Free Everlong: (Book One of the Everlong Trilogy) by Nikki Morgan

smile. 'I see my reputation precedes me.'
    Hyperion was beautiful, a golden star in the darkness of these catacombs. He was over seven feet tall - much taller than me - with skin the colour of burnished copper and golden eyes that burnt like fire. But despite his beauty, I could see the corruption Obadiah had spoken about, the rot that was beginning to devour him; there was a ring of black that surrounded him at the very innermost part of his aura, singeing parts of his flesh black. On his stomach red swollen wounds weaved across his flesh, interlaced with older scars. His wings, pinned against his back, were flames of gold, that flickered like a candle as he moved towards me.
    'I'm assuming She has sent you?' he said, cocking his head to the side.
    'If you mean Death-'
    'Who else would it be?' he asked. It was only now that I noticed the red leather book he held in his right hand. Was this the Necrodemonicon? 'It is always Death!' he said, drawing my gaze back to his face. I noticed his face burned with an intense anger almost bordering on madness. 'The bitch just won't leave me alone, like a dog on heat. But anyway.' He ran his free hand through the flames of his hair. He took a sharp intake of breath then exhaled loudly, I think, to calm himself. 'What does She want now?' he asked.
    'She has sent me to remind you of your obligations-'
    'My obligations?' Hyperion cut in, his free hand clutching his chest, 'Well, ain't that just grand? I take a little bit of time off and the whole world falls apart.'
    Hyperion moved closer. 'I only came to look a few things up and She gets all histrionic on me. Here, take a look,' he said, holding out the book to me. 'Women, eh?'
    I took the book from him, feeling his fingers of fire brush mine. It struck me that, for all the fire, they lacked any warmth.
    'Actually,' said Hyperion, crossing his arms over his chest, 'don't. The light here is terrible. Why don't we go back through to the reading room? The light in there is so much better.' He smiled at me, or, at least I think it was a smile, a smile that hinted at things thought but not spoken.
    Hyperion gestured for me to walk back the way I had come from. I turned, silently obeying him, but my gut was telling me that danger was not far away. His presence burned behind me as I walked; from the heat on my skin and the burning of the air around me.
    I reached the middle of the reading room and turned to face him.
    'Go on,' he said, 'take a look. I think you'll find the third chapter very interesting.'
    I remained still, ignoring Hyperion's suggestion.
    A smirk played upon Hyperion's copper-coloured lips. 'Don't read it then, makes no difference to me,' he said, as he began to circle around me like I was dinner.
    I looked straight ahead, ignoring the strong desire to watch him like a hawk. He circled me once, then came to a stop behind me and ran his cold finger nail down my spine. I shuddered as it came to a full stop in the small of my back. I stood up taller as I felt him move in closer, his warm breathe skimming across the skin on my neck, his nail still stabbing at the base of my back.
    'It's interesting, don't you think, that She has sent you to remind me of my obligations?' He spoke quietly into my ear.
    I fought the impulse to turn around.
    'As if you could,' he said, moving around me, dragging his nail across my skin. He came to a stop in front of me. 'The sacrificial lamb.'
    I kept quiet, holding his gaze as he run his tongue over his lips.
    Hyperion stepped backwards, away from me, his eyes still fixed on mine. 'Who are you, what's your name?'
    I didn't answer.
    Hyperion smirked. 'Oh, ok, don't tell me,' he said, his golden eyebrows knitting together as he looked deep into my eyes. I felt myself falling into those raging pools of fire, felt the fingers of his mind probing mine.
    'Hello Josh,' he said, as I felt his mind push me away and return me to the room. 'So, how did She get you to come and find me? I don't know you from Adam,