Their moist lips mixed. Their saliva and sighs drowned in the lips of the other ended in a hodgepodge that ended up exciting them avidly, like two thirsty mortals. Caleb slowly lowered his hands to Evelyn's waist making slight caresses with the backs of his fingers while she shuddered at his touch; if she was standing, her legs would have already flagged. She stifled a sigh. Caleb clamped his fingers on Evelyn's waist and pinned her against him, as if trying desperately to hold her against him. But Evelyn did not stay still for long, no, she turned and stood face to face on him, propelling herself with one side of her arm. At no time did their lips part, even when they laughed at the skill of the girl.
“I see you have more experience than you appear,” Caleb commented between kisses.
Laughing and kissing, Evelyn asked:
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, you know...”
As she pulled her face back a little, she noticed Caleb raise his eyebrows and smile sideways. Of course she knew what he was talking about, but the truth was that Evelyn did not have experience. She walked away from him, blushing and letting out her breath in a deep exhalation, and got up from the bed.
“What's going on? “Caleb asked. Although her back was turned, Evelyn could imagine the bewildered face the boy had put on.
“I never...” She paused and turned to face him. “I've been with no one. Like that”
“You are the first,” she would have said, but she was confident that her point had already been clarified.
Caleb rolled his eyes, though he knew how to disguise his impression quickly.
“Yes,” he said, and only that.
“I'd better go,” she announced, nervously, as she made a move to approach the door.
“Wait,” she heard Caleb say, very late, she had already left and closed the door.
Too nervous, Evelyn did not notice that Juno was after her when she turned around. She was startled, certainly, and put her hand to her heart, stifling a sigh and an exclamation.
“I'm sorry,” Juno apologized. “I just came to see the professor, and he asked me to let you know he's waiting for you right now, in the lab, for your lesson today. And this time,” she added with evident pleasure, “I will participate in it.”
* * *
Juno accompanied her to the laboratory. Evelyn was silent all the way, trying to get out of her mind what had happened a moment ago so as not to digress during Professor Kerr's lesson.
Kerr was waiting for her, as she did almost every day, sitting in the swivel office chair next to the large desk. On the plain there was only a sheet with some points on it, it was a question that the professor usually prepared before each lesson to not forget any of the points that would be treated that day. The professor did not flinch when he saw Juno enter, so Evelyn understood that the girl had been right about her participation in that day's lesson.
“I think Juno already told you about the collaboration that she will have in your lesson today,” said the professor while the girls occupied two metal benches that were next to Kerr's chair.
Eve nodded.
“Will you wonder why?” The professor gave Juno a fond glance before returning her to Evelyn. “Do you remember what I told you when you asked me to tell you about the Great Catastrophe?”
Evelyn nodded again.
“Everything in its time,” she said.
“Yeas.” Kerr laughed eloquently. “Everything in its time. And before the Great Catastrophe other events occurred. In the hover, and after those terrible days that darkened the population of this city and the world, people began to call such events Days of Fury.”
“Days of Fury,” Eve repeated mentally. She frowned slightly. Again that name: Fury.
“That's what our lesson is about today,” Kerr continued. “For that reason the presence of Juno is important. Who better than her to tell you about the Days of Fury?” He asked, a smile widening on his lips. “In addition, in his story he will also interject some events of the Great Catastrophe to season everything.”
“Do you have any questions before I start?” Juno said very seriously.
Evelyn cleared her throat.
“Yes,” she replied. “Why have you decided to tell me this now?”
“Because in a week, exactly, those days of fury will start,” Juno answered impassively. “And because at some point you had to know, right?”
Evelyn had another question.
“Those days have something to do with me?”
Juno frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Eve said hesitantly. “Since I came here, they have hardly stopped calling me Fury. Days of Fury,” she added with special emphasis on those last words and raised her eyebrows. “Do I have something to do with that? I…?”
“No,” Juno cut her off. “You have nothing to do, now, shut up and listen...”
“But…”
“I do not like interruptions,” Juno said firmly; her look was ruthless.
Evelyn, her mouth agape, looked away from the professor.
Kerr shrugged and raised his eyebrows several times with amusement.
“Better listen to her," he advised Evelyn. “Juno has the same temperament as her grandmother.”
“I'll tell you everything from the beginning,” Juno began in a more peaceful tone. “It may sound unusual to you, but nobody knows what the beginning is. It all started with the arrival of the pyxis to our dimension. Nobody knows who let them in or how many of them are scattered around the world. No one knows how long they have been with us, nor what their true purpose is. We are sure of something: humans are their main objective of extermination.
—After the outbreak of the Great Catastrophe, a woman brought together the brightest minds in the world. At least those that still remained glistening among the clouds of thick ash. That woman found a man capable of creating a time machine to achieve what was believed impossible. That woman brought together the most powerful men in Asia and invited them to contribute to their cause. That woman managed to reconcile the great nations that for years had been united in a terrible war that plunged the world into the dark gloom of death. Her name is synonymous with courage, determination and respect. Heart, above all.
