Time after Time

By Louisa Bacio

What’s old is new and what’s new is old.

After a good deed goes wrong, Serena and Peder tumble through time, landing in Hollywood
during an ’80s musical revolution.

The paranormal duo navigates the concrete waters of the past to find a way back to the future.
Without the aid of modern technology, other members of The Nightshade Guild, or their
dwindling energy sources, they must rely upon each other.

Maybe other “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” but Serena wants to get back home with her love.

Darkest Time is book 7 of 11 of the YR3 - The Nightshade Guild: Broken Time Series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celtic Hearts Press
• Release date: Jul 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781949575378

Louisa Bacio

A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length novels. Bacio shares her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and a multitude pet craziness: Two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters, rabbits and hermit crabs. In her other life, she teaches college classes in English, journalism and popular culture. Check out the latest happenings via her blog http://louisabacio.blogspot.com

Book preview

Time after Time

Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

The Nightshade Guild Series

Afterword

Bibliography

About the Author

Copyright © 2023 by Louisa Bacio 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the email address below. 

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Printed in the United States of America 

First Printing, July 27th, 2023

Cover Design by Glowing Moon Designs 

Author’s Note

This book is set in 1984. Ironically, it’s a year I don’t totally remember. My mom passed away that year when I was a freshman in high school. While researching the time, I thought: Wow, that song came out? And that song? Yeah, so many small connections built into a story that hopefully, lingers.

Any historical discrepancies are my own. It’s an easy and hard time to research since it was on the cusp of modern-day electronic documentation.

Thank you to all who continue with this journey of characters. To new readers, dive in and enjoy.

To my Nightshade Guild family of writers: Much love and magic.

Copyrights/Playlist

All the song titles used in this story are the intellectual property of the original bands, or in these days, whomever owns the rights. Thank you to the bands of the ’80s for the music and for the continued inspiration.

Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun & Time After Time

Duran Duran, Hungry Like a Wolf

Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Two Tribes

Houdini, The Freaks Come Out at Night

INXS, The One Thing

Madonna, Material Girl

Pat Benatar, Love is a Battlefield

Prince, Purple Rain

The Police, Every Breath You Take

Chapter

One

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

One moment the mages of the Nightshade Guild and their mates were holding hands and celebrating once again saving the world from an apocalypse and the next wham, bang and no thank-you-ma’am.

The brightest flash dimmed into darkness and Serena grasped onto her love Peder. Their bodies hurled through space like swimming through gelatin and her consciousness blinked in and out. The chaos blocked her senses – no sight, no smell, no sound. It was as if reality was a blank canvas of nothingness, except the very real connection of Peder’s hand in hers.

She imagined his smile, the one he used to flash to her while bobbing on the Bay in Long Beach, or body surfing, and the softer, more personal one he shared while loving her body. She focused on that love, resilient in the knowledge that whatever happened on the other side of this chaos, he’d be with her.

A very hard reality crashed through the silence, and it all came rushing back – screeching cars, liquid blurring her vision and pain careening through every inch of her body. One thing was missing: Peder’s grasp. She’d lost him.

Serena used her sleeve to wipe her eyes. Streetlights flickered and a few car horns blared in annoyance. She assessed her body. While every muscle and joint hurt, she seemed to be able to move, from her feet to the tips of her fingers. She sat up, getting a better view of her surroundings. A line of people cranked around a building, and a steady thrum of music came from within.

With a groan, she picked herself up. If she was going to get answers, go where the people were. The last thing she remembered was fighting Sidith and the battle after recovering the Time Scythe. In a perfect world, she needed time to rest, recuperate and figure out the Guild’s next move, but obviously, the universe had another idea. Each step brought a sharp jolt of pain in her right ankle. For now, she’d ignore it, and either it’d get better or it’d get worse and she’d have to address it. She longed for a magical amulet to take away the pain. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the forethought to pack any on her body.

As she neared the line, she noticed a certain theme: lots of bangles and lace, ripped necks and bright colors. What the hell? She’d been transported from the tunnels under New Orleans to what appeared to be some sort of Eighties Night. She patted her hair, realizing what a mess she must be in. Her fingers came