It was sunset and the fiery red orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, and threads of light lingered in the sky, mingling with the rolling clouds, dyeing the heavens first orange, then red, then dark blue, until all that was left of the sunset was a chalky mauve, and then that melted away in turn as stygian darkness took over the sky. Sequin-silver stars like the glowing embers of a dying fire, winking and illuminating the atramentous curtain of sky, and then suddenly the clouds parted, and a lustrous, argent disc casts brilliant rays of moonlight onto the dark grounds.

Mirabella had walked out of the bathroom, through the closet, and into her chamber. She was wearing a black, silk bathrobe that reached just down to her mid thighs and her long, dark brown hair fell over her back. Her cheers were tinted with a light pinky shade, and her lips looked almost red. The sound of the wood cracking played softly in the fireplace and the lights on the walls were on, making the room look a warm tone.

She had her dress laid out on her bed before she went to take a shower, so she didn't have to look for it once she was finished showering. As she looked down at her dress, she noticed that there was a black box next to the dress. She reached her hand out and picked the box up. She picked at the lock, and the box opened, reviling a beautiful necklace with matching earrings. She smiled at the set as she placed the box back down on the bed, and went to sit at her dresser.

••••

Daniel stood waiting downstairs by the front door, his hands tucked in the his pocket and his head bowed down as he paced back and forth. He would look at his watch from time to time and then place his hands back behind his back.

He stopped pacing and checked his watch, six forty was the time and they had told Bianca and Andrej that they would be there at seven. He sighed as he dropped his hand down by his side. He turned his head to the two staircases and done a double take on the right side of the staircase.

Mirabella almost chocked; Daniel stood on the side dressed in a black tuxedo with a black shirt underneath and a black bow tie. His jet black hair was neatly slick like a sweeping tide of obsidian, but still held that natural wave and was out of his face, revealing his handsomely carved facial features.

While Mirabella was taking in his appearance, Daniel was beyond speechless at the sight of his wife. Mirabella wore a long, deep red dress that was covers in sequins, it was low-cut on the back and she wore black, lace high heels. He noticed that she was wearing the jewellery set which he placed in her chamber while she was in the shower. The jewellery set was gold and it came with a necklace, two bracelets and a set of earrings. Her long dark, brown hair was down and parted down the middle, and her makeup wasn't too much and it wasn't too less either, her eyeshadow was a faint copper-golden colour with silver glitter on the inner eye cresses, winged eyeliner and blood red lips.

She looked exquisite.

Mirabella cleared her throat, blinked and looked away from him. This made Daniel smirked as he watched her. What is wrong with me? Mirabella asked herself. I should be hating him...fighting and arguing with him...I shouldn't be charmed by his handsome looks...am I loosing my mind?

She looked down at her hands and inhaled a shaky breath, she had no idea why she was nervous all of a sudden.

Daniel looked away and blinked as he cleared his throat before speaking. "Everyone is already at the party," he said. Mirabella nodded her head and shot him a small smile. It felt as though she could move her jaw to open, and what Daniel said next made her heart jump and like she had forgotten how to speak English, Italian or any language she had known.

"You look beautiful, love."

Mirabella stood still for a moment, not knowing what go say. She was never good with compliments. "Thank you," she finally said with a smile that she was trying to hide. "You don't look bad yourself."

"Ah, but don't be fooled, love, I am the devil in disguise."

••••

The moon hung high up in the cloudless night sky, allowing its moonlight to shine down. The stars looked like diamonds on a black table, twinkling one after the other.

People were still arriving as they drove up the driveway and stopped their cars before they got out and a man dressed as a butler took the car to park it some where.

The windows of the stone building glowed from the candles and lights that were on inside and the double doors were held open, welcoming in the guests.

Mirabella entered with Daniel, their arms linked together. They walked down the corridor and the clicking of her high heels bounced off of the walls, creating loud and satisfying echoes. The corridor was dimly lit with one lit torch pre wall and there was a gap between each torch. She could hear the sound of soft music playing, the kind you would hear in a restaurant. It was elegant and pleasing to her ears.

As the got closer to the end of the corridor, they could hear the sound of laugher and chatter coming from behind the tall doors which were closed and guarded by two tall and buffed up men. The two men stood on either side of the doors, dressed alike. They appeared to be talking, but immediately stopped when they saw Mirabella and Daniel approaching them and they stood up straight with their hands behind their backs. They greeted Daniel and Mirabella with a small bow, as though they were a king a queen about to enter the throne room. The two men then turned around and reached for the door handles on the double doors, letting them enter.

The tall, high ceiling was crafted and painted with beauty imagery and designs, and there was a massive, crystal chandelier hanging from it. A few tall wall candelabras lit on walls behind the white pillars and the velvet red curtains were pulled back, exposing the full moon as the moonlight shone in through the big windows that stretched from the ceiling down to the white polished marble floor which looked as though it could have been a mirror. Round tables were scattered around the room, but still left room for the dance floor and each table had a bouquet of white and red roses in the centre. The tables might have dominated the ballroom, but there was still a large amount of space for people to walk around and dance.

"You're here. Finally."

Bianca looked beautiful. She was wearing a long, golden dress that looked like an elegant ball gown. The designs on the dress were not sewed on by thread, but small diamonds that when she moved the lights reflected on them. the way the designs of the diamond looked on the dress was as though they were fireworks. Her brown hair was pinned half up and half down and the curls bounced as she moved.

