(( forgot to add this into the description sorry for the confusion - the first two chapters are based around the first book of the night world series but the fanfic wont follow the same story.))
It was on the first day of summer vacation when Castiel Novak found out he was going to die. Castiel woke up feeling gloriously weightless and thought. No school. Castiel smiled to himself and pushed himself out of bed - and winced. ouch. That pain in his stomach again. Sort of like a gnawing , as if something were eating its way to his back .It helped a little if he bent over. No, Castiel thought. I refuse to be sick on the first day of vacation. I refuse. A little will power and positive thinking was what he needed. Grimly , doubled over he made his way down the hall the bathroom. At first he thought he was going to throw up , but then the pain eased as suddenly as it had come. Castiel straightened and regarded his tousled reflection triumphantly. Then he leaned forward, seeing his own blue eyes narrow in suspicion. He glared at his messy hair and tried to fight it into submission failing miserably. Castiel stuck his tongue out at himself and walked down stairs to the kitchen where his big borther Gabe was sitting eating his cereal. Then he narrowed his eyes again this time at Gabe. It was bad enough to be small , slight, and have messy untameable hair., but ot have a brother that was clasically handsome ... well that was just plain unfair.
''Hello, Gabe'' He said in a voice heavy with menace.
Gabe, who was used to his brothers moods , was unimpressed. He lifted his gaze from the comic section of the L.A times for a moment.
''Hi,'' Gabe said slatly,and went back to the comics. Not many kids Cas knew read the newspapers , but that was Gabe all over. Like Cas, he'd been a junior at their high school last year , and unlie Cas, he'd been one of the most popular guys in the year , he was staring on the football team and the baseball team. One of Gabe's greatest pleasures in life was teasing Cas. Gabe thought he was too straighlaced , too into his study to enjoy life. Cas shrugged , giving up on the meanicing look. ''Where's mum ?'' He bounced across the kitchen to inspect the contents of the fridge.
''Mom's getting dressed. You'd better eat something or she'll get on your case.''
''Yeah , yeah..'' Cas went on tiptoe to rummage through a cupboard. Finding a box of frosted flakes , he thrust a hand in and delicately pulled out one flake. popping it into his mouth he walked over to the refridgerator, shaking the cereal box in rhythm.
''Im a ... sex bomb!'' He sang , giving it a foot stomping rhythm.
''No, you're not,'' Gabe said with devestationg calm. ''And why dont you put some clothes on?''
Holding the refridgerator door open, Cas looked down at himself. He was wearing the oversized shirt and black boxers he had slept in. ''This is clothes,'' He said serenly, taking a Diet Coke from the fridge.
There was a knock at the kitchen door. Cas saw who it was through the screen.
''Hi, Dean! C'mon in.''
Dean Winchester came in taking off his trainers. Looking at him, Cas felt a longing - same as always It didnt matter that he had seen him every day for the past ten years. He still felt a sharp throb in his chest, somewhere between sweetness and pain, when first confronted with him every morning.
It wasn't just his outlaw good looks. He had silky light brown hair , a subtle, intelligent face, and green eyes that seemed far too old for someone so young. He was the handsomest boy at their school, but that wasnt what Cas responded to. It was something inside him, something myseterious and compelling and always just out of reach. It made his heart beat fast and his skin tingle.
Gabe felt differently. As soon as Dean came in, he stiffened and his face went cold. Dislike flashed between the two boys.
Then Dean smiled faintly , as if Gabe's reaction amused him. ''Hi,''
''Hi,'' Gabe said . Cas had the strong sense that Gabe would like to bundle him up and rush him out the room. Gabe always overdid the overprotective-brother bit when Dean was around. ''So how's Jo and Lisa?'' Gabe added nastily.
Dean considered. ''Well , i wouldn't know.''
''You dont know ?, oh yeah you never stay with a girl for more than 3 weeks isn't that right ?''
Dean replied with his charming smile.
Cas, for his part, was seized by joy. Goodbye Jo and lisa. This was going to be a wonderful summer.
Many people thought that Cas and Dean were only best friends . This wasn't true. Cas had known for years that he was going to marry Dean. He just hadnt gotten around to telling Dean yet. Right now he still thought he liked long-legged girls with salon fingernails and tans that came from bottles .
''Is that a cd?'' he said to distract him from his stare out ith his future brother-in-law.
Dean hefted it. ''Its metalica i thought we could give it a listen.''
Cas cheered. ''Lets go listen to it!.'' But just then his mother walked in. Cas mother was cool, blond, and perfect, . She normally wore an expression of effortless efficiency.
''Morning!''
''Hold on a minute,'' Cas' mother said , getting hold of Cas by the back of his T-shirt. ''Good morning Gabriel; Good morning Dean,'' she added.
''Has everybody had breakfast?'' Cas' motheer asked and when the boys said they had , she looked at Cas. ''And what about you?'', she asked, gazing into Cas' face.
Cas rattled the frosted flakes box and his mother winced.
''What are you planning to do with your first day of freedom?'' his mother said glancing from Dean to Cas.
''Oh , i dont know.'' Cas looked at Dean. ''Listen to some music maybe drive to the beach?,''
''Whatever you want,'' Dean said.
The summer stretched out in front of Cas. It smelled liked pool chlorine and sea salt; it felt like warm grass under his back. Three whole months , he thought. That's forever.
''We could check out the new shops at the village-'' he was beginning, when suddenly the pain struck and his breath caught in his throat. A deep, twisting burst of agony that seared through his entire body making him yelp out in pain like a wounded dog. Everything went black.