East New York 1873

"Welcome ladies and gentleman! Tonight you're in for a treat. You heard of the Elephant Man, and the Siamese Twins of the Great Orient, but you will be the first to see the rare, most unusual creature ever seen!" The young showman rips off the sheet.

The audience gasps.

"What is that?"

"Lord have mercy." A old lady crosses her chest.

"My god." Everyone stares at the cage.

"As you can see, this creature has no name yet, but it s considered the first and only one of its kind." The showman looks at the cage. "He'll be performing tonight at the main show, tickets are one night only. Hurry, the show will sell out quickly!"

The showman known as Chris was walking to his tent for the night when he was stopped by one of the acrobats.

"Hey Chris, the big boss wants to see you."

"Why?" PT Barnum owned the circus, but was rarely seen. He owned this place, but spent most of his time in politics.

"Don't question it, he asked to see you personally."

"Okay." Chris met the man once. Didn't think much of him, he was just another businessman.

Chris was nervous about seeing the man, he was wondering what he wanted with him. Hopefully he wasn't getting canned, he did work as a street magician whenever the circus was in town, he needed the extra cash. His work was rough, maybe he wanted Chris to open a show. He wasn't ready, his work was pretty rough around the edges, but he was getting good. Swallowing his fear he goes in the tent.

"You wanted to see me?" Chris was surprised to feel nervous. He worked since he was seven. Orphaned at a young age, he was forced to work at a factory to make a living. He worked under heinous conditions, most of his coworkers not any older than him. He had bosses that used and abused the young workers, most doing things no one ever talked about, or wanted to remember, but PT Barnum was a respected businessman.

"Young man. Chris was it?" As he takes a long drag on his cigar.

"Yes sir." Chris didn't like smoking, reminded him of the factory. He was trying desperately not to cough.

"I was watching you. You did good tonight."

"Thank you sir."

"You like magic? I been watching you. You're good."

"Uh, thanks?" Oh crap. He just got out. The circus wasn't his dream job, but it was better than the factory.

"Oh don't worry, you're not in trouble. What you do in your spare time is your business. The reason I brought you here is to offer you a gift."

"Me? What for sir?" Immediately he felt like punching himself. 'Shut up Chris.' He scolded himself. Thankfully the man chuckled.

"How old are you son?"

"Just turned sixteen sir."

"Just on the cusp of adulthood." He puts out his cigar and walks over to a locked box. "I have four daughters, but no sons. I gave them their inheritances, but what I have here, this is no good for women." He struggles as he tries to open the box.

"Need help sir?"

"No. I am old, but not useless. Ah! Here we go!" He finally managed to open the rusty lock. He holds up a wooden box. "I been saving this for years. It was a gift from an former businessman, but I have no use for it. You are a talented magician, but tricks are for kids." He hands Chris the box.

"What is it sir?" The box was heavy.

"You like magic yes?"

"I perform that to pay the bills sir." The circus job was good, but he had expensive medical bills from the factory that took most of his paycheck. He hustled people in town to have some spending money.

"Well, you are good. But you want to be better?" He watched Chris as he opened the box. He saw the young man's expression. "Can you read son?"

"No sir." Chris never went to school growing up. He only got this job by being friends with one of acrobat's sons.

"I see. That will be a problem."

"Sorry sir." Chris was embarrassed when he started hacking. His lungs were so weak. He was ashamed when his boss banged on his back.

"You okay there?"

"Yes sir." He wanted to cry. He was only sixteen, but the doctors all told him he'll be lucky to see twenty. Lung cancer. "I'm sorry." The book he was holding was old and dusty.

"My apologies, I should have cleaned that. Excuse me." He leaves the tent for a minute and comes back with a young man. "Davis. May I introduce you to Chris."

"Hello there." Chris saw him walking hand and hand with a young woman.

Davis nods back.

"He can't speak, he is mute. But he is dating my niece." Chris noticed how nervous Davis looked. "Anyways, I have a meeting with him. Here." He hands Chris a card. Huh? A tarot card? It had the Fool on it. He couldn't read, but he knew about the occult. "Take the rest of the day off. You earned it."

"Thank you sir." He tried leaving the book, but PT insisted on Chris taking it.

"Take it, it's yours. If you excuse us."

That was the beginning of Chris' new life. It was only a few days later when he heard about Davis' tragic suicide.

"What's going on?" He saw everyone milling about in grim tones.

"You remember Davis?" His best friend tells him.

"The mute? Of course." He worked as a janitor. Everyone knew Davis, he was seeing PT's niece. "What about him?"

"He's dead."

"What? How?"

"Jumped off the cliff. His body was found this morning by some local fisherman." Both of them went quiet when PT's niece walked by sobbing. They waited till she was far away. "Poor woman. They were talking about getting married."

"Davis was engaged, and he kills himself? Why?" Chris barely knew him, but he seemed nice.

"I don't know. He was holding a tarot card." He hands Chris the Magician card. "It was a copy of this. Why would he do this?"

"Maybe he had some gambling debts." Davis was rumored to owe some scary men a lot of money. "Maybe he found out PT disinheritanced her, and he killed himself to avoid getting his knees broken."

"I doubt that. He and her were the real deal. He had a trust fund. He was willing to take care of her. Too bad her uncle never approved of him."

