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

please! It's just James! You’re gonna to kill him!" he

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

from James to me as

to reach up, grab

I hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge

look up to see

is gushing out between his fingers as he falls to

and claws retract at the shock of seeing

side and drops to his knees, "James,

nearly as panicked as it

someone, then I watch in horror as Marco

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

the tears stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I

have I done? There’s so much

cheerful blue

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

slowly blinks.I position myself next to

at James with

at me and shakes

opens and closes, but

concentrate.We can

isn’t very calm at all.I wipe my tears away with my sleeve and

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

James’s hands away from his

someone is squeezing my heart as I see the extent of the damage my

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

flesh, repairing tissue that I tore in

energy to their touch, intense

a truck hit me? As I come out of the darkness of sleep, I can hear a woman

voice, but I can’t

Delilah’s mom, Lady

does this woman sound so familiar?

light is shining through the doorway into the dark room, making it

where are we?" I ask

important visitors," her tone is

laying on.I jolt up

from the doorway.I try to send energy to my

will back away.I concentrate on my

weird.I try to focus to slow time

the door and no one gets hurt.I try to focus, but again,

to escape around them, but the only exit

Is that who I

clear with Lenora’s strong

"No, I’m not Lenora.Are

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

back into a ponytail.She has scarlet