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.

isn’t he fighting against me? Just as his knees hit the

James! Luna, please! It's just James!

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

darting from James to me as he takes slow, deliberate

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

I hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge

up to see

fingers as he falls

the shock of

to James’ side and drops to his

voice isn’t nearly as panicked as it should

links someone, then I watch in horror as Marco consoles

What have I done? "Kas, don’t just sit there.Heal him before it’s too

the tears stinging my eyes as I pull

have I done? There’s so much

pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes

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

a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position myself next

looks at James with disbelief in his

he looks at me

opens and closes, but

Lex.Let’s concentrate.We can

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

Kas.Let’s go," she whines, seeing James fading on

hands away

my heart as I see the extent of the damage

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

I tore in half.I feel

is an energy to their touch, intense but familiar

the darkness of sleep, I can hear

voice, but

calls me Iokaste, except for Delilah’s

woman sound so familiar? I slowly open my

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

where are we?"

have important visitors," her tone is

I'm laying on.I jolt up

bright light from the doorway.I try

I can burn her a little, she will back away.I concentrate on my energy, but nothing

to slow time

these two women in time, I can escape out the door and no one gets

trapped.I look around to see if there is a way to escape around them, but

minute? Is that who I think

her outline becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features

"No, I’m not

in front of the cot.I look more carefully at the

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