"Maybe." He was staring at the card. "Anyways, I have to go. I have a appointment."

"Another one?" He looks at Chris in sympathy.

"I know. But I been taking care of myself. I been exercising and eating right these days." Chris wasn't stupid, but he was feeling better these last few days, ever since he got that tarot card. "Doctors aren't right about everything."

"Well, I hope it is good news." They both knew it was bullshit. Cancer was eating Chris alive.

"Maybe." Funny. He usually coughed or felt faint being in the hot sun, but he felt so good, like he wanted to play tennis or perform in the circus. "I'll be seeing you. Wish me luck."

"Take care Chris."

What the doctor told him, Chris couldn't believe it.

"Odd. I been listening to your lungs, they sound great. You been resting?"

"For the last few days."

"Hmm." His patient, he had advanced stage three cancer, he told Chris he could only live to see twenty, but that was a very long shot. When he examined Chris the first time, it was too late. Cancer was well too advanced for his age. "How long are you in town son?" He knew about Chris' day job at the circus, but watched him on the streets when he performed his magic act.

"Just till tomorrow sir."

"Hmm. Chris, is there anyways you can stay another few weeks? Or return to town? I want to examine you again."

"Why?"

"Just a feeling." His patient, he looked and sounded like a healthy sixteen year old. Not a cancer patient.

Chris thought about it, and in the end, chose to leave with the circus. He was dying, and figured why not spend his remaining years happy. He did return to town after the circus retired for the season, he had friends that lived in town. When he saw his doctor, he was just as surprised as he was when he was examined.

"I don't what to tell you son." The doctor was reading his chart.

"Give it to me doc." Chris just celebrated his seventeenth birthday. He did everything he ever wanted, learned how to read, thanks to PT who hired a private tutor just for him, traveled the circus from coast to coast, and even lost his virginity a few weeks ago. He was fulfilled. He had some cash, he already was making funeral arrangements for his burial. He already picked out his suit.

"I asked you to come back a few months ago."

"No offense doc, but I'm done. I rather die young and happy, then die in a hospital." His fellow ex coworkers, many passed away before their time. "There's no cure, but that's okay. I did everything I ever wanted."

"That's the thing. Son, I think we just witnessed a miracle."

"What?" Chris' heart was beating fast.

"I think you are in remission."

Chris was celebrating that weekend. Cancer was gone! The doctor told him that he must have found a miracle or he was just lucky, but according to him, he was completely healthy. No coughing up blood, no breathing weird, even was gaining weight. He had colour in his cheeks for the first time in months. He kept that tarot card, it was his lucky charm.

Present Day

Janice was reading a old issue of Weekly World News. It was a limited run, the last issue stopped printing years ago, but her husband loved the supernatural. She chuckles at the article.

'Thousand year old witch warns of upcoming apocalypse!'

"Sure buddy." So many wack jobs out there, all claiming The End was coming. "Hi honey!" She watches as her husband runs up the stairs. "Nice to see you too." Her husband completely ignored her. She turns the page.

Nolan had to be sure. He drove here as fast as he could. He had to, he didn't want to die on the street. He watches in horror as he ages. His hair was the first to go. Then the wrinkles appeared. He watched helplessly as his eyes goes out. When he felt his heart stopping, he collapsed backwards. Clutching his chest, he whispered his wife's name. The last thing he heard before he died from old age was his wife's screams.

"Huh. Missing people? Sure that can't be left to the police? What? A twenty four year old died of old age? That's impossible. Uh huh. Look, I really like to help, but you know Dean and I are retired. I know. I don't need lectures. But you know why we need a break. Its been a year. Other hunters are out there. No we are not pregnant yet, but it doesn't mean we're not trying. We just want to be normal. When it happens you will be the first to know after Piper's sisters. Okay, good luck Bobby."

"Idgit." Bobby heard the click after Sam hung up.

"Sam's out too?"

"Can't blame him. Him and Dean, they have something."

"They have a job."

"They are out of the life."

"Their wives are hunters. All four can handle this case."

"Dean is adamant, he doesn't want Jenna to hunt." She was hurt when she was hunting with her husband on their last hunt. Dean made it clear she was finished. "She's good, but is not a witch." Piper was a very powerful witch, she and Sam handled most cases with ease. Most monsters and demons stayed out of Lawrence.

"What about her sisters."

"Phoebe is attending college, Paige is running that rehab place, and Prue, last I heard, she was in Tibet. They said they're sticking to local cases."

Rufus snorted.

"Well, I'm out. I'm wanted in that town."

"Moron. You attended Knox, and don't know anything about glamouring?"

"I took classes as a hunter, a witch? Not my scene. See you Bobby."

"I'm surrounded by idgits." Now what? Luckily he still has his old CDC ID.

"So his wife, found him like this?" Bobby was staring at Nolan Xavier's body.

"Did the tests myself. Age twenty four, young, athletic, healthy as a horse. Official death, old age." She was mystified about this case. "Isn't the first one I seen, I read my colleague's reports, twelve others in the last twenty years all over the country. Local legends day they were all young as well." She puts back the body. "Are you a senior agent?"

"Excuse me?" Bobby was middle aged, but not a senior citizen.

"I had two younger agents here earlier. They were from the CDC as well."

"Were they two men? A tall man with shaggy hair, and a arrogant model type?" He was disappointed when she shook his head.

