Chapter 17:

Rachelle opened the door to the shop and led Elysia in. The shop was beautiful and the lace and decoration was amazing. Rachelle whispered, "I feel like I'm in a cake." Elysia laughed and finally a worker came up. "Can I help you," she asked. "Um…Yes," said Rachelle, "My friend here is getting married soon, and we came looking for a dress."

"Oh yes," the lady said, "What size?" "Umm… I'm not sure," Elysia said. "That's quite alright," the lady said, "I'll measure you." The lady used the measuring tape around her neck to measure Elysia, and began mumbling out numbers. "Alright lets try a couple on you."

After Trying on five unsatisfying dress, Elysia looked at herself in the mirror. She felt her heart drop as she had been so unsatisfied. Rachelle shook her head. "I don't think that you have what we're looking for…" The lady looked Elysia over and her eyes suddenly brightened. "I think I know what you're looking for."

The lady picked up a box hidden behind a rack of dresses and lead Elysia into the dressing room. Rachelle waited impatiently, tapping her fingers across the table. Finally, the door opened, and Elysia went to the mirror. "Oh my….," Rachelle gasped.

Elysia was speechless. The dress was tight around her chest, but flowed out loosely with a train almost 8 feet behind her. Pearls were placed decoratively in the top of the dress around her breast, but they faded out and disappeared completely once reaching her navel. The rain also had pearls and a long silk bow which covered only her bosom. It was strapless and only held up by her cleavage. "This is the one I want," she said, "How much?"

Elysia followed the lady to the cash register and she checked the price. "250 dollars," she answered, "But you seem to be a valued customer, and I can give you a discount." "Oh thank you!," Elysia spoke happily.

After Elysia took her dress to her lair, she and Rachelle went out for lunch. "It's a beautiful dress," Rachelle said smiling, "And you made it even prettier!" Elysia laughed, "Well, I do appreciate the compliment-" Rachelle held her hand up, interrupting her. Elysia was about to ask what she was doing, and then she looked up. There were several people running towards them, parents were pulling their children into buildings.

Elysia saw a man and stopped him by calling him and then she ran up to him. "Sir, I don't mean to bother you, you seem to be in a hurry, may I ask why everyone is running?" "The German army is coming." he said almost breathless, "They're going to take the Jews, they said anyone who does not have blue eyes or blonde hair will be taken." Elysia's heart began to speed uncontrollably. She turned to Rachelle.

But Rachelle was not looking at her. As Elysia's eyes caught the direction she was looking she saw the soldiers marching in, with guns. Elysia walked over to Rachelle, trying to pull her into one of the stores. "Rachelle let's go," she pleaded. "We are not in danger," Rachelle said, "Elysia, we have to stop them." Elysia shook her head, "We can't." But Rachelle wouldn't budge.

It was then Elysia saw her plan would have made no difference. They were pulling people out of stores, checking their hair and eye color. Lucky for them both, Rachelle's light colored hair and Elysia's blue eyes protected them. But some thing's could never be relieving as you would like.

Rachelle by now and stepped a few feet closer to the street. Elysia's legs would not allow her to do the same. They kept frozen to the place they stood. A little Jewish boy had pressed through the crowded army men, running for his life. Rachelle bent down and opened her arms so that he would come to her. And he did. One soldier walked over and Rachelle shoved the boy behind her, standing upright, her chin raised high.

"A dog lover I see," The soldier said. "Too bad, if you were wise you'd spare me a bullet." "You're not worthy," Rachelle said, "Shoot me, but it won't make you a better person. You might as well have sold your soul to Satan himself!" "Watch your tongue woman!," the soldier screamed. Rachelle turned to the little boy, "GO, go now, go home!" The little boy nodded and ran for dear life through the ally way. Elysia smiled, maybe Rachelle was right.

However, Elysia's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a gun loading. She caught the form of the soldier, a pistol in his hand. He fired. Rachelle turned around wide eyed and looking at Elysia. In slow motion it seemed, Elysia felt nothing as she ran to Rachelle falling. Her vision blurred all she saw was Rachelle. There was no sound and she fell to her knees beside her, cradling her. The muteness was hurting her, not hearing Rachelle's mischievous laugh and her not getting up saying got you. Rachelle's cries were muted by the pain in her chest. Were the bullet lye.

"AAAHHHH!" Elysia screamed to break the silence. The soldier put his pistol in it's place and turned to leave. "Elysia," Rachelle's broken voice whispered, "It hurts." "Hold on Rache!," she cried. "Don't you die on me! Don't you dare die on me!" She looked around praying for someone to help her. And then, she saw the taxi, the door opened, and a familiar pair of brown eyes came in view. "Christian!" she cried, "Christian help me!"