—her name is Evelyn.” At that moment he looked at the woman and sketched a satisfied smile, and added: “Nobody, however, calls her that.
—for the rest of the world, her only true name is Fury.
—Fury managed to do all those things that have kept us in unity during the last twenty years of my time.
—Fury became the main founder of the most advanced technology agency of our time; she became its director and a primordial participant in the most daring missions against the pyxis. It has many achievements and, more importantly, the respect and admiration of all the nations that managed to survive the Great Catastrophe.
—the Days of Fury began in mid-August of two thousand and seventeen. Perhaps you have looked a little at the news, and you know that the tension between the United States, Russia and North Korea is at a very dangerous boiling point. The pyxis plan begins with the assassination of the Russian foreign minister, Sergéi Igoryck Petrov, who will come to the United States in a week to discuss political issues that are not relevant now. The death of the Russian chancellor will be attributed to the North Korean regime, which will send a delegate to participate in the dialogue table. There the whole conflict will start. There the first victim will die for the cause of the pyxis.
—In less than two months the great world powers will face each other in a disastrous nuclear war that will end the lives of millions of innocents; whole nations of South America, Europe and Asia will be devastated. And shortly before that happens, the pyxis will open a portal between its dimension and ours to bring more of its own. Billions of these creatures will populate our world and hunt down humans who survive nuclear war.
—that will be the first step to the beginning o
f the end, as people will call it while everything happens.
—for us, the future men, are Days of Fury...”
“Do you mean that everything will happen soon?” Evelyn interrupted.
Juno glared at her.
“I’ve told you that…!”
“That's right, Evelyn,” the professor said in a most cordial tone. “As Juno has told you, in a week exactly will begin the Days of Fury, starting with the death of Sergei Petrov and the pantomime to blame the North Koreans.”
Evelyn jumped to her feet almost at once.
“And then... the war?”
“Not if we prevent the chancellor's murder from taking place,” Juno replied. “We suspect that if we avoid that, the pyxis will also be able to open the portal that will bring more of theirs to our dimension. War between humans will be avoided, but not war against pyxis.”
“And later?” Eve wanted to know; the voice came out very sharp.
Juno crossed her arms before her chest, snorted and tilted her head, angry.
“What do you mean, then?” She asked.
“She wants to know if the future will change if we configure the events of the past,” Kerr said with a gentle smile. “And the answer is yes... Well, everything depends on what may happen next. Juno was right when she said that we do not know how many pyxis there are in our dimension, so we will not know for sure if we have finished with them in their entirety.” He sighed before adding, “If that's the case, there's nothing to fear. Fury will save us!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The following days were especially hard. Tadhg intensified her combat lessons and Kerr continued with the Pyxirian language lessons. Evelyn ended the days physically and mentally exhausted. Despite this, her nights were warm and comforting in the company of Caleb. Just thinking about Caleb gave her a glowing smile and her cheeks lit up.
Caleb was at her side almost at all times: the breakfasts, the trainings, the pyxirian-language lessons, the physiological exams that Claire performed to check that she was no wear, at the dinners with the rest of the Agency, at the sleepless nights spent together, looking at each other and kissing each other. Evelyn was very grateful to him for being her foothold when she needed it the most.
The days of fury were about to approach. On the morning of the third day after Kerr and Juno were told about the matter, Evelyn was informed of her exclusion from the mission.
“I’ll not go with you?!” She exploded.
“It’s very dangerous,” Rhys argued more peacefully. “If something happens to you, none of this will have been worth it. And if things do not go well for us, the best thing is that you're away from everything as it happens.”
“Then why…?”
“You are our most important mission. I would like to give you an explanation that would calm your discomfort but I do not have one.
“I'll go with you.”
“No,” Tadhg growled, uncrossing his large arms and casting a scorching glance at her. “You will stay here. That’s all.”
“I am…”
“… my mother?” The future man cut short, looked at his sister and then at Evelyn; he added in a calmer tone, “We received a message from the future through Sally,” he said. “Rob has asked us not to involve you in this.”
“Rob,” Eve murmured, absorbed. “But I must...”
Rhys approached her and took her hands gently, her smile always a balm when Eve needed it. But there was no smile on the girl's face, only a look drenched in tears and a feverish line on her lips that tried to smile without success.
The following days, yes, they were hard, difficult. Lessons after lessons... for what?
If Evelyn was not going to participate in the days that were to come then why should she continue training? However, she did not dare to take a haughty attitude towards the agents of the future. That was what they expected of her, the attitude of a sixteen-year-old girl. And she was not going to give them the pleasure. This was one of those cases where pride was the best shield ... Or so she thought.
