flowed through her as she realized his heart wasn't beating. She grabbed his wrist and felt for a pulse, and found, to her absolute terror, that there was none.

"Oh God! Oh God help!" she panicked to the Lord as she tilted his head back, opening up his airway, and then began CPR, praying, with all her might, that help would get there soon. She couldn't hear the surprise and horror of the people around her. She didn't know that help had been called for. All she could focus on was Jaden, bringing him back to life, saving him with every ounce of her strength.

She never heard the ambulance arrive, and she had to be pulled forcefully away from Jaden as the medics rushed to the aid. She saw, as soon as she was pulled back, that his eyelids were beginning to flutter, and they opened slowly, his hazel eyes looking completely out of focus. Not that he could see anything anyway, but he still looked daze.

"What's happening?" he stammered, sitting up slowly with a groan.

"You went unconscious, sir," one of the medics said. "This young woman said you didn't have a pulse or a heartbeat."

"Angel? Angel? Where is she?" Jaden demanded, turning his head to the left and right, trying to hear her.

"I'm here," Angel said, rushing to him and taking his hand in hers.

"You're looking ill again," the lead medic, Patrick, said, seeing Jaden's face turning colors again.

"I don't understand what is happening," Jaden stammered as he was hoisted onto a stretcher and brought outside.

"You'll be okay," Angel said, her face tight as she walked with him.

"How are you related to Jaden?" Patrick asked, watching Jaden's stretcher get settled safely in the ambulance.

"I'm his friend," Angel said carefully.

"Best friend," Jaden corrected. "Let her come with me, please. I need a pleasant face and voice through all this," he smiled weakly.

"Sure thing," Patrick nodded, and then Angel climbed into the ambulance and sat down next to Jaden.

As soon as Jaden got to the hospital, his vitals were taken, and he was rushed into a room for blood work. To the horror of the doctors and Angel, he was severely blood-depleted. That was what had caused his collapsing. He was much too short on blood. He was brought into the ICU unit and was immediately given a blood transfusion. He was also pumped with several questions, none of which he could answer. No, he didn't know what had caused his blood loss. He hadn't felt this bad until the day before. He had slept it off, but then it came back this morning.

While he was speaking, Angel watched him quietly, a cold dread seeping through her body. She walked up to him as he was being questioned, and then gently put her hand to the collar of his shirt.

"Angel, what are you doing?" he asked uncomfortably.

She pulled his collar away, and there, nearly faded into his skin now, were two red marks, spaced apart just enough to make Angel gasp and step back, her hand flying to her mouth with surprise.

"What? What is it?" Jaden asked, and the doctor hurried over to look at his neck.

"Call the police," he said to one of the nurses as soon as he saw the mark.

"What is it?" Jaden asked, putting his hand to his neck. His eyes widened when he felt his skin, and he turned his head towards Angel. "Angel," he said breathlessly. "This isn't what I think it is, is it?"

"You've been bitten," she struggled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She sat down next to him and held his hand tightly until Forrest and another officer arrived. They studied Jaden's neck and then informed the doctor that Jaden was to stay here as long as possible. It was a miracle he was still alive, but they wanted to make absolutely certain that help would be there if things turned bad.

Angel refused to leave Jaden's side, and she asked Forrest to run back to her studio and get some things for her, which the kind police officer did immediately. He then informed her that she was to call him should anything happen. Once that was said, he and his companion left, leaving Jaden and Angel to themselves.

"Now I know you're terrorized," Jaden said, putting his hand over Angel's as their dinners were brought in. "But I survived this long without dying, after having been bitten. I think I'll be okay."

"But you collapsed today!" Angel exclaimed. "Jaden, I thought you had died!"

"And I'm still here," he smiled understandingly. "Let's get your mind off this, hmm? What did you have Forrest bring?"

"The play script and my Bible," Angel said quietly, not even looking at her food.

"Eat, and while you do that, we can go over the script," Jaden said, taking a sip of his water. "Come on, Angel. Cheer up. It'll be okay. I'll be fine."

"But I'm so afraid you won't be. When did you get bit?" Angel asked worriedly.

"I honestly couldn't tell you. My guess is that it was when I was asleep," Jaden shrugged.

