Chapter 5
Rebecca sat there for a long while just thinking trying to take in everything her father had told her. Finally she decided that she would try to sleep. She laid in bed and tried closing her eyes but she just couldn't sleep. This was a brand new place, how was she ever going to get used to this. She rolled over and looked at the clock it read 5:00am. Her thoughts wondered once again to her father and everything he had told her. She closed her eyes and eventually fell asleep.
Rebecca woke up a short time later her mind still filled with questions for her father. She got dressed and headed down the stairs, Rebecca started to venture outside when Simone came down the stairs. " Rebecca, you must be hungry would you like me to get you something eat ?" Rebecca just stared at the view of the pool then spoke " No , I'm not like my father. I don't need to need to drink blood to survive at least I don't think I do. " Seeing Rebecca's reaction to her question she started to speak but decided not to when she saw Josef coming down the stairs.
Josef hearing what Rebecca had just said spoke as he came down the stairs. "Rebecca you are more like me then you think." Josef then walked over to give Simone a kiss. Josef winked at his daughter the spoke " Rebecca how did you sleep ?" Rebecca looked at her father then over at Simone and spoke "I didn't sleep much, new surroundings and all that, so when are we going shopping ?"
Josef studied Rebecca a moment as trying to sense something and spoke. "I have to go into the office for a couple of meetings and then we'll go." "Well can Simone take me ?" Rebecca had asked. Simone then spoke up "I have court this morning." Rebecca then asked Josef "Well could I go by myself dad ?" Josef then replied "NO absolutely out of the question."
Rebecca knew she was pushing her father but decided to ask another question "Well what about Mick and Beth could they take me ?" Josef thought about for a minute then replied "That's not a half bad idea. I tell you what I'll call Mick and ask them to join us this afternoon we'll make it a family outing. So you hang out here for a bit and do whatever you want within reason and Simone and I will be back this afternoon"
Rebecca then nodded her head then she decided to ask a question "Dad, I thought sunlight could kill vampires ?" Josef laughed for a minute then got a serious look on his face before responding "Another myth Rebecca, but there is some truth to it. Any amount of sun is to much but we can tolerate it in small doses although if we are caught out in it for extended amount of time it can be very deadly to us." Josef watched as Rebecca thought about it for minute then he spoke again "Any other questions ?"
Rebecca pointed to the pool and asked "Since I have to hang out here, can I take a swim ?" Josef hesitated a minute before speaking "I don't know Rebecca" Simone then spoke up "I think that is a great idea, Josef it will give her something to do while we're gone." Rebecca then looked at Josef and spoke up "Dad, please ?"
Josef reluctantly relented "Okay, fine I just want you to be careful but don't stay out there to long my cell phone number is on the table and the staff knows how to get a hold of me if there is a problem."
Rebecca smiled "Thanks dad." Josef looked at Simone then replied "Are you ready to go ?" Simone nodded then headed for the door. Josef then spoke again "We'll be back this afternoon" Josef kissed Rebecca on the forehead then left.
Rebecca went upstairs to see if she could find a bathing suit. It didn't take her long to find what she was looking for. She finally pulled out the midnight blue suit and then changed into it. Minutes later she was heading down to the pool.
Once Rebecca got outside she noticed the heat of the sun and brushed off the odd feeling by getting into the pool. Josef's words came back to her but she chalked it up to the last two talks that she had with her last night and this morning. She wasn't like him and was determined to prove it one way or another.
An hour later she got out of the pool and decided that she would relax in the sun for a bit she laid down on one of the chairs by the pool and
fell asleep. A couple of hours later she woke up feeling really weird, she was hot and she felt extremely week. She tried to make it into the house but she only managed to fall back into the chair then passed out.
A short time later Josef and Simone had returned to take Rebecca shopping. Josef noticed there was nothing out of the ordinary and went to speak to his staff. Simone noticed that Rebecca was laying in one of the chairs and went out to get her. As Simone approached Rebecca she noticed that the young lady was awfully still. Simone then ran back inside to find Josef. He was still speaking to his staff when she came running in "Josef, come quick it's Rebecca, I think something is wrong."
Josef followed Simone out to the pool. When he saw Rebecca lying still he spoke "Rebecca," Josef could tell that she was still alive as he spoke "Damn it, I knew letting her do this was a mistake. Simone, go inside tell the staff I a tub filled with ice and cold water now. I've got her." Simone ran back inside to instruct the staff as Josef lifted Rebecca in his arms. He carried his daughter upstairs to his room laid her gently on the bed then went to go check on the progress of the tub being filled with lots of ice and cold water.
Simone went to go check on Rebecca when Josef stopped her "Simone no, this is exactly what I was afraid of, in the condition she's in she won't know what's happening or why and she certainly can't control her inner vampire right now. which in the condition she's in makes it dangerous for you."
