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.

Just as his knees hit the ground,

Luna, please! It's just James! You’re gonna

hands in the air in front of him,

from James to me as he takes slow, deliberate steps towards

distraction is enough for the intruder to reach up, grab me

as I hit the ground, forcing me

to see

between his fingers as he falls to

fangs and claws retract at the shock

drops

isn’t nearly as panicked as it

then I watch in horror as Marco

have I done? "Kas, don’t just

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

have I done? There’s

face is pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes

sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please!

cry, not able to 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 pool

looks at James with disbelief

he looks at me

mouth opens and closes,

concentrate.We can do

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

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

gently pull James’s hands away from

to pour out in spurts from the gaping wound.I feel like someone is squeezing my heart as I see the extent of the damage my claws made.I

around me, but they all fade away as I focus on saving James’s life.I send my energy out into his body,

repairing tissue that I tore in half.I feel

their touch, intense but familiar

of the darkness of sleep, I

know that voice, but

except for Delilah’s mom, Lady

does this woman sound so familiar? I

bright light is shining through the doorway into the dark room, making it impossible to see

are we?"

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

crouching next to the cot I'm laying on.I jolt up and push myself as far away from her as I

adjust to the bright light from the

her a little, she will back away.I concentrate

try to focus to slow time down a

freeze these two women in time, I can escape out the door and no

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

a minute? Is that who I

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

woman looks annoyed, "No, I’m

points to the other woman, who is sitting on the floor in front of the cot.I look more carefully

into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as