Chapter 1

Sam Winchester sat cross-legged on his bed and reread the internet article as he repositioned his laptop in front of him in the poorly-lit motel room he shared with his brother: "Ten people have died of a mysterious illness, the cause of which is currently unknown. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the only apparent common connection among the deceased was a vacation in Holyoke, Colorado. Three of them had stayed at a bed and breakfast called Castle Freeman Inn. The other seven had stayed at several different locations in the area at the same time as the others."

"Dean? I think I may have a job for us." Sam looked up from his computer to find his older brother sprawled on his back on his motel bed clicking intently on the remote as the channels flashed hypnotically across the TV screen. Dean's gaze didn't leave the screen as he reacted to his brother's statement.

"Whatta ya got Sam?"

Sam shook his head and half smiled, half grimaced at his brother.

"Dude, if you can manage to tear yourself away from the fascinating programming there, I found something interesting. Not sure if it's supernatural, but it may be worth checking out."

Dean sighed and dropped the remote unceremoniously. He sat up on the edge of the bed, giving Sam his full attention.

"Go."

"Well, there have been some unexplained deaths in Holyoke, Colorado. A bed and breakfast there may be a common thread. It's not that far from here, Dean. We should check it out."

"What makes you think there's something supernatural involved?"

"Just a gut reaction – and the fact that no one can explain how these people died. They found each of them ensanguinated, but no evidence of foul-play, no flesh-eating bacteria. Autopsies were inconclusive. They just bled out."

"Have you researched the bed and breakfast?"

"Yeah, what little I could find, nothing strange about it. A couple named Judith and Kendall Conroy moved into the small castle a couple of years ago and converted it into an inn. I haven't found anything to suggest problems, natural or otherwise. In fact, they have a very good reputation and are well-known for their evening socials."

"Evening socials, huh? Sounds like a hot time, right up there with high tea."

"Ya know, Dean we could stand a little less excitement for a change."

"Whatever, dude. I'm just saying it would be nice if there were some hot barmaids or something going on at this castle, cuz if I'm going o drive my baby another 200 miles, I want to make it worth my while."

"Right. Because sitting in a smelly motel flipping channels on a Saturday night is the stuff memories are made of."

Dean glared at his brother for reminding him how bored he was. "Okay, we'll head out to Holyoke first thing in the morning. Ya know, Sam, I could be at a bar drinking ice cold beer, hustling pool and hooking up with a hot waitress as we speak. I just thought you could use some company."

"You're such a martyr, Dean."

……..

The next afternoon, Dean pulled the Impala into the small parking area reserved for guests at the Castle Freeman Inn. The grounds were immaculate, and the castle looked like something out of a fairy tale. Built in 1886, the building had a lava stone exterior, and a 4-story tower w/stained glass windows. Dean had to admit to himself with a twinge of excitement that it was just the type of place a ghost would feel right at home haunting. He and Sam retrieved their fake IDs from the glove box. This time posing as CDC officers, Dean Whitman and Sam Waters, the two checked in for an extended stay, at the reduced government rate, of course.

Judith Conroy was a slight woman with long graying hair pulled into a ponytail, She reminded Sam of an old hippie, complete with a peasant blouse, long, cotton skirt and Birkenstocks. She had a calm presence about her, and welcomed the "officers" into the sitting area. She told the boys that she had already given a statement to the CDC, and Dean was quick to explain that this was a follow-up visit based on some new information they had received. Of course, they weren't at liberty to share that new information just yet.

"My husband and I purchased this old castle a couple of years ago and converted it into a bed and breakfast. We just opened a few months ago."

Dean shared a quick glance with his brother. That was exactly when the deaths began to occur. "Do you two have a lot of experience as innkeepers?" Dean asked, suspicion creeping further into his psyche as he watched the woman. She seemed to grow uncomfortable with the questioning.

"No, uh, not really. I had worked at a few hotels and my husband managed some bars. But, uh, he had to leave that line of work."

"Why is that?" Sam asked, taking notes, trying to look official.

"Well, I don't normally share this information, but seeing as how you are with the CDC, you may find out anyway. My husband is an alcoholic, so working in a bar wasn't the best environment for him."

Dean snorted. "I guess not, he'd be drinking all the profits."

Judith narrowed her eyes and shot an accusatory look towards Dean, who managed to look contrite. "Have you ever had an addiction, Mr. Whitman?"

Dean pursed his lips, appearing to ponder the question. "I was hooked on phonics once," he deadpanned. Sam glared at his brother and turned his attention back to the woman, who was frowning at Dean.

"Mrs. Conroy, do you recall any strange behavior from any of the guests while they were staying here?"

"Not really. All of them were very nice people but all very different. In fact, about the only thing they seemed to have in common was a love of socializing. Every evening they'd gather in the billiard room and play pool or debate over a glass of scotch or wine. They had some lively discussions, but nothing out of hand. We even had a lot of guests from some of the other hotels stop by to join us. We advertise our social hour in the area vacation guide."

"So, you didn't notice anything odd?"

"No. Not until they began to get sick and die, of course. But none of them died here, so I'm not sure there's really a connection. Although I'll admit that it's odd. That's why we shut down for a few days to inspect everything. You know, look for mold, and test the food and drinks for contamination. We found nothing. And since Kendall and I live here all the time and we haven't gotten sick, we went ahead and reopened. The health inspector even came out and said everything checked out fine."

"Hmm. Okay then, you don't mind if we take a look around as well? We do need to file a report so we can close this case."

"Of course, we want to make sure this is a safe place for our guests, after all. And, once you're done, you are welcome to join us for dinner this evening."

"Thank you, Mrs. Conroy. We wouldn't miss it."