Days of Fury (Future Men Series Book 1)

by B. J. Castillo

  In addition, the lessons with professor Kerr continued on a regular basis. Apparently, the pyxis had developed a language of their own that manifested itself both verbally and in writing, and the future men had managed to interpret it to be used against the enemy. During that time Kerr had instructed Evelyn and Caleb in the pyxirian-language, as the professor had aptly called it. Written, the pyxirian-language was a truncated and difficult imitation of Ancient Greek, letters of an alphabet that seemed more numbers than letters. Vocally, the pyxirian wasn’t so complicated but quite funny to talk, because they had to roll their tongue back and mumble the words in droves, causing a terrible lack of song and that the corners of the lips were dripping saliva.

  However, Evelyn had defended herself quite well in the opinion of Professor Kerr; she had made an excellent pronunciation and had written with perfect grammar the written language of the pyxis. Caleb, however, was another matter entirely.

  After the incident between Caleb and Tadhg—and a small participation of Evelyn—in the training room, they had been decided that Dawit would be the only one in charge of Caleb's instructions, and that during that time, Tadhg would not show a single eye in the room. Stay for no reason. It was better to be safe than sorry, and everyone had agreed to it. The next morning, after that incident, Tadhg had appeared in the dining room for breakfast as if nothing had happened, although the cardinal who exhibited on his cheek said otherwise.

  As for Rhys... Rhys became, in the absence of Tabita, a valuable ally and friend. Sometimes she and Evelyn stayed late into the night whispering about girls stuffs: secrets of beauty, personal hygiene and love. Rhys told Eve of her genuine interest in the CIA agent, Brian, who was apparently one of history's great heroes in the future, and Rhys was very excited to meet him personally at that time.

  On the other hand, Eve told Rhys about everything it’s happened between her and Caleb while the Agency slept; the approach they’d had and the undeniable physical and sexual attraction that was growing every day.

  The month passed like this, between quiet days and hectic days, bright days and dark days. Evelyn had not stopped thinking about her father in all that time, or in Tabita and the life she had left behind after that night when a man broke into the door of her house and claimed to come from the future. A month had passed since then, and it seemed like a short eternity sectioned out in a dozen hours. A month had passed, and she was still full of questions about the future and the present.

  It’s August.

  THIRD PART

  August

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  At least once a week, the shelters, accompanied by their agent’s guardians, leave the facilities of the Agency to not lose communication with the outside. Jim was a young intellectual and liked to stay in the corners of the Public Library. The shy Hailee never left. Instead, Becca dragged Tadhg back and forth across the city.

  There was only one rule: do not visit family or friends.

  * * *

  Evelyn sighed and narrowed her eyes at Tadhg, who, silent and focused, was driving the black truck through the quiet neighborhoods of the Upper East Side.

  “Where we go?” She asked.

  Tadhg relaxed his frown and hesitated a moment, as if suddenly remembering that she was at his side.

  “The prime material for chemical potions has run out,” he said. “These last weeks we have spent more ettalim, callsium and drafta than ever before.” As he stared at the mirror in the rear-view mirror, he added, “And because things are so hectic these days, we can’t afford to run out of those elements. In addition, the potions need chemical materials that are prohibited at this time.”

  “Why does not the government provide them with these materials?” Eve asked. “I mean, after all it was the government that had the subsoil of the Public Library as facilities of the Agency, among other things.”

  Tadhg smiled.

  “That's right,” he agreed, and glanced quickly at Evelyn with an eyebrow. “But who do you think will pay for these materials?”

  “Ah.” Evelyn looked straight ahead. She thought about what had happened the night before: as Becca, in one of her outbursts of anger and jealousy against her, had discovered what Eve represented to Tadhg and to Rhys. “It affected her when she knew it; her face was a mask of real consternation,” she commented aloud. “Do you think I'll get over it one day?”

  Tadhg shrugged and turned the steering wheel.

