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.

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

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

has both hands in the air in front

James to me

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

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

up to see

is gushing out between his fingers as

retract at the shock of seeing James bleeding out from his

side and drops to his knees, "James, stay with

as panicked as

someone, then I watch in horror as Marco consoles his

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

have I done? There’s

is pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy

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

and slowly blinks.I position myself next to his shoulder,

looks at James with disbelief in his

he looks at me and shakes

opens and closes, but nothing

concentrate.We

can, which isn’t very calm at all.I wipe my tears away

she

pull James’s hands away

from the gaping wound.I 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 and close

distance, I can hear and feel people around me, but they all fade away as I focus on saving James’s life.I send my energy out into his body, pulling muscle

tore in half.I feel someone

to their touch, intense but

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

voice, but I can’t place

me Iokaste, except for Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It

so familiar? I

dark room, making it impossible to see

where are we?"

now, Kas.You have important visitors,"

cot I'm laying on.I jolt up and push myself as far away

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

little, she will back away.I

focus to slow time

these two women in time, I can escape out the door and no one gets hurt.I try to focus, but again, nothing

trapped.I look around to see if there is a way to escape around them, but the only exit is the door the woman is standing

a minute? Is that who

becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features and signature

looks annoyed, "No, I’m not

the other woman, who is sitting on the floor in front

me.Her long chocolate brown hair is in dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as blood.Her sun-weathered skin makes her look older than