The Shadows Grace

The rain in Neo-Verona did not make things clean. It just made the city's problems look like a gray mess. Draco Zuckerberg was standing on the balcony of the Obsidian Tower. He was wearing a charcoal suit but it was getting all damp and cold from the night air. Draco was thirty-two years old. His face was very serious and handsome, with angular features. He was a prominent figure in the city. People loved him. Hated him but they all knew who he was. Below the city was buzzing with lights and energy.. Draco was not looking at the city. He was looking at a red stain on his white shirt cuff. Then a voice came from the office behind him. "The Vane merger is all done Draco " it said. Draco did not turn around. He knew it was Silas, his friend and helper. Silas was the person who could talk to Draco without being scared of him. ". What about Skyler?" Draco asked. His voice was low and smooth. "Skyler is waiting for you at the party " Silas said. "She has already told the press that you two are engaged. She is very excited." Draco finally turned around. The light from the office made his blue eyes look cold and hard. "Tell Skyler that she will get what she wants when the time is right " he said. "Not before." Draco walked over to his desk. There was a file on it.. It was not about business or money. It was a picture of a girl. Her name was Rose Maxwell. She was standing outside a building in the poor part of town. She was wearing a dance suit and her hair was messy. Just looking at the picture made Draco feel something in his chest. It was a feeling he did not like. It made him feel weak. "You need to go to the party Draco " Silas said. "Everyone is waiting for you. If you do not show up with Skyler it will look bad." "I have something to do first " Draco said. He closed the file. Put on his coat. "The South District again?" Silas asked. His face looked worried. "Draco, that girl is a kid. She is the daughter of a ghost. If Skyler finds out you are spending time with her she will not be happy." Draco just looked at Silas. His eyes were cold and hard. "I will make sure Skyler does not find out " he said. --- The South District was a part of the town. It was dark and scary. The streetlights did not work well. It looked like a place where dreams came to die. Draco's car was parked a few blocks away. He was wearing a coat, one that was black and had a hood. He walked through the shadows like a ghost. He came to a dance studio called "Grace and Grit". It was a name for a place that was falling apart. Draco stood across the street. Watched. Inside the studio, he saw Rose. She was dancing alone. The music was coming from an old radio. She spun around. Her face looked beautiful and sad. Draco's hand clenched into a fist. He thought about the past. He thought about how he had hurt Rose's family. He thought about how he could not look at her now. Then the music stopped. Rose. Looked out the window. She looked scared. Draco hid deeper in the shadows. A black car came around the corner. It was a car Draco knew. It belonged to one of Skylers' helpers. The car slowed down. A gun came out of the window. Draco did not think. He just acted. He pulled out his gun and started to run. Then another car came around the corner. Its lights were very bright. They blinded Draco. He froze, his gun in his hand. Inside the studio, Rose screamed. The glass in the door. Draco saw his chance. He started to run Then he saw Rose looking at him. She was scared. She knew who he was. Draco froze, his gun in his hand. Then he heard Skylers voice, in his ear. "Draco, darling what are you doing in the South District? We have a party to go to."