The next few weeks were filled with an exhausting dance. Seventeen maintained her role as Serena, always careful, always vigilant. Her web of deception grew tighter, drawing the six closer to her with every passing day. She became a fixture in their lives—always there with a kind word, a warm smile, a sympathetic ear. They were starting to trust her. But beneath it all, Seventeen's real self simmered in the shadows, calculating every move, anticipating every potential threat.
Today, she had scheduled an afternoon coffee with Amelia Saint-Montclaire and Sablina Wysdomleaf, and she was already dreading the taste of the Seaside Cappuccino she would have to force down her own throat. These two were the trickiest pair so far. Amelia, with her analytical mind and sharp instincts, rarely let her guard down. Sablina, on the other hand, was quiet and observant, often watching with an unsettling stillness that made Seventeen feel like she was being dissected under a microscope.
Seventeen walked into the quaint café near the hospital, her Serena persona fully in place—bright, cheerful, approachable. Amelia and Sablina were already seated by the window, the sunlight filtering in and casting a warm glow over their table. They greeted her with polite smiles as she slid into the chair opposite them.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Seventeen chirped, her voice laced with just the right amount of regret. "The hospital was hectic today."
"No worries," Amelia said, her gaze assessing Seventeen as always. "We were just talking about the upcoming gala."
["Ah, the gala,"] Seventeen thought, her mind shifting gears. This would be a crucial event, a gathering of all the Zodiac heirs and their families. It was the perfect opportunity to further embed herself in their lives, to observe how they interacted with one another outside of their usual settings. It would also give her a chance to study Draco from a distance, to watch him maneuver in a crowd where he wasn't constantly on guard against her.
Out loud, she smiled and said, "I'm so excited! It'll be my first time attending something like that. What should I expect?"
Amelia raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on her lips. "Expect a lot of politics disguised as pleasantries. It's more a show of power than a celebration."
Sablina nodded in agreement, her soft voice adding, "People watch each other more closely at these events than anywhere else. It's about who you're seen with, who you're not seen with…everything is under scrutiny."
["How fitting,"] Seventeen mused silently. ["Everyone pretending, hiding their real intentions behind smiles. It's almost poetic."]
"That sounds…intense," she said, keeping her tone light, masking the irony in her thoughts. "I'll definitely have to be on my best behavior."
Amelia leaned forward slightly, her gaze piercing. "You've handled everything so far with grace, Serena. I doubt you'll have any trouble."
Seventeen laughed, her eyes bright with false modesty. "I just do what I can. You both make it sound so easy."
Like a ritual, very much like their tradition-driven personalities, they ordered the same coffee as they did back in their previous meeting in the café. And so did Seventeen, for her internal distaste.
But even as she bantered with them, her mind was racing. The gala was only a week away, and she needed to ensure that her cover as Serena D'Angelo remained impenetrable. It would entirely different from the one she went before, profoundly more important. She would have to play her role perfectly—no slips, no missteps. There would be too many eyes on her, too many opportunities for Draco to catch her in a lie.
The conversation continued, drifting to lighter topics, but Seventeen's thoughts remained focused. Amelia and Sablina, despite their wariness, were starting to soften toward her. Amelia, with her sharp intellect, had tested Serena at every turn, but now she was starting to relax. And Sablina, always so quiet and reserved, was beginning to share more of herself. It was all part of the plan, all falling into place.
※※※
Later that evening, Seventeen returned to her apartment, the weight of the day pressing down on her. She closed the door behind her, dropping the cheerful mask of Serena the moment she was alone. The silence of her small, neatly arranged living space enveloped her, offering a brief respite from the constant performance.
She had almost bumped onto two different figures at two different moments that evening, people she wanted to avoid with all her might. Samantha Vaughn, the strongest warrior of Twinscott, younger sister of the leader Gwyn Vaughn and wife of Zane Doom, a very dangerous figure. And Corvos Nightshade, the 24-year-old heir, oldest son of Caelum and Nyx Nightshade, heads of Scorpion, the only heir out of all the districts who avoids all social gatherings opting for the shadows instead, quite literally in his case. It was a close call.
