MarcoMarco and Sabrina were seated at a small table on the patio of the restaurant. He'd reserved the seats earlier that day, asking the hostess to put them as close to the ocean as possible. He wanted the evening to be perfect.“Look at this view,” Sabrina said, turning to face the ocean.Marco much preferred to look at the view of the woman he loved, who sat across the table from him. Sabrina's new dress looked amazing on her. The silk held to her curves and he hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her since she'd put it on.“I think it's a full moon,” she said, reaching over to touch Marco's hand.He looked over to the horizon and nodded in agreement. “I'm certain that it is.”The sky was clear and the moon shone brightly down over the ocean, giving the tops of the waves a silvery glow. The fact that the moon was full brought more meaning to Marco than just its beauty, though.“Where I come from, a full moon is considered auspicious,” he said, bringing his attention back to Sab
MarcoMarco had only one thing on his mind as he opened the cabin door and held it for Sabrina. He wanted to get that dress off of her and kiss every square inch of her skin. He wanted to celebrate her decision to go with him, giving her as much pleasure as he possibly could.As soon as they were both inside, he closed the door. The only light that was on was in the kitchen, but it lit up the living room with a romantic glow. Sabrina turned around. She was biting her bottom lip and Marco could tell that she was just as turned on as he was. No words needed to be spoken. The passion between them was obvious and talking would have dampened the mood. It would have watered down the lust in the air.He stepped up to her, bringing his hands to her hips. Their bodies collided, but he didn't stop there. He took another step forward, until Sabrina was pressed against the wall that separated the kitchen and the living room. She exhaled with a soft moan and looked up into Marco's eyes. Her expres
SabrinaSabrina's face was practically part of the window of the car as she and Marco were driven up the long and winding paved driveway toward the Palace. After a nine-hour flight, the two of them were finally on Orsino Island and she was about to see the castle that Marco called home. She was beyond excited about it, but also desperately nervous. This wasn't just about seeing where her lover lived, this was also about meeting his family. That by itself would have been enough to make a girl nervous, even in a normal situation. But this situation was anything but normal.“Are you okay?” Marco asked, reaching across the backseat to touch Sabrina's shoulders.She nodded, but inside she felt nothing but turmoil. Her heart was pounding out of her chest and her hands were clammy. When she turned to face Marco, she was greeted by his warm and reassuring smile.“I can tell you're nervous,” he said, bringing his had affectionately down her back. “But I assure you, there's nothing to be nervou
SabrinaThanks to Winston, Sabrina became fully versed in the art of the curtsy. He'd made her practice it in the Palace library until she had it down perfectly. Now she stood in her new bedroom in front of the over-sized mirror on the wall. She was only wearing a towel around her body as she curtsied a few more times, just to make sure she had it down.“A pleasure to meet you, your majesty,” Sabrina whispered, reciting the lines that Winston had told her to memorize. It was “your majesty” not “your highness”. Winston had seemed scandalized that she could even confuse the two. “It is a true honor to be here on Orsino Island.”Her nerves were causing her hands to tremble. She drew in a long breath and stared at herself in the mirror.“You can do this, Sabrina,” she said, locking eyes with her own reflection. “Just try to stay calm and have fun. This will be a great night.”As long as I don't screw anything up, she thought.The ball was only twenty minutes away. Sabrina had already take
SabrinaDressed to perfection, Marco and Sabrina made their way downstairs and to the back of the building, where the grand hall was located. Winston had walked her by it earlier that day, but they weren't able to go inside due to preparations for the celebration that evening. But now the place was filled. Elegant people, with elegant attire, were lined up out the door. They turned to look when Marco and Sabrina walked toward them and the ones who weren't wearing a green or purple pendant on their collar stepped to the side and dropped to a knee out of respect.“Good evening, everyone,” Marco said, as he and Sabrina walked by.The two made their way into the main room and Sabrina's gaze moved toward the very back, where the King of Orsino sat on his throne. He looked regal and proud as he gazed out at the audience. Seated next to him was Queen Magdalena. She sat with a smug expression on her face, as though she was too good for even her own party.Surrounding the royalty were guards,
SabrinaAfter dancing for three full songs, Sabrina needed a break. She pulled Marco to the side of the room, walking with a new-found confidence. Not only did it turn out that she was a decent dancer, but she was also going to be getting married soon. There was an obvious spring in her step.“Marco, this is so much fun,” she said into his ear, having to speak loudly because of the music. “I still can't believe you asked me to marry you in front of everyone. That was the most romantic experience of my life.”“I was so nervous,” he admitted. “I'm unbelievably relieved that you said yes.”“I can't wait to tell everybody,” Sabrina said, bringing her hands to Marco's chest. “My parents are going to be so excited.”She took a moment and thought about her parents and how they would benefit from her new position as princess.I can save them from their misery, she thought. I can give them the kind of life they deserve.“You've made me the happiest man on earth, you know that?” Marco said, lea
