our balance

"Emma, Lesso is missing!"

Those four eerie words filled Anemone with worry. It took her a minute to plan out the words she wanted to say. She eventually came to her conclusion.

"Missing? Please go into detail. I am not sure I completely understand."
"GONE! She is gone!", the blond woman shouted.
Anemone insensibly sat in a chair while Dovey, facing away, stood powerless. She could not wrap her mind around how a careful, fierce person such as Leonora Lesso could suddenly vanish. Who did this? She glared over to Dovey who at this moment buried her trembling hands onto her warm face. Although, Anemone only heard silence, no wimping, no sobbing, nothing. She could imagine Dovey’s tear-filled eyes. She took it upon herself to comfort her best companion however she could.

Anemone rose and made her way to Dovey. "Everything will be alright, Clarissa. I understand this is a very unsettling occurrence but we need to think rationally and clearly, okay?", she said, as soft as a feather. Knowing Emma is utterly right, Clarissa nodded. “Yes, you are right.”
"Let's take this upon the board”, as they ran towards the boardroom. Emma thought,
“Where are you, Red?”
-
Darkness
Deep, deep darkness
Coming from a profound sleep, Lesso starts slowly opening her green eyes. Her heart beating at a measured rate. For a brief time, she forgets where she is being held.

“Rise and shine, dear”, a familiar voice said cheerfully. She drowsy scans the large, spacious capacity but does not see anyone.

“Over here”

She stares closely at the thin, inscrutable shadow. Now, she awakes.

“Rafal! Get me the hell out of here!”, Lesso roars. She charges at him but she can barely move. She jolted her head down to reveal heavy, broad chains wrapping tightly around her torso. She angrily tries to loosen the chains but gives up. Rafal approaches Lesso, letting her view him. He amusingly chuckles at how pathetic the red-headed woman seemed.

“Wow, my poor, dumb sweetheart. It’s never that easy. You thought I would let you keep your magic? Why did you think you were so drowsy and weak?”
Rafal shows her a tiny, glass tube with jade black liquid filled to the top. He places it close to her face. She ledges. He pulls it back then heartily laughs.
“What are you doing? Do you seriously not have anything else better to do? I have a life, damn it, so get me out of here!”
“Umm, I would rather not. I enjoy seeing every bit of your energy worn out. It brings tears of happiness to my eyes.”
Lesso stupidly drives at him, hurting her body. Rafal amusingly smiles.
“How am I damaging you when you are damaging yourself? I don't understand. Could you help?” Rafal said as he leaned in towards her face. Lesso spits, hitting his eye. Rafal slaps her.
“Watch yourself”, he stated firmly.
“Fuck you”

Rafal straightens out his blazer and smiles. “I wonder how your little friends are doing at the school?” Despite the fact Lesso kept a solid facial expression throughout their entire conversion, mentioning The School of Good and Evil made her…soften. She could only think about Clarissa. What she greatly loathed the most was Rafal could detect her thoughts/emotions.

“They must be really missing you, huh? Especially blondie. How much do you want to bet she is willing to throw herself into hell’s pit for you?”
Lesso unknowingly stayed silenced. Her brain stocked up with concern about everyone.
“I have a brilliant idea. I'll make your darling appear as a loon.”
“What?”
“Let’s just say”, he changes his appearance into Lady Lesso, “The Dean of Evil was never gone”
He checks if the glass tube is in the blazer. It indeed is.
He spins, “How do I look?”
“Rafal, stop! No, don’t do this. I’m begging”
“That’s what I love to hear, Leonora. Oh pardon me. I’m Leonora Lesso now.”
“Please, leave them alone.”
“You mean “her”. Plus, our fun has just begun, my love.”
-
“It was Rafal”
“Excuse me?”
“When I entered Lesso’s classroom, Rafal was standing there.”
“That is not possible”

Lesso strolls inside. All of the teachers looked at her in awe.

“Now who made up this foolish hoax that I am missing? I was only in my office. Did anyone check there before causing this commotion?”
“That's impossible”, Dovey whispers but only Anemone hears her.
“And what were you doing inside your office, Lady Lesso?”, the Headmaster questioned.
Lesso tries to come up with a response. “Uh…sleeping”
“I thought so. Professor Dovey,
“She couldn't have been.”, Dovey interrupted.
“What? Why is that?”, the redheaded woman asked.
“Rafal was in here. He said he took her. I- ”
“Rafal?”, the Headmaster asked, “Show us what you mean.”
“Of course”, Dovey said as she walked past Lady Lesso.
-
All of them entered Lesso’s classroom with Dovey, who was leading the way.

“He was right there, in the middle.”
“What are you talking about, princess? R- Rafal hasn’t dared interact with this school in years. I am sure he will not come back.”
“No! You’re wrong! I saw him! He told me that he took her. He even gave me this.”
Dovey searches her pockets for the gem. “I might’ve left it in my classroom but please believe me.”
“Do you mean this?”, Lesso had the gem on top of her palm.
“Yes! That!”, Dovey snitches the quartz from her.
“What even is it for, princess?”
“I couldn't tell you but Rafal gave it to me.”
“Professor, Lesso is correct.”
“Finally someone agrees with me on something”

Dovey is heavily aggrieved. She is not crazy, she knows what she saw/heard.
“Relax, Dovey. Everything will be alright.”, Lesso said while looking at Anemone.
“I'll go and tell the students about the news. Sorry for the inconvenience, Red.”
“Dont worry about it, beauty teacher. Hey, is that a new dress?”
Emma rolls her eyes then leaves.
“Look at me, Clarissa.”, the Headmaster says. Doves lifts her head up, looking into his eyes.
“He is not coming back, okay? We are safe.”, he reassured her.
“Yes sir”, she said weakly.
He leaves.