"No. It was a young man and a woman. Both in their early twenties, one was blonde, the other had red hair. A dye job, no one's hair looks like that. They said they were new graduates. Figures that the government would send in rookies. Every time I call them, they give me the runaround. Are you their supervisor?"

"Yes I am." Bobby didn't know who he was dealing with, but he'll take it.

"If you find out what this is, let me know."

"I will. Thanks for your time." Whoever these hunters were, Bobby was determined to find out.

A few hours later he was scratching his head. He searched the internet for missing people, and when he talked to the last missing person, he was shocked when he met her seventy two year old missing husband. Cliff Widlow was young. Really young.

"Look, I already talked to your friends. I won at poker, and bet big." He was smiling. "I got another chance at life. No more bad hips, threw away my glasses, and guess what, everything works. Want these?" He threw a bottle of Viagra to Bobby. "Don't need these anymore. Gotta go, far as the ball and chain goes, I'm dead. Let's keep it that way."

Bobby could only stare at the door as it was slammed in his face. Still holding the Viagra, he was wondering what was going on. Poker?

"Rufus, can you look up something for me? Yeah, it's about the cases here." Once Bobby filled Rufus about what he found, he was rubbing his face. "A high stakes game? I thought that witch was gone." Bobby and Rufus heard about The First. She was taking witches away of all ages, many were deep in hiding. Sam, Piper, her sisters, they were laying low. "Well if he's smart, he'll run. No I won't play, I'm not that dumb." Bobby was tempted, but he's been around long enough to know when the stakes are too high. "Well, you do that." Rufus was gonna hunt some monsters that popped in, they were new to him. "I'm gonna track down this couple, they may need my guidance." Sam and Dean didn't bother calling anymore, they were too busy with their new lives. Dean was busy with his new career, Sam was busy doubling on his credits to graduate from university, Bobby usually spent his time alone. "Okay, if you find out what he is, let me know." Bobby clicks off the call. He knew about this particular witch, he's been around for centuries. Hell of a player, he used to belong in a traveling coven. PT Barnum, only mortal that was a member. Bobby wondered if Harry Houdini was a member, he was best friends with a man named Cuthbert Sinclair, a known magician of the Men of Letters. He had a few bars to check out.

Bobby slips a hundred to the bartender.

"I want a game."

"Take the elevator down, and knock four times. Then you wait. Good luck."

Bobby was waiting in nervousness, but he had his witch killing bullets. He never carried this when Sam or his wife was around, but for rare cases like this, it was a exception. Once the elevator arrived at the destination, he stepped out and knocked. When no one answered, Bobby cautiously opens the door.

"Balls." The witch was dead. His wife was laying next to him on the card table, both were dead of old age. Someone beat him to this case. Now what? Stepping over the scattered poker chips, he went and checked out the corpses. Still warm. Whoever was here, they were here a few minutes before Bobby came along. Bobby's heart was beating fast, but he needed to know what or who killed the couple.

Once he took the keys off the male witch, he takes the elevator back to the surface to check out the apartment. He had to know, if the couple died of natural causes, or they bet a game they couldn't win.

"Well?" Rufus voice was just as annoying on the phone.

"I checked the guy's computer. They scheduled a private game with someone this afternoon."

"Was it Her?" Naming The First Witch.

"No, it was a guy. No name, he was invited."

"Then it was either her husband or her son."

"The First Hunter. I always thought it was her children that was The Firsts." Bobby and Rufus heard the legends, a woman that was the first witch. Her and her husband had twins, a boy and girl. The boy was born evil and became the first warlock and the girl was the first natural witch. But other legends say that the couple was the First Witch and the First Hunter. Whatever legend was true, both were separated when the higher ups feared their powers and sent both to separate planes for all eternity. But since the disappearance of the whitelighters, both were freed from their eternal prisons and were walking free on the Earth. "The witch, she wasn't bonded." Rufus heard she was around since the Flood.

"Her husband was. He's free. I can't say if he is good or evil, but stay alert. Who knows what's he like." The First Hunter. Who or what he is is unknown. As far as anyone knew, no one ever met or knows his name. "I'm gonna head to Iowa." He heard of a magician convention, wasn't his cup of tea, but he needed a break. "Take care Rufus."

Sioux City, Iowa

"Is this your card?" The old magician smiles at the astonished bartender.

"Wow! That is amazing!" Their friendly conversation was interrupted by a rude magician.

"Slight of hand lady. Open your eyes." He said rudely as he downed his whisky. "Old fart been doing this since the dark ages. So what's your next trick? Pulling out a rabbit out of your hat?"

"Stop it!" His assistant was embarrassed.

"Give him a break! He did nothing wrong!"

The young magician blew a raspberry.

"Time to retire buddy, those cards aren't fooling nobody." He finishes his drink. "Yo! Another one!" He waved to the bartender.

On stage, the performer was performing a showy trick using smokes and fireworks. The two old men were scoffing at the show.

"How much eyeliner does one guy need?" Vernon was staring hard at the stage. "I seen Criss Angel in Vegas, and he's a Walmart version of him."

Charlie had to stifle his laughter.

"Hey! Those lights are supposed to find me! And stop making me look so pasty! God!"

"What a douchebag." Charlie and Vernon were not impressed by the diva attitude.

