It's not often that I have no idea where I'm really heading with a story, and this is one of them. Slowly, it's been building its own world and an actual plot that I hadn't originally planned, but I'm excited to see where it goes.

Sorry. this chapter is basically just plot, the smut will be back in the next chapter:)

Enjoy!

Keys jangled in her hand, the cut metal clinking with each step through the hallway. Her mind was so full of thoughts that she missed the greeting from her doorman. Rose mapped out every possibility she could think of for the night, considering each way it could go badly for her.

She realised that having Lissa meet her at her apartment might not be enough; she might need her to be parked out on the street waiting for the unavoidable downfall. Dimitri's expression flashed in her mind when he thought she would hurt his family. It had stung. But it wasn't a completely unlikely scenario.

She was a demon going to a house that had at least two demon hunters. She might as well arrive on a silver platter.

Rose scowled, rubbing her brow as she approached her door. It was going to be a long night. She reached for her doorknob, only to pause inches from it. Something caught Rose's attention—the hairs on her arms stood. There was another demon nearby.

"I was wondering when you would be back," a male voice drawled behind her, heavy steps as he grew closer.

Rose spied over her shoulder, not hiding her frown. "What the hell do you want?"

Mason cocked his head to the side, a smirk on his lips as if they were sharing light-hearted banter. He approached her until she could feel his breath; she tilted her head back a little to meet his eyes. "Zmey wants to talk to you," he replied, relaying the order; it wasn't a request—it never was.

"Tell him I'm busy," she hissed, reaching for her door again but froze when Mason's hand slammed against the wood.

"Don't make me drag you out to the car," he warned in her ear.

A shiver ran down Rose's spine. There was a time she had welcomed Mason's advances, trading playful smirks and sinful caresses, but then she realised he would never see her as an equal. When she stopped chasing him, his demeanour changed.

"Fine," she relented, "I have to make a call first."

He moved closer, lips ghosting along the shell of her ear, "Calling your human?"

"It's none of your business," she snapped and used her shoulder to shove him away. "I'll be out in five minutes."

He laughed, spun to rest against the wall and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Don't take too long, Rose. You know he doesn't like the wait."

A feeling of dread settled in Rose's stomach; even with the door closed, Rose could still feel Mason's presence lingering on her neck. It was part of her cursed existence, she needed to feed off the energy of others to stay alive, and Mason was a full demon—his power drew her in. The demon side of her sensed it, though it didn't have the same effect it once did.

She wondered if it was because of Dimitri.

Rose grabbed her phone, found Dimitri's name and dialled. She had to be quick; there was no doubt in her mind that Mason would drag her out if she took too long.

Dimitri answered on the second ring, "Rose." She could hear the nerves in his voice, as well as the note of affection when he said her name. "I was just about to call you."

Her heart fluttered in her chest, remembered her confession, and his in return. Part of her was disappointed she wouldn't be able to go to the dinner. Sure, it was a risk to her life, but it was extra time with him.

"Did you want me to pick you up?"

"I can't go," she sighed as she searched her bedroom for a change of clothes. Anything could happen when in Zmey's territory, and showing up in a dress that barely covered everything wasn't the best attire. It was great for riding Dimitri but not for seeing her father.

There was a pause.

"Did something happen?"

"Kind of." Rose chewed on her nail, itching for a cigarette. Nothing good could happen from seeing Abe. "I'm sorry to ditch you, but I don't have a choice." Her eyes shifted towards the front of her apartment.

"Are you okay? Did you want me to come over?" Dimitri asked, his voice full of concern and determination. It made Rose smile.

There wasn't much he could do compared to demons, especially to Abe—Dimitri was like an ant. One that he would have no issue squashing.

"No," she affirmed, "it's best you stay far from this. Go to your family dinner and get the answers you want, Dimitri. I know you want to know," she encouraged. At least if he went, she would know what she was getting involved with.

That's practically what they were now—involved. Rose hadn't revealed feelings of affection for anyone since she was a teenager, and those memories still hurt too much to acknowledge.

Dimitri was the first person since she was seventeen, and another human.

A flash of green eyes and a cocky grin made her stomach twist in a knot. Rose could never tell if it was from guilt or sorrow.

