My Neighbor's Dirty Secret

One might ask, why was Rhea with the "cool" kids next door?

Well ladies and gentlemen, that was because she didn't want to leave her precious nephew alone with those wretched s.e.x crazed angels. She'd rather watch over Damien herself. Especially since one should never just leave your nephew with neighbors who weren't even close friends. Rhea followed the three boys to Aziel and Zeven's condo.

She began fidgeting because there were a lot of unwanted memories that resurfaced. Namely, that first incident where they mistook her for one of their s.e.x slaves. Her precious first kiss stolen by Aziel! And then that other time where she trespassed and Zeven was overstepping boundaries by that unnerving closeness! Even more traumatic was that damn black room full of gadgets that cursed her eyes and hands that fateful day when the box arrived.

All in all, stepping into their chic condo that didn't even resemble the usual furnished interior like Rhea's really made her skin scrawl. But this was for Damien's own safety and well being.

"Woah," Damien s.u.c.k.e.d in his breath as they entered the twin's lair of wretchedness. "This is your place?...It looks so cool! No way, is that a hot tub outside?"

"Do you wanna check out the hot tub on the patio? Come on," Aziel said as Damien was already quickly trailing behind like a loyal puppy.

Truly, they had Damien trained like a loyal puppy. But Rhea still wouldn't be fooled. She didn't hate them so much anymore but she was still wary of went on behind the scenes. Rhea all but squealed as she felt Zeven's presence loom behind her after the two boys ran off to the balcony. Zeven walked past her, making her sigh in relief.

"...I don't really get you. You're like a timid bunny and then other times, a raging lion."

So now instead of a creature, Rhea resembled animals? She could feel her frightened bunny self slowly turn into a defensive lion.

She cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't get it either! You and your brother are like s.e.x demons at night and then chivalrous angels by day."

"Pfft," he laughed as he set the grocery bags down on the kitchen counter. "Fair enough...I would have never thought our beloved author was our neighbor next door though. Life has a way of doing the unexpected and taking you by surprise, I guess..."

Again, she turned into a bunny as a pang of guilt sank into her insides. "You're both sorely disappointed, aren't you?"

"Disappointed?" he shook his head and smiled genuinely. "Hell, we're pretty damn happy our favorite author lives right next door."

That was unexpected. Something twisted inside knowing they weren't disappointed like she painted them out as. What was it? Relief? No way. Even more unexpected was that her eyes couldn't help but follow his movements as he dr.a.p.ed a blue apron over himself. He rolled up his sleeves to reveal those toned arms she was quite used to seeing from the damn videos.

Before her mind could wander off, Aziel and Damien trudged back inside. The sliding door opened as Rhea told her mind to stop betraying her own self.

"Rhea! Don't you wanna check out the hot tub?"

She violently shook her head. "...Too much light and fresh air. I'd rather not."

"Ehhh, but it's so cool."

"What are you," Aziel was purposely trying to egg her on as he smiled at her. "A freakin' vampire?"

Oh, the twins were having a wildly fun time labeling her as an animal and supernatural creature.

"Grr...We both know if I was a vampire, I'd have drained and disposed of your bodies by now."

Aziel shook his head, deathly serious. "...Come on now, that's more scary than it is funny because it seems like something you would do."

"Hey Aziel stop goofing around, I need your help in the kitchen."

"Roger chef!" Aziel sprang from Damien's side to help Zeven.

Damien's eyes sparkled. "Ooh can I help too? I promise I've been practicing."

"What? You've been practicing?" Aziel asked. "But you're so tiny. When I was your age, I was out telling girls they had cooties and chasing dragonflies with the boys."

Rhea couldn't suppress the unattractive snort. For some odd reason, she could definitely imagine young Aziel chasing away girls and rudely stating they had cooties. Oh he must have really been a frightful heartbreaker back then.

Damien nodded and loyally followed Aziel into the kitchen. "Yup! I want to take care of my mom and Rhea so I've been practicing cooking all by myself. If you and Zeven can show me the ropes, then I'd be forever grateful!"

Aziel did that brotherly thing where he stroked Damien's head. "Heh one thing's for sure. You're definitely a way better kid than I ever was."

Rhea heard Zeven chuckle from the kitchen. "That, I wholly agree on."

"Anyway, how can we turn away such a willing and enthusiastic student?"

"Hehe thanks!...But what are you guys making?"

"Dumplings. Zeven doesn't look like it cause he's good at hiding it but he's actually a dumping monster. He loves them a ton and can devour enough for a...oof!...villiage."

Zeven perfectly hurled an apron right at Aziel's face to cut him off.

Damien expectedly looked over to Rhea, "Rhea, come on. Make dumplings with us. It'll be so fun."

She'd rather awkwardly stand here than be close to the wretched angels but the look on Damien's face was hard to refuse. He had the largest puppy eyes. When she was about to agree, Aziel made a smart comment.

"Eh leave her be. I'm sure she'd make creatures out of the dumplings anyway..."

How dare he insult her?

Rhea stomped over to the kitchen in seconds. "WHAT? Grr, I'll show you how to make a proper dumpling alright!"

Now she was the one to roll her sleeves up as she was faced with the bags of flour. For the life of her, she had no idea how to make a dumpling. But if she was sure about anything, it was that she'd make a dumpling so damn good just to shove in their face and then down their wretched throats.

How hard could it be?