"Would you two give it a rest! I got a headache." Jay was extremely depressed.

"Look at him. All those trinkets he's wearing. He needs a distraction to blind the audience while he's up there." Vernon was disgusted.

"Used to be about skill. Time sure has changed since our day." Charlie mused.

"Face it. The audience today wants glamour and pretty faces, us, we can't even afford an assistant." Jeb Dexter had three. "Face it, we're finished." Jay's depression was getting worse. His shows used to sell out, Radio City Music Hall, Las Vegas, he and his two best friends lived the sweet life. Now he played crap shows like this to pay the bills. "We used to be up there, now were lucky to get an audition." Jeb was opening the show. "Now we're the joke."

Charlie blew a raspberry.

"Older, not useless. Trust me, age doesn't make a difference." He smirked at Jeb. "Can his pants be any tighter?" Jeb was yelling at his assistants. "This is just a rehearsal."

Jay smirked. Charlie always knew how to cheer him up.

"You're right, he is a douche." An attitude like that, Jeb won't last long in the magic biz. "You know what, I'm doing the Table of Death tonight."

Both his best friends were astonished.

"Are you crazy!" Vernon was horrified.

"You almost killed yourself thirty years ago!" That night almost gave them near heart attacks. Jay was lucky, the spike table got stuck and didn't fall when Jay couldn't escape the cuffs.

"At least I can go out with a bang." Jay didn't care anymore.

Later that night, Jay was laying on the table cuffed tightly in metal cuffs, the deadly spikes above him.

"The locks tight young lady?" Charlie was playing the assistant.

"Yes they are." Wendy wasn't a magic fan, but her and her boyfriend couldn't afford Vegas. She saw her boyfriend yawning in boredom.

"Thank you. You may take your seat." Charlie saw Vernon's eyes. Neither one wanted to do this, but didn't want their best friend alone. "You sure made these tight." He whispered to Jay.

Jay just smiles.

"Just a reminder. We are professionals. Do not try this at home!" Charlie still remembered that show in Utah. Jay and him left town as soon as possible. He picked up the torch. "You can walk away. We have enough to retire down south." He whispered to Jay. He had money, enough for all three to relax on the warm beaches in Florida to enjoy their twilight years. When he saw Jay smiling he sighed. "Fine." He lit the rope.

The man who was rude to Jay earlier was stumbling back to his hotel room from the bar. He had a show that night, but at the moment didn't care.

"You are on in an hour! Vance!" When Amy answered that ad for an magician, she expected to hand him props on stage, not watch him drink himself stupid before a show.

"I ha' a fewwww." He slurred. "I have coffee in my room. I'm fineeee." He was taking a well deserved nap after he was done. He stumbled away.

"Try to make it on time." Amy scolded. She would have quit, but he always paid her on time. Whenever he wasn't wasted, he was pretty good on stage.

Back at the show, the audience was waiting in nervousness. There was a sheet covering the stage, with Jay's silhouette struggling to escape the cuffs. The rope holding up the deadly spikes was getting thinner.

Vance swore when he dropped his cards, but before he can pick them up, he gasped in pain.

The audience was in awe. They screamed when the spikes fell, they saw the guy getting impaled. When he walked out without a scratch bowing to the audience, both Amy and her boyfriend were on their feet cheering. Who needs Vegas, this guy was the real deal.

Jay was happy that his show went well, but it was supposed to end in a bang.

Vance was laying on the street gasping his last breath. He had several large holes on his torso. He died bleeding on the street.

Jeb Dexter was performing his card tricks in front of the crowd.

"This is not a card trick. Remember the angels, they taught me a few tricks." His hired crew was taping for his social media. "Watch this demonstration."

"What a douchebag." Bianca yawned. "I seen real magic, and met Criss Angel when I was ten." She hated wannabes.

"What's his name?"

"Jeb Dexter." She wasn't impressed when his card 'magically' appeared behind a window. She clapped politely with everyone else. "Really?" Jeb was faking getting possessed.

"Argh! Foolish humans, tricks are for kids. So what if angels know cards. Hell has tricks of their own." He growled. He takes out a deck of cards. "You! Check your pockets." He points at everyone watching. Everyone gasped when they pull out cards from their pockets. Jeb makes a show writhing and gasping. "Be gone demon!"

Bianca tries hard not to laugh. She knew demons were real and none will bother with crap like this. Her and Jack planted the cards earlier, it was easy, everyone was busy watching Jeb performing earlier, both Bianca and Jack were pretending to look for something or someone, and with the small audience watching, they planted every card. Easiest fifty bucks they made.

"Argh!" He looks up into the sky. "The angels, they have saved us." The audience applauded.

"Let's go." Their job was done. "Real magic, I seen it." Illusions, it takes skill. She and her brother used to perform 'magic' for their friends, they needed to be normal, the world was deep in war at the time. "It was all pretend, but we had fun." She missed her family, but none existed yet. "Sometimes it's fun to pretend." Real magic was a tool, it was used as a weapon against their enemies.

Jack didn't say anything. He understood her pain. He lost his family as well. Michael and his uncles were dead. The new Michael was in charge, he was responsible for murdering his family. He was devastated when Castiel told him. Even those videos being shown didn't cheer him up. Instead he smiles sadly at her.

"Oh! Jack, I'm so sorry!" Her parents were still alive in the present, Jack's biological family was dead. "I tend to run my mouth."