MarcoMarco stood with his arms crossed and his eyes glaring. Magdalena was in front of him. Rage pumped through his veins and all he wanted to do was to let it all out on her. After seeing what she had done to his beautiful fiancée in front of everyone, he was beginning to care less that Magdalena happened to be the queen.“How dare you embarrass Sabrina like that,” Marco said, keeping his eyes locked with hers. “And for what? What point were you trying to make, Magdalena?”They were still standing next to the outer wall in the grand room. The music was playing once again and people were dancing. The ball continued on, even though the hosts weren't currently participating.“Marco, please, we need to keep this civil,” Carlo said, placing a hand onto Marco's forearm. “Come on, let's go somewhere quiet so we can discuss things.”“Father, how can you expect me to remain civil after seeing what Magdalena is capable of?” he asked. “You saw it, too. She attacked my fiance in front of the en
SabrinaSabrina woke to the sound of rain outside her window. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up on the love seat. A pile of wrinkled tissues was next to her, which she had been using to dry the tears from her cheeks for the past two full days. She looked across the motel room, noticing a drip of water coming down from the ceiling and landing with a soft thud into the carpet. To have gone from spending time in a beautiful palace to this rundown motel at the edge of the island was quite a change for her, but it was the only place she could afford.She'd managed to get away from Orsino Palace two days before. And after walking for over an hour along the highway and then hitchhiking several times, she found this motel. It was a total dump, but she knew that it would have to do. After what had happened at the ball, Sabrina wasn't ready to face any of the royalty again. In fact, she was still toying with the idea of leaving the island altogether and pretending like this part of her life
SabrinaAunt Faye connected the top clasp on the back of the Sabrina's wedding dress, then glanced into the mirror in front of them.“How does it feel?” Faye asked.Sabrina brought her hands down the sides of the dress. An intricate design was hand-sewn throughout, with millions of tiny stitches creating a beautiful pattern.“It feels expensive,” Sabrina said, with a smile. “But also really good.”“I can tell you're nervous,” Faye said, spinning Sabrina around to face her. “Am I wrong?”“I'm nervous, but in a good way.” Sabrina let out a sigh, calming the anxiety in her gut. This wasn't going to be any ordinary wedding. It was super formal, and held many traditions that were foreign to Sabrina. She’d been told the ceremony could last up to three hours, and she had no idea how she would sit through it without bursting from excitement and nerves.“Just take a deep breath,” Faye said, her eyes glowing from the daylight that poured in through the window. “And if that doesn’t work, try to
MarcoThree weeks later...Marco stepped out of his bedroom at the same time his father was walking down the hallway.“Marco, you startled me,” Carlo said, his voice still a bit raspy, but getting better. “I just woke up from a nap. I can’t believe how drowsy these pain medications make me.”“You look like you're feeling much better, though,” Marco said.“Indeed I am,” Carlo said. “The tests yesterday went well, too. I'm told that I am completely cancer free, at least for the moment. That's good enough for me.”Marco pulled his father close and hugged him, breathing out a sigh of relief. He'd been waiting anxiously to hear about the test results.“I'm so glad to hear,” he said, squeezing his father affectionately. “Let's keep our fingers crossed that the results continue to stay that way. What do you say?”“I'd say that's a fine plan,” Carlo said, with a smile.Carlo was starting to act like his old self again, and Marco couldn't have been happier. Just three weeks after the surgery,
SabrinaThe town car pulled up to the Palace and Marco was still shaking his head in awe from the story that Faye had shared with him about her origins.“The universe does like to use her favorite characters,” Marco commented.A guard opened the rear door and the three of them stepped out. Sabrina walked up the stairs, with Marco on one side and Faye on the other. Her heart was beating through her chest as they neared the front entrance.“Are you sure Magdalena isn't going to kill me?” Sabrina said, with a half-smile.“I'm positive,” Marco said. “Don't you worry about her. Besides, my father needs us now during his recovery. I don't want to waste any extra energy on Magdalena.”Oh my God. Carlo's surgery. I completely forgot about that, since I've been so absorbed in my own feelings, Sabrina thought.“Marco, how did everything go with the surgery?” she asked, as the guard opened the front door for them and they stepped inside.“It went okay, given the circumstances,” he said. “He had
