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

his burning arm around me but it felt cold to the touch, 'You didn't have to die, there was another option; She could've punished you by making you one of the Fallen.'
    I shook him off and took a step backwards, my heart on fire with hope. 'You're lying-'
    'No,' said Hyperion, his golden eyes pleading with me, 'I am the only one who is telling you the truth. You know that I am the Archangel of Wisdom?'
    'That doesn't mean you-'
    Hyperion shook his head, his hair of fire rippled around him. 'No Josh,' he said, moving forward, placing his hand on my arm, 'She has lied, manipulated you, and your love for Evie.' I felt his hand tighten on my arm. 'Do you not see? She's using you like a pawn in some twisted game of chess.'
    'No!' I said, pulling my arm from Hyperion's hand. I stepped away, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the book he'd given me. I needed time to think, to work out what to believe. Who to believe.
    'Within these walls lies the secret to you being with Evie, the key to unlocking that which has been purposely hidden from you; the Fallen, your means to being with Evie. I have told you that, I tell you the truth. Not Her!'
    'You're just trying to confuse me, to make me doubt-'
    'Believe that if it makes it easier,' said Hyperion shrugging, 'But don't tell me I didn't warn you, or give you a way out. You can be with Evie, the information is out there if you are willing to take it. But I can see you are too much of a coward and would rather stay in the dark!'
    'I don't believe you!' How could it be true?
    'Believe me or don't. I couldn't give a damn either way. Your little love affair is of no importance to me!' he said. 'Now, I must be off, enjoy your reading.' His face lit up with a wide smile as he released his wings, ecstasy running down his spine.
    I couldn't move, my eyes were transfixed by the beauty of his wings as they opened, a thousand shimmering feathers of fire. I imagined that this is how Hell felt. He formed a fist with his right hand, and before I had chance to react, he threw himself forward and punched the marble floor. The ground began to shake as fire bubbled, like molten lava, up through the hole.
    'Don't do this,' I warned, struggling to keep the chaos raging inside me under control.
    'What? This?' Hyperion boomed, as he pounded the floor again and again with his hand of gold.
    Cracks of fire appeared in the floor and it was as if he were knocking through to Hell. There was a resounding crack as the ceiling fractured above us, sending large chunks of jagged marble raining down, distracting me just for the smallest of moments, and when I looked up again, Hyperion had gone, with only the smell of burnt flesh and destruction left behind in his wake.
    But I could feel his imprint left on my flesh like a stain; it had penetrated through my skin.
    What if Hyperion was right? Had Death lied to me? Could I really be with Evie as one of The Fallen?
    The whole place was crumbling around me; I had to get out. And yet...
    I frantically looked around. I looked at the leather book in my hands. Where would I find a book on The Fallen? I spun around on my heels, consumed by the need to find out. I ran down the corridor I had come from and back to the circular atrium, the ground splitting and hissing as I ran, the heat burning into the soles of my feet, and yet I felt no pain. I was driven by something that knew no pain.
    I rounded the corner, and found that the floor above me was now starting to slide through the hole I had made earlier. The whole building was unstable. I had to act fast before the whole of the Castel collapsed on top of me. I climbed over the piles of rubble trying to work out where I would find a book on the Fallen, but I didn't know where to start looking.
    I turned around just as a huge rumble brought a large section of masonry down, setting off a chain reaction around the atrium as other large blocks crashed to the floor. It was no use, I had to get out of there.
    I clutched the book