The two could mess with her mission for entirely different reasons, and she wanted to avoid that.
She moved to the window, staring out at the city lights below. The gala would be a pivotal moment. If she could manage to ingratiate herself further with the six during that event, it would be a major step forward in her plan. But it also carried the highest risk. There would be too many variables, too many unknowns. And Draco would be there, watching her like a hawk, waiting for her to slip.
["He's getting too close,"] she thought, her fingers tightening around the edge of the windowpane. ["I'll have to throw him off somehow, make him doubt his own suspicions."]
Her mind churned through various scenarios, playing out the possibilities like a chess game. Every move, every countermove, had to be anticipated. She couldn't afford a single mistake.
※※※
Draco stood in front of the large, ornate mirror in his chambers, adjusting the cufflinks on his shirt. The gala was still a week away, but preparations had already begun. He wasn't looking forward to it. These events were always filled with empty conversations, false smiles, and superficial pleasantries. But this year, there was an added complication.
Serena D'Angelo.
He couldn't get her out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried. Something about her was off, and it gnawed at him constantly, bordering an obsession. She was too perfect, too polished. And yet, everyone else seemed to be falling for her act. Claus, Light, Hunter, even Amelia and Sablina were warming to her.
["Why can't they see it?"] Draco thought, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. ["Why am I the only one who can sense through her? I distrust her so much I doubt her hair is even blonde like that."]
He had spent weeks watching her, trying to catch her in a lie, but she was too careful. Every word, every action, was meticulously crafted. It was maddening. She was hiding something, he was certain of it. But without proof, he was left chasing shadows.
His reflection stared back at him, the tension in his posture evident. He needed to be patient, to wait for the right moment. But the longer he waited, the more dangerous she became.
["She's playing a game,"] he thought, turning away from the mirror. ["And I need to figure out what her endgame is before it's too late."]
※※※
The days leading up to the gala passed quickly, and soon, the night of the event arrived. Seventeen stood in front of her full-length mirror, dressed in an elegant gown that perfectly suited Serena's image—soft, graceful, and undeniably beautiful. Her gown in a muted blue. She adjusted a delicate silver necklace, admiring the way it caught the light.
["Perfect,"] she thought, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. ["No one will suspect a thing."]
The gala was being held at one of the most prestigious venues in Downtown Zodiac—a grand ballroom that overlooked the city's skyline. The heirs would all be in attendance, along with their families, political figures, and influential citizens from across the archipelago. It was a high-stakes event, and Seventeen knew she had to play her part flawlessly.
As she stepped into the ballroom, the sound of music and laughter surrounded her, the atmosphere alive with anticipation. Her eyes swept over the crowd, already picking out familiar faces. Claus and Light were near the entrance, engaged in conversation with several dignitaries. Amelia and Sablina were standing by the grand staircase, their expressions composed as they observed the room. And then, there was Draco—standing near the far wall, his gaze locked on her the moment she entered.
["Always watching,"] she thought, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. ["What an uptight fool. He never lets up."]
But tonight, she wouldn't let him get to her. Tonight, she would charm them all, including Draco. She moved through the room with effortless grace, greeting people, exchanging pleasantries, all while keeping her real thoughts carefully hidden beneath Serena's warm smile.
As she approached the group near the entrance, Claus turned toward her, his face lighting up with a smile. "Serena! You look stunning. Blue is definitely your color."
["No, its burgundy and black."] Seventeen smiled, inclining her head slightly. "Thank you, Claus. You're too kind."
Light glanced at her, a hint of approval in her eyes. "The dress suits you."
Seventeen laughed softly. "I wasn't sure at first, but I'm glad it worked out."
But even as she engaged in the casual conversation, her mind was elsewhere, always calculating, always planning her next move. She was playing a dangerous game, and the stakes were higher than ever.
And yet, there was a thrill to it all—the deception, the manipulation. She was pulling the strings, leading them all exactly where she needed them to be.
["They'll never see it coming,"] she thought, her smile never faltering. ["Not until it's too late."]