SabrinaSabrina had taken Faye's cell phone and stepped into the other room of the motel to make her call. She knew Marco's personal number by memory and she dialed quickly. She couldn't wait to finally hear his voice again and looked forward to clearing things up.It only rang once, before Marco picked up on the other end.“Hello?” he said, his voice instantly putting a smile on Sabrina's face. “Who's this?”“It's me,” Sabrina said.“Oh, my God, Sabrina,” Marco said, clearly relieved. “Where in the hell are you? We've been searching the island non-stop. I haven't slept in days.”“I'm so sorry,” she said. “I shouldn't have done this to you, but I had to get away.”“Are you still on Orsino?” he asked. “Where are you calling from?”“I'm using my Aunt's phone,” Sabrina said.“You went back to Memphis then?” His voice broke slightly.“No, I'm not in Memphis,” she replied. “I'm using my Aunt's phone, because she's here with me on Orsino. She came out to see me.”“Thank God,” Marco said, re
MarcoMagdalena lounged on the queen's throne. There was no one to see her, yet she still sat in the chair decked out to the nines. It made Marco sick to see her so blatantly on the throne as his father lay upstairs recuperating.The doctors said the surgery had gone well, but King Carlo was still weak and exhausted from the ordeal. It frightened Marco to see his father like that.“Marco,” Magdalena greeted her stepson as he approached.“Do you really believe that you have the power to stand between Sabrina and I?”“Of course I do,” she said, as though it was such an obvious fact. “I have all the power I need, because it's in the law. And royalty must obey the laws just like everyone else.”“Laws can be changed,” Marco replied.Magdalena scoffed. “You can't change anything, Marco. Don't deceive yourself.”“And why not?” Marco asked.“Because if you do, I'll be sure to point out to the public that their Prince is not a law-abiding member of this country,” she said, casually glancing do
SabrinaSabrina woke to the sound of rain outside her window. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up on the love seat. A pile of wrinkled tissues was next to her, which she had been using to dry the tears from her cheeks for the past two full days. She looked across the motel room, noticing a drip of water coming down from the ceiling and landing with a soft thud into the carpet. To have gone from spending time in a beautiful palace to this rundown motel at the edge of the island was quite a change for her, but it was the only place she could afford.She'd managed to get away from Orsino Palace two days before. And after walking for over an hour along the highway and then hitchhiking several times, she found this motel. It was a total dump, but she knew that it would have to do. After what had happened at the ball, Sabrina wasn't ready to face any of the royalty again. In fact, she was still toying with the idea of leaving the island altogether and pretending like this part of her life
MarcoMarco stood with his arms crossed and his eyes glaring. Magdalena was in front of him. Rage pumped through his veins and all he wanted to do was to let it all out on her. After seeing what she had done to his beautiful fiancée in front of everyone, he was beginning to care less that Magdalena happened to be the queen.“How dare you embarrass Sabrina like that,” Marco said, keeping his eyes locked with hers. “And for what? What point were you trying to make, Magdalena?”They were still standing next to the outer wall in the grand room. The music was playing once again and people were dancing. The ball continued on, even though the hosts weren't currently participating.“Marco, please, we need to keep this civil,” Carlo said, placing a hand onto Marco's forearm. “Come on, let's go somewhere quiet so we can discuss things.”“Father, how can you expect me to remain civil after seeing what Magdalena is capable of?” he asked. “You saw it, too. She attacked my fiance in front of the en
SabrinaAfter dancing for three full songs, Sabrina needed a break. She pulled Marco to the side of the room, walking with a new-found confidence. Not only did it turn out that she was a decent dancer, but she was also going to be getting married soon. There was an obvious spring in her step.“Marco, this is so much fun,” she said into his ear, having to speak loudly because of the music. “I still can't believe you asked me to marry you in front of everyone. That was the most romantic experience of my life.”“I was so nervous,” he admitted. “I'm unbelievably relieved that you said yes.”“I can't wait to tell everybody,” Sabrina said, bringing her hands to Marco's chest. “My parents are going to be so excited.”She took a moment and thought about her parents and how they would benefit from her new position as princess.I can save them from their misery, she thought. I can give them the kind of life they deserve.“You've made me the happiest man on earth, you know that?” Marco said, lea
SabrinaDressed to perfection, Marco and Sabrina made their way downstairs and to the back of the building, where the grand hall was located. Winston had walked her by it earlier that day, but they weren't able to go inside due to preparations for the celebration that evening. But now the place was filled. Elegant people, with elegant attire, were lined up out the door. They turned to look when Marco and Sabrina walked toward them and the ones who weren't wearing a green or purple pendant on their collar stepped to the side and dropped to a knee out of respect.“Good evening, everyone,” Marco said, as he and Sabrina walked by.The two made their way into the main room and Sabrina's gaze moved toward the very back, where the King of Orsino sat on his throne. He looked regal and proud as he gazed out at the audience. Seated next to him was Queen Magdalena. She sat with a smug expression on her face, as though she was too good for even her own party.Surrounding the royalty were guards,