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.

fighting against me? Just as his knees hit the ground, Marco throws the apartment door open

It's just James!

but he has both hands in the air in front

me as he

distraction is enough for the intruder to reach up, grab me by the shoulders, and throw me over top of

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

up to see James

out between his fingers as he falls

shock

James’ side and drops to his knees,

voice isn’t nearly as panicked

mind links someone, then I watch in horror as Marco consoles his

I done? "Kas, don’t

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

have I done? There’s

usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy and far

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

me and slowly

James with

he looks at me and shakes his

mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes

concentrate.We

calm at

she whines,

pull James’s hands

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

can hear and feel people around me, but they all fade away as I focus

in half.I feel someone

energy to their

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

voice, but

except for Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It definitely isn’t her

so familiar? I slowly open

doorway into the dark room, making it impossible to see

are we?"

visitors," her tone is

the cot I'm laying on.I jolt up and

eyes adjust to the bright light from the

I can burn her a little, she will back away.I concentrate on my energy,

try to focus to slow time down

in time, I can escape out the door and no

look around to see if there is a way to escape around

that who I

her outline becomes more clear

looks annoyed, "No,

floor in front of

back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as blood.Her sun-weathered skin