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 ground, Marco

It's just James!

has both hands in the air in

from James to me

the intruder to reach up, grab me by the

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

up to see James grabbing his

out between his fingers

at the shock of seeing James

side and drops to his knees, "James,

nearly as

eyes glaze over as he mind links someone, then I watch in horror as Marco consoles his

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

head.I can feel the tears stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I can’t catch my breath as I crawl

done? There’s so

pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy and

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

stop the tears now.I force down a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position myself next to his shoulder, surrounded by a growing

James with disbelief in his

he looks at me and shakes his head

mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes

concentrate.We can

state to her as calmly as I can, which isn’t very calm at

she whines, seeing James fading

hands away from his

my heart as I see the extent of the damage my claws

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

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

to their touch,

I come out of the darkness of sleep, I can hear

know that voice, but I can’t place

except for Delilah’s

does this woman sound so familiar?

into the dark room,

we?" I ask

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

I'm laying on.I jolt up and push myself

the doorway.I try to send energy

burn her a little, she will back

try to focus to slow time

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

see if there is a way to escape around them, but the

Is that who I think

I ask as her outline becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features and signature black

woman looks annoyed, "No, I’m not Lenora.Are

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

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