Chapter 54

Preparing himself, Brad stood up and stepped into the center of the circle and let their power wash over him like water. He began the incantation. Jack stepped into the circle beside him. Harper and the two guards got to their feet and walked over to the bars and watched.

"What is mine I add to yours, with power shared, the link endures," said Brad. The light grew, spreading around the ring that Jack had drawn. It was as strong as the sun.

Brad continued. "For my friends I'll face the fire and all that the fates conspire."

"By earth and air, by fire and water I'll stand by my brothers' power," said Jack. Brad breathed deep and spread his arms. "Tonight while the moonlight streams, I take this flight on eagle's wings." Jack watched and when Brad went limp he grabbed him and lowered him gently to the ground.

Brad soared up through the clinic and looked down at his body as well as his brother that was standing by his side. In the night he sailed through the sky to the house that held Sam and the others. He felt weightless and free.

Back at the clinic, outside of the circle, a dark mist slid along the floor and gathered itself until it became a wolf. Jack stepped protectively in front of his brother's body and stared the wolf down. He knew it was Nemesis and that he had come to attack Brad. The wolf had a pentagram shaped scar on its snout. Jack had an idea. If he could defeat Nemesis now they could all be set free. So, Jack thought, let's understand each other.

"To him who seeks his life to take, within this ring this vow I make. By all the power that lives in me, from your hands he will be free. I will crush you into dust by all means fair or foul or just, I am he and he is me as I will so mote it be." Jack continued to stare at Nemesis. He watched while the wolf paced around the circle snarling.

"Nemesis," he said. "Do you think I'm afraid of you? You're nothing but smoke and stink." Jack waved a hand, and the light around the circle lowered. In challenge he stepped clear of the protection but raised it back to protect Brad.

"Power to power," Jack murmured while the air outside the circle swirled filthy and foul. He watched the wolf gather himself and ripple with muscle. It leaped for Jack's throat. The weight of it was a shock, as was the quick, sharp pain in his shoulder where claws dug. Jack winced and cried out in pain as the wolf's claws dug deep.

Using both muscle and magic, he flung the wolf aside, and then yanked up the sword he'd called down. "Let's finish it," he said between his teeth.

This time when the wolf charged, Jack pivoted and raked the sword over its side. There was a sound, more scream then howl. Black blood dripped onto the floor sizzling like hot oil. Wolf and mist gathered and Nemesis appeared before him. He looked down at Brad's body, and grinned.

"So he astral projected anyway, even though I told him not to," said the immortal and looked back at Jack. "You're both warlock's. I can't believe it. I've gone and captured myself a couple of warlocks. He looked at Harper and his men in the cell and then back at Jack. He laughed and evil laugh and vanished.

"NO!" yelled Jack. He felt it before he knew it. Nemesis screamed in rage and threw Jack backward with his mind.

"How dare you! You two are not very smart are you Jack!" He didn't' see Nemesis anymore but he heard his words in his mind. "You want to play, let's play. You'll lose. I've been doing magic for generations."

Jack became scared. "Brad," he yelled and lowered the circle. He stepped inside and waved his hand. The light came back up around them. His arm was bleeding and sore from where the wolf attacked him, but he was more worried about his brother. "Wake up!" he screamed.

Brad reached the house and floated through the walls. He walked through the wall of the cell. He looked down at Sam. Sam knew something immediately and opened his eyes. Tony, Bryan and John didn't have a clue.

Sam looked up. He blinked a few times trying to make sure he was seeing right. "Brad," he said.

Tony, Bryan and John looked around but didn't see anything. They looked at Sam and knew he did.

"Sam," said Brad telepathically. "Is everyone alright?"

"For now," answered Sam out loud. "But I don't know for how long. The men will be coming back soon." Brad looked around the room and saw that John, Tony and Bryan were okay but he missed somebody.

"Where's Dean?" he asked.

"Nemesis took him again," said Sam. Brad nodded. Anger raged inside him.

"Okay. Tell everyone to just hang on. Me and Jack have gotten away. Just hang in there." Sam nodded.

Back at the clinic Jack knew that Nemesis was on his way after his brother and he was trying desperately to reach him before he did. "Brad," he screamed and shook him frantically. "WAKE UP! You've got to come back! Right now!"

"We'll be here soon," said Brad. Sam nodded again.

"Come on Brad! Wake up!" Jack yelled. Finally Brad heard him.

"Jack!"

"Get back here now!"

Brad turned to Sam. "I've got to go," he said. "Just hang in there." He vanished.

"Brad!" yelled Sam and shot straight up in the bed. Something was wrong. Sam could feel it.

"What," said John nervously when he saw the look on his youngest son's face. "Sam what's wrong!"

Brad flew back as quickly as he could. He felt a presence, a darkness and turned in time to see that Nemesis was right behind him and gaining fast and he was not happy.

"Shit!" yelled Brad. He flew faster through the sky. He reached the clinic in record time and floated down through the roof. He could feel Nemesis getting closer, but he reached his body just in time and re-entered it. Nemesis screamed in anger as Jack raised the light back up around the circle once again. He knelt down as Brad opened his eyes.

He could not move for a few minutes because the flight had left him very weak.

"Brad, are you okay," asked Jack in fear. He looked up at his little brother. When he could move again he sat up.

"Answer me," said Jack.

"I'm okay," answered Brad but Jack wasn't so sure. He was so pale looking and he seemed to be in pain. Did Nemesis get to him, he thought.

"Next time," said Nemesis and vanished. In the cage Harper laughed.

"He almost got caught didn't he," he said. "He would have been in a whole lot of trouble."

"Shut up," said Jack and continued to watch Brad.

"He's not okay is he," mocked Harper. "Nemesis touched his mind."

"I told you to shut the hell up!!" yelled Jack. Harper laughed and went over to sit back down.

"Brad," said Jack.

"I'm okay," said Brad. "I just forgot how tired it makes me to do that." Jack relaxed a little.

"How are they?" he asked.

"Sam said they were okay for now but the guards would be coming back soon, so he didn't know for how long. He told me that Nemesis has Dean again."

"What?" said Jack astonished. "You've got to be kidding me?"

"That's what Sam said," answered Brad.

"Oh God," said Jack.

"We've got to help them," said Brad and got to his feet. He got dizzy and almost fell back down but he grabbed Jack's injured arm to keep from falling. Jack winced and jerked away. Brad looked at him.

"What's wrong," he said. Jack didn't answer.