"It's fine. I still have my parents and sister." If he lost Cas and Claire, he didn't know what he'll do. "What exactly are we doing here anyways?" They checked out that case with that card dealer, but when they got there, that witch refused to play. Said their years were irrelevant.

"Weird death. Guy was found dead a day earlier. Ten stab wounds, shirt wasn't holey." They had a hunch it was another witch, but couldn't figure out who. That witch that played cards was dead. He finally met his match. Whoever they played against, their opponent would have killed them anyways. Witches were either killed or missing. Good thing neither were witches, but her and Jack were being careful.

"Where do we start?"

"Check out that guy's room for starters." Bianca already had their fake IDs.

"Detective Elisih and this is my partner Detective Timberlake." Bianca and Jack were holding their fake IDs.

"I already talked to the cops. Come in." Amy waved in the cops. "Like I said earlier, I went to the hall to get Vance's show ready. He's always late. Before he was due to go on stage, I called his cell. Then I find out he's dead." Amy grimly throws his props in the trunk.

''Did Vance have any enemies?" Bianca was silently scolding Jack not to touch anything. Jack was obsessed with magic. Her and her big mouth. He was looking at a poster.

"Tons. Vance, he stole from everyone. Lighting tricks, hand tricks, stage lightning, assistants." Amy guiltily quit her job leaving her old boss in the lurch. Now she was blacklisted. "He didn't stop there, he exposed everyone's techniques on YouShare. He showed everything from anyone he ever ran across."

"Is that enough to get him killed?" Jack picked up a bunny.

"These guys are serious about their work." She takes the bunny out of Jack's arms. Poor thing, he was the only friend Vance had other than the bottle.

"One last thing, did he have anything weird on him before he died?" Bianca knew about cursed objects.

"Just this." She hands Bianca a tarot card. Ten of Swords. "Weird huh."

"Yeah. Thanks for your time. Jack? Jack!" Jack was holding a hat. She raised her eyebrows.

"Oh! Right. Thanks." After they walk out, Bianca playfully scolds him.

"We're supposed to be professional." Jack's face was like a child. First time he smiled in months.

"I know. I know magic is real, but human magic is awesome. Teach me a few tricks."

"Sure." Her uncle was a amateur magician back in the day, her aunt showed her his tricks. She wished she met him before he died.

Jay was smiling big in the mirror. He was wearing his old tux. Hearing a knock he yells for the person to come in.

"How?" Charlie saw it.

"How what? Thirty five years, and it still fits!" He patted his belly. So much for the dad bod.

"Last night you were talking about 'going out with a bang,' and now you are smiling?" Charlie saw a suicidal man when he saw it. "How?"

"The great ones never reveals his secrets." Truthfully he had no idea how he escaped. But that standing ovation, he thought those days were over.

"We been friends for years. Jay, you're my best friend, more like a brother. You can tell me."

"You know." Jay deliberately dodges the question. "I'm doing the Executioner tonight." Why stop? He was on a roll.

"Are you insane! Houdini wouldn't try that!" Houdini was considered the greatest magician that ever lived, but even he had his limits. He watches as Jay practices his card tricks.

"Three aces." He smiles at Charlie's expression. "Been working that trick for years."

"Not bad. Jay. Please. I'm begging you."

"Don't worry so much." He points at Charlie's pocket. "Ace of Hearts." The missing card.

"Wow." Charlie laughs. "Not bad."

"Look at us. Our last hurrah. I been thinking what you said. Retiring down south. It's been years, I never married or had kids."

"Because you were married to the stage. Vernon and I, we're your family."

"Exactly. I never regretted it. But our time is done. No more kids parties, no bar mitzvahs, just three old farts enjoying the sun's rays. You're not the only one with money." His dusty old stock, it went up ten points. "I just want one last legacy." The Executioner was his grand finale.

Charlie came here to ask a question. But he also knew how stubborn Jay was. Whatever Jay was planning he'll be there.

Vernon was watching in amusement at Jeb. Guy thinks he can beat Angel and Copperfield? Guy is delusional.

"Criss Angel is opening for Cirque du Soliel! And Copperfield is headlining in Vegas! These gigs are supposed to be mine! Instead I'm headlining in this rat hole making pennies. Do something!" He yelled in the phone.

"What a douche." Vernon saw a spoiled brat when he saw one. He pulled out a chair for Charlie. "Well?"

"He's doing the Executioner tonight." He said grimly.

"He's insane!" That trick was mostly banned since that death in the forties. "Did you try talking him out of it?"

"Till I was blue in the face." They both knew how stubborn Jay was. "He's says he's done after this."

"Good. Looking forward to retirement. Ex-wife's remarried and alimony is done." Vernon was the only one of the three to marry. Marriage was his mistake, he hated his wife. He saw a young couple walking in. "Charlie check them out." Young people came in went all the time on this hotel, but something about them intrigued Vernon.

"Kinda young." They barely looked eighteen. But he knew better than to judge appearances. There was something off about them. Both him and Vernon went on guard.

"Hello." Jack holds up one hand. "We have some questions."

"Does this look familiar?" Bianca was holding up the Ten of Swords.

