“Thank you Nicco,” she said. “Thank you very much for putting this together for Billy. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
Nicco studied her face for a moment, appearing to weigh her sincerity. “You are most welcome, mio caro. Now be off to the hospital to put it to work.” He waved his hand toward the door.
Chapter 56
Grace and Anthony stood next to each other at the side of Billy’s hospital bed, and Grace tried to not fidget. Other than the nurse and Danny, they were the only ones in the room.
Grace persuaded Billy’s family they should go home and get a break from their vigil at the hospital. Mrs. Winiarksi was particularly hard to convince. She was afraid he would take a turn for the worse if she wasn’t keeping a mother’s eye on him.
But Grace persuaded her that she needed some time in private with Billy after her close call with the case. Mrs. Winiarksi finally agreed after getting a promise from Grace to contact her if there was the slightest change.
They watched as the nurse drew a portion of the bright gold liquid from the blue bottle into a glass syringe. He injected the liquid into a vein in Billy’s arm, the one not already hooked up to an intravenous line. He wiped and covered the needle and put the syringe into his pocket. He then stoppered the bottle and handed it back to Grace. His job done, without a word, he left them to wait for the potion to start working.
“Is this going to make a difference? Will it help Billy get better?” Grace was feeling skeptical of the whole hocus-pocus aspect of the situation, not yet acclimated to the idea that Nicco and his family were Witches.
“Yes. If anything can help, it is the ‘elisir di lunga vita,’ the ‘elixir of life.’ I saw it used once before when a Paranorm was at risk of losing his lower leg after a motorcycle accident. It regenerated the leg in about a week. I know Billy’s injuries are in his brain, but it should work for him, too.”
“I’m starting to like Nicco more. But I’ll reserve my final judgment for when Billy wakes up.” Danny seemed to be trying to keep his usual humor despite his own obvious concerns over the potential effectiveness of the potion.
“You and me both, kiddo.”
“How long will it take?” she asked Anthony.
He shook his head, watching the monitors connected to Billy.
“I am not sure. We are not trying to get him healed all the way. We’re trying to reduce the brain swelling and get him stable enough for the doctors to take him out of the coma. It should not take as long as a complete healing.”
“I guess we’ll just have to be patient.” Grace pulled a chair up next the bed.
Anthony continued to stand for another few minutes before taking a seat of his own on the other side of the bed. Once he sat down, he grasped Billy’s hand and smiled at Grace as she took the other.
They both sat in silence for a time, watching the gentle rise and fall of Billy’s chest, each lost in their own thoughts.
Grace looked up at Anthony, catching his eye. “Thank you,” she said, her voice rough with emotion. “For everything you’ve done for me and for Billy. I don’t think I would have beaten the Glamour if you weren’t here to help.”
“And thank you, Grace.” He seemed overcome by emotion. “For this.” He raised the hand clasped in his a few inches above the covers. “Or at least the potential for this.”
“Not to interrupt the love fest or anything, but I think we know how long this magic potion will take.” Danny beamed from ear to ear. “Billy’s foot moved!”
Text Copyright © 2018 Denise Bossarte
All rights reserved.
January 2018 Edition
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.
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Read the prequel short stories.
Danny is haunting his sister. It’s the least a brother can do.
Danny may be a ghost, but he still enjoys computers, driving his sister crazy, and helping her save the world. But how did Danny end up haunting Grace? What happened that fateful day Danny died? Where did he go and what did he experience? Did he get a choice about returning to Grace? Find out in Danny’s story: RETURN!
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Her powers cost her dearly. The payment was her brother’s life.
Grace lost her little brother in a fatal car accident. But that same accident was the catalyst to awaken her Paranormal gifts. How did her powers emerge after the accident? Did anyone believe her abilities? Did she think she was going crazy? Find out how Grace survived the trauma of the accident and became a Paranorm in her story: BEGINNINGS!
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want thank my cover designers B&J Book Cover Designs for the awesome book cover.
Much appreciation to my editors: Leslie Watts, Alyssa Archer, and Erynn Newman. I wouldn’t have had such a strong and interesting story without you.
And a thousand thanks to my patrons: John and Fran Ippensen and Lisa Peichel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Denise Bossarte lives in Texas with her husband and their colossal too-smart cat. Outside of her IT day job she is busy following her passions as a photographer, writer, and poet.
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Glamorous: A Grace Bishop Novel (Grace Bishop Novels) Page 26
