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

just James! You’re gonna

but he has both hands in the air in front of him, showing he doesn’t

me

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

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

to see James grabbing his

is gushing out between his fingers as

at the shock of seeing James bleeding out

to James’ side and drops to his knees,

nearly as panicked

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

I done?

my eyes as I pull myself up.I

have I done? There’s so

his usually cheerful blue eyes look

no! Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal

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 of

at James with

at me

mouth opens and closes,

Lex.Let’s concentrate.We can do

very calm

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

James’s hands away

as I see the extent of the damage my claws made.I place my hands over his neck and close my eyes

all fade away as I focus on saving James’s

I tore in half.I feel someone gently

to their touch, intense but familiar and

come out of the darkness of sleep,

that voice, but

except for Delilah’s mom, Lady

so familiar?

the dark room, making it impossible to see anything except

are we?" I ask

important visitors," her

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

bright light from the

can burn her a little, she will back away.I concentrate on my energy, but

try to focus to slow

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

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

who I think it is?

more clear with Lenora’s strong

annoyed, "No, I’m

on the floor in front of the cot.I look more

into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as