Dimitri released a long breath, "While I'm grateful you won't be in danger from my family, I'm still concerned that you won't be safe." There was another pause, and she wondered what he hesitated to ask. "Will you tell me what's happening?"

Rose opened her mouth and then stopped. It wasn't the first time someone she was sleeping with asked questions about where she was going, but what struck her as strange was that she would answer. "My father wants to see me," she replied, "I don't know why, but I rather you not be involved in it."

"Oh. Yeah, that's likely for the best," he agreed. Rose could hear him fiddling with something, a muffled tapping coming through the call. "Be careful, Roza."

She smiled despite herself. Dimitri was only around Zmey for a few minutes but understood that he was dangerous. His concern for her safety made her chest fill with warmth. "Don't worry. He won't hurt me." She almost added I think to the end of that sentence but bit her tongue. It wouldn't help Dimitri's unease. "Maybe it'll be quick, and I can make an appearance at the end of your meal," she offered.

She could hear the smile in his voice when he replied, "I'll save you some dessert."

After promising to be careful and Dimitri agreeing to send her the address, Rose hung up and stared at her phone.

Before calling, she was nervous about seeing Abe, and now…

A sharp knock travelled up the hallway and shook her from her thoughts.

"Give me a minute!" she yelled back, knowing that was her first and only warning.

Pushing thoughts of Dimitri down, Rose changed and grabbed a knife from her bedside drawer, slipping it into the leg of her boot. Before she left, she sent a text to Lissa, better safe than sorry.

Mason was pacing the hall when she emerged; eyebrows raised as she locked her door. "Took your sweet time," he complained with a growl. "Who were you talking to?"

"Your mother," she retorted. "Let's get this over with already," she mumbled, pushing past him to march back down the hall to the elevator.

A frown was on Mason's face, eyes calculating each time they flicked to her. Trepidation made her fidget, wondering just what he was thinking. They were still five floors away from the parking garage when Mason stepped closer and crowded her in the corner, arms on either side of her hips—trapping her.

He inhaled, dipping his face closer to hers. "You haven't called me in weeks."

Rose refused to turn away from him, held his eyes and guarded her expression. "I had better options."

The corner of his lips twitched. "You'll need me. I know you'll be craving it soon." Like flicking a switch, she felt his energy hit her like a wave— the raw power he held that made her eyes roll back in her head each time she fed off it.

He was right. Eventually, she always came crawling back to him for more. He was the safest option when it came to hooking up with demons. He could kill a man in seconds but was always gentle with her. Mason worshipped her every time they had sex. It was just all the times in between that he wanted her to remain silent and hang off his arm.

The only daughter of Zmey. She was a prize to be won.

Rose wanted to deny him, to laugh in his face and tell him where to shove it. But she couldn't lie to him any more than she could lie to herself. She would need him soon.

As satisfying as Dimitri had been, it wouldn't last. Not with how much she needed.

Already she was playing a dangerous game, balancing the line of seriously hurting him. Sure, he appeared fine, but that could change very quickly.

Mason could see her reach the same conclusion he already had, chuckling softly as he gently kissed her lips; his hands moved from the wall to grasping her hips. "No one can take care of you like I can. Don't forget that, Rose."

The elevator doors opened, and Mason finally stepped away, car keys in hand as he beelined for his car. Rose followed after, a dejected look on her face and a sour feeling in her stomach.

When Rose first moved in with Abe, he had her live on his side of the river, protected within his territory. Instead, she was watched by all of his spies and never felt protected. Humans lived among them, some knew the truth, and others didn't. Demons controlled the streets, and they all answered to Abe.

Zmey the Snake—able to slither into any dark corner to learn your secrets and strike out with a sharp tongue that could cut like knives. He never had to show his true face when he could use a few words to strike fear in others.

Rose used to believe he had her well-being in mind, but over time she learned that he only cared that she could be used against him.

Despite what people believed, demons preferred to stay among their own; if you didn't cause trouble with them, they didn't touch you. Humans had enough of their own inner demons causing chaos in their world—just as demons had their own kind to worry about.

Rose glanced out the window, driving through streets she hadn't been down in years. It was only home for one year before she escaped. But no matter how far she got, she was dragged back. After the last time Rose was discovered by demon hunters in Salt Lake City again, Abe brought her back and agreed to stay out of her life if she lived in the city.