Josef saw that the staff had finished filling the tub he gently picked up his daughter and carried her to the bathroom. He then very gently put her into the tub. Then he pulled out his cell phone to call Mick.
Mick St. John had been talking with Beth when the phone rang "Hey Josef Beth and I were just talking about you." Josef then spoke "Mick that's nice and all but I need your help now, It's Rebecca something's happened. I need you here to help me with her. Bring Beth with you she maybe able to keep Simone distracted.
Mick listened as Josef explained what he needed then he spoke " Josef, calm down we'll be right there." Then he hung up. Beth noticed the look of concern that Mick was showing and spoke "Mick what happened ?" Mick looked at her and replied "Come on Josef needs us at his place right away." Then they headed out the door to Mick's car.
Josef sat watching his daughter hoping that the cold would help her as it had helped Mick in the desert. A short time later he heard Mick and Beth come in. He went downstairs to speak with them.
Mick, I'm glad you're here, come with me. Beth why don't you and Simone talk while we handle this." Beth looked at Josef then at Mick and sighed "Fine come on Simone, lets go get us a cup of coffee."
Mick sighed thanks Josef make Beth feel even more like an outsider
Josef then replied "Mick, I'll explain everything to Beth later but right now come on." Josef then explained what had happened.
A short time later Rebecca started to stir. She noticed that she was now inside and in a tub that had been filled with lots of ice cubes and cold water. She started to speak "Dad ?' Josef sighed with relief then spoke "Welcome back, You gave us quite a scare." Rebecca started to speak but Josef spoke again "Don't try to talk to just yet, I need you to listen." Rebecca nodded her head as if to say okay then Josef continued "Right now you are probably wandering what happened am I right ?" Rebecca nodded yes as Josef continued talking "I was afraid something like this would happen. Do you remember the talk that we had the other night about how you having gotten some of my traits and how your inner vampire could start coming out ?" Rebecca nodded then softly spoke "You warned me, and I didn't want to listen I'm sorry." Josef smiled then got a serious look on his face as he spoke. "Rebecca, I need for you to be really honest with me about this, I need to know if this has ever happened to you before ?" Rebecca looked up at her father and spoke " No, Daddy this has never happened before. I had this weird feeling when I stepped outside but I just ignored it and I got into the pool for a little while, I got out of the pool a short time later and I thought I would lay in the sun for a bit, I must have fell asleep because when I woke up I was so hot and so weak. I got up and tried to get into the house, then all the sudden everything went dark, I don't know I must have passed out, because I don't remember anything after that, until I woke up in here. Daddy, how long was I out there ? Why does the cold feel so good and comfortable to me ?"
Josef sighed "Because Rebecca there is a part of you that is like me, your inner vampire is coming out. This may the first time that something like this has happened to you but I can promise you Rebecca that it won't be the last time." Rebecca seemed to think about what her father was saying just as Josef started to speak Rebecca spoke up "Daddy, even though I feel comfortable and as good as this feels to me right now I want to get some dry clothes on ?"
Josef sighed then spoke "Alright I'll have Simone bring some clothes in for you to wear. You get dressed and we'll go shopping for your dress and some new clothes like I said we would and Rebecca, this conversation is far from over I'm just putting it on hold until we get back, then it's back to school for Vampire 101. I want you have the basics down before we leave for the fundraiser this is important because there will be humans and vampires there." Rebecca nodded her head yes and spoke as she started to get up "Okay, dad" Josef got up from where he was sitting and walked out the door. Mick was there waiting he had their entire conversation. "Vampire 101 Josef, that's a new one" as Mick chuckled. Josef just rolled his eyes and replied " Mick, please I'm trying to put this in terms that she can understand but I got admit she's a lot smarter then I thought, come on I'll tell you about last nights talk with her but first lets go find Simone & Beth. I told Rebecca that I would have Simone bring in some dry clothes for her."
The two of them walked down the stairs to find Simone and Beth engaged in a conversation. Simone noticed that Josef and Mick had walked into the room, she looked up at Josef and spoke "Well is Rebecca alright ?" Josef nodded then spoke "Yeah she's going to be fine; although she's not saying it I think she's a little scared but she still wants to go shopping if that tells you anything. Could you go up to her room and find some dry clothes for her to wear so that we can get going ?" Simone smiled and replied "Sure Josef we won't be long." Simone ran upstairs to help Rebecca get ready, while Josef and Mick filled Beth in on everything.
A short time later Simone & Rebecca came down the stairs. Josef, Simone & Rebecca headed for Josef's car, while Mick & Beth got in Mick's Mercedes.
Meanwhile Lance and Coraline landed at LAX from Europe.
Across town a group of 3 men positioned themselves in the parking garage of the venue where the charity fundraiser was scheduled.