  “It wasn’t affected her,” he said. “Rather, she was shocked. Last night I visited your room...”

  “What did he say?” Evelyn interrupted him.

  “First, that she was angry with me for having kept it from her and that she may never forgive me,” Tadhg replied neutrally. “Second: that she felt very ashamed of you for her behavior, and that it might have been different if she had known the whole truth from the beginning.”

  “She’s right with the first.” She flashed Tadhg a frowning look. “If she had known everything from the beginning...”

  “The law says...”

  “I know what the law says,” Evelyn cut him off authoritatively. “Regarding the second, I have my doubts.”

  “Why?”

  Evelyn looked back.

  “These weeks have been enough for me to get to know Becca better,” she said, “and I cannot imagine her telling anyone, not even you, that she feels embarrassed by her behavior.”

  “It's true,” Tadhg insisted.

  “Becca is very proud,” Evelyn continued vehemently. “She is the kind of person who spits at your food when you do not see her.” Tadhg smiled; she continued as if nothing. “Maybe she feels embarrassed, after all I'm...” She paused and sighed. “Well, you know... your mother.”

  Tadhg gave her an inquisitive peek.

  “And that has to do?”

  “Well,” she explained, “being the mother of the man she love, maybe she did think she should consider the situation with me.”

  “That's what I say,” he agreed, and after a pause he added, “Becca does not love me, by the way.”

  Eve let out a laugh.

  “You're quite receptive about attracting a woman's attention,” she pointed out. “So you have noticed how she sees you, and given how young she is, maybe she has not met another man, let alone one like you.”

  “Of course she has not met anyone like me,” Tadhg said in a satisfied tone. “There’s only one Tadhg. Besides, are you trying to say that I took away her virginity?”

  Evelyn shrugged naturally; when she realized what they were talking about, she blushed.

  “Why do we go around the same block again and again?” She asked in partly to change the subject, partly because she wanted to know the answer.

  “We need to make sure they're not following us,” Tadhg said, as he parked the van on the side of the street. “Apparently, the pyxis have identified our vehicles. They've been doing it since the night they hurt Rhys. Do you remember that they appeared out of nowhere in the hospital?” Evelyn nodded. “Well. Since then we have had to constantly change the license plates of the cars.”

  They left the van.

  “And how many cars do you have?” She asked as she closed the door.

  Tadhg closed his and smiled.

  “Four,” she said. “Now, come on, there are some things you should know before meeting Wayne.”

  “Who is Wayne?”

  “Siphrus Wayne is our chemist dealer,” Tadhg said before lifting a finger. “The first thing you have to know is that you should not ask questions.”

  The second thing she had to know was that she should not look him in the eye; the third, that she would not speak to him unless he asked her to; the fourth, which should not correspond to his absurd attempts at seduction; the fifth, she did not move much from one place to another; the sixth, that she should not touch anything unless Wayne handed it to him; the seventh...

  And so Tadhg continued, reciting his string of warnings,
until the door opened and they were surprised by a dark man, about the height of Tadhg, who was grinning from ear to ear. Eve received another warning from Tadhg through his gaze before they made their way inside the house.

  “Where is your sister?” Wayne asked as he led them down a narrow hallway to the living room. “And who is that beautiful bunny who comes with you?”

  Evelyn pressed her lips together; she noticed Tadhg as he looked away from her.

  “Rhys is a little indisposed by our last mission,” Tadhg answered. “And this beautiful little bunny is Fury, the new member of our group.”

  “Does she also come from the future?” He stopped, turned to them and looked Evelyn up and down.

  She glanced at Tadhg of do you know? And he nodded patiently.

  “Fury,” Wayne said, savoring the word, and turned all his attention to her. “How about mythology?” He raised an eyebrow and widened his lips in an overwhelming smile. He was more attractive than Evelyn had anticipated; so attractive, she allowed herself to break Tadhg's second rule and look him in the eye. “Are you as dangerous as a Fury?”