At first, she hated it, and then two months after moving, she saw Dimitri outside of the church for the first time. And then he became her new challenge.

"You should think of moving back," Mason commented, glancing at her over his sunglasses. There was no need to wear them, as the rain still fell. Rose tilted her head at him and wondered what actually drew her to him.

"Why would I do that?" she snapped. Mason wanted to treat this visit as if it was by choice, but she was only back because she had no other choice.

His eyes flashed yellow, the corner of his lips tilting down in a frown. Rain pattered against the windscreen, filling the silence as it stretched.

"Things are heating up. You should be with your kind."

Rose looked away with a scowl, watching the scenery instead. "I've already been made well aware that I'm not welcome here."

As buildings passed, Rose hunched her shoulders, withdrawing. What was worse was that she felt the need to message Dimitri. After years of relying just on herself, it felt wrong to rely on anyone else. A part of her wanted to check her phone and look for messages from Dimitri about the dinner. Was he there yet? Had he asked for the truth? Did they tell him?

She felt like a panicked girlfriend and hated it.

Mason pulled into a driveway squeezed between two brick buildings. They were old and stood the test of time. While Abe could afford to buy any expensive building he wanted, he chose to lean into the mob boss stereotype—liked to live like a gangster in the fifties. If Rose cared enough, she would buy him a Tommy gun just to see how excited he would be.

Rose swallowed her apprehension, hiding any hint of fear in her eyes. Demons could sense it, and they enjoyed it. If they knew the half-demon feared them, she would be a plaything to them. She learned the hard way that she needed to prove her strength among them.

As soon as Rose stepped foot outside of Mason's car, she felt eyes on her. They stared at her in anger and lust, and intrigue. Zmey's daughter, the prize that could gain your access to Zmey's good graces—a foothold Mason was refusing to budge on.

His arm slipped around her shoulders—a habit that she hated. Rose shoved him off, "Don't touch me."

"You used to be more fun," he complained. He caught Rose's wrist once they were alone and pressed her against a closed door. Mason lined his body up with hers, grinning wickedly. "I remember the fun we used to have here."

Slowly his hands trailed down her side, fingers dipping under her shirt. Rose's eyes fluttered close as his power washed over her. The air between them was electrically charged, awakening the demon in her.

"What about in Denver? We had a lot of fun there," he purred, hands growing bold in their movements. "We didn't leave the hotel room for three days. I found so many new ways to make you moan that weekend. I can take you to another hotel tonight and do it again."

Rose squeezed her eyes shut. The way his words wrapped around her like liquid honey, the twists of words falling off his tongue, promised nothing but pleasure. When he hummed, her body responded—a chill ran down her spine.

Roza.

Her eyes snapped open, meeting Mason's golden eyes. She drew her fist back and punched him in the jaw. The trance broke, and the pull of his words faded.

"Don't ever do that again!" she ordered, a furious glare aimed at him. Her chest rose and fell quickly—a feeling of betrayal left a sour taste in her mouth; memories that she wished she could forget cut like knives in her chest. "Stay the fuck away from me, Mason."

Mason wiped the blood from his lip, expression dark and eyes cast down at the ground. "You can't keep avoiding me, Rose. You know what will happen."

"I'd rather take my chances." Rose stormed off, leaving him in the hall as she marched towards Abe's office. The twists and turns of his office building were ingrained in her mind after wandering it for hours each day. A gilded prison—she used to think it was her escape from Abe's home, but it was just another place that kept her trapped.

The dark halls were lit with a few yellow bulbs, more than enough light for demons to see, but it unnerved humans as they followed the tacky red carpet to Zmey's office—like a trail of blood. There were no windows, except for a couple of rooms; catering to certain demons that chose not to hide themselves or the ones that couldn't be in direct light.

Abe once tried to teach Rose all the different kinds of demons, but she gave up on remembering them all. Her intention in life was to stay far from them all. Some were like the ones in the fairy tales; others were like the demons the bible warned about. And then there were those that were so deep in the dark that no one remembered their names.

Clicking of a keyboard drifted down the hall the closer Rose got to Abe's office. More than once, she considered disappearing down one of the halls in the opposite direction and slipping out. But Abe would know she was there already.

