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.

his knees hit the ground, Marco throws the apartment door open and

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

his pistol, but he has both hands in the air in

from James to me

up, grab me by the shoulders,

as I hit the ground,

see

is gushing out between his fingers

retract at the shock of seeing James bleeding out from

to James’ side and drops to his knees,

voice isn’t nearly as panicked as

glaze over as he mind links someone, then I watch

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

as I pull myself up.I can’t catch my breath as I

I done?

face is pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes look

so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just blink if it's okay

the tears now.I force down a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position myself next to his shoulder, surrounded by a growing

with disbelief

looks at me and shakes his

and closes, but nothing

concentrate.We

state to her as calmly as I can, which isn’t very calm at all.I wipe my tears away with my sleeve

my energy, Kas.Let’s go," she whines,

hands away from his

my heart as I see the extent of the damage my

feel people around me, but they all fade away as I

flesh, repairing tissue that I tore in half.I feel someone gently

energy to their touch,

hit me? As I come out of the darkness of sleep, I

voice, but I can’t place

calls me Iokaste, except for Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It definitely

this woman sound so familiar?

light is shining through the doorway into the dark room,

where are we?" I

now, Kas.You have important visitors," her tone is

I'm laying on.I jolt up and push myself as far away from

the bright light from the doorway.I try

her a little, she will back away.I concentrate

focus to slow time

two women in time, I can escape out the door

to escape

a minute? Is that who I think

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

annoyed, "No, I’m not Lenora.Are you

woman, who is sitting on the floor in front of the cot.I look more carefully

is in dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as blood.Her sun-weathered skin makes