Happy Halloween! Okay, here's the last two chapters of this story.

Chapter Eleven- Truth Comes Out

Jaden's duel was stunning, yet satisfying. Somehow, Jaden got his hands on Chazz's Ojama cards as well as Chazz's old black coat. It was clear to Alexis that Jaden was trying to use the cards and coat to bring out the old Chazz. It eventually worked and Chazz deliberately lost the duel. He had no memory of anything he did under Satorius' control and he accused Jaden of stealing his cards, which Alexis knew Jaden didn't do, though she didn't know how he got them.

The next day, Chazz had moved back in with Alexis and Atticus and acted like the Chazz they knew and got irritated with, but it was better than the Chazz he had been the last several weeks. She celebrated that night by feeding off him.

"Sis, I see you feed and I feel like I don't know you," Atticus said when Alexis emerged from Chazz's room after putting him to bed.

"Well, that's silly," she told him. "I'm still me, I'm just a vampire, too." She smiled and saw Atticus frown in a thoughtful way. "Atti?"

He shook his head. "Sorry. I thought, for a moment, that you didn't have fangs. But now you do."

"You thought I didn't have fangs?" Her face lit up. "Sounds like I have the ability to cast illusions now."

"Yeah? So you can hide your fangs now?"

"I'll need to practice, but that sounds about right."

Suddenly, the door opened and Jaden ran in, a grin lighting up his face. "Alexis! Atticus! Look!" He jerked a thumb over his shoulder to where a pair of leathery black wings were attached to his back!

"You got wings, too!" Alexis smiled. "That's great!"

"Yeah. I just flew back from the white dorm and man, the view from the sky was sweet!"

"Well, Lexi just got a new ability herself."

"Yeah?" Jaden asked as he retracted his wings. "What's that?"

"I can cast illusions," she answered. "For just a moment, Atticus thought I didn't have fangs."

"That's great."

"Yeah and once I practice more, maybe I can cast illusions on you too."

"Like I did with my invisibility, yeah."

"You can turn invisible, Jaden?" Atticus asked and then grinned. "Cool ability."

"Thanks. I'm thinking about waiting a few days before taking on Satorius."

"Going to take on few pros in the meantime?" Alexis asked.

"Maybe, but saving the world is more important than the tournament."

"You have a point, Jaden. I'm in to improve my skills as a duelist."

"I'll be rooting for you, sis."

"You already lost, Atti?"

"Yeah…to Zane."

"Zane's here!?"

"Uh-huh. The guy duels like a maniac. I mean, he was tough last year, but now he's insanely strong. He's a whole new person."

"Hmm," Alexis said, but inwardly she was thinking, Maybe Zane will be my next victim. To feed on, that is.

The next day, Alexis dueled a couple of Ras and won before deciding to test herself against Jaden. It was a fast and furious duel, but Jaden won and claimed her medals. Alexis wasn't concerned; Jaden was right about other matters being more important than the tournament.

Alexis cast her illusion on herself the next night so that she had no fangs and tan skin and began her search for Zane. As she passed below Jaden's room, she heard all three of them speaking loudly, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Apparently, enhanced hearing is just for hearing heartbeats. She shrugged and went out toward the lighthouse where Zane used to go when he wanted to be alone to think. Maybe he still likes to go there.

"You really plan to duel Satorius?" Syrus asked.

"Of course I do. You heard me several days ago."

"Yeah, but-,"

"No buts, Sy. My mind's made up." Jaden glanced at the door's window and saw it was dark. Time to feed. He headed for the door, but was brought to a halt by Hassleberry.

"Hey, where are you goin'?"

"Out for a walk," he answered his back to them.

"You're always going for a walk," Syrus protested. "At least every other night."

Jaden shrugged. "What can I say? I enjoy the night air." He got to the door and spied Alexis, looking different, heading for the lighthouse. Why was she going there? To feed on Zane, maybe? Her illusion is good too. I've been so used to her pale skin that her now tan skin seems so…unnatural.

"Uh, Ja?" said Syrus. "Are you sure you're feeling' okay? You've been rather pale lately."

"Syrus is right," Hassleberry put in. "I think you need to lie down instead of going out."

"I need to go out, guys," Jaden insisted, a minor headache starting to come on.

"No can do. You're staying in," Hassleberry argued, grabbing Jaden's arm.

Jaden yanked his arm free and pushed the taller boy back- a little harder than he meant to for Hassleberry flew backwards and hit the wall under the window. The teen vampire dashed over, knelt down, and said, "Oh, gosh. Sorry, Hassleberry."

The Ra freshman was staring at Jaden with a look of horror and fear. "Jaden?" he said in an unusually soft voice. "What's with your teeth?"

Jaden inwardly cursed; he forgot to hide them in the shock of pushing his friend too hard. I need to play it off, he thought. "You're seeing things. Probably 'cause I pushed too hard."

Hassleberry shook his head. "I'm not seeing things. You've also been acting strange these days. Going out almost every night, spending a lot of time with Alexis, saying you're fine even though you're pale, and now your unusual teeth. What is going on, Ja? Come on, we're your pals."

His head throbbed and he put a hand to his temple as well as closed his eyes.

"Ja?" Syrus asked, concerned.

"I need to leave," Jaden managed to get out. "I'll explain when I get back."

