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.

as his knees hit

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

hands in the air in front of him, showing he doesn’t intend to

from James to me

split second of distraction is enough for the intruder to reach up, grab me by the shoulders,

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

look up to see James grabbing

is gushing out between his fingers

fangs and claws retract at the shock of seeing James bleeding out from

and drops

isn’t nearly as

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

What have I done? What have I done?

tears stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I can’t

done? There’s

usually cheerful blue eyes look

Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal

down a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position myself next to his shoulder, surrounded by a growing pool of blood that

James with disbelief in his watery

he looks at me and

mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes

concentrate.We can

as I can, which isn’t very calm at

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

gently pull James’s hands away from his

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

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

that I tore in half.I feel

to their

of the darkness of sleep,

know that voice, but

except for Delilah’s

so familiar? I slowly

dark room, making

are we?" I ask

important visitors,"

is crouching next to the cot I'm laying on.I jolt up and push myself

from the doorway.I

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

focus to slow time

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

trapped.I look around to see if there is a way to escape around them, but the

minute? Is that who

becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong

annoyed, "No, I’m not Lenora.Are you

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

me.Her long chocolate brown hair is in dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as blood.Her sun-weathered