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

although, to be honest, I don't really know Adam all that well, despite what the gossips say, but I digress.' He shrugged, then looked away as if he were in deep thought. 'I know...I know this,' he said, waggling his forefinger in the air. He stopped still, his head cocked to the side, a wide grin spreading across his face. 'Evie...that's why you're here! You're in love!' He clasped his hands to his chest. 'You're in love, although that should not be possible! All very intriguing, I must say.'
    My heart leapt into my mouth at the mention of her name. How did he know?
    'What's a matter, Josh? Don't you want to talk about it?' Hyperion stepped forward, placing his hand on my shoulder. I trembled under his touch. 'Is being apart from her breaking your heart that much?'
    'Leave Evie out of this!' I spat, unable to ignore the heat building in the chamber any longer.
    Hyperion stepped back, removing his hand quickly as if I had burnt him. 'But how can I?' he asked, 'Evie is now a part of this, whether you like it or not.'
    'I broke the rules, not her. I saved her life. I have to pay, so leave her alone.'
    Hyperion tapped his lips with his finger. 'I see where you're coming from, really I do, but,' he said, his head rocking from side to side, as though he was deliberating with himself, 'you see, you brought her into all of this when you saved her-'
    'But, I saved her, she didn't ask-'
    'I'm afraid it isn't that simple, Josh; Evie should've died but she didn't, because of you. And now she's sitting at home, doing whatever it is depressed teenagers usually do, when she should be fluttering around,' he said, flapping his hands in the air like wings, 'pretty as you like, collecting dead souls.'
    'But-'
    'No buts Josh,' he said, raising his hand to stop me, 'You know I speak the truth. Evie should be dead, serving her punishment for taking her own life, for committing that sin. You changed all that Josh. You pissed Death off.'
    I stared into Hyperion's raging eyes, letting his words sink in, feeling the ball of dread in my gut twist. Had I become a part of something bigger, something happening between Death and Hyperion?
    'Oh, Joshy, Sweetheart,' said Hyperion, stepping forward to pat me on my cheek, 'when are you going to wake up! You Angels of Death, so much sin and atonement, so much innocence, I do feel so sorry for you -'
    'Don't be sorry for me!' I spat.
    'But I do,' he replied calmly, his hand still resting on my cheek. 'Think about it. You're stripped of all emotions, of all memories, leaving you in a state of ignorance. Your Soul, left in a shell of your former self, rumbles on, atoning for a crime you don't even remember committing.' He threw his hands in the air. 'And they believe that this will bring you back to the fold and back to innocence?' He took a step back, and crossed his arms over his chest. 'But I ask you, Josh, what is the point of returning to innocence if we live in ignorance?'
    'What has this got to do with Evie?'
    'Don't you see?'
    I shook my head.
    'No, of course you don't.'
    I tried to remain still as he leant forward. I could feel his breath on the side of my neck, could smell the metallic aroma of his skin. 'Death,' he whispered into my ear, 'has lied to you.'
    I took a step backwards from him. 'How? How has She lied to me?'
    'Consider this; where would you be now, if it wasn't for Her?'
    'What?'
    'Where would you be now? If She hadn't made you come here.'
    'I'd be dead! That's where I would be. I broke the rules, I should be dead!'
    I felt like a dog being prodded by a little boy with a big stick, and I didn't know how long I could keep a lid on my anger which was slowly uncoiling within me like a cobra. 'I should be dead,' I repeated, trying hard to keep the frustration from my voice.
    'You are wrong. Even after your little misdemeanour, you didn't have to die.
    'What?'
    'Now bear in mind I'm only telling you this because I like you, because I consider anyone who pisses Death off to be a friend.' He put