"But why would they bite you? What reason could they have for attacking you when you were asleep, or for attacking you at all?" Angel asked fearfully.

Jaden didn't answer, and her mouth opened wide with terror.

"Me!" She gasped. "They're after me, and they thought you'd be in the way! Oh Jaden! I almost caused your death!"

"Now stop it," he scolded, frowning. "None of this is your fault, and I don't want to hear anything like that. Forget about the bite for a little bit, and let's go over that script. And you need to eat. You're shaking from lack of food."

"Where do you want us to start?" Angel sighed, trying to push her terror away long enough for her to rehearse.

"I like the part right after the peddler becomes the prince," Jaden said. "I still have to work on that. I have his stride right, but I can't seem to master his voice. I know I have the English accent and all, since I'm British, but I don't have enough passion in it. Go ahead and start."

Angel cleared her throat and then began her part, speaking like a professional.

"What have I done? You aren't a common, ugly peddler, but a prince! To think I had been the monster all along, and never you! Oh my prince, I beg your forgiveness!"

"You sweet thing," Jaden's voice spoke, so soothing and lovely. "You had to come through this journey, through such darkness, to be humbled, to become the precious thing I know you are."

"Forgive me, great prince," Angel breathed, such urgency in her voice. "For now I understand that even those who seem to be monsters can truly be something beautiful, something innocent within."

"No more tears," Jaden shushed, putting his hand to Angel's cheek. "No more tears, my sweet princess. You have suffered enough."

"Ah, but I have suffered so little in comparison to you!" she exclaimed. "I thought you a creature condemned by your ugliness and cruelty, but truly I should have been the one condemned for my injustice and unkindness to you."

"No more talking," Jaden breathed, moving his face closer to hers, drawing her in with his eyes. "Let the silence speak for itself."

"To think you were always there," Angel whispered. "But I was blind to see it."

"And here I am," Jaden smiled, closing his eyes and moving his lips to her tears. "Open before you."

Gently, his pressed his lips to her temple and kissed her softly.

"Jaden," she whispered, closing her eyes against his soft touch. "This wasn't in the script."

"But it is soothing you, and that is what you need," he said quietly, moving his hand to the side of her face, cradling her. "I'm not afraid. You shouldn't be either."

"I thought I had lost you," she said, leaning in closer as his unoccupied arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her towards him.

"I told you I'll always be here for you," Jaden breathed, closing his eyes as he moved his kisses from her temple to her cheekbone and then traced feather light kisses down the side of her face. "I love you, Angel."

"You do?" she asked, opening her eyes to gaze at his handsome face.

"Yes. And I know your standards, but I'll share one of my deepest, darkest secrets with you," he smiled, leaning back so he could look into her face. "I want your first kiss," he said, letting his fingers trace across her lips. "But you aren't ready to give it, and I won't take it. Not yet."

"One day you may just get it," Angel smiled and then sat back, folding her arms across her chest to warm herself.

It had suddenly turned very cold in the room, and she couldn't figure out why.

"I wonder how long they're going to have me stay here," Jaden sighed, reaching for a remote control to the television. "Let's see what's on while we wait."

He turned the set on and then spent the next fifteen minutes changing the channels, much to Angel's amusement. He froze, though, when the screen changed to a completely black picture, and Angel watched, curiously, as smoke began to billow up on the screen, and someone began to speak, his voice low and alluring. Angel immediately felt uncomfortable, for that voice sounded so strangely familiar, even though she knew it wasn't whom it sounded like.

"There was a woman, of such refined beauty," the voice spoke, and fast images of a woman, beautiful and entrancing, whipped across the screen.

"I fell in love with her. So terribly in love…"

Fast images of bats, a full moon, a flowing cape, and dripping fangs raced across the set.

"I could nearly kill her."

The smoke turned into flames, and short clips of this new movie began to show, revealing a vicious car chase, someone in a cloak jumping off a tower, two men (more like animals than men) fighting each other with fangs and screams, and one exceptionally uncomfortable scene of an extremely handsome man and the woman, shown in the first few images, embracing each other in a manner that was entirely inappropriate.

