Hi, guys! Here's the next chapter. Are you thrilled about the upcoming series finale? Personally, I can't wait anymore :))

Anyways, hope you'll like the new chapter. Happy reading! :)


"Balls!" I curse and spit in fury as bile rises in my stomach, "Fucking balls!"

It was a trap. I should have known better than to not trust my guts. The moment we walked into that damn house my skin was crawling, a bad feeling coiling in my stomach, my nerves on the edge... Yet, I entered, covering the boys' backs. I knew at this point there was no going back for them, especially for Ben. If I had to be honest, for me, too. So I ignored every instinct in me calling to get the hell out of there and went right into Stynes' den. It was way too easy, even with the half of dozen guards we disarmed. The building was empty.

Most of the bedrooms on the top floor were designed in a luxurious, yet simple style. Huge beds with heavy curtains, solid wooden furniture covered with refined damasks, enormous bathrooms, covered in marble and china tiles. The only room that stood out obviously belonged to a teen boy obsessed with comics, video games, action figures, and tons of other geek stuff. While rummaging his room I noticed a small picture of the Hollywood sign. Then I saw the backpack, the clothes scattered around his bed, some drooping through the zipper, the map, and the money in one of the pockets… I could easily tell he was about the escape his family home. This kid, this Cyrus as one of the photos on his desk indicated… he was obviously an unusual member of the Stynes. Poor kiddo.

Still, the house was empty, no one to be seen. Even though we searched every inch of it, from the front door to the roof, leaving the basement for the last. Not a soul around the house... and if that was not suspicious, I don't know what was. Maybe the documents we found. The files telling a monstrous story made me freeze in shock. They were harvesting people for their sick experiments, for their own modern and much darker retelling of "Frankenstein". All those missing people were used for body parts, for their surgical enhancements and god knows what more. That's what Lisa was so close to finding. Why she had to be eliminated. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I realized this family had to be put down. For good.

When we entered the basement, we were greeted by at least ten men aiming guns at us. Eldon was there, triumph shining in his icy eyes. And he had a new arm, a replacement for the one he ripped off on his own. I could see the stitches, the missing part of a colorful tattoo with skulls. An elder man with spiky, almost white hair, stepped forward, unreasonably sure of his dominance over us.

"Ah, the Winchesters," he looked at me, " And Mrs. Singer. Welcome to my humble abode"

"It's Miss," I snarled eyeing him, but his smile just grew wider, cockier,

"Monroe Styne. Pleasure." the white-haired nodded in the purest act of courtesy.

"I wish I could say the same," I bared my teeth, " But I'd be lying my ass off."

"Well, I have to say. I am impressed. The way you charged in here, all guns blazing. I'd buy tickets to that show. You didn't think that was actually gonna work, did you?"

"Usually does," Dean's hand carefully squeezed Ben's shoulder, pulling him back.

By the looks of it, the kid was about to explode. And the last thing we needed was for him to do something stupid. I slowly moved in front of Ben, positioning the kid between Sam, Dean, and me.

"Then I guess you know what comes next." the priggery in his voice unbelievable.

"You're gonna play Operation," Dean stated from behind me.

"It is my favorite game."

"Oh, really?" I took a step towards him, "Is it now? Hasn't Eldon told you?"

"Braeden!" there was a warning in Sam's voice.

I smiled viciously at Monroe Styne, sneaking my hand into my pocket. Hoping no one would notice. They were all too concentrated on the shitshow I was pulling. The Stynes were on the edge, only waiting for Monroe, the obvious leader, to say the word. But he didn't.

"Didn't he tell you I like playing, too," I was so close, my face mere inches from his, "Didn't he show you what I did to him?" the way his jaw tightened told me I was really playing on his nerves so I smiled even wider, "The fun we had together... You must be so-o-o proud." I continued purring, "He was one hard nut to crack. Really tough one. But breaking him, it was so... ugh, exhilarating!"

That was when all hell went loose. And it was with the simplest of words, spoken by the elder.

"Kill them."

I pulled the hex bag from my pocket and yelled the spell, hitting at the same time Monroe in the throat, feeling his trachea crunching under my fist. Smoke immediately appeared sliding across the room. The spell worked perfectly, thick fog covering almost everything. They couldn't shoot at us or they risked killing one another. The mist's tentacles were spreading around, thickening, and making it almost impossible to see. But for Sam, Dean, Ben and me that was not a problem. It was an advantage. Poor fools didn't know what hit them. The melee was... Bloody. Violent. Kicking, punching, cutting, and stabbing. Splashes of blood flying around me. That's when I saw Ben running off after Eldon Styne. Sam and Dean were busy with their own opponents. I quickly kicked the man I was fighting, twisted his arm and broke his leg, all in one fluid motion, and ran after the kid. But I was too late.

