she said nally. "But the only reason we were in danger was because you kept me in the dark. You knew someone was after me and you probably even know why. I wouldn't have left campus if you'd just told me." dark. You knew someone was after me and you probably even know why. I wouldn't have left campus if you'd just told me."
Steven stared Luce down with eyes like re. "If you're saying we honestly have to be that explicit with you, Luce, then I am disappointed." He cupped a hand on Francesca's shoulder. "Perhaps you were right about her, dear."
"Wait--" Luce said.
But Francesca made a stop sign with her hand. "Need we also be explicit about the fact that the opportunity you've been given at Shoreline for educational and personal growth is--for you--a once-in-a-thousand-lifetimes experience?" A pink ush rose on her cheeks. "You've created a very awkward situation for us. The main school"--she gestured to the south portion of campus--"has its detentions and its community service programs for students who step out of line. But Steven and I don't have a system of punishment in place. We've been fortunate until now to have students who did not overstep our very lenient boundaries."
"Until now," Steven said, looking at Luce. "But Francesca and I both agree that a swift and severe sentence must be handed down."
Luce leaned forward in her chair. "But Shelby and Miles didn't--"
"Exactly." Francesca nodded. "Which is why, when you are dismissed, Shelby and Miles will report to Mr. Kramer in the main school for community service. Shoreline's annual Harvest Fest food drive begins tomorrow, so I'm sure you'll have your work cut out for you."
"What a crock of--" Shelby broke o , looking up at Francesca. "I mean, Harvest Fest sounds like my kind of fun."
"What about Luce?" Miles asked.
Steven's arms were crossed and his complicated hazel eyes peered down at Luce over the tortoiseshell rims of his glasses. "E ectively, Luce, you're grounded."
Grounded? That was it?
"Class. Meals. Dorm," Francesca recited. "Until you hear di erently from us, and unless you are under our strict supervision--these are the only places you will be permitted. And no dipping into Announcers. Understand?"
Luce nodded.
Steven added: "Do not test us again. Even our patience comes to an end."
Class-Meals-Dorm didn't leave Luce with a lot of options on a Sunday morning. The lodge was dark, and the mess hall didn't open for brunch until eleven. After Miles and Shelby shu ed o reluctantly toward Mr. Kramer's community service boot camp, Luce had no choice but to go back to her room. She closed the window shade, which Shelby always liked to leave open, then sank into her desk chair.
It could have been worse. Compared to the stories of cramped cinder-block cells for solitary con nement at Sword & Cross, it almost seemed like she was getting o easy. No one was slapping a pair of wristband tracking devices on her. In fact, Steven and Francesca had basically given her the same restrictions Daniel had. The di erence was, her teachers really could watch over her night and day. Daniel, on the other hand, wasn't supposed to be there at all.
Annoyed, she powered up her computer, half expecting her access to the Internet to be suddenly restricted. But she logged on just as usual and found three emails from her parents and one from Callie. Maybe the bright side of being grounded was that she'd be forced to nally stay in better contact with her friends and family.
Check out this picture! We dressed Andrew up as a turkey for the neighborhood autumn block party. As you can tell from the bite marks on the feathers: He loved it. What do
you think? Should we make him wear it again when you come for Thanksgiving?
Your dad read my email and thought it might have made you feel bad. No guilt trip intended, sweetie. If you're allowed to come home for Thanksgiving, we'd love it. If you
can't, we'll reschedule for another time. We love you.
Luce held her head in her hands. She'd been wrong. All the grounding in the world wouldn't make it easier for her to respond to her parents. They'd dressed their poodle up as a turkey, for crying out loud! It broke her heart to think of letting them down.