"What is this?" Angel asked, her eyes wide as the credits suddenly appeared on the screen, in deep red writing.

"Nocturnal," appeared on the screen, made to look like it was written in blood, and Angel shuddered.

"Sounds like a vampire movie," Jaden said. "Hmm… I think I'll go watch it."

"Why?" Angel asked, surprised.

"Because if you have to deal with all these people, I may as well learn more about them."

"But you won't even be able to see the movie!"

"That'll cut out that one disgusting scene then, won't it? I'll still be able to hear it."

"I've had enough vampires," Angel shivered, standing up and walking to the window. "I don't need more."

Jaden was released two hours later, and the doctor ordered him to come back the next day, so he could make certain that the young man was all right.

"Before the appointment, I need to get a hair cut," Jaden said, running his fingers through his hair as he and Angel stepped out of their cab and made their way to their separate buildings. "I need a better hairdo for the prince."

"I'll go with you," Angel volunteered. "I can help you with that."

"Great!" Jaden smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Jaden did get his haircut the following day, using Angel to help him get it to look right. He no longer had his 80's do, but a very sophisticated cut that made him look like a businessman. Afterwards he went to the hospital again, and then he parted ways with Angel and went, by himself, to go watch "Nocturnal." Angel absolutely refused to go with him.

When the movie was finished, Jaden called both Angel and Forrest up and adamantly told them they needed to go back to the theater and watch the movie with him.

Angel refused, saying she didn't want to see blood all over the place, the movie was rated too high, and she wasn't interested in the romance scene she had only seen a glimpse of, but both Forrest and Jaden kept pushing her until she finally gave in. She met them both at the theater shortly after.

"Okay, I'm here, but you better tell me when I can't look," she demanded as they walked into the theater.

"Don't worry. I know where everything is," Jaden nodded. "I really think you both should see this, though. It had a really unique idea in it."

"And a really good looking actress, right?" Forrest grinned.

"I don't know. I couldn't see her," Jaden shrugged as they sat down in front of the screen.

Forrest and Jaden watched and listened with interest, but Angel was terrorized through the whole first forty-five minutes of the movie. There were bloodthirsty vampires throughout the whole thing, and the one who loved the main girl, Melody, was so terribly like Ghost, it was horrifying to Angel. He did everything in his power to overcome Melody, and only shortly after that incident did the reason why finally come up.

Melody had a certain magical light to her. It just radiated from her body, and the vampires hated her for it.

Cold chills flowed through Angel for the rest of the movie. She watched, eyes wide with horror, as Melody barely escaped one assault after the other. There were, of course, several rather steamy moments between her and the vampire, and Jaden tactfully told Angel when to look away.

The end of the film left Angel as white as a sheet and trembling.

Melody died. The girl let herself get bit by the vampire, and she simply died.

"Angel? Angel, are you okay?" Jaden's voice infiltrated the shock.

"It was a book first. I wrote down the author's name. We're going to contact him," Forrest said, putting his hand on Angel's shoulder and shaking her gently.

Angel couldn't say a word. The story…it was so real! But she refused to fall in love with Ghost! And she absolutely refused to die by him! She would fight until she could fight no longer!

"That whole thing with the light was just incredible," Jaden said as he and his companions walked out of the theater. "It was such a wild idea! And it matches you perfectly, Angel."

"I do hope you guys don't think I'm as cheesy as that Melody was," Angel frowned, trying to push her terror away. "I definitely wouldn't throw myself into some vampire's arms. And I definitely wouldn't let him bite me! That woman was insane!"

"Hey, we wouldn't let them hurt you," Forrest said easily. "When I get back to the station, I'm going to find out how to contact that Vladimir Vorsk, the author. I know you have the play coming up, Angel, but I suggest you get ready for a trip."

"What do you mean?" Angel asked worriedly.

"We're going to go see Vladimir," Forrest answered. "That story was too accurate to yours. He has to know more about that story than just what was shown. He knows things about vampires, otherwise he wouldn't have known about that light you have."

"I'd really rather not meet him, but if you think it would be best, then okay," Angel sighed.

"It'll all be taken care of, Angel. Don't worry," Forrest smiled.

Angel didn't think so.