Christian ran over to them, hoisting Rachelle up and putting her in the taxi. Elysia positioned herself with Rachelle's head in her lap. "Stay awake," Christian said looking at the wound, "Keep her awake," Elysia looked at Rachelle's paling face. She ran a hand through Rachelle's blonde hair, and brushed away strands in her face. Christian looked to her, "I had heard the soldiers were coming. I wanted to find you before…this…"

Elysia squeezed Christian's hand. "You could not have stopped it," she said. Rachelle's make up had sweated away and she appeared ghostly. Her eyes began to flutter closed, but Christian grabbed her face and her eyes opened wide. "I'm sorry, but you have to stay awake," he said, "Or you might not wake up." She nodded numbly, her eyes becoming lazy and drooped.

"Listen to my voice," he said, "Don't go to sleep." Christian managed to keep her awake until they were at the de Chagney Mansion, and Elysia called the doctor. Christian kept Rachelle awake, Elysia tried to help. Christian felt her forehead, "She's burning up." "I'll go get a glass of cold water," Elysia said. And while she did, she looked around for household ingredients.

She put together a concoction and made her way to the room. Christian could see that it was not clear water. It was a strange purplish-blue. Elysia sat on the bed by Rachelle, and put the cup to her lips. "Drink this," Elysia said. She tilted the glass and heard Rachelle gulp before choking it up. "I know it tastes bad," Elysia said, "But it will make things easier if you do" Rachelle nodded drinking it.

"What is that?" Christian asked. "It's a medicine," Elysia said, "My father taught me how to make many sorts of medicines with household items from scratch. This will clog up her blood flow and slow the bleeding, it will also keep her awake and aware. But she still needs a doctor…It won't last…" With that the doorbell rang and Christian ran to answer it. "Take another sip," Elysia said to her. Rachelle gulped up the liquid slowly.

The doctor came in and looked at the wound. He pulled out what looked like tongs, but a bit smaller. "Sit them on the fire my boy," he said to Christian. Elysia eyed the doctor curiously, and tipped the cup for Rachelle to drink from it.

"Mrs. Vincore," he said, "I'm sorry to say that the bullet is still in your chest and I'm going to have to get it out." Rachelle nodded and Elysia held her hand. Christian brought the tongs back and quickly handed them to the doctor. The doctor put on a pair of gloves and began to dig for the bullet.

Rachelle bit her bottom lip and squeezed Elysia's hand. But she couldn't hold it back, she let out a blood curdling scream. Elysia rubbed her head to try to calm her. "Alright I have it," he said, "Now we can…oh.." Blood was coming out much more, and the doctors eyes drooped low. "I…I think I must have pulled it out of an organ, she…she's going to die."

Rachelle began shivering and held on tight to Elysia. "No…please," Christian said, "There must be something you can do…" "There isn't," he said, "Unless you can get a gun and end it quicker for her." "Get out!" Christian screamed. Elysia felt tears fall, and she moved away from Rachelle to Christian. "Christian," she said, "I can make this quicker. She won't die for another 12 hours and it will be painful. I need a medicine and then I can make it quick and painless…" "I want her to live!," he said. "She's not going to either way Christian, but we can make it painless, I need you to stay with her while I fix it."

Christian nodded and sat beside Rachelle, as she hugged him to get heat. Elysia took out the ingredients she would need in order to fix this. She could only remember one time that she had ever made what her father called "The Death Sleep." She had been forced to make it for her father then, the night he died.

She had watched him fall asleep, knowing he wouldn't wake up. But it had instantly taken away his pain. However, the desperateness of situations would require her to inject the concoction into Rachelle's body, she no longer had the strength to drink it herself.

Elysia finished quickly. She picked up the tourniquet, filling it up with the red liquid. She entered the bed room, her eyes watching the tourniquet to make sure it did not bubble out. She took Rachelle's limp pale arm and injected it quickly. Rachelle eyed her curiously, but nodded.

Rachelle used her last bit of strength to connect hands with Christian. "Christian…" she rasped out, "I'm so cold….hold me." Christian held her hand, while using his other arm to lift her head to his chest. "Christian…" she said again. "Yes…," he replied choking back tears. "I'll always be with you…I love you…"

Her eyes fluttered shut and the grip she had on his arm was gone. Christian kissed her hair, tears falling into her sweated hair. Elysia fell sitting in a nearby chair and began weeping. It was over.