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 in a 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. Why isn't he defending himself? Why isn't he fighting against me?

throws the

hands in the air in front of him, showing he doesn't intend to shoot. His eyes are wide, darting from James to me as he takes slow,

the shoulders, and throw me over top of him, flat on my back. The wind gets knocked out of me as I hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge my claws from his throat. I look up to see James grabbing his neck. Blood is gushing out between his fingers as he falls to the ground. My fangs and

to James' side and drops to his knees, "James, stay with me, man.” His voice isn't nearly as panicked as it should be. His eyes glaze over as he

I done?

before it's too late!” Lex

my eyes as I pull myself up. I can't catch my breath as I crawl next to James. What have I done? There's so much blood. James's

you, please, James? Please! Just blink if it's okay for

position myself next to his shoulder, surrounded by a growing pool of blood that soaking into the carpet. Marco looks at James with disbelief in his watery eyes. Then he looks at me and shakes his head slowly. His mouth opens and closes, but nothing

this,” I state to her as calmly as I can, which isn't very

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

spurts from the gaping wound. I feel like someone is squeezing my heart as I see the extent of the

and feel people around me, but they all fade away as I focus on saving James's life. I send my energy out into his body, pulling muscle and tendons back together. Fusing flesh, repairing tissue that I tore in half. I feel someone gently shaking me awake. There is an energy to their touch, intense but familiar and comforting. Why

of the darkness of sleep, I can hear a

place it. No one calls me Iokaste, except for Delilah's mom, Lady Camille. It definitely isn't her voice. Why does this woman sound so familiar? I slowly open my eyes. A bright light is shining through the doorway into the dark room, making it impossible to see anything

where are we?” I ask

You have important visitors,” her tone

is crouching next to the cot I'm laying on. I jolt up and push myself as far away from her as I can. My eyes adjust to the bright light from

Okay, weird. I try to focus to slow time down a little. If I can freeze these two women in

way to escape

that who

more clear with Lenora's strong features and signature

looks annoyed, "No, I'm not