Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 16

Kas’s POV

According to the clock, it’s one in the afternoon.

My stomach growling rouses me out of bed.

Before he left, Bronx said Mrs.Miller was going to bring food up to the apartment.

Seems as good a time as any to go see what goodies she brought up.

I go into the walk-in closet and find a pair of sweatpants and an oversized shirt.

As I’m getting dressed, my mind churns with the events from yesterday, trying to put some sense to all of it.

How did I end up in the pool in the first place? Where have I been for the last four days? I think they are questions best thought about over a turkey sandwich and hopefully a banana.I put my hair up ina floppy bun before I head out to the kitchen.

As I get to the bedroom door, I smell someone’s scent.

It definitely isn’t Bronx’s dark chocolate and coffee scent that I love so much, besides, he told me he was going to the office.

This scent is out of place in my home and I'll be damned if I’m disappearing for another four days.

My brain immediately switches from questions of my disappearance to defense mode.

I let my fangs and claws extend, ready to attack as I slowly, quietly crack the door open.

A large man is standing half-way between the bedroom door and the sofa with his back facing me.

He is in jeans and a white t-shirt with his arms crossed in front of him as if he’s waiting for something.

All the training James and Marco have given me over the past year floods into my brain.

If I can get a foot planted on the small of his back, I can get leverage over him and try to bring him down.

"Kas, what are you doing?" Lex hisses at me.

"Attacking a man who broke into my apartment.I’m not getting kidnapped again, Lex.What do you think I’m doing?" I snap.

"Kas, that’s just-"

"Not now, Lex," I interrupt.

Before she can respond again, I let a purple aura build around me.I suppress a growl as I launch myself at the man from behind.

One foot securely lands on the small of his back while my knee is between his shoulder blades, giving me leverage to lean back without falling off of him.

My hands wrap tightly around his thick neck at the same time.He lets out a strangled cry as my claws bury deep into his windpipe.He grabs my wrists and starts to pull, but not enough to throw me off of his back.

The growl I was suppressing lets loose from my chest, making the room rumble as he grabs me.I start to push my claws deeper into his neck, pulling them back toward my body at the same time.I can feel his pulse quicken against my fingertips as I get closer to his jugular.

The metallic scent of blood is thick in the air as he drops to his knees.

Something's wrong.

he fighting against me? Just as his knees

James! Luna, please! It's just James! You’re gonna

is holding his pistol, but he has both hands in the air in front of him, showing

are wide, darting from James to me as he

distraction is enough for the intruder to reach up, grab me by the shoulders, and throw me over top of

of me as I hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge my

to see James grabbing his

his fingers

retract at the shock of seeing James bleeding

races over to James’ side and drops to

voice isn’t nearly as

links someone, then I watch in horror as

my Goddess! What have I done? What have I done? "Kas, don’t

stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I

I done? There’s so much

pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy

no no! Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just blink if it's okay for me to

slowly blinks.I position myself next to his shoulder, surrounded by a growing pool

at James with disbelief in his watery

he looks at me and

closes, but nothing

concentrate.We

calm at all.I wipe my tears

you all my energy, Kas.Let’s go," she whines, seeing

hands away

in spurts from the gaping wound.I feel like someone is squeezing my heart as I see the extent of the damage my claws made.I place my hands over his neck and close my eyes

hear and feel people around me, but they all fade away as I focus on saving James’s life.I send my energy

I tore in half.I feel someone gently shaking

to their touch, intense but familiar

As I come out of the darkness of sleep,

voice, but

Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It definitely isn’t

does this woman sound so familiar? I slowly

through the doorway into the dark room, making it impossible to see anything

we?" I ask

visitors," her tone is full of

woman is crouching next to the cot I'm laying on.I jolt up and push myself as far away from her as

eyes adjust to the bright light from the doorway.I try to send

will back away.I concentrate on

try to focus to slow time down

the door and no one

if there is a way to escape around them, but the only exit is the door the woman

who I think

her outline becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features and

annoyed, "No,

in front of the

back into a ponytail.She has