I was still watching out the window when I felt the plane start to descend. I could see the approaching little spot of green in the middle of all the blue from the window and I felt an unsettling shift in my stomach as we sank towards it. We touched down and slowed along the runway. When the plane finally ground to a stop, I stretched my arms, but waited to see what Michael would do next.

He stood up. "Follow me," he said. I was quite curious in spite of myself. I wanted to see the island, so I obediently followed.

When I stepped outside of the plane I found myself surrounded by overwhelming green. Towering, thick leafy trees and masses of foliage fought for light and pressed around the runway on all sides. The exception was a small building and one thin road that quickly wound out of sight into the compact forest. It was like the strip of tarmac had been slashed straight into the vegetation. A brightly colored bird broke through the masses of foliage for a second before diving back out of sight. The air was very humid. I instantly felt sweaty as I stood there holding my jacket and hat.  My feet were boiling in my boots.

A black jeep drove up to the runway and Michael began walking towards it. I followed. He got into the front seat beside the driver and I got into the back behind him. The driver backed the vehicle up and turned it around. There were no seat belts and I severely wished for one as soon as the driver accelerate and began driving way too fast, considering the narrowness of the road and the trees pressing in on all sides.

All I could tell about the driver was that he had cropped black hair and he was probably shorter than me when standing. I wondered what he was trying to prove as he whipped us around a corner.

I survived the ride by some miracle and got out of the vehicle gratefully when it stopped in front of a cluster of nondescript buildings in neutral colors. The nearest building was also the largest and it was the one towards which Michael walked. He opened the door and went inside. I followed, just hoping that was what I was supposed to be doing. Who really knew what proper etiquette was when dealing with a so called god? It was definitely out of my range of experience.

We entered the building and I found myself in an entryway decorated with a simple minimalist design. It surprised me; I would have guessed that Michael's island would be more ostentatious like his obnoxious personality. There were doors on either side of the room and directly opposite the outside door was a hall, stretching back further into the building.

A gloriously beautiful woman with light blond hair was walking down the hall. It was hard to tell her age, because she looked very young yet at the same time older than me. Her pale face lit up when she noticed Michael's presence. "Michael!" she sang, her voice filled with delight. I could not imagine any circumstance were I could like Michael as much as she seemed to.

"Hello, Alicia." Michael's voice sounded fondly patient, a note I had never heard before. I had thought he only had two modes, short and abrupt or mocking and condescending.

"Did you bring me anything this time, Michael?" she asked excitedly, batting long eyelashes over the bluest eyes I have ever seen. She reminded me of a yapping puppy thrilled at the arrival of its master. It was almost embarrassing. I looked away uncomfortably.

He smiled. "Sorry Alicia. I wasn't able to bring anything this time. Were you good while I was gone?" I did not miss that he sounded sorrier to have not been able to bring Alicia a trinket than the fact that he upended my entire life on a whim.

"Oh, yes, if course I was. I'm so happy to see you. Everything is so boring around here when you're gone." The girl paused to pout, but then continued on without missing a beat, "But now that you're back, things will be much better!" Alicia's face fell again and she cast a dark look behind her towards a nondescript man I had not previously noticed. He was watching her in the background like a shadow. He had dark hair, pleasantly tanned skin and an even expression. "Perhaps you might remind Terrence that I am allowed to go for walks in town."

As I watched the interplay, I found I felt quite forgotten and out of place.

Michael nodded towards Terrence. "She is allowed."

"I am aware. She was disappointed that I would not allow her to go alone," Terrence explained.

Michael shot a glance towards Alicia. She blushed under his scrutiny like a naughty child. "I see," he said simply.

Alicia shot a glare at Terrence and then complained to Michael, "I'm tired of having him with me. He's too boring."

"Alicia, we have talked about this," Michael began firmly, but was cut off. I was interested to notice how he did not seem to mind when Alicia interrupted him. I wondered how he would react if I did the same.

"But Michael, I'm an adult," she whined.

"How about I take you for a walk in the town later today?" he asked, as though pacifying a child.

"Just you and me?" she responded hopefully. At his nod she clapped her hands together. "Oh, that will be just as good as being by myself. You let me have fun, Michael." She shot another glare at Terrence. He looked completely unmoved by her complaint. In fact, I noticed he seemed to have switched from watching his charge to observing me.

I watched as Alicia's eyes followed his gaze, until she too was looking at me. Her blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Michael, who is this drab little person?" she asked, gesturing towards me with a movement of her hand that both identified and dismissed me all at once.

Drab little person?  Oh, we were clearly going to become the best of friends; I thought sardonically. I held it in. Obviously something was not right with this annoying girl.  I could be the bigger person.

"Alicia, Terrence, this is Dylan," Michael introduced.

Alicia was glaring at me. "What a drab little name. It fits, but it makes you sound like a boy and that really doesn't help since you're already so plain," she commented, her eyes still narrowed.

I could not think of a suitable response. I could not help but feel like I had been brought to a madhouse. Perhaps I too was insane since I had partially bought into Michael's delusions.

Alicia continued, "I don't like her. She's so boring." Her tedious whining was already getting on my last nerve despite my resolve. I wondered what Terrence was getting paid. It was probably a lot. 

"She doesn't even look tasty. Her blood must be thin.  Michael, next time I want you to bring me some nice healthy boys to eat. Oops! I mean to meet." She giggled and her eyes widened unconvincingly. I wondered if she was expecting me to apologize for being unappetizing.

"Now Alicia, don't be rude. She is our guest."  This was a bit rich coming from Michael.

"I don't want her for a guest," Alicia said plaintively, her great big blue eyes welling up with tears. I tried not to let my disgust for her antics show.

"There's no choice, Alicia. Now, go to your room."

"Aw, Michael," she said in a gratingly whining tone, but then she stormed down the hall the way she had come, Terrence following behind her until they disappeared up a flight of stairs at the end of the hallway.

When she was completely gone, Michael cleared his throat. I thought he might explain the obnoxious Alicia, but instead he only said, "I'll show you to your room, little girl. You can get settled in."

I nodded, at loss for words and followed him down the hall feeling out of place and annoyed, all the while trying not to admire his strong profile. Whatever flights of fancy may have occurred as we flew towards this island, I had never imagined anyone quite like Alicia.

"Who is Alicia?" I decided to ask since he had not bothered to explain.