Free Everlost by Neal Shusterman

couldn’t help but notice Mary’s dress: rich emerald velvet, with white lace cuffs and a lace collar so tight it seemed about ready to strangle her.
    â€œIt looks like you must have died on the way to a wedding,” Allie said. Nick didn’t settle for rolling his eyes this time. Instead he elbowed Allie in the ribs. “No,” Nick said. “That was me.”
    Mary never broke eye contact with Allie. “It’s impolite to comment on how someone crosses.”
    Allie felt heat rise to her cheeks, surprised to know that she could still blush from embarrassment, but Mary took her hand warmly. “Don’t feel bad,” she said. “I was just pointing it out. You couldn’t possibly be expected to know—you’re new to all of this.” She turned to Lief and Nick. “There are many things you’ll be learning about your new lives and until you do, you mustn’t feel bad if you make mistakes.”
    â€œI’m not new,” said Lief, unable to meet her eye.
    â€œYou’re new here,” Mary said with a warm smile, “and so you have permission to
feel
just as new as you want.”
    Nick couldn’t look away from Mary. He was captivated from the moment he saw her. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful—she was also elegant, and her manner was as velvety smooth as her dress. Everyone introduced themselves, and when Nick took Mary’s hand, she smiled at him. He was convinced that her smile was just for him, and although his rational mind told him otherwise, he refused to believe she smiled at everyone that way.
    â€œYou must be tired from your journey,” Mary said, turning and leading them deeper into her apartment.
    â€œWe can’t get tired,” Allie said.
    â€œActually,” said Mary, “that’s a common misconception. We do get tired, exhausted even—but it isn’t sleep that refreshes us. We’re refreshed by the company of others.”
    Allie crossed her arms. “Oh, please.”
    â€œNo,” said Vari, “it’s true. We gain strength from each other.”
    â€œSo what about Lief?” Allie asked. By now, Lief had gravitated to the window, more interested in the view than anything else. “He’s been alone for a hundred years, and he’s got plenty of energy.”
    Mary didn’t miss a beat. “Then he must have found a marvelous place, full of love and life.”
    She was, of course, right. Lief’s forest had been a sustaining place for him. Allie didn’t know how to feel about this “Miss Mary.” Allie hated know-it-alls, but in this case, Mary actually did appear to know it all.
    â€œWe’ve turned the top floors of this tower into living quarters—but most of them are still empty. You’re free to choose where you’d like to stay.”
    â€œWho said we were staying?” said Allie.
    Nick nudged her with his elbow, harder this time. “Allie …” he said between his teeth, “it’s impolite to turn down an invitation in this world. Or in any world for that matter.”
    But if Mary was offended, she didn’t show it. “Consider this a rest stop, if you like,” Mary said cordially. “A way station on to wherever it is you’re going.”
    â€œWe weren’t going anywhere,” Nick said with a smile. He was trying to sound charming, but instead wound up sounding heavily sedated.
    Allie was fully prepared to smack that starry gaze clear out of Nick’s eyes, but she restrained herself. “We
were
going home,” she reminded him.
    â€œOf course that would be your first instinct,” Mary said with supreme patience. “You couldn’t be expected to know the consequences.”
    â€œPlease stop talking to me like I’m ignorant,” said Allie.
    â€œYou
are
ignorant,” said Vari. “All Greensouls are.”
    It infuriated Allie that it was true. She,