Torment - Lauren Kate [102]
“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 flush 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 off, 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. “Effectively, Luce, you’re grounded.”
Grounded? That was it?
“Class. Meals. Dorm,” Francesca recited. “Until you hear differently 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 shuffled off 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 confinement at Sword & Cross, it almost seemed like she was getting off 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 difference 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 finally stay in better contact with her friends and family.
To: lucindap44@gmail.com
From: thegaprices@aol.com
Sent: Friday, 11/20 at 8:22 am
Subject: Turkey-dog
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?
To: lucindap44@gmail.com
From: thegaprices@aol.com
Sent: Friday, 11/20 at 9:06 am
Subject: PS
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.
To: lucindap44@gmail.com
From: thegaprices@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, 11/21 at 12:12 am
Subject: no subject
Just let us know either way? xoxo, Mom
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