Exceptional by Jess Petosa Read Free Book Online

of the adults would read one out loud to them all, but no one else was allowed to touch the book.             Sabine informed Ally that the black object in the foyer was a piano and that it made music when played correctly.  When she asked if anyone in the home could play it she just smiled and pulled Ally into the next room, quickly becoming an expert at avoiding questions.  There was a large dining room toward the front of the house where Aden sometimes hosted parties.  Most of the second floor was devoted to guest rooms, except for two rooms at the end.  Asher and Flint occupied one, and Sabine occupied the other.  Luke’s room was at the opposite end of the hall, and also off limits unless a work order said to enter.             Sabine paused at the railing that overlooked the foyer.  “Ally, what do you know about your purpose here?”             “Nothing.  One moment I was playing a seemingly innocent game in the woods, and the next I was being brought in by the Exceptional Guards,” Ally responded.             “You mean you didn’t volunteer?”             Ally shook her head.  “Luke found me out in the woods and rescued me, if you could call it that.  That was just yesterday afternoon.”             “You didn’t even come from the ORC?”             “What’s the ORC?”  Ally had heard Mrs. Mathias mention it last night as well.             “Sabine!” a male voice yelled from the foyer, either Asher or Flint.  “We need to go!”             “We’ll talk later,” Sabine said as she squeezed Ally’s arm.  “Flint and I need to run errands.”             Sabine skipped down the stairs, her red braid bouncing against her back as she went.  As Ally turned, she caught a glimpse of Asher standing in the doorway to his room.             “You have no idea what you are in for.” He smirked and shut his bedroom door, leaving Ally to digest his words alone.  
    She thought about stomping up to his door and confronting him, but she still couldn’t muster up the old Ally from within.   Where was the daring and wild Ally that was always up for an adventure?  Where was the Ally that had no problem standing up for herself or others?  She was beginning to worry that she was in some sort of shock.  She had always said that if she volunteered, she wouldn’t let the City take her personality.  She would be living in a different place, with a different purpose, but she could still be herself.  Now here she was, cowering under the roof of an Exceptional home on her very first day.
    She moved down the stairs quickly, entering the library.  She had never seen so many books, but even if she wanted to read them, it would do her no good.  They didn’t learn to read in the settlement unless it was decided that it was a crucial part of their future work assignment.  As a food gatherer, she wasn’t even given the opportunity to learn to write.
    Ally ran her fingers over the old books, loving the way the worn covers felt under her fingers.  She pulled a book out every now and then, admiring the cover and imagining what story the picture might represent.  Her best friend, Willow, had been training to be a town medic, and therefore had been taught to read.  She wished Willow were here right now, telling her what all the words in these books said.  She imagined most of them were quite interesting.    
    “That one is about forbidden love.”
    Ally jumped.  She turned to find Mrs. Mathias standing behind her, looking over her shoulder at the book.  She had been so enamored with the cover image that she hadn’t even heard Luke’s mother enter the room.
    “Forbidden love?” she asked.
    Mrs. Mathias smiled.  “It is a common theme in love stories, but this one was quite famous in its time.  It is about two lovers from feuding families.  They fall in love despite their