Mirabella hugged Bianca and then went to hug Andrej. "Bianca," She said. "You look stunning."

Bianca smiled. "Grazie," She said. "You look stunning as well." Bianca the.

(Thank you)

Turned to her cousin and smiled. Daniel stood still for a moment and looked down at her with a suspicious look on his face, but he failed at hiding his smile. "You look amazing cousin," he said, as he hugged her. Growing up Bianca was the most spoiled of them all. Everyone babied her and even if she caused trouble everyone would deny it and say she was an angel.

After the toast Mirabella sat at a table with Ariana and a few other woman. Gabriella was also there with Diego, but since he had to go off somewhere she joined Mirabella and the rest at the table.

As they were all talking, Ariana chocked on her champagne. Mirabella rubbed her back and everyone was looking at her with a worried look on their faces. Ariana's eyes were wide and her mouth hung light open as shock was written over her face. This was not happing, she thought. How could she do that?...Daniel is going to explode once he finds out...Lord, please don't let him find out.

Maria walked over towards the table dressed in an elegant champagne suit-dress and her dark, dirty blonde hair was pinned up into an elegant bun. She pulled out a chair and sat down as well as the woman with her.

The woman with Maria had straight, long, red hair and she was wearing a short, strapless, blue dress with silver high heels.

"I'm Juliette," the woman with red hair said, holding her hand out towards Mirabella from across the table.

Mirabella reached for her hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you," She said politely and smiled. "I'm Mirabella."

Juliette seemed surprised. Her eyes shot wide and her mouth hung slightly open. "You must be Daniel's wife?" Juliette said, and Mirabella nodded her head. Juliette smiled at her. "It's a pleasure finally meeting you, Mirabella. I've heard a lot about you."

Now Mirabella was surprised. "Really?" She said.

"Daniel and I are friends," Juliette explained. "We've known each other since we were children."

Ariana bit the inside of her cheek, trying to calm herself, but seeing her mother act innocent and Juliette talking to Mirabella in a sweet and fake tone made her loose it. She pushed her chair back and stood up. "Mother may I have a word," she said.

Maria and Ariana stood outside on the balcony, the sound of the music and the chatter from inside was muffled by the tall french windows. "What's the matter, daughter?" Maria asked, sounding clueless and sweet.

Ariana wanted to bag her head against the wall. How could her mother bring Juliette when she knew that Daniel would be furious if he found out. And how could she bring her when she knew Mirabella was attending. "I was just wondering," she began. "Have you lost your mind or is this all an act?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, daughter," said Maria. "Are you feeling al-"

Ariana slapped her mother's hand away from her forehead. "How could you bring Juliette here?" She hissed.

"She's been with our family for years, Ariana" Maria said. "I don't see what's-"

"That's right!" Ariana interrupted. "You don't see! You don't see how this — bringing her here could escalate everything. How could you bring Juliette when you knew Mirabella was coming? And how do you think Daniel will react once he finds out?"

Maria stood quietly as she looked at her daughter. Lord only knew what Daniel would do once he saw Juliette in the same room as Mirabella. "Once he finds out that Juliette is here — and that it was you who brought her here..." Ariana trailed off and shook her head at her mother. "All I'm saying is, Dio ti salvi dalla sua ira, madre." Ariana turned on her heels and returned back to the party, leaving her mother outside alone.

(God save you from his wrath, mother)

••••

Mirabella stood on the side, talking to Ariana and Gabriella, when Daniel walked over to them and they turned to look at him. Mirabella smiled at him and he returned the smile. Ariana and Gabriella were trying so hard not to cheer and bounce off the floor in excitement.

"Ladies," he greeted them with a slight bow.

"You haven't seen Diego, have you?" Gabriella asked him, as she looked around the ballroom. "Oh, never mind," she said. "Found him." And with that said she walked off.

"Amor,"

(Love)

Ariana looked over her shoulder and saw her husband waiting for her a few tables back. She looked at Mirabella and Daniel, excused herself and then went to her husband, leaving them two alone.

It took a moment for Mirabella to realise what had just happened, and once she figured it out, Daniel held his hand out towards her. She looked at his hand and then she looked up to meet his green eyes. She smiled shyly at him and placed her hand in his.

They walked towards the dance floor, and the song was about to begin. They stood opposite each other; Daniel had his one hand on Mirabella's waist while he held the other one slightly up. Many other couple joined them on the dance floor and the song began to play and they took their first step.

They swayed side to side as they moved around the dance floor. The music spun around them lifting away gravity. She couldn't count how many times she had looked away from him just to avoid his eyes. Those green eyes that reminded her of the forest and she was scared that if she looked into them for too long she'd get lost. Daniel noticed this and a small smile appeared on his face and vanished before Mirabella could see it.

As Mirabella was trying her best to avoid his eyes, she noticed how the people around were looking at them. It was the look of awe and happiness. A few people stood tall and proud as they watched them.

Unlike Mirabella, Daniel couldn't seem to look away, and when she finally decided to give up and meet his eyes he felt as though he was drowning in an ocean and she was just standing there doing nothing to help him. The memory from their wedding flashed before his eyes and he could remember their first dance.

The lights were twinkling with every step as Mirabella spun in delicate circles. This was perfect. This was dancing and art coming to life, strong pointed moves didn't matter here. All that mattered was the person in front of you.