There will be several Interludes during the course of the story. Some, like this one, will be extremely short some will be much longer. All are vital to the development of the storyline and the depth of the plot. I hope you will forgive the brevity of this update and that you will let me know what you think of it. (the content not the length ;P) Thank you so much for your comments on the last chapter.

<img src="stories/Tel/images/appearancsmasksm.jpg">

My beloved lay sleeping. Safely sleeping. This would not take long and I would be back at his side. He would not know that I had been away. He could never know. I did this for him, but still he could never know.  If I was careful. If I was patient. The one who caused his pain would learn his lessons. I would teach him. My beloved need never know. 

It was easy. They were eager to come with me. I gave them pleasure before they slept. I took them away from the pain. Into the darkness and the peace of sleep. They were tortured in this life. I knew how to rescue them. I had done so many times before. Now they could help me as I helped them. They could help me teach the lesson. 

I was not at all sure that he could learn. He seemed to be too proud to admit that he can be taught. In his arrogance he believed he already held all the answers. I had time. If he did not learn the lesson one way. Then he could be taught another. If fear did not teach, then pain most surely would. It did not matter how he learned only that he did. And in the end…he would. Oh my yes, he would learn, how well he would learn. 

My beloved slept. And now another slept as well. I kissed gently the pale cheek that had given everything to help me teach. He had cried before he slept but now there was no more pain. He would never hurt again. I closed the door to his resting place. I put away the tools that helped me teach. It was not time for another lesson, not yet. I was ready now. I would know when it was time. Tonight I would leave this one to sleep alone and return to my beloved.  He must not wake without me. For he must not know. He must never know.

TBC