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filled to the brim with flowering plants and bushes.  Lush fruit hung from trees, and vines clung to the glass walls. The entire ceiling was also glass, which created a tropical forest feel.
                  Mom took a seat near one of the many waterfalls, but I remained standing.  There was no way I was letting my guard down.  As Persephone strolled past and sat down across from Mom, I heard the sound of feet running.  Two seconds later, the owner of those feet pranced into the solarium and scowled at Persephone.
                  “Mother!”she barked and then rested her hands on her hips. “You were supposed to tell me when they arrived!”
                  “Nadia, dear.  Won’t you make our guest feel welcome?” Persephone swept an arm in my direction and then addressed me with regal undertones. “I believe you know my daughter, Nadia.”
                  I cringed as Nadia’s pout lifted into a cunning grin, and she swept into the room like Cinderella on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.  I got the feeling the world was supposed to stop spinning in acknowledgement of her entrance.  I was waiting for a hidden orchestra to begin blaring Beethoven’s Symphony #5. I let out a snicker, which was quickly muted by a look from Mom.  Nadia ignored my outburst and continued to move in my direction. 
                  The last time I had seen her would have been at least four years ago.  By the spoiled smirk she was wearing, it appeared humility and kindness were still foreign concepts to her.  I had to admit, she was stunning.  Her golden hair tumbled over her neck and shoulders, accentuating the golden color of her skin, and the black sundress she was wearing didn’t leave much to the imagination.  Every guy I knew would jump at the chance just to be near her. I begged to differ.  She couldn’t hold a candle to her .  No one did.  No one ever would.
                  “Hey there,” she purred and wrapped a snake-like arm around my waist.  I abruptly stepped out of her greedy embrace.  The golden eyes she had inherited from her mother boasted a different type of hardness behind them.  She was used to getting her way, and the lingering path her eyes created as they slid down my body told me she had expected nothing less from me.  She was about to get a very rude awakening.
                  “Come with me,” she demanded.  Last I checked, I wasn’t a pet Chihuahua who would follow her around begging for her affection, so I stood my ground and raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
                  “Finn, give us a few minutes to talk.  Why don’t you let Nadia show you around?” Mom smiled and nodded her head, insinuating it was safe to leave her alone with Persephone.  I refused to budge.
                  “Finn,” Mom urged again with apologetic eyes.  I shot one last threatening glare at Persephone as a warning and ignoring every instinct I possessed, painstakingly forced my feet to follow Nadia.  Instead of showing me around their home, Nadia made a beeline for the back door.  I continued to follow her as we walked down a dirt path, while she rambled on about a girl at school whom she didn’t like.  I stopped listening after less than a minute, and tried to figure out when the next ideal time to go surfing would be.  The tide would be up by the time we got back, but a storm was blowing in tomorrow, so it might be better to wait until then.  I could ride my short board instead-
                  “Were you even listening to me?” I ran right into a fuming Nadia, whose carnal eyes were now boring a hole into mine.
                  “No,” I shrugged my shoulders and let out an exaggerated sigh of boredom. Surprise flitted across her features before they darkened considerably. She pointed a bony finger in my face.
                  “When I talk, you listen. Got