Chapter Five: A Single Dance.

Disclaimer: I own none of the material written by Stephanie Meyers, her publishing company, or Lionsgate.

OOOO

There was something so odd about forgotten memories. Tilly had not lived in Berlin since she was twelve. Yet even driving through the city in a car, walking on the streets, standing in the hotel window left her reeling. Made her think of her parents. The young woman scoffed again as she moved from the window. Of course Cullen had booked them both rooms in the Hotel Adlon, with the most ludicrous of prices. Trying not to think of her scorn for the beast she ran her fingers through her silky, reddish hair. Dropping the towel before slipping into her usual nightwear. A massive, oversized t-shirt that had been extracted like all of her parent's other possessions from the rubble. She was taller than most women, yet the article of clothing still hung to her mid-thigh.

Ignoring the tiredness for a moment Matilda sat on the bed with crossed legs. Her mind still prickled at the phone call she had had with her grandfather earlier that afternoon in the car with Cullen. The thought of all of her lies making her stomach whirl violently all of the time. 'You are looking for Satan,' A man appeared before her, 'Hunting the devil.'

"Victoria?" She asked cautiously, shivering as the faceless specter's voice hissed across her one, bare shoulder.

'No. He goes by many names. Franz. Peter. He prefers George. The Devil. Master. Beelzebub.' That voice rushed out and was replaced as a bodiless woman hissed over him. 'The Trickster. Horned God. Astaroth.' Many voices chanted that name at once discordantly. She shivered violently in response. A primal response to something terrifying, not at all religious. Merely a deep aversion to the bogey man. 'We speak to you as the victims of his terror. Be warned, Seer.' Again the voice was wrested away, this time by a woman who spoke in French with a husky tenor, 'He makes the mystical a reality. Alters your state of mind in dangerous ways. Makes you fear him and love him at the same time. Astaroth turns himself into a God.'

Her fingers tightened into the high thread-count sheets. "How can I get the information I need from him?"

'The vampire will not work, little one,' A haughty, condescending man laughed in her mind, 'Your vampire that is. Many have tried to kill him, to even extort more than a millennia of secrets from George Astaroth. None of them have lived to tell the tale. You must play the game. You must play it better than I did. I survived the longest in the Devil's den. Thirteenth born son of a pastor, I was homeless in Prague when he found me. The only thing that saved my life was my spirituality. Having a faith, code, and religion of my own.' She contemplated the words carefully, 'He was fascinated by me. Wanted to convert me. In the end I took too long to convert.'

"How long is too long?" Came her final question. There was no answer. The trance finally broken, she stood to both feet. Pacing as her loose hair billowed wildly about her shoulders. There was a knock on the door. Only one person knew she was staying at the hotel. Sighing, Tilly stepped over to it. Hesitating a moment prior to pulling it open. Cullen surged in, she felt anger surge in her belly at that.

"My name is Edward," He corrected firmly, reminding her that it was a mistake to feel anything other than apathy in his presence. "When we agreed to travel together I did not anticipate it would be necessary to stipulate that you wear clothing."

"This is what I sleep in," She snapped, "I didn't give up my research to be denigrated by a sexist pig."

He spun around pointing a finger at her. Yellow eyes glimmering viciously, chiseled features glowing like marble. "Stop calling me that. I support women. Over the decades I have donated more money to female empowerment that you will likely earn in your lifetime."

"Giving money to women is not the same as being a feminist. You think because you gave money to charities it gives you a right to tell me how to dress? To critique the 'vulgar' words I utter?" She could not help the fury that scorched deep inside of her. Despite her scientific, formulaically brilliant mind, there was an artistry hidden in her spirit. Perhaps that was what pushed her to perform the idiotic, unexplainable, expressive statement in that moment. Bristling angrily she wrenched the t-shirt over her head as he predictably protested. Balling the thing up prior to throwing it in his face while striding towards him. "There, Eddie," She gestured towards her nude form, standing directly before him. "I am officially ruined. Not a virgin. Unlikely I will ever aspire to reproduce. A man has seen my naked form. We can stop pretending I am something to be defended."

To his credit he did not glance at her body. Merely at her eyes. Unflinching and scrutinizing all at the same time. "You will not go into contact with George Astaroth," He said firmly, clearly having managed to get into her brain again. "That is not sexism. That is common sense. If he is that dangerous then I will have my hands full enough without taking care of you."

"Please," She grabbed him by his shirt, "I am our best shot at getting information on Victoria from him. If I interest him enough then he will-."

"He will become obsessed with you. Like James became obsessed with your mother. You will never be safe, and we will have to deal with another threat." He cut her off easily. Cold fingers slipping upwards and trapping her hands beneath his. "I have friends nearby. They will help me when I go to deal with this vampire. We can handle him."

"The ghosts," She started awkwardly, feeling horribly stupid in that moment. Talking to a vampire about the voices in her head whilst standing completely naked in front of him. "They said that he is powerful. He can get in your head and make you think he is a god or devil or something like that. One even told me he is more than one-thousand-years-old. We can only beat him if I play his game."

"No. I cannot in good conscience put you in harm's way. Your mother is owed at least that much after how I failed her." He extricated her fingers from his shirt with surprising gentleness. Once free to move Cullen bent and picked up the crumpled t-shirt from the floor. "I could never think of you as ruined. You are intelligent, and brave. What you said was right. Just because I have money to throw at problems does not make me a feminist. I will work harder to treat you with more respect."

While he strode towards the door she hurriedly tugged the shirt back on. The words escaped before she considered their full impact. "Mr. Cullen," She nodded, affirming to herself this was the right step, "I will try to show you more respect as well."

"Good night, Miss Black," He answered simply, before stepping out of the unnecessarily luxurious rooms.

She forced her mouth closed before hopping into the massive bed. Wondering whether vampires could have Bipolar Disorder.

OOOO

Mr. Cullen had told her he was leaving an hour before the voices came back in full force. Whispering the ever-changing location of George Levinson into her mind as the plethora of voices wrested for control. The pragmatic choice would have been to keep herself out of harm's way by calling her vampiric patron and telling him the location of the beast he was hunting. However, she knew full well by now from the countless spirits communicating with her, all of them victims of this George character's, some of them even claiming to have been vampires themselves, that that would have been an exercise of futility.

So Tilly dressed in her finest clubbing gear, crammed her very fake, long-unused ID in her purse, and left after tugging her chaotic tornado of hair into a high ponytail. The voices hissed in her ears during the entire cab journey to the club where the vampire was allegedly located. By the time she finally made it inside the late afternoon had turned decidedly into dusk. 'In the lounge… In the back… Do it… Don't do it… Run… Vengeance… Poor, stupid girl…' Some of the languages were recognizable to her. Others not. All of them buzzed at once. Focusing on the thumping music instead of her schizophrenic subconscious the youth slipped around the crowd. Ignoring a waitress who tried to block her from entering the stairwell to the vip lounge.

Further upwards she climbed until finally coming across a hallway with many doors. Designer heels clicking she tuned in to the psychic directions. Twisting the handle on the third door down. Finding herself standing awkwardly in a smoke filled room which had a black, leather furniture, and a bay window. Lights flashing in from the dancefloor below. Sitting on the couch nearest the door were two topless women. Both of them giggling into nothingness. "My, my," A man spoke from further in the room, "It has been days since anyone has come looking for me." The accent was ancient. Watery, sultry, and old as the Roman Empire itself. Completely unidentifiable to her mortal ears.

Sitting before her as though he were on a throne was a gorgeous man. Hair a matted crown of gold atop his head. Clad in slacks and a white button-up as though he were like any other professional out on a Friday night. Except, the most gorgeous office worker to have ever existed. Sitting on either side of him were two men. One asleep, the other convulsing as his eyes were rolled into his head. Even in the darkness it was easy to see the bloody bite marks on his dark skin. Between the man's spread legs, on the floor, knelt a woman who appeared to be chanting under her breath as though she were in prayer. Completely topless.

Repulsed to see another woman reduced to such a state by the bloodsucking monster she fought to control her emotions. "I am hunting a vampire. Victoria. I have good reason to believe you know her whereabouts, sir…"

His flaming, red eyes snapped fully onto her form. Obviously interested. "Your god commands you to leave," He called loudly, all but the worshipper moving to leave obediently. "His dark majesty commands you to go hunting for fresh food, slave." Now the final cult member stood to leave. Eyes so glazed that she did not seem to even take notice of Matilda as she passed by to exit the room. "A human vampire hunter. Intriguing…" He patted the seat beside him, "Sit with me."

She suddenly felt the uncontrollable urge to not only do as bidden, but to strip bare and beg him for mercy. "Stop," Her voice emitted the most ferocious snarl it had ever mustered before. "I know exactly what you are, Astaroth."

"My," He smiled tauntingly, eyes flashing dangerously, "You are most unusual. No one has called me that in years. What was your name?" The compulsion fell heavily in the air as her mind wriggled unpleasantly beneath his abilities.

"Leah Clearwater," She answered defiantly, taking a sick bit of joy in stealing the rude woman's identity. Hopefully Astaroth would finally finish off the vile slag for her. "Now we are acquainted, perhaps you can help me."

"Victoria is a boring proposition," He sighed drolly, standing to both feet, towering over her, "Why bother with her when you could stay with me. Have a god to worship?" George Levinson bent to put out his burning cigar in an ashtray.