* * *
The pyxirian-language lessons with Professor Kerr became more and more complicated. But Eve could already understand the fluctuating language and mumble some words with perfect pronunciation. The written part was not more complicated, since the language was quite closed.
Kerr scribbled a long sentence on a sheet of paper and set Evelyn to translate it. If she did it perfectly, then he would have learned everything he had to know about pyxis. If not, Kerr had promised to restart with the pyxirian-language lessons from scratch. Evelyn did not trust that it was true, but she was not willing to tempt fate either.
The professor slid the sheet with the sentence to Evelyn over the table.
Them-II-ú-Rem / Pelgrò-um-Ettner-Cuur-i-Vûble / comme-Veèd / II-immó-X-imp
Eve read the contents aloud and without hesitation:
TIME IS A WHEEL / THE DANGER LIES IN ITS ENDLESS CURVE, CLOSED AND DIZZY / LIKE LIFE / IS IRREFLEXIVE, BUT CHANGEABLE
Evelyn looked up at the professor.
“What is it?” She asked with a slight frown.
“It’s part of a poem I wrote a long time ago,” Kerr explained with a muffled smile. He shook his head and his lips widened. “But you've done them very well, Evelyn,” he said. “You will be glad to know that you have finished your lessons with me. Now, do me the favor and call Caleb!”
* * *
During that last week Evelyn's workouts became more intense, although she did not find any reason; after all, I was not going to participate in the days of fury. Tadhg was always haughty, and sometimes smirked, as if he expected Eve's good attitude to decay whenever he reminded her about it, whether it was making a comment to Rhys or raising her eyebrows every time another agent also I talked about it.
Evelyn never gave up. I was proud
Tadhg was also, and bad-tempered too. The tension between him and Caleb had diminished considerably in the last week, partly because Evelyn had intervened in each of their meetings. Whatever the reason for Caleb's terrible emotional distress for Tadhg, she had decided not to be aware. She avoided asking future questions and tried to concentrate on her combat lessons. And in Caleb.
Two nights before the beginning of the days of fury, someone knocked on the door of her room. That happened after she just arrived from a crushing day of practice.
“What are you doing here?” She heard herself say in a very sharp voice.
Becca looked up; his face was undaunted.
“I've come to apologize.”
“Do you?” She crossed her arms to her chest and frowned a little. “It's a bit late, do not you think?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Eve smiled. “It's almost midnight.”
Becca opened her eyes wide and also smiled, as if she had heard a joke.
“You mean…?” She shook her head and the smile faded. “Forget this. Maybe you're right, it's too late.”
She turned to leave, but stopped when Evelyn called.
“I hear you,” she said.
Becca tensed. Possibly it was the first time she was in that position. And, perhaps, also the last one.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The night before the first day of fury, Evelyn visited Caleb's room as she usually did. She knew that night would be different; she felt a strange tingling in my stomach. She’d previously passed through Rhys's room, which, it seemed, had more understanding of men than Evelyn.
Caleb opened the door. She entered, more nervous than usual, and sat on the bed.
Caleb stood at the door with a look of bewilderment on his face. He was staring at her. Evelyn shuddered.
“What's going on?” He asked.
“Nothing,” Eve answered without conviction.
“I do not think anything happens to you.”
“Nothing happens. I'm a little upset.”
Caleb went up to Evelyn and sat next to her; he took her hand
in his and kissed the back. She shuddered again. Caleb made her world shake, it staggered. The lighting in the room was intimate, since the only light came only from the lamp that was on the bedside table. Evelyn felt a hollow in her stomach as Caleb's bright gray eyes met hers.
“If it's any consolation,” he said, “they haven’t allowed me to participate in the days of fury either.”
“How? You know?”
“Dawit told me yesterday while I practiced a key in the training room.” He put his hand back; he began to massage the back of his neck and made a gesture of pain. “It's terrible, do not you think?”
Evelyn nodded with downcast eyes.
“Does nothing really happen to you?”
“I told you no.”
“Don't seem...”
Caleb broke off when Evelyn's lips rushed to his. They gave themselves passionately to the kiss, as it often did. But this time it was different. Caleb's caresses were hot, where the touch of his fingers impregnated her; she also touched him, and kissed him. Eve felt a burning sensation building in her chest. She knew that the moment had come that she had most feared and wanted in her life since she had been aware of its existence. Feared, because she had heard that it would hurt. Wanted, because she knew that if that moment ever arrived she would do it with the right person. And that person was Caleb.
Caleb looked at her with intensity and Eve shuddered like a branch shaken by the wind. The boy's eyes glistened in the dim darkness like heat stars. Evelyn threw herself into his arms and he received her, and so they were, hugged, on the narrow bed, she lying on him, and Caleb putting his hands under her shirt and rubbing her back. As Evelyn sobbed with relief, finally giving herself up to him, Caleb whispered kisses to her neck and stuck his fingers into her coarse dark hair.
Days of Fury (Future Men Series Book 1) Page 20