Which is why right now Eldon Styne is holding Ben at knifepoint, his other arm on the kid's throat. I slowly raise my hands, still holding my gun, hoping Sam and Dean will find us any second now. The whole banging, shooting and yelling behind the flying metal doors of the operating room is loud enough to know it won't end soon. They might be outnumbered but the Winchesters are mighty opponents. And they will spare no one.

"Block the door" Styne commands me, cold smile stretching his lips "Gun on the table"

A low growl rises in my throat as I obey him. A glimpse of motion makes me cast a glance to the locker behind Styne's back. Realizing what I see, I quickly look away. Great! Cyrus Styne is hiding from his family; I recognize the fear and shock in his eyes behind the thick glasses covering his face when he realizes Eldon's in the room.

I've got to take care of two kids now, just freaking perfect. I lock Ben's eyes in the mere hope of him understanding to follow my lead. To not try something stupid. Something that can get him killed. I do my best to ignore the trembling of my limbs, the cold sweat going down my spine. I can't risk his life. I can't. That is not an option.

"What do you want, Frankenstein?" I force myself to sound calm.

"Hands where I can see them." his smile is the creepiest thing I've seen since Purgatory, "Payback's a bitch, you know…" he points with the knife to the operating table separating us, "You're not the only one good with spells."

I lay eyes on the table. There, scattered on its metal shining surface, are various bowls, glass jars, and flasks. There's some huge symbol I don't recognize and a wooden bowl in the middle of it. I know some of the ingredients scattered around. There's no way of mistaking the rabbit's teeth, bird bones, blood, goofer dust, snakeskin, insect eggs, wisteria, nightshade, white snakeroot, oleander, sulfur, chalk, epson salts, the magic crystals, and powders...

"Is that gold thread?" I arch a brow at Eldon, " You've got some serious stuff here. What's cooking?"

"Your death," Styne says, a victorious glint in his eyes.

Ben tries to elbow him but the enhancements are a big advantage on Styne who just squeezes harder the kid's throat choking him.

"Hey! Ben, no, no... Don't!" I quickly say, "Just don't! I'm here, Styne. We both know it's me you want."

"Damn right," Eldon releases the pressure on Ben's neck and the kid sharply inhales, " You do as I say and maybe... Just maybe he lives,"

"Fine, fine" I quickly agree, ignoring the trembling of my hands, "What do you want?"

"Your blood, in the wooden bowl. Set it on fire. Now!"

I calmly reach for the knife in my boot, slicing my palm. I have to buy some time, to figure out how to get Ben out of here. As I hover above the bowl I can't shake the shivers creeping down my spine. I don't know what's in there. But it's some serious black magic, strong and deadly. Some kind of a blood spell. Nothing good will come out of this. My blood slowly drips into the bowl. I reach for the lighter on the table as Ben's eyes widen. He is so pale, his pupils dilated of worry, his fingers digging into Eldon's hand.

"Braeden, no! Don't!" I can hear the fear in Ben's voice.

"It's okay, kiddo," I smile and wink at him, "I ain't let you get hurt."

"Read that." Styne motions to a paper on the table.

I do as told. It's some form of ancient Latin, so I recognise only a few of the words - death, imminent, decompose... Definetely not a cool spell. I drop the lighter into the bowl. Eldon murmurs something so quickly I don't catch even a word, then realize he's probably repeating it, to be sure.

The ingredients burst into flames as the small fire consumes them. Then a shuddering pain explodes within me, burning every nerve ending in my body. I bend into two, barely standing on my feet, my nails digging into the table. Trying to contain the screams in my throat. I hear Ben calling me, struggling Styne to no avail. My left arm pulsates, quick small lights of red and violet flash under my skin and up to my chest. A second later the burning light fades along with the pain. I sigh deeply and look at Eldon with all my spite and hatred.

"You happy now?" I snarl, a strange metallic taste in my mouth.

"Extremely. You just signed your own death sentence."

"What did you do to her?!" Ben yells in anger, his voice so similar to Dean's rage tone.