Hassleberry and Syrus exchanged looks and nodded. "All right, son," Hassleberry said. "Go on."

Jaden dashed to the door and, once it was closed, spread his wings and took off for the white dorm.

Alexis approached the lighthouse and her heart beat faster as she spied someone there. She moved closer and saw that it was Zane! Her intuition had been correct! She stepped up beside him and stared out at the water; for a moment, it was just like old times.

Then Zane spoke, but it wasn't the soft, calm voice she was used to; it was harsh and angry. "You wanna duel me?"

"No," she said. "I just wanted to see you and talk."

Zane made a dismissive noise. "You still plan to be a pro duelist?"

"Yes, of course."

"You won't make it."

"What?" She looked at him, slightly surprised.

"The real world is a harsh, brutal place. You need to be tough and unforgiving to win. I learned that the hard way. I'm warning you now so you can start preparing."

"I don't believe that," she shot back. "I think you had been losing confidence since Aster beat you." She poked him in the chest. "You shouldn't let one loss make you less confident. You should let that loss drive you forward, not hold you back."

"Nice sentiment, but such soft emotions don't belong on the pro circuit."

"Then, I suppose we have nothing more to say…for now." Alexis turned and took a step or two back before lunging behind Zane's back and sinking her fangs into him, her illusion dropped. She healed and removed before leaving him there. She couldn't believe everything he said and realized that Atticus was right about Zane: He was like a new person.

Alexis was just about back to her dorm room when Jaden landed near her and retracted his wings. "Alexis, I've got a problem," he said worried.

"What is it?" Alexis was concerned. Jaden usually didn't worry, so what had happened?

"I think Hassleberry and Syrus might have figured out our secret. Or at least with me, anyway."

"Well, I suppose it was going to come out eventually. I mean, the three of you bunk together. After all, Atticus found out about you because he bunks with me. You can tell them about me seeing as I helped turn you."

Jaden nodded. "Thanks, Alexis," he said before climbing the stairs to his room and opening the door. Hassleberry and Syrus were both awake which didn't surprise him since he hadn't been gone very long. His abilities allowed him to attack quickly and leave the scene just as quickly.

"Feel better, Jaden?" Syrus asked as Jaden closed the door.

"Yeah, a lot. And you, Hassleberry?" Jaden directed his question to his other friend.

"Oh, yeah. It didn't hurt that bad. So, about earlier…"

"Yeah. There's one reason to explain everything you've noticed about me. I'm…I'm a…vampire."

"A vampire?" Syrus squeaked.

"How-who did this to you?" Hassleberry demanded angrily. "We'll make them pay for doing this to you."

"No, Hassleberry. I asked to be turned because Alexis is a vampire, too. She's been one since the start of the school year."

"Alexis is a vampire and she turned you?" Syrus repeated.

"She found this charm that turns people if it's worn." Jaden reached under his mattress and pulled out the charm.

"That little thing?" Hassleberry stared at it.

Jaden nodded. "I have to drink blood every other night which why I leave. I learned that I prefer female blood and if I don't feed soon after dark, I start getting headaches."

"Oh, Jaden. We're sorry we kept you from leaving."

"I understand, Hassleberry. Really, I do. I spent a lot of time with Alexis not just because she's my girlfriend, but because she had found a book on vampires. I spent some time reading bits and pieces, learning what I need to know." He looked back and forth between his friends. "I'm still me, just a little different now."

"A little different?" Syrus repeated, still squeaking. "Ja, you're a vampire!"

The fear was evident in Syrus' voice and Jaden dropped his eyes to the charm still in his hand. He hadn't expected Syrus to react like this; he thought he would be accepting of the news. That was foolish of me to think that. I should have come up with a story to explain myself instead of telling the truth. I wonder if I can move in with Alexis, Atticus, and Chazz.

"Now hold on there, Syrus!" Hassleberry cut into Jaden's thoughts. "We're not in danger. I mean, I think Alexis drank our blood at some point and we're just fine." He looked at Jaden who had looked up when Hassleberry started talking. The Ra freshman seemed to looking for some confirmation.

Jaden obliged, nodding. "We don't drain people, just take enough to live. Then, we heal the mark and remove memory of the attack."

"Well, then, no harm done. A little pale and tired the next morning, but that's it."

"Yeah, I kind of see that," Syrus said slowly. "Sorry about how I reacted, Ja. You're right. You're still you."

"Great!" Jaden said, excitement creeping into his voice. "I really want to tell and show you the abilities and powers I have."

"Like?" Syrus prompted.

"Well, Hassleberry already experienced one. I'm stronger than I look. I also have night vision except in pitch-black darkness. Plus, check this out." Jaden turned invisible, causing his friends to gasp and look around.

"Where'd you go?" Hassleberry asked, glancing around.

"I'm still here," Jaden replied, reappearing right where he disappeared. "I was invisible."

"Well, that's handy."

"That's not the best part." He spread his wings and enjoyed the astonished looks he got.

"Wow, cool!" Syrus exclaimed, stepping up to one wing and touching it. "I didn't know vampires had wings!"

"Not all of them do. The last two I showed are ones that some vampires can get, but it's not a guarantee. Alexis doesn't have invisibility, but she can do illusions while I can't." Jaden retracted the wings.

"Does she have wings?"

"Yeah and I had been hoping I would ever since I saw her wings."