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.

himself? Why isn’t he fighting against me? Just as his knees hit the ground, Marco throws the apartment door open and comes rushing

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

he has both hands in the

are wide, darting from James to me as he takes slow, deliberate steps towards

up, grab me by the shoulders, and throw me

the ground, forcing me to dislodge

look up to see James grabbing

is gushing out between his fingers

claws retract at the shock of seeing James bleeding out from

side and drops to his knees, "James, stay with

voice isn’t nearly as panicked as it should

then I

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

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

I done? There’s so

usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy

sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just

and slowly blinks.I position myself

with disbelief

he looks at me and shakes his

closes,

Lex.Let’s concentrate.We can do

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

she whines, seeing

gently pull James’s hands away from his

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

I focus on saving James’s

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

energy to their touch, intense but familiar

I come out of the darkness of sleep,

know that voice, but I can’t place

for Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It definitely

sound so familiar? I slowly open

through the doorway into the dark room, making

are we?" I

important visitors,"

jolt up

light from the doorway.I try to

if I can burn her a little, she will back

to focus to slow

I can escape out the door and no one gets hurt.I try to

my Goddess.I’m trapped.I look around to see if there is a way to escape around

minute? Is that who I think

more clear with Lenora’s strong features and

"No,

in front of

glass toward me.Her long chocolate brown hair is in dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail.She has