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.

Why isn’t he fighting against me? Just as his

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

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

to me as he takes slow, deliberate steps towards

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

hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge my claws from his

to see James grabbing his

between his fingers as he falls

the shock of seeing James bleeding out from his

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

nearly as panicked as it should

glaze over as he mind links someone, then I

my Goddess! What have I done? What have I done? "Kas, don’t just sit there.Heal him before

yells in my head.I can feel the tears stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I

I done? There’s so

usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy

I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just blink

looks to me and slowly blinks.I position myself

James with

he looks at me and shakes his head

mouth opens and closes, but nothing

Lex.Let’s concentrate.We can do

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

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

pull James’s hands

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

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

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

their touch,

out of the

voice, but

for Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It definitely

sound so familiar? I slowly open

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

are we?"

visitors," her tone is

jolt up and push myself as far away from her as I

light from the doorway.I try to send

will back away.I concentrate on my

weird.I try to focus to slow time down a

the door and no

if there is a way to escape around them, but

who

becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features and

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

who is sitting on the floor in front of

into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises,