The Shadows Grace

Chapter Two: A Life Built on Deception

The world did not come to an end with a noise it ended with the sound of Rose Maxwells heart breaking right through her chest.

In the light of the cars headlights Draco Zuckerberg did not look like a man he looked like a warrior who had been defeated. The gun in his hand was like a part of his arm, cold and final. On the side of the broken glass of the dance studio Rose stood frozen. She was taking sharp breaths that made the cold air fog up. She was not looking at the men in the car. She was looking at the person who had been haunting her dreams since her fathers funeral.

"Draco?" Skylers voice came through his earpiece again sounding sickly sweet and suspicious. "I am waiting, my love. The champagne is getting warm. The Governor is asking where you are. You are supposed to be at your party."

Draco did not blink. He did not breathe. He quickly put the gun away under his coat. He did not look back at the car, which had quickly turned around when his face was lit up. They knew who he was. They knew they had almost shot the Dons person.

They would be dead by morning.

"I am on my way Skyler " Draco said, his voice low and rough. "There is a lot of traffic in the South District it is very bad."

He turned his head to look at Rose one time. She had fallen to her knees on the glass her ballet shoes were dirty from the street. She looked at him with a lot of hate it almost made him flinch.

He disappeared into the dark before the police sirens could be heard.

---

The change from the streets to the fancy party was very shocking.

Twenty minutes later Draco was standing in the entrance of the Vane Estate. Silas met him at the door he looked very worried. In a seconds Silas had changed Dracos old coat for a fancy jacket and wiped a tiny piece of glass from his face.

"She knows you were not stuck in traffic " Silas whispered, leaning in to fix Dracos cufflink. "She has been tracking your location. I was able to hide your location for the ten minutes but she is not stupid Draco. You are playing with fire."

"Let it burn " Draco said, walking into the party room.

The room was full of people, fancy clothes and fake smiles. In the middle of the room was Skyler Vane. She was wearing a dress that looked like blood under the lights. Her hair was blonde and sharp her eyes were green and cold they looked at him like they were targeting him.

She walked towards him the crowd moved out of her way. When she reached him she did not kiss his cheek she dug her nails into his arm hard to make him bleed.

"You smell like rain and old wood Draco " she said, her voice loud enough for only him to hear. "Tell me are you buying a house in the South District? Or is there a girl you forgot to take care of?"

Draco leaned in his lips touched her ear it looked like he was being intimate. It felt like a threat. "I do not like being tracked Skyler. If you ever look at my location again I will make sure your family loses all their money."

He felt her get stiff. She laughed it was a fake sound. "We are getting married in a month. Your secrets are my secrets. I heard something on the news tonight. There was a shooting at a dance studio, what a shame."

She pulled back her eyes were full of hate. "I think I will send some of my men to help the girl who owns the place. Since you care much about the neighborhood."

---

The night was a blur of smiles and fake talk but Dracos mind was back at the dance studio. He knew he could not watch Rose without her knowing. He had been seen. The Don had been exposed.

By 3:00 AM back in the safety of the Obsidian Tower Draco was sitting in front of a wall of screens.

"She is safe for tonight " Silas said, leaning on the doorframe. "I have put guards around her apartment.. Skyler is looking for answers. She already found the connection to Roses father. She thinks you are cleaning up problems. If she finds out it is because you are obsessed with Rose..."

"She will not find out " Draco said, staring at the screen. Rose was, on her fire escape wrapped in a blanket looking at the moon. She looked like she was waiting for something.