  Wayne had piercing brown eyes, bright. His brown hair and dreadlocks, very abundant, came to her waist. He was as tall as Tadhg, maybe a little more; although not more muscular. He was thin but strong, and from his arms, uncovered, veins protruded every time he tensed. It had a bright ring in the left nostril. He wore a shirt, which was perhaps white once, and faded sweatpants. He was barefoot.

  Tadhg stepped between them with his arms folded across his chest and frowning deeply.

  “She's very dangerous, I warn you,” he said in a voice that made it clear that he was more dangerous. “So stay as far away from her as possible,” he added.

  Wayne looked at him seriously for a long moment. Then he laughed and raised his hands with his palms open. He turned and approached a table.

  “Easy, Tadhg,” he said nonchalantly. “If she's yours, I respect it. Also, I think she's too young for either of you, don’t you think?”

  “He didn’t...” Eve began, but stopped when Tadhg gave her a withering look.

  She was breaking the third rule.

  Wayne turned to them as he lit a cigarette that he had pressed on his dark lips. No, it was not a cigarette. He clicked the tinder and sucked in a mouthful so that the flame could penetrate the tip of the cannabis.

  “I still like your sister.” He blew a little cloud of smoke through his mouth before adding, “Tell her I'm saying hello.”

  Tadhg smiled, surly.

  “I’ll do it.”

  At that moment Evelyn stopped to observe the pigsty place where they were. The windows were covered with cardboard that prevented the passage of light. The walls were gray, and not a nice gray. The furniture looked old and very used, almost shrunken and full of rubbish. The only light came from a lamp that hung in the center of the room. At the round table, which was at one end of the impoverished room, there were all kinds of things, most of them concerned the cannabis that Wayne smoked. The television, which was on the floor in front of the long, ramshackle sofa, was on and a chapter of Glee was going on.

  “Then,” Wayne continued after another puff. “What has brought my friends from the future here?”

  “You know what, Wayne,” Tadhg snapped, cutting.

  Wayne's eyes went back to slightly dig into Evelyn as he took another puff of cannabis.

  “The last time you were here was two months ago,” he began. “I did not think I would see you again so soon.” He smiled to himself. “But what things I say! Of course I was waiting for you. The city has been a little agitated by the wave of mysterious attacks that have happened to some of its inhabitants.” He gave another mouth, he expelled it, and continued: “There are also some deaths in Tribeca and also here on the East Side.”

  Tadhg frowned.

  “We haven’t received alerts in this part of the city,” he said seriously. “The pyxis have only attacked beyond the center.”

  Wayne raised an eyebrow.

  “It may not be the pyxis. Maybe it's just some killer who works as a hobby.” He shrugged and gave Evelyn a disguised look. “Anyway, I anticipated that you would come soon for more of the chemicals they need.” He turned his eyes and curled his lips. “Brian’s idiot has also passed by here.”

  “Brian was here? Evelyn heard herself say, and instantly received a withering look from Tadhg.

  “Yes,” said Wayne. “Doing your routine investigations and investigating murders, you know.” He lowered the hand that held the cannabis to the side of his body and sighed deeply; he gave another brief look at Evelyn. “I did not know that the CIA was also involved in all this. Brian tried to spray me with ettalim, but I told him it was too late for that.”

  He took another sip of cannabis and exhaled the smoke.

  “He made me a threat,” he added.

  “Which?” Tadhg asked.

  “Keep me away from Rhys,” he said. And he laughed angrily. “Can you believe it?! The poor idiot thinks he has possibilities with your sister.”

  “More possibilities than you, yes,” thought Evelyn.

  She’d shared enough time with Rhys to know what kind of boys she liked, and she had almost the same taste as Evelyn. Besides, it had taken Eve a few minutes to realize how irritating and self-important Wayne was, and the little detail of cannabis had detracted from him appeal.

  “You should listen to him,” Tadhg advised, reserved.