Bobby couldn't believe it. He expected some shady hustling, but what he say at the morgue, he knew witchcraft was responsible for that man's death. When he spoke to his assistant, she already said she talked to the two cops earlier. Same looking couple, young, one male and one female. When she told him about that tarot card, Bobby immediately called Rufus, who has yet to answer him back. Cursed card? With witches, anything was possible.

"Yeah, we're not going to Bleeker." She already knew those old men sent them on a wild goose chase. "Let's check out their rooms. Jack, don't let down your guard. Don't forget to check your pockets. Make sure there is no weird cards inside."

"Okay." Jack was so innocent.

Bobby was in awe watching the stage that night. He remembered this guy, he and his late wife Karen went to see him and his two friends at Radio City Hall back in the mid seventies. Jay the Magnificent. He was huge back then, he and his friends were magic's version of the Rat Pack back then. Shame that the greats got old. No one wanted to see magic anymore, everything has to be flashy and over the top, with pretty boys showing off. He knew it was all bull, but he couldn't help but bite his nails at what was going on stage.

"As you can see, I can't escape. The strait jacket is on tight, and if I can't escape in sixty seconds, well, ahem. Charlie, if you please." Jay smiles at the sold out audience. How they managed to come on their own, Jay had no idea. The curtains close on his face.

Jeb was looking in the mirror. He was figuring out what his new look was going to be. Her heard everyone calling him a "Walmart Criss Angel." He wanted to punch the person who started that rumor, but looking at himself, maybe they're right. Maybe he should go back to the classics. That guy Jay, he wore a simple tux, but had the audience eating out of his hands.

Too bad he didn't see the rope snaking on the ceiling fan all by itself.

Bobby was holding his breath. Jay only had less than ten seconds.

Jeb was gasping for air as he was getting hung.

"Just how?" That was impossible. He saw Jay getting hung. He was standing on the stage bowing to the audience.

"That was amazing!" A audience member gushed.

"Woo!"

"That's impossible." Bobby had to find that couple, he was sure they were in danger.

Bianca and Jack walk back to their hotel rooms down the street.

"Jay is a witch? Maybe." Poor guy. Getting old sucked. But what she saw in the future, 'old age' was seeing forty. She knew her dad was vain, but most hunters never saw old age. Except Bobby. Dying young. Unfortunately he was right. Hunters had a expiry date. If only she could worn everyone. But she couldn't.

Jack was fascinated on what he saw. Magic was even cooler. He already bought a amateur magic kit. He wanted to show Claire what he learned.

"So, do we confront that guy?" They already figured out who was the witch.

"Nope. Our job's done." Bianca saw the Hunter. She and Jack had to leave town. She knew him from her own time, and didn't want him to see her. "Let's go back and pack our shit. We'll leave immediately." She knew how bossy she sounded, but she had to get themselves out of there ASAP.

Bobby was exploring anything unusual. The official reports say Jeb Dexter's death was a suicide but Bobby knew better. He was listening to the police scanner when he overheard that a man's body was found hanging. He didn't think much of it, people killed themselves, but it was the name. When he got there, he asked to see the body.

"Looks like a classic case of suicide Agent." The coroner was about to take his body away. "Shame too. My daughter was a huge fan of his. If you excuse me." Bobby already took the card away. The Hangman. Now he had a witch to kill. The question was, who was it?

Bobby needed to talk to Jay. All signs pointed to him, but he knew better. He saw Jay's show, he was amazing. But how did he perform that? He needed to talk to Jay. Ask some questions.

Jay was in his hotel room. He heard of Jeb's suicide. He wondered why. Yeah he was a douche, but a very talented magician. Because of that, Jay was offered to be the main headliner. He should be happy. Vernon and Charlie were. He picked up his deck of cards. Playing card tricks always cheered him up. He was shuffling his deck when he heard a knock. When he opened it, he was surprised to see a FBI agent. Or a cheap knockoff of a badge.

"Yes?"

"I'll cut down to the chase. Jay, I need to talk to you. It's important."

Later that night Jay was performing his "Table of Death." He played his role, acting the same as he always had, never saying a word about what that hunter told him. That one of his friends was a witch. That he was killing people to make Jay look good. Jay was incredulous and threatened to call the cops. But when that guy explained about Vance, how he died on the street with ten stab wounds all at once, and how Jeb was found hanging the same nights Jay was performing his stunts, Jay was stunned.

"Why would Vernon or Charlie do this?" He buried his head in his hands. He already talked to those kids before they left town. That his life was in danger. He laughed them off, called them delusional, but something about their eyes. He spent his whole life around illusions and trickery and can spot a liar. The girl, she was saying to be careful, and to not draw too much attention to himself. The boy was quiet, but after he was done, he asked Jay to show him some card tricks. He knew they both knew something he didn't, but when he asked, both clammed up. He didn't push, they'll tell him whenever they were ready. But after talking to that man, he knew he had to leave town after this. But not until he finishes his show. He never disappointed an audience.

The audience was waiting in baited breath. One woman was chewing her nails. When the table fell, almost everyone screamed. The curtains went out and Jay walked out unscathed with thunderous applause. Unfortunately his victory was short lived as he heard screams. Charlie was laying dead with several stab wounds.

Bianca wrote in her journal. She usually hated writing, her older brother was the writer. But she needed to write down what she knew, just in case. She had Jack write in it as well, his opinion was important.