"She did it to herself." Eldon grins, " She cast a very intricate spell. Curses are a delicate art. But she did well. The spell will kill her. Slowly, in time. You will weaken, you'll be sick and helpless. And I'll be there. Waiting in the shadows. To hunt you down, to torture you and have... How'd you put it? Ah, yes. To have fun together. Eye for an eye, bitch."

I bare my teeth, my hands clenched in fists. I can rip his head off with my bare hands. That is how pissed I am. Fear and adrenaline swirling within me, I am ready to kill him. Painfully and slowly. But first I need the kid to be safe.

"Curses can be broken, you moron!" Ben hisses.

Styne laughs. I can hear Sam and Dean fighting beyond the doors of the operation room. I've been here less than two minutes and I know it's already too late. At least for me. I can see it in Styne's eyes.

"Not this one, kid. You see, I spent a lot of time devising this. Making sure it's unimpeachable. It was not meant for you, Braeden Singer. But you got it anyway."

"Oh, the privilege." I roll my eyes at him.

"There's a way for everything!" Ben stubbornly insists.

"Not here. The only way to break the curse is to kill the one who cast it," ice rolls down my spine, Ben's eyes widen in terror as Eldon continues, "And if you try to find any way around it... Everyone you care about will die a slow and painful death. I made sure to add it there," he nods toward the burnt bowl, "The miracles one's blood can do."

"You're an idiot, Eldon Styne." I cross my arms, moving my fingers, signaling to Ben, "There's a huge hole in this brilliant plan of yours."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, really," I lean forward, putting my hands on the table, my right one dangerously close to the gun, but Styne doesn't notice, "You cursed me. I'm gonna die. Good for you. But all that lurking in the shadows thing you expect to do while waiting for me to kick the bucket..." I shake my head and wink at Ben who faintly nods, "It's not gonna happen."

"Please, enlighten me." Styne's grip on Ben loosens, he's too concentrated on me, "What's wrong with all that?"

This time when I talk I stare directly into his cold murderous blue eyes.

"You're not getting out of here alive."

At that very same moment, Ben yanks himself free, knocking the knife out of Eldon's hands, and I grab my gun taking a step away from the table, hiding the weapon in the waistband of my jeans.

"Been looking for you for a long time, you know," Ben calmly states, cold and distant expression on his face as Styne fixes the collar of his shirt.

All that can be heard is the still going fight outside the metal door. I look at Ben. The kid is determined, death in his eyes.

"Oh yeah?" there's something arrogant in Eldon Styne's expression, "Why is that? Oh, wait. You're not still sore about... um, what's her name?"

"Lisa. Her name's Lisa" Ben coolly says, "And she was my mother."

"Yeah, well. Chuckie, she got what she deserved. Wanna know how I did her? It's a kinda funny story..."

"Shut up." Ben's calmness scares me, his voice is pure murder, yet Styne seems unaffected.

I realize he actually thinks he can fight us. He's so arrogant and up his own ass, he doesn't see us as a threat. Even if we had our guns pointing directly at him, he'd still be unruffled.

"Straight to it, then. I respect that, child. See, you got lucky before. This time, I'm sporting some new upgrades. See, my old man..."

"Your old man's dead." I say, steel in my tone, I can swear his eyes become glassy of shock and unshed tears, "I made sure of that. They're all dead."

"That's what happens when you mess with a Winchester," Ben adds, his hand at his side, ready to pull his back-up gun. The kid looks at me, just for a split second. And shakes his head. His eyes, I see peace there. Some kind of reconciliation.

"This won't bring her back," he mutters and takes a step back, relaxing his body.

He's taking the high road, I realize. Something I could never do if I were him. Never. But I'm glad. Ben doesn't need this blood on his hands.

Eldon Styne laughs. There's amusement and resentment in this simple sound. Disgust and pitty by Ben's actions. I clench my teeth.

"You're douche, Styne," I say, "What's worse is you're arrogant to stupidity."

He snorts, eyes flickering with anger.

"Should I remind you, I'm..."

"Oh, save us the speech on the three hearts, the two spleens, and whatever else they added you," Ben rolls his eyes, "Even with all that, you still only have one brain."

"So?" there's a sincere curiosity in Styne's voice.

"So, I've got a gun, you stupid psycho!" before he can even rationalize what I'm saying, my gun's already pointing to his head, the bullet flying directly into his forehead.

His head flings back as his body collapses to the floor, a small trail of blood dripping from the wound.


Sooo, what do you think about the chapter? About the guys killing off all of the Stynes? About the curse? Drop me a review and tell me! I'm dying for your feedback! :)