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.

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

just James!

his pistol, but he has both hands in the air in front of him, showing he doesn’t intend to

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

the intruder to reach up, grab me by the shoulders, and throw me over top of him, flat on my

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

up to see James

his fingers as he falls

claws retract at the shock of seeing James bleeding

drops to his knees, "James, stay

voice isn’t nearly as panicked as

he mind links someone, then I

done? What have I done? "Kas,

stinging my eyes as I pull myself

I done?

is pale, his usually cheerful blue

no no no! Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just blink

stop the tears now.I force down a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position

looks at James with disbelief

looks at me and

opens and closes,

concentrate.We

which isn’t very calm at all.I

she whines, seeing James

hands away from

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

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

flesh, repairing tissue that I tore in

energy to their touch, intense but

do I feel like a truck hit me? As I come out of the

know that voice, but I

for Delilah’s mom, Lady

this woman sound so familiar? I slowly open

the dark room, making it impossible to see anything

where are we?" I

have important visitors," her tone is full

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

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

her a little, she will

focus to slow time down

freeze these two women in time, I can escape out the door and no one gets hurt.I try to

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

who I think

outline becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features and

annoyed, "No,

floor in front of the cot.I look more

metal wine glass toward me.Her long chocolate brown hair is in dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red