  Wayne opened and closed his mouth. He released his shoulders a little, took the cannabis to his mouth and took a deep sip. He exhaled the smoke and then started walking towards Tadhg. As he passed by his side, and before he leaving the room, he left the last piece of cannabis. Tadhg took it as a reflection rather than a desire, although Eve was not sure. He raised his hand.

  “Release that!” Evelyn snapped.

  Tadhg stood still on the spot.

  “What do you think you're doing?” she continued. “Do not you think...?”

  “Just a little bit will not hurt me.” He made a move to continue, but Evelyn stepped forward, slapped him, and the cannabis fell to the floor, where she topped it with her boots. Then she looked up and glared at Tadhg.

  “If I ever know that you've ever tried even a little,” he warned, “I'll do a vasectomy with the defibrillator, understand?”

  She lifted a finger as Tadhg had done a moment before entering Wayne’s house.

  Tadhg nodded several times.

  “What do you say about Caleb?” He said later.

  “What's wrong with him?” Eve looked at him with a slight frown.

  “I remember Caleb was a little drugged when we took him out of the edom.”

  Evelyn remembered it; she had seen his pupils dilated, and noticed his strange behavior. That subject had been one of the many who had spoken when she visited his room at night. There was no justification for the actions Caleb had committed, of course, but Evelyn understood them, especially after seeing the boy’s mother in the hospital.

  Eve blinked and turned, her back to Tadhg.

  Tadhg remained impassive, made no apology for her.

  “I knew I knew you from somewhere.”

  Evelyn turned. Wayne was standing in the doorway with a box in his hands. His eyes very open and his mouth was so wide that there was hardly a smile on his face. He leaned over, set the box on the floor, and then approached the couch to take the remote control. He tuned in to a news channel: they were warning about the strange events that had occurred in recent weeks in the city, in some specific areas. In addition, they talked about the disappeared; among them, Becca and Jim.

  “... Taddeus White's daughter is still missing,” said the reporter, “security chief of Governor Schmidt and his family...”

  Evelyn did not hear anymore. When she saw her image, on one side of the screen, she felt as if the ceiling were coming on top of her.

  Tadhg came up to her and put a hand on her sho
ulder.

  “Are you okay, Evelyn?” He asked with an audible concern.

  “Evelyn!” Wayne repeated. “So that’s your real name. Evelyn White.” He smiled jokingly.

  Tadhg turned to him, projecting all his anger, and took him by the front of his shirt. He threw it at the nasty couch. Wayne's eyes were wide open, as scared as a mouse watching the huge cat that was Tadhg. He approached him, took him again by the shirt, and shook him.

  “If you open your mouth again,” Tadhg threatened as he shook it with an impressive impetus, “I will come to draw your teeth one by one! Look at me when I talk to you! Have you understood what I have told you? Nod if you...”

  “Tadhg,” interrupted Evelyn quietly; she had not been disturbed by the scene of violence that she was witnessed, she was too stunned for that, “we better leave now.”

  “Let me finish with this son of...”

  “Now!” She exclaimed.

  Tadhg looked at her with wide eyes. He released Wayne, took the box he had left on the floor and signaled Evelyn to come forward. As she crossed the narrow corridor to the exit, she heard him threaten once again Wayne, who was too drugged to face Tadhg; and that she was grateful to herself, for it would have been terrible if both of them had been pummeled and Eve could do nothing to stop them except to spray them with littium.

  Her father was looking for her, Evelyn thought when she was in the car and it was underway. Surely the governor was using all his contacts to find her. She could not imagine the feeling her father was harboring in the face of her supposed disappearance; maybe he’d already given her up for dead.

  * * *

  “Why did you bring me here?” Evelyn asked as they descended the countless steps of the Central Park entrance. She looked at Tadhg with a slight frown.

  “I noticed you were very affected by what happened at Wayne's house,” he said. “I thought you could use a little air. And I know, maybe this is not the most appropriate place, but it has an important link for me.”