"There!" She wrote down everything she knew. Nothing from the future, she didn't want anyone to know about that dark she left behind. But her adventures, if something happens, she wanted a record. "Well, this is where we part ways." She saw Jack's expression. "Look, I know you had fun being back on the field, but your family is waiting. Cas, Claire, Hannah. They need you." Chris, he was waiting for her in Scotland. "Don't forget about Sam and Dean. They miss you too."

"I know. It's just that, never mind." Jack liked her, really liked her. But she made it clear, she was too busy with her 'mission.' Whatever that was. She intrigued him, where did she come from? He was too shy to ask, instead he asked what her next plans were. "So what now?" He wanted to go with her, but Castiel and Claire were waiting in California. He wanted to see Sam and Dean before he left town. At least his wings were back to normal, he hated how ugly they were.

"I have a job remember? Kyra, she gave me some leeway, but it's time for me to go back to work." She didn't mind working at Knox, but she preferred to be here in the States. But the chances of getting caught was too high, especially around Phoebe. "You should come visit, bring your family with you. I'll give you a tour."

"I like that." When she hugged him, he blushed. He fantasized about kissing her. But he knew it was up to her. He waved goodbye when he walked inside the bus terminal. The car was rented, she was dropping it off before her flight to Scotland. Maybe someday he could ask her out, be normal like Sam and Dean.

Jay was having a stiff drink. The hotel owner, he offered a bonus if he wanted to headline's this weekend's finale. If things were better Jay would have happily took it, but with Charlie gone, he didn't feel like it anymore. He was waiting for that gruff Bobby guy, he said he had something to tell him. When he walked in he waved him over.

"Two whiskeys." He told a passing waitress. He wasn't sure if he drank, but if he didn't he could use an extra shot.

"Jay. I have something to tell you."

"Charlie's dead. I don't care anymore." His best friend, his brother. "The first true friend I ever had. He saved me from myself in the early days. Because of him, I became a magician." Jay never forgot about Charlie. He saved him from getting beaten to death from the mob when he tried cheating on cards. "I would have been dead before I was twenty, he taught me everything he knows." He laughed when Charlie suggested he become a magician.

New York 1974

Jay's teeth was chattering. This was his main debut, his act was being televised on live TV. It was a total fluke. He was shaking and pacing, especially from stage fright.

"Jay! You are making me dizzy!" His new friend Vernon was on after Jay, his card tricks was the opening act.

"Take it easy on Jay. Tonight is his big night." Charlie was excited for his two best friends. "You two will be famous."

"I don't know if I'm ready." He was good, but he wanted to be the best. He was debuting the Executioner tonight on live TV. It was that show he did back in Atlantic City that caught the network's executive's attention. "I should have practiced more."

"We practiced that all week! Jay! Don't worry so much! After this, no more playing in shitty bars or run down casinos. We can work side by side with Doug Henning!" Doug Henning was a legend in the magic scene. He sold out shows on Broadway. "You got this!" Charlie was always there for Jay. Called him a brother.

"Just don't screw up. Remember, everyone who jeered at us is watching." Vernon, he waited his whole life for this.

"Way to take off the pressure Vern!" Jay joked. He was even more scared now, especially when the stagehand waved them to take their places. The MC was introducing Vernon first, then Jay was coming on with a young lady Charlie hired to be his assistant.

"And now with their debut in Radio City Hall!" When the MC called Vernon first, Jay took a deep breath.

'Remember, you have family back here. I may not be related but I'm am your brother in every way possible." Charlie gave Jay a huge hug.

"Thanks. You were always there." Jay smiles at Charlie. When the stage assistant waves Jay out, Jay walks out to the applause. He was terrified, but knowing his best friend was cheering him on, he wasn't afraid anymore. 'Thank you Charlie. For everything.'

"So what do you expect me to do?" He was in disbelief on what the guy said. Charlie was a witch? And he was killing people. "My best friend is a killer? No. That's impossible." Charlie was old. He forgot his stuff half the time, Vernon joked Charlie was losing his memory from old age. "Charlie's dead. I saw his body myself. Vernon and I saw his stab wounds at the morgue."

"Some witches dabble in necromancy. It's very dangerous, but if done right, it can being the person back, but only if they are very experienced." Bobby heard about a secret society in Germany in WW2, but no hunter was able to figure out who it was.

"Well, if it's true, then what? I won't betray my best friend." Charlie never tried hurting him or Vernon.

"I can't tell you what to do, but Jay, think of what's right." Bobby wasn't staying, he got a call from Jody. She had a tip about a wendigo in Sioux Falls and needed his help. Bobby was glad his boys weren't here. Sam was a good witch, but was nowhere as experienced as Jay's friend.

"Okay." Jay knew what he had to do. He didn't care about himself, but innocent people were dying.

Vernon couldn't believe his eyes.

"How?" Charlie was young. That birthmark on Charlie's head, that was Charlie's most distinguished feature. "You're so young."

