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That night randfather and I returned to theshaken awake by the prickling presence of Dante, as if he were in the roo off the covers, I went to the , es: the tip of Miss LaBarge’s nose as she lay in the casket; Brett chewing a crab canapé, the cru to his chin as he asked lass, now cool fro open the , I let the chilly air flutter against the top of own Outside, the trees that lined the driveway flexed and bowed in the wind, their shadows shifting across the pavee out of the darkness, until the sun rose over the horizon

The mail arrived early I jolted awake at the chih theI could see a lankyon his shoulder as he admired the façade of the mansion Downstairs I could hear Dustin shuffle to the door and greet hian, I ran downstairs Dustin was standing in the foyer, signing so on a clipboard When he was finished, the le letter

"What is it?" I asked, watching Dustin turn it over before shutting the door

He ju hi it was from Eleanor, I took the letter from him and immediately kneasn’t The envelope was made of a heavy paper, the color of bone My name was inscribed in fine print The return address read: Gottfried Academy I tore the seal open

Gottfried Students and Parents:

We are deeply saddened to report that the Gottfried coe, alumna and celebrated philosophy professor, has passed away She was a friend, colleague, and o out to her faedy has forced us to evaluate the larger picture of our recent history at Gottfried After the unfortunate loss of a student, Gideon DuPont, and Head with the unsettling events of two years ago e lost an esteeer believe that Gottfried Acade environment for our students After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close Gottfried’s doors The Academy will only remain open to provide services to a small number of students with special needs

Should you have any questions regarding matriculation at our sister school, Lycée St Cléhts about the recent losses to our fae you to contact me or any Gottfried staff member Individually and as a community, we remain committed to the health and future success of all our students

Sincerely yours,

Professor Edith Lu behind the trees Somewhere inside me I had known that Gottfried would have to close; I just didn’t think it actually would But when I looked down, the letter was still there in lanced atup a tray with coffee and scones "I’m so sorry, Renée"

"Did you know about this?"

Dustin’s face dropped "Oh, no I--er--why don’t you talk to your grandfather," he said, and hurried into the hallway, carrying the platter to randfather’s study I followed hi off his reading glasses when he sawhim the letter

He took it from me and skimmed it

"Yes," he said "And no"

I shookto Gottfried," he said, tossing the letter aside "But I will be"

I must have looked confused, because he continued "I will be resu to be a disciplinary school for the Undead, where we can monitor them in privacy, and, as necessary, put the to its roots--the way it began, under Dr Bertrand Gottfried and his nurses"

My chair creaked as I sat back So that’s what the letter o? Where would everyone go? I couldn’t return to a nor I had seen and done I thought about Eleanor, about the Board of Monitors and the chis that had helped me rebuild my life after I’d lost my parents They had become my life How could I move on from Gottfried now?

"You will continue on to Lycée St Clément, Gottfried’s sister school, and an academy solely for Monitors"

From the foyer, the clock chimed nine times "A Monitors’ academy?" I repeated Hoould I see Dante? Hoould I tell hi? It would be hard enough to see him at Gottfried, but at least there, he knehere I was And there was the distraction of other Undead students We could have met off campus We could have found a way But at a Monitors’ academy, there wouldn’t be any Undead towith the professors would be able to sense hi to sense him

"Many of your classmates will move to St Clément with you People from your horticulture class…It won’t be a difficult transition," randfather continued "Of course, those who are Undead will remain at Gottfried And the rest, well, who knows I suppose they’ll go to a normal school--"

I cut him off "Where is it?"

"Montreal, Canada It’s just across the border, really Not far at all"