Hunger

After the time traveling fiasco, Cas had disappeared, and Sam and Dean had found a hunt. Currently, you were lounging on one of the hotel bed's, flipping through TV channels, while Sam and Dean talked about the case. You had been excited, and relieved that they had let you go along. You knew Sam would have, but you had been surprised that Dean had been the one to suggest it.

"Seriously, this couple ate themselves?" Dean asked incredulously, staring at his brother. His question had caught your attention, and you shut the TV off before getting off the table and walking over to stand behind Sam.

"Yeah, not much was left. But hey Dean, Y/N and I can handle this one. I know you're probably ready to head on out." Sam said, and you and Dean both stared at him in confusion. "Valentine's day? What do you call it?"

You had heard about this Valentine's Day, but had never experienced it yourself. You wondered why Dean liked it so much.

"I'm just not feeling it this year." Dean shrugged, before taking a sip of his beer, and placing his feet on the table.

Sam closed his laptop, the case forgotten as he stared at his brother. "Seriously? What's up with you?"

Dean just took a drink of his beer, ending that part of the conversation. "Let's head on over to the morgue." He suggested, and Sam stood up grabbing his jacket. 

"You coming with?" He asked you, but you shook your head, having no desire to see the remains of the poor couple.

"Okay, if we find something out, we'll come back and get you." Sam promised, giving you a warm smile before the two brothers walked out the door. After they left, you laid down on the bed, turning the TV back on, wondering if you would have been better off if you had gone with them. You weren't used to this, relaxing and not having anything to do. You weren't sure how to handle it. Flipping through the channels, you decided on a historical movie, laughing at how wrong they were. Maybe, if your job as a Reaper slowed down, you would turn to writing. Because at least then, something would get written right.

It wasn't much later that you heard your phone ringing. Picking it up, you remembered the instructions Sam had given you on how to answer it. "Hello?" You asked, pressing the phone to your ear.

"We know what it is. Cas confirmed it for us. We're on our way to pick you up so we can go track it down. Be ready in five." Sam told you, before hanging up. You grabbed your coat, planning on waiting outside. As soon as you stepped outside into the cool night air, you could sense a difference in the town. It was subtle, and only someone like a Reaper might be able to notice it. You could feel the promise of Death in the air, and as a Reaper it was pulling you to it. You knew it wasn't Death himself, this had a more rotten, black hole feel to it. You hadn't felt anything like this in a long time, and you wondered who could be powerful enough to create this sort of chaos.

As you sat there pondering everything, the Impala pulled in, Dean honking on the horn to get your attention. You raced over, climbing in the back seat, sitting next to Cas. "Hey guys, so what do you think is killing all these people?" You asked curiously.

"We think it's a rogue cupid. We noticed a cupid's mark on the hearts of the victims. And I know where he will be next." Cas told you, as Dean sped down the road. Sam gave you a welcoming smile before turning his attention back to the road.

You weren't sure you agreed with Cas' idea of who was killing these people. You had heard of rogue Cupids, but this didn't seem to fit what you were sensing. "Are you sure?"

"Why, what else could it be?" Sam asked, turning around once again.

Seeing the weird look Dean was giving you, you shrugged, not wanting to say more and give yourself away. "I'm not sure, it just seems weird to be hunting a cupid."

By this time Dean was pulling into the parking lot of a bar and grill, and you stepped out automatically getting pummeled by the sickening sweet aroma of greed and hunger. Stepping back,  you closed your eyes, your hand pressed to your stomach as you felt overwhelmed by the sensation. 

"Y/N, are you alright?" Cas asked, standing next to you, while waiting for both Sam and Dean to catch up.

"You don't feel that?" You asked him, feeling a little more in control of yourself. Before he could answer, Sam and Dean were standing next to you, and the three of you made your way inside, where Sam and Dean ordered dinner. You declined, much like Cas, your stomach still unsettled. 

Once the food arrived, you stared in surprise as Dean pushed his plate away, and Cas picked up the untouched hamburger. You weren't the only one surprised, Sam was staring with his mouth wide open as well. 

Not commenting on the weird behavior, you let it slide, staying quiet. Once most of his hamburger was gone, Cas finally spoke. "He's here."

At once, you stood up, and the three of you followed Cas down the hallway, where you entered into an empty room. "Now what?" Dean asked, just as you heard a bellowing voice from behind you. "Brother!" It exclaimed, and you turned to see a huge, naked man walking towards Cas with his arms outstretched.

You watched his exchange with Cas with amusement, glad that you weren't the one to be hugged like that, hoping he didn't out you in front of Sam or Dean. While Cas accused him of being a murderer, you stayed silent off to the side, wanting to remain unseen. But when he pleaded his innocence, he quickly turned to the three of you, trapping Dean, then Sam into a huge bear hug. Finally turning to you, he tilted his head, staring at you, a frown marring his features before he turned back to Cas. Both brothers stared at you, wondering why you had been jilted, but turned their attention back to the Cupid.

"Listen, I promise I'm not killing these people. They might have my mark, but all I'm doing is setting them in the right direction." He explained once again before vanishing, and you knew your instincts had been right the entire time. 

"Well, now what?" Dean asked, as the four of you trudged outside, all three men a little disheartened after the lead went south.

Nobody seemed to have any clues, and the ride back to the motel room was silent and strained. As you began to pile out, you grabbed Cas. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

He nodded, and giving a reassuring smile to Sam, you waited until they were in the room before you turned your attention to Cas. "Can't you feel the difference in the air?" You asked him.

He seemed confused, which answered your question. "What is different?" He questioned.

"There's a feeling, one I haven't felt in a long time. One of darkness, and despair. A gnawing hunger that won't go away no matter how much it's fed. It's affecting the whole town, and I think it's affecting you too." You explained.

Cas was quiet for a moment, deep in thought. "I do agree with what you said. My vessel is craving red meat more than usual. But what would cause something like that?" 

You shrugged your shoulders. "I'm not sure. But whatever it is, we have to be careful. Because it's very powerful, and I'm afraid it could mess with all of us."