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.

defending himself? Why isn’t he fighting against me? Just as his knees hit the ground, Marco throws the apartment door open and comes rushing

NO! Stop! It’s James! Luna, please! It's just James! You’re gonna to kill him!"

has both hands in the

eyes are wide, darting from James to me as he takes slow,

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

hit the

to see James grabbing his

gushing out between his fingers as he falls to the

at the shock of seeing James

over to James’ side and drops to his knees,

nearly as panicked

eyes glaze over as he mind links someone, then I

I done? What have I done?

stinging my eyes as I

done? There’s

his usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy and far

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

me and slowly blinks.I position myself next to

with

looks at me and shakes

mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes

concentrate.We can

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

you all my energy, Kas.Let’s go," she whines, seeing James fading on

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

away as I focus on saving James’s life.I send

that I tore in half.I feel

an energy to their touch, intense but

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

but I can’t place

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

so familiar? I slowly open

into the dark room, making it

are we?"

now, Kas.You have important visitors,"

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

bright light from the doorway.I try to

can burn her a little, she will back

focus to slow

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

escape around them, but the only exit is

a minute? Is that who I

outline becomes more clear with

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

is sitting on the floor in front of the cot.I look

is holding a metal wine glass toward 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