"I am much too special to waste my life serving a man like some slave." She bit back. He stopped in front of her. A hand reaching up to caress her jawline. "Victoria murdered my parents. Perhaps you heard about it on the news. She destroyed our entire street. The largest death toll in London since the coronavirus."

George broke into a deep, bright smile. Sharp teeth flashing. "You are fun. I like that." He let his hand move along her neck to her shoulder until it rested against her left hip. "The more time passes the more boring your kind gets. No fire, no sass. You have both of those things." His head tilted, "I will tell you where to find her. I can smell the vampire on you. Obviously you have the help needed to sort her out. This information, of course, is contingent upon a promise. You will find that any promises you make to me are incredibly hard to break."

"I need to know what I am agreeing to-." She began before he cut her off sharply. His other smarmy hand dug into her right hip as well.

"That is simply not how it works, little one." He pressed his forehead to her own, "Either you care enough about avenging your precious parents that you will make any necessary sacrifice, or you can leave." Smoky breaths filled her nostrils, leaving her feeling incredibly dizzy. In a flash they were seated on one of the couches, her body pressed snugly into his own, freezing cold form.

"I promise," She gasped out as he struck her mind with his undue influence.

"Good. I know that after Victoria stopped by to talk to me that she was heading to France. Marseille. We have a mutual friend there. These last few decades he has gone by the name Pierre Lefebvre." Those terrifying teeth, shining a bright red glinted under the strobe lights. "Now. You will have a dance with your god." There was a dangerous edge to George Astaroth's voice, "You did promise." Still in the fog she slipped through the vip halls with him, winding down the stairs and finally finding herself on the dancefloor once more. He was glorious in the flashing lights. His gorgeous countenance marred with terror by the flashing lights. Part of Tilly liked it. She wondered if her mother had felt this way every time a vampire came her way.

"Hold my purse," The girl tossed the bag at a waitress. Astaroth gripped her hand, waves of cold suddenly arced up along her arm and body. When he moved the fog of illusion disseminated outwards from him like smoke. Bodies moved obediently out of the way until the pair of them stood in a medium-sized circle in the center. Cliche as it was, a recorded mix of You Spin Me Round began to pound on the speakers. Her body started to undulate and quiver. Hips shaking like they never had before, legs striking precise patterns, her hair flipping violently as she ripped it free of the ponytail. The black skirt Tilly wore cinched up higher on her thighs, and her white tank top stretched across her toned stomach. For the first time since her parents died, Tilly Black danced.

She felt the music, enjoyed how the sensuality returned to her in gradual trickles before the floodgates crashed wide open. Astaroth moved in the boundaries of her vision, his illusory influence hovering nearby, though quite unable to move in on its target. This moment belonged to her. Tilly forgot entirely about her parents since they had died. Head tossing back in delight, sashaying to the taller, millenia-older being, the young woman took total control. Hands digging into his strong arms she spun herself around using his vampiric form. Hands reached in through the circle, stealing her away only for Tilly to focus her attention back on the vampire.

All too quickly it ended. Astaroth's strong hands wrapped around her hips, his lips at her throat. A bubble of mist surrounding them both and blocking out any interruptions. "You are special, girl," He growled out against her throat, "You could occupy my attention for quite a while yet."

"I am better than a fancy to piss the years away," She hissed back against his cold lips. "My promise has been fulfilled."

"I suspect you will be able to find me again if you ever need me." His red eyes smoldered in the final moments before he vanished. Though the magic had left with him, she still felt dizzy with glee. Retrieving her purse the young woman slipped out of the club and onto the streets of Berlin.

She spun around in the rain until her hair, skimpy top, and flesh were soaked with rain.

OOOO

When Tilly returned to her hotel room it was unsurprising to find Edward Cullen standing ominously in front of the window. Sitting on the couch was a pixie with shoulder-length pink hair, and freakishly insightful eyes. By the tv stood a blonde man dressed as though he had just gotten off of a racetrack. "Bite me," The teenager ground out sarcastically, "More fucking vampires?"

"I'm Alice!" Pink hair chirped brightly, "This is Jasper."

"Oh, Alice?" Tilly cocked her hips as she moved into the bathroom quickly, exiting with a towel. "Tell me, are you the one who can see the future and shit like that?"

"Yes," The vampire smiled innocently, sweet as a maraschino cherry.

A now very damp towel was tossed in the vampire's face. "FUCKING FUNNY! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE MURDERED YOU FUCKING CUNT!?" Matilda felt all of her tendons coil so tightly that they could have snapped. In a blur too fast for her eyes to comprehend, the blonde snapped towards her only for Edward to pin him back into the wall so hard the surface cracked. "Oh, yeah, blondie. I couldn't forget about you," She sneered, "My mom mentioned you in her journals. Poor Jasper. Poor baby. The asshole who attacked an innocent girl on her eighteenth birthday! The weapon of mass destruction that you two idiot fuckfaces decided to plant in the middle of how many highschools?" A thoughtful pause, "Oh that's right. TOO FUCKING MANY!"

"Now Matilda," Alice interjected, "If we could just calm down and talk I am sure this whole matter could be resolved to your-."

With a mighty roar Tilly hefted up the coffee table and threw it across the room. "Keep telling me to calm down biatch! There is more shit I can destroy. All of it is going on Fuckward's credit card too!"

"I have more than enough money," Edward had calmed a properly chastised-looking Jasper down. Now he stood with crossed arms, staring mutinously down at her.

"I will burn every hotel in Berlin down Edward! So help me god you better shut the fuck up and sit down or I will not stop until your credit score is absolutely tarnished." Came her sharp retort. Moving to her bed, the young woman sat on the end while deep, ragged breaths tore through her throat. "If you have any intention of bitching at me for handling Astaroth myself then I don't want to hear it. I can take his lead and track down Victoria myself. You weren't even needed tonight. Who is to say you can even handle Victoria when we find her?"

"What happened to our pact to respect one another?" He demanded furiously, slapping his hands together over her rant so mightily that a thunderclap echoed in the small space.

"That was before you brought your scummy relatives into my sleeping quarters." Tilly glared venomously at him. His scowl deepened as they glared at one another.

"Alice smiled dreamily at her, "The more important topic that needs to be discussed regards the fact that you are, indeed, still alive. Nor did anyone have to die tonight."

"Who would have died?" Tilly wondered aloud, deciding to ignore her bubbling rage.

"Had the three of us gone to Astaroth he would have vanquished Edward and Jasper both before I finished him off," She answered knowingly. "Had Edward gone to retrieve you every human, including yourself, would have been slaughtered within a mile radius." There was a pause now, "If you had handled George Astaroth with even a pinch less care he would have taken you on the middle of the dancefloor." The vampire did not pause long enough for Tilly to clarify whether that was a threat of a sexual nature or blood-drinking.

"You danced with George Astaroth?" Blondie interrupted suddenly. His eyes were wide and he stood deathly still.

"Yes," Tilly rolled her eyes, "It was his stipulation for telling me where Victoria was. Which he did." The last was directed Edward's way. He still roiled with visible anger and haughty disapproval. "When he tried to control me… Bring me under his influence he couldn't though. It was strange."

"I know Astaroth personally. Perhaps things would have gone differently if I had been informed sooner." The blonde continued, shooting a constipated expression at Edward, "He is dangerous. My maker was well-acquainted with him. That you managed to avoid becoming entrapped within his thrall is impressive. Many vampires and humans cannot claim the same immunity."

"Your mother was fully shielded from my ability, and you are partially exempted," Edward interjected, "Perhaps this is simply a similar effect." He folded his arms, "Nonetheless, we need to know the name that he gave you." Tilly nearly argued that he would know in good time when she could ensure they would not ditch her. Instead the pixie freak Alice interjected.

"Pierre Lefebvre in Marseille." The pink-haired vampire swiftly supplied the answer.

"Great." Tilly deadpanned, "Now tell us where the fuck Victoria is hiding."

"I can't," The vampire who had seemed calm even when Tilly threw a towel in her face now seemed to be losing any patience. "Victoria is a blur. When I try to focus on her she disappears. Never making up her mind on anything."

"So you are fucking useless," The young woman hissed out, "Why did you even both-!"

"Jasper, Alice, I would like for the two of you to leave Matilda and I to talk." Edward cut through the tension as though it were butter. Jasper was gone in flash. Alice, however, danced across the room, Tilly scoffed at the excessive display of grace, and whispered urgently in Edward's ear. "I know. Just leave." In a blink they were alone. "I will not ask you to go home, or leave you behind, Matilda." He began in a voice that was much too calm for comfort. She felt her heartbeat race at the shocking declaration. "Still, we must be clear on one thing. Just because George Astaroth was so compliant with you does not mean you can pull similar stunts with any future vampires we may encounter."

Suddenly he was standing in front of her. "I could rip your throat out with a flick of my pinkie finger. Break every bone in your body and derive a sick, primal pleasure from it. However, I do not because I am civilized. Victoria is not, nor, I promise you, are those she keeps company with. We will cross paths with the seediest, most savage of my kind. Do not work behind my back again, or it will be your fault entirely. Understood?"

Never one to be cowed into submission, Tilly decided to accept on her own terms. Standing up to both feet she reached out carefully and grasped his cold hand in her own. "We are partners," The young woman pressed herself daringly into his personal space, dark eyes intent on topaz, "After today it is clear you need me. We will finish off Victoria. Together."

"Together," He responded in kind, hand curling around her own as they shook on it.

OOOO