The thin woman at the desk next to his office door already stared at her expectantly when she rounded the final corner. Her eyes were so dark there was barely any white; the deep brown colouring swallowed all the lights. "He's waiting," she remarked in a high-pitched tone. Rose eyed the lady's long nails and cringed. She never liked banshees.

Rose pushed open the door and quickly closed and locked it behind her; she didn't want Mason forcing his way in. Abe was already at his desk, a finger of scotch in a crystal glass. For a man that liked to dress eccentrically, his office was dull in comparison. It was basic, with cheap wooden furniture and minimum decorations.

He didn't use that room to show off his wealth. The study was to get straight to business, no matter how messy it might be.

"Thank you for coming, Rose," he greeted, placing the glass down and focusing on her.

Rose scoffed, "I didn't have a choice. So why am I here?"

"Are you and Mason fighting again?"

She stilled, crossing her arms and glaring back at her father. "Talk, or I'm leaving."

Abe raised a brow but relented. "You need to be careful."

"Is that it?" she retorted, "Could have sent that as a text. You don't have to drag me back here!"

"There have been attacks in my territory lately—hurting my people—and I'm worried that someone might come after you next."

Rose sighed, dramatically rolling her eyes, "Isn't that just the life of being the only daughter of the Snake? How about you tell them I wasn't wanted, and they'll leave me alone."

Abe leaned back in his leather chair, probably the most expensive piece of furniture in the room. "This isn't a joking matter. You need to take this threat seriously."

Her eyes narrowed. "Yes. I'm well aware of how seriously you take threats."

The word hung between them. The atmosphere became thick. Abe's irritation caused his aura to grow. Rose didn't fold to it—didn't even blink.

"Are you still seeing that human of yours?" Abe asked. He didn't miss the way she tensed, calculating eyes studying every single reaction Rose gave.

"That's still none of your business."

The fury in her tone surprised him, all while confirming his intel. "You are being very public about your affections with him."

Her brows drew together. "Who?" It only took a moment for her to guess. Rose laughed. "Darla. I should have known you had her in your pocket."

"You can play with the humans if you need, but developing feelings–"

"Who says I am!" Rose's eyes held her father's; her fists curled at her side. "I know exactly what will happen. I don't need the reminder."

Abe's expression softened, the rare moment of compassion for his only child. Rose cringed back from it. He stood from his seat; his hands slipped into the pockets of his pants as he stepped around to lean on the front of the desk. "I am simply saying that you need to be careful. You don't know what or who you are getting involved with."

"Maybe you should have given that warning to Janine," Rose shot back, aiming to hurt him. She had inherited Abe's wit and ability to cause wounds with her words. Abe silently stared back at her, lips pressed in a thin line. She knew she was testing his patience, a constant habit since she turned nineteen. "I'm done here," she spun on her heel.

Rose's hand was on the doorknob when Abe spoke again. "I can sense your aura growing—you're not as in control as you think you are. The day you need to return may be closer than you think."

She left without a word; the door slammed shut behind her.

Abe sighed, rubbing his brow in irritation as he stared at the door his only child had disappeared through. On more than one occasion, he dreaded the effort it took to care for her; she was too much like her mother. Stubborn and defiant.

Never had he expected a one-night stand to cause such a headache.

But despite what Rose thought, he did care about her. Some would say it's a fault. She was a half-demon, never strong enough to take his place or control any part of his territory, and her human heart guided her still. It was exactly why he needed to protect her.

Abe knew what the world was like, both the humans and demons. If she wasn't careful, she would be destroyed by them both.

"What do you think?" he voiced, eyes darting to an empty corner of the room.

There was a glimmer; a burst of power, and a woman was visible again. Lissa looked towards the door, hands twisted together and a frown on her face. "I think she's scared."

"Clearly, she isn't scared enough," he muttered. "What about the human? What do you know?"

She paused, lips pressed together with indecision. All Abe needed to do was harden his stare before Lissa broke. "Not a lot. But she's different with him. Rose asked me to meet her later tonight."

That piqued his interest. "Do you know why?" When she shook her head, Abe frowned. "Stay close—try to find out more. I need to know everything."

Rose made the taxi drop her off three blocks from the address Dimitri sent; she wouldn't put it past Abe to have someone follow her and didn't want to lead him straight to Dimitri.

