Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…I'm still just having fun!

Home Sweet House

Chapter 11 – A Plan Forms

Dean was shocked when he saw Marie tossed across the room into the opposite wall, the whip falling from her fingers. He looked back at his brother who was staring with unseeing eyes. "Sammy…hey little brother…did you do that?"

Sam took a shuddered breath; his head felt like it was going to split wide open making him nauseous. He swallowed several times, trying to keep the contents of his stomach from making an appearance. After a few moments, he became aware of the quiet in the room. "Dean" Sam said softly, flinching at the pain in his chest, arms and legs.

"Yes Sammy…I'm still here."

"What happened?"

"Ahhh…I think you used your spoon bending powers to throw Marie away…I'm not sure, but I think she is gone for the moment…God Sammy…are you ok?" Dean saw the welts and open wounds covering Sam's body. He watched as Sam flinched every time he moved.

"Well, to be honest, I think I've had better days…any ideas yet on getting us out of here?" Sam felt so tired, all he wanted to do was close his eyes, but he couldn't…he refused to give up just yet.

"I'm working on it Sammy…just give me a moment and I'll have us out of here!" Dean tried to put some optimism into his voice, hoping that Sam would not give up. Dean smiled when he heard his brother respond "Well hurry up will you…I'm going to catch pneumonia from the draft in here…and by the way, have I said lately how much I hate Halloween!"

ooooooooo

Nick felt a gentle nudge in his subconscious mind. Looking around, he was surprised to see the figure of a young man, not much older than himself standing in front of him. "Cedrick…is that you?"

"Yes Nick…It's time to wake up if you want to help your friends…I'm afraid Sam doesn't have much more time…he is the sacrifice that is to happen at the end of the ball…just as I was a long time ago."

"Cedrick…do you know why Marie is doing this…why did she become a ghula whennone of you seemed to have suffered a similar fate?"

"She was the first…the first to suffer...She was tortured because of her abilities. She had the power to read and sometimes influence the minds of others. After months of torture to rid her of an evil she did not possess, her mind finally snapped…now she continues her master's bidding…she is still trying to please the one who broke her mind and body by following the same rituals that were used on her."

Nick shuddered as Cedrick allowed him to see what had happened to him. "God, how did you remain sane? Why aren't you angry?"

"Angry at who Nick…the poor soul that is trapped in a nightmare for eternity…doomed to relive her torment over and over again through others. She is just as trapped as the rest of us…I don't know who did this to her, but that is where the true evil existed."

"Cedrick…why does she need me…what does she want me to do?"

"It is within you to control those of us who are trapped in this house. We have refused to partake in the ceremony…the sacrifice. Marie's powers of influence can only affect a few at a time. She wishes to have us inhabit the bodies of the party goers, forcing them to finish the ritual that she believes will set her free."

"So, if she gains control of me…matters will be worse….unless…maybe…Cedrick, can you gather the others…we need to have a talk, quickly!"

Nick's eyes opened as he saw Cedrick leave to gather the others as he requested. He wasn't sure that he could pull this off…but he had to try.

ooooooooo

Dean groaned as he saw the figure of Marie advancing on Sam once more.

"Evil…it lives within you…the power you wield is proof of your corruption. There is no time for the normal methods to expel this evil from your body…we only have a few hours until the time of your joining with the master comes!"

"Marie" Sam was trying again to reason with the ghula…he had to make her see, but how? "Marie, who tried to purify you…was it Drake?"

"How dare you speak the name of the master…he purified me so that I could continue his work. If I am good and can expel your demon…he may let me finally rest…don't you see…you must be purified if I am to be free!"

Dean watched the exchange and couldn't help feeling sorry for the girl that must have been. He had never understood Sam's reluctance to discuss his abilities…why he referred to himself as a freak. But now he understood; Marie was Sam's worst fear…the result of what could happen if a society discovered his secret and could not accept him.

"Marie…it doesn't have to be this way…let us help you…we can help you get free from this nightmare. Just release me and I will do whatever I can to help you!" Dean tried to convince the ghula that there was an alternative…he had to make her see for Sam's sake.

Marie paused and looked at Dean, a shadow of sadness in her face that was soon replaced by the cold mask she always wore. "Enough…there is only one way to expel this demon…from fire you came and it will be fire that forces you to return to the hell you came from!"

Sam watched in horror as Marie went over to a small fireplace in the wall of the chamber. She placed wood in the small fireplace and quickly lit it. She then reached over and place a metal poker into the flames. Sam began to shiver as he realized what was in store for him. Once again he looked at his brother, watching him struggle once again to break free of his bonds. "Dean" Sam said quietly "No matter what happens, this is not your fault…you have been a good big brother…we knew this day might come…just remember, I would never blame you for this and do not want you to blame yourself!"

"Damn it Sammy…don't you dare give up…I'll find a way…just…don't give up" Dean hated the pleading tone that had entered his voice. He watched as Marie came to the altar with a piece of cloth in her hands. "We will hear no more lies from this mouth" she proclaimed as she quickly gagged Sam with the dirty rag.

Sam flinched as he saw the red hot poker approaching, trying in vain to get past the gag to reason with the insane ghula. Marie began chanting as she passed the hot poker over Sam's body. Sam could feel the heat as it passed close to his face. Even though he thought he had prepared himself…when the pain hit, he couldn't stop the screams from coming.

"From fire you have come…from fire you must return!" Marie continued the same chant each time she touched the hot poker to Sam's skin.

Dean couldn't contain his agony any longer, he allowed the tears to run down his cheeks, to match the ones he saw running down is baby brother's. Dean looked skyward and for the first time in a long time, he prayed…he prayed that Sam would be strong enough to endure; he prayed that he would be strong enough to be there for Sam and he prayed that both of them would make it through the night.

As Marie returned once again and applied the hot poker to Sam's skin…a voice was heard from the dark stairwell. "Marie…if you want me to help you finish the ritual…to set you free…you must stop what you are doing now…if you stop, I will help you…read my mind and you will know the truth…but know this…if you continue what you are doing…I will make sure that you never find the rest you seek!"

Dean looked over in shock at the young man who was barely able to stand, facing down the ghula. Damn that fool kid…he was as stubborn as Sam! "Nick…you idiot…get out of here! You won't do anyone any good if you are dead!"

Nick looked at Dean and winked "Ah…but death does not frighten me…nor should it you…death is a welcome relief to the pains of this life...aren't I right Marie?"

Marie stopped and looked at the young man who had fought her for so long. Reaching out with her mind, she felt the truth of what the boy was saying. "Very well…if you will give me the control I seek for this night…I will allow this one to rest until the ceremony…but he must be prepared for the ritual and he must be sacrificed…my master demands it!"

"I agree Marie…there is only one way to end this and that is to sacrifice the one who is possessed…I will help you do it, just tell me what you want me to do!"

TBC

Raven524: Well at least with the site being down...there is a bonus...more chapters! Let me know what you think...remember to R&R!