"Well, young is a relative word. I look twenty eight, but in reality been around since my life was saved by a businessman named PT Barnum." Charlie was always grateful about that. He was only sixteen when he was diagnosed with fatal lung cancer, but PT gave him another chance. "Its been a long time, and immortality, it's not as cracked up to be." Charlie, then known as Chris was happy to be cured, but his 'gift' had a heavy price. Loneliness. He was forced to watch everyone he ever cared about die. Especially his ex-fiancee, his fellow coven member, Patrick's wife's Lia's daughter. Charlie cried when she refused his gift, saying she would never take an innocent's life. Even with Chris begging, she refused. Chris loved her, but as much as it pained him, he let her go. He spent years being lonely, till he met Jay. At first he thought Jay was a bumbling idiot who played games he could never win, like that card game with a low level mob boss, but Jay had that spark Charlie never saw in years. Once Charlie, (he changed his name over the years) help Jay get out of town, helped him open up his own magic act. He saw how talented and quick he was with his hands, and wanted to be Jay's manager. Then when he met Vernon years later, finally found the family he never had. "He gave me a deck of cards, and a dusty old book." He showed Vernon his tarot deck. When Vernon tried touching them, Charlie pulled away. "I wouldn't touch these." He put the deck away. He looked around. "Where's Jay?" He wanted both his best friends. He was planning on using that couple, they were the perfect age, that middle aged man that was hanging around here was too old.

'Right here." Jay was standing on the stage behind Charlie. Charlie saw Jay's expression. He didn't seem surprised to see him.

"So you figured it out." Jay was always so smart.

"How many people had to die?" He was a good magician, so he thought. "Was any of it real?"

"Just two. Honest. Jay, you were going to kill yourself. They treated you and everyone like shit." Charlie hated people like that, reminded him of his old bosses at that factory in the nineteenth century. "I can't lose you."

Jay was planning on killing Charlie, but that would make him no better than him. He walks up to him and shakes his hand.

"I love you. You're the brother I never had." He saw Charlie tearing up.

"What are you saying?"

"Goodbye old friend." Jay knew he'll spend the rest of his life alone, but he was 'doing the right thing.' He smiled at Vernon before he walked out.

"Charlie?" Vernon saw Charlie's face. It was face of a broken man.

"I always thought that I had the world in my hands. That gift PT gave me, it gave me life. But, without my family, was it worth it?" He took out the deck of cards. He pulled out the Three of Swords. "I'm immortal. I can only die if I trade places with someone else. Vernon, I don't want you to be lonely like I was." Charlie wanted his two best friends with him, but without Jay, it wasn't worth it. He cared about Vernon as well, but immortality was a curse he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. "Take care old buddy. Don't blame Jay for his decision, he is a good man." He walked away after shaking Vernon's hand. He knew where the Hunter was, he can take this curse away.

Jay was watching the magician on stage. Criss Angel was performing his famous trick. When he saw who was sitting next to him, he looked surprised.

"Vern? What are you doing in Vegas?" After Jay walked away from Charlie, he went to his hotel room to pack. He didn't take any of his magic equipment, he donated it to the younger magicians. He then jumped on the first bus to Las Vegas.

"For a long time I blamed you for Charlie's death." Vernon and Jay got that call from Charlie's attorney. Charlie was found dead of a massive heart attack the night Jay left. He was an old man. It's been six weeks since Jay moved to Las Vegas. He got a job as a card dealer to make a living. Charlie left his fortune to his 'brothers.' It was enough for the two men to live in luxury for the rest of their lives. "Charlie offered you a gift and you threw it away."

"Did I?" Jay wondered about it. But he remembered that night he witnessed Charlie sobbing. His former fiancee passed away in her sleep. He didn't ask for details, but sat with Charlie all night playing cards. Charlie didn't say much, but he mentioned something about things having a heavy price tag. It was after Jay found out Charlie's 'gift.' He talked about his early life, that he traveled with the circus. Called it one of his happiest days of his life. "Remember that story about that creature his bosses captured?"

"That Big Foot? I thought it was a hoax!" He was watching Criss Angel doing some kind of slicing trick with his body. He yawned. He saw real magic, what that kid was doing was okay for an illusion.

"It wasn't all a hoax." He clapped when Criss bowed. "It was a golem he borrowed from some Jewish kid." That kid was Charlie's best friend back in the day. He saw Vernon's expression. "Who knows what's out there. Vegas may be flashy, but it's all fake anyways."

"Two beers!" Vernon pointed at a passing waitress. "Golems are real too?" He downs the beer when it arrived. "No wonder Charlie left." Vernon was angry at Jay for weeks. Until the funeral when they were reunited. Charlie, in his Will, he begged Vernon not to hate Jay. That Jay was free to think for himself. He said he finally found his family, and for his two brothers to not hate each other even after Charlie was gone. "You think he's okay?"

"You know I was a life long atheist." Even with the angels, Jay and Charlie scoffed at them. "If magic exists, maybe reincarnation exists as well. Charlie made mistakes, but he wasn't evil." Jay refused to believe Charlie was, even with two murders. "Everyone deserves a second shot, even him." He takes a sip of his beer. "You think we'll see him again?"

"Who knows." He thanks the waitress. "To Charlie. May we see each other on the other side or in the future in some shape or form." Vernon clicks Jay's beer.

"To our brother. To family." Jay applauded at David Copperfield. "Lets get outta here."

The Hunter watches as the two men left the casino. He took away their friend's immortality, he was heartbroken losing his best friend. Shame, he would have been a great fighter in the future. He was fascinated on this town, reminded him of the old days of Sodom before it was destroyed. He watched the stage. Harry Houdini, he looked great as his reincarnated self.