Chapter 33

"What do you want me to do with this," asked John, but already knew.

"You know what I want you to do. Cut him John. I need to know where your loyalty lies," said Alanya threateningly.

Shit, thought John and pressed the blade to Bryan's throat. "I'd rather do this in the other room," said John hopeful, but Alanya shook his head.

"No," he said. "You do it here and now or neither one of you will get out of this room alive."

John looked at Alanya and knew he was serious. If he didn't do this, Alanya would know and kill them both. He shrugged. "Ok," he said and pressed the knife into Bryan's throat, cutting him. Bryan winced as it started to bleed. Alanya grinned.

"Satisfied?" asked John. Alanya thought for a minute. "Do it again," he said.

"What?" asked John.

"Cut him again. I like to watch. I feed off fear and anger and right now Bryan has both. It makes me stronger. He walked up to Bryan and grabbed his hair pulling his head back. Lothos also walked up and traced the blood, with his finger, licking it. "Let him go into the other room Alanya," said Lothos. John grinned again and hoped that Alanya wouldn't make him cut his friend again.

"Can I take him now," asked John. Alanya let Bryan go.

"Yeah," said Alanya and stepped aside. "Have fun." John grinned and came around behind Alanya and Lothos, dragging Bryan with him. He positioned himself to where Alanya and Lothos's backs faced the basement.

"Don't worry," said John. "I will you son of a bitch!" He pushed Bryan aside and shoved Alanya hard. He stumbled backward into the basement. At the same time Bryan sent a side kick at Lothos, knocking him backwards into the basement also. Both demons screamed in rage and started for the door. John quickly poured salt across the threshold. Lothos and Alanya stopped. They couldn't cross it.

"That will not stop us for long," said Alanya and John took the holy water, and poured it on the salt. Lothos and Alanya backed up and glared at John, murder in their eyes.

"That won't either," said Lothos. "When we get out of here, you both will be sorry. "

Alanya looked at Bryan, who backed up. "Remove it John," he said.

"Not a chance," said John. Alanya bore his eyes into Bryan's head. Bryan winced as the pain came and cried out as it got worse.

"Remove it!" yelled Lothos, "or my brother will kill Bryan!" Bryan was doubled over as the pain increased even more and became severe.

"Bryan!" yelled John. He took out one of the crosses and placed it on the inside door knob. Alanya and Lothos shrank back at the site of it. Then John placed the other cross on the outside door knob and slammed the door, locking them inside. This broke Alanya's hold on Bryan and he fell.

"Bryan!" said John again, running over. "Hey, you ok?" Bryan was breathing hard and held his head in his hand.

"I think," said Bryan and John helped him up. Bryan rubbed the blood off his neck and looked at John.

"I'm sorry Bryan. I had to do that," said John. "If I didn't, they would have known and killed us both. Let me see." John gently took Bryan's head in his hand and bent it over so he could inspect the cut.. it wasn't bad, but Bryan was still nervous.

"I had to Bryan," said John. Bryan nodded and said, "I know. I probably would have done the same."

John nodded. "Let's get the others and get them out of here. That's only going to slow them down. It's not going to stop them for long and when they get out, they're going to be pissed."

"I hear ya," said Bryan and they went to search for the others. "I heard Jack down here, but there's no other rooms on this floor."

"Maybe there is and we just can't see it," said John and began to press on the panels. Bryan did the same. They finally pressed one and the door opened, revealing the secret room. Bryan looked at John suspiciously. How did he know about that? he thought, but didn't say anything. They both ran inside.

"Oh my God," said Bryan, when he spotted Jack. They both rushed over.

"Damn," said John. "Jack?"

Jack groaned. "Please help...me!" he said. He was very weak and could hardly speak.

"Hold on Jack," said Bryan. The first thing he did was take off the eyepiece, so Jack could close his eyes. John stared in horror at Jack's body. He had cuts, bruises and burns everywhere. Wax had been poured into the cuts and was now hard again. He had blisters and 3rd degree burns on the back of his legs. John touched his back and Jack screamed, "NO!"

"Take it easy Jack," said Bryan. "It's John." Jack relaxed a little as John unstrapped his arms and picked the locks on the shackels to his legs. Slowly and with great care John rolled him over on his back. He winced as his back touched the table.

"Why did they do this to you?" asked John. "My God." His front looked as bad as his back. Jack looked up into John's eyes. They were clear, but Jack had an uneasy feeling. He didn't say anything though, because he thought it might just be him.

"Why?" asked John again.

"Because I tried to help Sam and Dean escape," said Jack weakly. John shook his head.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

"I don't know. I'll try." replied Jack and Bryan and John helped him to stand, but he couldn't and fell. John caught him. "OK, easy," he said and picked Jack up over his shoulders.

"Get him out of here John. I'll find Tony, Sam and Dean and follow you."

"No way," said John. "We stay together. Last time we did that. Tony and Jack ended up being recaptured. Either we all leave or nobody does."

"I...agree," said Jack weakly.

Bryan nodded. "Ok," he said. "Let's go get them."

"Last..time I saw...them they were. ...in the attic," said Jack with extreme difficulty.

"Then that's where we'll go first," said John and the three headed for the stairs that led to the attic. Bryan looked at John.

"What is it Bryan?" asked John.

"Nothing," said Bryan. They all hoped that the others were still in the attic, because there was no time to waste. Lothos and Alanya would get out of the basement soon and come looking for them. Bryan looked at John again.

"What!" said John adjusting Jack on his shoulders. Bryan shook his head. He didn't know why, but he was still uneasy about John. He knew that right now John was John, but he just didn't believe that he was free of Alanya. Not yet anyway. He hoped it was his imagination.