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.

isn’t he fighting against me? Just as his knees hit the

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

he has both hands in the air in

wide, darting from James to me as he takes slow, deliberate steps

to reach up, grab me by the shoulders,

gets knocked out of me as I hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge

see James grabbing

out between his fingers as

at the shock of seeing

to James’ side and drops to his knees, "James,

nearly as panicked as it should

eyes glaze over as he mind links someone, then I watch in horror

What have I done? "Kas,

eyes as I pull myself up.I can’t catch my

I done?

usually cheerful blue eyes look glassy and

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

looks to me and slowly blinks.I

James with disbelief

me and shakes his

mouth opens and closes, but

concentrate.We

calm at all.I wipe my tears away

Kas.Let’s go," she whines, seeing

pull James’s hands away from

see the extent of

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

tissue that I tore in half.I feel someone

their

hit me? As I come out of the darkness

that voice, but I

calls me Iokaste, except for Delilah’s mom, Lady

this woman sound so familiar? I slowly open my

doorway into the dark room, making it impossible to

are we?"

important visitors," her tone is full

crouching next to the cot I'm laying on.I jolt

eyes adjust to the bright light from the

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

to slow time

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

escape around them, but the only exit is the door the woman is

minute? Is that who I think it

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

"No, I’m not Lenora.Are

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

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