It was a shorter drive from her apartment to his family home than Rose would have liked. Abe kept track of the hunters in the city and alerted her to ones that lived near her, but she couldn't remember if Ivan was ever a part of that list.

The house was in the suburbs, nestled into between two newer homes. Olena's home stood out more because it was the only one on the street with a blooming garden. Rose had her suspicions of what was planted and confirmed them when she stood on the sidewalk.

"Aloe vera and lavender," she scoffed, glaring at the offending plants. They didn't affect her anywhere near as much as they would a full demon, but it was still a good test. If any demon held evil intentions towards those inside, they wouldn't be able to step past the main gate.

Dimitri's car was parked out front—at least she knew he was still there.

She leaned against it, unable to find the motivation to go inside. Instead, she lit a cigarette and waited. There were only a few street lights, each illuminating the puddles of water on the road. The street was quiet, but Rose's mind wasn't.

You're not as in control as you think you are.

She brought the cigarette to her lips, inhaled deeply and released it only when her lungs burned.

There was only one thing Abe could be warning about, and she had a few years still. It was too early for it to happen.

She was meant to have time.

The conversation left her agitated and on edge. Abe was too interested in Dimitri, even if it was because he was worried about her. And now she knew that he was watching her. Darla had seen her and Dimitri intimate and could only be thankful that she hadn't admitted her feelings to Dimitri then. Though maybe it wasn't hard for someone to tell.

Rose took another drag, blowing out the puff of smoke as the front door of the house opened. Ivan stepped out, empty hands by his side, but Rose didn't trust him not to have a weapon behind his back.

"Not coming inside," he asked, gesturing behind him. It was almost as if he was trying to be friendly. His eyes drifted to the plants, then back to her.

Rose smirked. "You don't seem surprised to see me."

"Dimitri will be glad to see you," Ivan grimaced. He sounded jealous.

"Maybe he's glad to see me because I don't lie to him."

His expression hardened. "I love Dimitri like he's my brother. Everything I've done is to protect him."

She tilted her head. "Protect him from what?"

Ivan's response was cut off by the front door opening again and slamming shut. Rose knew it was Dimitri before she saw him, feeling a fluttering in her chest that only grew stronger when their eyes met.

The rain had brought a chill to the night; their breaths were like puffs of smoke. Rose twirled her cigarette between her fingers before throwing it to the ground and crushing it beneath her heel. "Hello, lover," she greeted Dimitri with a sinful grin. The feeling that moved through her at just the sight of him was much stronger than any Mason had ever achieved.

Dimitri's expression was agitated and broken, yet as he gazed at Rose, it slipped away and was replaced with relief. "I didn't think you were coming," he admitted softly.

Rose pushed off his car, moving towards him. She paused for a second at the gate, eyeing the plants and then flicked her eyes to Ivan; he watched, waiting, to see if she stepped through—another test.

"I said I would," Rose replied, crossing the threshold and passing the protection. A slight sting brushed her skin, an irritation that quickly subsided.

The breath Ivan held released slowly.

Rose closed the distance between her and Dimitri, taking in his drawn expression; his eyes pinched in the corners. They lacked the warmth they usually held. He was upset. "What happened?" she questioned, hands reaching for his face but were stopped by his own wrapping around each wrist.

There was a tremor in his hands. "I…" Dimitri paused, and his focus shifted to Ivan. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I should have," Ivan conceded, "I should never have kept it from you, but I didn't feel like it was my place."

"It's all been a lie. Ever since I met you, you've been lying to me."

"Dimka, I've been trying to protect you."

Dimitri dropped his eyes and squeezed Rose's wrists. "Lying to me is not the same as protecting," he breathed, hurt evident in his tone. "Let's go."

There wasn't even a moment to question what happened before Dimitri tugged Rose's wrist, pulling her after him and away from the house. When she glanced back, she noticed his mother in the window, tears running down her cheeks. Dimitri opened the passenger door and encouraged her in before crossing the driver's side.

The silence was stifling; Dimitri's anger radiated off him, his knuckles white as they curled around the steering wheel.

"What happened?" Rose repeated. She reached for him again and placed a hand on his thigh, squeezing.

The engine rumbled to life; the sound almost drowned out Dimitri's words. "I found out the truth."

"What did they say?"

He stared straight ahead and clenched his jaw. "My father is a demon."