The room now only holds Lady Lesso and Professor Dovey inside. There is a thick tense coming across themselves.
“Pff, Emma. Why is she so upset? I was going to compliment her. It's like seeing a blue moon when it comes to me praising someone, huh?.”
“So you are okay?”
“Yeah. I’m perfectly fine. Not fine but well enough”
“How so?”
“How am I doing well enough or…”, she said with a slightly
“How are you here? Rafal said you were gone. He said “Dovey, I’m positive you will be able to solve this puzzle.”, Dovey restated forcefully.
“What puzzle?”
Dovey stares at her.
“Oh I understand. Listen, I don't know how many times we have explained this to you but I'm going to give it another shot. Rafal got thrown to the fucking abyss. I don’t know but it seems like he will stay gone to me!”
The short woman leans on Lesso’s dark wood curved desk. Her arms crossed as she looked down to make sense.
“I guess it must have been a dream or something. I don't know.”, Dovey said faintly.
“A dream? With him, it’s a damn nightmare. Trust me.”

Lesso moves towards Dovey. Dovey decides to come up with an excuse to leave the uneasy room.
“I think it's time for me to go to my office. Work calms my head.”
“Classic Clarissa. Workaholic. Totally not me as well.”, Lesso showed a loving grin.
Dovey returns the smile. She began to open the door but came to stop. She suddenly turns and gives Lady Lesso an intense stare.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Something about you is off.”
“Really?”, she said, trying to hide any timidity in her voice.
Dovey nods. Now standing inches away from the imposter, she points to the silky, jet black tie.
“Where is your tie clip, silly?”
Lesso looks down and snickers.
“I was a little..tied up after hearing that ridiculous news about myself. I…I rushed the process.“

She wished she had proof that Lesso was in danger and even though Dovey was not positive her current plan would work. She thought it's worth a try.

“And your blazer is not as orderly. Here let me help you.”
Lesso steps closer to welcome Dovey. The Dean of Good unbuttoned her blazer however she thought it would be fitter to place the tie clap on first. The Dean of Evil or Rafal felt skeptical about Dovey’s fresh attitude.
“You are always a perfectionist in all matters but especially in appearance, Lesso.”
“One of those days”
“That’s one of the things that I liked about you.”
“It is?”
Dovey then straightens out her blazer, fixing the outside and inside, before buttoning it up elegantly.
“Was the inside necessary?”
“It most certainly was. Now look at you looking prissy in your own evil way.”
“Don’t at any time in your life put prissy and evil in the same sentence. It’s offensive, Ever.”
“Never”, Dovey laughs, “Do you get it? I’m so funny”
Lesso rolls her eyes while having a little smile. Dovey walks to the opened door.
“By the way, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For what, princess? You left my door open? It’s fine, really.”
“No. For my ignorant statement against evil but most importantly you. I did not acknowledge how much pain those words granted you. Listen, you’re a powerful woman who is needed in this world to keep a balance. Thank you for all you’ve accomplished for this school. Thank you for keeping our balance.”
The imposter converted into a baffled expression.
-
Lady Lesso wiggles around trying to loosen the compressed chains. She pauses. She couldn’t imagine how pompous revealing Rafal was towards Clarissa. This very thought crowded all portions of her heart with vexation. She felt her entire body radiate heat like a summer sun. She was not going to give up. Lesso searched for any material that could possibly help her escape. But there was nothing.

“Oh my sweet Leonora, you wouldn't believe what your darling princess said to me. You? Me.”
She ignores him. Rafal, appearing as himself, walks up to her.
“Your darling dove apologize to you”
Lesso glances at him.
“That got your attention, huh? If you are curious, she feels awful about the Evil comment or something like that. Please fill in. What was that about, dear?”
“None of your damn business, Rafal!”
“Woo feisty. She is coming very soon. Will it be easy? No, it will not.”
He sits his red blazer on a chair, exposing everything inside it. It was gone.
-
As Dovey herself through the hallways, Emma comes out of the auditorium.
“She is missing. I’m telling you, Emma”, Dovey shouts down the hallway
“What’s going on, Clarissa?”
Dovey now standing next to Anemone. She holds out a tiny, glass tube with orange liquid.
“What is that?”
“I’m not sure but I found it in Lesso’s coat. I am going to find out what this is and I am going to find Lesso. Will you help me?”
Anemone hates to admit it but she questions Dovey’s proposal. Could she be right? Did Rafal take Lady Lesso? If so then who were we communicating with?
“Okay.”, Emma said boldly. “I think for this portion you break it.”
“Break it?”
“Yes”
Dovey threw the tube as hard as she could.
Boom

Emma and Dovey stood on the edge of a concrete bridge below them, flaming hot lava flew like a river.
They push themselves back. Emma breathes heavily. Dovey created a shield bubble around them.
“Where the hell are we?”, Emma asked.
-
“On level 1”, love, Rafal says as he watches their movement with his powers.
“Is this a damn game? Where did you put them?”
“In the pits of hell. I told you how much you want to bet.”
“Get them back to the school, Rafal!”
“Or what, dear?”
Lesso could only stare at him.
“That’s what I thought. Ms. Dovey thought she was so slick.”, he takes the actual liquid out of his blazer. “She has to pay the consequences”

Lady Lesso could not fathom how he could be so monstrous towards innocent people. She was a monster but not heartless. All of this for Dovey to survive her. It was not worth it. She was not worth surviving.
She knew Clarissa Dovey was not fragile. She could take on any challenges if she really wanted to. No doubt Dovey wanted to take on this unfair challenge.

She will win.