The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 16

The weight of Lady Lesso's words lingers long after she leaves the room, and you can't shake the feeling that something has shifted between you two. The tension that's built over the past few weeks, the quiet exchanges, the moments where her gaze lingers longer than it should, now feels like it's teetering on the edge of something much more dangerous.

You try to focus on the lesson ahead, but your mind is consumed with thoughts of the conversation you just had. Her words, cryptic yet clear, echo in your mind, their meaning slowly unravelling with each passing second. "There's a darkness here—one that you need to embrace, not fight." What could she possibly mean by that? And what part of you would even want to embrace darkness?

But even as you question, a small part of you can't deny the truth in her words. You've always felt it, deep inside. That pull toward the chaos, the shadows, the very thing that makes this school what it is. The thing that makes you who you are.

You're standing on the threshold, the edge of something far more dangerous than you've ever been willing to admit. And the most terrifying part is that you're not sure if you're ready to turn back.

___________

Later that evening, after the last class of the day, you find yourself walking the familiar corridors of the School for Evil, your steps echoing through the cold, dark stone. You don't know why, but you're drawn to the Hall of Shadows again—the place where everything started to shift. It calls to you in a way you can't explain.

As you approach the hall's entrance, you hesitate, your hand hovering above the door. For a moment, the silence stretches, and you wonder if it's really a good idea to go in. But before you can decide, the door creaks open on its own, the shadows inside swirling as though they've been waiting for you.

You step in, and the air is thick with magic. You feel it pulse around you, crackling with an energy you've come to recognize—the same energy that fills Lady Lesso's every word, every gesture. The darkness isn't just a force to be reckoned with here; it's a presence, alive in this place, in this school.

And now, it feels as though it's calling to you.

There's a sudden shift in the air, and you sense that you're no longer alone. You turn quickly, and there, standing in the shadows just beyond the green light, is Lady Lesso herself. Her crimson cloak almost seems to merge with the darkness, the only thing visible being her piercing eyes that lock onto yours as though she's been waiting for this moment.

"You came," she says, her voice calm, but with an undercurrent of something far deeper. She steps closer, her heels clicking softly against the stone floor. "I was wondering when you would."

You swallow hard, unsure of what to say, unsure of what she's expecting from you. But you can't deny the connection, the pull that has been growing stronger with each passing day. This isn't just a lesson, not anymore.

"What is it you want from me?" you ask, your voice quieter than you intended.

Lady Lesso studies you for a moment, and for the briefest of seconds, there's a flicker of something softer in her eyes—something almost... human. But just as quickly, it's gone, replaced by the cold, commanding presence that you've come to expect from her.

"I want you to understand," she replies, her voice low and almost seductive. "I want you to understand what you can become when you embrace the darkness inside you, when you stop fighting it."

You take a step back, suddenly unsure of everything. Embrace the darkness? You've always been a Never, always teetering on the edge of chaos, but this feels different. This feels like crossing a line you can't uncross.

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that," you confess, the words feeling heavy in your chest. "I don't even know if I want to be."

Lady Lesso's gaze softens, just a fraction, and for the first time, you see a flicker of something almost... compassionate in her eyes. "You're stronger than you think, Y/N," she says quietly. "And sometimes strength means embracing the parts of yourself you fear the most."

Before you can respond, the door to the hall creaks open again, and this time, it's Lady Dovey who steps inside, her golden light cutting through the shadows. She gives you a soft, reassuring smile, but there's a glint of concern in her eyes when she looks at you.

"You shouldn't be alone in here," Dovey says gently, her voice as warm and comforting as ever. "It's dangerous, especially when you're not sure of what you're dealing with."

Lady Lesso's expression hardens again, and the moment of softness disappears. "She's fine," Lesso says firmly, her eyes never leaving yours. "Let her decide for herself."

Dovey steps closer, her presence almost protective as she looks at you. "Just be careful," she warns, her voice low but filled with an unspoken concern. "I don't want to see you lost in something you can't escape from."

You glance between the two women, both so different, yet both pulling you in different directions. Part of you is drawn to the darkness that Lady Lesso embodies, the power, the control, the strength. And yet, another part of you feels the warmth of Dovey's light, the promise of safety, the comfort of something more familiar.

"You're both telling me different things," you say quietly, unsure of where to turn.

Lady Lesso steps closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm telling you to embrace who you truly are, Y/N. Don't let fear hold you back."

Dovey's gaze softens, but she doesn't back down. "And I'm telling you that you don't have to lose yourself to be strong. You don't have to surrender to the darkness to find your power."

The tension between them is palpable, and you feel torn in two. What is the right choice? What is the right path?

"You don't have to decide now," Lady Lesso says, her voice cold once again, but there's an edge of finality in her words. "But when you're ready, you'll know which way to go."

With that, she turns and walks away, her cloak billowing behind her like a shadow itself.

Dovey lingers a moment longer, her eyes filled with concern. "Just be careful," she repeats softly, before she too steps away, her light slowly fading as she exits the hall.

You're left standing in the shadows, alone once again. The weight of their words presses on you, and you're filled with a sense of confusion, of uncertainty. Which path should you take? And can you truly embrace the darkness within you without losing yourself to it?

Only time will tell.

______

I will upload the next few chapters as they aren't so long. Enjoy