Nephilim and the Nun novel Chapter 35

Rhea:

The next morning, I woke up feeling different and weird. My eyes glanced around the room and landed on the bed. That was when I remembered I wasn't in the cabin anymore.

I was now in a different home, away from Quinn.

Knowing that I wasn't going to be seeing Quinn as often as I wanted and being in a house with a total stranger made tension seize me.

Although Quinn had assured me he was harmless, I still didn't trust the man completely.

Rising to a sitting position, I rested my back on the headboard and drew my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.

It was day time and the sun was up already. Though the windows were closed with curtains covering them, I could still see them from how the room was dimly lit by the sunlight outside.

Deciding I wasn't going to get outside the room, I stayed in bed, my thoughts wandering to mom and Quinn. Most especially, Quinn. I wondered if he was safe and what he was up to. As for mom, I knew she was safe.

At least, for the meantime.  My subconscious reminded me and I sighed sadly.

My thoughts were disrupted by the rumbling of my empty stomach, followed by a slight ache. It was then I realized the last time I had eaten was at noon, the previous day.

Quinn had been too busy looking for a safe place for me to stay and I'd been too worried about him leaving me that I'd forgone food by ignoring the hunger. And after he'd dropped me at my new home, I'd gone to bed immediately, rilling from the stress.

My stomach rumbled again and I clutched it, wrapping my arms around my mid-region. When it happened the third time, I could no longer stand the slight pain that came with the rumbling.

I needed food and fast too.

Quickly, I jumped out of bed and ran into the adjoined bathroom to wash up. Thankfully there was a new toothbrush there. I cleaned my teeth and washed my face. I tried arranging my messy hair but it was to no avail.

When my stomach rumbled then for the fourth time, I had no choice but to leave my hair and seek food.

Opening the room door, I stepped into the hallway and descended the flight of stairs that led to living room.

The sweet aroma of food invaded my nostrils, increasing my hunger ten folds as I got to the bottom of the stairs.

In a rush to know where it was coming from, I traced it to a white door beside the staircase. The door was ajar. Peeping through it, I saw a woman in an apron, cooking.

I felt like a weirdo peeping at her. Taking in a deep breath, I made to open the door but instead, all I did was to tap on it lightly. 

"Seriously? Since when did you start knocking on the kitchen door, Damon?" Her silky voice flowed into my ears.

She thought I was the man.

"Err…" I pushed the door open, walking in timidly. "It's not Damon" I muttered in a small voice.

On hearing my voice, she turned. I expected her to look shocked or surprised at seeing a stranger and demand how I got in but that wasn't the case.

Her face lit up with a dazzling smile.

"Hi, you must be Rhea," she said, still smiling.

My brows furrowed in confusion at how she knew my name.

"Damon told me you were his guest. Welcome to our home"

Our home? Was she his mom? Because certainly, she couldn't be his wife or girlfriend. She looked to be in her sixties which was way older than Damon who looked to be in his early thirties.

But still looking at her, I couldn't discern if she was his mom. They looked completely different. While Damon had jet black hair and striking ocean blue eyes, she had auburn hair and soft brown eyes.

"Oh...no...no". She chuckled, presenting me with a perfect set of white teeth. "I'm his cook, not anything you're thinking and I live here" she clarified.