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.

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

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

holding his pistol, but he has both hands in the

darting from James to me

The split second of distraction is enough for the intruder to reach up, grab me by the shoulders, and throw me

the ground, forcing me

see James grabbing

is gushing out between his fingers as

the shock of seeing James bleeding out

side and drops to his knees, "James,

as panicked as it

someone, then I watch in horror

done? "Kas, don’t just sit there.Heal him before

the tears stinging my eyes as I

done? There’s so much

pale, his usually cheerful

no no no no! Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please,

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

with

at me and shakes

opens and closes, but

Lex.Let’s concentrate.We

very calm

go," she whines, seeing James

James’s hands away from

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

around me, but they all fade away as I focus on saving James’s life.I send my energy out into his body,

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

energy to their touch, intense

out of the darkness of

that voice, but

me Iokaste, except for Delilah’s mom, Lady

so

into the dark room, making it impossible to see anything

where are we?" I

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

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

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

she will back away.I

focus to

I can freeze these two women in time, I can escape out the door

way to escape around them, but the only exit is the

a minute? Is that who I think it is?

clear with Lenora’s strong features and signature black

annoyed, "No, I’m not Lenora.Are you

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

a metal wine glass toward me.Her long chocolate brown hair is in dreadlocks pulled back into a